Luxe Restaurant & Martini Bar

We made an unplanned, last-minute attempt to get a table on New Year’s Eve. Although we were initially told the restaurant was fully booked, the staff kindly managed to find space and get us seated. The food was fantastic and high quality. I’d highly recommend the lamb chops, which were a real standout. The restaurant brought around a complimentary glass of bubbly for everyone to join in a New Year’s toast, a lovely and memorable touch. Combined with the live piano music and the warm, lively atmosphere, it made for the perfect New Year’s evening.

This pains me to post this. This would have been my fourth time for dinner at Lux. I’ve referred multiple friends to this restaurant. However, my last time was such a disappointment. Our arrival for dinner was on the early side. It was not busy at all. Multiple service members were gathered just inside the door and as we entered they were handing off the menus to see who would be waiting on us. The food was mediocre at best and served barely warm and looked as if it had been sitting on the counter too long before serving. As for the service or lack of I finally removed our dirty plates and sat them on top of the empty table next to us. For the price they charge they should have paid me the 3% surcharge that’s automatically added to the bill. Again, so disappointing. There are way too many restaurants on the same block.

We just had the most delicious dinner at Luxe! I had the pistachio encrusted halibut (YUM!), my husband had the baked pasta bolognese - also yum! And Mom had the rub eye - she said it was delish! Caramel beignets for dessert - also very good. Service was good and the restaurant was not too loud.

I am completely jaded from decades of operating in the food service business. At a glance I can tell whether the entrée came from SYSCO, US Foods or Restaurant Depot…and it kinda kills the dining experience. But I was seeking a new place for fine dining last night and took my wife & daughter to Luxe Restaurant and Bar. From the assistance on the phone before booking to tipping the pianist on our way out…nothing could have improved our dining experience. Their performance (both front & back) was flawless. I am not an easy customer. I expect table service with the FOUR MINUTE RULE and challenge my server in friendly ways…like asking about house favorites, specifying I want my steak cooked 3 minutes on the first side, 90 seconds once flipped for a true black & blue (charred outside-cool center) grilled rare steak. To my surprise our waitress exceeded even my top tier expectations…asking my wife if she’d like the croutons on her salad finely cut like the rest of her salad. This attention to detail and earnest desire to please sets Luxe Restaurant and Bar head & shoulders above the rest. The music, the décor, the atmosphere, cocktails, food and service were all perfect. 100 out of 100…a score I cannot remember giving anyplace for over a decade. Trust me, I can be something of a perfectionist at times and left this place completely satisfied…impressed even! I had to meet the owners…shake their hands…they hire very well. Seem like a nice couple. So look, if you want (or need) an exceptional dining experience for work or recreation…this is your place. Luxe Restaurant and Bar sets the customer care bar so high, other restaurateurs need to charter a plane just to see it. Oh and it would be a sin to skip dessert… take my word for it, you can thank me later.

Made a reservation for my birthday, having never been here. Exceeded my expectations. Beautiful atmosphere, amazing appetizers and food. Wonderful pianist. My friends and I plan on being back. Thank you, Luxe.

Everything was great. I would go again for the calamari. I got the gyro is was good, loaded w meat and delicious tzatziki but hindsight I should’ve gotten a pasta dish. Alicsha was our server and rec fries, they were great. Also bread basket was mid(we love bread).

This is a fun little bar/restaurant. We came here to listen to the live music and were seated at a high top near the piano (which incidentally has bar seats right at it!) We ordered our standard martinis (Vodka dirty and Hendricks very dry)and they were properly executed and of good size. They even have fresh stuffed blue cheese olives! Food wise we stuck to the small plates. The food was tasty! Fresh oysters on the half shell, a couscous salad with ahi tuna, and the meatballs. All were very good and full of flavor. They had a specials menu with some pork egg rolls... Decided to try them, probably not a good idea to order egg rolls at an Italian restaurant. They were a little soggy and a bit tasteless. Couldn't finish. Every thing else was good though I would come back here. The piano guy was also solid, however he did not sing so it was all instrumentals. Would have thought he would have played some more classic "rat pack" type songs but it ended up being quite a bit of 80's 90's pop songs. Was not bad, just not what we were expecting. The service was friendly and solid. Come check it ou!

