I wanted to like this place more, I really did, it was good but not great. We made a reservation-which we obviously didn't need at the time-and were greeted and immediately taken to our table of choice, especially since almost every table was available at our early time around 5 pm. Quite a few regulars hanging around the bar, this looks like a Dana Point watering spot for many elderly locals. But the ambience was pretty quiet for a Friday night, not exactly reassuring. We started with the blackened baba ganoush, which I no longer see on the web menu, and it was the best dish of all. Truly delicious, with some nice breads and harissa, the combination was a delight to soak up with the bread provided. I had a blue crab and avocado salad, well done and tasty. Scallops were also well prepared, short rib was good but not spectacular, and the jumbo shrimp cocktail-well, it was a shrimp cocktail-hard to screw that up, but nothing remarkable either. The let-down here was definitely the dessert, which is really hard to mess up. The flourless chocolate cake tasted like a vegan cake made with aquafaba or some other not good flour substitute. Dense to the point of almost being chewy-why not go with a molten chocolate cake instead? Chef needs a new recipe for this one. Glad we did not order anything else because if it was on this level, it would have been double my disappointment. A few of the cocktails were good with a strong pour. For these kind of prices and food, there are better options out there. This is not a bad place, but not one I'd put on my bucket list. read more

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I wondered why this place was empty. On paper it looks great, but in reality it's more of a tourist trap than a local favorite. How could it improve? 1. Expand the menu. We came for the photos on Yelp. None of which are on the menu anymore. Guessing some consultant told them to cut costs by streamlining the choices. Bad advice. 2. Increase portion size. I know this isn't Cracker Barrel but the portions were cartoonishly small. Another bad suggestion by that P/E minded consultant. 3. Hire another server or two. Our server was nice, but we barely saw him. Given the prices and white table ambience, the service was unacceptable. Won't be back and don't recommend. Dana Point has too many better options. read more

Fish tacos, bread and butter and the apple martini are all solid choices. Great happy hour, friendly servers and eager bartenders. Private lot and street parking. read more

Whitestone Restaurant & Bar - Apple martini - New American Near Me - Dana Point, California

Parking and the entrance to the restaurant are easy to find once you turn onto the cross street! Best table bread ever. The butter is seasoned and with chives, enhances the already amazing flavor of the fresh bread. I ordered the Braised Wagyu Short Rib, which was very light on the potato puree but the beef was so tender and such a large portion. Staff were amazing, very kind and super efficient. We got our food so quickly we were in and out of the restaurant in an hour, still with time to enjoy ourselves. Great service! read more

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Remind me to not ever order from this place on DoorDash or GrubHub or Uber eats, they don't know how to get the order right, go into the restaurant and sit down at the bar and have a really delicious meal. Do not order on any of the food services because they always screw it up. The dining experience is so much better. I ordered shrimp and veggies, and neither one of them came out right tonight unfortunately. I ordered grilled shrimp thinking they were not going to be spicy but they were so I couldn't even eat them. read more

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My husband and I absolutely love Whitestone. It has become one of our favorite local Happy Hour restaurants. The restaurant is located on PCH and has a great indoor-outdoor atmosphere. The staff is always friendly. They have a daily happy hour and it ends at 7:30pm. There is great selection of food and drinks on their Happy Hour menu. My husband's favorite dish off the dinner menu is the Braised Short Rib. The Caesar Salad with grilled shrimp is delicious. Food 5/5 Service 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 read more

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"I went to Whitestone in Dana Point for dinner. They had a great happy hour menu. I ordered the spicy margarita, which was very different from any other I've had. It's made with pineapple and mango purée, and it was delicious. During happy hour, I also had the fish tacos and crab cake. The fish tacos had a very light, tempura-like batter, which allowed the fish flavor to come through magnificently. The crab cake was a little too fishy for my taste. For dinner, I had the Jidori chicken, which came with grilled cauliflower and roasted potatoes. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and the flavorful sauce made it outstanding. The service was efficient and professional." I highly recommend the happy hour. read more

