my younger brother needed to use the bathroom, the waitress at the front told him to go down to the left (allowed him in). what im guessing is the owner of this place literally stopped him and said there were public bathrooms next door. he went next door and that led directly into their restroom so he used it! as he exited the door she stopped him and said "it was really disrespectful for you guys to use the restaurants restroom after i told you to go next door". she got into my face and was extremely disrespectful, i expressed how it was extremely rude for her to speak to us this way. she kept being extremely hostile with us and told me "go back to where you came from" i understand that i wasn't a paying customer but the way she treated my family and i was disgusting. she said this with a smile on her face!! think twice about supporting someone so disgusting read more

Nirvana by Chef Lindsay - better picture of her face - Comfort Food Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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I never, ever leave a review for a business I have not actually been to, but this is the exception. I made a reservation via Open Table for Nirvana months ago, at least three; I was excited to finally dine here because I have heard so many good things about Nirvana. We are going to POM on opening night. Everything was planned to the minute (see my other review for tailoring!). Personally, I needed this night and was looking forward to it, it has been a rough couple of years. My reservation was finally confirmed on June 25. Imagine my surprise tonight as I got a message saying that my reservation would be cancelled due to a party reserving the entire restaurant. Well, then..... It is six days before the show. I have gone every year for almost a decade, it is an event to beat all events. I am so disappointed. I know it is first world problems, but it is still rude and inconsiderate. The message I received tonight, July 3, at 7:31PM follows: "Hi Angelena, this is Hillary from Nirvana by Chef Lindsay. I'm so sorry to reach out with disappointing news, but due to a private event that has reserved our entire restaurant and rooftop on Thursday, July 9, we unfortunately have to cancel your reservation. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience, especially on such short notice, and we understand this may disrupt your plans. We truly appreciate that you chose to dine with us and hope you'll give us the opportunity to welcome you on another evening. If you'd like, we'd be happy to help you find another reservation that works for you." I cannot tell a lie. I am peeved. read more

We were up from San Diego and our great friends from Laguna Hills took us here for dinner! The soups, salads, and entrees were fabulous! The taste, quality, freshness, and presentation are all outstanding! The ambiance is super comfortable and quaint. The cocktails and mocktails are carefully made and super good! Our server, Nicole, was very delightful and funny! She was very timely and is passionate about her job! We will definitely come back!!! read more

You absolutely must try Nirvana by chef Lindsay. One of the best restaurants I have been to in a long time right here in downtown Laguna Beach. Last night, Juliette took such fantastic care of us. The poblano cornbread with fresh creamy butter was to die for! We highly recommend that you make a reservation. It's a smallish restaurant without a patio, but lots of great lighting. Wonderful service, farm to table menu. We just love it. read more

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Had the pleasure of dining here for the first time on Valentine's Day, and it was a lovely experience. All our courses were amazing! The food was truly phenomenal, we were very impressed with how everything tasted. Staff were all super friendly and doing a great job managing all the chaos of being so packed. Looking forward to my next visit! read more

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Excellent restaurant, reasonably priced, food and service great! Good location for Art Fair and Pageant read more

I really like the concept of this place, and the food seemed very fresh and good quality, however, it could've been a little bit better. The Branzino had no flavor and was a bit on the small side, however the price is reflected. The site actually had more flavor and were tasty. Same thing with the mussels, they had no flavor and the sauce had no flavor, but the fries were amazing, except for the part that it's on top of the mussels and then got soggy. The place itself has nice natural ambience, but it was quite cramped. Some members of the staff were super friendly while others seemed lost, new, stressed. We had to ask for water a few times and by the end we never got a refill. We went after a show so I think it was good for the convenience, but I wouldn't go out of my way to go back read more

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Our first time experience was outstanding!!! It was a fairly quiet Saturday evening because we came in early (5:30). Our waitress Nicole was the best, helpful, kind, and knowledgeable. I would always ask for her. To begin the review I need to say that one of our diners of the three of us is vegan. She had never seen vegan soup high-end restaurant before. She was very excited and had the vegan creamy zucchini soup. It had parsley, zucchini and spinach. I had the dairy free French onion soup which was so flavorful. For dinner, one had the grilled filet mignon, the vegan had tofu, coconut curry, and I Chilean blue lip, muscles, and frites. We each like our meals very much and would order them again, which always says a lot about a restaurant. We were too full for dessert, but we will try to save room for next time. It is sometimes difficult to go to a high class restaurant and find vegan options not just a salad or plate of vegetables. We appreciated this restaurant so much and will definitely return. read more