Went for late night dinner, it’s a well know martini bar. We wanted watermelon martini and they had ran out of it and settled for cucumber martini. They said was refreshing, though not really. I do like cucumber and the martini was over powering. The sauce that came on fettuccine was good and the shrimp were good. The fettuccine was more like spaghetti noodles. The lobster bisque soup was good. We were told we could only sit at the bar. There was a delay in ordering drinks and food. The bartender said it was his first day. We ordered a bread basket and were brought garlic toast and wad good.

Happy to report that the cocktails are much improved. After a fairly long period of avoiding this place, we gave it another try tonight. The food has never disappointed and now (!) my cocktail-of-choice was made with the 'proper' ingredients and tasted great! Glad to put Luxe back on rotation!

We were walking around the Lantern District, not sure where to eat. We passed by Luxe, a restaurant we have been meaning to try for a while. I'm glad we did. It was 4pm on a Sunday which happened to be happy hour. Our favorite items were the Sea Bass and the Penne Filet. The flavors were exactly what I was hoping for. Rich, not salty. High quality ingredients. The vibe is perfect for a cute date as well as for families. The service was super good. Can't wait to return. I wish I had taken photos.

Another place that offers Happy Hour (almost) daily -- and throughout the restaurant, not just at the bar! With "martini bar" in the name, we were drawn to visit. We were fortunate to be served by personable-and-helpful Jeremy at the bar top, who guided us through the menu, making recommendations -- which we heeded... and were not disappointed. Fun-and-open atmosphere, inside and outdoors; attractive furnishings and art work; comfortable, friendly "locals" feel... already looking forward to returning!

First time to visit. We didn't eat, but the espresso martini was yum. We sat at the bar, so we had full service. I think it's a pretty bar. We need to go back and spend some time. The bar tenders told us they have the best happy hour food. We will have to visit again.

Went to Luxe Restaurant and Martini Bar for happy hour with some friends. We had a wonderful time. The happy hour menu was delicious. I will definitely be going back.

Everyone who worked there made the environment warm, fun, and welcoming! The food was top notch and the drinks were filled to the top. Kudos to the owner for how they run the business... highly recommend!

This is a special little spot with beautiful ambience, wonderful food, fantastic servers, and the bartenders are the best of the best. If you haven't tried it, you should go as soon as possible. Enjoy.

My husband & I drove up from San Diego to meet friends at Luxe in Dana Point. Well worth the drive!! The "hostess" greeted us with such hospitality, I felt like I'd entered a friend's home- come to find out she was one of the owners, that explains it...Great customer service. The bar has a fun vibe, I had an excellent martini. When seated- we all enjoyed a variety of delicious entrees (I ordered the lasagna, highly recommend)! We will definitely go back, soon!

This place has a ton of potential and I'm being generous with the rating because I am rooting for them and like them. My one gripe is their choice of live piano music (no doubt it's nice to have) can sometimes make it sleepy and this place is screaming for ENERGY! Their food is also Italian so you have to be in the mood for that type of cuisine. I've been once before for dinner and most recently came back for happy hour during the day and really enjoyed myself at the bar and loved interacting with Jeremy the bartender - super sweet kid. I say kid because he's the youngest guy there as this place leans towards the 50+ local crowd. The dark moody aesthetics though are everything and I am missing places like this as I am bored sick of light, bright and white for an evening mood. I'm going to keep coming to this place but hope one day the owner LIVENS IT UP!

Excellent service, food is great highly recomend the Lobster ravioli, the Martinis are top notch.

