Last Week's Eats in Laguna Beach
For your week's eats ahead!
Last week was a busy one for me for EATING OUT! And, of course, I didn’t even leave the confines of Laguna Beach! Here’s a photofest of fun.
Which one of these will YOU be trying this week?
Leave a note in comments!
Monday - Finney’s Crafthouse
340 S. Coast Highway. Open 7 days a week for lunch (11:30 weekdays/11:00 weekends) and dinner. Walk-in only (no reservations)
Inspired by my recent chat with Finney’s Executive Chef Eric BosRau, I decided to try Finney’s on St. Patty’s Day. It was bustling! I enjoyed a fabulous GREEN margarita (he said their fresh juices made ’em the best and he’s right), and a Finney’s classic Cheeseburger.
(As he mentioned in my radio show, get a Cheeseburger + a Pile o’ Fries + nonalcoholic drink for just $16 any day of the week).
Did you miss my radio show with Chef Eric talking about Finney’s purposely low-priced high-taste menu of more than 70 food items and craft cocktails (and 30+ beers on tap)? It’s here:
Tuesday PM - Evan’s Gourmet
860 Glenneyre St. Open Wed - Sat evenings at 5 pm + Sunday brunch 11 am - 3 pm Text direct for reservations! (949) 388-1568
A couple of my radio shows ago, Chef Evan promised the debut of her new Spring Menu and she did not disappoint!
I dropped in for a quick try of Chef’s new Grilled Chicken with Sundried Tomato Cream Sauce. It was, as per usual from Chef Evan, heavenly.
Additional spring menu entrées include Garlic-Crusted Rack of Lamb (my restaurant neighbor couldn’t stop raving), Steak Frites (with a 12-ounce New York cut!) a new Shrimp Pasta with bacon in a saffron lobster cream sauce (uhmm . .. how is every word in that menu item a word I love?), Filet Mignon and a pan-seared Chilean Sea Bass.
Want to go lighter? Try the hearty grilled salmon as an “add on” to her new Chopped Romaine Salad. (Definitely what I’ll be having next after this week of eating!)
Did you miss my radio show with Chef Evan telling the backstory on her Spring Menu? It’s here:
Thursday - The Drake Laguna Beach
2894 S. Coast Highway. Open 7 evenings a week starting at 5 pm. Reservations: Call 949-376-1000 or go online at TheDrakeLaguna.com
It’s been nearly two months since I’ve seen my dear friend, Lisa H. She and her husband, Jack, travel A LOT. So, I suggested our gabfest happen in the Drake bar. I love Ted the mixologist there … love the full menu options there … and love that we still have great live music playing in the dining room adjacent while the bar’s a bit quieter for two gals who have a lot to catch up on.
Chef Nick Gstrein (the son of Chef Paul, who shares the cookin’ as a team) sat down to chat with us a few minutes, which always makes me feel like I’m a known returning guest - they’re both great at getting out from behind the kitchen.
Lisa and I just shared appetizers and wine, but count on The Drake to knock every plated food item out of the park, including the very awesome Ahi Tuna Tartare and Jumbo Garlic Shrimp with Garlic Chili Sauce.
On leaving, we found Chef Nick at the Valet stand - the dude does it all! 😎 Turns out he’d just brought dinner out for the valets. How spoiled are we to have the awesome chefs and people of The Drake in our town?
Did you miss my radio show interview with Chef Nick? He talked about leaving football behind to learn how to cook from his uncle in Austria. And, hear about the biggest gift he brought back with him from Austria (⁉️) before joining the crew and his Dad to finish constructing and opening The Drake.
Friday - Starfish Laguna Beach
30832 Coast Highway. Open for lunch and dinner daily beginning at 11 a.m. Reservations: Call 949-715-9200 or go online at StarfishCalifornia.com
After a long week, it was a welcome call Friday evening from my friends, Ruben and Nelson. They wanted to meet at Starfish. As usual, the interior of the restaurant was jammin’ – we were able to squeeze into the patio (recently beautified by Ruben himself with Laguna Nursery pots and plants).
I remember back in the day when Co-Owner Archie used to bemoan to me that their restaurant was “a lonely cowboy on a faraway outpost.” But Starfish sure hasn’t seen “lonely” in years now, and I’m so pleased he and Gretchen stayed the course.
Friday’s meal was fun and fast-moving. We all gobbled down Seared Edamame and a Sunset Roll without even thinking of photos because we were all so hungry. Fortunately, the production designer in Nelson revived to remind us that I have a food blog to post.
It’s not an easy choice with Starfish’s very varied menu, but we settled on three new dishes for each of us and raved about our choices. We finished with one of my “Top 5” favorite desserts in Laguna Beach - the Banana in Fillo Dough.
And my Sunday night … well THAT’s an article all its own because … well, first of all, it’s THIS week, not last week.
AND, it’s about the renowned and Laguna local favorite Chef Maro Molteni who’s finally readying to open his NEW concept in … 😩 … Laguna Niguel. (And it’s all-around fabulous, which hurts me all the more to report because we’ve lost our Chef Maro from Laguna Beach). The only thing I can figure on the good side – he didn’t decide to return to Argentina. He’s still with us. He’s just a few miles away.
More news on his opening set tentatively for Tuesday, April 1st in my next Best of Laguna Beach.
