Gemmell's Restaurant

Gemmell's Restaurant

34471 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, CA 92629, United States

+1 949-234-0063

French restaurant
(219)
Share Your Experience
About Full Menu Hours Map Contact Reviews

About This Place

Nestled in the scenic coastal town of Dana Point, Gemmell's Restaurant offers an authentic and exquisite French dining experience that enchants both locals and visitors alike. This charming yet intimate eatery brings a touch of French elegance and culinary artistry to 34471 Golden Lantern, inviting guests to indulge in a thoughtfully curated menu steeped in tradition and flavor.

The heart of Gemmell’s lies in its exceptional French cuisine. From the moment you settle in, you’re greeted with an aroma that teases the senses—a fragrant blend of butter, herbs, and slow-cooked excellence. Start your journey with delicate appetizers like the Casserole of Escargots, perfectly tender and bathed in garlic butter, or the Pate De Canard, a creamy, velvety duck liver pâté that sets a refined tone for what’s to come.

Entrees here are a celebration of classic French dishes elevated with fresh, high-quality ingredients and chef’s passionate touch. The Duck Breast impresses with its tender, juicy texture and rich glaze, while the Sea Bass offers a melt-in-your-mouth quality that seafood lovers will cherish. For those seeking a bit of indulgence, the Souffle, lovingly baked to order (please allow 25 minutes), is a crowning glory served with rich Crème Anglaise sauce, available in decadent Chocolate, Grand Marnier, or the delicate Harlequin blend. The French Crêpes with Berries and Vanilla Ice Cream deliver a perfect balance of lightness and sweetness to conclude your meal memorably.

The menu also boasts a variety of fresh salads and soups to complement your main course. The signature French Onion Soup is a comforting, golden-brown pot of rich caramelized onions and gruyere cheese, baked to indulgent perfection. Other highlights include the velvety Potato Leek Soup and the fresh Hearts of Romaine Salad, ensuring there’s something vibrant and satisfying for every palate.

Gemmell’s ambiance radiates warmth and understated sophistication—an ideal setting for romantic evenings, celebratory dinners, or a special treat after exploring Dana Harbor’s festive charm. Customers consistently mention the restaurant’s cozy, inviting atmosphere paired with attentive and genuine service. From family celebrations to quiet weekday dinners, the staff’s hospitality makes every visit feel personal and memorable.

Longtime patrons like Peter Shen express heartfelt appreciation, noting Gemmell’s as a beloved culinary sanctuary, while Michael Barton shares gratitude for how the restaurant helped create unforgettable birthday memories with flawless service and ambiance. Even new visitors, like Marco Lopez, find themselves pleasantly surprised by the quality, ambiance, and the comforting authenticity that Gemmell’s maintains despite being off the beaten path.

If you crave a true taste of French gastronomy wrapped in a welcoming atmosphere, Gemmell’s Restaurant in Dana Point remains a true treasure. Its blend of classic flavors, carefully crafted dishes, and genuine warmth invites you to savor not just a meal, but a cherished experience.

Reserve your table today at +1 949-234-0063 and prepare to be transported to the heart of France without leaving Southern California.

Service options
Delivery Takeaway Dine-in
Highlights
Great dessert Great wine list
Popular for
Lunch Dinner Solo dining
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Comfort food Spirits Wine
Dining options
Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating Table service
Amenities
Bar on site Toilet
Atmosphere
Cosy Romantic Upmarket
Crowd
Groups Tourists
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards Credit cards
Children
High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking Free parking lot Parking
Pets
Dogs allowed outside

Opening Hours

  • Monday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Tuesday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Wednesday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Thursday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM
  • Friday
    11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Saturday
    11:00 AM - 09:00 PM
  • Sunday
    11:00 AM - 08:00 PM

Map & Directions

Visitor Reviews

  • Marco Lopez
    3 week ago

    Not our usual neighborhood- but when a trip to the outlets turns out to be a bust, we make up for it with an early-in-the-week date night. We got to see Dana Harbor with the Christmas decorations and lights and boy what a treat. We chose Gemmell’s because of the decor and French-based menu. The restaurant was rather empty for being prime dinner time. It took a couple of minutes to get seated and overall I would say service was leisurely. We didn’t care we were enjoying the evening. The steak was good, but meaculpa ordered medium. I believe in no steak beyond medium rare, but for some reason, I messed up today. The sauce was really tasty and the softened peppercorns gave a good bite. Wine, creme brule, smoked salmon, and espresso are all good, but the runaway star was the Chicken Elizabeth that Wifey ordered. The chicken was super tender and what made French cuisine was the sauces. Enjoyed ourselves and gave into the moment.

  • Peter shen
    3 week ago

    I've spent many years coming here, and honestly, this has become my favorite restaurant of all time. Learning that it will be closing by the end of the year fills me with deep sadness. I truly hope the owners are able to open a new location soon.

