3rd Annual
BEST OF DANA POINT 2 0 1 0
P E O P L E ’ S
BEST APPETIZERS
Gold Lantern
WIND & SEA
34699 Golden Lantern, 949.496.6500, www.windandsearestaurants.com
Pacific Rim fusion cuisine in a waterfront setting makes diners feel like they’re on vacation. The menu offers tasty island-style bites like rice paper ahi, poke and sliders on Hawaiian sweet bread served three ways—traditional, teriyaki and kalua pig. So lose the suit and tie, don your best aloha wear and sip a Mai Tai on the lanai while sampling the flavor of the islands. —AS
Silver Lantern
MAHE RESTAURANT
24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, www.eatatmahe.com
NOMINEES: 180 Blu at The Ritz-Carlton • Brio Tuscany Grille • Cafe Mezzaluna • Caliente Coastal Cantina • Cannons Restaurant • Chart House • El Torito • Gemmell’s French Restaurant • Harbor House Café • Harpoon Henry’s • Hennessey’s Tavern • Jack’s Restaurant • Vue Restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott • Luxe Restaurant and Bar • Motif • Proud Mary’s • Raya at The Ritz-Carlton • Salt Creek Grille • The Harbor Grill • Turk’s Restaurant • What A Dish 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Salt Creek Grille; Silver: Harpoon Henry’s
BEST MENU FOR HEALTHY CHOICES
Gold Lantern
COFFEE IMPORTERS
34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com
“We make everything fresh every day unlike many quick service restaurants. Our food is made to order with the finest and freshest ingredients,” said owner Jim Miller. “Our juices and smoothies use fresh-squeezed juices whenever possible.” From fresh salads and sandwiches to veggie juice tonics, the menu offers something good and good for you, for every taste. —AS
Silver Lantern
WHAT A DISH
24921 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.276.4884, www.whatadishoc.com
NOMINEES: Brio Tuscany Grille • Café Mezzaluna • Cannons Restaurant • Dana Kai Japanese Cuisine • El Pollo Loco • Gen Kai Japanese Restaurant • The Harbor Grill • The Harbor House Café • Jack’s Restaurant • Jamba Juice • Jon’s Fish Market • Kaleyard • Mahe Restaurant • Monarch Beach Market • Proud Mary’s • Raya, at The Ritz-Carlton • RJ’s Café • Subway • Thai Dara • Thai This • The Brig • Tutor and Spunkys • Turk’s Restaurant • Vue Restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott • Wind & Sea 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Blaz’n Blenders at Coffee Importers; Silver: Jamba Juice
C H O I C E
L A N T E R N
A W A R D S
BEST BURGER
Gold Lantern
A’S BURGERS
34344 Pacific Coast Hwy., 949.496.4460
Regulars say that when you drive over the bridge on PCH entering Dana Point and see the A’s Burgers sign, somehow their cars are magnetically drawn to the place. They can’t help it they say. Let them blame it on their cars, but we know people flock to this place for the juicy, flavorful, made-to-order burgers and delicious accompaniments like fried zucchini. The car story— that’s just an excuse for A’s Burger addiction. —AS
Silver Lantern
HENNESSEY’S TAVERN
34111 La Plaza, 949.488.0121, www.hennesseystavern.com
NOMINEES: Blue Dolphin Restaurant • Burger King • Cannons Restaurant • Carl’s Jr • Harbor House Café • Harpoon Henry’s • Jack in the Box • Jolly Roger Restaurant • Proud Mary’s • R J’s Café • Raya at The Ritz-Carlton • The Renaissance • Salt Creek Grille • Smokey’s House of BBQ • The Brig Restaurant • Turk’s Restaurant • Vue Restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott • The Harbor Grill • What a Dish • Wind & Sea 2009 WINNERS: Gold: A’s Burgers; Silver: Hennessey’s Tavern
BEST INTERNATIONAL EATS
Gold Lantern
THAI THIS
24501 Del Prado, 949.240.7944, www.thaithis.com
