The lunch was excellent, shrimp were fantastic along with the Cesar salad, our waiter Ryan was awesome. The views are beautiful. Breakfast Quevos Rancheros were the best I've ever had and Chris our waiter was awesome. Excellent service and excellent ambiance. read more

We had a private dinner in their private dining room planned here for a group of about 15 people on a Saturday night. This was an incredible experience to say the least. The food was phenomenal and the service and drinks were also great. We came to celebrate an engagement - I would definitely recommend coming here for any special occasion and renting out their private dining room. They customize their menu according to your needs and wants which was super nice. read more

We had reservations for dinner on a Saturday night. We asked for a window seat but there was a wait list so we opted for the 2nd row by the window. The view is amazing and the perfect spot for watching the sunset. Bring your sunglasses! I had the steak and it was very good. My husband had the salmon and he was happy with his choice too. The swordfish dip and ahi tuna ceviche appetizers were very good too. We had the churros and flourless chocolate bar for dessert and all the plates were empty. A nice bottle of wine to top it all off and it was the perfect dinner! read more

The food and service was amazing. Had the lobster and crab enchiladas. I enjoyed the meal, when returning will try other items on the menu. read more

Raya - Lobster and crab enchiladas - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

We have been continual customers of Raya for a few years now. We reserved a table on line and were told that the window tables are on a "first come, first serve" basis. We made sure to get to the restaurant early and we were told that the window tables were to be booked ahead of time! We were not seated by a window. This was not only disrespectful but also terrible customer service!! After our meal, we left and noticed that 2 of the window tables were still empty. This is disrespectful and uncaring. See below: You've received a new message from RAYA at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel! Dear Mr.Prince, We would like to inform you that our window tables are on a first come, first serve basis. We will try our best to honor all window table requests, but it is not guaranteed. Raya Team read more

My husband Matt B. and I stayed at the Ritz-Carlton this weekend, and while we greatly enjoyed our stay, we weren't totally sold on the Raya bar, which functioned as the hotel's lobby bar. It wasn't bad, but it was very expensive for a bar that didn't offer high quality cocktails. The hotel mark-up was obvious, though I guess you could say that's fair enough. We drove in after 9:00 Friday night and decided to drop in at Raya shortly after we arrived. There was a large group of rowdy drunk people there, likely for a conference, and they sort of defined the atmosphere, for better and worse. The space was nice, though, plush and comfortable, and we were able to get a table by a window with view toward the ocean (it was dark out, but still). Table service was friendly and fast. The cocktail menu didn't look that enticing ($18 for a Dark & Stormy, to give you an idea), so Matt ordered a Manhattan with Bulleit Rye, which seemed to be somewhere in the mid-range of the choices on offer. We make Manhattans at home somewhat regularly, using Costco handles of Bulleit Rye, and he said this one wasn't as good--either worse bitters or worse vermouth than we stock at home or both--though it did come with four fancy cocktail cherries, which were much appreciated. We were surprised to learn that this was a $23 Manhattan. Kind of staggering for a simple drink that wasn't particularly well made. Anyway, Raya was still a decent place to sit and hang out for a while at the Ritz. It's worth visiting if you're craving a drink at the hotel bar. Just don't expect top notch cocktails, even at $23 before tax and tip. read more

We are inside but felt totally Safe. The tables are very spread out and everyone was wearing a mask. We had the salmon and new York steak and the kids got fajitas. Everyone loved their choices. Our view was amazing and the service was great! We are staying at the ritz and although our overall stay has been disappointing. This dinner was the highlight for sure! read more

Raya - Sunset view from Raya! - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Food is ok . But customer service is an embarrassment ! The guy Justin is nice but the other one named Dianne is so RUDE! And her friend who I didn't get the name of is also not nice at all. read more

