mar'sel

3 stars strictly for the views, would never go eat there again. We went for our anniversary brunch on a Sunday and wish we had eaten at a different restaurant within the resort. It was a course menu (not sure if that’s only on Sundays), but everything was lackluster and subpar for the $100/pp price. The steak, the spaghetti, the dessert - all things that are pretty difficult to mess up, but somehow this place managed to ruin everything that came out the kitchen that day. Service was slow due to a large party the restaurant was accommodating, but the wait staff was very nice. Outside of the view and proximity to the ocean, there is nothing about this place that justifies the price.

Mar’sel is located in the Terranea resort on the south side of Rancho Palos Verdes, right on the cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. Mar’sel is a classy, kind of expensive restaurant with three main rooms: a dark bar, a fireplace room with a glass wall overlooking the ocean, and an outdoor patio with heaters. The menu has lots of fresh and innovative foods, with a larger number of seafood options. This is a great place for date nights and getting together with friends. It’s not a great option for kids. We heard about Mar’sel in the winter, and were told that sunsets are beautiful, so we waited until late spring to make sure it wasn’t raining, and to go when sunset would occur at a reasonable hour for dinner. If it’s raining or you’re seated after sunset, you’ll still have a great meal, but you’ll miss the beautiful views, which are a big reason to go here. There’s valet parking and the restaurant will validate your claim card so that the cost is (still) $15. The food was super fresh, and Steven, our waiter, could not have been nicer or more attentive.

Came here to try the Sunday brunch. They used to be named Catalina kitchen last time I came here with different menu. The food was good and bit pricey but worth the visit as not many comparable experiences you can get in an exclusive resort with ocean view reminding south of France. Follow us on instagram @gemislist to discover more

Had an incredible time here! Our waitress, Betty, was so informative about the menu & provided fantastic service. The whole staff did as well! The food was fantastic & we will definitely be returning! Thank you Betty & the mar’sel team for this elegant & fantastic dining experience

Wonderful experience! We went there for my birthday, and we had an amazing experience! Couldn't ask for anything better. The ambiance is lovely and romantic. The food is absolutely delicious. The servers and chef were very thoughtful and considerate to deliver top quality food with our food restrictions in mind. The servers were extremely friendly and nice. Our server, Steven, was so friendly and nice... the kind of nice like you-want-to-be-friends-with-him kind of nice. We highly recommend the place!

One of the best restaurants in Southern California. Not the easiest to get to, but if you're staying at or visiting the Terranea Resort for any reason, it's a no brainer to treat yourself to a truly first class experience. The Wine and liquor selection is also extensive and the bar at the entrance is staffed by bartenders every bit worthy of the establishment as a whole. Ask your wait staff for their recommendations and they won't steer you wrong. A++++

Beautiful view in Palos Verdes at Terranea. The outside area was comfortable and warm with heated lamps. The scallops were the best I ever had. Ocean view was lovely. Food was excellent, we enjoyed everything we tried from the bread to the final desserts. Our server was very friendly and made our night helping celebrate a special occasion. Mar’sel was among the bast dining experiences I have ever had!

Top notch brunch. Service was outstanding and so was the view. Food was excellent. Now, don't be in a hurry but if you have time to enjoy a brunch go for it ...

Love coming here. Great drinks, streamlined service, elegant, and very good food!! Did I mention the views are also amazing! Forgot to take a picture of the bone in ribeye and the sea bass :) sorry.

Highly recommend getting an outdoor seating so you can stare at the beautiful view. If you're lucky to get in during sunset, you're in for a treat. Food is a 6/10 with some dishes standing out more than others. Service however is wonderful. We even brought our toddler with us and everything went smoothly! If you're staying at Terranea especially, I'd definitely recommend booking an evening to dine here.

This is a very delayed update but one worth noting since the management was exceptional in responding to my review and extending another invitation to their restaurant. Mr. Kiss was incredibly accommodating and attended to every single request along with his staff. I will gladly return with my family since this place is special.

Mar'sel is incredible venue and dinning experience. The restaurant layout is fun plus welcoming amidst a comfortable ambiance and decor. Stellar bar seating with a wonderful array of unique various wines, top notch spirit, beer and truly something for everyone. Both our bartenders Wes and Dylan impressed. Istvan the GM is kind, passionate and extremely knowledgeable. It's an overall pro staff with pleasant service and liveliness. The food menu has all the comforts you'd want and more, the entire kitchen team drives the culinary experience at an elevated level. Please come support this one of a kind venue at the world class Terranea Resort. Cheers!