…Thai anything, here. With plenty of seating, Dana Point’s go-to for Thai food has got so much on their menu under “Appethaizer,” “Cow with Three Legs,” “Go Fish,” “Go Hog Wild,” “Main Man in the Orient” and a bevy of other categories that make it almost impossible to choose. Best to go there with a large group and eat family style—it’s worth it. —CS
Silver Lantern
MAHE
24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, 949.240.6243, www.eatatmahe.com
NOMINEES: Agostino’s by the Sea • Blue Dolphin Restaurant • Bonjour Cafe and Restaurant • Brio Tuscany Grille • Cafe Mezzaluna • Caliente Coastal Cantina • Cannons Restaurant • Carlos Mexican Restaurant • Casanova Restaurant & Cocktail Lounge • Chronic Tocos • Dana Kai Japanese Cuisine • El Torito • Gemmell’s French Restaurant • Gen Kai Japanese Restaurant • The Harbor Grill • Hennessey’s Tavern • Ichibiri Restaurant • Kaleyard • Las Golondrinas Mexican Food • Luciana’s • Mori Sushi • Olemendi’s Mexican Restaurant • Peking Dragon Restaurant • Raya at The Ritz-Carlton • Round Table Pizza • Shanghai Charlie’s • Stella’s Serious Italian • Taco Surf • Thai Dara 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Thai This; Silver: Peking Dragon
Diane Macartney and George Blake of Taco Surf. Photo by Jasmine Smith
BEST TACO
Gold Lantern
TACO SURF
34105 Pacific Coast Hwy., 949.661.5754, www.tacosurf.com
“It’s either the margaritas or the tacos,” owner George Blake says about why his customers keep coming back. With outside and inside seating, a full bar, Taco Tuesdays and plenty of specials, it’s no wonder he’s served a packed house since ’99. It’s a fun place to enjoy yourself but they don’t stay open much past 10 p.m. so don’t get too rowdy! —CS
Silver Lantern
CHRONIC TACO
34255 Pacific Coast Hwy., 949.481.3726, www.eatchronictacos.com
NOMINEES: Aurora’s Taqueria • Caliente Coastal Cantina • Carlos Mexican Restaurant • Del Taco • El Patio Café • El Pollo Loco • El Torito • Harpoon Henry’s • Island Style Taco • Las Golondrinas Mexican Food • Olamendi’s Mexican Restaurant • Vue Restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott • Raya at The Ritz-Carlton • The Renaissance • RJ’s Café • Turk’s Restaurant 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Taco Surf; Silver: Chronic Taco
BEST CUP OF COFFEE
Gold Lantern
COFFEE IMPORTERS
34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com
Since 1975 Coffee Importers has been a favorite way to start the day with a wide variety of java concoctions. Whether a good old-fashioned cup of joe or a sweet flavored specialty drink is to your liking, customers will find plenty of choices to satisfy their coffee cravings. Jim Miller’s shop is also a popular meeting place where locals gather for conversation. —AS
Silver Lantern
J.C. BEANS
34114 Pacific Coast Hwy., 949.496.4700, www.jcbeans.com
NOMINEES: Bonjour Cafe and Restaurant • DP Donuts • Harbor House Café • McDonald’s • Proud Mary’s • R J’s Café • Starbucks • The Market Place at The RitzCarlton • The Renaissance • Turk’s Restaurant • What a Dish • Vue Restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Coffee Importers; Silver: J.C. Beans
BEST CUP OF TEA
Gold Lantern
COFFEE IMPORTERS
34531 Golden Lantern, 949.493.7773, www.coffeeimporters.com
Coffee isn’t the only drink on the menu here. Coffee Importers also offers a wide variety of specialty teas. The seaside patio’s relaxing ambiance makes a great place to take a break and sip a cup of your favorite tea. —AS
Silver Lantern Jib, owner of Thai This, winner of Best International Eats. Photo by Jasmine Smith
2010 Best of Dana Point • Page 4 • www.danapointtimes.com
J.C. BEANS
34114 Pacific Coast Hwy., 949.496.4700, www.jcbeans.com
NOMINEES: The Market Place at The Ritz-Carlton • McDonald’s • Proud Mary’s • Raya at The Ritz-Carlton • RJ’s Cafe • Starbucks • Turk’s Restaurant • What A Dish • Vue Restaurant at Laguna Cliffs Marriott 2009 WINNERS: Gold: Lavender Lounge; Silver: Coffee Importers