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. B

   Bill VIP

   Orange County171 reviews

   2.0

   Dined 1 day ago

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

   We've been to Salt Creek Grille (SCG) before but this was our first time since it reopened. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience for a single reason - but arguably the most important one - the food. On the positive side, the ambiance and friendly service were very good as it has always been. The restaurant and bar area were lively and full which were promising signs. Despite the nice ambiance and service, it was the food that was disappointing and a far cry from what we had previously come to expect from SCG. We started with the grilled artichoke appetizer which was tasteless and mushy - not quite bad enough to send back, but not good either. One of our entrees was Cioppino whereby the ingredients were good, but the watery broth was tasteless other than being well over-salted. The other entree was the seared Blue Fin Tuna. The sliced ice-cold tuna was submerged in a cold soupy broth that was very tough to chew and a bit fishy tasting. It's as if the entire dish was pre-made, removed from the refrigerator, and served as if it were a cold leftover. This one was bad enough to send back which our server graciously took care of. I replaced it with the Salmon ordered medium to medium rare and was told it came with a side of white beans - "a new addition to the menu". What came out was overcooked salmon submerged in a spicy soup of white beans. This was an ill-conceived dish and was perhaps a step above cafeteria quality. I loathe to write anything other than positive reviews, but in this case, the food we were served came nowhere close to meeting the standards of SCG ambience and service.
   

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2. A

   Andrew VIP

   Orange County17 reviews

   5.0

   Dined 1 day ago

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

   We had a great first experience at Salt Creek. Super impressed with the service and the food was delicious!
   

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3. M

   Mark VIP

   New York City5 reviews

   2.0

   Dined 2 days ago

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

   Have been going to Salt Creek Grille for years., including for thanksgiving. Went there soon after ownership changed and was disappointed, but recently decided to give it a second chance. The martinis were excellent, but not the food or service. Our waitress was very pleasent, but obviously spread too thin. Waited a very long time for our drinks and then ordered immediately, so as to avoid another long wait. Apparently, there was a severe shortage of waitstaff, since we rarely saw our waitress, except to take our orders. We both ordered the French dip and the meat arrived overcooked and tasteless. We also ordered the grilled artichoke which came in an advanced state of incineration, so we sent it back. The grilled vegetables were very good. Will not be returning until they get their act together.
   

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4. R

   Robert

   San Diego1 review

   5.0

   Dined 6 days ago

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

   Our Waiter was very good and professional, but the Second Waiter that helped us was named CARSON, and he was absolutely outstanding. I would go back to the restaurant solely based on his service. He was friendly, outgoing, warm, and made us really feel welcome, and after watching him for a while, you could see his energy and charisma are very real. We were there celebrating my 92 year old Mother's Birthday, and he really added something special! I hope he gets promoted and recognized for his being an amazing ambassador for the restaurant, he was truly the BEST. I will come back, knowing that he is there to make the next experience memorable too! SIX Stars! Rob Andreasen
   

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5. S

   Stacy VIP

   Orange County13 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 26, 2025

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

   Had a wonderful evening at Salt Creek Grill! Good crowd. I haven't been there since they reopened. The decor was swanky and classy. There was live music in the bar that sounded great. Thank goodness they kept their big booths. Our service was outstanding, drinks were tasty and the food was absolutely delicious! Three of us ordered cioppino and one got the baby back ribs. Everyone LOVED their meals. I personally had the cioppino and it was SO SO amazing! I would highly recommend going to Salt Creek Grill.
   

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6. R

   Robert

   Orange County2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 24, 2025

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

   The Artichoke Appetizer is simply outstanding. The best I have ever had. I will be back to have more! Our server, Abby was extremely knowledgeable both about the food and the wine selections.
   

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7. B

   Bonnie

   Los Angeles2 reviews

   4.0

   Dined on April 20, 2025

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

   Sebastian was our waiter and extremely professional, yet friendly and efficient.
   

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   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on April 21, 2025

   Hi Bonnie, Thank you for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you had such a positive experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA, and that Sebastian provided such professional, friendly, and efficient service. We'll be sure to pass along your compliments to him. We hope to see you again soon at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA!
   

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8. J

   John

   Orange County1 review

   5.0

   Dined on April 19, 2025

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

   This is my wife and I co.e here a lot and it's always delicious food, tasty drinks and fabulous deserts. Try the butter cake and see fir yourselves. Enjoy.
   

   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on April 21, 2025

   Hi John, Thank you so much for your continued support and for sharing your experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA! We're thrilled you and your wife enjoy coming here so often and that you consistently find the food, drinks, and desserts delicious. We especially appreciate you recommending the butter cake – it's definitely a favorite! We look forward to welcoming you back to Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA, again soon.
   

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9. K

   Kim VIP

   Orange County48 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on April 19, 2025

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

   Great ambiance and service. The food is delicious! I had the lychee martini, filet and mashed potatoes. The best mashed potatoes I have ever had! The rotisserie chicken is also delicious and the green beans have an Asian flair.
   

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   Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on April 21, 2025

   Hi Kim, Thank you for your wonderful and detailed feedback! We're so pleased to hear you enjoyed the great ambiance and service at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. It's fantastic to know you found the food delicious, especially the lychee martini, filet, and those amazing mashed potatoes! We're also glad you enjoyed the rotisserie chicken and the Asian flair of the green beans. We truly appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you back to Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA, again soon!
   

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10. S

    Steve

    San Francisco1 review

    1.0

    Dined on April 18, 2025

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

    This is a rare negative review for us, as we are typically quite easygoing. However, our recent experience at your restaurant was significantly below expectations and, at over $285, we feel compelled to share our feedback. Firstly, both our main courses were disappointing. The Sea Bass was dry, and the Ribeye was overcooked and lacked tenderness (ordered medium rare + and came closer to well done). Secondly, the house specialty artichoke was also overdone, resulting in a tough, almost inedible dish with very little actual artichoke heart. While the wine and salad were enjoyable, it was the only highlight of our meal. Overall, the quality of the food did not justify the price point. We hope this feedback is taken constructively to improve the dining experience for future guests. Maybe it was an off night. Best regards
    

    Salt Creek Grille Orange CountyResponded on April 21, 2025

    Hi Steve, Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback, though we're very sorry to hear about your experience at Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA. We understand your frustration, especially given the cost of your meal. We truly regret that your sea bass and ribeye were not prepared to your liking, and that the artichoke was overdone. This is certainly not the quality we strive for. We appreciate you mentioning the positive aspects of your meal, and we take your comments very seriously. We would like to invite you to contact us directly so we can discuss this further and work towards making it right. We hope you'll consider giving us another opportunity to provide you with the exceptional dining experience that is typical of Salt Creek Grille in Dana Point, CA.
    

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