Took my mother-in-law here for her birthday and we all had such a great experience!…read more We got there around 4-4:15pm and had about a 20 minute wait, but we were able to find a high top table that we got to sit at and were able to order drinks from the bar, so that helped to pass our time. We got seated at our table at our table around 4:30p and had the most perfect view of the ocean! *we went on a Friday night and noticed the patio cleared out about 4:45-5pm and I didn't appear to have a lot of people waiting during that time. The main patio was covered with umbrellas, so once you are seated for dinner, there was plenty of umbrellas for shade and heaters for when it got a little cooler. For our food orders, and as recommended by our server, we went with their seafood options and ordered their Pacific Ceviche for an appetizer and for Entrees my husband got the Roasted Halibut and me and my mother-in-law both got the Scallop and Shrimp pasta. We all loved our dishes and were very satisfied with our choices. Their menu does have non-seafood options, but why not to try what they're most prominent for? They don't have a dessert menu, but they heard that we were celebrating mom's birthday so they brought us a little Toffee Cake to share and enjoy...and for a place that doesn't have dessert, the cake was pretty delicious. Such a cute place all around. My husband and I can't wait to go back! Parking - they have valet parking available right in front of the restaurant or theres street metered parking in the surrounding area.

a bit difficult to find and is really small. i didn't eat here because of how busy it was. it was…read moreso busy there was someone in the way at the end of the stairs. wasn't a big fan of the environment. probably not a place for younger people or something because older people that were there were staring, of course i know it's not the restaurants fault just saying. got there around 5pm put name on wait for 2 people and was told about an hour. i was told to not order from the bar while i waited, never heard of that before as i also work at a restaurant. not sure what the policy is here for that. i was ok with waiting, but i went back to ask for a table by the rail since i was waiting a bit already anyway. the lady in front of me put her name down and was told her wait time would be 30-40 mins, so i was confused why hers was shorter than mine maybe the wait time changed and i'd wait less? anyway i told the host my request to sit by the rail and she said it would be a little longer, but that's ok that's what i expected. i actually never received a text that my table was ready and i thought maybe it was the wrong number put down, but who knows. kind of disappointed because i saw this place online a year ago and was excited to finally try it. i didnt get to and just went to eat somewhere else

I can't believe it took me this long to experience Nick's, especially as someone who's deeply…read morefamiliar with the Laguna dining scene. To put it simply: this is the kind of place Laguna has been missing. From the moment we walked in, the energy felt dialed-in in a way that immediately reminded me of a Hillstone experience -- polished but not pretentious, lively but still intimate. That balance is incredibly hard to execute, and Nix nails it. For context, I'm part owner of 230 Forest Avenue, so I don't say this lightly: Nix easily lands in my top five in Laguna Beach. We started with Aperol spritzes (perfectly balanced, not overly sweet), along with a couple of appetizers -- including a fried asparagus dish that was addictive in the best way. Crisp, flavorful, and gone way too quickly. For mains, I ordered the veggie burger, which was genuinely one of the best I've had -- hearty, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully constructed (not an afterthought, which vegetarian options so often are). My boyfriend had the noodle salad, which was fresh, vibrant, and layered with flavor. But beyond the food, what really stood out was the overall experience. The atmosphere feels intentional , great music, beautiful crowd, and a buzz that makes you want to linger. It's the kind of place where dinner effortlessly turns into drinks, and drinks turn into "should we just stay a little longer?" Laguna Beach doesn't have a ton of restaurants that hit this level across the board -- food, service, ambiance, and energy, but Nix absolutely does. We'll be back, and soon.

Can you say delicious x10?! The food here is dangerously good…read more We kicked things off with drinks, an old fashioned and a skinny margarita, both doing exactly what they needed to do! Then came the artichoke appetizer and the soup of the day... and honestly, I could've stopped there and been happy. But we powered through like professionals and went for a late lunch entrée, the Chilean sea bass- and WOW. Worth every bite. And shoutout to our server and the entire staff, total pros. Super polished, attentive, and clearly know what they're doing without being over the top. If you're looking for amazing food with a cool, laid-back vibe, Nick's is your spot. Just come hungry... and maybe wear stretchy pants.

M-F happy hour IS so bomb!…read more We got pretty much got everything on the happy hour menu. Edamame, fish tacos, burgers, poke nachos, ceviche, and wings. Reasonable price for all of this for just under $45 dollars. We sat outside, so inside we did not get to look all that well. But seemed cozy inside to eat too. The decor was pretty nice too. We had this spot saved on my list from 2 years ago and very happy we came when we did.

