Opening in 2001 at the Dana Point Harbor, chef-owner Byron Gemmell’s namesake restaurant, Gemmell’s, announced plans to close for good at year’s end.
“Saying goodbye is never easy,” said Gemmell in a written release. “We appreciate the heartfelt support of our beloved patrons who’ve kept us going.”
Barbara Tagudar-Gemmell, Byron’s partner, suggested that this will be the couple’s final culinary chapter, adding, “We look forward to seeing what retirement holds for us.”
ALSO READ: Parking structure opens as first landside project in $600 million Dana Point Harbor renovation
She went on to express gratitude for the staff, some of whom have worked at the eatery for years on end. “We could not have made it this far without the tremendous dedication of our humble and loyal employees, many of whom have spent more than a decade of their careers with us,” Tagudar-Gemmell said in the same release. “We cannot possibly convey our true gratitude for our team including Edgar, Julian, Jovanni and Kevin.”
Gemmell’s differentiated itself from the bulk of the famed harbor’s roster of Neptunian restaurants by honing in on classic French-Continental fare instead of a predominantly seafood menu. Highlights included stuffed crepes, pork tenderloin, pate canard, cassolette of escargots, roasted duck and more.
In addition to its menu, the restaurant also set itself apart with its cozy decor, especially during the holiday season, when diners were treated to roughly 250 nutcrackers on display, a collection amassed by Tagudar-Gemmell over the years.
Gemmell’s is officially set to close its doors on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31.
The Dana Point Harbor is currently undergoing a roughly $600 million overhaul that will refresh the harbor’s commercial core and 2,265-slip marina with two hotels and a lineup of restaurants to be announced at a later date. Harbor dining stalwarts like Harpoon Henry’s and El Torito shuttered in 2025 and 2024, respectively, while the 46-year-old Coffee Importers relocated a stone’s throw from the Ocean Institute earlier this year.