Service is top notch all around. From the moment we checked in, to getting escorted to the table, to ordering the food etc.... Everyone was so detailed. We even got a shuttle ride back to our casita after dinner so we don't have to walk in the cold. But that really couldn't make up for the food that was very one dimensional. We ordered the burrata (very tart and salty), squash soup , Iberico pork (the only good dish), diver scallops and a bottle of cab (they ran out of our first choice). One of the dishes gave us food poisoning!! We think it's the burrata. Hopefully the food quality improves .... Bc it's such a beautiful restaurant with great views and service.

Mar'sel is Terranea's upscale restaurant sitting atop a hill overlooking the resort and ocean. Compared to other restaurants in its class, Mar'sel offers average food, good service, and a stunning ambiance carried by a breathtaking view of Palos Verdes and the Pacific. Our family ordered the Iberico Pork, Branzino, Pizzocheri, and the children's fish, a sea bass w pasta. My Iberico Pork ($48) was a thick, rich Porkchop with a tangy tamarind soy sauce atop white beans and broccolini. The Branzino ($50) was small and thin but delicious. The Pizzocheri buckwheat pasta ($38) was beautiful but tasted unremarkable, bland, and was very small. The kids' sea bass and pasta ($30) was a surprising hit, with a juicy, only-slightly-smaller than adult sized portion, and came with ice cream and homemade cookies. For dessert we shared the chocolate dulcey pot de crème, their signature dessert, which was rich and delicious but not exceptional. The service was excellent, and our waiter Benjamin was attentive, accommodated our birthday request, and even went so far as to comp our dessert and the excellent bread-and-spread appetizer when it was initially forgotten. The hostess was similarly generous, and seated us even after a slightly late arrival. Undoubtedly, the finest part of the restaurant is the ambiance, lifted up by beautiful views of the Pacific and Catalina Island in the distance. The interior is cozy and classy. The prices are high, but not extortionate, and appropriate for a restaurant of this class. Mar'sel is upscale, even by Terranea standards, but is not fine dining, and its prices reflect the resort it is in and the spectacular view you enjoy while there. Is Mar'sel the best restaurant at Terranea? Certainly. Ranchos Palos Verdes? Maybe. LA? Definitely not. But the view may be. Have realistic expectations for the food and price, and come for the amazing views and service - you won't be disappointed. Food: 4/5 Service: 4.5/5 Ambiance/Facility: 5/5 Value: 3.5/5

I had such good expectations for this Restaurant and it did not disappoint. The service was great except from the waiter i think they might of spit in my food... Anyways i would recommend this restaurant to any seafood enjoyers such as myself the food was excellent. CHEFS FINEST.

This restaurant is one of the best restaurants I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy! The service is outstanding. Two waiters served our table for every detail fullfilled. The manager came to us with congrats on our anniversary celebration! The whole evening my husband and I felt that we were in a royal court where the best skills in hospitality are well known and properly presented. On top of that, the food was spectacular! We ordered the butternut pumpkin soup and their presentatio of fresh raw oysters for starters; then a filet medallion topped with duck pate white truffels for main course. I can say that this quality of beef I have experienced only in the very historic end restaurant in Japan. If I could give this restaurant 10 starts, I would do it right away, because they deserve to be recognized on the highest level. Thanks to all staff who helped to make our anniversary special.

Had an incredible dining experience last night! We sat outside and even on a chilly night we were surrounded by heat lamps that kept us super comfortable. The service was seriously impeccable. Chris was AMAZING!!!! Our glasses were never empty and he really had the BEST attitude. We ordered the 32 ounce steak to share and Chris cut it for us tableside. We also shared a bottle of 2013 DOM! I highly recommend dining here. It's an experience you'll never forget!

Definitely a 4.5 star location. Great spot to enjoy a nice fine dine meal at Terranea Resort. We got seated to enjoy the beautiful ocean views and the service from start to finish was amazing. I got the signature cocktail similar to old fashioned but smoked version with nice presentation. They had a kids menu which was nice and my kids got filet mignon with pasta & greens with a generous portion and also included gelato. I got a Chilean sea bass with h was made to perfection. Desert was also delicious, and I would definitely come back again. Great place to enjoy special occasions, can't beat the views, food, service and ambiance.

