"Rainy-day brunch plans sent us indoors, and luckily we snagged a table inside at What a Dish Café. On a warmer, drier day, the patio would be really cute and inviting. Ordering is done at the counter, and they bring your food out when it’s ready—easy enough. I decided to go with a lunch plate instead of breakfast, and honestly… that was my mistake. I usually try to order things I wouldn’t make at home, so I chose the tuna melt. Unfortunately, it was a letdown. For a café that’s also a bakery, I was expecting something more than basic white toast. The tuna itself was pretty mediocre—my homemade version is definitely better. Watching another table receive the chilaquiles didn’t help; they looked amazing and exactly what I should have ordered. Lesson learned. Overall, the vibe was nice and the setup is casual, but the food didn’t win me over this time. Not sure there will be a next visit, but if there is, I’d stick to breakfast."

"What a Dish is such a cozy and charming place to enjoy breakfast with your spouse. I don’t order a typical breakfast so I went with the clam linguine, and it was absolutely delicious—fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. My husband ordered the eggs Benedict, and he loved every bite. The warm atmosphere and great service make this spot a wonderful way to start the day. Highly recommend!"

"I was looking for a nice breakfast spot in Dana Point with an ocean view, and this place came up. We booked a table, and while it didn’t have an ocean view, it was located in the cutest shopping center I’d never visited before,even after living in Orange County for many years. Honestly, it felt like I had traveled to a different city. When I arrived, my reservation simply meant I was guaranteed a table, but the restaurant wasn’t too crowded, so I think I would have gotten one anyway. We were seated right outside, which was lovely. The surrounding shopping center area was cozy and charming, and the food was amazing. We heard their Eggs Benedict was highly recommended, so we ordered two different kinds: the California and the classic (with added avocado). Both came with a side—we opted for the soup, which was delicious. We also tried the crepes, which were just as good. Overall, the flavors and presentation were excellent, making it a great spot for a weekend brunch. The only drawback was the ordering process. Even with a reservation, you have to stand in the same line as everyone else to place your order at the counter. It’s not necessarily long because of the crowd,it’s just that the counter also handles pastry sales, cake orders, and even wedding cake consultations. For example, the person in front of us was trying to place a custom cake order, which took a while. Thankfully, after a few minutes, the friendly cashier took our order while they waited for him to finish. Still, I wish they had servers to take orders at the tables, which would make the experience perfect. In the end, I’d still recommend this spot,charming location, excellent food, and a pleasant vibe for a leisurely brunch."

"Came here for brunch on a Sunday with my husband. We sat on the big patio with our dog. We ordered the California Benedict and chilaquiles with short rib and a pineapple mimosa. Nice big portions, beautifully presented. Everything was bright, fresh, and absolutely delicious. Perfectly seasoned and so flavorful. We left stuffed and happy. The service was very sweet and friendly and even filled up our dog’s water bowl for us. Great spot in that beautiful shopping center. We will definitely be back!"

"Saw this place looking cute. Went into order and had the worst customer service. The brown hair lady taking my order belittled my friend and then ignored me half the time to talk to her coworker. When I asked my server for the manager, they never came. Finally I asked another server he apologized and offered a cupcake for 3 people to share."