Very well with memories, my son lives in Laguna Niguel, we went to Turk,s and I have a picture of Turk and me
Ah, Turks. Dive bar goodness with good grub (fish n' chips and the steak sandwich are highly recommended) and strong drinks. They staff has been there forever and aren't the friendliest bunch, but as long as the drinks are flowing and the food is hot, whatever! I'm not there to socialize with them but with the people I brought! Anyway, the prices are reasonable and you get cool views of the docks from nearly every seat. I keep coming back for a reason and it ain't the service, that's for sure.
Review Source:My wife and I have been in Dana Point for past two months and have been to Turks about 4 times.
All of the meals that we have had, the Tuna Sandwich, the Chicken California Sandwich, the Broiled Fish Sandwich, a salad with veggies and chicken and even eggs and bacon for breakfast, were all very good, like a home cooked meal with a little more pzazz, meat and potatoes turned up a notch. The side dishes are above the average as well.
When you walk into Turks, you walk into Turk Varteresians's restaurant, located on the Dana Point Pier next to the water where all the Dana Point Whale Watching tours and Catalina Express leaves to Catalina Island every Day.
You have to understand, Turk in his life was an actor, wrestler, family man and restaurateur. He died about 12 years ago, but his restaurant is a living memorial to him. The walls and ceilings are covered with pictures of him in film and all aspects of his life including many actors and actresses that he has known and has had his picture taken with. I heard the loved fish tanks and they are in the ceiling! Fantastic.
It is now run by his daughter and her husband. Great people.
It is a local restaurant and bar catering mostly to local people, but if you do not live around here (I am from PA.) you are welcomed as if you lived here all your life.
The staff is warm, friendly and down to earth, and the food is really good. They have tables, booths and a bar, what more can you ask for a comfortable meal.
Visited Turks this past Saturday 2/16. Â Had a booth looking out over the bay and had ordered a second drink for the wife and myself when all hell broke loose. Â All of a sudden the music came on so load you could not hear yourself think. Â Our waitress who had our round of drinks asked the bartender to turn the music down and he would not. Â She went behind the bar to do it and the bartender lost it and begin yelling at her. Â She is turn lost it and threw our drinks, tray and all at him. Â Drinks all over everywhere including the back of my shirt. Â Bartender and waitress still yelling at each other. Â No reason to stay here and no reason to go back. Â This place is a piece of crap. Â I would stay away and let the local drunks have the place.
Review Source:Came here late at night for some drinks. The place itself is alright, not bad but definitely not my first choice. We sat in a booth so I didn't get the real "bar scene" experience. I liked the drinks, we got a few since my group was just in the mood to try new stuff! Try the fireball...;)
I like that it didn't seem like there was a crazy or loud crowd here. Of course, you get the expected idiot drunks, but they seemed pretty friendly and harmless. Although this was also on a Sunday night. So I'd probably have to give it a more fair assessment on a Friday or Saturday night.
Like many customers it seems I stopped here for a bite after getting off the Catalina Express. It was convienient. I will give them that. Buttttttt...past that...The night I was here it was SUPER BUSY. Mostly with women who think they are MILFs but they only really meet 1/4 of the requirements you need to be a MILF (that would be the "mother"). The place smelled of desperation. I felt bad for the bartenders who seemed to be enduring way to many awkward sexual comments from fugly women who "regretted wasting their 'pretty' years on having kids" - an actual comment I overheard...so don't put that evil on me. The food was ok. I had fish and chips. The serving size was hugenormous. I am still eating on it the next day. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't anything that I would jump for excitement over. The beers were "cheap" for Cali but thankfully I'm from Ohio so I wasn't impressed.
Review Source:What a place! I used to come here all the time. Great atmosphere for the 30+ er who enjoys a GREAT BAR. Always packed_night and day. Great food and beer. People always laughing and having fun! TIP FOR SINGLE GIRLS: great place to mingle.Nice regulars and staff.Location is a plus!Look forward to coming here again.
Review Source:Went Saturday after happy hour on a friends boat  -  love at first sight. Have lived in South County for 20+ years and am ashamed I have never stepped foot in Turk's. Fish and chips was excellent (4 big pieces) My husband had a burger (he is VERY picky) and loved it.  My house wine-chardonnay was ok but hey it's not Napa - next time I may order a better wine but they guys loved that Sierra Nevada that was on tap.