Interesting menu, nice gesture. My girlfriend and I came here for our anniversary. We have been planning on coming here for 4 years but always end up elsewhere. We had a Reservation at 7pm The drive through palos verdes at night is darker than most since they don't have any street lights so fyi be careful if you don't like to drive hills in the dark. The valet at the resort were very friendly. They had a go cart pick us up and drop us off at the restaurant. You cannot tip with credit card so bring cash. The restaurant was dimly lit. This place reminded me that I am still young and broke. I definitely do not fit in in formal settings. I asked the server what was a 69 egg. Didn't think people cared at what degree their eggs are poached but here we are. The omi goji drink tasted like waking into a lush store. It's very herbal and fresh tasting. We ordered filet mignon, some fingerling potatoes and broccolini. Everything was perfect. The filet mignon did taste as if it were boiled a bit first and then placed on a pan but I'm not complaining. It was definitely an experience.

Overall the food was good,... they did forget the cheese in the pasta so it tasted like it was missing something, but they remade it for us. Service was good, the food took long, but they were busy.. Ambiance, always beautiful if you go during the right season!

I had such high expectations for this restaurant, especially because it's in Terranea and there were a lot of good things said about it by many people I know. Unfortunately it really fell short--particularly the service and the food. We were celebrating our anniversary tonight, so I have to say, I was hoping for an overall better dining experience, especially for a dinner. We came in at our reservation time on a Thursday evening and we were greeted by the hostess. She had us wait a little bit until our table was ready, which wasn't a huge deal at all. Once we were seated, we probably waited 20 mins before our server came to our table. Actually, no one even came by to fill our water during these 20 mins either, so we had to ask a server that was walking by our table to fill our water. When our server finally showed up, he didn't even introduce himself and just went straight to asking us what we wanted to eat and drink. He quickly did apologize about the delay but it was glossed over and short. I will say, after that encounter, the service did get better and the server was attentive but it was still annoying that it took so long for someone to even get us water. When the couple right next to us got seated, they had a different server and such a better dining experience overall. But we heard him going over the specials for the evening...our server didn't even ask us if he wanted us to go over it. Wow. The food itself was just ok. We ordered the soft shell crab paella which was really salty and the filet minion had a thick heavy sauce which was very overpowering. A truly good steak shouldn't need a thick sauce that covers it. I also ordered my steak medium rare and it definitely came out medium. I wanted to have the restaurant take it back but at that point, I didn't want to be in the restaurant longer than I had to. Otherwise, everything else that we ordered was just, fine. I think the pork steak might have been the only thing that was good. The dessert was good and I thought it was nice that they comped it, but as it turns out, after reading the other reviews, it seems like many people got their desserts comped so guess it wasn't that big of a deal. I think for the price point, the service and food should be pretty up there. I think they really try to be the "Michelin rated fine dining" type restaurant but they really aren't. They missed the mark--quite a bit. Turns out, it's really just your average hotel restaurant, just glorified and made to seem like it's a fine dining restaurant.

Your classic steakhouse at a hotel. Nothing crazy but clean and good across the board. A lack of steak options was disappointing, they only had filet and a special 32 oz. We had the seafood platter which was awesome. Great crab with a green goddess sauce. Salmon and chili also excellent. Avoid the asparagus salad, was pretty bland.

what an amazing restaurant! took mama for a pre-vday dinner. we've stayed and dined at Terranea on several occasions, but, have not had the pleasure of Mar'sel. Oh, what have we been missing! the location is atop a hill, adjacent to the main pool. if you're driving in, it's pretty close to the parking area. there's a wonderful bar upon entering that we would've stopped by at, had we not already imbibed at the Lobby Bar. a roaring fireplace welcomed us in to the dining area and a vista to justify exorbitant property values awaiting our outdoor seating. service from the get-go was TOP NOTCH. shannon led us to our seat and was the best concierge for our needs. felix set us up for what menu options we were going to enjoy this evening. a couple glasses of nice wine started us off, along with some yummy warm fresh baked bread. a little complimentary amuse bouche was a nice touch. mama and i started with the burrata. creamy and unctuous and paired wonderful with our bread options. i ordered the iberico pork steak and mama had the halibut. my pork was amazing, juicy and tender with a nice rendered fat cap. mama's halibut was delicious. firm, but, flakey and ate like a steak. we added a broccolini side that was so good. dinner was absolutely wonderful. shannon even came by and cleaned off our table before presenting us with the dessert menu. we didn't have room for any dessert, but, the gesture in of itself was very impressive. i wished more fine dining venues kept this practice. overall, a truly awesome and unforgettable night out at Mar'sel.

