Best Restaurants for Outdoor Dining in Laguna Hills / Lake Forest / Foothill Ranch

Had a fun date night with my husband. We always enjoy ironwood. The cocktails are delicious (hot okdiehawn is my favorite). And the service is great. My husband enjoyed the fried chicken sandwich and I had a simple butter lettuce salad with blackened salmon. Both dishes were delicious. This time we sat at a high top by the bar. We enjoyed the vibe.

We were warmly greeted by the hostess and were sat at our table within 10 minutes or less. Our server Amanda came by the table shortly and was very friendly and knowledgeable about the menu and item specific. Throughout dinner she was attentive and prompt. The Macadamia Nut Halibut is fantastic and a must try. Their selection of oysters is also good and all were very tasty. We will definitely be coming back.

It was my first time dining with RCW. After reading numerous reviews, I decided that RCW was the best place for dinner. From the moment I walked in, I was impressed by the ambiance and energy of the place. It wasn’t too rowdy, but it wasn’t too quiet either—just the right balance where you can enjoy a private dinner while still being surrounded by lively company. The food was beyond great. We started with the Brussels sprouts, which absolutely blew my mind, and then moved on to the Cowboy Steak and Filet Mignon. For dessert, we had the Whiskey Bundt Cake—an absolute must-try when you visit. Be sure to pair it with their coffee; you won’t be disappointed. We also tried the dessert wine, which had distinct chocolate raspberry notes, though those flavors only came through after a strong hit of alcohol (lol). The only downside of the night was the service at our table. From the moment we sat down, it took 20 minutes just for the server to come over and take our drink order. Even after placing the drink order, it was another 20 minutes before they returned to ask about appetizers—by which time we were already ready to order our main dishes. I believe the manager noticed because she personally came over to take our dessert order. It seemed like she had seen us sitting there, twiddling our thumbs while waiting for the server. I had read reviews mentioning that the service at the Ladera Ranch location was subpar, and unfortunately, I have to agree. Other than that, I highly recommend visiting this place just for the food! Thank you to the manager on duty who noticed us sitting there uncomfortably. She is definitely service-oriented and genuinely cares about taking care of the customers.

My husband and I have been coming here for 4 years and each time we’ve come it has ALWAYS been romantic whether it was during the spring, summer, fall, or winter. The ambiance is amazing and the phenomenal servers will go out of their way to make it a romantic night for any couple coming in. The food and drinks are fantastic and worth the price in my opinion. My husband loves their exclusive & unique rum choices! Our valentines day experience will be an experience we’ll never forget, it was beautiful!

Had an amazing time. Amazing food and service. Huge kudos to the executive Chef JC!!