Review Source:What a great find! My brother was visiting from W. Va., and I wanted a place with local flavor...this was perfect! Small, but friendly. Staff were quick, helpful and just attentive enough. We had a delicious lunch, indulging in fried food. The fish & chips were fresh, delicate, and a huge portion. He had the platter with fish, shrimp, and scallops and could not finish it! The shrimp were enormous!
This will be a frequent stop for me. With or without visitors. You won't be disappointed....not a place for kids - this is definitely an adults only environment....which is a plus for me as well.
I love Turks. Â The beer is cheap, the food is good for pub/American food (slightly greasy but in a good way) and there is never a shortage of people to look at. Â For example, last night as I consumed a $3.50 Coors light and ate some french fries, I was able to observe: Marines, hipsters, hipsters inadvertently dressed as pirates, a 65 year old man groping his 35 year old date, middle age fat guys at the bar having a drink and fishermen enjoying a brew after being out on their boat. Â The interior is decorated with all kinds of kitsch, some Hollywood themed, some nautical and the fish tank is in the ceiling. Â In short, when every other Dana Point bar has closed at midnight, or happy hour is over at Wind n' Sea, walk down the hill to Turks to end your night with Marines, fishermen and pirate hipsters and cheap beer.
Also, the best place to eat breakfast with a Guinness after the Turkey Trot 10k.
Turks is so classic. Â If you have been there and get it, you know exactly what I am talking about. Â It's a salty, locals bar that is a landmark. Â If you are hungry, try the fish and chips, they are awesome. Â Turks also serves breakfast which is good. Â Not a tourist place to take the kids, but then again, its not meant to be. Â Turks rules!!
Review Source:As i stated in an earlier review, the owner/bar tender made a fraudulent charge to my card after a visit to this dump.
I hope the owner reads this and enjoys his chargeback they just processed. Â Hey jackass, you didn't even bother to sign a name that started with the right letter on the fake receipt. Â Your greed just invalidated the entire receipt, dumbass.
Stuft mushrooms... Nuff said!
I have to admit, the auarium in the celing is worht it in of itself, but this spot for seriously big and good food only proves that that booze and ood ae to be enjoyed even if it send you to the hospital with a heart issue. I still will not stop visiting, just may have t run a few extra miles to make up for it!
fun place for a cocktail! after getting back from Catalina Island one day we came here. Well, I insisted we go there because my boyfriend  has been there a lot and I had never gone. PLace is fun, drinks are good and the whole carry around a giant white board with the menu on it to every table cracks me up :)
serviec was good , just wish they had more to eat/offer :)
This is one of my favorite places since moving here in 1995! If you are looking for a Montage experience then you have come to the wrong place - no fluff, over priced food/drinks or pretentiousness here! If you are looking for a good local hang out that has been around for a long time then Turk's is your place! We like spending our weekend afternoons hanging with the locals, having a drink while watching the boats in the harbor. Â It is my understanding that John Wayne was a regular at Turk's when he was alive and living in the OC.
This is a dive of good bar food, cold beers and great Bloody Marys! In fact the Bloody Mary is their signature drink and it is fantastic. On this glorious Sunday we enjoyed a few Bloody Marys and shared their club sandwich which was fresh, generous and delicious. Also, their fries were perfectly cooked and not greasy as you would expect from a dive bar like this one.
Love, love, love this place as there are not too many "true" dive bars in Orange County - and this is tried and true!
Walk into Turks on a Saturday or Sunday before noon, and smell the vodka in the air. That smell isn't coming from behind the bar, it is seeping from the pores of the skin of the patrons.
Turks is a one of a kind dive bar right on the harbor in Dana Point. Their bartenders are always friendly and remind me of the retired boat captain type of personality. There are a ton of regulars at Turks. Your mission should be to get a seat at the bar if at all possible, but you may have to finagle your way into one.
This place is kid-friendly in the dining area in small doses only.
This place is 110% authentic California and Orange County native.
The food is surprisingly good for a dive bar. Get there before noon and get the Eggs Benedict.
A coworker took me here for lunch and I loved it! Â The atmosphere is great, just looking at the decor is interesting. Â Service was good, waitress was very friendly. Â The food was delicious, with good size portions. Â
I would have given 5 stars, but we had a long wait for our food due to the food inspector coming in. Â At least they passed!!! Â
I will go back again!
It's not a dive bar as much as a bustling, local California pub. Perfect for an evening in Dana point that you don't want to be "corporate" and fake. It's a real, local, Dana Point food joint.
