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Chimayo at the Beach - CLOSED
Category: Restaurants Seafood Seafood [Edit]
315 Pacific Coast HwyHuntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 374-7273
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
103 reviews for Chimayo at the Beach
Review Highlights
"Savannah is simply one of the cool local hangouts."
(in 28 reviews)
"5 Mango Martinis and Spinach Dip."
(in 9 reviews)
"10 filet mignon, $10 king crab legs, and $10 grilled..."
(in 6 reviews)
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103 reviews in English
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Review from Laura D.
Brentwood, CA
7/6/2010
You sit down at the bar and are literally steps from the beach. You can relax at a fire pit on the patio (again, steps from the beach). Your apps will satisfy, but they probably won't dazzle. Did I mention you would be staring at the ocean?
The food here only gets 3 stars, but the ambiance and view have to warrant at least a 4-4 1/2. I would recommend this place if you want to relax and enjoy the view with drinks and apps, but I would skip it for dinner. -
Review from Howard T.
3/17/2009
$10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10
********$10 Filet Mignon $10 1/2lb crab legs $10 Halibut $10**********
$10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10 $10
Savannah is simply one of the cool local hangouts. It sits right next to the beach so you can enjoy a nice meal sucking up the ocean air. We came here for a friends birthday and Im really glad Savannah takes reservations. Considering how busy they get, I'm suprised they saved tables. I liked the restaurant setup and the atmosphere is amazing. The bar was packed and the bartenders were pretty overwhelmed. The place gets really loud inside, but you can always get a seat in the patio.
The first thing that catches your eye is their $10 special. Although the filet only comes out medium, it was still delicious. We thought it was just going to be a filet mignon and nothing else, but that dish included mashed potatoes and green beans. My buddies and I also got their BBQ pork ribs ($25) and they were sooooooooo f'n good. The meat was tender and the BBQ sauce just delicious. It was a gang bang in my mouth.....yeah...GANG BANG...
The wife had a shrimp pasta that was awesome too. Savannah is very generous with the amount of shrimp you get. The alcohol was a hit and miss. My friend's cocktail was a little weak but the waitress was really cool about it and got her a new one. My beer was like light....water light....baseball stadium draft beer light. Oh well, the food was still damn good.
Service was great. Our waitress handled all 14 of us with ease. She did get overwhelmed at the other tables but that was expected. As for parking, you can do valet for $4 or park in the beach lot for $1.50 /hour.
Go check out those deals before its gone! -
Review from Maggie C.
12/29/2009 1 photo
I really like this place. I am not talking about the food at the restaurant.
It's happy hour baby!! Sit outdoor for happy hour and watch the sunset. Ordered mango margarita and you are ready to go.
The beach = relaxing place
The beach + good friends = stress reliever
The beach + booze + good friends = loud drunk chicks talking and singing
The beach + booze + good friends + sunset = Happy Hour
Chimayo at the Beach yummyhappyhourlicious -
Review from Aaron D.
Anaheim, CA
I made my first visit to this restaurant last night. I have been to the Pier many times but had never stepped into the establishment. And, even though I had low expectations - I loved it. It kicked my low expectations right in the ass.
We went because of the Specials they are having all week. It involves $10 Filet Mignon, Crab legs, and Grilled Halibut. That's right - Crab legs for $10 this week. And they are amazing. Succulent, juicy, and cooked perfectly. And the stilled butter is of high quality as well.
We also purposely came during happy hour so that we could be there for some live entertainment and happy hour specials.
Let it be said that they had Endless Summer light on the happy hour menu. That is an amazing beer from Karl Strauss brewery. It was like $3 a bottle for happy hour. They had Corona and Corona Light for $2. They had half price calamari. The Calamari was ok but not great. The sauce was pretty good. Like a slightly spicy Aoli. We also had the chowder which was tasty and creamy.
My wife had the Crab legs which I tried some of. They were amazing. And the mashed potatoes and green bean's served on the side were not too shabby either.
I had the Halibut which was perfectly cooked and seasoned. It appeared to have been served with artichoke hearts which were so-so. But the fish was magnificent. Also, the mashed potatoes underneath were quite tasty. I noticed today that they changed the week long special menu to say Seasonal fish - so they probably had a huge run on the halibut last night.
The view from the Patio is of course amazing. It was a bit brisk out there though - even with a heater. And I heard the people that came in from surfing say that they were freezing out there. I found it interesting that Savannah has a guy working the door seemingly all day - and he appears to just be there to welcome people. I enjoyed it but found it odd to have someone meet me at the door in a T-shirt that looks like a bar room door guy - but doesnt ask for ID. Maybe later at night he ID's people.
I hesitate to give this place 5 stars but - last week I went to Ambrosia which is supposed to be fine French Dining. And it was not nearly as good as my experience at Savannah. Savannah brings great food and service without the pretentious attitude. For this they get 5 stars. I will go again soon and re-review if they don't stay as great.
But, I highly recommend. Don't walk - run to Savannah while they are having their week long specials. The price is amazing - the food is great. The service is wonderful. You will regret it if you miss it. -
Review from Anita L.
3/4/2009 2 photos
Came here for lunch with a girlfriend of mine for the OC Restaurant Week prix fixe menu. We sat on the patio -- it was sunny and breezy, just a wonderful atmosphere to chill with a bunch of pals. I would think this place would be ideal for a girls' brunch!