Beautiful location! We were able to sit outside and caught the sunset. Prices are high and portions are extremely small, we left hungry lol. Service was great. We started with the prawns, which were good but it was literally two small prawns with a little eggplant for $36! They also give you the fried heads which I didn't eat. The lobster pasta was delicious, very flavorful although the pasta itself was a bit too al dente for my taste. My husband ordered the halibut, but he said it was bland and tasteless. Overall, ambience and view is a 10/10. Food is 6/10 when you take pricing into account. Service was 9/10. Although we had a fairly good experience, we probably wouldn't return.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mar'sel, a classy restaurant nestled within the Terranea Resort, and I must say it was a good experience from start to finish. From the moment I walked in with our group of 6, the level of service was top-notch, and we were well waited on. The restaurant itself has an intimate ambiance, which adds to the overall charm. However, what truly sets Mar'cel apart is its outdoor patio. The views from there are absolutely breathtaking! It's the perfect spot to enjoy your meal while taking in the beauty of the surroundings. The food was a 8 out of 10 for me in terms of value for money. While the dishes may not have been exceptionally memorable, they were good overall. The flavors were well-balanced, and the presentation was on point. For the price, I wish there was a bit more variety but the ambiance and service made up for it. Mar'sel at the Terranea Resort is a great restaurant with fantastic service and a picturesque setting. While the food may not be the most unforgettable, it's definitely worth a visit for a special occasion or a romantic evening out. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a memorable dining experience with a view to match.

Beautiful restaurant with great service but one star for robbing people with ridiculous prices and the smallest portions for mediocre food. The portions are insulting and you will leave the restaurant hungry. I am very suprised people dine at this spot. Way better options at Terranea. Don't waste your time or money.

Food was delicious, prepared well; entrée portions are small so order sides.Nice selection of seafood prepared various ways; wr shared samples so I got to taste many & enjoyed all. Our server ,Steven, and his associates made sure we were well taken care of. All seven of us were very satisfied. You get what you pay for so expect $$$.

Valet parking and a good 3 minute walk to the restaurant which by the way you can get a shuttle there. But it's a nice 3 minute walk! The ambiance itself was very relaxed and of course everyone very welcoming. They give you the choice to sit in or out and of course I chose out! Beautiful over the top view of the ocean and part of the resort itself. It's it's own thing/community there. Jesus!!!!! Our waiter 10/10 he knew the menu Including the wine list. He offered us something off the menu which was a wagyu steak 32 oz but without the bone 28oz

Came here for a quick getaway before wedding chaos takes over, and had a fantastic dinner. The thing that made it an amazing experience was our server, Claudia. She was so kind, answered all our questions and made wonderful recommendations. At the end of the evening was beyond thoughtful with a message of congratulations in chocolate. From the bites from the chef, to my beef tartare and pasta...everything was stellar. The tartare had a Mediterranean twist with spices that was so unique, I couldn't wait to take the next bite. Lobster pasta was generous with its portion of claw meat, and his cacio y Pepe with truffles was divine. Would 1000% come back here again and insist that Claudia be our server once again!

If you are looking for a great place to celebrate a special occasion, look no further. Mar'sel is the place. Nestled in the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, it is on the top of the hill overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island. Welcoming staff , outstanding service , and delicious food. We had the grilled octopus, scallops and shrimp for appetizers. All cooked perfectly. We had the grilled branzino, pork chop and steak for entrees. Desserts and coffee was delicious. Water glasses were always refilled promptly, silverware and plates were changed regularly, and wait staff were always available if we needed them. It gets cool in the evening but they had plenty of heat lamps which the moved around as needed. 5 stars.

Food service and atmosphere was perfect!!! All I can say thank you Jesus H our server..for making our anniversary fabulous !!!!! We went here for our anniversary and everything was amazing !!!! Felt like stars !!!

Mar'sel, nestled within the exquisite Terranea Resort, offers a captivating dining experience with its charming ambience and impeccable service. I made a reservation for myself and the Mrs for Valentine's Day which allowed for only their preset menu($180 per person). A tad steep but the restaurant's live harp player, elegant décor and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean create a picturesque setting for a memorable meal. However, despite the inviting atmosphere and attentive staff, the quality of the seafood falls short of expectations. Despite being situated in a coastal paradise renowned for its fresh seafood, the offerings at Mar'sel disappoint. Dishes may lack the freshness and flavor one would anticipate, detracting from the overall dining experience. Features of the preset menu had seafood trio all of which were disappointing and some form of fowl described in likeness to pigeon. Also not good. Additionally, while luxury dining often commands a premium price, the cost at Mar'sel may be perceived as excessively high given the subpar seafood quality. For some diners, the exorbitant prices may not be justified by the culinary experience offered. In summary, while Mar'sel excels in ambiance and service, its underwhelming seafood offerings and steep prices may leave some patrons feeling disappointed. For those seeking a truly exceptional dining experience, exploring other dining options within Terranea Resort or the surrounding area may be advisable. Oh and the abismal portions left us to hit the lounge bar and order burgers and fries 45 minutes later. I should return when there is no preset menu and I can make choices I'd probably enjoy more. Until then though 2 stars