A picturesque and adult beach side location. Okay, it's in the Ritz-Carlton 1,200 feet up from the hoi polloi. Enjoy a view of Yokohama peaking at you from the horizon while you poke at your restorative hangover clearing Ceviche. Raya is a fine place to meet and greet others who stayed in the hotel however, if you're xenophobic, it's nice that the Bar attached is open early in the morning. The space is as bright and as cheerful as your Tinder date the morning after the stars lined up. It is a perfect way to drop that last Benjie you've carried in your threadbare canvas wallet for years in case of an emergency. Well, a fancy breakfast qualifies as an emergency, doesn't it? And Raya is an excellent way to start or end your Ritz-Carlton experience. The Staff: All caffeinated smiles, charm and "it's my pleasures". They are bubbling with enthusiasm, suggestions and energy, and all before you've had your first cuppa, a Statin and half a Prozac. They are uniformed, neat, trim, polite, helpful and happy. It's like being served by a flock of Brownies on Ecstasy. Just what you need as you stare out to sea through your sun Goggles and the Cubs lid tamping down your bed hair. The platoon of servers were in constant motion like a Pachinko machine on Amphetamines. No vapid, vacant far away gazing when you say ,"Good morning, how are you?" You want that? Talk to the other guests. But you shuffled down the stairs for the food. That is why you wobbled half a mile from your room (unless you are handy with the in-room coffee machine and satisfied with the cold congealed Rib-Eye from last night's binge at enoSteak). Yes, by all means bag a handful of Chocolate Wafers from the Housekeeping cart that are destined for someone's pillow later as you pass by. Aren't you entitled? The Menu: Unique. Not your regular fancy hotel fare. Lots-o-Latin touches make this a destination even if you're not staying here. The Duck Confit Chili Verde comes in a mini Paella pan and requires a big spoon, a small shovel, a pocket size back hoe, dredging equipment, or a hand held Bobcat. It had Ranchero Sauce, Poblano, Corn, Peruvian Sweet Peppers, poached Eggs and Hollandaise.This is not your coffee shop scramble but more like something you would find at Segundo Muelle in downtown Quito. (And eating here is slightly cheaper than flying to Ecuador). The Duck dish was spiced with the Chef's practiced and accomplished Latin hand and was delicious. A deconstructed Benny without any pretense. The Dungeness Crab Chalupa (think an Arepa on Weight Watchers) came with Baby Pickled Rocoto Peppers which were authentic to Peru. Ignore that the crab grew up in Alaska, this crab weren't drab and packed some lovely spices and a tongue tingling lingering finish. (Read: It tasted really good.) It all adds up (boy does it, and quickly) to your Ritz-Carlton adventure and makes up for what you didn't drop at enoSteak the night before or what the Valet will bang you for on your way out. Oh well, it's a party, and the food here is great so shut up, eat up and just skip a Gym payment next month. Raya...oh Yeah! read more

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I was visiting the area for the Pageant of the Masters in Laguna as a part of a weekend birthday celebration. The food was excellent as was the service and ambiance of the restaurant with outstanding views of the beach and sea. I can thoroughly recommend this restaurant. read more

Located inside the beautiful Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, "Raya" is a lovely & elegant place to enjoy a leisurely or business breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner. The Maine Lobster Salad is wonderful! So simple, yet so delicious. The combination of lemon vinaigrette, ancho chili-port reduction, & chive oil, created a delicious flavor... while the generous portion of fresh, warm, & sweet maine lobster wilted the delicate baby spinach perfectly. The fresh shaved sweet potatoes as a tasty & sweet garnish on top was a very nice touch. And...I cannot say enough how fresh & delicious this lobster was. Amazing... Friendly & attentive service, excellent food, & floor-to-ceiling window views of the Pacific Ocean that will take your breath away! read more

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Fabulous views, incredible food. I highly recommend this salad and I added salmon as my protein. If you have food allergies or issues they always strive to accommodate. The service is 5* which I would expect from my favorite hotel. We did a staycation here and often this is our go to if we want to go some place easy, simple and never worry about parking since they have valet. read more

Raya - Thai Curry Buddha Bowl + salmon - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

What an excellent way to start the day on vacation! The service was magnificent. Thank you Julia, Andrew, Minerva and everyone who provided outstanding service and care. The food was delicious and the view....impeccable. I had a cappuccino there and to go. So good! I also had fruit and the huevos rancheros with carnitas. The huevos rancheros with carnitas were great. Everything was so good. Thank you! read more

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Wow! Beautiful restaurant and delicious food. I highly recommend the salmon, it's cooked to perfection.

