A restaurant resource for dining out in Laguna Beach
Big Fish, Bigger Menu
The House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer already boasts a large menu with selections varying from south-of-the-border plates to Vietnamese pho, and it’s about to undergo a shift toward more “sustainable seafood cuisine,” with hopes of satisfying even more palates, explains owner Chris Keller.
“We are always looking for ways to improve and make changes that we think are heading in the right direction,” he adds. “Just like we did in 2008 at K’ya Bistro (of which he is also owner) by introducing an ‘all small plates menu’ at affordable prices to Laguna Beach.”
The additions in question will feature farm- and sea-to-table food offerings, as well as some new brews. But Chris assures guests that many of the staple Big Fish favorites will remain on the menu.
The total of 11 new items available this summer include a Mexican take on lettuce wraps with blackened fish, bacon-wrapped scallops, Peruvian crab ceviche, shrimp and sausage gumbo, a four-kale salad with quinoa, grilled octopus and chowder fries. —K.P.
American
The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove
15 Crystal Cove; 949-376-6900; thebeachcombercafe.com
BJ’s Pizza and Grill
280 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-3802; bjsrestaurants.com
The Cliff Restaurant
577 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-1956; thecliffrestaurant.com
The Deck on Laguna Beach
627 Sleepy Hollow Ln.; 949-494-670; deckonlaguna.com
The Greeters Corner Restaurant
329 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-0361; thegreeterscorner.com
Husky Boy Burgers
802 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-9605; huskyboyburgers.com
Johnny Rockets
188 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-7252; johnnyrockets.com
Lumberyard
384 Forest Ave.; 949-715-3900; lblumberyard.com
Nick’s Laguna Beach
440 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-8585; thenickco.com
Ocean Avenue
237 Ocean Ave.; 949-497-3381
Orange Inn
703 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-6085; orangeinncafe.com
Penguin Cafe
981 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-1353; thepenguincafe.com
ReMark’s
853 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-715-8700; remarkslagunabeach.com
Ruby’s Diner
30622 Coast Hwy.; 949-497-7829; rubys.com
Shirley’s Bagels
303 S. Broadway; 949-494-6296; shirleysbagels.com
Splashes Restaurant and Bar at Surf & Sand Resort
1555 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-4477; surfandsandresort.com
Stonehill Tavern at The St. Regis Monarch Beach
One Monarch Beach Resort; 949-234-3405; stregismb.com
Thalia Beach Cafe
907 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-4880; thaliabeachcafe.com
Tivoli Terrace
650 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-9650; tivoliterrace.com
Tivoli Too!
777 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-6044; tivoli-too.com
Tommy Bahama Bar & Grill
400 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-6886; tommybahama.com
Umami Burger
610 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-342-1210; umami.com
Cooking up Success
Azmin Ghahreman, owner of Sapphire Laguna restaurant, has pledged to raise $100,000 over the next year for Project Hope Alliance. The money will be used to help support programs that help homeless children attend and succeed in school. Chef Azmin will raise the money, in part, by organizing a collaborative luncheon series with Jennifer Friend, executive director for Project Hope Alliance. The lunches will aim to increase awareness of Project Hope Alliance’s mission and of the fundraiser. “Every child deserves a healthy start and the mission of Project Hope Alliance is perfectly in line with my commitment to bettering childhood nutrition, one school at a time,” Azmin says.
The chef has been involved in helping children in various ways through the years, including launching a program called Sapphire at School in 2007. The program brings healthy lunches to seven schools in Orange County and serves more than 4,200 students daily.
Jennifer adds, “Words cannot express our gratitude for this new partnership with Sapphire Culinary Group and the generous contribution Chef Azmin has pledged for the families.” (949-715-9888; sapphirelaguna.com) —J.A.
Belgian
Brussels Bistro
222 Forest Ave.; 949-376-7955; brusselsbistro.com
California Contemporary
Anastasia Cafe
460 Ocean Ave.; 949-497-8903; anastasiaboutique.com
Broadway by Amar Santana
328 Glenneyre St.; 949-715-8234; broadwaybyamarsantana.com
Cafe Zoolu
860 Glenneyre St.; 949-494-6825; cafezoolu.com
K’ya Bistro Bar & The Rooftop Lounge at Hotel La Casa del Camino
1287 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-9718; kyabistro.com; rooftoplagunabeach.com
The Loft at Montage Laguna Beach
30801 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-6420; montagelagunabeach.com
Madison Square & Garden Cafe
320 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-0137; madisonsquare.com
Mosaic Bar and Grille at Montage Laguna Beach
30801 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-6420; montagelagunabeach.com
Nirvana Grille
303 Broadway, Ste. 101; 949-497-0027; nirvanagrille.com
Sundried Tomato Cafe
361 Forest Ave.; 949-494-3312; thesundriedtomatocafe.com
Tabu Grill
2892 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-7743; tabugrill.com
Three Seventy Common Kitchen + Drink
370 Glenneyre St.; 949-494-8686; 370common.com
230 Forest Avenue
230 Forest Ave.; 949-494-2545; 230forestavenue.com
Watermarc Restaurant
448 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-6272; watermarcrestaurant.com
The White House
340 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-8088; whitehouserestaurant.com
Wine Gallery
1833 S. Coast Hwy., Ste. 110; 949-715-8744; winegallerylaguna.com
Caribbean
Eva’s Caribbean Kitchen
31732 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-499-6311; evascaribbeankitchen.com
Chinese
Mandarin King
1223 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-8992
Peony Chinese Cuisine
215 Broadway St.; 949-497-5777; peonycuisine.com
Continental
Dizz’s As Is
2794 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-5250; dizzsasis.com
French
C’est La Vie