Our server was a really lovely young guy who didn't hesitate to flirt with my gf. Just as well because we got the most awesome service ever throughout our meal.
It didn't take long for us to decide. We were going to get different appetizers and entrees so we could have more of a taste. Dessert unfortunately was just one choice.
Fried calamari wasn't bad.... but I mean, it's just calamari. They get extra points for serving it really tender. I hate rubbery calamari and this was definitely nowhere near overcooked. The accompanying aioli was tasty as well.
What shone was the spicy shrimp martini. These shrimps were tossed in a slightly spicy sauce with caramelized peppers and onions and served with tortilla chips in a martini glass. Both of us agreed that this was definitely a winner. We fought for the shrimps down to the very last one.
The entree selections were such that we were 'forced' to order the salmon and the chicken. The other 3 were a sandwich, a pasta and tacos, and honestly, none of those appealed to either of us. Come to think of it, salmon and chicken wouldn't have been my usual choices either at a restaurant, but we were so lucky that both these entrees were cooked extremely well, especially the sage chicken.
The salmon was a maple smoked salmon, charred on the outside and flaky although it was just a touch too done for me. Other than that it was pretty good. The sage chicken was one ample chicken breast cooked with skin on -- very crispy skin -- and perfectly succulent meat on top of a bed of garlic spinach and mashed potatoes. I would totally order this dish again if I came back here.
Creme brulee was not all that enticing after we had eaten the lovely food which came before, and just as well, because we were already stuffed.
Great food, great service -- a thoroughly enjoyable time! I would highly recommend sitting on the patio to people watch which you eat! -
Review from Nick H.
12/29/2009
Happy Hour by The Beach!
Great Prices
Nice View
Too many loud drunks
Cheap alcohol in the Mango margaritas
Bonus Star!
BUT..want to impress someone? This is the place. Get your buzz on. Nothing like booze by the beach and removing yourself from the daily grind. One bonus star for providing the right environment to enjoy your friends. This would be the perfect place for you to pretend you are in Hawaii. Good place for good times with good friends. -
Review from Yuki M.
1/18/2010
This place copulates with Satan's chef, which is no surprise that they closed their doors over a year ago.
But now they're reopening and I'm actually curious to see what the new menu is offering (I apparently never learn - see Savannah review). More than curious, I'm amazed that I hadn't reviewed this place yet because each and every time I've come, it's been hellish.
Food is generally over-priced and under portioned. Flavours bounce back and forth between bland and overwhelming. In either case, it's apparent that if you taste anything at all, it's the sauce, not the food.
Shrimp taquitos appetizer was a dish with flavourless sticks of oily crustacean. Dipping sauces were acceptable, as far as I can recall.
Calamari appetizers are like soggy shoestrings with day old batter. Really horrendous.
Steak entree (I think it was a filet) was not cooked to order (rare) and came out charred and tough (med. well). Though I could vaguely make out the essence of cow, there was no ecstatic ringing of cow bell in my head as I worked through my dinner.
Dessert on two separate occasions was cheesecake and then, I think flan. Cheesecake was dry and garnished with equally unimpressive fruit.
Flan (I think, or it was creme brulee) was bland on the custard side and offensively sweet on the syrup/crust side. Horrific.
I've sampled other items on the menu but they were all on par with a flaming train wreck.
They serve Voss water.
Mixed drinks are not as watered down as one would expect for a crappy beach side restaurant that thrives on tourist money and misplaced pretention.
Outdoor seating is pleasant, though if you're short, the wall is too high for you (me) to enjoy the view while sitting down. The giant fire pit is a nice touch of warm and soothing ornateness, accented by garlands of drunk people.
I've been here with friends, colleagues, dates, clients, etc. and it seems that I am the ONLY one in my circle that really hates this place. I was not surprised that they closed but I am very surprised that they are reopening after such a cluster fuck three card monte (Chimayo to Savannah and BACK to Chimayo, all being the SAME restaurant).
Another long overdue review that reminds me of the graces of passive memory which benefit crap restaurants like Chimayo. Bad dinners are often not memorable, so I forget to review them...though I really enjoy writing 1-star reviews because there's a bitter old hag inside all of us.
Makes me wonder how many less-than-memorable establishments I've forgotten to review.Listed in: Beyond Awful
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Review from Eileen T.
Aliso Viejo, CA
4/16/2009 23 photos
I found out about Savannah at the Beach's $10 special and have been wanting to try. Perfect! Dinner for 6 at Savannah on Saturday night!
Dr. P and I arrived first. We got an outside patio seat. There was a big pit fire. Lots of people were having drinks around it. From our table, we had the Huntington Beach Pier view.
Dr. P and I started with some drinks while waiting for our friends. He got a Mojito. I ordered a Mango Martini. The martini was strong, and somehow I thought it tasted strange. It didn't really taste like mango, but just fruity in a strange way. Dr. P thought it was great though. So we traded drinks. I like the Mojito much much better. It was minty and sugary, just how I like it.
Finally, everyone arrived. We started with some appetizers. Calamari was really good. Crispy cornmeal crusted fried calamari with spicy Chipotle aioli dipping sauce. Yum!
Spinach Dip with artichoke was delicious as well. The only thing I didn't like was the tortilla chips break really easily. It was hard to eat with the dip.