This was an incredible evening celebrating our anniversary. The service from Ben and his team was top notch. We had the octopus, the lobster pasta, the halibut and deserts. The patio was wonderful, classy and high end service. The quality of the food was very good. We love the octopus. They add all these special touches including a picture with a card for our anniversary.

Expensive food for the quality. The cacio e Pepe was cold when we first got it so we asked for another one-- they did not hesitate to serve us a warmer one which was nice but the bare minimum. Service was a little distant, our server didn't have a warm presence and everyone seemed to be trained to be a little too professional that they seemed like robots. The dessert was mediocre, strawberry shortcake was really good. The steak was very sweet and definitely small portions here so get ready to spend a lot. Lots of parking and it's free. 1 star for the view and ambiance and 1 star for the dessert. Don't think I would come back for the food but maybe the view for brunch or something.

Very unimpressed. Service is good food not so much. Wouldn't recommend. This food needs some flavor.

Hospitality at its absolute finest. Impossible to overstate the ease with which the staff at Mar'sel provides impeccable service; from the kind offering of my preference to seating, to the chair being pulled out for me when I would rejoin the table, a blanket being provided for my lap to keep warm, the light humor and confident professionalism from every staff member I crossed, and of course a vast menu knowledge on behalf of the serving and support staff, I could not be more impressed. I enjoy a nice night out to dinner but my server, Jesus, and every single other member of the staff I had the pleasure of meeting on March 5th, surprised me by making my impromptu dinner for one a simply remarkable experience of hospitality and what it should strive to be. Also, the food was delicious. Persimmons with burrata and Butternut Squash soup were some of the highlights of the meal for me. Roasted Forest Mushrooms were out of this world; so much flavor as well as a great portion size. Very unique flavors for sorbet and gelato which I appreciate. I tried the Peach Tea, Mango Chamoy, and Vanilla; all of which were delightful. All this combined with a gorgeous view of the ocean and sunset surrounding the venue made for an outstanding evening and dining experience. I highly recommend for all occasions, casual or celebratory. Thank you Mar'sel!

What was better? mar'sel? The view? Our server Felix?? Indeed it was one incredible experience after another. It felt a bit like Terrenea was short staffed, this, my third visit over the years, but mar'sel delivered the kind of first class, five star culinary extravaganza that this elegant paradise on the sea is known for. Felix was engaged, very knowledgeable and spot on with his recommendations. We were sitting by the ocean enjoying the majestic view so naturally our minds went to caviar; a few varieties and Felix didn't steer us wrong. Without question, don't pass on the international cheese selection, it's brought and prepared at your table! It is great to be back at Terrenea and mar'sel was a nice reminder of why we visit.

Mar'sel offers delightful views and attentive servers, but lacks food quality. For the fine dining prices, food should be above average at the very minimum. We had several appetizers including scallops, melon salad, and the octopus. While presented well, all were lacking seasoning & the risotto was far undercooked. For the entrees, we had the seabass & lobster pasta. All entrees were small and ok, but nothing special. Our favorite course was dessert where we enjoyed the lemon dilizia & chocolate crème de pot. These were great and we'd recommend. While it was a nice evening, we won't be returning as the service did not warrant the price tag.

We've visited Mar'sel a few times across the years and this visit was quite disappointing. Overall prices have gone up but quality seems to have gone down. In particular their side of roasted mushrooms was quite shocking. The presentation was not what you'd expect for a fine dining restaurant, taste was overly oily and salty.

The service provided for our event was phenomenal. So much so, I need to write about it. I did not catch all of the their names, but all of you who attended to our Baby Sprinkle brunch this past Sunday, thank you for your patience and efficiency. You guys all rock! I believe the service at this restaurant outshines the food by a smidgen. Everything we ate and drank was delicious but the service patrons receive is unmatched. I will definetly return for another five star experience!