The atmosphere is loud and cozy like an English pub, but the decor and energy is American.
The food is big and greasy, and the mixed drinks were what you'd expect. We also got a steamed artichoke (can't get that at Coco's) and that was tasty too.
Service was actually rather good--she was fast, but competent and friendly.
I'd go back.
I wouldn't call it a dive bar. Â The place is clean with lots of nostalgic pictures. I like the atmosphere -- old, clean, and local - nothing wrong with that and doesn't make it a dive. Â
They have a fairly extensive menu for lunch and breakfast -- it's mostly bar type food but a few nicer items. Â I went basic with a cheeseburger and fries. Â It was $10 and it was a big burger and a large plate of fries. Â Everything was hot and it was very good. Â
Service was great -- not fake -- just business and those ladies were busy. Â There were only 2 of them. Â I thought they did a real nice job -- a little attitude but it was friendly. Â
I recommend giving the place a try -- good food, good atmosphere, and legit service.
The service was terrible. Not that they were mean or had attitude, but they acted like we were not that important. I asked two different people for some lemon for my water...nothing. My co-worker asked for another beer...nothing.
Co-worker's French dip was a little chewy, though sandwich was huge. I had the Fish sandwich and the three filets were excellent. Overall an okay experience, won't be rushing back when in the area though.
We ended up coming to the beach to celebrate my father in-laws birthday and we ended up getting breakfast at Turks. Turks is interesting. It has that standard pirate ship decor complete with the standard wood tables and chairs, wood bar stools and bar.
I ended up getting the 2 eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, potatoes meal they have there. The food is pretty good and you get a quite a bit for the money. The biscuits and gravy were definitely the highlight for the meal.
The negatives... We originally were headed to sit down and grab the first open table we saw but were told that we would have to wait to be seated. We waited about 10 minutes to get seated with 4-5 open tables in plain view only to be seated at the table we were planning on sitting in the first place. Kinda makes you smile huh? =)
The food is decent and definitely better than your typical Denny's or IHOP. In the grand scheme things, they rank right in the middle for your typical breakfast. 3 stars!
Great place, great people, solid bar/restaurant.
I've been here before and some people consider this place a dive, eh... Â No, not really but okay, if they say so... Â I've seen some "dive" bars that are the epitome of the word, this place is actually pretty nice.
Photo - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8N5kmIgpcIgbylYSvbfw6A?select=P_XZAhNzd2dGNyv4rAPnxw">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
The bar seating faces out into the harbor.
View - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8N5kmIgpcIgbylYSvbfw6A?select=FVKjL2qiYvPfuXCPfQxLlQ">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
'Went with GV on a Tuesday afternoon - drinks @ 3pm, why the hell not?! (We usually meet up @ Bubba Kahunas across the street but Scott the owner was having the floors resurfaced so we headed across the street to Turks.) Â 'Another great local joint!
Bubba Kahunas(BKs) is another great local spot to visit, the people are cool, good eats, & adult beverages!
Bubba Kahunas - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/bubba-kahunas-dana-point">http://www.yelp.com/biz/…</a>
GV and I took a seat at the bar, nearest to the door and ordered a couple of beers. (He ordered a Corona, I had a Coors Light.)
The locals here are laid back, down to earth, overall a pretty friendly crowd... Â You "Housewives of OC, The Hills, & mo'fo fu-fu types" be warned, you won't find a Mango-tini here! Â Eric the bartender was awesome. Braddah makes a mean Bloody Mary! Â Two guys that had walked in from a fishing boat 30 minutes after we got there recommended it... Â 'And I do love me a good BM! (Both of them!)
Well actually, what one of the guys said to me as he sipped his third Bloody Mary - "You'll hate it, don't try it... Â 'Not worth it..." Â So, naturally I had Eric pour me two of them!"
Eric was tending bar, nice guy, conversational, and knows how to make a good drink!
Eric - <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/8N5kmIgpcIgbylYSvbfw6A?select=TB9eVSdbHix4RgNLeBEWng">http://www.yelp.com/biz_…</a>
Rookie move = nausea later: At this point I had already had two beers... Â I then had two Bloody Marys, followed by two more beers shortly after... Â 'Back at Bubba Kahunas. (I know what you're thinking... Â 'But BKs was closed due to the floors being worked on... Silly, we weren't going to drink off the floors!)