Pacific Oyster Shooter for everyone, except Sybil who doesn't eat shellfish. Well, Sybil's missing out because these oyster shooters were YUMMY! Fresh oyster in thick tomato sauce with spicy horseradish, topped with fresh salsa. I tried to down it like a shot, but there were too many things in there and I couldn't do it. You had to use a fork to eat it.
A dozen Oyster on the Half Shell for everyone. Too bad Sybil didn't have any. Fresh and delicious! But$3 for one was a little too pricey in my opinion.
Intermission time! They had a hula dancer performing. This girl is tiny, and she can move her hips like crazy fast. But this girl's Hula skirt was EXTREMELY low. I was so worried that it would fall off. But they guys obviously didn't mind that.
For our main entrees, Dr. P and I ordered the 3 dishes from Savannah's Perfect 10's menu. $10 filet mignon, $10 king crab legs, and $10 grilled halibut. Can you believe that price?
$10 for 8 oz. Filet Mignon. Really unbelievable. The steak was cooked perfectly medium. It was super tender and flavorful. The mashed potato and green beans were superb as well. Dr. P kept on saying this $10 steak tasted better than some of the $50 steaks he had before. This was hand down the best dish of the night!
The 1/2 pound of Alaskan King Crab Legs were very good. The crab meat was so fresh and it tasted sweet.
Grilled Blackened Halibut came with artichoke tomato sauce. The flavor was good, but the fish was a little dry. The fish wasn't bad, but we all thought the steak was much better than the fish.Since Sybil missed out on the oysters, we gotta order chocolate for dessert. Sybil just LOVES chocolate. The Lava Flow was so good. Warm chocolate souffle cake with vanilla ice cream on top. Double yum!
The 6 of us spent about $350. Dr. P and I were asking how can they make money with the $10 special. But I guess they make money from everything else, especially the alcohol. I really like Savannah. The food was great. Service was good. I like the atmosphere there, too. Dinner was great, but I was even happier to finally hang out with friends. We should do this again soon.
After dinner, Dr. P and I had a nice walk on the pier.... Before I bumped into a wall on the way to the parking lot. Lesson learned: (1) Do not turn your head to talk to someone when walking; and (2) always watch where you are going. I hope my bruised left eye heal soon.... -
Review from Cathy K.
Orange County, CA
1/14/2009
Oh, how I long for the good ol' days, when $5 could actually buy me an entire meal at McD's, when gas was under $1.50/gallon, when I didn't have to work like a slave and Mom used to give me allowance, when it was still safe for kids to go trick-or-treating in their own neighborhoods... and when Savannah at the Beach was Chimayo's.
I loved Chimayo's. Their happy hour was off the hook, getting plastered from their Mango Martinis with the ocean breeze caressing my face and the sun blistering down on my shoulders while I munched on the endless chips and salsa. Oh, there was nothing like it. The random dinners in the evenings were equally fantastic, with their steak skewers and yummy golden fries teasing my palate to no end.
Then one day, Chimayo's became Savannah. Okay, fine. How bad could it be? The Mango Martinis are still there (and scrumptious), the chips and salsa are still there (and delicious), and the beachside dining is still there (and heavenly). But uh.. what happened to the food?
Despite the strange name change, I decided to give the place a go for a birthday lunch for one of my coworkers. Intent on getting plastered during our lunch hour, we drove over to the sun drenched restaurant, didn't pay for valet (no one was there, so we just ermm.. parked ourselves), and moseyed inside. Requesting outside seating (who the hell would sit indoors on a gorgeous day? Not I, said the cat!), we quickly had two tables joined together and settled in.
There was a little bug in my drink. Ew. So I asked for a new one. Done. I was sitting outdoors, so I suppose there was nothing I could do about that, but still... that's where things started going south.
The menu is almost entirely seafood! When did that happen? Back in the day, they still had a decent offering of non-seafood items. *sigh* I settled on some sort of steak, and my coworkers had an assortment of pastas, calamari, seafood entrees, and all sorts of things.
Of course we ordered the chips and salsa. And it was tasty. But... salsa and chips can only keep you satisfied for so long. Where the heck were our entrees???
Slow service, that's for sure. Yeah, I appreciate the languid lifestyle of beach bums as much as the next person, but c'mon. We eventually had to get back to work, you know! You know the service is slow when your happy alcohol buzz is slowly wearing off. No bueno!
So our food FINALLY came out and. Bleh. Meh. Hmph. No bueno again! I don't think a SINGLE person liked what they ordered. My steak was dry and just... not tasty.. I actually had to unscrew the tops off the salt and pepper shakers so that I could re-season it myself! Even then, it wasn't that tasty. The stroganoff type of dish that my coworker had? Also no bueno. It was congealed looking, to be honest. I had a bite and didn't become overwhelmed by my usual food-envy. That's when you know the food is no good, when I don't get a raging onset of food envy.
All in all? Meh. Bring back Chimayo's. Maybe it's just nostalgia talking here, but no me gusta Savannah. Hella overpriced for food that's not even yummy. Boo on you! -
Review from Maria T.
Santa Monica, CA
2/26/2009
Oh Kristopher... as if the $30 OC Restaurant Week Menu wasn't happy-inducing enough... you made our night!