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A social group I belong to had a St Patrick's Day gathering in the large room off the bar. It was beautiful and private at the same time. We were served by a very friendly gentleman I believe is the manager. Every employee did their best to make us feel comfortable and attended to. We were there during happy hour and had drinks and appetizers, which were all very nicely made and very tasty. This is a gem of a restaurant! read more

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Wonderful establishment, great service and the food is delicious!!Beautiful cozy place to dine in beautiful Dana Point. read more

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Went for Happy Hour. Nice bar area. Both drinks and food was very reasonable. Ordered 2 mixed drinks (Mexicsn Old Fashion and a Gin drink. Ordered Mussels, Fries and Smoked Trout to start. Drinks were only okay - not strong and not very tasty (Gin Drink had too much gingerale and not enough gin). Also ordered 2 glasses of wine. The Fries ($7) were crispy and seasoned well. Mussels ($14) were generous portion, but broth could have been more flavorful. Smoked Trout was very good (and a bargain at $10. They only gave us 4 small costinis, so we had to ask for 4 more.Ordered the Crab Cake ($28) - which was full of crab and very flavorful. In Summary, the Happy Hour is from 4:30-7:30 everyday - which is awesome. We would go back, but just stay with BEER and Wine. read more

Whitestone is awesome! For date night or large and small events . Delicious food, impeccable service! Hope Whitestone brings back the appetizer grilled octopus with delicious olive, tomato sauce with grilled bread. read more

Waited forever for service...literally played charades and stood around for 90 minutes waiting for our food.. When the food finally arrived, it was excellent. But the wait just soured the whole experience. read more

Great waiter, John. Service was personalized. Food was great. Why did 60 people with reservations not show up or have the decency to cancel on one of the most profitable nights of the year? read more

Excellent from start to finish! We recently hosted our daughter's baby shower at Whitestone, using one of their private spaces. Both Nader and Chef Nick were a pleasure to communicate with in the planning stages. The natural light of the space was inviting and accommodated our party of 40 nicely. The fresh and creative lunch options received many compliments from our guests. Lastly, but most importantly was the service...impeccable! The kitchen turned out meals for our large party beautifully and attention to drinks and clearing was much appreciated. Whitestone is a GEM! read more

Great restaurant with a very good happy hour menu. The best espresso martinis in orange county by my favorite bartender Rafa.

We went last night and Massimo, our server was amazing and personable. The staff was very welcoming and our hostess complimented my wife on her green eyes. That was very sweet. A+ service in terms of good cheer, being welcoming and being attentive to our needs. They made a perfect extra dirty martini with Grey Goose vodka for me. I wound up having two! My wife loved her Malbec. The grilled artichoke was the bomb with an excellent sauce paired with it. The mushroom risotto was great, the steak was cooked to perfection, and was a thick cut. Great ambiance, service, and just a stellar meal. I highly recommend a visit. read more

Whitestone Restaurant & Bar - Mushroom risotto on a white plate on a white tablecloth - New American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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I was treated to such a beautiful birthday celebration at Whitestone in their party dining room. Massimo was there to take care of us he was so gracious, and so kind, very attentive, always pouring our wine, asking us if everything was OK and even taking photos for us he was a real gem for the evening.. I love coming to this restaurant number one they have the very best sourdough bread, bar non It comes with a fresh soft honey butter that spreads beautifully . I love the food. I had the salmon everyone enjoyed their meal. They have a beautiful outdoor patio with a roaring fire very romantic. This is a restaurant that can be enjoyed by couples in their gorgeous booths or by families. Obviously, it's a wonderful girls night out. They've got great cocktails and one of my favorite Chardonnay." flowers" Come for the food and come for the amazing service . read more

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Great Atmosphere Warm and Inviting, Wonderful service from the BarKeep, Great Food. We'll be back.

