A Restaurant Resource
The Fifth Taste Now Open
Umami Burger is now serving up signature burgers and a full bar in Laguna.
On June 13, Umami Burger officially opened its Laguna Beach location. Named “Burger of the Year” by GQ magazine, Umami is a relatively new burger concept by restaurant creator Adam Fleischman, a self-taught chef and successful food and wine entrepreneur. Umami is a Japanese word describing the pleasant and savory taste imparted by glutamate, a type of amino acid, and ribonucleotides that occur naturally in foods. There are now nearly a dozen Umami locations for this Los Angeles-based startup. Each location features a signature burger, singular décor and a varied list of offerings. Lucky for us, the Laguna location has a full bar, varied beer list, plus wine and specialty cocktails; pitchers of hand-squeezed cocktails will be debuting shortly. Stop by to try Laguna’s signature burger, the Lemon Miso Crab Melt (with jumbo lump crab, burrata cheese, baby heirloom tomatoes and lemon miso dressing) or one of the other specialty burgers like the Manly Burger (with beer cheddar cheese, smoked salt onion strings and bacon lardons) or veggie Earth Burger (with a mushroom and edamame patty, white soy aioli, truffle ricotta, cipollini onions, lettuce and slow-roasted tomato). Add sides like tempura onion rings, house hand-made pickles and smushed potatoes. (610 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-342-1210; umamiburger.com)
Mare Welcomes Summer
A new restaurant takes up residence in the space of Blue Laguna. From the culinary genius who brought you Alessá restaurant comes Alessandro Pirozzi’s new creation: Mare Culinary Lounge. “Mare is just really a simple Italian lounge restaurant, something that is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner,” Alessandro says of his stylish new location. Mare is part nightlife, part lounge, and everything on the menu is made in-house or homegrown. “We have a beautiful patio with a fountain and all nice, organic vegetables … so people can enjoy the outdoors. The inside is clean-cut, trendy,” he explains.
The menu includes appetizers to share for late nights, pizza and pasta, and main courses along with wine by the glass or bottle and a full bar. “One of the most popular [dishes] is the tiger shrimp with Manila clams; it comes in a lobster reduction with a lot of lemon juice, and [it’s] spicy from this Calabrian chili … it’s amazing,” Alessandro says of his dishes partly inspired by his uncle from Italy. Mare is picking up speed from its opening in early June, and Alessandro expects summer to bring more guests. “We are going to have a little bit of live music as we are moving forward with this business. As of now, we have lounge music, all night, every night. It’s a very relaxing place and everyone seems to enjoy,” Alessandro adds. (696 S. Coast Highway; 949-715-9581; mareculinarylounge.com)
New Summer Seafood
Splashes offers up a fresh menu of seasonal dishes. This summer, Surf & Sand Resort launched a new menu for Splashes, where guests can enjoy seaside cuisine, stunning views and the sea rolling in just 25 feet below.
“The new menu was inspired by the vision of summer,” Splashes’ chef Jeff Armstrong says. “Bold colors, vibrant flavors and a tad seafood-heavy as a nod to our coastal location.” New sensational seasonal dishes listed on the menu include sea bass crudo with grapefruit, pink peppercorns and chili oil; and grilled shrimp with passionfruit mustard, avocado and bacon. “I wanted the dishes to really highlight the flavors of the summer fruits and vegetables that are in season. Sweet corn soup, heirloom tomatoes, lots of citruses and herbs,” Jeff says.
For dessert, guests will enjoy strawberry shortcake made with buttermilk biscuits, cheesecake bites and tarragon; and pineapple carrot cake with cream cheese, coconut ice cream and clear caramel among many other inspiring dishes. For guests craving refreshing, after-dinner drinks, the s’mores martini is sure to delight with a blend of marshmallow vodka and chocolate-flavored liqueur, or try the Summer Breeze made with a fresh and fruity blend of watermelon and mint. (1555 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-4477; surfandsandresort.com/splashes)
Good Vibrations at The Deck
The Deck at the Pacific Edge Hotel entices with music-filled nights.
Locals flock to The Deck for its fresh, simple food, extensive drink menu and beachfront location, but a new spotlight on the musical talents of both local musicians and diners adds further incentive. If you’re looking for an escape from your typical workweek, take a break with the near-therapeutic combo of good food, good drinks and good music from local musicians Mondays through Thursdays, from 5 – 8 p.m.
