Ron W.
Yelp
Lorea is located in the Pasea Hotel and Spa and channels the now defunct Outer Reef formerly at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point. Both spots were cold (literally) and sterile.
Be prepared, it's positively arctic inside as all the ceiling to floor doors to the outside are left open. So, unless there is a Heat Dome, bring a jacket. Yes, heat lamps outside may broil your neck but your burger will still have icicles.
The Decor: Linoleum flooring, concrete, wood and glass all provide a beachy vibe. A long, long Marble Bar anchors the dining room.
Pendant lights hang from a coffered ceiling along with rows of chains. Nice and comforting if you're signed up for OnlyFans and your last evening on the town involved shackles and manacles.
Who's in the house? Almost no one except a few guests from the Hotel who couldn't find a sitter and a few Sales guys hoping to hook up with the Target and Walmart Buyer. Okay, it was early, but still...
The Bar: A handful of Signature cocktails. It reads like the Beverage Director turned the Bar Tender loose with a Chemistry Set and the Periodic Table.
There is wine and beer plus all the usual suspects. Unless you are truly adventuresome stick to the classics. Brooklyn created a nasty good Dirty Martini and offered to "dirty" up even more if I wished. Two of these and you'll forget about the cold and the overhead dangling chains. You'll be too busy dancing naked on the Bar until there is peace in the World.
The Staff: Like a litter of Lab Puppies, they all wanted to genuinely please everyone. The entire team I interacted with was helpful while I moved from a table near the outside to a table under an AC unit (which only the Hotel can regulate) to the Bar where I finally made my nest.
Lovely Brooklyn was positively ebullient and charming. She knew the menu cold and hot and stopped by often to be friendly and to make sure I left a happy chappy. I did.
The Food: The menu was large and varied featuring Cali-Spa cuisine which all read well.
Keeping it simple seemed to be the simple answer to what to order. So, I simply asked for a simple Little Gem Salad. (Think Caesar Lite) along with the Blackened Cod and lastly a Koji (Fermented Rice Paste) Aged Pork Chop to take home.
The Little Gem was a big Gem piled up to my letters. The whole Gem Leaves were stacked up and lay in several dollops of Harissa Garlic Mayo with a shovel full of almost crispy Spicy Breadcrumbs on the greenery and finally a generous shaving of a young Parmesan-Reggiano Cheese to top it off. There was enough for 3 or 4 people. My take was that the entire thing was rather addictive and enjoyable. The Lettuce was cold, crisp and fresh. I should've/could've tapped out after the Martini and Salad, but then the Blackened Cod landed.
The Cod arrived with a half Charred Lemon and a forkful of Baby Arugula Leaves. And here's where the Cod ended up in the weeds.
The line cook troweled on a schmear of spice (Salt, Pepper, Chili Powder, Garlic Powder, Paprika and Olive Oil) onto the skin which should've been removed before introducing the Cod to the Cast Iron Pan.
The result was a flaccid, gelatinous, inedible skin which had to be surgically removed which I was able to accomplish with a deft hand leaving a naked unspiced piece of fish which in all fairness was cooked correctly despite the misstep with the skin. The fish was moist and flaky but I wanted it Blackened and got it whitened.
The Pork Chop was sliced off the bone which lay across the top of the mini grill on which the Chop arrived. The slices had a faint remnant of Koji taste clinging to the meat. No matter, as it was destined to be diced and sauteed with cubed Dutch Baby Potatoes the next morning for Hash which was worthy of serving to company.
Considering the above and in reading other reviews perhaps Lorea should be renamed La Llorana.
I might try it again if I found myself hungry and in Huntington Beach...nah, I'd probably return to LSXO up the street instead.
