My family and I went to this restaurant in April and May 2018. The waiter refused to accept a Groupon, $10 for $20 worth of food and mentioned that I could only redeem the Groupon for dinner service. I exited out of the voucher to pull up the fine rules. He was wrong, and said he had no knowledge of this Groupon. I was unable to pull the voucher back up on my cell and had to pay full price for the meal which was very annoying. What bothered me was that the waiter told me to "take it up with management," despite the fact that there was no manager available. I was not offered a dessert or coffee for my trouble because "it would have come out of my pocket" per waiter. All I can say was that this place does not know how to treat customers. I saw four groups of people leave because no one was at the front to greet people. This place surely does not know how to apologize for a mistake. read more

We went to Gemmell's on our honeymoon. The atmosphere was very romantic and they played french music in the background. A local suggested this restaurant and it was a great pick. The owners seated, served, and cooked for us. We had a four course groupon starting with the mushroom appetizer. We had soup/salad next. I had the salmon entree and my husband had the sand dabs. We shared a soufflee for dessert. They had impeccable service and we would definitely go back. We highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Gemmell's Restaurant - French Near Me - Dana Point, California

Like other reviewers have said... Terrible service, felt like a 2nd class citizen for using the Groupon we bought for $65! We bought an $85 dollar bottle of wine, so they were making some money in addition to the Groupon. Service was beyond slow... We enjoy a relaxing meal but this was extremely slow to the point of almost being ignored. We were seated with menus but no one took our order for over 20 minutes. We ordered a bottle of wine & after the wine was served, it took another 15 minutes before anyone took our order. Then very slowly each course was served. The food was good, not great. They had live entertainment; Robin playing guitar & singer... I'm sorry to say that this made the experience worse not better. Robin can not carry a tune and her sense of rhythm was awful. There are 2 menus... 1 for full paying customers & 1 for Groupon customers. Chantell (the middle aged French waitress / hostess) made a point of telling us 3 times that we were receiving a very good deal and we are expected to tip on the total value of the meal. We were told about specials we could order for an additional $10 per entree. When the bill came Chantell made a point of telling my husband the total value of the meal and what the tip should be. She then wrote the 20% tip on the bill for my husband to sign. Talk about rude & classless! We were so put off by the treatment by Chantell. Needless to say we will never go back. This was both our 1st & last visit! read more

Hubby and I came here for our Christmas dinner since we are military and away from family. From the moment we entered the place we were impressed. Having never experienced French cuisine we were a little hesitant but from the appetizer to the dessert it just kept getting better! I got the Chicken Elizabeth and the Blueberry tart for dessert, so good! Cozy and romantic and the service was outstanding! Can't wait to bring my daughter next time! read more

I'm telling you, if you want authentic French, this is the place to go, really! The pate, exquisite. The sauces all from scratch. I've been to Paris many times, and it rivals the best bistros and restaurants there. They even have the european service down pat which if not done correctly, can ruin a great meal. Not here! Give it a try! read more

I have family in France, and get to Paris to visit them at least once a year. I love French food, and have eaten it since early childhood. I really do not understand some of the bad reviews. Our meals were excellent. Yes, the service is slower than you find in most American restaurants. The French dine, they do not eat. Be prepared to spend some time enjoying the experience. The dishes were excellent. The sauces were creative, but not overpowering. The soups were perfect, the shrimp portion was generous and very tasty, the pork was savory. And, I think the prices were reasonable for food of this quality. I will be back. read more

We just ate there today; food so-so was service slow...not really worth the $60 we paid with Group-on.... Buyer Beware! Group-on was for $120 worth of food and although the bill was $122 they said because we had the rack of lamb and filet migon that we owed an extra $30 ($15 per item) .It was explained that a different menu is used for Group-on customers and that because we did not present the coupon before serving that the server would have to pay the $30 out of pocket. THE BILL WAS FOR $122 AND CHANGE BUT THAT THE GROUP-ON WAS NOT VALID FOR THESE ITEMS. YOU DO NOT GET THE VALUE THAT IS PROMISED. read more

The worst dining experience in the Dana Point area. I had the bronzini fish special. The entire plate was soaked in a bland gravy. The fish was breaded or some other layer you had to go thru to get to the actual fish. The vegetables were blah. Better off eating two or three meals at a diner - the quality is about the same. The atmosphere could easily be converted to a mortuary. read more

