If you're looking for authentic, fantastic Mexican food in San Juan Capistrano, El Zabandeja is…read moreabsolutely worth your time. This is the kind of place where the food speaks for itself. As a local gringo, sure--I wouldn't mind a few pictures on the menu--but honestly, it doesn't matter. Just pick something and go for it. Everything I've tried has been excellent, and you really can't go wrong. What makes it even better is that it's truly family-owned and operated. And I mean that literally--you'll see them in the front, in the back, and serving tables. There's something special about that level of care and pride in what they're doing. It's incredibly important to support places like this, especially in South Orange County and particularly in San Juan Capistrano. Restaurants like this are what give the area its character. Take your time when you go--make it a date night or bring family when they're in town. If you want real, authentic, fantastic food, this is the spot.

The seafood was fresh and full of flavor, and everything tasted very well prepared. I highly…read morerecommend trying the agua chile con salsa negro -- it had great flavor and was one of my favorite dishes. The camarones a la diabla and camarones al ajillo were also both delicious, well seasoned, and cooked perfectly. If you enjoy seafood, this is definitely a place worth trying. I would gladly come back again.

M-F happy hour IS so bomb!…read more We got pretty much got everything on the happy hour menu. Edamame, fish tacos, burgers, poke nachos, ceviche, and wings. Reasonable price for all of this for just under $45 dollars. We sat outside, so inside we did not get to look all that well. But seemed cozy inside to eat too. The decor was pretty nice too. We had this spot saved on my list from 2 years ago and very happy we came when we did.

Back again and everything was excellent! Tried some happy hour bites along with some main menu…read moreitems:) The clam chowder was perfect this time, potatoes cooked perfectly and a great overall taste to the chowder. Perfect for a cold winter day and we both really enjoyed it. Poke is excellent, the fish is very fresh and I loved the sauce it's served with! We also got some oysters which were a great deal for only $1.50 each, and they were so good! I'm always hesitant with oysters but these were very tasty and fresh! Would definitely get them again. Our favorite item was the tempura shrimp, literally would get an order for each person next time it was that good!! The garlic wings were good too, on our next visit we need to try more of the small bites for happy hour because everything we got was great! For our mains we got the clam steamers and a seafood cioppino. The clam steamers were good and served alongside fries and some tasty bread for dipping. The cioppino wasn't our favorite but we were full from so many tasty things we didn't even mind. Service was fairly quick for how packed they were, literally every table both inside and outside the store were full because everyone was coming for the happy hour. We got a bit of pushback when we asked for a takeout container for the cioppino we didn't eat because staff assumed we wanted to get our happy hour food to go which is not allowed. Once we explained that the 3 happy hour items we ordered were all consumed and cleared from the table and that we wanted the takeout contained for our cioppino, they gave us the box. They also appear to be dog friendly as there were several pups in the outdoor dining area:) We will definitely be back and can't wait to try some new yummy items!

We enjoyed our brunch here and chose this corner spot on a whim. Service is superb from every staff…read moremember from the hostess and everyone who waited on us or thanked us while leaving. Well done!

First time here, no complaints. Great menu, delicious food plus awesome vibe & atmosphere - open…read moreair seating. Clarissa helped us and she was awesome!super helpful and joyful. As San Juan locals , we will definitely visit again

Hostess Shelby was super kind. Server Ruben was great too. Chips and guacamole with fire roasted…read moresalsa were Muy delicioso. Live music on Sunday afternoon!!

When going to or from San Diego we always enjoy stopping by Trevor's…read more Good food, friendly staff and service. We really like the vibe and the outdoor seating. One of our favorites!

We've been to the other Hook & Anchor locations starting with Newport and then Costa Mesa, but this…read morewas 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!

