Best Seasonal Restaurants in Dana Point / Monarch Beach

A true gem, this tea house is a treasure beyond words. The staff are cheerfully present and accommodating, serving with utmost care while crafting the ultimate tea experience. The ambiance is festive and warm, with friends old and new meeting to share in a prized selection of teas. A timelessly classic experience whether celebrating the joy of a lazy afternoon or a once in a lifetime occasion.

6 oh my girlfriend‘s and had lunch at Ciao Pasta yesterday before going to the Capistrano Nights at the Mission. We selected this restaurant because we had gone last year and everything about it was outstanding. They seated on the patio immediately although we were early for our reservation. Every member of the weight staff greeted us provided a friendly atmosphere made sure we were all comfortable and felt welcomed. We had a lasagna, spaghetti and a salmon salad. The bread is amazing melts in your mouth and truly delicious. I was in Italy recently and I can tell you this experience at Ciao Pasta was as authentic, delicious and truly satisfying as if we were dining on a Piazza anywhere in Italy. Bravo, Ciao Pasta, we will return soon.

Wow, what an incredible lunch experience at RAYA! First off, I have to rave about the service - everyone from the host to our servers made our first day at the Ritz Laguna so special. The staff was incredibly attentive and friendly, taking time to walk us through the menu and make great recommendations. You can tell they really care about making sure you have the best experience possible. The food was absolutely outstanding! We started with their guacamole with spicy crab which is a must-try - trust me, it's not your regular guac! The skirt steak was cooked perfectly and so flavorful, and those truffle fries on the side were addictively good. I went for the seafood enchiladas which were incredible, packed with fresh seafood. Even the kids' menu impressed us - my daughter loved her mac and cheese (and she's pretty picky!). The passion fruit mojitos were fantastic too - super refreshing and not too sweet. Perfect for a lunch with that amazing ocean view! The menu has tons of variety, and based on everything we tried, you really can't go wrong with whatever you choose. The staff's knowledge of every dish really helped us make great choices. We loved our lunch experience so much that we already booked dinner reservations for later this week! If you're staying at the Ritz or just in the area, definitely make RAYA a priority. The combination of incredible food, amazing service, and beautiful setting made it a highlight of our first day here. Worth every penny for such a special dining experience!

Mikey our server for lunch was really wonderful. Very helpful in the ordering for both wine and entrees. Lovely personality! The food was well prepared, a little pricey, but as expected :) View was terrific, we had a central table right at the window and Mikey opened the windows for us upon request so that we could have a simultaneous view and fresh air on this gorgeous day. Lovely lunch!! (Branzino, lobster salad and Cobb shrimp salad all delicious) (Also liked that the valet was free and that I was able to charge my car while dining!) Will definitely be back when next in Laguna (from LA)

Really great restaurant, we now have so many favorite dishes here! If you think you don't like vegetables, you have to come try Mayfield - it is amazing what they can do with carrots or cabbage or sweet potatoes! And their fried chicken is the best!