373 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-5100; cestlavierestaurant.com
Studio at Montage Laguna Beach
30801 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-6420; studiolagunabeach.com
German
Heidelberg Cafe and Bistro
1100 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-4594; heidelbercafe.com
Global Cuisine
Raya at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
1 Ritz-Carlton Dr.; 949-240-2000; ritzcarlton.com
Sapphire Laguna
1200 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-9888; sapphirelaguna.com
Indian
Natraj Cuisine of India
998 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-9197; natrajlagunabeach.com
Irish
Hennessey’s Tavern
213 Ocean Ave.; 949-494-2743; hennessystavern.com
Italian & Pizza
Alessá Laguna Beach
234 Forest Ave.; 949-497-8222; pirozziculinary.com
Gina’s Pizza
610 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-4421; 1100 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-4342; ginaspizza.com
Mare Culinary Lounge
696 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-9581; mareculinarylounge.com
NEApolitan
31542 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-499-4531; nealaguna.com
Pizza Lounge
397 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-2277; pizzalounges.com
Polina’s Salerno Italian Restaurant
220 Beach St.; 949-497-2600; polinassalerno.com
Ristorante Rumari
1826 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-0400; rumari.net
Romeo Cucina
249 Broadway; 949-497-6627; romeocucina.com
Ti Amo Ristorante
31727 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-499-5350; tiamolagunabeach.com
ZPizza (reopening mid-summer)
30902 S. Coast Hwy.; zpizza.com
The Giving Tree
Rooted in Laguna’s village, Green Tree Boutique is branching out with a new pantry selection of organic, earth-friendly edibles. Sold separately or in pretty gift packages, goodies include artisan Bellocq teas; pure raw honey in flavors like lavender, lucuma papaya and ginger; a variety of salts and spices from Salt Farm; Morris Kitchen’s sweet syrups; chutneys; coffee; and more. Dedicated to brands that uphold the highest ethical and environmental standards, the store also carries kitchen and picnic essentials such as bamboo platters and cheese planes—all perfect for pairing with a gift basket of edible treats. (949-715-8715; greentreeboutique.com) —A.B.
Mediterranean
Adonis Mediterranean Grill
202 Park Ave.
GG’s Café-Bistro
540-108 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-9306; ggscafebistro.com
Zéytoon Cafe
412 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-9230; zeytooncafe.com
Mexican
Adolfo’s
998 S. Coast Hwy., Ste. A; 949-497-2023
Asada
480 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-5533; asadalaguna.com
Avila’s El Ranchito
1305 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-7040; avilaselranchito.com
Carmelita’s
217 Broadway; 949-715-7829; carmelitaskitchen.com
Coyote Grill
31621 Coast Hwy.; 949-499-4033; coyotegrill.tv
Laguna Feast
801 Glenneyre St.; 949-494-0642; lagunafeast.com
La Sirena Grill
347 Mermaid St.; 949-497-8226; 30862 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-499-2301; lasirenagrill.com
Olamendi’s
1100 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-4148; olamendislagunabeach.com
Papa’s Tacos
31622 Coast Hwy.; 949-499-9822; papastacosinc.com
Taco Laguna
211 Broadway; 949-494-4477
Taco Loco
640 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-1635; tacoloco.net
Seafood/Steaks
enoSTEAK at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
One Ritz-Carlton Dr., Dana Point; 949-240-2000; ritzcarlton.com
House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer
540-200 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-4500; houseofbigfish.com
Las Brisas
361 Cliff Dr.; 949-497-5434; lasbrisaslagunabeach.com
Maro Wood Grill
1915 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-793-4044; marowoodgrill.com
Mozambique
1740 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-7100; mozambiqueoc.com
OceanView Bar & Grill at the Hotel Laguna
425 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-1151; hotellaguna.com
Rock’n Fish
422 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-3113; rocknfishlb.com
Selanne’s (opening summer 2013)
1464 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-9881; selannes.com
Starfish
30832 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-9200; starfishlaguna.com
Food for Good
Food meets philanthropy at Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation, which returns to Montage Laguna Beach June 2. Host chefs Craig Strong and Lee Smith along with acclaimed guest chefs from around the country will share farm-to-table food, wine and specialty cocktails with guests as they enjoy live music and panoramic ocean views from Studio restaurant. All proceeds from the event benefit the Community Action Partnership of Orange County and Second Harvest Orange County Food Bank Capistrano, two organizations fighting to end childhood hunger in OC. Presale tickets are $150 for the chef tasting and $250 for VIP, which includes a private post-Taste event where guests can mingle with the chefs. (877-268-2783; tasteofthenation.org) —L.D.
Specialty
Laguna Culinary Arts
845 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-0745; lagunaculinaryarts.com
Mirepoix
845 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-4006; lagunaculinaryarts.com
Sushi
Hapi Sushi
250 Beach St.; 949-494-9109
O Fine Japanese Cuisine
30872 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-5551; ofinejapanesecuisine.com
San Shi Go
1100 S. Coast Hwy., Ste. 303 (upper level); 949-494-1551
Sushi Laguna
231 Ocean Ave.; 949-376-8786
242 Cafe Fusion Sushi
242 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-2444; fusionart.us
Thai
Laguna Thai By The Sea
31715 Coast Hwy.; 949-415-0924; lagunathai.com
Royal Thai Cuisine
1750 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-8424; royalthaicuisine.com
Thai Bros.
238 Laguna Ave.; 949-376-9979; thaibroslaguna.com
Vegetarian
Active Culture
1006 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-5188
Banzai Bowls
1100 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-8989
The Stand
238 Thalia St.; 949-494-8101
Zinc Cafe
350 Ocean Ave.; 949-494-6302;
zinccafe.com LBM