Beautiful restaurant but beware of no parking! We came here for an engagement dinner so I didn't get to peruse the menu like normal but everything that we had was pretty good. The Caesar salad was so yummy but it was very small lol. My boyfriend had the burger and he said it was good but not life changing. I'd recommend if you want a nice classy intimate spot to go to when you're in the area. But if you're not local I wouldn't make the trip. read more

Hubs wanted Rack of Lamb for his Birthday. I had ribeye- it was tender but lamb and cooked to order but lamb was the winner . It was fabulous. Service excellent. read more

Whitestone Restaurant & Bar - Blackened Rack of Lamb GF - New American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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Love this place. I ordered from DoorDash and received their food and it was amazing. And if you get good food from DoorDash it has to be good in person. We finally came in and we are now regulars. The service is impeccable the food is top notch. This place is a gem! read more

If you're looking for a dining experience that combines superb food, attentive service, and a welcoming atmosphere, Whitestone is the place! Can't wait to go back! read more

It still remains one of my favorite places to go. We either sit at the bar and chat with others or sit at a table when we feel like just being by ourselves. The food remains top notch. The service is exceptional under Maximo's management. This restaurant has many regulars and local support because of its great food and excellent service! read more

I've booked two dinners for large groups in the last 6 months here...the food and service has been phenomenal! They are so easy to work with and everything is top notch. The food, from beginning to end, was one of the best meals I've had all year. We will definitely be back. read more

First time at WhiteStone on Wed., 09/04/25 for Happy Hour. Greeted by an adorable Hostess - Maddy Miller - she was professional, courteous and engaging. She seated us and informed us of the Happy Hour items. Great time. Will visit again soon. Amy B. read more

I've been coming to this hidden gem since it opened a few years back. Arguably one of the top restaurants and Orange County from the ambience to the bar to the staff and last, but not least the amazing unique menu that changes and regular based based on the season. I was there again last Friday and try some of the new summer drinks like the mango margarita and I combined that with an amazing sauté muscles and a very tasty curry broth enjoyed with my crispy bread. No matter where you live in Orange County, I highly recommend trying this establishment read more

Whitestone Restaurant & Bar - Sautéed muscles and a curry broth - New American Near Me - Dana Point, California

Hostess, bussers and food were fabulous and all respectful even though they didn't serve on the left who were More concerned about the MALE in our party. Hmmm, odd. Needless to say everything was just smooth UNTIL we declined dessert then the Older Waiter, dark hair, literally TOSSED the check on the table and never came back. Shocking and without reason. Lost our 5 star rating due to rude waiter. Owner should know about this immediately to save their ratings. read more

I hosted my wedding rehearsal dinner here with almost 50 people in attendance. The service here especially for that amount of people was amazing. All my guests were so happy and I'm so happy I got to meet Nader in the process. I never once needed to call for a waiter because they took such good care of us. The food here was also very delicious. We had a variety of seafood and all my guests complimented the quality and the quantity of the food. My favorite was the red curry mussels and the grilled prawns. Absolutely delightful. If im ever in the Dana Point area, I look forward to stopping by Whitestone again! read more

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What great local find. Quaint but refined at the same time. We live in Newport Beach but make our way down here for the food and generally great atmosphere. Management and overall service are on point, ready to please. Aren't many places like this still around. Enjoy! read more

I always feel welcomed here. So friendly. So inviting. They never judge a book by its cover. Which tends to happen in wealthier cities. Food is excellent. Definitely the best octopus in Dana Point. One of my favorite restaurants in the area. I more of a pescatarian. Which the wide range of seafood is always intriguing to me. Everything from Chilean Sea Bass to crab cakes. which are fantastic. The ambiance is amazing as well as the service. Don't sleep on the Cheesecake either. Its Delicious. Till the next time. Cheers. read more

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Nice place with delicious food and drinks. Drink prices are high except happy hour but delicious. The crab cakes and steak were Fantastic. The staff is very friendly and energetic. Good happy hour place. read more

Really love this place. We were down for a little weekend getaway in Dana point and trying to find a restaurant that would accommodate our group of 15 for a birthday gathering. I reached out to several restaurants in the area, but Nader, the owner of this restaurant was the most responsive and helpful. He was very flexible with our dining request. He set us up in a nice area in the restaurant with a beautiful table set up. The food was great as well as the service. Personally, I had the Caesar salad and the sea bass. Both were amazing. Thank you, Whitestone for a truly memorable and enjoyable experience. Thanks for making the night so special for my daughter. Highly recommend this restaurant if you are in the area. read more

