We've found the Salt Creek Grille a very worthy return over the last several years - from Sunday Brunch to date nights. The atmosphere is always most pleasant inside and they've continued to provide outdoor opportunities worthy of one's consideration. The sand play area outside is great for small children with lounge seating to enjoy spirits and conversation. The entry deck has nice high tops - with glimpses of the ocean across PCH. Heaters scattered throughout. Note: PCH drivers / vehicles can be interruptive when trying to enjoy the outdoor settings - but it is typically brief and intermittent. Host / Service staff have always been knowledgeable, attentive and on point. Food (options / preparation) is consistently well done with delicious options to indulge or share together. read more

Disaster Birthday. Unfortunate Went to Salt Creek Grill for my birthday with my girlfriend and my parents while we were back in Dana Point. We picked it because we've driven past it forever and it always seemed like one of those solid local spots. Saturday night, special occasion, figured it was a safe choice. It ended up being one of the more disappointing dinners we've had in a while. Prices are high across the menu, which would be fine if the food matched, but it really didn't. Nothing was awful, just very average for what they charge. The kind of meal where you keep waiting for something to justify the price and it never does. Service was also strange the whole night. We put in the reservation notes and even called ahead to say we were celebrating a birthday, and when we got there nobody mentioned it at all. My girlfriend went up to the host stand to check on it and got a scoff and a very confused response like she was asking for something unusual? High schoolers can be great employees but need genuine training. Our waiter didn't seem rude exactly, just very low effort. A lot of mumbling, short answers, not really paying attention even though the restaurant wasn't busy. At one point we ordered a Sprite and a sparkling water, and when the drinks came out we asked which was which. He told us to taste them and figure it out, which kind of summed up the level of service the whole night. The birthday dessert finally came out right after we paid the bill, right before we were about to leave, like someone remembered at the last second. Overall it just felt like a place that isn't trying very hard anymore. You can't charge those prices, have a half-empty dining room on a Saturday, and give that level of food and service and expect people not to notice. Sad it did not live up to its lore. Food was maybe a 5/10 Service around a 3/10 Overall experience probably a 4/10 Not the worst restaurant ever, but definitely not somewhere I'd go back to, and not somewhere I'd recommend if you're looking for a nice dinner in Dana Point. I have told many people not to go there. read more

Salt Creek is my go to place for steak. They always cook it to perfection. The staff is incredibly kind and provides exceptional service. The place is always spotless, and the overall ambiance is great for date nights. Also, a big shoutout to Nasmy. She's the best. She remembers your name and always greets you if she's ever served you before. That alone makes me return. read more

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Salt Creek Grille absolutely knocked it out of the park. Everything we ordered was incredible from start to finish. We started with the bacon wrapped shrimp and the crab dip, and both were packed with flavor and perfectly prepared. The wedge salad was crisp and refreshing, and for our mains we had the sea bass, pork chop, and the French dip. Every single dish was cooked beautifully and tasted amazing. The sea bass was especially outstanding, but honestly there were no weak dishes at all. And then there was the butter cake. Wow. It was the perfect ending to an already fantastic meal and easily one of the best desserts we have had in a long time. On top of the food, our server was wonderful. Attentive, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. Great food, great service, great atmosphere. We will absolutely be coming back. Highly recommend! read more

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Well, we had to try it. Great setting. Way over priced for the quality of food. Ask for dressing on the side for any salad. Wine pours are small. If you sit outside staff takes a while to circle back around. Unfortunately we probably won't be back. Staff was nice. read more

HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, OR HOME ALONE, COME HERE, FOR SOME CHEERS... SALT CREEK GRILLE, Dana Point, California! Family in Town, or if you're Home Alone, You Gotta come here for some Happy Holiday Cheers! My Husband and I have been coming back to Salt Creek Grille for so many many (27) years! And we were sad to see the original owners sell, but excited for the New Owners to do well! And I must say, all the renovations they have made to this place, are better then ever and made the place Great Again, ever since they opened in June 2024! It's definitely a more Upscale Dining Experience indeed! I Love how they've brought back the Welcoming Fireplace at the front entrance! Their outdoor patio is lovely too! It's a perfect place for their evening concerts & a great space to host a private party! There is even an area with Sand for the Kids to play! Their updated menu has some Delicious Options! And I love how they've kept some of original SCG favorites! Their Chilean Sea Bass is Always Ahh~Mazing! My Husband and I often share our version of a Surf & Turf... We Love their Blue Fin Tuna, so Fresh & Delicious and it pairs well with their Mesquite Grilled Double R Ranch Filet or their 18 oz. Ribeye! Their Steaks are Melt in your Mouth delicious and pairs Wonderfully with one of their Fine Wines! OMG! ~25+ Year Old 5.5 lbs of California Grown Spiny Lobster Sighting Found Here! We rarely have room for Dessert, but when I do, I'm going to get their Butter or Lava Cake! And I Must mention their MONDAY NIGHT Worthy SPECIALS... Ohhh, My Oh My, they have a Freaking Massive Chicken Pot Pie and their Prime Rib Special is also a Touchdown, it's so tender & both are more than enough to share! They have a Lively Lounge with a Piano Man! And their back door "Walker Lounge" space has been recently expanded! It's a Great Spot to Watch a game! And now they're Hosting Cool Party Events there, too! They Have a "Locals Only" Menu in the Lounge M-F, 4-6pm, Sat & Sun, 3-6pm, and All Day on Mondays! Their Weekend Brunch is a Must! We Love their Bloody Mary's and Egg Benny's! Service has Always been Superb here and we Always can't wait to come back to SALT CREEK GRILLE again! read more

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Easy to find, ample parking and plenty of seating on a Tuesday night. Met girlfriends for appetizers and girl time. Servers were attentive. Live music was a plus. Booths were comfy and the fireplace added a nice ambiance. Indoor and outdoor seating. Extending dry January so can't comment on the bar offerings. Appetizers were a gold mine. Bacon wrapped shrimp - nice and crispy while the shrimp remained juicy. 3 per order. Yum. Taquitos - star of the night. Served two (cut into halves) per order with shredded lettuce, chopped tomato and some amazing crema sauce. So good we ordered 2! Steak bites - holy moly. Served 3 skewers per order and accompanied by a side of chimichurri sauce. If only I'd have paused to snap a photo. Again, ordered 2 of these and split among 3 of us we all enjoyed this app. Finally the sourdough bread. Cut into 6 wedges this small boule was the perfect size with garlic and cheese stuffed into the center. A nice way to mop up any leftover chimi, I really enjoyed downing these carbs. Pleasant experience and would definitely come back for happy hour, live music or a nice dinner out. read more

Update: My mom and I keep coming back and thing just keep getting better and better. My mom had had the sliders for Happy Hour and loved them and the last time we were in there she tried the steak bites of the Happy Hour again and this time it was perfect. Everything was cooked and delicious as is my virgin passion fruit martini. Luis, Ted and Thomas are all phenomenal people behind the bar. This is one of the best places to go in OC for Happy Hour or dinner or just to bring your family and friends who are visiting from out of town. I know you'll be completely satisfied from the moment you step foot into this wonderful establishment. read more

Shout out to Colton!! The service was impeccable. I went with a group of friends to celebrate my birthday on a Thursday afternoon (before line dancing). I was a little disappointed to find out happy hour only applied to the bar, but we sat on the patio and still had a great experience. When we got there around 4:30, it was quiet and we had the whole patio to ourselves. Eventually it started filling up and service became slower (reasonably so). But, I ended up missing all of line dancing! A little disappointing, but I still was able to enjoy the live band and pretty atmosphere. All our food was fabulous and I LOVED the complementary birthday cake! We had such a great experience and I can't wait go back soon! read more

