Serra Plaza is a perfect, intimate, special place for someone who wants to host an outdoor wedding…read morethat feels like a small European town. Lauren from Jay's Catering was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end. She worked closely with us on menu selection, food tasting, the walkthrough of our venue, and overall moral support. Our wedding was like out of a fairytale. To this day, we still have friends and family tell us that the food at our wedding was the best wedding food they ever had - a huge compliment to Jay's Catering (and shout out to the Vietnamese Short Rib!) Wedding planning is difficult and it can feel like every decision might be the wrong thing. I am so happy that we trusted our gut and went with Serra Plaza as our spot.

Ideal for outdoor ceremonies and receptions, Serra Plaza has a Spanish summer nights things going…read moreon. It feels very romantic and makes me think of the passionate ballroom dances that could have taken place here. You're also just a couple minutes away from the Mission SJC for more photo ops.

Food was awesome, service was amazing, and the ambiance was very nice…read more We ordered brussel sprouts, spinach artichoke dip, jalapeño soup, bread pudding, and stuffed French toast. We love everything. Everything we ordered was made exactly the way we enjoyed it. We also had mimosa flights and those were great as well, Highly recommend you stop in! It's a quick step off of the train!

I'm kinda shocked with the rating for this restaurant. The team is wonderful and the food is…read morefantastic. The flatbreads are yummy, the steak is delicious, and we absolutely love the wines. We will be there to celebrate our wedding anniversary- we love it and support your business!

This place can get very crowded, but that's honestly part of what makes it so much fun. The energy…read moreis always great, and there's always something going on. I've attended their trivia nights, and they were a blast--well organized, engaging, and a perfect activity for a group of friends. The drinks are fantastic. The Sauvignon Blanc sangria and the frozen rosé are both amazing and have become some of my favorites. The food is consistently good, and the lively atmosphere keeps me coming back. On my most recent visit, I had the opportunity to beta test one of their murder mystery events, and it was such a unique and entertaining experience. It added a whole new level of fun to the evening and made for a memorable night out. If they offer the murder mystery event again, I highly recommend checking it out. It's a great way to enjoy good food, drinks, and an interactive experience all in one place.

I enjoyed visiting Five Vines Wine Bar in downtown San Juan Capistrano. It's conveniently located…read morenear the Amtrak railroad tracks, which adds to the charm and character of the area. There is public parking nearby, making it easy to find parking @ $2/hour. The wine bar is cozy, cute, and welcoming, with a great selection of wines and delicious food options. I especially enjoy their happy hour and the outdoor balcony seating, where you can relax with a glass of wine and watch people stroll through historic downtown. The waitress is fast and friendly....just all around well worth the drive to this area.

From the very first time we stepped into Franciscan Gardens, we fell in love with it. It truly is…read moreso magical, romantic, and welcoming, and it immediately felt like the perfect place to begin this next chapter of our lives together. Seeing it all come to life on our wedding day was truly a dream come true. The venue was absolutely breathtaking. Everywhere we looked was beautiful, and so many of our guests commented throughout the evening about how stunning the gardens were and what a special place Franciscan Gardens is. It provided the most perfect backdrop for one of the happiest days of our lives, and we will cherish those memories forever. The 24 Carrot staff is also truly one of a kind and supported us through each step of the planning process. Every interaction with their team was met with warmth, professionalism, and genuine care. Their guidance and attention to detail allowed us to relax and truly be present throughout the day, soaking in every moment with our family and friends. It is hard to put into words how grateful we are. Our wedding day was everything we had hoped for and more, and Franciscan Gardens will always hold such a special place in our hearts because it is where we celebrated one of the most meaningful days of our lives. Thank you Franciscan Gardens and 24 Carrot for helping create memories that we will treasure forever. We are so appreciative of everything you and your team did for us and feel incredibly lucky to have been able to celebrate at such a beautiful venue with such wonderful people.

Our wedding here in 2025 was one of the happiest days I can remember. The love between and around…read moreus was the biggest reason for that, of course, but having the right venue is really, really helpful. We chose to do the cocktail hour outside (like the ceremony) and then do the reception inside, which is less typical there. Zero regrets. The team took great care of us and worked well with all the vendors. Pricey, but we got what we paid for. Five stars!