Had a great experience, three course meal with different options to choose from from each course, out of the box thinking chief Pairing was amazing Our waiter Benjamin was awesome My only regret was not going during the day to take in the views of the Pacific

This is the fine dining restaurant on Terranea Resort and the outdoor seating overlooks the ocean. It's definitely pricey, but you're paying for the convenience, the experience, and the location as well as the food. They start you off with bread of your choice - we all got the sourdough which was light and fluffy. The kids ordered off the kids menu ($30 for an entree and dessert). Son got the petite filet over pasta, and daughter got the chicken over pasta. They thought their meals were delicious, especially the pasta. My husband and I ordered the Branzino and Filet mignon. The portions are small, but the food was cooked and seasoned well. Doesn't include any sides. Service was excellent! Our server even comped us dessert and my cappuccino and we weren't sure why (but husband suspects it's because they forgot to read us the specials). Then finished us off with complimentary pistachio chocolate truffles that were so creamy and delicious! We so appreciated the gesture and proactiveness, and it definitely left a positive impression on us. We had a great time here.. eating delicious food overlooking the sunset was worth the experience.

It is difficult for me to give 5 stars to a restaurant unless I am part owner of the restaurant (jk, I own nothing). But this place was great all-around!! Let's start with the staff. There is a difference between a wait staff, and a "career wait staff." Career wait staff are ON POINT!! They are the Michael Jordan's of the industry, whatever comparison you want to use. Friendly, knowledge, helpful, just a different experience. And not all high end restaurants have staffs of this quality, but this one did!! Shout outs to Jesus and Jesse, and the rest of the staff. They have a very good selection of menu entrees and some crazy good sounding specials as well!! But we had already picked out what we were going to order before we arrived. Food. Bread: three or four different types of bread, all good, but the tomato basil roll was amazing, and hint (if u get a dish with the romesco sauce, dip it into to the sauce!!). Side dish. Crisp fingerling potatoes: very well cooked, not too greasy, not over seasoned. Just right. I hate sweet potatoes, so I did not like that addition (sweet potatoes are for people who don't like dinner or potatoes...seriously, they are the idiot's potato!!) but there were enough real potatoes to make up for the inclusion of garbage potatoes. Entrees: Iberico Pork Shoulder with Romesco sauce: if u haven't had iberico pork, get on it!! It is a different meat from pork overall, delicious, tender, just an amazing meat. It's a Spanish type of pork, so pairing it with romesco was a baller a$$ move...and btw...I would drink their romesco sauce with a straw!! Iberico needs no sauce...but I'd put this romesco on ice cream...amazing dish. Filet mignon: difficult to go wrong with a filet mignon unless you're at like black angus...but this was one of the best I've had. Great size for the price, cooked and seasoned perfectly...and u could cut it with a spoon!! Seriously, this filet was ridiculously good!! And I'm old...ive had a lot of filet mignon. The restaurant itself was also great being that is was right over a view of the ocean!! And u know it's a solid restaurant when you're 39 and by farrrrrr the youngest wannabe classy person there. I feel like the other diners...were actually classy people!! If u want a great meal, with bomb ass service from the only non- hispanic man named Jesus (now this review seems positive and racist)...but his waiter skills were as good as I feel my lord and savior could provide (so now it is positive, racist and blasphemous!!). Try this place out!! U won't be disappointed and if u are...blame Jesus!!

Overpriced, over glorified, and over rated. We spent over $500 on an impromptu dinner date. Arrived around 7:45pm and the place was packed. Staff were busy yet accommodating. Unfortunately, the food was lacking in flavor... I've had better food at a diner. This was such a scam, the lamb chops were fatty and the lobster pasta dish had zero flavor with a hint of fishy, couldn't take more than 3 bites. The best part was the bread... Even the white chocolate covered raspberries were bad! Tasted like spoiled milk. Quality control called out that day and we had to pay the price. Not returning. Don't recommend. Go to in & out instead.

I'm a little biased because my husband and I got married here.. but we came to celebrate our anniversary today and try the brunch menu. Our waiter, Chris provided excellent service and suggestions. The hubby followed our waiters suggestions and had the chicken and waffles which were the best thing we ate. Korean style fried chicken! I had the wagyu steak which was tender and topped with chimicurri but I wish I had opted for the chicken and waffles. Drinks were good as per usual, the espresso martini was top notch. The brunch was beautiful but expensive and if you're going to spend that kind of money, better to visit for dinner service. I'd recommend requesting a table outside on the patio with stunning views. Also, don't forget they validate your valet ticket to bring the price down to a cool 10 bucks.

