This beloved Orange County restaurant is closing after serving 50 years of mai tais

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Set us as preferred The beloved Dana Point restaurant Wind & Sea will be closing Sept.15 after 54 years.

The waterfront restaurant was opened in 1972 by Robert Mardian, a Stanford graduate who abandoned his plans to pursue a career as a lawyer to instead enter the restaurant business.Wind & Sea soon became an Orange County staple, serving seafood and its self-proclaimed “best mai tai in the world” on Dana Point Harbor.

The restaurant’s building is set to be demolished shortly after its final day of operation as part of the $600-million revitalization project that will modernize the harbor and bring new restaurants, hotels and shops.Food A tumultuous year marred by wildfires, tariffs, immigration raids, increasing rent and labor costs saw some of the city’s most famous restaurants closing, from Michelin-starred fine dining to cozy mom-and-pop spots.The closure was announced in a post by Wind & Sea on Instagram last week.“While our hearts are heavy, we are filled with immense gratitude for the incredible journey we’ve been fortunate enough to share with you,” the post said.

“To our guests: Thank you for welcoming us into your lives and becoming part of our family.”The post has amassed more than 1,200 comments across Instagram and Facebook from longtime customers upset by the news.“Tragic.

I understand modernizing Dana Point Harbor, but I don’t support losing the businesses that made it worth visiting in the first place,” one commenter wrote.“Shame on Dana Point,” another said.

Wind & Sea said in a comment it would share its mai tai recipe on its social media accounts before closing.A government filing this week revealed 198 employees will be laid off when the restaurant closes on Sept.

15.Mardian closed his other Dana Point Harbor restaurant, Harpoon Henry’s, in August 2025 af...