Carson is the best hostess I've ever encountered in a restaurant establishment. We were in a big pinch for a special corporate dinner and he made absolute magic happen! This is truly the best 5 star diamond service I've ever received. The Ritz is truly lucky to have you Carson! read more

Raya has such a great and colorful menu. The atmosphere can't be beat also - it's definitely worth waiting for a window seat. You can watch the ocean, the surfers, and maybe even spot a few dolphins! read more

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I basically ate at Raya every day for a week. Each time was delicious. They're super accommodating with gluten free meals. They were able to modify many of their dishes so that I could eat safely and none disappointed. On top of the good food, the views are stunning! read more

Staff is amazing, very friendly and accommodating. View is just as impressive. Food is good, not amazing but it may be because we had such a wonderful experience at a different restaurant the night before. Octopus was pretty good and preferred the salmon to branzino. read more

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One of the worst experience because the floor managers were incompetent We asked for a window seating 3 days before our reservation but when we arrived we were told there is 45 min to 1 hr hold. And we were made to sit in front of the wall with mirrors. Only to find out within 20 minutes 2 tables were vacant and no one was sitting for as long as we were in the restaurant Spoiled our mood and did not enjoy the experience at all. Bad bad very bad shame read more

Andrew Andrew Andrew!!! This gentleman is a server at Raya and made our stay at the Ritz a very memorable experience. He took the time to take our drink order and customize it to our liking after getting to know us or a quick 45-60 seconds. Now, this may sound like a routine task (mildly customizing a beverage to suit your guests wishes; ie., " less sugar please." But our customization is complicated, and only 1 of 10 bartenders get it right. Only 1/20 servers relay the information to the bar tenders in an understandable way for the bar tender to do his job at max potential. Andrew went above and beyond. In such a way, that I will come back to Raya just for a drink without necessarily forking our 20 million for a night's reservation. Thanks Andrew for making this experience a priceless one. And if there are more than one Andrew, to clarify; the young, dark hair, about 6 footish, damn great server of a man. - Robb and Bre read more

Great place to hang out if you are local. Amazing view, great to sit and watch the ocean. However food selection is limited and quality is just ok. Service is so so and slow most of the time for unknown reason. read more

Raya - View from the window - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

Very satisfied with the brunch at this location. The price is well worth the amount of food you get in combination with the bottomless champagne. All of the food was quite delicious and comes in satisfactory quantities. By the time you've arrived to dessert you're going to be struggling to put the entirety of your pastry or what not down (but you'll try because it is amazing). The Ritz always feels nice clean and professional. Always a lovely ambience to be within. As far as seating, the best seats in the house are directly at the windows overlooking the beach and ocean. They're handled in a first come first serve. We were fortunate enough to wait 10 minutes to get the prime view. read more

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: $$$$ My friend had her birthday dinner at RAYA and the vibes were spectacular! They had large windows that looked out to Dana Point and the sunset there was just unreal. The food was pretty good and the seafood was sooo fresh But the view was just truly so amazing that it made our whole dinner so perfect. My only complaint is how long the food took, but overall this is a perfect spot for a dinner with family or friends! The price point is pretty high for what you are getting, but definitely worth the splurge if you are celebrating a special occasion or wanting a really nice dinner view. Achiote Salmon: The salmon was so fresh, tender and soft. It was cooked so perfectly and practically melted in my mouth. The sauces and vegetables on it paired really well with the salmon and did not take away from the freshness of the fish. 8/10 Dry Aged Prime New York: I did not expect myself to enjoy the steak as much as I did. The steak was so tender and so flavorful. It was cooked to a perfect medium rare. I loved the caramelized onions and the sauces that came with it. It added a good depth of flavor and tanginess to the steak. It was not too overpowering. My favorite was definitely the mashed potatoes! These were probably the most creamy and smooth mashed potatoes I have ever had, we had to order more on the side. We did have to add a bit of salt and pepper for extra flavor though. 8.7/10 Grilled Spanish Octopus: This was so yummy! The octopus was so fresh and had the perfect char on it. But what surprised me was how delicious and decadent the mojo rojo sauce was. If I could I would bathe in it. It had the perfect creaminess, tanginess and sweetness to balance out all the elements in the dish. 8.5/10 Raya Caesar: This was an average caesar salad, nothing special about it. It was a really nice dish to start with. 7/10 Salvadoran Cheese Rolls: I was a huge fan of the goat cheese butter and honey! The goat cheese was not too overpowering and the honey on it added the perfect amount of sweetness. The Cheese Rolls reminded me of cornbread which I wasn't a huge fan of, but it did pair really well with the goat cheese butter and honey. 7.5/10 Blackened Tuna Taco: I was not a huge fan of this. I thought it was really underwhelming and lacked depth and intensity of flavor. It was quite bland. The fish was really fresh though. 5/10 read more