Staff; Everyone here was so nice. From the hostess, to our…read moreserver, to the woman in the boutique they were great. Quality: This spot is absolutely beautiful. It is a previous residence that was converted into a tea house. My loved ones have been here several times over the years but it was my first time. The food and tea were very good. I had the Farmhouse Scramble and it was heavenly. One thing I noticed was the flavor. They really focus on the seasoning so that each bite is flavorful. My guests got the salmon that was flaky and delicious. Also the sandwich plate that is was lite and tasty. Lastly the quiche which was also very tasty. Value: It is not cheap but that is okay. The quality of the food, services and amazing ambiance make it well worth the cost. Overall: This was a really cool experience and place to celebrate a birthday for my loved one. I really recommend trying this amazing spot. Pro tip: If you are planing for a specific day be sure to book early. I'm talking weeks in advance.

Very disappointing experience and terrible customer service…read more When we arrived, we were told we had to wait for the rest of our party before we could sit at the table. We waited 40 minutes with a 2-year-old child and were not allowed to sit at the table, offered water, shade, or anything else. It was almost 104°F (40°C) that day. After we were finally seated outside, there was no fan. We asked four different servers if they could bring one because the heat was unbearable, especially for our baby, and every time we were refused with an excuse. The menu was also confusing, with many different categories and prices, so we asked our server to explain it. Her explanation only made things more confusing, and we ended up ordering more options than we originally intended. Honestly, I felt the way the menu was explained was designed to confuse us into ordering more. I also ordered a carrot cake for my 2-year-old shortly after we sat down. We waited and never received it. Since it never came, I assumed the server had canceled the order. When I was already signing the bill to leave, the server finally came with the cake and a box and said, "I totally forgot to bring it." I refused the cake because we were leaving. She spoke to the manager and came back saying the manager refused to cancel the order and take the cake back to the kitchen. I still had to pay for it and take it home. There were six of us, and we paid around $470 for tea pots, scones, and a few other treats. I will attach the $330 receipt for three of us and a baby so you can see what we were charged for. The worst part was the complete lack of basic customer care, especially toward a small child in extreme heat. This was one of the worst customer-service experiences I have had. It honestly felt like the money mattered more to them than the customers. My advice: AVOID THIS PLACE. I would absolutely not recommend it to anyone, and I would never return. There are plenty of other places where you can spend your money and actually be treated with basic respect and consideration.

This location sits at the uppermost part of a vast citrus orchard and, as you can see by some of…read morethe pictures, offers unparalleled sunset views to the ocean. The reception area is level and well-lit although it's recommended to wear comfortable shoes (i.e. thicker heels like wedges) in order to safely wander around the property. As a guest to a wedding, I didn't receive all the details of the venue but it does look like the property will rent out some of the dwellings for the party guests, etc. via Airbnb. We were provided event restroom rentals (limited restroom access inside the buildings) and guest parking is at a lower level of the property in which you are shuttled up. To get to the reception location itself, you'll have to drive Ortega Highway (74) and turn east into their gated property entrance which is very close to Caspers. Once you enter the gated property, you'll be guided via caravan up the 5 miles of dirt road to the beautiful reception area. The dirt road drive is about 20 minutes from Ortega Hwy so keep in mind. The dirt road was in good condition even though we drove over 2 "stream" crossings - AWD/4WD not necessary. On your drive up, you'll go through old growth forested area, drive by some exotic animals as well as hundreds of citrus trees. The drive in itself was a treat! For an early spring event, we were thrilled with the weather although I do understand many of the guests were chilly - so bring a nice coat or blanket in case there are no heat lamps (there were not any available for our event but we could step inside the house to warm up).

The Jewel of Ortega is an absolute dream. From the minute the venue manager responded to our…read moreinquiry, we were over the moon about this place. It checked all our boxes for a retreat style wedding for our wedding party, parents and grandparents, in a nature-filled spot in Southern California but not difficult to get to, customizable to our vision and desires, and with an authentic and laid back team. Before we left our first venue visit we knew we would sign. The previous venue manager was very flexible with our requests and everyone we worked with on the approved vendor list was incredible and excited to go back to The Jewel, although we did appreciate that we had the option to choose others too. A month before the wedding, said manager left the venue and we were so nervous about how the transition to the new manager Sally and her team would go, especially as we were planning a DIY wedding from abroad and had only visited the venue twice. The handover was absolutely seamless and turned out better than we could have ever imagined - which is a testament to the ownership. Sally and her crew worked their tails off from start to finish that weekend and looped us into every decision in a productive manner. They stepped up big time when our wedding coordinator didn't deliver. They made all of our guests comfortable and we all felt like we were home for the weekend, which everyone complimented us on. It was just a pleasure to get to know them as people too, really. Before we even left the venue, we were coming up with reasons to come stay again. Thank you and we will be back!!

