Chimayo at the Beach

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 ½. 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.

The food is good. +
Right off the beach. +
They change their name every 4 months. -

Went down to Huntington Beach to visit a friend and it was a nice day so we wanted to catch a late lunch with a view and enjoy the weather. At about 3pm on a Saturday, the wait wasn’t too long for a table on the patio. Also note that if you just want drinks, the patio has barstools & small tables all the way in the back of the patio which are first come, first serve.
We were pretty hungry so we just ordered a bunch of stuff. We weren’t told by the waiter, but fortunately we read the menu thoroughly and found there is a happy hour with discount plates from 2−4pm on Saturday. (no drink specials)
We got the chicken flautas, calamari, bbq ribs, and cheeseburger.
The flautas had a nice amount of chicken, pretty tasty, but they drenched the plate in some kind of sauce so they got soggy fast. Boo.
Calamari was thick strips of calamari steak, not rings & tenticles, also they poured this really yummy jalapeño buttermilk all over the plate, so again, not crispy enough.
BBQ ribs were served dry with sauce on the side. A bit too salty, but they were juicy and well cooked.
The cheeseburger was actually the best item we got, a soft, sweet (like Hawaiian bread), fresh fixin’s, decent patty, plus crispy fries.
Overall this place is fine. I’d definitely take advantage of the happy hour prices, otherwise the food is a rip-​off

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 purée. 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.

I would actually give this restaurant a 2-​star rating, except that their location earned them the 3^rd star.
Their happy hour is OK (not as good as it used to be), their food is unimpressive but not disgusting, and the service is decent. We don’t usually eat in the restaurant itself, because when we’re that close to the beach, we want to be outside where we can see the ocean. Pretty much, we go here when Duke’s Barefoot Bar is packed, we don’t want to take up a seat on Duke’s restaurant patio, and/​or we just really want a drink while we look out on the ocean.

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 entrée (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 crème brûlée) 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.

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.

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

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 :)

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.

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!

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.

A setting sun’s last hug of the day is right here… at Savannah’s!
Driving down PCH as the sun sets. The cool coastal breeze blowing into the car as a bit of sunshine slips through the sunroof. This is so relaxing I thought as I sat snuggly tucked into the passenger seat. Peering out onto the ocean as the last of the day glistened onto the ripply waves which crashed onto the beach side I thought to myself, this is just the beginning of my night. As we pulled into the restaurant lot we arrived our destination… Savannah at the Beach. With a few things to celebrate, my husband went ahead and made reservations and we were on our way. Our party was sat out in the patio area. The weather had been summery hot as of late and sitting out in the patio was just what we needed. Beach side, right near the warm sand. As the sun set, we grabbed a few drinks and ordered away. Mmm, after a few sips of my Mango Martini ($ 5) I was warm and ready to chow down. While the drink was mellowing inside of me, it helped pass the time while talking with our friends. But, I had only one thing on my mind. And that was… the ($ 10) crab legs my stomach was about to consume. With Savannah’s 10 year anniversary and all their specials who can resist? My husband ordered the ($ 10) filet mignon, medium rare. Who knew we could get surf and turf for $ 20? Really, who CAN resist? My plate and all shells were de-​crabbed by my ever so skillful crab meat extraction techniques. I have no shame when it comes to crab. Recent crab thoughts consist of me + juicy steamed crab meat dipped into warm butter, drizzled with lemon to add just the right amount of tang. (Hungry yet?) And as it gently flakes away into destruction as it enters your mouth you are left with nothing more than the ultimate satisfaction of success. SUCCESS!
Can you tell? I am passionate about my crab.
With beachfront views, cool ocean breeze, a wide array of menu options (10 yr. anniversary prices!), smooth reggae music in the background, friends and food… you can’t go wrong! The milieu of Savannah’s is unique. A great summer supper spot! A definite try!

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.

$ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10 $ 10
********$ 10 Filet Mignon $ 10 ½lb 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!

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 entrée 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.
Crème brûlée 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!

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.

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 ½ pound of King Crab Legs for just TEN DOLLARS!
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 crème brûlée… in my world, crème brûlée 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?!

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.

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, crème brûlée, & 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.