The service here was definitely the standout. Our server Kristopher was attentive, warm, and funny. Alex, the manager who was on duty, was a very kind and entertaining host. We enjoyed talking with him about the history of Savannah at the Beach and its family of restaurants. We are definitely planning to come back for the "Bash at the Beach" March 2-8 where you can get their $37 Filet Mignon or 1/2 pound of King Crab Legs for just TEN DOLLARS! http://www.yelp.com/ev...
Savannah's prix fixe menu for restaurant week was a deal worthy of a double take. Not only did they offer 4 courses over the standard 3--but it includes a complimentary glass of wine! Free liquor always gets points in my book... and the Merlot we chose was so good we had to get another bottle!
We enjoyed every course... it was just TOO MUCH FOOD!
Starters:
Cornmeal Crusted Calamari with Smoked Chile Aioli: tender calamari with a rock star aioli! Loved it!
Voodoo Shrimp Martini: This was unlike any other Shrimp cocktail... lightly breaded shrimp with a kick!
Soup/Salad:
Iceberg Wedge with Blue Cheese, Red Onions, Tomatoes: My friends enjoyed it but I don't know if had anything special compared to other wedges.
Caesar Salad: looked pretty average.
Clam & Corn Chowder: I enjoyed this soup... it was chock full of clams and other yummy chowder stuff.
ENTRÈE:
Roasted Pacific Sea Bass: my friend said it was "excellent"
8oz Voodoo Style Flatiron Steak: a generous portion with a savory-sweet sauce... great for the meatlovers!
Linguine with Shrimp: I do not normally order the pasta dish... but I took our server's suggestion and this Linguine was SO good. It was overflowing with fresh shrimp in a broth based sauce with mushrooms, spinach and tomatoes. It was unbelievably flavorful--thank you Kris for the suggestion! ***Highly recommend***
Pan Seared Scallops: everyone who had a bite just kept saying lots of "ooohs" and "aaahs" and "yums".
DESSERT
Tahitian Vanilla Bean Crème Brulee: Honestly, it's really hard to make a bad creme brulee... in my world, creme brulee is always good. But for what it's worth, this was on par with what you typically find out there.
I will definitely be returning for the Satuday 2-6 happy hours (where pretty much everything on the HH menu is $5 including their famous Mango Martini), especially as the warmer months draw nearer. You'll find ME near the huge fire pit on the patio. Sunsets, anyone?! -
Review from K G.
Orange County, CA
Updated - 3/13/2010
So I liked the old Chimayo, and when it became Savannah I thought it was ok, and now it has been bought by Duke's upstairs and renamed Chimayo, which is probably why it's become commercialized watered-down overexpensive tourist crap, just like Duke's. They don't even have the Voodoo Shrimp anymore, which was the best thing they served. The brie is blocks of deep-fried mild brie in almond crust...pretty much killing the flavor of the brie, and served on some gross pineapple puree. It's exactly the way shitty Duke's prepares its shitty fish. They don't even give you crackers with it. The scallops sucked and the sea bass was decent. The mango martinis (used to be one of my ALL-Time favorite drinks) tasted like watered-down mango juice without even any liquor in it anymore.
It's definitely not the old Chimayo. We were there on a Friday night and it was completely empty on the patio. I guess if you want to spend a few extra bucks drinking a beer and sitting out in front of the firepit staring at the ocean (an extra star for the firepit), it's still fun to hang out. But don't waste your money on the food.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/9/2008
As an HB local I frequented Chimayo...I love to sit at the outdoor firepit and tip a few. Yes it's… Read more »
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Review from Pete S.
4/21/2009
After going to Savannah Supper House (which is now closed) for the $10 specials, you would think a sister property would have the food very similar.
Sorry, it does not.
I was hungry and got the filet as well as the crab legs all on one plate. Surf and turf for $20 on a beach, unheard of. But I have to say, the crablegs were slightly dry but the filet was almost as good as I had it at the Supper House. This place plays music all night long. If you want a quieter seat, you should actually go to the bar area because there aren't speakers near by there due to the LCD big screens for the games.
For OC happy hour week, we also got the $5 mango-tini. Tip, eat the mangos first, cuz if you don't , it's like taking a shot while taking a bite out of the mango. It was also served warm, I don't know why a martini was served this way. -
Review from Angela H.
9/25/2009
Love this place!! I especially love how close it is to the water- perfect for a romantic stroll across the bridge after dinner =] And they definitely had some good deals going on, especially since it was restaurant week!
SPICY VOODOO SHRIMP: SHRIMP, SCALLIONS, CHILES, BELL PEPPERS & GARLIC BUTTER SERVED WITH WARM TORTILLA CHIPS = delicious dish!! I would definitely recommend it.
AHI POKE: MINCED FRESH TUNA, CHILIES, GARLIC, GINGER, AVOCADO RELISH, SERVED WITH CRISPY WONTONS = another delicious dish. It's very small, so be forewarned!! But it's also beautifully decorated.
LAVA FLOW: WARMED LAVA CAKE SERVED WITH VANILLA BEAN
ICE CREAM, CHOCOLATE SAUCE, CARAMEL, TOASTED MACADAMIA NUTS & WHIPPED CREAM = very good dessert, but a the cake was a little sweet for my taste. Everybody else enjoyed it a lot
Drinks here are a little strong... definitely don't taste like juice. I ordered the mango martini and it came with a big mango chunk in the middle. Very tasty!! The pomegranate martini was rumored to not taste too good.
