Salt Creek Grille Orange County

Salt Creek Grille Orange County reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Review summary

1. J

   JIM VIP

   Palm Springs63 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 3 days ago

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

   First time for Salt Creek Grille. We were celebrating a friend's birthday. Our server was excellent. She was attentive but not intrusive. To start the celebration, we all ordered cocktails that were made to perfection. Kudos to the bartender. Three of us ordered the coffee crusted NY steak, and it was cooked to order and well seasoned. The sides were ala carte and the only disappointment was the Brussel sprouts. They were quite dry and fragrant. It needed more balsamic dressing. For our friend's birthday dessert they provided a Tres Leche. It was okay. When we're in the neighborhood again, we will come back.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 1 day ago

   Hello Jim, Thank you so much for choosing Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA to celebrate your friend’s birthday—it means the world to us to be a part of such a special occasion! We’re thrilled to hear your cocktails hit the mark, the service felt just right, and the coffee-crusted NY steak delivered on both flavor and execution. We also truly appreciate your honest feedback about the Brussels sprouts and dessert—it’s insights like yours that help us continue to improve and refine the experience. We’re so glad to hear you’ll be back when you're in the neighborhood, and we look forward to welcoming you again with warm hospitality and even better Brussels sprouts next time!
   

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2. D

   Donald

   Las Vegas2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 4 days ago

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

   Always Great even better than lasttime great food nd ambiance
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 1 day ago

   Hi Donald, Thank you so much for your kind words and for joining us again at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA! It truly means the world to hear that each visit gets better and that you enjoyed both the food and ambiance—we’re always striving to elevate every guest experience, and your support lets us know we’re on the right track. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another memorable meal by the coast!
   

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3. j

   jonathan

   Orange County3 reviews

   3.0

   Dined 6 days ago

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

   Very loud room and expensive for the value. Our $70 filet was slightly bigger than a ping pong ball and a few order came out not as requested. Our waitress was very sweet and the foodrunners were very nice too. I think there are better places to go for this kind of money.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 6 days ago

   Hi Jonathan, Thank you for sharing your honest feedback about your visit to Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We’re glad to hear that our waitress and food runners made a positive impression with their kindness, but we’re truly sorry the overall experience, including the portion size and order accuracy, didn’t meet your expectations. We appreciate your comments and will use them to improve so we can provide better value and service for all our guests. We hope you might consider giving us another chance in the future.
   

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4. N

   Nicholas

   Las Vegas2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 6 days ago

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

   Chef’s special stuffed grab was amazing. The lighting in the tree makes the outdoor experience truly something special.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 5 days ago

   Hi Nicholas, Thank you so much for your kind words and for dining with us at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the chef’s special stuffed crab—it’s a dish we take great pride in—and that the ambiance of our outdoor space, especially the lighting in the trees, added something truly special to your experience. Creating a warm and memorable setting to complement our food is what we strive for, and we're so grateful you took the time to share. We can’t wait to welcome you back again soon!
   

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5. H

   Helen VIP

   Montreal / Quebec10 reviews

   2.0

   Dined 7 days ago

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

   It depends what you’re into I guess but Salt Creek just isn’t for us. If you’re local and are seeking a dining experience similar to Nick’s, Oak or Fig 313 for example, this isn’t it. This place is more like an overpriced Olive Garden at a good location. Service was good (Melissa & Austin were so sweet) and the patio looks great (minus the bright white LED lights in the trees…soft warm lights would make a big difference). The food & drinks are just average, not memorable or something you must come back for. It does its job, it feeds you, it just doesn’t delight you. We ate inside and the old dirty carpeted floors are mood killers. The dividers, the small sugar holders with Splenda packets, the noise levels, the folding station right there where staff wrap the silverware… I don’t know what it is but it gives Applebee’s vibes. I’m sure they have their niche clientele, we love to see local businesses do well, so we wish them luck!
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 6 days ago

   Hi Helen, Thank you for sharing your honest feedback about your experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We truly appreciate your kind words about Melissa and Austin’s service and are grateful you enjoyed the patio space. We’re sorry to hear that some aspects, like the ambiance and food, didn’t meet your expectations—your detailed insights about lighting, decor, and overall atmosphere are very helpful as we strive to improve. We value all perspectives and hope to continue growing and evolving to better delight every guest. Thanks again for supporting a local business and taking the time to share your thoughts. He hope to serve you again.
   