  • michael barton
    1 month ago

    this wonderful restaurant hosted my wife's birthday party. We couldn't ask for more beautiful environment. The staff were so accommodating. And the food was amazing. Will definitely be back and once again wanted to thank them for helping us create such a wonderful memory.

  • Kent Adamson
    1 month ago

    This is a true gem. It’s a small, family business. The food is absolutely amazing. The service is normally super, but on the rare occasion, it can be slow when too busy. Julian is a mainstay and at times a one man show; having been there for years; offering wonderful libations and service. Normally, it is pretty mellow and not a problem. The ambiance is special. I love it. GenXer’s, Millennials and Boomers alike will feel as if they stepped back to the 80’s. A hip, “happening” place it is not. Everything else about it obviates any need for scene!

  • Sophia Teng
    2 month ago

    Our lunch today was excellent ! From freshly baked hot rolls, excellent Gruyere cheese French onion soup to our entrees -- baked salmon fillet and sliced pork sirloin with steamed vegetables (broccoli, carrots, squash & roast potatoes). They were cooked just right! The white wine was very good too. Waiting staff did a terrific job too. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and for sure will keep going back.

  • Alyona Da Silva
    2 month ago

    Went for dinner and had a great time at Gemell's. Beautiful restaurant and ambient atmosphere. Pleasant French music. Prices are great for a restaurant like this. Or food was FANTASTIC. We had a 4 course dinner for 2. My husband preferred potato leek soup and said it was the best soup he had ever eaten in the restaurant. I also liked a lot my cream of mushroom soup. The presentation of the dishes is very interesting and cute. Steak was well cooked and so was the fish. I was blown away by the presentation of the duck patte appetizer (see the photos).Dessert was fantastic and I loved my cappuccino! We will be back for sure.

  • Kim Crosser
    2 month ago

    We needed a spot to meet that was about halfway between Long Beach and San Diego. Dana Point is always nice, and I picked Gemmell's based on some of the comments. WOW... The outside of the restaurant isn't very impressive, but the meal was fantastic. I started with the escargots - the menu says it best - "Farm raised Helix snails, sautéed with garlic, shallots, mushrooms and diced ham, in a rich burgundy sauce". Outstanding - the snails were tasty, and the burgundy sauce with the finely diced pieces of ham, mushrooms, garlic, and shallots was amazing. It will be hard to go back to plain butter escargots after this. My wife had the Chef Byron's smoked salmon appetizer - lots of thinly-sliced salmon with capers, lemon, and toast points. I had a bite and it was very tasty. The toast points were very light and airy - almost like biting into foam. My sister and I also shared the pate canard - also with toast points and aspic. Delicious! For our salad course, I had the wilted spinach - baby spinach leaves in a flambeed bacon dressing. WOW - we all agreed that I won that round. The spinach and dressing was rich and flavorful. My wife had the lobster bisque and said it was the best she had tasted. I tasted it and agreed that it was truly rich and full of lobster flavor. My sister passed on the salad/soup course - saving room for dessert later. For our main courses, I had the scallops. From the menu - "Eastern Sea Scallops sautéed in Garlic champagne butter sauce, vegetables and rice". The garlic champagne butter sauce perfectly accented the scallops, and the rice gave a break to the richness of the scallops and sauce. My wife had the chicken crepe (chicken and mushrooms sauteed and wrapped in a crepe) and I think I will have that next time - it had a great flavor and texture. The crepe texture with the chicken and mushroom pieces was a perfect mix. My sister had the "Chicken Elizabeth" - from the menu - "Fresh Tender chicken breast sautéed with artichoke hearts, garlic and gulf shrimp, In a citrus chardonnay sauce vegetables and rice". Another winner. Finally, for dessert, my wife had the Creme Brulee - served in a large ramekin with artistically arranged strawberries and blueberries. Again, she raved about the flavor. I had the blueberry tart, and my sister had the Meyer lemon tart - both were delicious and not too heavy. Prices were quite reasonable (actually lower than we would have expected for the quality of the food and the presentation). We are already planning on coming back. Even though it is an hour's drive from our home in San Diego, it is definitely worth the trip. This may be one of the best French restaurants in Southern California.

  • Belky
    3 month ago

    I love eating at Gemmell’s especially for dinner. The food is outstanding and the whole place is so calming and comforting. This is one of my first options to eat out with friends or family because of how great it is. The service is great especially when I get Kevin and Julian. They are such hard workers and are always so kind to me and family or friends. I can’t wait to go eat there again. I absolutely love their service and all the employees are so kind, loving, and helpful. The atmosphere is also great and I love all the decor and music there is, especially on Christmas and Halloween with all the beautiful decorations. I really recommend this place with all the great food, atmosphere, and service.

Share Your Experience

Your Rating

Discover What Travelers Love About This Place

Real experiences, honest impressions, and insights shared by the Wherevi community to help you explore with confidence.