Great food great place to watch the games met the owner Jon and he brought out their infamous clam chowder. Absolutely wonderful. Very friendly staff excellent food all around. We had the poke extremely fresh and satiating. Kind people all around Best lobster roll in Dana point highly recommend if you're craving seafood and warm vibes. read more

Came to Dana Point to spoil my family, looking forward to going to Jon's fish market, only to find that it closed 3 months ago :( was looking for fresh grilled fish that was similar, and this restaurant popped up. Let me tell you- the unplanned is always the best! I had been wanting to try it but knowing the other locations had hard parking, and man oh man, one of my favorite meals and so well priced! 1. Red snapper with veggies and mushrooms. Wow! The fish was so full of flavor even before the sauce, well portioned, well priced. And the veggies were filling and cooked to perfection! 2. Fish and chips - have been on a mission to find good fish and chips- the fish was huge, tasty and meaty! Just a bit oily, but still YUMMY! Service: Corrina seriously is the reason I am writing this review! As I was frustrated with the parking situation by the harbor and just tired, she turned around my mood! She was so passionate and joyful about what she does and the food she serves! And she gave us the lowdown on the whole construction situation in Dana point! Thank you for your amazing service!!! Lastly: the inside is so pretty, inviting, and spread out and clean! Def will be back!! Thank you! read more

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Came on a Friday afternoon and saw that they had Happy Hour pricing available so told the hostess up front (I read that if you don't specify then you may not get seated in the happy hour section and they may deny ordering from Happy hour, so we had no issues when I specified to the hostess). Got the: 1) lobster deviled eggs: 10/10, what sets a great deviled egg apart from mediocre ones is the filling, and the filling was absolutely scrumptious. 3 egg halves came with a lobster leg piece each. 2) crab cake: 5/10, never been a huge fan of crab cakes and unfortunately this did not change my mind either. It was still fishy and we ended up using the lemon for the cocktail shrimp on the crab cakes. Definitely will not get again. It's disappointing as seafood from Hook and Anchor is usually higher quality than this. 3) cocktail shrimp: 10/10, Interesting presentation on ice rather than a glass. 6 pieces of large juicy crispy shrimp with delicious cocktail sauce, and I love that they even added an extra dollop of horseradish because I love cocktail sauce with a good kick! 4) 6oz lobster roll: 8/10, the Newport Beach location gets a 10/10 for me because at this location: - The lobster was not very warm by the time it came to the table. - It looked deceivingly overflowing, but they actually did not fill the bottom half of the roll, so if you stuffed it all the way in, then it was just barely filling the roll. - mostly leg pieces and some of them were on the small side TLDR: great for happy hour (be sure to specify happy hour to the hostess to be able to order at the correct seat) but not up to par to the Newport Beach location. read more

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Being from Palm Springs, My partner and I frequently visit Dana Point during the summer as it is much cooler and decided to try this new restaurant for dinner this past Saturday after reading great reviews on Yelp. While the food and service were excellent, we wanted to share some feedback regarding our dining experience. We had emailed in advance to request a booth, as we prefer them for comfort. However, upon arrival, the hostess informed us that the booths were already reserved for regulars or parties larger than two. We were instead seated at a table in the middle of the restaurant, which felt crowded and uncomfortable due to the high foot traffic. On a positive note, our server, Karina, was wonderful. She was extremely helpful in guiding us through the menu. The award-winning clam chowder, the fish and chips, and the lobster carbonara were all delicious. We did notice that the tables around us were served rolls and butter, but we did not receive any. Not sure if bread is standard or available upon request? Thank you for a great meal, and we hope to visit again during our next trip to Dana Point, hopefully as returning customers, we can get a comfortable booth, but we won't hold our breaths. read more

Hook & Anchor - 3 piece Fish & Chips - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Lobster deviled eggs ,shrimp cocktail , Clam chowder and fried calamari fingers. Washing it down with Modelo and Hartford Court Chard. Hubby enjoying Happy hour @Hook n Anchor Joe kept our table full of eats. read more