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Amazing service. My husband and I were greeted by Hillary who made us feel so welcomed and at home. She was bubbly and intentional in chatting with us. All servers were helpful and attentive to our needs. The ambiance was warm and family oriented. The food was slightly bland and the roasted chicken was slightly dry, but the shoe string fries, Lindsay's Old Fashioned, and the chocolate sundae with house made whipped cream were amazing. Overall, decent food and amazing service that makes us want to re-visit! read more

Review for Mother's Day brunch... Staff were good, everything else was horrible. We made a last minute Mother's Day brunch reservation and were seated on the patio. Our original table was in direct sunlight, with zero shade or umbrella, wedged between plants and other furniture, we were unable to fully sit down. Once moved, we heard the kitchen was backed up but expected a slight delay. We ordered from the prefixed menu and it took over 1 hour for our food to arrive. The food was terrible, no flavor at all, tortillas already disintegrated on the plate. We were so disappointed for the cost and wait time and couldn't get out of there faster, it was such a beautiful day and we wasted 2 hours of my Mother's Day stuck at this chaotic place. It seemed surrounding tables were no happier. I felt very bad for the servers, they were clearly overwhelmed but sweet and positive. Management really should have capped their reservations for a special holiday and mastered all options of the extremely overpriced preset menu (I forget the cost of adult meals but a small kids cup of fruit and one slice of French toast was $29!!!). read more

We celebrated Valentine's Day here, and it was absolutely amazing! Kim was our server, and she was so wonderful. Everything was delicious. It was our first time, and we're definitely coming back! read more

Nirvana by Chef Lindsay - Filet Mignon and Lavender French 75 - Comfort Food Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

We love to come here before our theater night at the Laguna Beach Playhouse night. Nicole is a great server and very attentive to all the details. Tonight we had beef stroganoff and meatloaf from their fall menu. Lindsay's depth of flavor and complexity is always spot on. So excited to taste all the new things she has in store for us for the fall. We are looking forward to coming back and having her signature old-fashioned once again! read more

Such delicious meal. The restaurant was so accommodating, we arrived for our reservation a tad early and couldn't wait to eat so they were courteous enough to seat us right away. The restaurant is well laid out a quaint spot on the corner near main beach, makes for great people watching. The service was a little disorganized but nothing outrageous. We ordered the grilled artichokes, mussel frites, wedge salad, followed by the stroganoff and the blackened seafood di mare. All were fantastic we ended the night with a little mud pie and chocolate banana bread pudding. Couldn't have asked for a better evening. read more

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A true farm to table, reasonably priced, also open for lunch spot in prime Laguna village? Yes, please. Service was warm and the decor was comfortable. Large booth tables and a small side patio add to the charm. My mom and I shared the seasonal roasted butternut squash soup which was perfectly spiced and not too heavy and redolent of autumn; the wild lump blue crab cakes, and the salmon burger that came with sweet potato fries. (I was able to sub a salmon filet with no upcharge for the ground salmon patty.) Our server mentioned they have a pantry business so you can bring home frozen soups as well. Will definitely return to explore more seasonal offerings, and to check out the dinner menu. read more

The restaurant is easy to find but parking is not easy to find In Laguna beach, however we were lucky to find a spot in their tiny parking lot! Restaurant is night and open, lots of sun shining through. Tables do feel a bit cramped, especially in the walk way and there is a display of just a bunch of items that could be used for more tables. The food is organic and it's pretty good, I feel like it's missing something. A better variety? The Indian food didn't taste Indian, it tasted cinnamon and the cake was pretty dry. The employee are nice but I'm not sure why so many of them talked to us while we were eating. Multiple employees checked in multiple times. I recommend trying it out at least once. read more

Amazing restaurant in the heart of Laguna Beach! This is a must on your trip! We had the wild-mushroom ravioli and it was amazing! And the cheese toast was the perfect side dish! Oxcana was our fabulous server! What a treat with a capital T! read more

Nirvana by Chef Lindsay - Nirvana Kitchen - Comfort Food Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Nirvana had a wide selection of organic dishes from vegetarian to vegan, to seafood, meats, a variety of soups and fresh baked bread . Everything on the menu represented fresh food. I had the salmon dish and it was delicious. The customer service was great and the servings are well portioned. I would definitely return to try other items on the menu. I highly recommend this restaurant. It is walking distance from the Art festival /Pageant of the Master at Laguna Beach read more