I also had a bite of the crab legs. They were to die for. I'll definitely be back at some point with a bigger appetite (I had eaten lunch at 2:30 PM that day and wasn't very hungry by 8:00 PM).
The restaurant was a little noisy, but I'm assuming the place was busy because #1: it was a Friday night and #2: it was restaurant week. Very good, friendly service!!Listed in: Top Restaurants
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Review from Julie L.
Updated - 11/23/2009
Ok, it was Chimayo...then it became "Savannah's" and then it went back to Chimayo. The only difference is the menu. The gumbo was during the Savannah phase and its off the menu. They're trying for a mexican themed menu now.
I got the carne asada burrito and was pleasantly surprised to find chunks of steak inside..fully cooked but not in the slightest dry. The appetizer bean dip is smooth and velvety with a few solid beans and tid bits of onion.
Since the wait took awhile, our bartender took one drink off. If you get the tall hot guy with the dimples...you're in good hands. He comes around enough to get everything you could possibly need and makes a killer bloody mary. (I got with the pepper Absolut.)
New happy hr info: Mon-Sat (2-6)
$2 Coors light draft, $3 Coronas / Pacificos, $4 margaritas / Modelos / well drinks...$5 appetizers. I'll be back for this, I just saw it and thought I'd share :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/8/2009
I wasn't really in the mood to eat since I had already gone bar hopping from Main Street and was… Read more »
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Review from Joseph W.
Los Angeles, CA
7/19/2008
Really nice location with great views and very decent food. We had the vegetarian tacos which were nice, and the mojitos were delicious for sure. The chips and salsa were pretty good, but should have just been included not extra as they were nothing special.
Service is good, attentive, but never annoying. A great place to come inside and get a bite and a drink to escape the heat or just the crowds. Nice bar area, overall a really cool place. -
Review from Christina S.
Costa Mesa, CA
8/13/2008
I had some friends visiting in from Palm Springs today and after brunch (Memphis) today I thought that I would phone up some of my friends and we would all meet up here.... Little did I think that 10 Mai Tais latter we would need someone else to drive.. So, yes the Mai Tais here are good.. Ask if I ate today.. The answer is NOT much.... We did however spend over a $160 in drinks and small plates... (don't ask me how) ummmm it was fun..... Somehow I fell a couple of times and my knees are badly bruised.. (so I had fun..skeet).....
Parking... there is valet parking which is worth it.. We parked a tad away because we wanted to hit American Apparel as some other shops -
Review from Gstar K.
Huntington Beach, CA
2/27/2009
One my best gfs treated me for BDay back in Oct.
We were hardly impressed. Food no flair, service so-so. Decor remain as before but not much spruced up.
Kinda liked it better back when this place was Chimayo's, until that went downhill too. Not really dig'n the new southern theme which doesn't compliment the beachy location. Same weirdness experienced w/their other take over of Chat Noir, CM. Same name on a very French-feel place. Some things shouldn't be changed even if same/new owners try to give it a fresh spin.
Wishful thinking: Work on what works before & the establishment has that chance to become legendary.
My personal sadness for both places won't lead me back unless necessary. -
Review from MELINDA T.
Huntington Beach, CA
4/15/2009
The following events took place yesterday, Tuesday 4/14--
11am- Called and made a same day reservation for 3 people for 7:30pm.
1pm- Called and added 2 more people to the reservation. No problem.
3pm- Called and added 4 more people to the reservation. No problem! (FYI, parties of 6 or more have an 18% gratuity added to the bill)
7:30pm- Arrive to the restaurant and we are immediately seated.
$5 mango martini - I had 3. And they were STRONG. Hence, delicious.
$5 cup of clam chowder soup - So yummy I almost wished I got a bowl instead.
$10 filet mignon dinner - The majority at my table ordered this, and we all ordered variations of how our steak would be cooked. All of our steaks arrived as we had ordered them. Perfect!
***The $10 dinner meal promotion (filet mignon, crab legs, halibut) is going on til May 1st. Don't pass this up! -
Review from Briana L.
Brea, CA
7/1/2010
The food is good. +
Right off the beach. +
They change their name every 4 months. - -
Review from Wendy T.
Oceanside, CA
9/12/2008
So my girlfriend and I blew off work for a half day yesterday to go check out her ex-boyfriend's film at a festival. We decided to do it up right, since we were blowing off work and all, and go for lunch and drinks by the beach prior to the screening.
When we were walking down I thought maybe this place was a little fancy schmancy for such an afternoon, but but the time we were seated I knew it would be chill, at the very least. They have chill patio with umbrellas that is literally beach front.
Happy hour was decent - $5 per cocktail. The margaritas were pretty good, but the Mango Martini is THE BOMB. Seriously. They infuse vodka with mango for a few days, and serve it up with a slice of mango on a stick. So f'in good, you don't even know.
Since we were admittedly doing it up right, we ordered calamari AND lunch, which was just decadent - but of course we regretted when we were rolling our way out of the restaurant. However, the calamari was pretty good, although misshapen for what I would expect as calamari. It was large sticks (comparatively) as opposed to rings and legs. I don't know how they made them. The flavor was fine, and the dipping sauce was really tasty.