Hook & Anchor - Happy guy enjoying happy hour at Hook n Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Paid by card. Hook & Anchor is located in a plaza and offers some street and some plaza parking. I went here on a Saturday night with a party of 8 and had to wait about 15 min to be seated. I had no issues ordering and the server came around frequently to check on the party. I ordered the 4oz lobster roll and wished I had gotten the larger one since it was so good. I would definitely recommend this place and would go back. read more

Hook & Anchor - 4oz lobster roll. Get the 6 oz!! - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

I am posting this review a little late but I still wanted to post it. My husband and I had been wanting to try Hook & Anchor for a while and we made it in 4 days before they celebrated their 1 year anniversary of opening. We knew they served lobster rolls and I had not eaten a lobster roll since I was in Maine several years ago. We were seated pretty quickly even though the place was busy. We went on a Friday night. The experience started off a little questionable. The host asked us if we wanted water when he sat us but then sort of disappeared. Our waiter was busy, and it took a while for him to get over to us. I actually had to call him over to get water. We waited a little longer for the water to come. It was just getting to the point of annoying, but then things changed. Once the waiter came with our water, we were able to put in our drink and appetizer order. We ordered the appetizer right away with the drinks because of how long the service was taking at that point. When the waiter came back with our drinks and then our appetizer, he was friendly and attentive. He apologized for the wait and made sure we had what we needed from that point on. The Food... I ordered the Tuna Poke stack and it was tasty; fresh and flavorful. My husband ordered the fresh oysters and he happily ate them all. This restaurant is known for its fresh oysters and lobster rolls. For the entrees: I ordered the lobster roll. NOT disappointed. Absolutely delicious. My husband ordered steak. I forgot to take pic before we started eating but you will see that we loved our meal. The ambiance is nice. There is outside and inside eating. Being only a few blocks from the beach, it is a great place to savor an awesome meal! read more

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We've been to the other Hook & Anchor locations starting with Newport and then Costa Mesa, but this was our first time visiting the Dana Point location -- and it did not disappoint! Beautiful restaurant with great outdoor seating. My family and I sat outside and it was very peaceful and relaxing. The service was excellent, and Karina, our server, was awesome from start to finish. We ordered the Oysters Rockefeller, which were amazing, along with the Connecticut-style lobster roll and the lobster carbonara. Both were absolutely 5-star dishes. The lobster roll was cooked to perfection with the warm butter sauce, and the lobster carbonara had incredible flavor throughout. My kids got the cheeseburger and fries, and I have to say, for a kids meal the cheeseburger was surprisingly meaty and very tasty. The fries were perfectly crispy as well. Highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area! read more

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After having this place bookmarked forever, we finally got to try it on our way up from SD and it did not disappoint! We were able to catch happy hour which goes from 3-5pm in the patio and bar area. Patio was perfect to enjoy the great sunny weather and the live music playing next door. The food: -clam chowder 10/10. You need to order this. So good, even our daughter had it for the first time and loved it! -crab cakes 7/10. Light batter and you can really taste the crab meat. I think the side corn/salad could have a little more zing to really bring out some flavor. -calamari fries 7/10. Light batter, minimally seasoned. Which would be perfect if the tartar sauce was better. I prefer a little more relish but the one here leans a bit more creamy/mayo-y. So everything tasted a bit bland/monotone. -surf and turf 8/10. Steak was so soft and you can taste the smokiness/char on it. Lobster was good. Sides were good. Solid dish! The service was also wonderful! They came by at all the right times to check on us. Not so often to be bothersome and not absent where we'd have to wave someone down for something. We were able to find free street parking in front of the restaurant since we came at an odd hour. Would definitely recommend! read more

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After a long day at Baby Beach, we decided to stop in for some fish and chips. We got there at the perfect time because happy hour had just started, and it wasn't too busy. We were greeted right away, and our server was attentive, funny, and made the experience even better. We ordered the lobster mac and cheese, the tuna poke stack, and the fish and chips. Honestly, everything was exactly what we were craving. The lobster mac and cheese was rich and creamy, and the panko gave it the perfect crispy topping. The pasta was just a little more al dente than I prefer, but other than that, no complaints. The tuna poke stack with the wonton chips was so refreshing and full of flavor. The fish and chips tasted incredibly fresh with the perfect amount of seasoning, and the tartar sauce tied everything together. Safe to say there weren't any leftovers! read more