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Sadly this was my birthday dinner and our experience wasn't great. Our waitress Chelsy was so rude and not professional. She was upset that I sent my soda back for not being fizzy. Come to find out the machine wasn't working correctly. She gave my husband such a hard time he wanted to leave. The manager came and apologized to us about the soda machine so my husband provided feedback. We ended up getting a new waiter who was much nicer and was in fun sprites. Be mindful when going here. As for food: yellow tail crudo - not worth the price, all the add ons took away from the fish. It also needed some salt Seared ahi tuna - delicious, perfectly balanced and full of flavor Firewood steak - Juicy and perfectly cooked. The fire really enhanced the meat, 10 out of 10 Desserts - Butter cake was good but very sweet and rich Tres Leches - moist and delicious read more

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The last time I was here was before Covid. I started coming here two weeks ago because my girls wanted to do line dancing on Thursdays. We've asked for our favorite waiter, Sterling, for the second time. He is awesome, tentative, cheerful, personable, and most of all great customer service! The food we ordered were tasty and great for sharing: Bacon Wrapped Shrimp , Baked Sourdough Loaf, and Brussels Sprouts. And, you can't get any fresher than this...they have a tank full of live crabs that are FRESH served to order. Under new management, this place has completely come alive! The atmosphere is vibrant and welcoming, making anyone feel right at home. The staff and customers are so friendly, and visits are always looked forward to with live entertainment. read more

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The fish and French fries were very fresh, savory, crispy, fluffy, flavorful, and delicious. Also, the ketchup was super tangy, and the strawberry lemonade was really tasty, sweet, and refreshing, and the calamari was crunchy and chewy, too. Good service, nice atmosphere with pretty live music, and I had an excellent experience here tonight. read more

Salt Creek Grille - Fish, French fries, and ketchup. - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

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It was a brunch reservation with my partner and our first time trying this place. We started with bacon wrapped shrimp which was really good; Their Steak and eggs was delish and my partner had the steak frites which was also to her liking but the best part was the dessert - we tried the butter cake and it was perfect paired with a good cup of coffee and this is a must try. Service was great combined with exquisite atmosphere. I would definitely come back for their dinner selections. read more

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We came on a Sunday evening with reservations. Checking in was easy and we got seated right away. We seemed to get a lot of attention and so hospitality is great at Salt Creek Grille. We wanted to try the Rock Crab Dip but they were out that day which was fine because the Bacon Wrapped Shrimp and Roasted Bone Marrow hit the spot! I literally crave the Roasted Bone Marrow. Our server recommended the Coffee Crusted NY which was a great rec! We also ordered the braised short ribs - no regrets there! So much flavor! Our server also recommended the brussels sprouts which was soooo good! The butter cake also hit the spot. I totally appreciated the conversation we had with our server after our meal. I know the restaurant was closed so I appreciate the time he took to chat with us. read more

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Had early Christmas dinner with my in laws on a Sunday. We sat outdoor where they had a tent set up with a Christmas tree and pretty lights. Service was great, got our food in a timely manner. I had the sea bass which was cooked well but had a bit of fishy taste to it. Hubbs got a burger which he enjoyed. read more

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Wonderful Mothers Day Dinner at Salt Creek Grille! The Assistant Waiter Aaron was friendly, attentive and didn't miss anything. We ordered based on other reviews the Sourdough loaf (yummy), the bacon wrapped shrimp with hot honey (one of my favorites), salad with balsamic and candied pecans, my husband had the fish tacos, one daughter had the burger, and my other daughter shared the gilt with me. Everything was cooked to our liking. Aaron remembered all of our sides etc without being asked. We haven't been to Salt Creek in a long time but after this great experience we will for sure be back. read more