My lunch was amazing. I had the voodoo shrimp tostada, which is breaded shrimp sauteed with bell and hot peppers to give it a kick. The shrimp tops a delicious mix of greens that is tossed in a mango vinaigrette, and that is all on top of a fried tostada with refried beans. There may have even been cheese too. Flawless.
My girlfriend had shrimp lettuce wraps, which were also tasty. Overall a very nice experience, and a great place to hang out and get loaded while blowing off work. -
Review from Jocelyn C.
Newport Beach, CA
10/26/2009
One of my friends and I tried Chimayo last week. Granted we would've eaten outside, but the weather was very cold.
For an appetizer, we started off with the lobster fritters. This dish reminds me of fried calamari. We also ate the freshly baked Hawaiin bread.
I had a martini and my friend drank lemonade. She was the designated driver.
For the entrees, I had the BBQ chicken breast sandwich. It included these yummy steak cut fries. I ended up using the sauce from the lobster fritters to dip them in.
My friend had the king crab legs. I think she liked them. I guess I forgot to ask or don't remember what she said.
Overall, I would go to Chimayo's again as well as recommend them to friends.
p.s. I highly suggest their "Happy Hour" menu.Listed in: Top Restaurants
-
Review from jessica s.
Costa Mesa, CA
3/10/2009
The only thing good about the recession is the new $10 menu at Savannah. . . . think $10 Filet Mignon (see food pic)???. . . $10 crab legs???. . . $5 mango martinis??? you, my friend, might say "NO WAY!" and I say "WAY!"
Not sure how long they'll have these menu items for such a low price, but I highly recommend to take advantage of it while it lasts.
My girlfriends and I went for lunch on a Saturday and it was perfect. You've got the beautiful beach view, you're right next to the pier, terrific weather, and gorgeous people walking by. . . you can't beat that with a bat. Note: I highly suggest reservations with patio seating and try to pick a day with beautiful weather. . the whole experience is the epitome of Orange County living! -
Review from Angela C.
4/20/2007
Great service, excellent ambience and it's right on the beach! The food was just okay though. I wouldn't come here just for that. You come here to hang with friends, have some drinks, relax while looking out into the ocean... If I rated this place purely based on food it'd only get 3 stars, but the overall feel pushes the rating up to 4-stars!
I agree with some other reviewers, their food is on the salty side! We got the spinach artichoke dip with chips and the calamari, and both were super salty. I ordered the lobster tacos and they were really good, portions are big and more than enough for one person... but it's also very pricey here. Be prepared to spend at least $20. -
Review from Kim l.
7/15/2008
When there last sat for dinner. It was a bit chilly outside on the patio, and the heatlamps didnt help much. We were right next to the bike path/beach. However our view was spoiled b/c there were these benches on the beach.
I ordered the flat iron steak and my bf got the sea bass. Both were pretty good. Server(nice blue eyes) was nice. They supposedly validate parking, however the booth outside said flat fee $4 and we still paid that even though they "validated" our ticket. Weird. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Los Angeles, CA
6/29/2009
My family and I came here because it was one of the few pet friendly restaurants in Huntington. However, our puppy wasn't allowed in the outdoor seating area, instead he had to be tied up to a gate or bench outside the restaurant. It kind of made the situation a little difficult because we were worried that he'd bark incessantly or get stolen. So instead, we took turns sitting on the bench with the pup... =)
We ordered:
New England Clam Chowder
Calamari Appetizer
Pepper Crusted Ahi
Grilled Rosemary & Garlic - Lemon Chicken
Roasted Chilean Sea Bass
I LOVE LOVE LOVE clam chowder and it was really good. They even had actual clams with the shell still in the soup! There were tons of veggies that completed the soup perfectly.
I didn't particularly care for the calamari because of the dipping sauce, but my family thought it was delicious.
My brother devoured the chicken, so I can only imagine that it was very tasty. The sea bass and ahi was shared and everyone agreed that those two entrees were yummy as well.
Overall, the experience was great. Service was very friendly, helpful, and attentive. They had the heating lamps on at night to keep us warm since it was a tad bit windy. -
Review from Lisa A.
Decatur, GA
2/23/2007
Chimayo is a great place to get a bite to eat or enjoy a nice cocktail. They have this amazing outdoor fire pit, that is so nice to sit around and watch the sunset. They also have some tasty food. I love their chips and salsa and I also really l;like their grilled Cesar salad. They actually grill the lettuce. It is really tasty and different.
They have a nice size bar inside and a great martini's list. They also have a decent wine list. Service can be a bit slow outside, but it also gives you the chance to soak up your surroundings! -
Review from Nancy G.
Irvine, CA
4/12/2009
I came here with the bf and his parents for Easter Sunday dinner. It was buffet style so I can't really comment on speed of service other than the fact that the water cups came out quickly and were never empty.
Otherwise, the food was pretty darn good.
There were quite a few options, but the best ones were the voodoo steak, the cheddar potatoes, coconut shrimp, short ribs, prime rib, crab legs, cocktail shrimp and oysters.
Other than that, there were also veggie medleys, cajun rice, mashed potatoes, veggie rolls, mahi mahi, salmon and chicken.
The beef dishes were all tender and flavorful, but my favorite was the voodoo steak. I'm usually wary of mass produced steaks, but this was great. It was super tender and had a sauce in it that complimented the beef flavor really well.