I bought a coupon book for this restaurant and decided to try it - I have now been back 6 times and each time the food was excellent - especially the rack of lamb I had the other night - it was perfectly prepared! Great atmosphere and excellent food - and usually not crowded - totally recommend! read more

I recently dined there with my wife for a getaway. We used a Groupon and felt totally welcomed. We had our choice of where to sit and we opted to sit in the front room by a (fake) fireplace by ourselves. It was totally private but we did not feel alone as we could still hear the other diners in the other room. The ambience was very romantic with candles, fireplace, table cloth, etc. I would describe the decor as modern French Bistro. Even though we were in the room by ourselves, the service was impeccable. We were a little concerned that we would be "forgotten" but we were absolutely taken care of by two or three servers. Yet they were careful not to unnecessarily intrude on our conversation. The pacing of the courses was spot on. The bread was freshly baked (crispy on the outside, like a cloud on the inside). The pate texture and flavor were very satisfying. I had the pork medallions and my wife had the sand dabs--both prepared with complex sauces. The meats were well cooked but the sauce flavors were probably a matter of personal preference. They really layer on the sauce so I had to scoop much of it away. The creme brulee had a creamier consistency but completely enjoyable. The chocolate cake was rich and fluffy. read more

if you are ok with European style (yeah that means you don't rush every course, and take your time!) you will love it! I enjoyed every dish I got, and the staff was welcoming and delightful. the decor is fun! read more

I've been having lunch at Gemmell's weekly for the last 6 months for my BNI group meetings. The food and service have been awesome since the start. Great flavor and selection. The staff are warm, professional and courteous. Definitely give it a try. read more

Ate here tonight with a Groupon. Wow!!!! We will definitely be back. The "Groupon" menu was excellent - unlike some other restaurants which give you few choices and stingy portions. The food quality was great. We had our 10 year old daughter with us and they were extremely kind and accommodating. The Groupon was dinner for 2 ut they ensured that she was taken care of. They even charged us less for her regular menu item than was listed. Also, they comped a dessert for her. The staff were kind. I definitely recommend this restaurant for an "occasion" dinner! read more

My family came here for dinner tonight and I'm so glad we did. I had dined here once before several months ago with a groupon and wasn't impressed at all, but I think I had ordered the wrong dish (chicken). This time we all ordered seafood and everything was fabulous. The sea bass and the scallops were beautifully prepared. I also loved the mushroom appetizer and the soufflé dessert. Heaven! Our waiter gave great service. The atmosphere was so cozy and charming, especially with all of the lovely Christmas decor. I definitely recommend coming here during the holidays. read more

Food is the best. Went here for dinner today. Service was not great with that lady waitress. Used groupon so she expected us to pay for full service tip...groupon was $122 total bill was $140 so we still paid about $18 out of pocket. Gave her $30 so $10 being the tip I said she deserved. She came back and was like u have to give me $28 I was like wtf...talking about pay on full service crap...this lady didnt even give us a $25 service talking about full service my a**...idk we have another groupon but idk about going that far anymore im talking about 1.25 hr drive for crappy service... Plus we dont have to tip if we dont want to. Groupon says we should not that we have to...this place robbed us...well the.waiter did bc I gave her what she wanted her tip to be dum...im not poor but she didnt deserve it more like the busboy did for his hard work..k read more

This was our second visit to the place. The staff was very friendly and the food was awesome .We came over from a groupon offer for a pre fixe dinner for two and it was delightful. Drinks from the bar were well poured and timing of food was perfect :) read more

The food omg is amazing.. We went for a work Christmas party. I had the pork tenderloin and my husband had the top sirloin. Both were soooo good. We are sooo going there again. All I can say is YUMMMMM!! read more

Been here for one hour and only had our appetizers served. We waited 30 mins before a server took our order. Not impressed. Do not recommend for Mother's Day. read more