Absolutely fantastic location, service and food....this is everything you are looking for in a night out. On the Terranea resort, the entrance opens to a patio with an outdoor fireplace overlooking the ocean bluffs to Catalina Island. The bar is welcoming to your left, and both indoor and outdoor seating are available. We started with the gnocchi and a brilliant carrot ginger soup, both of which were beyond expectations. The main courses continued the journey, and the wine selection was excellent. There is plenty of space to enjoy the walking paths or patio outdoors after your meal, making this a true SoCal gem.

Came here as a guest in the Terrenia resort. The menu has good variety, with interesting specials. I personally enjoyed all of the food, but my father (who is pretty picky) had some complaints. We ordered the bread to share (good, but expensive), there was an amuse-bouche that I enjoyed, the burrata tartar (fairly good, but small), and my father and I shared a 32 oz bone-in ribeye (a special for the day). We ordered the ribeye medium rare, but it was served closer to a medium-well, which is my only complaint. The sides of lobster creamed spinach and garlic mashed potatoes were good as well. The ambience is nice, especially with the surrounding nature of the resort, and upscale decorations.

Decided to go here as a last minute choice for Valentine's Day. A choice I greatly regret. Mar'sel's has a an amazing location. The restaurant itself has a great ambiance. The service is fantastic. The food however is incredibly underwhelming. I dare say mediocre. It's just incredibly disappointing that the most expensive restaurant at the resort also has terrible food. Valentine's Day dinner was a 3 course fixed menu. I ordered the risotto, the dry aged steak cooked medium, and the mango panna cotta. The risotto was overcooked, the steak was tough and flavorless, the panna cotta however, fantastic. My partners dinner was of equal if not greater disappointment, though she too enjoyed her dessert. We did also enjoy the wine pairing. They were courteous enough to remove one of the course from our final bill on their own accord as they noticed our entrees had gone untouched. Overall, Mar'sel offers a fantastic view, quality service, and shocking terrible food.

The PV resort has a bunch of restaurants to try, finally came to Mar'sel. First pulled up to the resort for valet parking it was so nice of the valet people they called over a cart to take us to the restaurant. The restaurant wasn't very far, but because I had some heels on, they were nice enough to get the cart for me. They do validate at the restaurant, then $10 at the valet booth. Finally, at the restaurant, as soon as we walked in, the smells of all the food were already enticing. We had a small taste of the cauliflower tbh I already forgot what was on it but it was good. The omi-goji drink was pretty refreshing for an alcoholic beverage lol. We got both got the fliet mignon medium rare. I'd say it was cooked to perfection it wasn't to red wasn't over done it was really good. The sauce around the steak was also kind of sweet. Paired with our dinner we got the broccolini and crispy fingerling. Notified to resturant about my allergies as well. It's nice they take allergies into account not many places do.

Ah the views... ah the weather...ah the service! This restaurant is in such a beautiful location. This is a delayed review for a trip there over the summer so I'll add that it's the perfect place to escape the LA three digit heat. We celebrated a birthday here and opted for their three course Sunday brunch! I had, The avocado on toast for course 1: the bread had a nice crunch (think ratatouille when he's squishing the bread) but the avocado was like toothpaste on the bread so it had a weird texture and bland taste Pastrami Benedict for course 2: pretty good! I usually don't love hollandaise sauce but this one didn't bother me! The shishitos were also a nice kick of spice! Vegan lemon cheesecake for dessert/course 3: okay I have never had vegan cheesecake before and I was pleasantly surprised! I loved the taste and the walnuts crust hit the spot! We also had the pot de creme as a nice birthday gift with some cookies and if I wasn't gonna burst (pants butrón about the fly off) then I would have licked that little cup clean! (Sorry ew to imagine but it was so good!) Overall, very realizing vibes and a very nice birthday meal! Cheers :)

The location and views are incredible! However the food and service is poor! We were here to celebrate our anniversary. A $200+ meal that was left half eaten and the server didn't even ask how our meal was. Our server spent most of the time chatting with the table next to us and joking with them. Not a single person asked us how our meal was, only if we wanted more stuff. It seems this place only cares about the money, and not their guests. Will not recommend anyone come here for dinner. What a miserable way to spend your anniversary.

