There aren’t many things better on a Sunday night when you’re driving back home, then taking a quick detour off Dana Point and up PCH to find some good eats. While almost approaching Dana Point, Pia, with the help of a quick Internet search, found a great place for us to stop by and sit down for a nice dinner. We’ve gone by Salt Creek Grille before (in 2009), but didn’t stop by to eat. This time around, we weren’t especially hungry, but knew we needed to get something before we got home. Plus, our weekends are usually jammed packed with errands and stuff, so it’s a nice getaway.

Once we got there, the restaurant is what you’d expect to find in the Dana Point/Monarch Beach area (rich people, nice atmosphere). The food itself was pretty good and the service wasn’t bad either. Our appetizer, a crab-cake like thing with bell peppers, avocado, and cucumbers served over quinoa, was excellent. Next up on the menu was a lobster bisque. The bisque itself was good, but could used a bit more lobster chunks. The pork chop that I ordered (Zagat rated “Best Pork Chop on the Planet”) was unbelievable and is a must-try (can’t recommend it enough). Pia’s miso salmon was good, but the vegetables needed some work. The dessert (chocolate-chip bread pudding) that accompanied the salmon and the bisque (as part of a prix fixe meal) was just average at best. All-in-all, we had good food, good atmosphere, and best of all, it was a great way to cap-off the labor day weekend with just the three of us.