I celebrated my pre birthday dinner here tonight and they didn't disappoint we had a great time here The food was very delicious and very tasty Service was awesome with our server Massimo I think was his name, friendly staff and very helpful and accommodating Thank you for for my birthday brownie I appreciate it Ambiance was on point the vibe was nice the decor was costal chic clean space Def coming back here again read more

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I hate to have to update my review, but here we go. My friend was looking for a place to celebrate her work bridal shower. There are TONS of places near our office that have happy hour on Tuesdays so we had many options to choose from. We decided on Whitestone because several of us had had great experiences here in the past. We made a reservation for 7 people at 4:30pm. We arrived for our reservation and were walked to a table outside. As we walked through the restaurant, I noted that we were the ONLY people there. After sitting down, we were promptly provided with water and we began to check out the menus. We noticed that we had been provided with the regular menu and asked the hostess for the happy hour menu. She responded, "Happy hour is only at the bar." Now I understand that a lot of places have this rule. And I would totally understand if the place was busy and we were taking up a prime table and only ordering HH food. But this was not the case. We were seriously the only people there, so I think this was a situation where they could have made an exception. We also had 2 small dogs with us, so we were unable to sit inside. We told the hostess we specifically went there for happy hour and that the owner of our company had given us a budget. We asked if she could talk to the manager and she said he would just tell us the same thing. We told her that we would take the dogs back to the office and we would move inside to the bar if that was our only option. She seemed annoyed and said she would try to put together some high tops by the bar. A few minutes later, we saw the owner walking towards our table. Both myself and my friend have had positive experiences with the owner in the past as he usually stops by guests' tables and chats with them. We figured he was coming outside to tell us he would make an exception or at least apologize for the inconvenience. Instead he said, "Are you ready to order drinks?" I began to tell him we were not ready since we originally wanted to order happy hour drinks and plans had changed. He literally did not let me finish my sentence before he cut me off and began to spout out the specials for the day. First of all, that was so rude! Second of all, why are you bothering telling us the specials when you know we just wanted happy hour appetizers? After finishing the specials, he literally just walked away. We were completely dumbfounded. At that point, we made a collective decision to leave because there are so many restaurants that would appreciate our business and not treat us like crap. We called Craft House and they told us they had a table inside ready for us and that we could enjoy happy hour. We had a great experience and were definitely glad we made the decision to not eat/drink at Whitestone! read more

My husband and I went to dinner to the Whitestone Restaurant on Friday and had a wonderful time. The restaurant looks very elegant and everyone who works there is friendly. The food was delicious... I had the braised rib which was so tender and soft and my husband ate the spy sausage which was savory. Our server was so attentive to us and made our experience delightful. We will be back for sure! read more

We had our wedding dinner for 20 guest here. Whitestone and Nader - was very easy to work with, as we planned this from out of state. We and our guest were incredibly happy with ALL of the food and service. Some of our guests that travel the world and have eaten everywhere said -"this is the best meal we have had in a very long time"!! Nick - the chef did a superb job. Drinks were wonderful as well. I only wish we lived in California so we could go back soon. Enjoy this lovely restaurant! read more

Huge fan of Whitestone for date night or happy hour and this time we had my business holiday party here. Service was wonderful, quick and very attentive. The food, per usual, was fabulous and came out hot for everyone. Thank you Nader, and Whitestone crew for taking such great care of us! read more

Whitestone has easily become my favorite restaurant in Dana Point. The food is delicious, the ambiance is impeccable, and the service is top notch. The general manager, Massimo, quickly learned my name and my drink order and welcomes me warmly every time I come. He told me as long as I bring my puppy, he'll give me the happy hour menu when I sit on the patio, even though it's technically only at the bar. I bring all my friends and family here when they visit town because it's consistently such a great experience. Thank you, Massimo! read more

Our server Masimo was great from his suggestions to the overall service he made our dinner a pleasurable experience.

Great food and appetizer. Wine zinfendale wine was excellent, would go back against for sure, read more

Whitestone Restaurant & Bar - Ribeye stake with roasted potatoes - New American Near Me - Dana Point, California

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