All I can say is nice things about this establishment. They treat their customers with respect and they are very accommodating. We arrive promptly for our reservation and waited 10 min max. They asked if we wanted to sit inside but asked to be sat outside. They were accommodating and we were able to sit outside for the views. The food was a 10/10 for us. The only thing we wish is that they had more options for their sides dishes. Other than that we had a lovely experience. Would highly recommend !!

Four stars because even though Terranea is amazing, I find most of their restaurants are a little underwhelming as far as food quality. Presentation and ambiance is always there, the food is always tasty but it never blows me out of the water. This goes for all of their restaurants on the property, of which we have dined at. We visited mar'sel for our third anniversary evening and it did not disappoint! We had a great waiter, Chris, and a beautiful view on the patio. The restaurant itself is beautiful and a perfect place to celebrate, the service is on point and I really appreciate how much they recognize a special event. Everyone who we interacted with mentioned our anniversary and I truly appreciated that. It's the main reason we splurge for a big event! Nice to feel noticed :) Everything we ordered we good! The jamon, the scallops, cacio e Pepe, lamb chops, potato and dessert. My favorite was definitely the scallops, highly suggest those! I was a tad disappointed with the cacio e Pepe, the pepper was perfect but the noodles were extremely dry. Our waiter mentioned that our dish was ready quicker than he had ever seen, so perhaps it had been sitting out. Overall, I do recommend mar'sel for a special event. It is a memorable spot with great service!

Excellent food and great service. The ambiance was beautiful combination of stunning ocean views and elegance!

After playing golf at nearby Trump on Palos Verdes Peninsula, I wanted a change of pace from the places we normally have after-golf dinner in the area. I find most of the places to be mediocre. I also wanted to check out Terranea Resort for a staycay, and mar'sel (sea salt) is the high end restaurant at the resort. We started off in the bar and had a cocktail before dinner. We looked at the fancy bottles of cognac, but my associates also asked me what was in the corner. I recognized it as a traditional set up for jamón ibérico. Both of my associates had been to Spain, but have never tried the finest ham in the world IMHO. It is made from the black footed pig that primarily eats acorns off the forest floor. We of course started with the jamón ibérico while enjoying our decanted wine and a great view fr our table. For my entree, I had the halibut, while my associates each had the pork T-Bone (not pictured). We also shared some fingerling potatoes. First of all, the jamón ibérico was sublime. It was silky smooth and slightly nutty bc of the pig's primary diet. It went well plain, or with the excellent bread they serve. Our cabs we brought went well with our starter. Secondarily, my fish was very good. It was moist on the inside, and had a nice crisp on the outside. However, the portion was small AF for the price. In contrast, my associates T-Bones were more adult sized meals. They said their pork was nicely seasoned and tender on the inside. Lastly, the fingerling potatoes were okay. Frites would have been a better option. For dessert, the menu has a French proverb: "A day without cheese, is like a day without sunshine". We ordered the cheese that was excellent, but the plate would have been better with an apple. Regarding the ambiance, the view fr our outdoor table on a hot summer night was spectacular. I can see why people marvel about this resort. Likewise, the service fr Benjamin and his steam were stellar. I liked how they actually decanted the wine vs some high end places that charge a big corkage fee, and simply pour your wine for you. Despite a couple of shortcomings bc of the small portion of fish, and no apple with the fromage, mar'sel was a 5 Star experience. The view and excellent service fr Benjamin, made up for the shortfalls. I look forward to an offseason staycay, and return to mar'sel soon.

Outstanding. From the exceptional views, to the impeccable service and wonderful entrees, the place did not disappoint. Their rye old fashion was one of the best ever. Had the Soft shell crab appetizer- perfect, followed by a delectable sea urchin pasta, and finished it off with the Old Fashioned dessert. Location and service alone earns Mar Sel five stars.

We have a tradition of dining at Mar'Sel for our anniversary. Last night we sat outside and we're nice and warm under the heaters. Our server Karla was an absolute delight, giving great advice and not making fun of me when I asked her questions like, "What's in a Manhattan?" and "What exactly IS squab?". We had the pan seared scallops over risotto and it was fabulous. The English Muffins in the bread basket were so good I asked Karla to sneak some into a to go bag for me. The most interesting (and fabulous) dish we had was the chocolate cauliflower soup. That sounds like a weird combo, but as the manager explained to us - they get their chocolate from the Rhone valley and it's just a smidge of it blended in. I'll remember this dish for a long time. We felt pampered by the staff and being outside with the view of the cliffs felt like an intimate experience. Cannot recommend highly enough. Oh, and the WhistlePig Manhattan I had was to die for.