My mom came to visit from Ohio, and I wanted to take her out to a nice dinner on a budget. I alway scour Groupon, and I came across a deal for an appetizer, soup or salad for each of us, an entree, desert, and coffee/tea. It was 60 dollars total, which is an excellent price considering most of their entree's alone are nearly 30 a piece. Over all, this was an excellent experience, especially for the price. We had the appetizer which was called "Feuillette" it was a light pastry, filled with a cream sauce and asparagus. Very tasting, though the cream sauce was a little strong for my taste. My mom loved it though. I ordered the caesar salad, and she had the french onion soup. I give 5 stars to the soup, 4 stars to the salad (I would have preferred to have some fresh cheese on top, which I didn't see or taste), over all it was still very good. We both ordered the New York Steak, which was excellent! I don't usually like "sauce" on my steak, but this was amazing, you could tell it had been simmering all day, the pepper corns were very tender and the sauce was infused with so much flavor. The sides of vegetables were pretty good, but I was already pretty full from the other items that I focused more on the steak. We paired dinner with a bottle of cabernet saviougn, which went great with it all. For dessert, I got the Souffle, and my mom got the creme brule, both AMAZING. I HIGHLY recommend the soufflé. Our server was very knowledgeable, friendly and fun all at the same time. I would say that the customer service actually went above and beyond what I expect at a restaurant (and customer service is what I go for first, without that a restaurant is nothing) Another side note, its a very small place, maybe 15 tables or so... very intimate and gives you a family owned feel. I highly recommend it! read more

Our 2nd time and this was as good as the first time. The food was excellent, the service was excellent and the ambiance of course is excellent. We had a wonderful time and are looking forward to our 3rd visit there very soon! read more

Fantastic service and perfectly prepared meal. Every course was perfect. We ordered a Caesar that the waiter brought out the best anchovies ever! For the main course we had the.Sea Bass that was devine. The best seafood dish we've ever jard, buttery melt in your mouth delicious!!!! For desert we had the CB with friut...wow!!! We highly recommend this wonderful find of a restaurant. Waiter was amazing and helpful! read more

The food is so-so. The Escargot was not made the traditional French way but it was good. Their duck was pretty good. The seabass was so-so. We had the soufle which I thought was a bit too cakie. This place is not cheap so I'm not really sure it's worth the price we paid. Also, don't go there on a hot day, like 90+ degree. The dining room was freakin hot. read more

Had a very enjoyable 40th anniversary dinner! My husband ordered the veal chop which was delicious & my steak was cooked perfectly. Our waitress, Vickie was wonderful. When I go out I hate being rushed, we ordered our wine & we were able to just sit, relax & enjoy w/o being pushed to order. Let's face it, when we go out for a special occasion we do not want to be home in an hour! We had a 2 1/2 dinner with a wonderful meal & perfect service! We will be back! read more

This is a hidden gem in a great harbor. Consistently great food. Juan was so helpful and friendly. Salmon and sirloin was excellent. Dessert was great great!!! read more

Quaint little restaurant with amazing wines! Nice that's it's near the harbor, we had a great time here. Barbera was wonderful, extremely personable and went above and beyond to make it special. Thank you! read more

Good food and nice decor! Service was very good and reasonably priced. Thanks! read more

I loved this place. I don't remember it being 4$ expensive... But then again I went there mostly with a boy. Lobster bisque was superb, mouthwatering really. Loved their escargot and dessert there is fantastic. They had the cutest french music and little bar. The whole area was so cute and sweet. I believe it's own and run by a small local family because the same boy who was the bartender was the waiter and busboy, he was delightful. I just love this place and I adore the food. read more

Food was great but there was nobody there. Our so the ambiance wasn't great. server was an awesome French woman who took excellent care of us. We loved her. read more

We also used an Groupon, which was a good deal. There is a special menu for Groupons. We have eaten here before without a Groupon, a little pricey, but I love their sauces. We also had the asparagus pastry and it was delicious. The potato leek soup was delicious too (I haven't tasted a can of soup like this). My steak was rare, but delicious. I loved the sauce. And, my souffle was perfect. We went on a Tuesday and it wasn't busy. The service was perfect. Their wine list and glasses of wine were reasonable. Good French cuisine. read more

Dinned at this Resturant for mother's day , had 4 course champagne brunch . Cosy Atmosphere , service can improve , food was Average. They charged my two kids as adult price and once I mentioned they changed the bill . Two lemonade for $9!! read more