My husband and I tried this restaurant recently, it took a minute to be seated as the hostess was nowhere to be found. Our server was very nice, I don't drink alcohol so I asked about a mocktail I ended up getting a berry mojito, it was delicious My husband had the Bluefin Tuna and Mac and cheese. He really enjoyed his meal. I had the salmon, it was pretty good but I tasted my husband's Bluefin Tuna and I liked that better. The seating was nice and cozy, and the restaurant has a warm feeling.. It was a nice experience. read more

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So my husband and I came here for our date night. The remodel looks really good. The booths are comfortable... thankfully the right height for the table! ( a pet peeve of mine ) the lighting, just right and the live music is great without being too loud to talk Tonight we had a server and a server in training, both were fantastic. My husband had the lamb chops because apparently those are amazing here!! I had the salmon and for appetizers we had the steamed artichoke and the shrimp cocktail. I don't know how they make their artichokes, but I find them absolutely delicious ! Because it was a special occasion, we finished up with crème brûlée and shots of espresso. Everything was really good! read more

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The food has gone completely downhill the bar menu very little like if you're a woodpecker picking on little bit of food, they got cheaper and cheaper same atmospheres same friendly waiters no problem there but management has a big problem with food and prices overpriced and it's not that good I wouldn't recommend this place go to Banderas's. read more

Salt Creek Grille - Shit, the little pieces of beef are like scraps for dogs - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

Went here with my bestie to celebrate the night before her wedding day. We decided to share the ceasar salad, chicken sandwich and fish and chips. They were all good, but for the prices I was expecting a higher quality of food. Same went for the $20 cocktails, it was just lacking for me. The service was great and had a really nice ambiance. They even had a piano player singing, thus the 4 stars I gave them. But for the amount of money we spent ($65 pp) I just expected more. It would have been nice if they did a little something special for my friend as well! read more

Salt Creek Grille - Shared half blackened chicken sandwich and order of fish and chips - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Sorry to report. Not a good experience. First thing we see when sitting down is how dirty the water glasses were... some just had water spots, but others had greasy fingerprints all over them... one steak knife was "sticky". Get a better dish washer and polish your glasses and check the utensils. The service was extremely slow, due to the kitchen that was way backed up. We waited 75 minutes for our entrees. The chicken was dry, but my braised short-rib was delicious. And the restaurant was only 25% occupied from 6pm to 8:30pm on a Sunday night. The molten lava cake wasn't, the creambrule had zero carmelized sugar (it was torched hours before being taken out of the refrigerator). This restaurant has seen better days. Sad to see. read more

Excellent service, great ambiance and furnishings/dècor, amazing sunset/oceanview & reasonable prices!

I have driven by this place a million times and some friends have said they loved it. Especially their sushi? Well turns out, the ownership changed, as did the menu. The photos on yelp are inaccurate if they are over a year old. We came for happy hour. The bartenders were very friendly and helpful. The food, however, was just okay. We got the buffalo wings, taquitos, sliders, and a salad (the salad was not on happy hour) The taquitos were the best. Clearly homemade and really good. The wings were standard wings. The sliders were inedible. We retuned them. They tasted like they came from frozen meat. The vibe inside feels like a hotel restaurant. Drab colors. No real soul. Just really ho hum. They do have a big TV for watching sports in the back. That's a plus for weekend brunch. There was nothing about this place that made me think "We have to come back again!" read more

