About Splashes Restaurant
Beyond their size, small businesses are defined by their spirit. And at the helm are their intrepid founders—scrappy, ambitious, and resilient. They invent and build things despite uncertainty, because it’s what drives them. Their risks lead to innovation that moves the world forward. And we need them.
Beautiful view, great food, friendly staff! I don’t know what else you could want, I have amazing experience dining here. We had brunch and were sat in a very beautiful deck that had great views of the ocean. I had a tasty sea bass with crab mash potatoes (interesting right), wouldn’t change a thing. Very fresh food and I enjoyed all our dishes even the dessert was amazing. And it’s so well priced I was kinda shocked, under $130 for 2 people. That’s an appetizer, 2 entrees, 2 drinks, and a dessert. I can’t wait to dine here more often!
Jhoana was our server and was one of the most kind and attentive people to ever take care of us. She is a delight and a joy. Thank you Jhoana. Food was amazing, we had an Oceanside + beachfront view. Amazing meal! Such a memorable experience and Jhoana snapped great pics of us.
We got married on February 3, 2004 at this nice hotel and enjoyed a beautiful meal at Splashes Restaurant that we still remember fondly. We thought it would be appropriate to revisit and book a table for late lunch - and the menu shows "happy hour" which we do like a lot as we can get more of a spread of different dishes. So far the excitement... we arrived at the desk at our reserved time, but no one was there to greet us. My better half checked it my name would appear on the screen which was also confirmed by our hostess. We got a "no" on the Happy Hour question but were referred to the Splashes Bar that would have the Happy Hour menu (again, the hotel website mentions "between 3 and 6pm". Once we were seated at the bar with a beautiful beach view, we got another "no" on the Happy Hour menu situation. We ended up ordering the Ahi Tuna Nachos (they were great, had lots of flavor) and the Dungeness Crab and Onion Dip (the dip was OK but the chips were very stale). After trying to flag someone down about the stale chips, we ended up waiting for at least 20 minutes for new chips and the dish was initially taken away but later returned to us as we would get new chips. These did arrive, 20 minutes later, when we finished our nachos and had a bit of the dip left. In other words, we lost our appetite, also as other patrons came in who started doing their rather loud online zoom calls (yup, we're in Orange County) right next to us. Getting the bill was another 10-minute wait and we decided to drive down to another place (well rated, we check our sources) to continue our anniversary. Oh yes, no acknowledgement on that one, even though my OpenTable reservation clearly stated that fact. Missed chance and, especially after 6000 miles on the road and enjoying great service in many different states, we're realizing that our service levels here are slipping. Sad, as we pay good money to try to enjoy our experiences outside the house.
Had an excellent experience from the moment I drove in the the parking lot. The Vallet were super cool group of guys and the front desk was very help on guiding me to the restaurant down the elevator to the 1st floor. It was a bit warm that day and the host sat me in a great location where there was breeze with an excellent view (but every seat has an excellent view). Matthias was my server and he really made my lunch experience here amazing. Since it was my first here I wanted a recommendation but I really wanted to try the Lobster Bisque, so he recommended that if i order the Lobster Bisque, I also order the Steak. Now he mentioned his favorite dish for lunch was the Risotto and adding protein but didnt necessarily push me to get his favorite dish. I felt like he knew the menu well and and was able to explain my two options and help find what I wanted to order and im glad I ordered the steak along with the Lobster Bisque. Im definitely coming back for The Risotto though. Once I finshed my lunch, I was really enjoying the scenery and wanted to continue enjoying some drinks but didnt want hold a table for another guest. So since most 5 star hotels have a bar, I asked Matthias where the bar is located and he pointed me to the right direction. Thats where I met more AMAZING staff (Alma, Josh, and Nicole). Josh and Alam switched shifts during my visit but they both made some of the best drinks so I can enjoy the sun set. The bar wasn't very busy since it was a Wednesday so I felt like a VIP. Nicole was telling on how she never gets tired of the sunset there and meeting all kinds of people. She was so polite and even mentioned that next time visit, I should also visit during dinner time since since they dim the lights and makes for perfect dates...point is I can go on and on how well my visit was. Definitely will be returning several times for Breakfast, Lunch, dinner, or just for drinks at the bar.
Splashes delivered one of the most memorable dining experiences I’ve had in Laguna Beach. The oceanfront setting alone is worth the visit—waves literally crash beneath the terrace—but the food and service made the night exceptional. We started with the artisan focaccia and whipped ricotta, which was silky, perfectly seasoned, and honestly one of the best bites of the evening. The whole roasted branzino was cooked beautifully with crisp skin and tender, flaky meat, and the celery & truffle agnolotti was rich, decadent, and plated like a work of art. We were celebrating an anniversary, and the Splashes team went above and beyond with rose petals and a personalized crème brûlée that was as thoughtful as it was delicious. Service was warm, patient, and attentive, and we were treated as if our evening genuinely mattered to the team. If you go, book around sunset and request a window or terrace table—it’s hard to imagine a better setting in Orange County. Valet is available at the Surf & Sand Resort, and the restaurant is an easy elevator ride down to the dining room. Splashes isn’t just a meal—it’s an experience, and we can’t wait to return.