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RAYA at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel — they did it again! 🌊 I repeat: It’s usually very tough for me to find good food with all my dietary restrictions, but everything you see here was custom made just for me — using fresh, local produce. 💚🌱 It's not on their menu. Add amazing ocean side views, if you are in Orange County, do stop by for an amazing experience. The service? Impeccable. The View? WOW! The food? Thoughtful, flavorful, and plated to perfection. The boys? Way easier on the chef 😄 Truly grateful for a place that gets it right. Again. Thanks to my hubby for picking the right place for a family vacation and birthday celebrations... ❤
Five-star ambiance with genuinely warm, neighborhood-friendly service — and some of the best ocean views around. From valet to table service, everything felt seamless and welcoming. Taylor was friendly, courteous, and made our lunch even better. A truly comfortable and enjoyable dining experience — highly recommend!
First, the good: We actually started our evening at the bar, and I have to say, we received wonderful service there despite how busy it was. The bartenders were attentive, friendly, and made great drinks while managing a full crowd. The two hostesses working on Friday night when we visited were both super sweet. We brought a bouquet of flowers for a friend’s birthday dinner, and not only did they keep it safe for us; they even put the flowers in a vase while we waited for the birthday celebrant. That thoughtful touch really stood out and set a nice tone for the evening. The large windows overlooking the ocean are absolutely stunning and make for a beautiful ambiance. Unfortunately, that’s where the positives end. The whole dining experience after that was honestly a disaster. Granted, we were waiting on one person to arrive, but the staff wasn’t attentive or consistent about checking on our table. Our server, Jessica, genuinely tried her best, but her efforts were overshadowed by everything else that went wrong. I wasn’t feeling well that night, so I kept it simple and ordered the Caesar Salad with shrimp and it turned out to be the saltiest salad I’ve ever had in my life. I ended up only eating a few pieces of shrimp because the rest was just inedible. Another guest at our table sent back her octopus because it was cold. The menu had only one vegan option, and everyone else in our group also complained about their food. To make matters worse, the entire dining experience dragged on for three hours. Multiple staff members would walk by and completely ignore tables calling out for help, not even a “let me grab your server.” It felt like no one wanted to deal with anything outside of their assigned section. Jessica could only do so much on her own. For a restaurant inside the Ritz-Carlton, the level of service and food quality were shockingly disappointing. Sadly, this will be a one-and-done experience for me.
Visited Raya recently and had a lovely dining experience. The food was flavorful and beautifully presented, and the ocean view added a serene touch—though unfortunately, the weather wasn’t quite on our side that day. 🌧️ Special thanks to Dean, who was incredibly patient and gentle throughout the evening—his warm service made us feel truly welcomed. Also shout-out to Noe for his attentive and kind service! I’d love to return again—hopefully on a sunny day next time. ☀️
The place was elegant and well-presented, we were even given a flower during our meal. The service was excellent, but I was a little disappointed that the dishes I ordered didn’t quite suit my taste. On the other hand, the setting was wonderful… like a beautiful sunset painting