I had heard through social media and reviews that this place has the best lobster roll in Orange…read moreCounty and once again I find all the hype to be inaccurate. The menu looks great, offering what looks to be delicious seafood. And I imagine that they offer great seafood. , just not in the form of a lobster roll. I was born and raised in New England and I know what a Maine style lobster roll is. What they offer here is nothing like a Maine style lobster roll and honestly, it tasted gross.. The iconic Maine lobster roll is made from simple ingredients, It is the perfect combination of mounds of lobster , mayonnaise, and lemon juice maybe a little salt.. served chilled in a toasted bun. Sometimes you get minced celery . What was served to me at Hook and Anchor was a lobster roll served in a brioche bun, and when I looked at it, it looked like it had hot cheese on top of it. But that wasn't cheese.. That was hot garlic mayonnaise, or aoili. I had to eat it with a knife of fork, and the overwhelming flavor is garlic. That's too bad because lobster has a delicate flavor and overpowering it with hot garlic, mayonnaise , it just was not very good It was bad. Again a lobster roll is served cold and that it was hot made it worse. If this is what you serve please don't say it's a Maine style lobster because it absolutely is not. However, we did split a clam chowder and that was delicious so my guess is that they have items on the menu that are good and I probably will go back to try their other entrees But please don't tell people that this is a Maine style lobster roll. And lastly, there is another classic style of lobster., I think that's considered New York, and that is warm a lobster with melted butter, drizzled all through it that I think does have minced celery . This style of lobster roll is decadent and delicious. And I don't understand how people who review lobster rolls on TikTok and Instagram somehow in Orange County don't know what a classic Maine lobster roll is

Shout out to Jordan at the bar, he is an angel. The staff was all very kind and very well trained…read moreon hospitality. What a gorgeous view.

We had such a fun time sitting out on the patio at Rosewood! Such great food and music, and their…read morehappy hour menu was great value. Our server Emma was so kind and had great recommendations. We will absolutely be coming back!

The Boulder and I rolled in on a suspiciously perfect Monday afternoon--clear skies, good vibes,…read moreand my dog in tow (a true critic.. of me). My tall Sequoia of a date did the classic awkward shuffle at the front like, "hi, can the dog come through to the patio without causing a federal incident?" The guy we asked looked like we had just asked him to solve climate change (bc he was a customer...), but he very politely redirected us to the cashier, who was lovely. So: Kindness: 10/10. Confusion: also 10/10. ~Balance~ Now the food. The Boulder orders a fish burrito. I go for the chimichurri salmon bowl with quinoa because I, too, enjoy pretending I have my life together. BUT. The boulder also then orders clam chowder--a surprise, a moment of elation, but at the same time... skeptical? Sir? I have lamented over my favorite chowder like a woman waiting for her husband to come back from battle. Were your ears too high in elevation for my voice to reach? ANYWAYS. Let's talk about the clam chowder, because this is where things get serious. I have grown up eating clam chowder in Santa Cruz (my hometown, my birthplace, my origins). I have known greatness (shoutout to Stagnaro Bros., the downstairs fish market). So when I tell you I approached this chowder with standards, I need you to understand the weight of that statement. I put my spoon in. It did not sink. At that moment, I knew. This was not soup. This was a lifestyle. A structural entity. And it was GOOD. Creamy, thick, unapologetically clam-forward. Not quite Santa Cruz enlightenment, clouds-parting-angels-singing, but honestly? Strong contender. We're talking solid top 4-5 chowders of my life, and I do not say that lightly. Now, my salmon bowl? Good. Respectable. Salmon = crispy, quinoa = doing quinoa things (why is it always slightly annoying to eat??). Chimichurri good. The fish burrito (from my observational research + dog validation panel): packed, flaky, generous. My dog approved, which frankly is the highest honor available. Overall: Great food, great vibes, excellent chowder, and quality time with the Tall Sequoia Boulder Man™ on a random Monday. Plus points--chips looked fried on site :D

Busy spot during lunch but the wait wasn't too long. You order first at the counter and you're…read moregiven a number and seat yourself. We opted to sit outside as it was nice out. The portion sizes are large. Food was flavored well. For the poke bowl, the rice to protein ratio was off as had too much rice. Plus only a few pieces of uni. I like that they have non alcoholic beer available

Birthdays are the best at Limoncello!…read more Every dish was so delicious the grilled octopus as an appetizer is a must. The perfectly prepared brand, Zeno, as well as the beet salad with fresh strawberries... And of course, the lemon cello dessert was divine.... We absolutely loved celebrating and enjoying the beautiful patio and the music. The owners are so gracious.... And the service is five star all the way around very dog friendly so many cute doggies. Parking is ample. You must try this beautiful Amalfi coast restaurant