I has high expectations coming to this elp review. and start out with the positive 1. Service: friendly and attentive 4 stars 2. Ambience: over crowded and tight dinning area. Nothing interesting about the decor, walls seem cluttered with uninteresting wall decors . 2 stars 3. food and drinks We ordered the following appetizers - Tiger prawns.......tiny 2 shrimps on a bed of quinoa. Bland no favors......2 stars -Beet salad........we got the family size so the portion was generous, fresh, some flavors but was not good enough to finish the whole plate........3 stars - Blue mussel......... bland to no flavors, baguette cane w/ the dish to dip the soup wit, did not see the use because of the flavorless soup. Used some butter for baguette instead. Skinny fries not quite shoestring size served on top of mussel had a decent outer crunch but the inside was on the dried side, a bit on the over cooked side.........2 stars - Scallops....... Overcooked, super bland, zero flavor, cold, had to send back to the kitchen for replacement. Replacement had the right texture while still missing the flavor and super bland. - Australian rack of lamb....... ordered medium rare, came out rare. Didn't have the patience to send another dish back. Was edible, puny in size BTW. I've made this dish much better at home......2 Stars - ChilEan sea bas........ flaky and buttery for freshness but no flavors.........2.5 stars - Rockfish.........texture was soft, on the over cooked side, some flavors mostly salt for taste. At this point with dinner, was ready to call it a night........2.5 stars - Cheesecake...... we enjoyed it despite it was a little dense for my personal taste......3 stars - Chocolate/vanilla mousse.......this complimentary for the return scallops, good gesture, however I did not taste it, I was ready to head out........4 Stars for gesture The over experience was underwhelming. The friendly/attentive service was the star of the dinner. We were told Chef Lindsay was at some yacht club, I guess our dinner was prepared by a backup hence the unfavorable experience. We will not be returning anytime soon. Our total bill was around $500 for 4. Definitely not worth the money. read more

Excellent experience start to finish. Ambiance was great, very quiet Saturday night and food was absolutely on point. This place is definitely part of my rotation going forward. Will be back. read more

Fantastic soup and salads perfect Light home cooking. I would come back every day for a meal Delicious !!! read more

As members of the local Garden Club, we've enjoyed great service from the staff at Nirvana. Many of us ordered the organic burger with fries and it was outstanding! We'll be coming back again after our monthly meetings. read more

Overall it was average. The good: The roasted cauliflower and goat cheese gratin was delicious. Would definitely order that again. My wife liked the ambiance, she liked the decor and it felt intimate. The not so good: Had a pomegranate lime martini and honestly it was tasteless and didn't feel like there was any alcohol in it - asked for another shot and they gave us one ( and kindly didn't charge us for it ) The filet was tasty but it sat on a bed of whipped potatoes and sautéed spinach - frankly it was something I could do at home and didn't really excite the palette. The blackened seafood di mare was on the same bed of potatoes and spinach and had 3 rather small pieces of seafood. We ordered that because we saw it at the table next to us but they clearly had much larger pieces of seafood so their plates lacked consistency. The ugly They were really concerned about getting us to turn the table - in fact when they brought the dessert the waitress, under her breath said you have about 15 min. Finally the chocolate molten cake was anything but. It was so over cooked you needed a knife to cut through it . Again we ordered it because the table next to us ordered it and it looked great- nice gooey chocolate center, so again what came out of the kitchen was inconsistent for the same dish. read more

This is our 2nd time and so far so good.... Great place, very good food, amazing taste. Will go bk again. read more

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My wife and I ate at Nirvana twice, and liked it so much we decided to host an event there (our wedding dinner!). The food and service is consistently excellent. My personal favorites are the kitchen sink salad, crusted salmon, chicken meatballs, and carrot cake (along with the coffee which is also excellent). At our dinners, when we asked about dietary restrictions (gluten-free, and dairy free), the staff was knowledgeable and helpful, and for our event Chef Lindsay went above and beyond to create gluten free and dairy free versions of our dishes, which all came out delicious (especially the crab cakes!). The interior is inviting with interest coming from beautiful, hanging charcuterie boards. Mainly, I love their focus on creative, organic food. Just as one example - the kitchen sink salad has a nice, hardy flavor overall (with beets and carrots), is perfectly dressed with a vinaigrette, then surprises (in my opinion) with candied pecans - sooooo yummy! Thank you to Chef Lindsay and her staff for creating a wonderful dining experience. read more