My husband and I came across this restaurant while walking around during the Dana Point annual car show. We immediately loved the elegant, relaxing vibe. The waiter was very nice and sat us right away. The staff overall was friendly and attentive. We ordered some appetizers and cocktails. The fried calamari was great and the artichoke with herbs, drawn butter, and a lemon beurre sauce was flavorful and delicious. We also tried a side of the mushroom risotto, which hit the spot, creamy, flavorful, and cooked to perfection. They do not have hard seltzer, only High Noon, and I ordered the Watermelon Lemon Drop Martini, which was excellent. Overall, a wonderful experience with tasty food and drinks in a beautiful setting.

I had a nice time stopping by Luxe for a drink with a friend. I sat at the bar and the bartender was great! The restaurant is a little dark and feels a bit old school. There was live music and it felt so lounge like. I can't wait to come back to try dinner next!

Went in Wednesday night for dinner and hear Rabbi Blue perform. We were greeted by one of the owners, which is almost standard, had a great server at the bar, Jeremy, tasty food, and Rabbi Blue was outstanding. Can't wait to go back!

My first time at Luxe [at the corner of Violet Lantern & Del Prado] was surreal. Its location is literally where I waited for the school bus over 60 years ago! [Am I old yet?]. The exterior is inviting and the interior is warm & cozy. Our party of three was warmly greeted and offered seating where we wished. We were there because a friend told us they offer an 8 oz. lobster tail special for 50% off on Sundays [regularly $50, Sundays $25]. We had arrived just before the end of their happy hour [week long!] and had decent well martinis at the bar. The friendly bartender helped with choosing from the many happy hour specials. We enjoyed the chopped wedge salad, garlic bread, and asparagus "fries" to start. All three of us had the lobster special which came with clarified butter and a unique dipping sauce. The lobster is a tasty & ample portion all by itself. We shared a Babich sauvignon blanc with the meal. Our server was wonderful and I made a point to thank/tip the chefs at the open kitchen area as we left for an amazing meal. The only thing that bothered me was I asked for a grappa... neither the bartender nor the server even knew what I was talking about! That seems odd to me since this is the first Italian restaurant I have ever dined at that not only doesn't serve grappa, but apparently doesn't even know what is. Still, we will happily return and maybe by then they will have a proper grappa for those of us who know Italian cuisine. https://www.eataly.com/us_en/magazine/culture-and-tradition/discover-italian-grappa

Luxe is one of my favorite restaurants in Dana Point. I love the vibe, the decor and the layout of the restaurant. Their menu is extensive and yet everything is expertly prepared and presented. Last night our group started with two shared appetizers: the meatballs with garlic bread and steamed artichoke (both excellent) and our mains ranged from swordish to eggplant to shortrib (again, all excellent). The restaurant comped a chocolate cake dessert to celebrate a retirement and we also order the strawberry cheese cake, both of which were delicious. Our main server, Ciela Star, is a star, very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu; she and her colleague took great care of us.

I am completely jaded from decades of operating in the food service business. At a glance I can tell whether the entrée came from SYSCO, US Foods or Restaurant Depot...and it kinda kills the dining experience. But I was seeking a new place for fine dining last night and took my wife & daughter to Luxe Restaurant and Bar. From the assistance on the phone before booking to tipping the pianist on our way out...nothing could have improved our dining experience. Their performance (both front & back) was flawless. I am not an easy customer. I expect table service within the FOUR MINUTE RULE and challenge my server in friendly ways...like asking about house favorites, specifying I want my steak cooked 3 minutes on the first side, 90 seconds once flipped for a true black & blue (charred outside-cool center) grilled rare steak. To my surprise our waitress exceeded even my top tier expectations...asking my wife if she'd like the croutons on her salad finely cut like the rest of her salad. This attention to detail and earnest desire to please sets Luxe Restaurant and Bar head & shoulders above the rest. The music, the décor, the atmosphere, cocktails, food and service were all perfect. 100 out of 100...a score I cannot remember giving anyplace for over a decade. Trust me, I can be something of a perfectionist at times and left this place completely satisfied...impressed even! I had to meet the owners...shake their hands...they hire very well. Seem like a nice couple. So look, if you want (or need) an exceptional dining experience for work or recreation...this is your place. Luxe Restaurant and Bar sets the customer care bar so high, other restaurateurs need to charter a plane just to see it. Oh and it would be a sin to skip dessert... take my word for it, you can thank me later.