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6. R

   Richard

   Las Vegas2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 7 days ago

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

   Excellent food! Service was great. Prices a little steep
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 6 days ago

   Hi Richard, Thank you so much for your kind words about the excellent food and great service at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA! We truly appreciate your feedback about pricing and strive to deliver an exceptional dining experience that reflects the quality and care we put into every dish. Your support means a lot to us, and we look forward to welcoming you back soon for another memorable meal.
   

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7. d

   derek

   San Francisco Bay Area15 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on 11 May 2025

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

   A little disappointed in the $75 prix fixe the Mother's Day Brunch. The portions were small overall and not real impressive. The restaurant offers better fare on their regular days which we have enjoyed before.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on 14 May 2025

   Hi Derek, Thank you for your feedback on your Mother's Day Brunch experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We appreciate you sharing your opinion with the $75 price fixed menu. We strive to provide a special experience for holidays, but we also value consistency with our regular fare. We will take your comments into consideration as we plan future holiday menus at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We are glad to hear you have enjoyed your previous experiences with us.
   

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8. J

   Jerry

   Orange County3 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on 11 May 2025

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

   The outside table we were assigned was extremely unsteady, spilling drinks etc. Finally waiter adjusted it, but neglected to give us utensils so when starter arrived we could only look at it. The quantity of the meal was ridiculously small. I have NEVER had such an inadequate meal for which the price was disproportionately high. I know Mother’s day is notiorious for extremely high prices it never conceived this establishment would engage you this practice.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on 14 May 2025

   Hi Jerry, Thank you for sharing your feedback on your Mother's Day experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We sincerely apologize for the issues you encountered. We understand how frustrating it can be when these aspects detract from your dining experience, especially on a special occasion like Mother's Day. We also regret that you felt the prices were disproportionately high. We strive to provide a positive experience for all our guests, and we will address your concerns with our team to ensure these issues are not repeated at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We hope to serve you again.
   

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9. A

   Alexis VIP

   Los Angeles20 reviews

   3.0

   Dined on 11 May 2025

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

   We went for Mother's Day brunch. Menu selection wasn't great and we were forced to do a prix-fixe menu. Apps came out cold and our server wasn't as attentive with getting us drinks. The entrees came out and were much better than the apps, but overall the experience was subpar.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on 14 May 2025

   Hi Alexis, Thank you for sharing your feedback on your Mother's Day brunch experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We apologize that the menu selection and prix-fixe format didn't meet your expectations. We're also sorry to hear that your appetizers arrived cold and that the server wasn't as attentive with drinks as we strive to be. We appreciate you noting that the entrees were better, but we understand that the overall experience was subpar. We value your feedback and will use it to improve our service and offerings, especially for special occasions like Mother's Day at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We hope to serve you again soon.
   

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10. OT

    OpenTable Diner VIP

    Orange County3 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on 11 May 2025

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

    Really wanted to love it. Food was actually pretty good. How can the front of the house be sooo bad? Waiter was horrible - from the moment we sat down to when we left: forgetful, inattentive careless. Our bill that was supposed to have comp’d items because of all the issues - didn’t. Tables dirty while others are being seated. Waiters passing tables with plates clearly ready to be cleared - no attention. This is where coastal kitchen gets it right. It’s all hands on deck there to make the restaurant successful. Here you felt like the front of the house was more interested in hanging out with each other. The last straw was when I walked into the bathroom and saw a toilet bowl brush under the sink area and smelt a stench. I notified the hostess. When my back was turned, she appeared to be laughing with another hostess. They just don’t care. But the food doesn’t deserve that; it’s actually good. Maybe they should do UberEats until they find people that can serve and care for the patrons.
    

    Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded 6 days ago

    Hi Anonymous, Thank you for sharing your honest and detailed feedback about your experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We’re truly glad to hear you enjoyed the food, but we’re deeply sorry that the front of house service and cleanliness did not meet the high standards you rightfully expect. We appreciate you bringing these issues to our attention, as they help us improve both staff training and overall care for our guests. We hope you might consider giving us another chance in the future to show you the full Salt Creek Grille experience we strive to deliver.
    

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