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Each ingredient is cooked with expert perfection rarely found. This chef understands the pure artistry of bringing out the flavor of foods rather than cover up the tastes of food like so many restaurants sadly do. The souffle is divine! read more

My husband and I go to Gemmell's about once a month.... We love.... the food... I get either the sea bass or halibit... I love the spinach salad and the best part... the souffle... my fav........... read more

Such a horrible place! Made reservation, then came to the restaurant. There were no host/hostess, and the waiters just ignored us. We stood uncomfortably for 10 minutes until the manager came out. Food was terrible. Service was terrrible for what supposed to be fine dining. It's not worth it even with the Groupon. My advice to you - stay away from this place! read more

Excellent service. Wonderfully prepared food. Overall, a very enjoyable evening.

My wife and I had had a great anniversary lunch here. Great food and service. My wife said the French Onion soup was the best she's had! read more

Gemmell's Restaurant - French Onion Soup - French Near Me - Dana Point, California

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We had an Open Table Focus certificate (no longer available due to a legal issue). We decided to use it for a leisurely Saturday lunch, since the $50 minimum left a lot of room for fun things in addition to the entrees. There were a half dozen mostly middle aged (including us) parties in mid-afternoon. The service was timely, courteous and attentive. We decided on plain Caesar salads (by request - no chicken), one split lobster bisque and entrees. The (better quality bag type) rolls arrived a little too crusty from the warmer but soft and fresh inside, with nice little butter balls. The salads were generous, chilled, crisp and flavored with all the right things, including just the right amount of anchovy. There were no croutons or fresh parmesan, but the rolls were crisp. The bisque was creamy-rich and nicely redolent of sherry. It was really an excellent tomato bisque with just a touch of lobster. The pasta was al dente, rich with a kind of white sauce, not exactly what we expected as "buerre blanc" - more like Alfredo with some sherry. The flavor was excellent with just-right veggies on top. The whitefish was a thin completely boneless filet fried crispy and sauced with a wonderful sherry butter. (I cook whitefish and appreciate the amount of trouble it must have been to remove or carve around all the little pectoral bones). Yes it was well-done (being thin) but not too dry. It was served with the same veggies as the pasta, in a butter sauce, along with a wonderful little puree of some kind (carrot? squash?) which saved the day, since both the yellow and green squash chunks were very bitter and the cauliflower had black spots on the crown. This place is all about butter and cream! Their use of wine is nice. We enjoyed it overall but probably won't become regulars because of the extreme richness. Bottom lines: Food quality variable from two to four stars. For us, service was excellent but with two on staff it could get slow at peak times. Decor is just fine with us, not trendy but sort of provincial with nice art on the walls, music just right, everything clean and well taken care of. read more

For my mom's 92nd birthday we went to Gemmell's for dinner. There were six of us for dinner. I had purchased on Amazon a Prix Fix dinner for four. I arranged everything in advance and also had everyone order from the Prix Fix menu. The food and the service was excellent. Not one person in our group complained about anything! The food, desserts, wines all were great. We arrived at 7:15 on a Tuesday night and closed up the place. No one rushed us and we just had a great celebration. We used to go here often. Now that we have found Gemmell's again, we will be returning more often. read more

15 of our dining group enjoyed our evening here. Casual elegance. Their food and service were outstanding. The group raved about the Jon Dorey, the duck, wilted spinach salad, sand dabs, salmon. Unlike other French restaurants, the portions were perfect size, and my meal was served very hot the way I like it. And the souffle was to die for. read more

My husband and I were looking for a new restaurant to try and came across Gemmels. We were pleasantly surprised by the delicious food. I tried a Shrimp Cocktail basically, it had a fancy name and they unfortunately we're out of the Lobster Bisque so my husband had the French Onion Soup. I was extremely happy with my choice there were 5 extra large shrimp I with a wonderful sauce, and the soup was delish! For dinner we had a Top Sirloin Steak and Shrimp Provencale. My husband said his steak had perfect flavor with the sauce. The fresh warm rolls were very good as well. We will be back, though a bit pricey well worth it. read more

Great hidden secret with amazing food. This place is amazing. I have tried most of the menu and you just cant go wrong with anything you order. amazing sauces and dressings!!! read more