We've been fans of the Seasurf location in San Clemente for quite a while, so when we found…read moreourselves near the Laguna Niguel location during happy hour, we figured it'd be an easy choice. Unfortunately, this visit didn't quite live up to our previous Seasurf experiences. We ordered the shrimp ceviche mixto, calamari, and poke nachos from the happy hour menu. The poke nachos were the standout and tasted just as good as we remembered from other visits. Flavorful with a generous portion of poke, and easily the best thing we ordered. The other two dishes, however, missed the mark. The calamari seemed over-fried and the calamari itself was much chewier than it should have been. The shrimp in the ceviche mixto also tasted overcooked and chewy, which took away from the bright, refreshing qualities that make ceviche enjoyable in the first place. One thing I will say is that the happy hour still appears to offer some solid value. We noticed a lot of people ordering the fish tacos, and at around $3 each, they looked like one of the better deals on the menu. We didn't try them ourselves, but the portions looked generous and they were definitely catching our attention as they came out of the kitchen. Will try that next time! Given how consistently good our experiences have been at the San Clemente location, I'm willing to give this visit the benefit of the doubt and chalk it up to an off day rather than a larger issue. The poke nachos were still excellent, and Seasurf has built up enough goodwill with us over the years that we'll likely be back to give this location another shot. Hopefully next time the execution is a little closer to what we've come to expect from the brand.

I've been wanting to try this place so we decided to give this one pace a try during OCRW! We made…read morereservations and got a seat on their generous size patio! The water guys were great! We never had an empty glass of water during our meal! That's impressive, haha. We both got the OCRW meal. We got 1 of each appetizer- gem salad & tomato bisque. It took a little bit for the food to come out when it wasn't that crowded but we enjoyed the view. Both were good. Then we waited a bit for our food but we got the lamb shanks which was huge!! The server said it was about 12oz! My friend said it was good! I got the seabass with veggies which I really enjoyed! Light fish and loved the veggies! We both got the crème brûlée which was a good way to end the deal! Everything was delicious! You also get an amazing view of the sunset which we didn't even plan. Definitely worth a try!! SYOY!

Sapphire is such an amazing restaurant. Its located just a block from the beach so the dining…read moreexperience comes with a beautiful view. The patio area is very spacious so there is plenty of room for people to enjoy the ocean breeze. I dined here on a Friday evening and it was pretty busy. Despite how lively it was, our server was extremely attentive to all of our needs. The manager, Sal, was extremely friendly and I noticed him engaging with tables throughout the night. The food was all so delicious. For appetizers we ordered the White Mexican Shrimp & Chilean Sea Bass Ceviche, the Rosemary Focaccia Bread, and a cup of their Seafood Chowder. The Ceviche was fresh and packed with flavor. The Focaccia was so fluffy and was served with a delicious whipped honey butter. For my entree I ordered the Short Rib Pappardelle. The chunk of short rib was massive and the creme fraise really tied all the elements of the dish together. My friends ordered the Wild Caught Chilean Sea Bass and American Wagyu Beef Burger. Both were yummy. Overall the food, service, and ambiance were top notch. Will definitely be back.

I feel like this restaurant is finally back to its old self …read more.. It was so good 6 years ago when it first opened but then went through some staff and management changes that left the service spotty at best. Known previously for excellent service, it became hit or miss. But we stuck with it because the food was always amazing and the margaritas consistently spot-on. This trip was back to the original level of service we came to expect, and then missed when several of our favorite servers and bartenders left. While we experienced mostly new service faces this time, the service itself was excellent.

The wait was terrible a little over an hour. Then they were going to put us on a table right in the…read moreentrance in a very awkward area thankfully after asking they were able to switch to be better table. The server we had was very nice she was helping and with an inviting personality. For food I got the seafood enchiladas and they were delicious the sauce was very good I personally don't care for sour cream but if you do like it, it does come with some at the top. The queso fundido was just okay. The ambience is lively and with good music semi loud.

We hosted our company holiday dinner at Oliver Osteria, and it absolutely delivered. The table went…read morefamily-style on antipasti--Carpaccio di Manzo, Polpette, Polpo alla Griglia, and Fritto Misto. All perfect for sharing and starting the night strong. For entrées, the crowd favorites were the Lasagna Classica, Filetto, and the Pork Tomahawk. I went with the pork tomahawk and wow which was rich, hearty, and full of flavor. The pork was perfectly cooked and paired with caramelized onions, a tangy mustard sauce, and creamy mashed potatoes that tied everything together. We wrapped up the night with desserts--Tiramisù, Profiteroles, Gelati e Sorbetti plus cappuccinos, which was the perfect way to end a long dinner. Shoutout to the servers they were incredibly patient, attentive, and helpful, especially considering we were a larger group. Everything ran smoothly, and we never felt rushed. Between the food, atmosphere, and service, it was an ideal spot for a holiday group dinner. Cozy, elevated, and absolutely worth a return visit.