Eating at Raya is a memorable experience! There are a variety of delicious food options and if you eat during the sunset, you'll have memories of a lifetime. The service is top-notch. Bring your own wine for a $25 corkage fee. After eating and relaxing, walk around the Ritz and enjoy the ocean view or have a drink at the bar. read more

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My wife and I were staying at the Ritz to celebrate my birthday and decided to try this place. Big mistake. Our server, Sommer, was wonderful. The problem is the food was far from it. My wife loved the shrimp appetizer and would get it again. The "Salvadoran cheese rolls" were just so so, and the Caesar salad was average at best, and way overdressed. My wife had the cod and it was awful. The fish was mealy and didn't taste good at all. The fish was overcooked and bad bones in it. Whatever it came with as a side was not good either. Terrible. I had the tiny 7 oz filet and it was the worst I've ever had. I actually didn't finish it, the first time ever. It came with a bizarre mushroom dish on the side that was putrid. It honestly looked like a " face hugger" from the Alien movies. It didn't taste any better either. Just disgusting. Again, our waitress Sommer was wonderful. She didn't charge us for the crappy $72 steak, so that was nice. She did charge us the $50 corkage fee, even though they knew we were celebrating my 50th birthday and were not happy with the meal. Won't ever go back and don't recommend. read more

Went in for dinner on Tuesday night just before sunset. Had no trouble getting a table right by the window with ocean view. They have so many gluten free options which is always a bonus for us with hubby being gluten free. Ordered the hamachi, octopus, ahi tacos and beef tartar. The beef tartar is not considered gluten free but is if you don't eat the ciabatta that comes with the dish. Four small plates for perfect amount of food for us to share. Hamachi was our favorite. The fish was so fresh and it was so creamy and perfect with the avocado slices and ponzu sauce served on top. Octopus was cooked to perfection so the texture was tender and enjoyable. I found the ahi tacos a little salty but my husband enjoyed them. Beef tartar was disappointing. It was bland and didn't have much flavor. Would absolutely go back again for the ambiance and try other menus. The view is really what makes this place so special. read more

At checkin in, the host, Karen, tells me there are no available tables by the window and that they were all save for reservations. I let her know i would only be staying for about half hour. I could clearly see about 4 available tables by the window. She says they had reservations for every 15 min. So she sat me in "second row." I ordered: Passion fruit mojito, amazing!! The smoked swordfish dip. The actual dip was great but the chips were stale. When i mentioned this to the waitress, she quickly replied with "that's just how they are." Ok?! Piloncillo Shrimp, delicious!! After about 45 min, i left and there were STILL at least 4 empty tables left by the window. I could have easily been sat at one of those, no problem. But Karen, refused. read more

Raya - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Great view Great service Great food Great atmosphere Great place for romantic celebrations read more

When booking this reservation, I went to the Ritz Carlton website (as we were staying there for the evening). It directly linked me to OpenTable which gave two options for dinner: 8:45 or 9:00pm - we chose 9pm. We were meeting friends who got to the restaurant early and the host told our friends, she'd been calling me to let me know I needed to come earlier because they stop serving food at 9:00pm. I never received a call, but quickly came to the restaurant early (which was already a little off putting). I was greeted and asked if there were any food allergies or if it was a special celebration. We told her we just got married yesterday and she congratulated us and say us at our table. We had Mary as a server (she's was lovely), but the overall dining experience was very mediocre. To be asked twice (both when making reservation and arriving at restaurant) if it's a special occasion and then nothing was celebrated.. no dessert, no special seating, no decoration, seemed quite odd (especially at the price point). Unfortunately it was disappointing and we wouldn't come back. Three stars was all for our service! She was awesome! read more

