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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.
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.
Went to Hook & Anchor in Dana Point Friday Night. I just went for drinks. It had a chill vibe. Nick was a chill and amazing bartender. The drinks were delicious. I got the Cloud Clover, which had Tom Cat Gin, Rosemary Syrup, Lemon, Dry Vermouth, and egg white. It was a tropical drink. It was a refreshing martini. Great for the hot weather. I also had a Tito's dirty martini, which is always good. I love getting extra filthy. I also sipped the salt n sea margarita. It was a strong margarita. They have very good happy hour drinks and food. They also have NFL Monday happy hour. They have amazing food and drink options. You can find them at 34091 LA PLAZA, Dana Point, CA 92629.
Really enjoyed eating here after a long day of work. The food was excellent and the service even better. Even the manager came by and checked in on how we were doing. They seated our party of 5 quickly and didn't rush us even though they were busy. The place was clean and comfortable and I would definitely come back.
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.
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.
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!
I give Taylor and this place a five star review for the customer service, ambience, food, and everything! Very fair prices for the happy hour and highly recommend!
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!
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!
Perfection! This one word sums up my experience at Hook & Anchor in Dana Point, CA. Voted the #1 Lobster Roll in CA, Hook & Anchor legitimately deserves this bragging right! I had THE BEST Maine Lobster Roll (Connecticut style 6 oz), I have ever eaten! The lobster was so tender, sweet, buttery and perfectly prepared. The roll was absolutely melt in your mouth on the inside, but slightly grilled with a hint of crunch on the outside. The cocktails were excellent, and the Bread Pudding topped with vanilla ice cream, strawberry and caramel sauces, blackberries and strawberries, was a perfect ending to dinner. Thank you to Karina the bartender and the chef for delivering perfection!
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!
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
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
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
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
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
5 months ago
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
4 months ago
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
4 months ago
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
Took a minute to be greeted when we walked in on a slow rainy Sunday night. We seated with a smile once they finally saw us. Saw three staff members all kind. Terrific service from Taylor. Even gave us local info for our visit, and she was passionate about her business and love for food! I didn't like the oysters rockerfeller here but loved the lobster roll and I don't usually like them! The clam chowder was also tasty. Nice clean casual ambiance and easy parking. I'd come back. I hope this business makes it, it's new. Show some support! :) 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
Had a yummy dinner at Hook and Anchor the other day! The food was delicious - we ordered the lobster roll with fries and the Halibut with veg and fries. The veg could have been cooked a bit longer. The drinks we ordered were good however it was disappointing that the first two drinks we wanted to order they couldn't make (i believe out of ingredients for the beverage)- seems like normal growing pains of a new restaurant. Our server was super kind but we went very extended periods of time where we didn't see her and we had to ask someone else or try to get her attention several times for something (water refill; the bill)- thankfully my friend and i had a lot to chat about so we weren't in a rush but i can imagine some more attentiveness for others would be much desired. Overall a positive experience for a new restaurant and the menu is worth it! read more
Service was friendly and helpful, with an especially welcoming server. The décor is very cool--nautical-themed with great artwork on the walls. The food was just as amazing. The lobster deviled eggs were spot-on, and the crab cake was packed with crab. The clam chowder was tasty, though it could have used more clams. Overall, it was a very pleasant experience, and I would definitely return if I'm in the area. read more
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