You see, Janna and "the crew" from BKs were also hanging out @ Turks that day... Â 'Laughing, carrying on as they do, causing mischief at the other end of the bar and of course we joined them not soon after our first beer.
Janna is the all around go-to-gal at Bubba Kahunas, she knows everyone, is loved by everyone, just all around guh'roovie. (So, yeh, we ended following Janna and the crew back over to BKs after we left Turks where she opened up the bar. Â After all, what else do you need? Â Food?! Â Pshhh... Â Yeh, food would've been great!) Good times!
Have yet to try any of the food at Turks. Â 'After all it's a bar, I'm here the the fire water! Â As I talked more with the regulars, the following came highly recommended:
The California Sandwich; Fish & Chips; Clam Chowder; 'And the House Chili - 'And I quote, "You can't go wrong!"
Looks like I may have to come back out for the food... Â 'And more stiff drinks. (Yeh right, like I need an excuse to return to this place of chill'axness - where the people are cool, the vibe is chill, & the drinks, priced right.)
- Aloha!
Food (i.e. - Drinks!): 5+
Ambiance: 4
Service: 5
Value: 5
It's funny seeing everyone's impressions of Turks. I've been coming here for almost 15 years, and for a number of those years, late 90's, I would do triple shifts here. You know what that is: come in for bloodys and leave after the 3rd shift bartender comes on...just in time for dinner.
Turk was a wonderful man. I have NEVER been hugged like that, before or since. His hand span rivals Shaqs.....and he loved the ladies (with much respect for his beautiful wife).
Great bartenders. This is the key element to a great bar, dive or not. Always the bartenders. If they aren't cool and friendly, forget about it baby. So for me, Dennis, Mike, Woody, Frank, Eric and many others who have worked here, or passed on, are always the draw.
Needless to say, I could say alot about this place. But how about this: everything written in these reviews is pretty much spot on. Don't come here if you're a OC housewife - I will personally bump into your drink arm. Come to this place because you get the essence of "coolness". If James Dean were alive, he'd be at Turks.
How could anyone not love this place?
Well priced, well poured drinks. Cute, quirky, small location facing the Catalina Express and fishing boat docks.
While I'm always on the lookout for interesting food- sometimes simple, fresh perfectly prepared meals hit the spot. Don't look for a menu, just ask for the whiteboard and it'll be propped up by your table.
I had a chicken fajita burrito and fish taco with rice&beans. IMO, the rice and beans weren't worth eating. The rice is ok if you like cooked celery, which I don't. The beans were dry.
The burrito was excellent. Fresh peppers and onions, grilled white chicken, a little cheese in a lightly grilled tortilla. Yum.
The fish taco was grilled (bonus) cod and cabbage in corn tortillas, sauces on the side. I felt very virtuous eating it.
Hubby had the calamari steak with veggies. Calamari was perfect, but the egg batter was a little thick. The veggies were frikkin' awesome!! even the leftovers nuked a couple days later.
Carrot, broccoli, zucchini and squash in olive oil, garlic and black pepper. Simple, tender-crisp, fabulous.
We shared the spinach artichoke dip. Yummy, nothing to bend your ear (or eyes) over.
Good prices, good food, good drinks, friendly staff. Go.
Turks! Yeah - the big guy on the wall in 11,000 pictures - that's Turk, get it!?
Average breakfast fare, in a world class seaside ambiance. Right next to the dock, and filled with old rigging ropes, it's like eating below decks on the Santa Maria, but who cares - the real fun here is after hours when the bar flies start buzzing.
Drunk old broads, drunker old guys, stiff drinks. Last time I was there one of the gals try to take off my shirt! (yes -I'm THAT good looking)
A friendly, mostly locals bar with good drinks in a beautiful location within spitting distance of water, what else could you ask for? Turk's stands out with its copper bartop, overhead aquariums, and floor-to-ceiling photographs of the late owner and Hollywood strongman actor Harry "Turk" Varteresian (who also ran a restaurant in Sunset Beach that he sold and eventually became Turc's bar). He passed on a few years back and his daughter now runs the place much the same as her father.
The burgers are fantastic; as are the homemade soups (I like the clam chowder). A great place for a weekend breakfast/lunch or an evening drink and dinner. I recommend the pepper steak or the prime rib.
Enjoying a little commiseration as your eyes scan through a ton of old black and white photos of the owner (Turk or is it Turc) dressed as a sailor from his Hollywood days.
