• Best Happy Hour •
Gold Lantern
Wind & Sea 34699 Golden Lantern, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com
With a beautiful harborside patio, drink specials and pupus, it’s no wonder Dana Point locals voted Wind & Sea a top choice for best happy hour. Specially priced beer, Mai-tais and wines paired with calamari strips, teriyaki tidbits or sashimi are just a few available accompaniments to an enjoyable afternoon sunset on the lanai. —AS
Silver Lantern
Harpoon Henry’s
34555 Golden Lantern, 949.493.2933 www.windandsearestaurants.com/harpoonhenrys NOMINEES: 180 Blu at The Ritz-Carlton • Brio Tuscany Grille • Caliente Coastal Cantina • Cannons Restaurant • Carlos Mexican Restaurant • Casanova Restaurant &Cocktail Lounge • Chart House • Dana West Yacht Club • El Torito • Gemmell’s Restaurant • Gen Kai Japanese Restaurant • Harbor House Café • Harpoon Henry’s • Hennessey’s Tavern • Jack’s Restaurant • Jolly Roger • Luxe Restaurant and Bar • Mahé • Mori Sushi • OverVue Lounge at Laguna Cliffs Marriott • Proud Mary’s • Renaissance • Salt Creek Grille • Stella’s Serious Italian • Stonehill Tavern at St. Regis • Sunsets Capo Beach • Taco Surf • Thai This • The Fish Bucket • The Shwack Beach Grill • Turk’s Restaurant • Vivo Rooftop Lounge at Doubletree Doheny Beach • Yappy Hour at The Ritz-Carlton 2010 WINNERS: Gold: Mahé; Silver: Wind & Sea
• Best International Eats •
Gold Lantern
Thai This 24501 Del Prado, 949.240.7944, www.thaithis.com
For two decades, Thai This owner “Jib” Roungchun has put his love in every meal. Customers are made to feel as if they’re having a meal at a friend’s house — high-end food in a very casual environment. Family recipes form the basis of the menu. “Even though we live in a different latitude, I try to bring all the Thai-titude here,” the owner said. —SNG
Silver Lantern
Peking Dragon 34171 Pacific Coast Hwy., (949) 4939499, www.pekingdragonrestaurant.com
NOMINEES: Agostino’s Ristorante and Bar • A’s Burgers • Aurora’s Taqueria • Bonjour Café • Brio Tuscany Grille • Caliente Coastal Cantina • Carlos Mexican Restaurant • Cannons Restaurant • Casanova Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge • Chronic Tacos • Dana Kai Japanese Cuisine • El Patio • El Torito • Gemmell’s Restaurant • Gen Kai Japanese Restaurant • Hennessey’s Tavern • Harbor House Café • Ichibiri • Jack’s Restaurant • Las Golondrinas Mexican Food • Little Kitchen Asian Café • Luciana’s • Mahé • Mario’s by the Sea • Mori Sushi • Motif at the St. Regis • Olamendi’s Mexican Restaurant • Quench Bar & Bistro • Raya at The Ritz-Carlton • Ristorante Ferrantelli • Round Table Pizza • Shanghai Charlie’s • Stacks Pancake House • Stella’s Serious Italian • Taco Surf • Thai Dara • The Harbor Grill • The Shwack Beach Grill • Tutor and Spunky’s Deli • What a Dish Café & Catering Cafe and Catering • Wind & Sea 2010 WINNERS: Gold: Thai This; Silver: Mahé
• Best Restaurant for a • Date/Romantic Evening
Gold Lantern
Chart House 34442 Green Lantern, 949.493.1183, www.chart-house.com
Chart House gives customers sweeping views of Dana Point Harbor and beyond from a bluff
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Nu Tangjaitrong, Linette Roungchun and Tan Wenk of Thai This. Photo by Andrea Swayne
on Green Lantern. The restaurant chain, owned by Landry’s, prides itself on tailoring its cuisine to local offerings and preparing it expertly. Add a comprehensive wine list and a dessert menu to die for and the eatery is the ideal backdrop for a date to remember. —SNG
Silver Lantern
Luciana’s Ristorante 24312 Del Prado, 949.661.6500, www.lucianas.com
NOMINEES: Agostino’s Ristorante & Bar • A’s Burgers • Brio Tuscany Grille • Beach Cities Pizza • Cannons Restaurant • Casanova Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge • Chart House • Dana West Yacht Club • El Torito • Gemmell’s Restaurant • Gen Kai Japanese Restaurant • Harbor House Café • Harpoon Henry’s • Jack’s Restaurant • Jolly Roger • Luxe Restaurant and Bar • Mahé • Mario’s By The Sea • Motif at the St. Regis • Quench Bar & Bistro • Raya at The Ritz-Carlton • Renaissance • Ristorante Ferrantelli • Salt Creek Grill • Stella’s Serious Italian • Stonehill Tavern at St. Regis • Thai This • The Coffee Importers • The Harbor Grill • The Little Kitchen Asian Café • The Shwack Beach Grill • Tutor and Spunky’s Deli • Vue Restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott • What a Dish Café & Catering Cafe and Catering • Wind & Sea 2010 WINNERS: Gold: Chart House; Silver: (TIE) Brio Tuscany Grille, Luciana’s Ristorante
