Best Restaurants with a Fireplace in Dana Point / Monarch Beach

We had a girls lunch today. The patio was lovely and we all enjoyed the food and wine. We had salmon tacos, Cobb salad and BBQ flatbreads. Everything was excellent. The whiskey Bundt cake for dessert was delicious too. Jane was our server. She provided outstanding service and was very accommodating with separate checks. We will definitely return.

One of our favorite neighborhood haunts and always a pleasure. We especially love the patio. The weather did not permit patio seating this particular night with the combination of Santa Ana winds and a particularly chilly temperature for SoCal, but we found the interior a lovely change. During the weekend the dining room can get a bit loud as the acoustics aren’t great, but since we were here during the off season for SJC (and on a weeknight) it was fairly quiet. Our server was fabulous and the food was exceptional. The squash blossom flatbread is a must!!

Nice variety of flavors and choices. Service was okay but they were very busy. Would definitely recommend it!!

We went to Stella's last night for Happy Hour. It's a beautiful restaurant but not fussy. Happy Hour is served only at the bar or at 3 tall tables so seating is sort of limited for the Happy Hour but we sat at one of the taller tables and it was great. The HH menu is extensive. There are about 23 items listed for whatever mood you might be in--seafood, salad, pastas, etc. We ordered the carpaccio, penne Bolognese, crab cakes and the scallops. Everything was delicious! Our server was friendly and knowledgeable. We all ordered drinks and they, too, were perfectly crafted. We were very impressed and will definitely be back.

It is my 2nd time here at Lantern’s Edge! First we went for a dinner, and I love, love the fig & brie; must try! I want to have a to-go for myself. 🤭 Octopus is so good as well! Must try the burrata!! 2nd time, we went to eat for brunch yesterday. They have a wide variety of food! If you are a seafood lover, you will love their brunch buffet!!! They have unlimited mimosas too; I don’t drink much, but I love their mimosas. I think they have brunch every weekend. But because it was Christmas, they opened a brunch buffet. Our server, Jiyan is very accommodating and keeps on checking us if we are comfortable, and if we need something. Definitely will comeback for Dinner!!!