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Publish a menu with no pricing. Douchy behavior. Not gonna get out business. Do better! read more

First time here celebrating a friends bday! We were in the mood for seafood and love the Dana point area! Restaurant is super cute beach vibes and the staff is friendly. We each ordered a drink mine was yummy and summery. I ordered the lobster roll which was delicious and also paired it with Parmesan fries! My friend had a pasta dish that she loved! For her bday treat the owner brought out their famous bread pudding with ice cream! Jon the owner was walking around checking on staff, introduced himself to us and left us his business card! You can tell with that kind of hospitality he really cares about his business. We will be back and so glad we found this gem! read more

Hook & Anchor - Yummy drink - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Very impressed with this newer restaurant. The Scallops were great, my wife's seafood risotto was delicious, well be back.:) :) Thank you read more

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這家以龍蝦堡聞名的餐廳，上個禮拜我又有機會跟朋友一起過來了，上次我點的是四盎司的，回去我查過資料是$33 ，這一次點的是六盎司的，一份是$49，說實話這算是高價的龍蝦堡，但是因為他們在海邊，也對得起這價格啦，我還點了可可湯，東西其實非常的好吃，我們去的時候也都是客滿的，如果你很喜歡吃龍蝦堡，這一家就是你不能錯過的地方 read more

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What brought me here was a YT video touting their lobster rolls as being one of the best ever eaten, so of course I had to come and try it out. So, we came by all the way to try out their Happy Hour (3-5pm) as the rest of the group wanted their beer and wine to go with their bites. Located in a small'ish shopping center, parking is limited, but it was raining this day, so there was still a few good parking spots available. The restaurant itself is a nice modern casual, nicely decorated, with a bar, outdoor patio seating with a big screen TV and heat lamps. We chose to sit indoors. We were immediately greeted by a nice and friendly bartender/server who informed us that happy hour diners sit in the bar area....which was fine with us as we found a nice corner bar table. The happy hour menu looked really good as it had everything we all enjoyed.....so, we went ahead and ordered yhr Calamari Fries, Shrimp Cocktail, Crab Cakes, Lobster Deviled Eggs, 3pc Fish & Chips, and a couple of the 6oz (available in 4oz) Lobster Rolls.....along with some wine and beers for everybody else. First off, I must agree with the YT reviewer about the lobster rolls being one of the best ever.....they certainly were! I'd even go with these over the really yummy ones I had in Boston last year! The lobster meat was fresh, plump, and tasted great with a dip of the butter sauce provided. To hold all that precious and yummy lobster meat, the roll was perfectly buttered up, grilled, giving that really nice light crunch on the outside, with a nice and warm fluffy inside......everything worked so well together, which made for this so perfectly delicious lobster roll!....no, this was not on the happy hour menu, but we ordered it anyway. The calamari fries were also excellent.....perfectly fresh, tender, with a nice light crunch on the outside breading....and went great with the kethcup, tartar sauce, and lemon wedge provided. Everything else was very good too, but we did have an issue with the fish and chips being a bit dry for our taste....which was redone and came out excellent the second time round, and the crab cakes were a bit cold upon serving, but everything was absolutely taken care of to our complete satisfaction. We had the opportunity to interact with the chef/owner, manager, and we so happy to see them so absolutely determined on making their guests happy and completely satisfied..... they went way over and beyond our expectations with their great customer service, friendliness, and professionalism. Myself and my group loved our expererience here and are so happy to have found this place......and it wasn't the alcohol talking :).....so much so that we absolutely plan to come back again......very pleasant ambiance, great service, and excellent food.....what else can anyone ask for. read more

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The cioppino is to die for! I was sick with the flu and ordered this to be picked up (by my boyfriend as I kept my sick self at home) and I'm pretty dang sure this cioppino single handedly cured me. Such flavorful broth, a good amount of seafood chunks in there, and the perfect portion size. Happy to have found Hook & Anchor! This review was made in connection with a Toast promotion for Toast community appreciation week [Hook & Anchor did not ask me to write this review] read more