This is a fabulous place!!! The food is incredible and the atmosphere is outstanding. Jeremy is the best!!!

I came to Luxe for the first time this week on a Wednesday evening. I was surprised how few people were there during happy hour. No reservation and we got sat right away. Our server was great, and so was the food. They had a live musician and while it was a little loud, it created a great ambiance. They have a great outdoor patio (perfect for brunch). They have lots of parking near the restaurant, as well as a parking garage right behind it too. I really hope this place sticks around because I think it's really underrated. One thing to note, I wouldn't call the caprese salad a salad - it had no greens. Felt more like an appetizer.

I never write reviews but figured I would since it is very rare that I would still be thinking about my food order the day after. Stopped into Luxe for the first time after seeing it for so long. Very welcoming and our server was great. I believe it was the owner who was also making rounds to the guests to make sure everything was to satisfaction. I ordered both items to come out for dinner (Eggplant Rollatini (appetizer) and a Chicken Greek Salad). Both came out and I was thoroughly impressed with the taste and portions. I would go back tonight and simply order the same items without looking at the menu.

Went during the off peak hours. Service was very good, server was friendly and on top of things. Fiancé ordered the short rib, i got the frutti di mare, both were very excellent. The Frutti di mare was one of the better ones that I have had over the years. Caprese was also very tasty. Prices were slightly on the higher side but that seems to be everywhere these days. But i would definitely recommend this place and i personally will be back if ever in the area again.

5+!!! Best food I've had in 20 years!!! We had a large group and everyone was raving about taste, presentation and service! This restaurant is warm and classy. The bar is amazing! Drinks are original and delectable. Jimmy and Cindy went out of their way to make our evening special! We are Grateful to have found this Gem in Dana Point!

My husband and I went to this new-to-us restaurant last night to celebrate my husband's birthday. We had such a great experience at this new favorite! Our server was wonderful Olympia, she felt more like a friend by the time we left than just our server. What a sweetheart! We both ordered the short ribs, garlic mashed potatoes, and broccoli...best short ribs ever! Seriously, so good with a generous piece of meat. And then Olympia and some of the staff came out with an amazing piece of chocolate mousse cake and sang happy birthday. It was his birthday, but I feel like it was such a huge blessing on me as well! Thank you so much for your sweet service and kindness, Olympia. Besides the incredible food, you are what made our experience so great. We will be back!

Watermelon, lemon, martini, lobster, bisque, and spring rolls are to die for. Ashley our server was sooo sweet and gave great recommendations!! This is a perfect date spot with great food and ambience and a live pianist. Definitely come for at least alps and their famous and verrrrry fresh (not too sweet) martini is

This little gem is serving the most delicious food! You really should give them a try if you want great service, live entertainment and a wonderful menu.

This place is a gem!!! Came here because they have a dog friendly patio after driving up and down Del Prado looking for a dog-friendly place to eat. What a find! We are from NYC and are pretty used to good Italian food. This place was right up there with some of the best we have had. And the service was top notch! Celia was our server and she could not be more attentive. We started with the meatballs which were super light and tasty. The sauce was outstanding! Paired that with their garlic bread and we were in heaven! My wife had the baked cavatelli in bolognese sauce which she loved. The pasta was made that day and the food was piping hot. I had the shrimp scampi pasta which was light and the shrimp was perfectly done. The portions were huge and certainly can be shared. Save room for the tiramisu which was also outstanding! The mascarpone was light and the lady fingers had the right amount of crunch. This places is a must when you get tired of the standard "fish and chips" and when you want some really good Italian food! We also made it a point to meet Jimmy (the chef and owner) and his wife (also an owner) to praise their cooking and their restaurant. Well done!