The cheddar potatoes were great cause well, let's face it, if you combine potatoes and cheese, you can't really go wrong.
The coconut shrimp was also a surprise because I kinda figured that fried shrimp sitting in a warmer would get soggy, but these were still crunchy and had a good coconut flavor to them.
Ok, I'm tired of typing and there were so many good dishes that I'm just gonna round it out by saying that almost everything was great and I would definitely go back for another meal. -
Review from Danielle C.
Huntington Beach, CA
2/11/2007
Now I've cruised by this place plenty of summer days to see people outside enjoying the sun and some drinks.... so of course I decided to come here with my family on a February night that had rain in the forecast!
Well, there were no tables available inside, but we got on immediately, outside. The staff was really accommodating, they let us change tables a few times to find the locating with the least wind, and they even dragged two heaters over to our table to warm us up.... they were successful.
I had the Mango Martini.... delicious, and they serve Hinano here which I'm very excited about. The baja lobster tacos were really good, so was the shrimp scampi on linguine, and the voodoo shrimp. The sea bass was not a popular entree at the table.
Overall the food the pretty good, I really liked what I had. The drink was yummy, I can't wait to try some more. The service was great. I can't wait to come back again, and I'm looking forward to spending some summer afternoons down here. -
Review from Lisa G.
Scottsdale, AZ
7/8/2009
Here is my issue with Savannah at the Beach. We visited the restaurant on the 4th of July this past weekend. They were advertising a buffet and we could sit outside on the patio and enjoy the fireworks display at 9pm. Well, upon arriving we were escorted to our table outside and informed that we HAD to order from the buffet if we wanted to sit outside. Our two friends that were with us were vegetarians and they wanted to charge them the full freight-$75 just to eat the salads. Finally the manager agreed to charge them $25 for a grilled veggie platter.They wouldn't allow them to order off the menu and they wouldn't let us order for our 4 year old and 2 year old off the kids menu and instead charged us $25 for the kids to eat off the buffet. We asked if we could be moved inside but were told we'd have to wait an hour and a half like the other folks on the list. BS!
I've never felt so fiscally violated since George W. was in office. $75/pp for mediocre food, didn't include drinks-not even a soft drink! don't think I'll be visting ever again. -
Review from LL C.
Santa Monica, CA
4/19/2009
I've now been to this place twice in one week. It's great! A bit on the pricey side, but perfectly worth it because they have a fantastic view! Nearby parking is always rare and clogged on busy days and nights, so bring a bit of cash, and take advantage of the valet service, at an affordable $4.
The food is pretty darn good, especially for their $10 menu. I had the halibut. The fish was a bit dry, tomatoes a touch on the salty side, but not bad. Their lava cake is TO DIE FOR. I loved every bite! I've also had their fish and chips, and a tropical fruit tostada. The fish and chips could stand to be battered a little less, but otherwise very good! The tropical fruit tostada is well worth the price. The combination of fruit, ice cream, and some sort of a carmelized crunchy nut bowl was VERY good!
I MUST mention the fun hula dancers. I don't know exactly what their schedules are, but during lunch they had two of them dancing outside. They ramped up the energy of the entire patio. -
Review from Jaime L.
Huntington Beach, CA
4/7/2009
With the wonderful weather we have been having lately, I've been using every excuse I can to eat at the beach. Located underneath Dukes, Savannah at the Beach is a great way to spend a lazy afternoon.
I had the $10 menu lunch. You have 3 different choices, you can get the Beach Lunch with a salad, soup and half sandwich or lobster tacos or something else. I can't remember what it was. I had the beach lunch and it was pretty good for $10. The clam chowder is just ok.
The fish tacos are ok, they lack flavor so you have to pile on the condiments.
Service is SLOOOOWWWWW if they are busy and it seems none of the servers talk to each other. We sat waiting for about 20 minutes before anyone came and talked to us, but since I was catching up with friends, I didn't mind that much. -
Review from Rich H.
Second Mesa, AZ
11/21/2008
Summary based on 1 dinner:
--good location for beach side dining
--not much relation to advertised New Orleans/Cajun style cuisine
--service ok
--pay for parking
--reservations available on http://www.opentable.com -
Review from Antoine P.
Fountain Valley, CA
8/26/2009
Great fillet mignon. It was perfectly cooked, with the slight crispy texture on the outside and nearly perfect marbling on the inside to give it that juicy flavor. Servers were very friendly. When we went there for a birthday, somehow the servers got my mom completely wasted. I thought it was funny seeing my mom that plastered.
The only thing that I don't like about it is that during the summer, there are just WAY too many people. In HB, it's the best place to get a beer, with an awesome view of the Ocean. -
Review from Glenn G.
Huntington Beach, CA
8/1/2007
I've been coming to this chimayo location for sometime now just because i live in HB and it has good food with an amazing view. On the weekends we'll stop by for drinks and sit outside to people watch the boardwalk and beach.
Dinner: I like coming here for dinner on the weekdays because you don't get all the chaos of the weekend crowds. The place is very nice to bring a date, its low lit, quiet and the good dinner entrees are excellent. If you going to come here, come for the fish/seafood dishes. They far surpass the steak dishes, but they are decent. Margaritas are good, but they have an excellent mojito. Love the calamari, voodoo shrimp, and the seabass is amazing!