• Best Overall Restaurant •
Gold Lantern
The Harbor Grill 34499 Golden Lantern, 949.240.1416 www.harborgrill.com
Thursday oyster night is just one of many specials that keep Harbor Grill regulars coming back. The menu also features favorites like lobster ravioli, crawfish etoufee, angus steaks and burgers. The chefs even use fresh seasonings from the restaurant’s onsite herb garden. “We’re feel honored to be recognized by our customers in this way. Thank you all,”
said owner John Hicks. —AS
Silver Lantern
Brio Tuscany Grille
24050 Camino Del Avion, 949.443.1476, www.briorestaurant.com NOMINEES: A’s Burgers • Agostino’s Ristorante and Bar • Aurora’s Taqueria • Beach Cities Pizza • Bonjour Café & Bistro • Brio Tuscany Grille • Cannons Restaurant • Carlos Mexican Restaurant • Casanova Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge • Chart House • Dana Kai Japanese Cuisine • Dana Point Yacht Club • Dana West Yacht Club • El Patio Café • El Torito • Gemmell’s Restaurant • Gen Kai Japanese Restaurant • Harbor House Café • Harpoon Henry’s • Hennessey’s Tavern • Ichibiri • Jack’s Restaurant • Jolly Roger • Jon’s Fish Market • Luciana’s Ristorante • Mahé• Mario’s by the Sea • Motif at the St. Regis • New York Deli • Olemendi’s Mexican Restaurant • Peking Dragon • Proud Mary’s • Quench Bar & Bistro • Raya at The Ritz-Carlton • Renaissance Café • Rib Joint • Ristorante Ferrantelli • RJ’s Café • Salt Creek Grille • Shanghai Charlie’s • Smokey’s House of BBQ • Stella’s Serious Italian • Stonehill Tavern at St. Regis • Subway • Taco Surf • Thai Dara • Thai This • The Brig • The Shwack Beach Grill The Coffee Importers • Turk’s Restaurant • Tutor and Spunky’s Deli • Vue Restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott • What a Dish Café & Catering Cafe and Catering • Wind & Sea 2010 WINNERS: Gold: Brio Tuscany Grille; Silver: The Harbor Grill
• Best Breakfast •
Gold Lantern
RJ’s Café 25001 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.218.5757, www.rjscafe.com
RJ’s serves a wide variety of tasty breakfast foods all day. There are plenty of choices for egg lovers, from eggs Benedict to awesome three-egg omelettes. The heavenly potatoes—home-fried spuds with bacon, mushrooms, spinach, onions and jack and cheddar cheese—live up to their name. The breakfast burritos, stuffed French toast and fluffy pancakes are great choices as well.—AS
Silver Lantern
The Coffee Importers 34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com
NOMINEES: A’s Burger • Bonjour Café & Bistro • Carlos Mexican Restaurant • Denny’s • Dippity Donuts • Donut World • El Torito • Harbor Deli • Harbor House Café • I Love Bagels • Jack’s Restaurant • J.C. Beans • Jolly Roger • Pain du Monde • Proud Mary’s • Quench Bar & Bistro • Renaissance • Salt Creek Grille • Stacks Pancake House • Starbucks • Subway • The Brig Restaurant • The Coffee Importers • The Harbor Grill • The Shwack Beach Grill • Turk’s Restaurant • Tutor and Spunky’s Deli • What a Dish Café & Catering Cafe and Catering • Wind & Sea 2010 WINNERS: Gold: RJ’s Café: Silver: (TIE) Harbor House Café, What a Dish Café & Catering Cafe and Catering
• Best Cup of Coffee •
Gold Lantern
The Coffee Importers 34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com
Since 1957 The Coffee Importers has been the most popular place locals go for coffee and conversation. Hot or cold, sweet or bold, Jim Miller’s popular harbor-side hangout has something to satisfy every coffee craving. It’s no wonder they have swept this category every year since the first Best of Dana Point Lantern Awards in 2008. –AS
Silver Lantern
J.C. Beans 34114 Pacific Coast Hwy., 949.496.4700, www.jcbeans.com
NOMINEES: ampm • Bonjour Café & Bistro • Dana Point Donuts • Harbor House Café • Brio Tuscany Grille • Casanova Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge • Circle K • Dana Point Donuts • Denny’s • Dippity Donuts • Harbor House Café • Jolly Roger • McDonald’s • Pain du Monde • Proud Mary’s • RJ’s Café • Stacks Pancake House • Starbucks • Subway • The Brig • The Shwack Beach Grill • Turk’s Restaurant • Tutor and Spunky’s Deli • Vue Restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott • What a Dish Café & Catering Cafe and Catering 2010 WINNERS: Gold: The Coffee Importers; Silver: J.C. Beans
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