Plaza de Magdalena is a lovely venue that is perfect for a holiday party. First off it's in the…read moreheart of San Juan Capistrano which is a good and bad thing, mostly considering the traffic if there are other events going on and parking. I'd also caution in case there's road closures like this particular time I was there which made it hard to get into the parking garage. There is an option to take the train since it's right by the tracks if that's your cup of tea. The venue itself is a perfect blend of indoor and outdoor space, starting with the cocktail hour outside under the string lights with very tasty appetizers and was pleased that they also had outdoor heaters. A short walk inside opens up to a large space, in this case it was set up for dinner with festive red and green lighting. The catered food was pretty good with a nice variety of salmon, chicken and prime rib. The staff were also so friendly and did a good job serving and keeping everything tidy. I heard quite a lot of feedback from others that they liked this venue and had a great time at the party. I would have to agree.

I wanted to give a HUGE thank you to Abi and her Sundried Tomato staff for all of their hard work…read moreduring our baby shower this last Saturday 5/2. Abi went above and beyond to personalize and make this day feel special for our husband and I. She made the planning process as easy as possible, and even enjoyable which is rare planning these huge life events! So much gratitude for Abi and her crew on that day. We've joked about coming up with things to celebrate at Plaza de Magdalena in the future.

Really neat venue. Chic modern farmhouse style grounds for events. Came here for our daughter's…read moregood friend's wedding reception. Large and open space and done in a way that preserves the heritage of the place. The main home can be walked into and is so nicely presented and preserved. The barn is set up like a bar and nicely done. Really worth checking out of you need a venue to entertain.

All went well. Beautiful venue for graduation photos, as well as wedding photos I would imagine!read more

We recently had the opportunity to DJ an event at The Fish Tank in Capistrano Beach (34233 Via…read moreSanta Rosa, Dana Point), and it immediately impressed us. Start with the owner. Cate is professional, responsive, and genuinely collaborative. Communication is clear. Load-in is organized. The space is clean and well maintained. When a venue runs this smoothly, it reduces friction for vendors and creates a better experience for clients and guests. That kind of operational competence doesn't happen by accident. The design is what makes this venue distinct. The short-throw projectors transform the walls into a fully immersive aquarium or fishbowl environment. It's not a novelty effect; it's a production tool. For weddings, the room can feel atmospheric and romantic. For corporate events, branded visuals wrap the space in a way that feels custom and high-end. Few venues at this size offer that level of visual flexibility. From an audio standpoint, the room performs extremely well. We run MagiCali, a Southern California mobile DJ company specializing in weddings and corporate events, and we evaluate every room through a production lens. We look at ceiling height, wall material, reflection patterns, power distribution, and how low-end energy travels across a dancefloor. We've worked in luxury ballrooms, outdoor coastal venues, private estates, and converted industrial spaces. The Fish Tank is one of the rare venues where you don't have to compensate for the room. Speeches are articulate and easy to understand. Dinner music sits comfortably without overwhelming conversation. When it's time to transition into dancing, the room holds energy evenly instead of creating hot spots or dead zones. That tells you the space was built and tuned with care. For clients, that technical quality translates into confidence. You don't have to worry about muddy sound during toasts or harsh reflections once the music turns up. The venue supports the event instead of fighting it. There are many event spaces in Orange County. Very few combine strong visual identity, flexible projection capability, solid acoustics, and hands-on ownership. The Fish Tank is an undiscovered gem, and for what Cate currently charges, it represents exceptional value. It would not be surprising to see this venue commanding significantly higher rates in the near future. If you're planning a wedding, private celebration, or corporate event in Dana Point or Capistrano Beach, this space deserves serious consideration. It's distinctive, technically sound, and professionally run -- exactly the kind of venue that allows a well-executed event to shine.

We truly could not have asked for a better venue owner than Cate for our son's wedding. From the…read morevery beginning, she was warm, kind, and genuinely invested in making the day special. She went above and beyond in ways both big and small, and it made all the difference. Her space is absolutely beautiful. It has such an artsy, welcoming feel and was perfect for our 80 person reception. The lighting created a magical atmosphere, the sound system worked flawlessly, and the indoor outdoor flow gave guests room to mingle, relax, and celebrate comfortably. One of the most generous touches was allowing us to use her home for staging the bride and groom. That level of trust and hospitality meant so much to our family. Throughout the entire process, she was accommodating, helpful, and always available with a calm, reassuring presence. If you are looking for a venue with heart, creativity, and an owner who truly cares, this is it. We are so grateful for everything she did to make the celebration unforgettable.