What an incredible find! We enjoyed amazing lunch here on a Thursday. The soups just warmed us up and the fresh farm to table entrées were incredible. DEFINITELY coming back! Chef Lindsey's menu has something for everyone!! Hillary was so friendly and accommodating and the food was spectacular. Highly recommend Nirvana read more

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Nirvana Grille has changed a bit since I was last here. The cozy little bar is gone and so is the back dinning room. These are tough times for restaurants I know, especially these little independent boutique spots so I'm not judging, just observing. BLUE LIP MUSSELS * tomato, leek, fines herbs & white wine in a light cream broth, thyme paprika french fries 15. A tasty appetizer which is really French Fries with Mussels. PISTACHIO DIJON CRUSTED WILD CHILEAN SEABASS * beurre blanc, caramelized leek mashed potatoes, asparagus with lemon oil 49. An excellent dish. GRILLED NEW YORK STEAK hormone & antibiotic free, rosemary roasted demi glace, chimichurri, mushroom ragout & balsamic caramelized onions, mashed yukon gold potatoes 42. Not as tender as I had hoped but not bad at all. Martinis are served in a rocks glass, as is almost everything else. Menus are on an ipad or a QR code. Food servers are also busboys and bartenders, making service slower and fine dining a little less fine. It's hard to secure good staff and cutting costs is also important. Unfortunately for us, the warmth and charm of Nirvana is no longer as present as it once was. However, I have not given up. Hopefully Nirvana will once again be a destination spot for us, and not just a place to eat. read more

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Think this place is 4.5. very friendly service, good quality food. My girlfriend and I were visiting and hotel recommended this place as she is vegan. Enjoyed the salad for starter & mains were very good. Didn't have room for dessert. Good value for laguna. The ambiance isn't my style plastic plant on table but food and service made up for that. read more

If I could give zero stars, I would. My boyfriend and I had a horrible experience at Nirvana Restaurant in Laguna Beach on Valentine's Day, marked by disorganization, unprofessionalism, and clear racial bias. Check-in Chaos and Discriminatory Treatment We had a reservation for 8:15 p.m., but when we arrived, there was a line nearly out the door with people waiting--some had already checked in, and others hadn't even been acknowledged. No staff member was checking people in, and the general consensus among customers was that no one had come by to communicate the delay. Eventually, a white gentleman behind us cut in front of everyone and approached the hostess, stating that he had been waiting to check in. She immediately apologized, seated him and his date on the spot, and treated him with complete kindness. In contrast, when my Hispanic boyfriend approached the same hostess after another 10 minutes of waiting, politely asking if we could check in, she snapped at him. Instead of an apology, she coldly said, "Everybody is waiting to check in right now. We're switching over table service, and we will get to you all when we can. Just be patient." The difference in tone and treatment was impossible to ignore. Disrespect Toward Other Guests Another appalling moment happened when a couple at the bar, who had mistakenly booked their reservation for the following day, asked a waitress for an update. Instead of assisting him, she turned to the manager and said, "You're gonna have to deal with him. I have no idea what he's saying." This was an Indian gentleman with a thick accent, and her response was not only unprofessional but outright offensive. Unacceptable Seating and False Advertising When we were finally seated, it was clear that customers who arrived after us had been seated well before us. We were then shoved into a cramped corner, with my seat adjacent to my boyfriend's, meaning we couldn't even face each other on Valentine's Day. Our table was squeezed next to a shelf of excess wine bottles and snack storage, making the experience even less enjoyable. To make matters worse, the manager herself seated us here and, without acknowledging how uncomfortable and inappropriate the setup was, said, "What a cute private table you have!" Excuse me? Additionally, we were handed menus that featured a set two-course meal, which was not disclosed online or at the time of booking. If a restaurant is going to require a prix fixe menu for a holiday, that should be made clear upfront. Unacceptable Wait Times and Poor Food Quality We had arrived early for our 8:15 p.m. reservation, but we didn't receive our food until 9:45 p.m.--an hour and a half later. Other tables who were seated long after us had already finished their entrées before we even received ours. To make things worse: * The one dish we came for--scallops--was sold out. Instead of telling us upfront, the server waited until we tried to order them to let us know they were unavailable. * The delay in getting our food was due to them overcooking my boyfriend's lamb and needing to remake it. No one communicated this to us until much later. * Every item on our table--except for the lamb--was served completely cold. Management Ignored Our Concerns While waiting for our food, I requested to speak to the manager. She made eye contact with us several times, fully aware that we were waiting to speak with her, yet deliberately avoided coming over. This experience was an absolute disaster from start to finish. Final Verdict - Do Not Waste Your Time or Money The food was not worth the price, the service was beyond unacceptable, and the treatment of guests based on race and ethnicity was disgraceful. Nirvana Restaurant ruined our Valentine's Day, and I would never recommend this place to anyone. read more