Eating chili and Texas Toast (big fat greasy garlic bread) ordered off of a chalk board that the waitress dragged to you from one end of the room to your table.
Sitting at a slightly sticky wooden table while feeling like you're sitting in the belly of a ship.
Listening to the awesomely random juke box selections (mariachi, country, then 80s, who can be sure - it's so loud in here).
Nursing the world's stiffest drink.
Walking out happy as a clam singing this song (which was learned in your middle school choir - seriously): <a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqGyPuey-1Jw%26feature%3Drelated&s=cc214d025938667d2f538425d165642d12ae1dcea258a89cba2aa05209bdf649" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/w…</a>
Better learn those lyrics 'fore you go.
OMG, you've got to LOVE Turks! Â They have the best breakfast menu anywhere in Orange County! Â Try their chili & cheese omeltte, their eggs benedict, or one of their "speciality" breakfast options (like a salmon, spinich and mushroom omelette.) Â Their lunch menu offers some DELICIOUS sandwiches such as a grillen Russian, a grilled Continental, or a Reuben! Â If you're looking for a "stiff" drink, this is the place! Â Their bloody mary's will certainly wake you up (or provide a little "hair of the dog", if that's what you're looking for!)
We love to look at all the cool 40s era Hollywood stuntman photos of the late beloved owner "Turk". Â Diane is the best server, and Eric and Gary are the best bartenders!!!
"What's a dive bar? What does that mean?"
"You know, you just go there for a drink. It's really casual. There might be some music or food, but mostly people are there to relax and drink."
"Oh. Ok, let's go!"
Well that's how I explained what a dive bar is. I think it's just a really comfortable place with out pretense or expectations. No need for designer duds, fancy velvet ropes or stupid cover charges.
I was glad I found the local dive when staying in Dana Point. It's right on the water in the marina and it's prime location doesn't take one bit away from it's divey-ness. You walk in, you're greeted and you get a good strong drink or greasy food if you're hungry. Enough said.
We sat down checked out the crowd and it was a good mix of local folks. I asked the waitress for a menu and she left. When she returned she was carrying this 3-foot tall sign that she leaned up against another patron. "There you go! I'll come back for your order" Ha!! That was a new one, never saw a place with one giant menu to go around the place.
Good greasy burgers, strong cheap drinks, nice people, excellent location
Opah! for Turks!
I have been coming to this authentic little dive on the DP harbor for quite some time now and have never not enjoyed myself thoroughly. The wait staff is attentive, albeit half-cocked and Dennis the Bartender has a wealth of knowledge that he often forgets (he taught me a drink and then a few months later told me he'd never heard of it), but that's alright... his dry humor, pimp moustache and coy disposition entirely supplement the event.
There is a ridiculous collection of awesome vintage photos covering every wall and ceiling, many featuring Harry "Turk" Varteresian, The Legend, himself... sick ceiling fish tanks, Newcastle on draft, a euphonically inclined jukebox, a bomb ass vintage cigarette dispenser and a real mellow, grungy, but fun clientele...
The crowd mixes, but later at night it tends to be a patronage of young to mid-20-somethings... and if you're in the area for a holiday... once all your family requirements are fulfilled, head on over to Turks and you're bound to find a packed bar of cheery collegiates and locals celebrating festively in grand, drunken 'til 2am fashion. Even on Christmas Eve.
Seafaring dive bar at it's best. Â I don't think I stopped here more than a few times, but strong cheap drinks and local fishermen and sailors made this place great.
This ain't Disneyland, and don't expect that Bubba Gump bullshit (r.i.p. The Boathouse on P.O.P pier). Â Kitsch may be high since the days of Yacht Rock, but worth a couple of cocktails anytime.
The 5 best restaurants in the 2015 Denver Restaurant Week
3,611 Views | Category: Denver
The complete list of 2015 Denver Restaurant Week businesses
1,972 Views | Category: Denver
The tourists' guide to Portillos: 5 must have dishes
3,318 Views | Category: Chicago
Pho = Pronounced "fuh" not "foe" for pho-king sake
2,915 Views | Category: Denver
Indulgery selected to exhibit at Collision Conference
2,987 Views | Category: Press Releases
Not Logged In
BUSINESSES
Local Businesses
Near Me
My Favorites
SOCIAL
Blog & News
MY ACCOUNT
Login
Register
Contact Us
Add Your Business