Weekends/Day Drinking: This is a great places to meet friends on the weekends for some day drinking. Sit out on the patio if you can find room. Best view of the beach and the strand. -
Review from Oanh N.
Tustin, CA
5/9/2008
Savannah at the Beach is literally on the beach! I came here for a surprise birthday party. We were seated outside on the patio which was nice right when the sun was setting such a beautiful view of Huntington Beach.
The service was exceptional. Our waiter Chris took care of what we needed when we needed. For example it got a bit breezy so he made sure all the heat lamps were working around us. He also made sure the mixed drinks were to our liking.
The food was very tasty. Most of us at our table (we had 3 tables of 8) ordered the "Economic Stimulus Package" 10 oz. of prime flatiron steak, mashed potatoes, green beans with a peppercorn sauce. The meal was $16 which is an excellent price for steak. Some also added the spicy garlic-parmesan french fries as an appetizer. I ordered the wood burning oven roasted baby back ribs with mango-BBQ sauce served with a side of french fries. The ribs were tender & just enough sweet from the bbq sauce. For dessert we shared the chocolate molten cake a la mode, creme brulee, & vanilla cheesecake. All desserts were good but none of them stand out.
Savannah's at the Beach is a great place for a group gathering. Nice place to mingle at the bar and enjoy some good food. -
Review from Aimee M.
4/18/2009
I wish we had restaurants like this in Washington. Right on the beach with an awesome view I can only imagine! It happened to be very foggy the night we went. But we still had a great time.
Service was a little slow in the beginning, but did pick up in the end. We started with the Chimayo appetizer platter which was good, but a little too small for $12. We were left wanting more!
Moving on to dinner, we went with two of the $10 dishes. One was the tenderloin and one was the halibut. Both had amazing flavor and cooked superbly. I was quite impressed with the size of each dish only being $10!!
I don't recall our servers name, but he was great and very personable. He even waived the $15 corking fee for the bottle we brought in to drink....I have never had that happen! Kudos to him.
I look forward to giving Savannahs another try next time in town! -
Review from Danielle S.
Huntington Beach, CA
4/13/2008
It's now called Savannah at the Beach, but it's still pretty similar to Chimayo. My parents and I rode our bikes to Main St today for some lunch. My dad would only eat here or Duke's, and I wanted to try something new, so we ate here. Our waiter was kind of a ding dong and didn't realize that we didn't have bread plates or sliverware for the cornbread muffins we were served. I don't even like cornbread, and these were sweet and tasty. Anyways, when the manager realized that we weren't given bread plates and silverware, our waiters service improved greatly. :]
For my meal, I ordered the daily fish which was mahi mahi, garlic mashed potatoes and grilled veggies. I ordered my fish with no butter sauce because that's the way fish should be and it was very moist and good. I shared almost all the mashed potatoes and half of my fish with my parents because it was so much food!
My mom ordedered the french onion soup and a green salad and loved both. My dad ordered a BBQ chicken sandwich with homemade chips, a cup of corn clam chowder and a caeser salad. He loved his food as well.
Overall, we had a tasty lunch, and mine was the best...and the most expensive :] -
Review from anne marie p.
Orange County, CA
5/4/2008
(Formerly Chimayo at the Beach)
For those not familiar with the Culinary Adventures family of restaurants, there's been a change in the past year. His Chimayo brand, previously at both Fashion Island and here, are now completely defunct. Georgia is the new France, er I mean, Savannah is the new black. You get the idea.
Similar to his retooled Wilhelm's Chophouse in Irvine, this is sorta like...how should I say it...Daily Grill at the water. All-American, comforting, with flip flops. Offering shellfish, Cobb, lobster tacos, and stroganoff, it works hard to try and please all the local tastes.
I am thankful for the validated parking and ocean view. The younger drinking crowd got some sun while the rest lined their long bar. Midday on a very lazy Sunday, it was hardly busy. Yet they managed to take their sweet time on our meal. We ordered just before 4pm and had the option of choosing between lunch and dinner menus. Who wouldn't go for the more reasonably priced? I guess someone wanting to impress a lady?
One bowl of gumbo and a club sandwich for him. He thought it was pretty good. I tried their aptly named "Beach Lunch" consisting of soup, salad, housemade potato chips (should that really impress me?) and my choice of either 1/2 BBQ chicken sandwich or a couple of bleu cheese sliders. Naturally, I paddled towards the beef. For $13, this was a virtually a complete meal ~ sans dessert.
Not bad for an area more notorious for bar hopping. -
Review from Wendy C.
Costa Mesa, CA
1/15/2010
Tonight is just not a good night to be reviewed by me, it seems. XD
Had a friend's going away party here so that we could watch the sunset with him one last time...seems perfect, doesn't it? No. It was not--although that part was beautiful.
Our server was not a very good one (I seem to attract that a lot lately--sad 'cause I'm a great tipper) and she didn't catch the goons smoking right next to us for quite a while. (-_- );; She also didn't bring us plates when we asked for them (and neither did the food runner who said he would--MY PET PEEVE) but other than that, the night was lovely... *cough*
Did I mention that they charred my nachos? *cough* -
Review from Teresa N.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2008
Good food with great ambiance and view. Nothing too spectacular about this place, as it is bit overpriced. Excellent service.
Mojitos are kind of weak here. Beer is okay... same thing you can get anywhere else.