The Deck also offers those with confidence and vocal ability the chance to win a free dinner at “Sing for Your Supper,” where a musician hosts a singing contest every hour from 5 – 8 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of every month. At the end of the week, grab a seat to enjoy summer’s orange and pink sunsets with the company of a colorful drink and equally vibrant live reggae music; every Sunday from 5 – 8 p.m. (627 Sleepy Hollow Ln.; 949-494-6700; deckonlaguna.com)
American
BJ’s Pizza and Grill
280 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-3802;
bjsrestaurants.com
The Deck on Laguna Beach
627 Sleepy Hollow Ln.; 949-494-670; deckonlaguna.com
Broadway
328 Glenneyre St.; 949-715-8234;
broadwaybyamarsantana.com
The Cliff Restaurant
577 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-1956;
thecliffrestaurant.com
The Cottage Restaurant
308 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-3023;
thecottagerestaurant.com
Hennessey’s Tavern
213 Ocean Ave.; 949-494-2743
lumberyard
384 Forest Ave.; 949-715-3900;
lblumberyard.com
Ruby’s Diner
30622 Coast Hwy.; 949-497-7829; rubys.com
Splashes Restaurant and Bar
1555 S. Coast Hwy. at Surf & Sand Resort;
949-497-4477; surfandsandresort.com
Stonehill tavern
One Monarch Beach Resort;
949-234-3405; stregismb.com
Tommy Bahama Bar & Grill
400 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-6886;
tommybahama.com
Tivoli Terrace
650 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-9650;
tivoliterrace.com
Tivoli Too!
650 Laguna Canyon Rd.;
949-494-6044;
tivoli-too.com
Belgian
Brussels Bistro
222 Forest Ave.; 949-376-7955;
brusselsbistro.com
California Contemporary
230 Forest Avenue
230 Forest Ave.; 949-494-2545;
230forestavenue.com
Café Anastasia
460 Ocean Ave.; 949-497-8903
Blue Laguna
696 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-2583;
bluelagunaoc.com
Cafe Zoolu
860 Glenneyre St.; 949-494-6825;
cafezoolu.com
K’ya Bistro Bar & The Rooftop Lounge
1287 S. Coast Hwy. at Hotel La Casa del Camino; 949-376-9718; kyabistro.com;
rooftoplagunabeach.com
The Loft
30801 S. Coast Hwy.
at Montage Laguna Beach;
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
303-101 Broadway; 949-497-0027;
nirvanagrille.com
Sundried Tomato
361 Forest Ave.; 949-494-3312;
thesundriedtomatocafe.com
Tabu Grill
2892 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-7743;
tabugrill.com
The Terrace
425 S. Coast Hwy. at the Hotel Laguna;
949-494-1151; hotellaguna.com
The White House Restaurant & Nightclub
340 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-8088;
whitehouserestaurant.com
Watermarc Restaurant
448 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-6272;
watermarcrestaurant.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
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
French 75
1464 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-8444;
french75.net
Studio at Montage Laguna Beach
30801 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-6420;
studiolagunabeach.com
Global Cuisine
raya
1 Ritz-Carlton Dr.; 949-240-2000; ritzcarlton.com
Sapphire Laguna Restaurant & Pantry
1200 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-9888;
sapphirelaguna.com
Italian & Pizza
Cucina Alessa
234 Forest Ave.; 949-497-8222
Gina’s Pizza
610 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-4421;
1100 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-4342;
ginaspizza.com
Pizza Lounge
397 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-2277;
pizzalounges.com
Polina’s Salerno Italian Restaurant
220 Beach St.; 949-497-2600
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
Z Pizza
30902 Coast Hwy.; 949-499-4949; zpizza.com
Mediterranean
GG’s Café-Bistro
540-108 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-9306;
ggscafebistro.com
Zeytoon Cafe
412 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-9230;
zeytooncafe.com
Mexican
Asada
480 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-5533;
asadalaguna.com
Avila’s El Ranchito
1305 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-7040;
avilaselranchito.com
Coyote Grill
31621 Coast Hwy.; 949-499-4033;
coyotegrill.tv
Laguna Feast
801 Glenneyre St.; 949-494-0642
La Sirena Grill
347 Mermaid St.; 949-497-8226;
30862 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-499-2301;
lasirenagrill.com
Las Brisas
361 Cliff Dr.; 949-497-5434;
lasbrisaslagunabeach.com
Olamendi’s
1100 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-4148;
olamendis.com
papa’s Taco
31622 Coast Hwy.; 949-499-9822;
papastacosinc.com
Taco Loco
640-1B S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-1635;
tacoloco.net
Seafood
The Beach House
619 Sleepy Hollow Lane; 949-494-9707;
thebeachhouse.com
Claes ovation
425 S. Coast Hwy. at Hotel Laguna;
949-376-9283; claesrestaurant.com
House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer
540-200 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-4500;
houseofbigfish.com
Seafood/Steaks
enosteak
One Ritz-Carlton Dr., Dana Point; 949-240-2000; ritzcarlton.com
maro wood grill
1915 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-793-4044;
marowoodgrill.com
Mozambique Steakhouse & Coastal Lounge
1740 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-7100;
mozambiqueoc.com
Rock’n Fish
422 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-3113;
rocknfishlb.com
starfish
30832 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-9200;
starfishlaguna.com
Specialty
Laguna Culinary Arts
845 Laguna Canyon Rd.; 949-494-4006;
lagunaculinaryarts.com
Sushi
242 Café Fusion Sushi
242 N. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-2444;
fusionart.us
katsuya
858 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-793-4030;
sbe.com/katsuya
O fine japanese cuisine
30872 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-5551;
ofinejapanesecuisine.com
San Shi Go
1100-303 S. Coast Hwy. (upper level);
949-494-1551
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
Zinc Cafe
350 Ocean Ave.; 949-494-6302;
zinccafe.com LBM