I believe that dining at a restaurant is not only tasting delicious food but also experiencing the customer service and feeling the positive environment that brings you into a restaurant. Juliette the server at Nirvana is one the nicest and most kind person I have ever met. The food was delicious but overall Juliettes kindness is what made me smile. read more

Nirvana by Chef Lindsay - Roasted Squash Ravioli - Comfort Food Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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I ate at Nirvana for the first time last night! What an experience! Chef Lindsey is so kind and welcoming and the food is so fresh and made to perfection! Highly recommend! read more

We actually went for cocktails. It's in Laguna Beach and the location is awesome. I loved what was on the menu. I intend to explore the menu next time. The food that we saw looked beautifully prepared and very palatable. If we didn't have plans following we would've stayed and eaten there for sure read more

If you are a foodie and care about the quality of food, this is an absolute gem. My husband and I went to Laguna and one of my friends recommended this place- the craft cocktail margarita was an A+, soup appetizers, and fish was out of this world. I cannot wait to go back again read more

Our new favorite place to eat! We've lived in Laguna for a few years now and finally decided to try this place about a month ago. Now we never go anywhere else!!! We love it here! The food is so fresh and healthy (we try to eat as healthy as possible) and delicious! We seriously haven't had anything that isn't absolutely delicious and wouldn't not order again! I have tried every ravioli on the menu and they are all Devine (I think the mushroom is my favorite though)! My husband loves the meatloaf and the lampchops with the pistachio crust are to die for! And the soups...the soups are all so yummy (must get the fresh baguette to go with)! Oh and the beet salad (not sure what's in it but I crave it now)! The staff and Chef Lindsey are all so amazing...we feel like family when we dine here now! Can't wait to take one of their cooking classes and my husband and I are looking forward to the next Wellness Wednesday! read more

Nirvana by Chef Lindsay - Comfort Food Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Wow, what a fantastic dinner we enjoyed last night. Delicious cocktail with house made syrup, incredible perfectly lightly dressed salad & delicious entrees. I got the vegetable gnocchi which was incredible. The service was outstanding. Such a treat! read more

What a gem for both locals & tourists alike. We started with a fresh baguette, mushroom soup & gem salad...all incredibly fresh & delicious. Entrees included filet, short rib stroganoff & salmon...again, the difference is the ingredients & their organic or caught wild source. Chef Lindsay is committed to providing a delicious but healthy dining experience. We had the opportunity to speak with her & learn more about the events they offer at the restaurant during lunch, dinner & private dining. She's a wealth of knowledge on true clean eating & shares her gift without fail. She & her main hostess also treats everyone like you're being welcomed home which is a great vibe. Excited to buy market items for home dining as well. Thank you for a great evening! read more

We moved to the OC back in March and I can say without hesitation that yesterday was the best meal I have ever had in the area.. We started with artichoke hearts and the baguette... Delicious start with more to follow. Me wife had the blackened shrimps and I had the fish stew in a tomato and basil based soup.. It was succulent. And we topped with a walk in Laguna Beach on a beautiful summer night. We will definitely return since we leave only 15 minutes away.. The service was excellent as well. Great experience all around.. I would strongly recommend it. read more

This is a farm to table restaurant with many food choices - all of them healthy! Our waitress Claudia was very knowledgeable regarding food allergies and provided excellent service! We will definitely be back! The ambiance provided very nice, and comfortable. read more

The food is sensational; fresh, healthy, tasty; and the feel when you walk in is like visiting family (in a good way!). It's becoming my go-to. Casual, dressy, whatever, you will feel welcome and special. Chef Lindsay is down to earth and humble, and so talented. A brilliant experience every time. read more

I am not vegetarian, but The selection on their veggie plate made it one of the best meals I have ever had! it is a cozy place with elevated, yet comfortable food. look for complex flavors like the mustard and pistachio rack of lamb, which is also delicious. the service is amazing and will accommodate for dietary restrictions. read more

Wow. First time dining here and it was excellent. Love the farm fresh food and organic wine. Service was great. Will come again.