Completely impressed by my meal at Hook & Anchor, especially since it's only been open for a couple of weeks! I was a little worried that there would be some opening issues, but everything was great! I have been wanting to go to Hook & Anchor in Costa Mesa for their lobster roll, so I had to order it here. It was stuffed with claw meat and came with fries. I would have been perfectly satisfied with my choice until I tried the crab cakes and the scallops. Both of those dishes were even better! The crab cakes were mostly crab meat, with very little filler, and were among the best I've ever had! The scallops were cooked perfectly and came with two sides. Someone ordered a side of the cauliflower puree. It was good, but the serving was extremely tiny for $8. They have a great selection of beer, including several from local breweries. Service was very attentive. I was impressed to see the restaurant as new as it was, bustling on a Saturday night. Hook & Anchor is definitely in my top three restaurants in Dana Point! read more
2 months ago
Service was fantastic, oysters were fresh and appetizers were on point and tasty. I would recommend. Atmosphere was nice and casual as well. read more
1 month ago
11 months ago
Amazing food! The fresh oysters are great, but honestly, the oyster Rockefeller was truly divine! Best I've ever had, no joke. Deviled eggs with lobster were interesting, but not my fav. The clam chowder, so much yum! Can't forget the lobster rolls....absolutely loaded with fresh tasty lobster. Great seating indoors and outside on the patio, even looked like they had a couch/lounge area outside to enjoy the weather with a group while being comfy as can be. Would def recommend trying this place :) read more
2 months ago
great outdoor seating and some fantastic service i loved our waitress! i loved how close to the shore we were it was just an overall good setting. the food was great, i would recommend the oysters!! great happy hour read more
8 months ago
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1 year ago
First time here and did not disappoint! I had the scallops, puréed cauliflower and vegetables. The scallops were perfect! Sauce was excellent. My husband had the shrimp Alfredo. Such an enjoyable evening made even better by our most excellent server Lenny! Also great wine list! read more
1 month ago
1 year ago
If you like lobster, that is the place! We came for dinner, as my wife loves lobster rolls. She visited this restaurant for the second time and still thinks these lobster rolls are the best in the area. I went a different route and went for the Seafood Risotto and added a half lobster tail to it. It was delicious! The added lobster tail was very reasonable at $14, compared with other restaurants. The service was excellent. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. We were sitting outside, which is nice. It is relatively quiet, as it is not right on the main street. Absolutely, a place we will come back to. read more
2 months ago
7 months ago
"Came for happy hour, stayed for the seafood and cocktails. Everything was fresh, the drinks were great, and the service was awesome. Let's just say happy hour did its job." read more
7 months ago
First time here. What a gem!! First of all Happy Hour 7 days a week! Great lobster rolls. You can tell someone in that kitchen takes pride in what they are serving! Chef driven for sure!! Loved everything we ordered. Must visit! You won't be sorry! read more
7 months ago
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8 months ago
7 months ago
Stopped in for a quick drink. Well made martini and a friendly bartender named Hunter served us. You could tell that he is passionate about his craft! We will be back again! read more
3 months ago
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1 year ago
Exceptional food, great patio vibes, hosts welcomed us upon arrival and were very friendly. Our service was excellent and attentive. This is our second time coming to hook and anchor and we absolutely love it! Our first time we got the ceviche, I got cioppino with pasta and my husband got the hook plate with potatoes and veggies and the lemon caper sauce. SO good I didn't have any photos from that visit other than the cioppino. Last night we went with a friend and we once again ordered the ceviche, got lobster deviled eggs which were soooo good and the chefs caprese to split. My friend and I ordered the carbonara and my husband got the lobster roll, it was soooo tasty that even the table next to us looked at our table and asked what we got! My husband and I went to Maine this summer and he said this was by far the best lobster roll he had so far. I could not recommend this place more, high quality food and lobster. read more
9 months ago
Everything was SOO good! The food came out quick, hot & fresh. We had the lobster roll, ceviche, clam chowder, oysters, lobster deviled eggs, everything was phenomenal. Our waitress & everyone that came by our table was extremely friendly. We'll be back sooner than later because we're already craving every item we had read more
3 months ago
More info about Hook & Anchor
34091 La Plaza
Dana Point, CA 92629
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(949) 312-2799
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http://hooknanchor.com
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Ask the Community - Hook & Anchor
Is Happy Hour offered? If yes, what days and times? TIA
Happy Hour everyday. Drinks from 3pm-5pm. Food 4pm-5pm. https://www.hookandanchordanapoint.com/happyhour-dana-point