Limoncello Ristorante delivered an exceptional dining experience from start to finish. The food was…read moretruly spectacular, each dish was thoughtfully prepared, flavorful, and beautifully presented. The service was equally impressive, attentive without being intrusive, and the staff ensured that every aspect of our visit was seamless and enjoyable. What makes the experience even more remarkable is the value. The pricing is extremely reasonable for the quality of cuisine and service provided. The ambiance strikes a perfect balance, warm, inviting, and ideal for both a relaxed evening out, and a special occasion. An added bonus is that they are pet-friendly, which makes it even easier to enjoy a great meal without compromise. I will absolutely be returning in the near future and highly recommend Limoncello Ristorante to anyone looking for an outstanding dining experience.

2nd Anniversary Celebration What a beautiful evening !…read moreAnother class act hosted by Legends Seafood & Steak Restaurant last night ! Food and friends, enjoyed with a delicate oaky Chardonnay and robust Cabernet wine ! Ricardo and team never disappoint! Toast to many more years of fabulous food and events. Your staff is profession and friendly making an experience memorable. Thank you again for a top notch evening. Only suggestion : reduce noise level by adding some acoustical remedy in dinning room.

The restaurant itself is nicely decorated and has a good atmosphere. Our server was wonderful and…read moreshe stayed on top of everything throughout the meal. As for the food, just don't go into it expecting Selanne's Steak Tavern or Mastro's. I specifically wanted halibut and ordered the panko halibut. The fish itself was good and not overly fishy, which I prefer, but overall it felt more like an upscale fish and chips dish than a true fine dining halibut entrée. The potatoes were good, but I didn't care for the pasta at all. It was very dry. The salad tasted good, but it was nowhere near worth the price. It had maybe two tomatoes and a light sprinkle of nuts. At $13, it felt extremely overpriced. Would I come back? Probably not. For the price, I expected more, and the fish was really the only thing I genuinely enjoyed. That said, it is a nice addition to the area since there honestly aren't many places around like it. The biggest downside for me was really the side dishes overall. The pasta and salad just didn't match the pricing or the level the restaurant seems to be aiming for. I also wasn't a fan of the music. The atmosphere would fit much better with more of a Frank Sinatra style instead of what sounded like generic 90s elevator music in the background. Overall, for the area, it's a nice spot. But for the price point, there are definitely better options.

Our first time trying lobster shack and we already can't wait to go back! The seafood is fresh, and…read morethe sides have unique twists. Highly recommend the slaw with blue cheese and the sweet beans. The lobster rolls are packed with meat and tons of flavor, on a perfect brioche bun. Dan is also a friendly owner who puts a lot of love into his business. Can't wait to try the deviled eggs next!

came here for a quick bite on valentines day. rating would've been ~3 stars, but the service really…read moremessed it up for me and my partner one of the owners (i'm assuming) took our order, but he repeated the same things many times, to the point where i asked for the receipt at the end to make sure everything was correct (and good thing i did, too). they then gave what i'm assuming was our order to another couple, and also served people who arrived after us. i had to get up and hang out by the cashier for them to notice me, and they didn't know whose order was tied to who since they almost gave away our order to someone else again. the cashier man even said "was i the one who took your order?" when he did literally 15 minutes ago. then, when they finally called our name, they gave us a packaged to-go order when we wanted to dine in, and the order was completely wrong. the other owner (i'm assuming his wife), went back and forth to the kitchen 3 more times to either correct our order or bring back things they forgot that we had to remind them to bring. even when we gave her the receipt i kept, the order would still come back wrong. the other parties served had finished eating and left by the time we finally got all of our food the staff was generally nice. they apologized a lot, thanked us for our patience, checked up on us, & offered 1 free coleslaw (~$3.50) and 2 little chocolates. but they didn't offer us any sort of real compensation and after messing up our order 3+ times, and being understanding about it, we were pretty surprised i am strict with lobster rolls since i'm always comparing it to what i've had during my time in boston (impossible to beat), and i thought the food was just alright. boyfriend thought it was pretty dry and not that tasty for $100+, i'd expect much better service and better food