The food, service, ambience, staff, and drinks were top notch. Extremely affordable for the amount of food you get. The food does not only taste delicious it also taste fresh. Owner Cindy was great and our server Charlie was fantastic. I highly recommend trying the caramel beignets to finish off your meal, absolutely incredible.

we always have diner there when visiting laguna. food and especially the service is great. Alisha was our waitress and she was very nice and attentive to us. thanks for a great time. sal and roni

We were so blown away by the delicious cuisine that Jim prepared for our wedding in Laguna Beach! We received countless compliments from our guests about how amazing the dinner was! We are so grateful for the beautiful presentation and excellent service. Jim also waited till our grand entrance to confirm that everything was to our liking, which we really appreciated. We can't wait to come down to Lux to enjoy another amazing meal and experience. Thank you again Jim!! Sincerely Brigitte and Scott Taylor

Luxe is one of our go to place the luxe salad is amazing and the staff and ownership is outstanding!

The martinis is why I come here ordered the vodka dirty martini $9 for happy hour and ipa beer $6 got a table for 4 at 4 can only use table until 5pm even though happy hour is until 6pm need to move to bar area. First time here I would come back for Happy Hour drinks and pass on food. I had poke was average to say the least and lettuce wraps so so but drinks were good ... singer was in back area at 5pm for music .

I had the pleasure of going to listen to my friend play at Luxe. What a great experience. The vibe and ambiance was warn and welcoming. The bartenders were attentive and kind. They have a great happy hour at the bar until 630. I had the ahi poke which was fresh and flavorful. Give Luxe a try.

We came for a friends birthday with about 8 ladies and we had a reservation. When we arrived they wanted to seat us at a table by the front door and the piano so it was VERY loud and crowded. We had to wait for about 20 minutes and were seated by the fire place outside and it was nice. The restaurant is a tight space inside and out. Food and drinks took a long time to get and it was ok but not great. I can see how it's a good local/traveler place but we drove almost an hour.

So we have not been here for a few years and thought we try it again. Don't know if we will return with all the other local options. We sat at the bar and the service was fine. Happy hour was going on. I ordered the house Cab and it was a little to be desired. Next drink I had the Pinot noir and it was a better option. I feel the owner needs to go thru and update the yelp page and remove soooo many pictures of food items that are no longer available. Because so many of those were reasons we went and were no longer available. Asked if any specials. No. One of the things my husband wanted was French onion soup posted. Not on menu. But saw it ordered! Asked and it was available! And it was really good. Lasagna my husband had was very good but had to ask for more sauce. My chicken picatta was very flavorful but...... the chicken was less than warm. I'm sure they must precook the chicken then throw in grill to heat up. Well it was like warm. Brought it to our bartenders attention and asked him to let the cooks know so others wouldn't end up with a like warm meal. He never did. I even reminded him later. Got the linguini pasta instead of mashed potatoes. The picatta sauce was very good. The menu, like so many other places, has been reduced. We also say gnocchi and Milanese which we both were wanting. And no longer available.

THIS PLACE HAS IT ALL.....Fabulous food, stellar service, and a warm, cozy ambiance!!!! ..... Oh, and the Italian aroma in the air just pulls ya right in!!!! Definitely a FAV amongst the locals . They've worn the test of time and still going strong !! The owners definitely have that special niche for a great dining experience!! BON APPETIT

This super sexy martini bar in Dana point, is such a fun space and place to be in.. yes they do have world famous martinis and they are quite delicious... However, they do have wonderful wines and beer they carry one of my favorite California wines , Sonoma Cutrer which I had last night and it was amazing with grilled salmon Caesar salad. The Mediterranean appetizer platter is really so fun to have the warm pita bread the amazing red pepper relish the olives the fresh hummus the yogurt dressing it was all so delicious. And it's really an amazing portion. Cindy, the owner , greeted us at the door with a huge smile on her face like always.... Our waiter was funny and delightful... We didn't have a chance to sit by the fireplace outside as it was occupied but normally we would and it's such a cozy spot to sit and eat drink and relax.

