The best I can tell, I visited at least 17 Laguna Beach restaurants in the month of November.
… And people wonder why I haven’t been to some restaurant opening in Irvine or San Clemente.
Don’t get me wrong. I DO love getting out to other town restaurants but they’ve got to have serious magnetic pull because … well … shrug …I love my Laguna Beach fabulous chefs and indy restaurateurs. Here are multiple galleries of food I strongly suggest you check into … and NO, I had friends WITH me to eat a lot of this (but they always have to submit to sharing tastes with me, them’s the rules).
Thanks for reading Best of Laguna Beach! Of course you can share all this amazingness with friends!
November Week #1 - Brussels Bistro, Starfish, Wine Gallery, El Ranchito, Evan’s Gourmet
WEEK #1, TOP ROW from left: Brussels Bistro's Pork Tomahawk Chop, and Brussels French Onion Soup. Starfish Moo Goo Gai pan with Chicken …MIDDLE ROW: Celebrating my BFF, Lisa's birthday with Starfish's Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding. Wine Gallery's fab pizza and Chef Josh's phenomenal "pasta of the day dish. BOTTOM ROW: El Ranchito's Veggie Fajitas, Evan's Gourmet Delectable Salmon and Evan's Famed Burger + Fries
November Week #2 - NEA Pizza, Moulin, Coyote Grill, 230 Forest, The Drake
WEEK #2 TOP ROW from left, Nea Pizza's go-to favorite Chicken Parmesan, Moulin's Egg-and-Ham Croissant, Coyote Grill's Happy Hour Nachos ($5.50 with $7 house marg), 230 Forest's unfathomable Char-Grilled Ahi and Candied Salmon Salad with Mango Slaw, The Drake craft cocktails and a 1/2 order of American Wagyu Beef Stroganoff
November Week #3 - Delayed Birthday Dinner at The Drake
My guest and I were seated right at the Chef's Table, which proved awesome for my photos of everything! TOP ROW: What we actually ordered: Ahi Tuna Tartar Stack, Umami Mushroom Crusted Alaskan Halibut, Venison Loin with Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes and Lingonberry Preserve. MIDDLE ROW: The chefs celebrating my birthday - Chef Nick brought out The Three Chocolate Parfait topped in strawberries + the Salted Caramel Budino. THIRD ROW: Random lurking photos of other people's dinners: Chile Crusted Steelhead Salmon, a "regular off-menu special, the Iberco Pork Presa, and my go-to favorite appetizer, Lamb Lollipops,
November (Continued) Week #3 - Lost Bean, The Lumberyard, Harvest at The Ranch, GG’s Bistro
WEEK #3 TOP ROW from left, My first visit to Lost Bean in North Laguna with awesome scone, pumpkin loaf, donut and gluten free chocolate scone. They have all sorts of egg dishes and sandwiches, too. Lumberyard for a lunch with my BFF, Lisa (the other Lisa) for their Cobb Salad and my all-time favorite Crabcake Salad. SECOND ROW: The Ranch's Harvest Restaurant for Wild Mushroom Quiche (Chef Leo Bongarra's favorite) and Avocado Toast (yum). ROW #3 - GG's Bistro after a Ruben Flores "Garden Walk" - the Best Sangrias in the World, GG's Bistro Burger and Steak Salad with all sorts of greatness
November Week #4 - OTO Sushi, Carmelita’s, Miki Sushi & Chef Evan Lewis (Evan’s Gourmet)
WEEK #4 - TOP ROW from left, Checked back into newly opened OTO Sushi for a spicy tuna Laguna Heat Roll - fabulous. After a fun Sawdust day, my friends and I converged on Carmelita's for Grilled Chicken Burrito Bowl, Green Chicken Enchiladas and the … SECOND ROW: Grilled Jidori Chicken Burrito. Then, a Miki Sushi return for super fresh Peppered Salmon and the "Prairie" stack of wonderfulness. And, finally, Chef Evan Lewis at Evan's Gourmet, who came to my rescue with a cornucopia of Thanksgiving Day eats.
NOW do you understand why I love my Laguna Beach restaurants so much? Earmark your favorites and tell them I sent you!
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