Amazing quality, really fresh and good food. I love the heirloom tomato salad. The salmon was devoured by our kids! The scallops were perfectly seared. Every dish we have ordered has been terrific. The only negative is the chairs at the tables aren't that comfortable - very hard. They have only a few booths that look padded but we have never gotten seated there and we have gone now 3 x... read more

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My wife and I decided to visit here during happy hour. Their happy hour beers are very reasonable at $5 and I decided to order a Mission Lager. For food, we ordered the ceviche, crab cakes, lobster devilled eggs, and shrimp cocktail. All four dishes were excellent, with very fresh ingredients, and okay-sized happy hour portion sizes with prices to match. Of the four dishes, the ceviche was the best. The fish mixed with diced tomatoes and arugula and served with chips really worked as a dish. Our second favorite dish was the lobster devilled eggs. Those three eggs went down very easily. Our waiter was very friendly and helpful. The restaurant had a very nice, pleasant buzz to it and the patio, where we sat, was full when we visited. While happy hour prices were reasonable, dinner did look pricey based on my glance at the menu. I would definitely return for happy hour. read more

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Our waitress Tanya is absolutely delightful and I wish I could say the same for my ciopinno but it was lacking so much flavor. The lobster add on for $14 was ridiculously overpriced. Bf loved his chowder and seafood pasta so I'm the odd one out as always haha. Note to all food servers on the planet, please do NOT wear perfume as it affects the senses and changes the taste of food. I would definitely come back for happy hour which is every day from 4-6 pm. read more

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Amazing cute little place! I loved coming here. It was delicious. We ate the calamari, poke and lobster deviled eggs so quickly that I could only take a picture of the empty plates. Kaysha and Kim were great. Do come and enjoy the ambiance! read more

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Loved the happy hour at the patio. The atmosphere was full of happy people. The Shrimp Cocktail, Ceviche, Crab Cakes, and Lobster Deviled Eggs were delightful! Portions were just right too. Service was quick. read more

Hook & Anchor - Shrimp Cocktail on ice - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Food and service outstanding. Only serve fresh fish. Great location for parking. Oysters great. Never had a bad meal. Outstanding lobster. Pricey but excellent read more

The service and ambiance were great -- expect to make new friends while you are there! The food was exceptional!! All ingredients were very fresh, the food was artistically arranged, and it tasted absolutely incredible. We will definitely be back! Bonus -- the happy hour has a lot of choices and it was very generous. You can even bring your own wine for a corkage fee. read more

Hook & Anchor - One of 3 deviled eggs with lobster. Delicious happy hour! - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

If you're in the area... you NEED to try Hook & Anchor Everything was so good, but that bread pudding?! Next level. I'm still thinking about it. read more

What a phenomenal meal--and even better service. From the hosts, to the waitstaff, to Vincent, our busser, everyone was warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. They were especially accommodating with my father's walker, which was greatly appreciated. The poke appetizer and salads were excellent, and the fish and chips were absolutely incredible--perfectly crisp on the outside, yet moist and flaky on the inside. The lobster roll deserves all the praise it receives. One bite and it's easy to understand why it's considered one of the best in the state. And the cioppino? Spectacular. Light and delicate, yet somehow packed with rich, layered flavor at the same time. A beautifully balanced dish. Exceptional food, outstanding hospitality, and a wonderful dining experience from start to finish. We love this place and will definitely be back. read more

This poor location has had so many restaurant. I'm glad to see Hook an Anchor here and hope that they can make it. The service here is excellent and I love the ambience as well. Very casual, coastal yet still elegant. Our server was excellent, I'm sorry I don't remember his name, but he did a great job. Unfortunately, the food was good, but not particularly memorable. We tried the crabcakes, the lobster roll, and the cioppino with added pasta. None of the items were as flavorful or like I said memorable. It's worth a one time try but that's it. read more

