Creative Cuisine Highlighting the Bounty of the Pacific Coast
My husband and I fancy ourselves fledgling foodies and oenophiles. A favored pastime? Enjoying inventive cuisine and a great glass of wine with good friends – sharing diverse dishes and exchanging tasting notes adds a layer of fun and discovery that elevates any meal. An experience made all the more memorable when the locale and ambiance are as incomparable as offered at Lantern’s Edge Restaurant at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point.
A culinary gem that beautifully marries coastal California flavors with Mediterranean influences, Lantern’s Edge is perched above the shimmering Pacific, overlooking Dana Point Harbor. Helmed by Chef de Cuisine Kristine Davis, the menu here is quintessentially coastal-inspired, blending Mediterranean and California classics to craft a new “land-to-sea” chapter in the resort’s culinary offerings. Her focus? Fresh, locally sourced seafood, dry-aged meats and seasonal produce – all expertly paired with a sommelier-curated wine list and an innovative craft cocktail program.
As a seafood aficionado, I went right for the hamachi crudo – a deliciously bright, refreshing take on yellowtail tuna enhanced by gin and ponzu, calpico chili foam and charcoal-kissed strawberries. Other standout starters? Grilled maitake mushrooms (think smoked whipped feta, Fresno vinaigrette, salsify crisp and bonito flakes), West Coast oysters, burrata dip, and a fig-and-brie flatbread that according to our server has become (unsurprisingly) a favorite among regulars.
For the main course? Seafood lovers are treated to exquisite options like lobster risotto made with aged Carnaroli rice, parmesan, saffron butter, and truffle gremolata, as well as charred octopus served with crispy potatoes and fennel puree. Meat lovers, like my husband, will appreciate the New Zealand rack of lamb finished with a port wine gastrique or the perfectly seared wagyu flat iron steak accompanied by snap peas, au poivre and pea tendrils.
The ambiance at Lantern’s Edge is as captivating as its cuisine incorporating Mediterranean-inspired nautical elements that reflect its stunning waters-edge location.
The indoor dining room combines coastal-chic elegance with comfort – a sleek aquarium serves as a focal point while plush lounge seating and a full bar offers an inviting space for both intimate dinners and social gatherings. Sweeping ocean views define the expansive outdoor patio which features fire pits, heat lamps and string lights to create a magical atmosphere under the stars and provides the perfect venue for live music on the weekends.
Lantern’s Edge is the ideal dining destination for every occasion – whether you’re enjoying a romantic dinner for two, a leisurely family brunch, or simply soaking in the sunset with friends with your favorite varietal in hand.