Very satisfied with my dinner at Raya. I came her for my anniversary and I am delighted. Food was amazing I got the NY Steak and a Halibut, the steak was great cooked medium rare. Well cooked with such a bite to die for. Easy to bite into and the outside crisp so well you get a delicious crunch with the juiciness of the meat. Top notch steak very pricey but well worth. Scenery was outstanding the window view of the ocean is something you'll fall in love with. Such a beautiful view especially with the sunset. You can see exactly when the sun dips under the ocean. Would 100% recommend this place for the view. The only downside in my opinion is the restaurant spot, its kinda out there inside the Ritz Carlton Hotel. I kinda wished it was set inside a room or a specific spot that inclusive from the rest of the hotel. Our server was amazing very polite and well spoken. I forgot her name, but she was amazing. She was very knowledgeable of the menu and descriptive on the food. There's no dress code just dress nice. Just not to casual. Parking easy to since its inside the Ritz Carlton Hotel, just pull up to the valet and they'll take care of it. MAKE SURE TO GET YOU VALET VALIDATED AT THE RESTAURANT. Its like $30 without validation and only $5 with validation so its best to get that done. If your looking for a beautiful place to go on a date Raya is the place to be! read more

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My wife and I decided to treat ourselves to a breakfast here. I had a machaca burrito (one of their specialties) and she had waffles with fresh fruit. Both were excellent. The machaca burrito was filled with marinated, tender skirt steak (melt in your mouth tender), tomatoes, onions, peppers, chilis and was topped with guacamole and red and green salsa. It's a huge dish and incredibly tasty. My wife's waffles with fresh fruit with Vermont maple syrup was wonderful too. We managed to get a window seat and had an amazing view of the ocean and beach. The service was very warm and friendly. It's pricey but then that's to be expected. Well worth going to. read more

I've dined here quite a few times, it's never disappointing. The staff is on point, the views are incredible, and the food is great!

Luv the ambience, but the food was okay and pricey. Not the best. Great staff, clean and romantic. This restaurant is located inside the hotel. They have valet parking for a small fee, so you dont have to worry where to park. They will take care of it for you. read more

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Camille Newlan assisted us all night always on top of it! Greatest service ever! The restaurant industry needs to hire more beautiful woman like her! Good choice Ritz-Carlton read more

Very beautiful view, delicious food but super slow service. They got busy and we waited forever for our check.

The food was great and service. Sunset was a bonus! Prawn appetizer was a great start, Caesar version was amazing, the seafood was all so fresh and delicious. read more

While the view and the food itself was good, my experience here left me not wanting to return. First, we arrived and checked in 5 minutes before our noon reservation for 2. The hostess informed us our table was being cleaned and would be ready at noon. Perfect. 15 minutes after 12, we checked back, as we were still waiting to be seated. She looked up our reservation again and said our table was still being cleaned as they were switching from breakfast to brunch, even though they took our noon brunch reservation. Finally, after watching several tables seated, at 12:27 we asked again. She asked what our name was again, looked it up and then finally sat us at 12:30. The brunch is prefixed, and they took our full order at the same time. They brought our starter and then literally 4 minutes later came out with the appetizer and tried to clear our starter that we'd taken one bite of. We asked them to please wait. Within another less than 10 minutes, they were back with our main course. We said we hadn't even gotten to the appetizer yet and they needed to space out the courses to give us time to actually eat, as each time, they were attempting to clear the prior course that we only had time to take a few bites from. This really put a damper on what was good food, a beautiful view and nice servers. read more

We were seated near the window, which gave us great views of the beach below. The venue was absolutely gorgeous. I ordered a chicken sandwich, which tasted delicious. The basket of fries was tasty as well. We did have to wait quite awhile to be seated; after we ordered, we again had what felt like a longer wait to get our food. Overall, the service was good. We had a pleasant dining experience here. read more

Raya - Chicken Sandwich with Fries - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

It's a beautiful place, the food tastes very good, and the service is considerate, and it's a nice place to get together with friends. read more

Raya - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Best veggie dish ever! Their Thai curry Buddha bowl is amazing! The view is stunning and the service is great. read more

Raya - Thai Curry Buddha Bowl - Seafood Near Me - Dana Point, California