Perfect beach day and opportunity to enjoy an outside meal. Salt Creek fit the bill! It was a random choice after a soccer match in Mission Viejo, we hit the PCH. We smelled the grill as we passed by and turned around and went back! We are so glad we did. My wife (birthday girl) was feeling fish and chips but we didn't find it on the brunch menu. Our delightful server Brynn charmed the chef to prepare an order even though it wasn't on the brunch menu. Boss move! We started with a signature Bloody Mary for me and my wife had a glass of the house cab. We had bacon wrapped shrimp and baby spinach salad as an hors d'oeuvre. The bloody was just spicy enough and came with cocktail olives and bleu cheese stuffed olives (I didn't have to ask). Well done. The shrimp was plump and juicy and the bacon was cooked perfectly and didn't unwind as you bite it. The salad was fresh and crisp with a variety of textures and tastes. From the goat cheese to the thin sliced apples and the sun-dried cranberries made it upscale. Packed a flavor punch for such a tidy package. I finished with the Ahi Tower and fried wontons. Again a flavor bomb as the ahi paired with the edamame and avocado enjoyed with the crispy wontons. My wife really enjoyed the fish and chips and shared a sizable batter fried fillet. The birthday surprise of thres leche cake with sparkler sealed the deal! The band was just setting up for what promises to be an epic evening in the OC. When they ask "why is so expensive to live in Southern California?" My answer is "because it's worth it!" Salt Creek Grille was certainly worth it! We will be back and next time it won't be by chance. read more

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First time here. Saw the mixed reviews and wondered what the truth is. Well, I think this place is good but has room to seriously improve. The staff are very friendly and surfer like. The food is good. I had the prime rib dip and my husband had the baby back ribs. Where they came short: My prime rib dip on the menu said it came with horseradish cream. When my food arrived it wasn't on the plate. I asked for it and it felt like I was asking for something extra. Then looked at the menu and there it was. Sadly, it took about 15 minutes to actually get it to me after I ate almost half my meal slowly. The waiter said the staff was having issues. I also ordered a cherry coke when we arrived and still didn't have it when my food came. I had to remind the waiter about my cherry coke. Then I finally got it. Lastly, our water was only refilled once (not a big deal) but we're big water drinkers. This place kind of reminded me of Nick's restaurant with similar prices but very much lacking in service in comparison. The vibe is good and it could be a nice place to hang out and have a drink or play horn hole. Hopefully, they work out the kinks with their staff. read more

Salt Creek Grille - Baby Back Ribs - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

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We've been here a few times, all good. Last night, not good. Took forever to get a food server, ordered appetizers which never arrived, drinks not refilled but our waiter passed our table over 6 times. I had my glass on the edge of the table as a clue, but nope. Any further and my glass would have fallen off the table. The check? Never arrived. I had to ask the hostess for it. The bus boys were great though!!! They hustled!!! Salt Creek promote your bus boys to food servers. They are attentive and work hard. read more

The food was very salty and overpriced. And drinks were dive bar quality. It was disappointing. Service was good and a nice vibe with live music. I'd recommend get some wine and go to dance and listen to the music. read more

My best friend really wanted this for her birthday so we went! Service was OK and food was not great. Wont be back.

We went here for my birthday dinner thinking it would be a little fancy but it's not and pretty laid back! Menu was super good though and we got a burger pasta butter cake and spicy tuna . All food came out quick and were delicious. Service was great since it was pretty empty and we could sit anywhere we wanted! We enjoyed our visit and food and would probably come back with proper attire read more

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Hadn't been since it reopened after the remodel. Food was great and nice presentation. Service was ok, but had issues. Ordered an appetizer that we never got and no Birthday was acknowledged even though it was listed when making the reservation. Was disappointed but wouldn't keep me from returning. read more

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Went on NYE which is really difficult to rate given the number of guests. I ordered the shrimp and pasta dish. It was delivered quickly and tasted good. The overall experience was nice. Nothing to complain or compliment other than it was a very nice evening. They even served complimentary champagne to toast the New Year. I would return again. read more

I rarely wrote a review but I had a really frustrating experience trying to contact this restaurant. I called multiple time to make reservation, but each time the call was abruptly hung up on me. There was no explanation, no courtesy, and no attempt to assist. It felt extremely unprofessional! If they can't even handle a phone reservation, it doesn't give me much confidence in how they treat customers overall. Very disappointing experience. read more

