Doesn't Recommend

jennyxxx

Joined 5 years ago

Not impressed. Recently took colleague for lunch having looked at the menu on-line. Thought it would be a decent restaurant based on the menu. However it is very down beat. We ate on the patio which is furnished with plastic furniture. Food mediocre. Clientele seemed to consist of families out for the day having a quick snack. Not impressed

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projectx633

Joined 5 years ago

Wonderful; relaxed; great location; good food. On 3/10/08, my sister and I had dinner here and really loved it. We started with margaritas on the rocks; they were excellent. My sister had salmon, potatoes and zucchini. It was a very generous portion of salmon and she raved about it. The zucchini were cooked perfectly to her taste and she finished off her plate. I had the scallops and pasta. It was supposed to be a bit spicy but I didn't notice that it was hot but I really liked it anyway. I probably wouldn't order that exact dish again but I wasn't disappointed and ate my entire dinner as well. We split a piece of cheesecake which was good as well.

My recommendation is to ask to be seated outside. You have a lovely view of the boats and the temperature was perfect. There are only a few seats out there so you have to go early. Also, there was a pianist that played soft, wonderful, classical piano. It was such a lovely dinner; we were very pleased.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Fresh seafood, a friendly atmosphere and stunning views of the harbor keep locals coming back to the restaurant.. In Short
Known for its freshness and variety of seafood, the restaurant attracts fish lovers with its warm atmosphere, Southwestern, Pacific Rim and Cajun cuisine as well as its reasonable prices. Offering a nice wine selection and full service bar, the eatery features a cozy dining room and terrace. Guests get a view of the harbor as they listen to a pianist offer pleasant backround music each night. An herb garden is displayed for patrons to view the fresh and unique ingredients used daily in each entree. Notable lunch menu items include the guacamole and salsa burger for $12.95 and the fresh half Pacific spiney lobster for $20. Guests can also choose from a selection of classic martinis and margaritas including the espresso martini or mango margarita for $8.50.

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tlong

Joined 7 years ago

Delicious Seafood, Casual Elegance. We very much enjoyed our experience at the Harbor Grill. The service was prompt and pleasant, our waitress made recommendations and answered our questions. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere was very nice with the live piano music. Overall, two thumbs up, and five stars.

Recommends

rlknapp1

Joined 11 years ago

Great food, great service, great restaurant.. Was looking for a great place to have lunch in Dana Point, and was told about Harbor Grill at Dana Point from the locals that lived in the area. They have been going to Harbor Grill for a long time, and loved the place. After their recommendation, I looked up the restaurant here on MSN City Guides. Was surprised to hear what was said here, but went with the suggestion.

We were greeted by a very friendly person, who seated us right away. We had to wait for the rest of our party to arrive, and the waiters were very attentive during the wait. While we were waiting, we also watched the excellent attention the rest of the patrons got on the patio. Food that came out also looked great, and people were pleased.

We tend to ask waiters for recommendation, and he was great at telling us the favorites of customers and his. We ordered a selection of seafood from salmon, scallops (which were HUGE!), shrimp and clam chowder, and all was done perfectly. The meals were served quickly, and the waiter did an excellent job of making sure our meals were satisfactory as well.

I completely disagree with the previous reviews here, and highly recommend this restaurant.

Doesn't Recommend

ukbird1966

Joined 7 years ago

Just Terrible!. I've lived in the South County area like the previous poster for over 20 years but, I had never eaten at Harbor Grill until last month. I must say, that the experience was less than desirable. The food was merely average for what they charged, the service was very slow, not to mention rude. Waiter walked away when we were having trouble deciding instead of assisting. The mesquite seafood was cold in places. Waiter seemed uninterested (when we did see him) in trying to fix it. And refused to get management. We ended up paying, but left feeling cheated out of a good meal that we probably gotten elsewhere. Will not be returning or reccomending in the future.

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russkar

Joined 11 years ago

Best Seafood in the Harbor. We have been going to HG for Twenty Years and the Food and Service have always been good to Very good. Fresh Fish and even a good Hamburger. Everything is Mesquite Grilled and cooked to perfection. Quality costs $ but they keep there prices fair. Enjoy!

Doesn't Recommend

snapsbird

Joined 9 years ago

Overrated. I heard about this restaraunt on local cable comercials. And was looking foward to a romantic dinner for two. The "service" was non-existant. The food was below average (not to mention undercooked) And no apology was given, Over-all, it was an over priced, over-rated experience that left me wishing I has gone elsewhere. Do yourself a favor when in Dana Point Harbor and are in search of excellent seafood. Go to Jon's Fish Market instead. It may not be posh, but the service is a damn sight better and the food is affordable and some of the best seafood in Orange County!