Laguna Beach Restaurants

Right next to Eiler's Inn and right above the Cleo street steps down to the beach, this is where you can stop for caffeine buzz, rolls, and some amazing shakes.

Run by locals who are fun to talk to.

Favorite Dish: Killer rolls and smoothies in the morning, and the Date Shakes or any of the milkshakes for afternoon beach strolls north along the beach from the Cleo steps are magically delicious.

Pick up a date shake and then take a left outside and enjoy it as you walk down the Cleo stairs to the beach.

Cedar Creek Inn is a wonderful, cozy restaurant in central Laguna Beach. Even on summer days, this restaurant makes you want to curl up next to the fireplace with its rich, dark wood interior. This is an elegant restaurant, but not horribly expensive. It's a great place to take a date or to meet your parents for dinner.

There is often live entertainment during dinner (a jazz trio accompanied by a singer, sometimes) and that really creates an inviting space as well. This is one of my very favorite places to dine in Laguna!

Favorite Dish: The menu has lots of choices and is primarily American food. Try their fresh fish or any of their delicious chicken dishes. Cedar Creek Inn also has a great Sunday brunch.

Over the years, I have eaten here a couple of times. Not sure if a new owner/management has taken over, but there is something seriously wrong with the way they conduct their business. I have a group of 5-10 people that I dine with on a regular basis, and we frequent a lot of Laguna Beach spots. 6 weeks ago, I dined here with a group of about 8 friends. About an hour after leaving, I realized I had left my sweater on the chair in the restaurant. I called immediately, but was told that it was "too busy" for the guy that answered to look for it, and that if I wanted to talk to someone I could call the following day. I found it interesting, actually insulting, that they weren't too busy to charge me for my meal and take my money, but when it came to providing any type of customer service, I wasn't of value to them. Long story short, over the course of the next 5 weeks, I left 5 different messages with the girl that answers the phone during the day (not sure of her name, but same girl every time) requesting a call from the manager. In addition, I sent an email through the company website complaining about the lack of response, and even showed up there during the day--to find they were closed. NOT ONE of my phone calls was returned, and the email I can assume was promptly deleted upon receipt, as I never received a response to that either.

Tonight, I made the unfortunate mistake of returning with a group of friends, half of whom had never eaten there, for the half off Wednesday dinner. I was finally able to meet this elusive "manager" who told me he had never received my message and would look for my sweater. I had no hopes of it being there, and to be honest I am embarrassed for having given this place another chance--I guess I am a sucker for a half price menu. Sure enough, the service was a JOKE, the manager was a jerk, and after ordering two dishes and getting something completely different than I ordered, we left. Example, ordered sashimi salad, got seaweed salad, ordered eel & avocado handroll, got a spicy tuna handroll with a quail egg??? On my way out, I walked by the manager, let him know that after the way I was treated prior and the horrible service we as a group received, I would never be back. His response? "See ya."

I have a business degree from USC, currently getting my MBA, and have a deep understanding of the importance of customer service. Customer retention is critical, especially in an economy like this. Not one of the people in my party will be back. There is an often heard statistic that a typical dissatisfied customer will tell eight to 10 people about his or her experience. One in five will tell 20 or more (and thanks to the internet that number grows exponentially). I grew up in OC, spent 10 years in LA, and not ONCE in my entire life have I felt compelled to spend the time or energy sharing a consumer experience. While these losers don't deserve my time or energy, I can't NOT let people know about my experience, in the hopes that they won't have to go through the same. There are so many amazing restaurants in Laguna, with awesome service and great food. After reading other reviews I am obviously not alone, this place is just not deserving of your time or money.

Not everyone in Laguna Beach can afford Claes in the Hotel Laguna.

My first time we were broke, and this is one of the 2 or 3 places we could afford to eat.

It is still there in the same spot, mostly the same food
(though "bell burgers" are now a thing of the past).

Favorite Dish: the $ ~90-cent (today) beef softshell with hot sauce.

Here is my favorite place to eat a dinner that is near-perfectly timed
for sundown.

The Beach House has a comfortable but small deck that sits out right over the beach so you can take in the gorgeous Laguna Beach sunsets.

Food is good (recommend any seafood dish)
Beach House menu

but the main reason to eat here is to catch sunset while
sitting
outside (hint) on the raised open deck over the beach.

Problem is, there are only about half a dozen tables (the deck is narrow) that are actually outside in the open air above the beach, and everybody wants one.

My lame / unsubtle method:
not really a trick at all. You know the drill.
Check out a
Weather Website,

- time your reservation for about 1 hour before sunset begins, arrive early, sneak the hostess a $20 and wait / drink in the bar until one of the 6-7 tables on the deck opens up.

If you walk in and expect to automatically get an outside table on your good looks, you may be disappointed.

Favorite Dish: Just last week had FRESH COCONUT MAHI MAHI with mango-orange coulis, ginger mashed potatoes and fried plantains.
It is still very tasty and is usually what I get or else the halibut.

Lots of people like the "sand dabs" so ask about them as well (didn't see them on the menu).

Again, the food is good, and with the sunset from the deck it is even better.

Here is the picture of the sunset from the Beach House deck

I took this before dinner at my table with a cr@ppy low-rez digital camer on the Beach House restaurant deck as the sun burned its way through Catalina Island before setting in the Pacific at 16:50 the evening of Wed. 12_08_04.

Almost seven years ago, and again someday soon with a better camera, if I have anything to say about it.

Favorite Dish: Coconut mahi mahi with an appetizer of iced raw oysters, mussels and shrimp.

Bring your camera and make a reservation for sunset:
Beach House Sunset Times

Huge handmade sandwiches at reasonable prices for the area. Espresso is acceptable, not great. typical coffee house/small deli fare.

Favorite Dish: Try the Canyon sandwich. Quite large, full of veggies. Approx $7 for large, Spring/2008

A carefully decorated, charming cafe that fell out of a Midsummer Night's Dream and into Laguna Beach. The food is delicious and prepared with the utmost care. Awesome coffee bar that brews Dietrich's Coffee. Everything on the menu is amazing. Try it all - and chat up an elf while you are at it! Totally a place where fairies and gnomes would come for a chat, a song, or a dance.

Favorite Dish: The Smoked Salmon Bagel is pretty amazing.