Heard great things about this restaurant coming up from Pendleton and it's very close to The Montage off of PCH. The manager informed me it's a new, reopened establishment and the menu kept many of the same plates that the locals came to enjoy over the years. The steak was full of flavor and they age them well. Great wine selection. I'll be sure to return when my family visits. read more

Salt Creek Grille - The porterhouse. . - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

The happy hour here is first rate. The star is the carne asada fries, big enough to share. Six food options five mixed drinks. The Dana Point iced tea will put a colorful orange county spin on the Long Island variety. Live piano crooner on a Monday, note that they offer happy hour on weekends too which is rare in South Orange County. The truffle fries have a lot of fans too. Steak skewers look good. read more

Salt Creek Grille - Carne asada fries - Steakhouses Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Made a reservation for a birthday on open table. They didn't even know or mention it and I noted it to be a surprise. So that was a disappointment. Food was average, Caesar was bland, the half chicken was huge portion wise and juicy but didnt truly have flavor, even the green beans were boring and lacking flavor. Overall it was a quiet night in the restaurant, seemed like lots of locals all dressed so casually. server was nice but don't think ill be back. There's so many other American style restaurants with same menu and better tasting food esp for the price. read more

10/10 would recommend! A friend and I came to meet for an early dinner last Friday, and Salt Creek surely did not disappoint! We made a reservation via OpenTable which was easy. There's an open lot to park in and the entrance is clearly marked. I loved their outdoor setup. There's a sandy area at the bottom of the steps, and a cute patio set up outside the main doors. We sat inside because we wanted AC. We were greeted and immediately sat down by the hostess. Abbey was our server and she was the best! She was really patient with us because we had such a hard time deciding on what we wanted, but was also helpful in recommending dishes and giving us an idea of what we could expect. We had the calamari as an app and it was great. It was lightly breaded and fried perfectly because it wasn't super hard, nor was it extra chewy. I had the halibut as my entree and I was thoroughly impressed. It just melted in my mouth. There was so much flavor in the dish and the accompanying veggies were perfect. We had the butter cake for dessert and I have to admit that I wasn't expecting to be blown away, but I was. The coconut ice cream and guava drizzle were such a perfect combination with the butter cake. Overall, an amazing dinner choice! From aesthetic to food quality, WOW. I highly recommend this spot! Exceptional service too. They have live music occasionally so definitely look out for that. Next time I'm in Southern California, I'm definitely coming back. read more

Excellent from start to finish. The kitchen clearly sources excellent ingredients -- you can taste it in every dish. We ordered the tasting menu and were impressed by the consistency of execution across all courses. The dining room is elegant and the acoustics are pleasant enough to actually hold a conversation. Staff was warm and professional throughout. One of the best dinners we've had locally in a long time. Highly recommended for a special night out. read more

I haven't been to this place in over 10 years. I was excited to try it again, as I know they just did a big remodel. Sadly, it was extremely disappointing. They have live lobsters in this tiny little tank right when you walk in. Poor things, fighting for their lives. You can't even enjoy your dinner, as you just see these sad little things waiting to be boiled alive. It also smells really bad and swampy in the dining room. The bathrooms are really dirty, the soaps don't work. They're smelly and old. They have the worst wine list I've seen in Southern California. The one decent wine they had, they were out of. The sodas weren't carbonated. We sent them back three times and then gave up. We had to wait forever to be sat, even though we had a reservation, and it wasn't busy. read more

We love the newness here at Salt Creek. The atmosphere has changed a bit but the vibe is better As well as the menu, we loved it! The ahi tower so so good it sits on a bed of flavorful minced edamame Of course one of my favs is a lychee martini The Chilean sea bass was perfect. No desert as it's almost thanksgiving Parking, mainly valet, you can find parking across the lot. Gorgeous outdoor space as always. Piano entertainment and lively bar scene. We love the new feel. read more

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Nobody answers the phone. Not possible to call in a reservation . Salt Creek Grille could cut expenses by disconnecting phone service. read more