07/12/07

Dine alongside the surf at this upscale California-cuisine classic, hidden inside a breezy Laguna Beach resort.

by Nancy Hunter

The Scene
Located in the Surf & Sand Hotel in scenic Laguna Beach--between crashing waves and an active strip of boutiques, B&Bs, resorts and eateries--this upscale, eclectic gem dishes up stellar fare with a view to match. The cliff-side restaurant features a terraced outdoor patio--just feet above the beach--and a cozy main dining room with fly-open windows to allow the salty elements to breeze in.

The Food
Daily specials complement the seasonal menu, which features delicate portions, impeccable presentation and interesting flavor combinations. Start with prawn and fennel soup or steamed mussels in Chardonnay. Entrees include roasted veal with a potato puree; rock shrimp risotto, with a sweet corn, basil and bell pepper coulis; and pan-seared ono, a Hawaiian fish, topped with mango salsa and accompanied by a spicy, grilled shrimp kabob. Finish with hot blueberry cobbler, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

03/03/07

Yummy!

by socalbeach

You can?t find a better location. If you are looking for an ocean view this is the place to go. The food melts in your mouth. The staff was great.

• Pros: View, food and service.
• Cons: Expensive

02/14/07

REALLY FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!! GREAT EVERYTHING...

by foodguy9999

We were really impressed from the moment we drove into the property, the valets are great... Obviously the entire hotel has gone through a renovation process recently because the lobby is very contemporary, not the same look as in the past. The restaurant is located on the first floor of the building right above the sand and we were seated right on time for our reservation. The food was great, our server Jim was excellent, ask for him next time you go..... He stated they hired a new chef recently and the food has been getting great reviews. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this one.....Sit outside, it's warmer under the heaters and the view is unbeatable...

• Pros: View, Food and Service, the feel of the whole property
• Cons: tough to get in, reservations only on the weekends

11/03/06

Nice location

by ilovetoeatout007

Great location, good service and food. I would go back to this place again. We really enjoyed the location and a good date place.

05/12/06

This USED to be our favorite restaurant

by debirobert

This used to be our favorite restaurant to take guests to, celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, etc.

The magnificent view coupled with the (once) exceptional cuisine created a memorable experience for any occasion.

Beautiful view but the food was a disappointment. The Lobster was mushy and tasteless. The server exchanged it for their Halibut entree. It did not compare to what we had experienced it in the past. The Lamb entree my husband has enjoyed many times in the past was bland and uncreative in it's preparation.

The service used to be impeccable. Now the servers seem rushed and only mildly concerned that there was a problem with the meal. It was a shadow of the former upscale service we had always associated with the Surf and Sand Hotel.

The only resemblance to previous dining experiences at Splashes tonight was the crashing of the waves and the large bill after dinner.

• Pros: View, Location
• Cons: Entrees, Service

11/11/05

For your veiwing pleasure only.

by sammysamadi

This restaurant is good for a drink as well as relaxing with your pretty dates.

The food is very average, nothing inspired or fusion about it.

You are paying here for the incredible ocean and beach view only!!!

Good for flirting, dating, drink or maybe getting a ocean-view room in the Surf and Sand hotel!!!

• Pros: Ocean view, Drink, Beach front
• Cons: food, food, food

07/26/05

Excellent, but...

by ron912

The food is healthy and wonderfully prepared and presented, the view is breathtaking, but when it gets crowded the noise level is so deafening that it completely destroys the experience. Each table has to talk louder than the next one for anyone to hear anything. I cannot understand why they don't improve the acoustics. Go only at off hours, when it is not crowded.

• Pros: Food, View
• Cons: Noise, Noise, Noise

02/13/04

Great View and Food

by russkar

Splashes has really upgraded its menu from years ago. The food is definately worth checking out and the view is incredible.

03/20/03

Splashes...A Wash Out

by dining315

After hearing about the amazing view, I decided that we would celebrate my girlfriend's birthday at Splashes. When we arrived, we were seated promptly at a table with a nice ocean view. Unfortunately, the view is the only thing worth mentioning about this establishment. The service was very slow and "amateurish." Expecting the food to be as pleasant as the view, we ordered the Lobster Ravioli and the Prime Rib. The ravioli was bland and the prime rib was forgettable. Since I had specified that this was a birthday dinner when making the reservation, I was told that a piece of cake would be brought out. However, all that was brought to our table after dinner was a bill for a very overpriced dinner. There are nice places to eat dinner and enjoy the view of Pacific Ocean, but Splashes is definitely not one of them.

• Pros: View, Intimate, On the Beach
• Cons: Underflavored Food, Bad Service, Overpriced