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Good place! Of course came for the seafood. I will say it is a little steeply priced for what you get. I ordered the Newport salad- it was great- but small portions of lobster, crab and got three shrimp for $27... The side of the parmesan fries were good- didn't expect the thicker pieces of cheese. Overall good spot to go to and the owner is so kind. read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Today was my husband and my 34th wedding anniversary. My husband asked me where I wanted to go and Hook & Anchor was my first choice. My husband and I have dined here three times and this was our fourth. We ate here on our 33rd anniversary which was last year. To be honest I am the most difficult customer to please when it comes to eating out in a restaurant. I'm always worried about getting ill from food poisoning, eating food laced with msg and many other things. I was so excited about our dinner tonight that I am taking the time to write this review as soon as I got home. Our waitress was excellent, the food superb, the wine delicious and the manager was so wonderful. I had the clam chowder that was out of this world, scallops with the mushroom medley and grilled veggies and it was 5 star all the way and I highly recommend this restaurant for sea food!! I can honestly say that there is no restaurant in Dana Point that comes close to Hook & Anchor. The restaurant manager brought us bread pudding with ice cream, blended raspberries and blackberries it was amazing!! I don't really like bread pudding but it was fantastic! If you are looking for a restaurant to try you need to go to Hook & Anchor!! read more

Hubby & I came here for late lunch today. Ambiance had a chill relaxing vibe. We sat in the patio since the weather was nice. I've been wanting to try this place for quite some time now & so glad we did bc everything we had including the drinks were spot on. The drinks were pricey but that's the reality these days. The Bloody Mary & gin cocktail (cloud clover) catered well to our taste buds. The lobster deviled eggs were so good. The oysters were fresh & the kama wings had a nice soft crisp. I'm not into fried food but since I like yellowtail collar, I thought why not try something different. I was impressed that the breading on top wasn't thick, oily, or overly crispy. The fish was moist. The only issue I had was I bit into a lot of fish bones. I really like that their menu had a variety of different options for both seafood lovers & non seafood lovers. Service was excellent. I highly recommend this place. I look forward to coming back to try their other items on the menu next time. read more

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Finally!!! A super fun beachy new restaurant in Dana point ! We absolutely loved our experience. The decor is a deep nautical theme, which we love. The food is really good . We had the seafood pasta and one of their burgers . I think the best thing of all was their oysters. My favorite are from Virginia so damn good. The tuna tower was yummy . And as an extra bonus because it's right next to Hennessey, you get to hear some of the live music . We sat outside so it was extra special. The service is five star. Dog, friendly, and plenty of parking. read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Honestly, a pretty solid meal overall and a decent experience. It's been a little while since we've been to this location. We usually pop in for some fish and chips and the seafood salad. Tonight was a little different. Yes we did get the fish and chips, but then we tried the crabcake with the side salad. I was disappointed to find out that they were out of Pepsi due to some carbonation problem. The crabcakes were OK. I didn't feel that they tasted or had too much crab or crab flavor. They came on top of a green or frisé salad with a a light dressing/vinaigrette. They were OK. I probably would not order those again. The fish and chips are also just OK. This time they were excessively greasy and looked darker than usual almost like the batter was soaking up extra grease. They tasted OK. Service was very friendly but a little slow in general overall from everyone. We love the coastal decor, etc. of course we're gonna come back. I love the seafood salad and the clam chowder. I should've gone ahead and tried the scallop entrée tonight. Next time I will. read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Hook & Anchor has been on my list of restaurants that I wanted to try for months. We came to dinner on a Thursday and this place was busy. We opted to go sit at the bar. Our bartender was friendly and since it was our first time he suggested the clam chowder. I and clam chowder ordered the crab cake, off the appetizer menu. I was really disappointed with both items. My soup was cold and the crab cake was lacking flavor. My husband ordered the seafood pasta, which he enjoyed. Service 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 Food 2/5 read more

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Food: 3/5 - got the lobster roll, seafood risotto and clam chowder. Clam chowder was good - large bowl and good quantity. Flavors were good, not too creamy or salty. 4oz lobster roll was on the expensive side, but was well made. Buttery roll, good pieces of lobster. Seafood risotto was only okay - large portion, decent variety of seafood, but the scallop and muscles had sand in them...huge turn off for a seafood restaurant Service: 4/5 - no frills, not much service...refilled water 1-2x, took our orders Ambiance: 4/5 - we had a large party and they were able to accommodate on a Thursday evening. Never once did we feel rushed. read more