Came here for Valentine's day and left pretty underwhelmed, sadly. We were seated outside in a tent…read morein the parking lot which was a little disappointing. Ambiance plays a big role (in my opinion) to a restaurant and not getting to be seated inside or at least on a patio docked some points off for me. For a special occasion dinner, I don't want to be sitting in a parking lot tent. For the price point, I didn't really feel the restaurant quality (plating, service, ambiance) really reaches those expectations. I can tell their food is great, I think I wish I chose something different when ordering. I couldn't tell you exactly what we ordered since I think they launched a new menu just this week but I'll describe it the best I can. Espresso Martini -5/5 Great espresso martini! No notes. Burrata with pesto - 4/5 Light and refreshing appetizer. This wasn't my first choice for appetizer but my partner loves burrata so we got it. It would be really hard to mess this up so I have no notes. $20+ for one tomato was pretty shocking, though. Tagliolini with shrimp and mushrooms - 2/5 To be fair, I've never had tagliolini before so I don't have a reference point of how it should be and maybe it's just not my style. The pasta was thin and flat and very very soft. There was absolutely no bite to it whatsoever and felt like it might be over cooked (again, I'm not expert so maybe this is how it should be). Because of the texture and size it kind of was just one big soft clump on the plate. The shrimp and mushrooms were nice and I enjoyed the sauce but I really didn't like the pasta on this one. And I know plating have any affect of the food but this one seemed really sloppily thrown together and I was pretty sad when it was put on the table. Definitely wasn't pretty or exciting to look at. Pappardelle made w/ beets in quail ragu - 4/5 We really enjoyed this pasta! The pasta itself had a subtle sweetness to it from the beets which made it much more interesting than your typical pasta dough. It had a nice chew, which is what I was really missing in the other dish. The quail ragu was yummy, although we did find a bone but it was large enough to easily pick out and put to the side. Panna Cotta - 4.5/5 Thick and rich vanilla panna cotta with a tart berry compote. Very delicious!

They provide exceptional service, and the quality of their food is truly outstanding. Their…read moremushroom burger is among the best in town, and the salmon is equally impressive. Tony the owner, is a remarkable professional who contributes greatly to the welcoming atmosphere. We visit 2-3 times a week, and it has become our favorite dining destination.

Amazing food, fantastic service, and the perfect ambiance. Every part of my experience at Oak was…read moreexceptional. The Oak Burger was hands down the best burger I've ever had. It was perfectly cooked, incredibly flavorful, and worth coming back for on its own. The staff was attentive, welcoming, and made us feel genuinely appreciated from the moment we arrived. Even the little details stood out, like validating our parking, which made it even more convenient and enjoyable. Honestly, 5 stars doesn't feel like enough for this restaurant. Oak absolutely exceeded expectations, and I can't wait to come back.

Now after a day for business out in sunny California. I figured I'd have a bite in Laguna Beach…read more.. This is a for sure spot to eat I while in Laguna. Easy parking. Great location and parking. Even close to the beach where after eating, you could take a walk. The service was fair. Smiles and quick. Delicious food. No complaints from this review. But if you're in a mood for a bite and a drink. Check out Starfish! Thank you Starfish! I had a pleasant experience....

I finally got to try Starfish after hearing so much about it, and I'll definitely be back again!…read moreThe chili wontons were SUPER spicy -- our server did warn us beforehand -- but they were honestly really good. If you're not into spicy food, I probably wouldn't recommend those though. The roll we ordered was really good as well, and we also got the banh mi slider which was delicious. Everything had great flavor, the atmosphere was fun, and the service was great too. Definitely worth checking out if you're in Laguna Beach!

Last time I visited this restaurant was 10 months ago. Yesterday, for Mother's Day, we decided to…read morecome back and try both their brunch menu and the main menu they created. There were five of us sitting on the first floor, and we absolutely loved the food and the brunch. We had the cheese omelet and the salmon croissant -- both were amazing and very delicious. From the main menu, we ordered the steak, filet mignon, and seafood risotto. Everything tasted excellent. Thank you again for opening such a wonderful restaurant. There were a lot of people, and the staff were extremely busy, so we completely understand the situation. We waited about 30 minutes for the food, but that was understandable because the restaurant was packed and the workers were doing their best. We give this place 5 stars for the delicious food, beautiful atmosphere, and great service. We will definitely come back again. Thank you so much!

I live in Laguna Beach and I've been waiting to try out this restaurant! I decided to host my baby…read moreshower on the rooftop and couldn't have been more pleased! The vibes are great and the staff were kind and attentive! They were very accommodating to our large party! The rooftop is definitely a hidden gem here in town and we all plan to be back in the very near future! I couldn't recommend it more!

We had such an incredible experience at King's Fish House, and a huge part of that was thanks to…read moreour amazing waitress, Allison. From the moment we sat down, she made us feel genuinely welcomed and taken care of. Her friendly attitude, attentiveness, and deep knowledge of the menu really stood out. everything we ordered was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly prepared. She checked in at just the right times without ever feeling intrusive, and made sure our drinks were always full and that we had everything we needed. The food itself was outstanding but it was Allison's exceptional service that truly elevated the entire evening. She went above and beyond to make it a memorable experience. If you're dining at King's Fish House, definitely ask for Allison. She's a rockstar and made our night unforgettable. We'll absolutely be back!

I've been here many times. Always great food and excellent service…read more High quality ingredients sourced-purveyors listed on website. Oysters and clams are consistently fresh full of liqueur. Nathan did s great job tonight. Highly recommend King's