Salt Creek Grille Orange County

Review summary

1. B

   Barry

   VIP

   Orange County

   9 reviews

   2.0

   9 reviews

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 2
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   New ownership equates to very nice ambiance, but the food & wine are so over-priced. The menu is limited and I don’t think we will be coming back again.
   

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2. J

   Joanne

   VIP

   Orange County

   33 reviews

   4.0

   33 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I booked for an early time to avoid the usual dinner crowd and it was perfect! The service was great and the Monday Night special was terrific!
   

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   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 3 days ago

   Hello Joanne, We're absolutely delighted you had such a perfect experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA! It's wonderful you found your early booking ideal for avoiding the dinner crowd, and that you enjoyed our great service and terrific Monday Night special. We're especially thrilled that the dish surpassed anything you've experienced in your extensive dining history! We love that you found it to be a unique blend of comfort and culinary excellence. It warms our hearts to know we created such a memorable meal for you. Thank you for your enthusiastic praise; we look forward to welcoming you back to Salt Creek Grille for more exceptional dining experiences.
   

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3. M

   Matthew

   Orange County

   23 reviews

   4.0

   23 reviews

   Dined 4 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   I really wanted to give it 5 stars since my family has been going here for decades, we’ve hosted parties here, and it was a beloved restaurant of ours. Unfortunately things have changed since they changed owners. The portions are much smaller for the same price if not more. The ahi stack was my favorite item on their original menu - now it’s about 1/2 to 1/3 of the portion it used to be. The duck breast was completely over cooked and chewy. I should have sent it back but I felt bad. The drinks were good and the live music was great. I wish they would go back to serving appropriate portions and cooking the food properly like they used to. What a bummer.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 4 days ago

   Hi Matthew, We are deeply saddened to hear that your long-standing love for Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. has been impacted by recent changes. Knowing your family has celebrated decades of memories with us, including hosted parties, makes your feedback especially important. We are committed to listening to our customers and will address the issues you raised regarding portion sizes and food preparation with our culinary team. We appreciate your kind words about the drinks and live music, and we hope you'll give us the opportunity to regain your trust and restore Salt Creek Grille to the beloved restaurant you remember. We are dedicated to making the necessary improvements to ensure our survival and, more importantly, to honor the memories you've created with us.
   

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4. K

   Keith

   Orange County

   7 reviews

   4.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on 20 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   We've eaten here numerous times, all before the new ownership. The seating areas are improved as is the general decor, inside and out. The food is good, but the prices are higher. One other thing I noticed is that the prices online don't match the actual menu. In some cases, items are $4-up higher. We had a 6 p.m. reservation and ordered the baby back ribs, only to hear that they weren't ready yet (still an hour away) and thus ordered another dish. We do enjoy coming here, but there are other restaurants in the area with prices equal or lower. The one thing Salt Creek Grille always has is very good service -- then and now. Our server, Brandon, was excellent. Great service can make up for any other little faults. As for food, we had the braised ribs and chicken, which had a spicy sauce. Both decent, but just OK when you factor in the prices. One nice perk, however, is half-price wine on Wednesday -- glasses and bottles. If you like wine, that's the day to visit!
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 4 days ago

   Hi Keith, We sincerely appreciate your detailed and thoughtful feedback regarding your experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. under new ownership. We're pleased you noticed and enjoyed the improvements to our seating areas and decor. We understand your concerns about the higher prices and the discrepancy between online and in-restaurant menu prices, which we are actively working to correct. We are truly grateful for your continued recognition of our excellent service, especially Brandon's exceptional work, and we agree that great service can indeed mitigate other shortcomings. We value your long-standing patronage and are committed to addressing your concerns to ensure your future visits are more consistently satisfying.
   

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5. J

   John

   Vancouver

   7 reviews

   5.0

   7 reviews

   Dined on 20 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Really tasty food amid an attractive restaurant both inside and outside on the patio. Service was excellent. Bar area had live entertainment.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 4 days ago

   Hi John, We're absolutely delighted you enjoyed the tasty food, attractive atmosphere, and excellent service at Salt Creek Grille! It's wonderful to hear you appreciated both our indoor and patio spaces, and that you enjoyed the live entertainment in the bar area. We strive to create a vibrant and enjoyable dining experience for all our guests, and your positive feedback confirms we're achieving that goal. Thank you for recognizing our efforts; we look forward to welcoming you back to Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. for more delicious food, great service, and lively entertainment!
   