I LOVE Luxe! I have since they first opened years ago. The food is really, really good! Everything they make is fresh and so yummy! The drinks are great too-great pour and great bartenders, especially Ted! Cindy, the owner is dedicated to this place and you can feel it. I highly, highly recommend this restaurant. There aren't many good restaurants in the Dana Point and surrounding areas and this is by far a really great one!

We once again celebrated New Year's Eve at this wonderful Restaurant. Outstanding service, we all had exceptional meals and delicious dessert's Thank you to the owners Cindy & Jimmy for a very special evening Bev & George Poulos

Do not come here for their espresso martini. They will tell you it's made with real espresso but it's not. We watched him make the drink and it was not made with a real espresso but told us it was.

Been here with my husband several times, being a Dana Point resident. The food is consistently good, and the atmosphere is so pleasant, especially with the piano in the background. Fabuluos martini bar!!! Luxe has the best martinis in Dana Point. Try the Espresso Marini. It's especially good. Jeremy, Paul, and Chase are the bartenders, and make absolutely fantastic cocktails. Keep up the work guys. The service is always great as well.

Amazing food and service. Not overly noisy and they often have live music. Did I mention the food is amazing? Great place fir Happy Hour and small bites. Yummm.

In short- all around a beautiful experience. The staff and waiters were very friendly and extremely attentive, they genuinely cared about the guests and ensured everything was well with the experience and went above and beyond standard restaurant service. We had Ashley as our server who had such a wonderful, positive energy to her that radiated to everyone at the table. She was so friendly and joyous, it added to the already wonderful experience. The food was tasty, well prepared, and the portions were very large, which is lovely. Nobody will leave here still hungry! Lastly, there was a live pianist doing a tasteful mixture of jazz and classical pieces that added a beautiful ambiance. He was very talented and it was a joy to hear the beautiful rhythms and melodies that came from this artist. An amazing location, perfect for date night as it has a romantic, dim lit, intimate feel to it.

Ambiance low lighting, piano played with gentility and could not help but notice the noise level from 1-10 was a 4 ...welcoming. Looking for great food? You are in the RIGHT place! Our server was prompt, knowledgeable of the dishes and most of all polite. Overall a 9 out of 10! Would have given a 10 but the Gyro did not have much meat at all more veggies than lamb/beef.

Great food, great service and great atmosphere. Found this place while on vacation and we were not disappointed. Super cozy and elegant restaurant with some of the best Italian food we've had! The meatballs and bolognese noodles were phenomenal. I would totally recommend this place and hope to go back one day.

I have so many wonderful things to say about this beautiful restaurant! The lighting and ambiance is so nice and it makes a perfect date night or get together location. They have live music nightly which varies from a pianist or guitarist. The food is great and they have so many options. Their happy hour is fantastic. Food and drink specials. The service is always great! We often sit at the bar and the bartenders are very attentive and fun! The restaurant has beautiful tables with white linen cloths with small little lamps. The owners Cindy & Jim are wonderful! Jim is in the kitchen creating all the delicious food and Cindy is up front greeting and talking with all the customers. Overall, this is a great restaurant all around and I highly recommend!!

Amazing skirt steak. It's not my usual steak order. It was so good! I'm coming back soon with friends.

Ashley was an amazing server! Very attentive and super sweet! The dirty Martinis are amazing and best on Tuesdays for the price I believe Paul was the bartender, he always makes the best drinks!!

It was a great dinner overall. We had reservations for Valentines Day. The food was excellent. We would've appreciated more frequent check ins from the server because there was times when we needed something or had questions and had to wait awhile to get his attention. Aside from that we had an excellent dinner and would definitely return! The pianist played very nice! The restaurant itself was very clean.

I was very disappointed with the food. It just was not good. Bruschetta and NY Strip with rosemary glaze lacked flavor. The chicken picatta was over cooked and tough. I will not be returning.

7/28/21 Sweet waitress Minna who gets all the stars but the food is just okay and I was extremely disappointed with the overpriced artichoke and chicken piccata tonight. I probably won't repeat. Their WiFi doesn't work and the lamb was a shank not a chop. Bf said it wasn't great. Sorry to be Debbie downer. :(