Hook & Anchor - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Visited for Happy Hour Service- Reni was awesome! Easy to talk to, personable, knowledgeable, timely. We were mostly drinking but he checked in regularly. The busters were on it and friendly too! Food- ordered the calamari and Fried Green Tomato appetizers. They were fine. Good, not great. Nothing exciting. I did enjoy the pickled onions on the tomatoes, and the sauce was good. It needed more sauce though. The STAR of the show was the Bread Pudding dessert. There's only one dessert option, but it's phenomenal. Order it. Drinks were tasty- Blueberry martini thing, and tried the mezcal Both were great. Very fun atmosphere. I would definitely come back again to try other things. It was an overall good experience. read more

Hook & Anchor - Bread Pudding. - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Was missing Santa Monica seafood and was in the area so decided to try it out! Came here on a Sunday and there was no wait for a table for 2. Ordered 6 Kumamoto oysters $19- fair price and one of my favorite oysters out there!! Loved the mignonette and cocktail sauce, would have loved a little raw horseradish as well though 5/5 Got the hook plate - red snapper in the lemon beurre blanc sauce with mushrooms and seasonal veggies (carrots and zucchini). Would have loved a whole fish (grilled, Italian/ Mediterranean style) but it was good. Not overcooked and good flavor and texture 4/5 Wine- tried a couple and ended up with the muscadet. It was a nice dry white. Was a bit disappointed in the Sancerre, it's usually my favorite for oysters and seafood but it didn't taste like a classic Sancerre. Overall, loved it and would definitely return. Great food for a reasonable price read more

Hook & Anchor - Kumamoto oysters - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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We have been here many times and it does not disappoint. Always fresh, serving size is more than plentiful and service is very good. Kaysha was our server and she is excellent. She doesn't hover but always has an eye on your table. Her demeanor is so pleasant and any accommodations she genuinely tries to make happen. I suggest reservations especially in the summer or go a little early. I had the Halibut , my husband had the Snapper both so yummy! read more

Description: A recent and welcome addition to Dana Point's dining scene, serving delicious seafood as well as some great HH options! Location: Nestled in the La Plaza, right next to Hennessey's Tavern Standout Dishes: Lobster Roll, Calamari Fries, Crab Cakes Vibe: Casual-elegant. Although it can't quite match the ambiance of Glasspar down the street, the food quality here is superior. Food Quality: Delicious and beautifully presented seafood dishes with robust flavors. Only thing I would avoid is the ceviche, but other than that, you can't really go wrong with any pick. Value: Standard value for a beach town. The value is in some of their HH items. I believe an order of crab cakes is the same portion as the dinner portion but at a fraction of the normal price! Tips: Happy Hour (3pm - 5pm everyday at the bar or patio) offers great deals on oysters, select starters (get the calamari fries!), and cocktails (their version of the margarita is quite good) Parking Plenty of plaza and street parking available. read more

Hook & Anchor - Calamari Fries - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Service was above expectations. They asked us if we wanted to do happy hour at our 12:45 reservation time. We politely opted for lunch indoors and had a good time. Definitely more fun in the evening as this is a bar ambience but nevertheless there are diners there for lobster and more lobster! We will be back for dinner at the bar in the future! read more

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It was pretty good overall. The 6oz lobster roll was good but left me feeling hungry; that was after the crab cakes which were more cake than crab. The $9 sides were less than acceptable. The fries which were ordered extra crispy, were soggy. They pushed cocktails extra hard. It was an expensive meal that felt OK, but we had to move on as a "progressive meal" somewhere else to make the dinner complete. Come with an open wallet and a small tummy, or plan on supplementing somewhere else. I would not come back. read more

Stopped by after work to check this place out. No happy hour on a Thursday evening at 5pm. Sat at the bar. Had a margarita. It was good. Ordered a couple appetizers. The cauliflower steak was delicious and the calamari was good too! Nice staff. They have a nice dining area out front. read more

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