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6. D

   Dennis

   Orange County

   58 reviews

   5.0

   58 reviews

   Dined on 17 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Good service, delicious food and comfortable environment….
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on 18 February 2025

   Hi Dennis, We're so glad you enjoyed the good service, delicious food, and comfortable environment at Salt Creek Grille! Creating a positive and enjoyable dining experience is our top priority, and it's wonderful to hear we achieved that for you. We strive to provide exceptional service, flavorful dishes, and a welcoming atmosphere, and your feedback confirms we're on the right track. Thank you for your kind words; we look forward to welcoming you back to Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. again soon!
   

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7. J

   John

   Los Angeles

   4 reviews

   3.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on 16 February 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 3
   3. Service 1
   4. Ambience 4

   Fun location but service was not good. Waited too long for drinks that can warm and a couple of items we ordered never came and had to ask for them.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on 17 February 2025

   Hi John, We appreciate your feedback about your recent visit to Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. While we're glad you enjoyed the fun location, we apologize that the service fell short of your expectations. We strive to provide seamless and attentive service, and we clearly missed the mark during your visit. Thank you for bringing these issues to our attention; we'll use your feedback to improve and hope you'll give us another chance to provide you with the excellent service we're known for.
   

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8. E

   Ed

   VIP

   Austin

   4 reviews

   3.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on 16 February 2025

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 1

   We chose Salt Creek for our Valentine weekend dinner and were extremely disappointed. As we were walking to our table, we walked past the dining room with its decorations, booths, tables and warm ambiance. Instead, we were seated in the back room against the wall under a TV. No view, no ambiance, no decorations, no romance. While the food and service were both fine, the evening was ruined by the terrible location. I understand the restaurant wants to make the most money possible but this was a horrible experience and we will not be back there again.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on 17 February 2025

   Hi Ed, We're sad to hear that your Valentine's weekend dinner at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. was such a negative experience. We never want our guests to feel like their special occasion isn't valued, and we clearly missed the mark with your seating assignment. We'll definitely review our seating procedures to ensure that guests aren't seated in less desirable locations, especially during peak times and holidays. We value your patronage and are truly sorry we ruined your evening. We hope you might reconsider in the future, and if you do, please don't hesitate to reach out to us directly so we can ensure you have a much more enjoyable experience.
   

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9. D

   Damon

   Los Angeles

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 16 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Love this place. Love the live music. Totally recommend
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on 17 February 2025

   Hi Damon, We're so happy you love Salt Creek Grille and the live music! It's wonderful to hear you so enthusiastically recommend us – that means the world to our team. Creating a fun and enjoyable atmosphere with great music and delicious food is our passion, so your feedback is truly rewarding. Thank you for your support; we look forward to welcoming you back to Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA again soon!
   

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10. J

    James

    Los Angeles

    14 reviews

    5.0

    14 reviews

    Dined on 16 February 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4

    Curbside appeal was inviting with optional Valet. Warm outdoor fire place for those waiting, reservation was recognized with special occasion notes that they made a point to recognize. The server was experienced, friendly, attentive but not overbearing. Food was delicious, above average portions. Valentines weekend had live, music easy listening and still able to listen/hold a conversation at the table. I special ordered a cocktail and they accommodated. Overall just a relaxed vibe with great food and incredible service. This was a 200+mile round trip and we can't wait to come back...ty SCG
    

    Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on 17 February 2025

    Hi James, We're absolutely thrilled you made the 200+ mile round trip to Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. for your Valentine's Day celebration, and that it was so worthwhile! It's wonderful to hear you appreciated the curbside appeal, valet option, warm fireplace, and the special recognition of your occasion. We're delighted your server was experienced, friendly, and attentive, and that you enjoyed the delicious, above-average portions. The live, easy-listening music sounds like it created the perfect ambiance, and we're so glad we could accommodate your special cocktail request. Creating a relaxed vibe with great food and incredible service is our passion, so your feedback is truly rewarding. Thank you for choosing Salt Creek Grille; we can't wait to welcome you back again soon!
    

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