Rachel was so lovely this evening! We squeezed in on Saturday evening, and the food was delicious, and the service was lovely. As an anecdote, I work right next door to this restaurant, and the bartenders (Mickie and David, apologies if I have the names wrong) have always helped me out in a pinch when we have guests who need a place for some lovely appetizers and drinks! Totally recommend, 10/10. My dad is in town for only 4 days, and we're eating here for two of those evenings. read more

First time here because we were in the area at the Wyland studio for an event. Honestly, we only came here because the other "popular" place down the street had a longer wait time to be seated. Also, Mediterranean food is always a good option! We were definitely seated right away upon being greeted by the host who had a friendly vibe. I think it was close to 6PM, so not bad for a dinner crowd (on a Friday night)-I do have to mention, that after we were seated it then started to get busier! Just fair warning, if you've never been to this area, it can be a bit challenging for parking. There are some free public parking garages/lots in the area, but they fill up very quickly, I suspect especially during the summer and on the weekends! Service was definitely high-end, but the food quality could be a bit better but overall it was tasty and well cooked. We ordered the spicy tuna tartare as a starter, eggplant, pizza, and Scottish Salmon. Salmon was a bit overcooked but the crispy skin was great. And I just wanted a lot more eggplant on my pizza but I think there was just too much feta, but maybe that's just me! Rachel, our server, was great and made us feel welcome and was down to earth! read more

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Pinafini is a beautiful restaurant that offers Mediterranean and Italian dishes packed full of flavor and creativity. The restaurant is beautiful inside and definitely gave a feeling of being in Greece with the white walls, chairs and retractable roof. Our server was super sweet and attentive. The owner/manager checked on us after having opened the roof to make sure the sunshine wasn't too much. We ordered the White Sangria and some appetizers. The food and drinks were so good. That white sangria hit the spot after a day of shopping and walking around Laguna. The Mezze Platter hit the spot with the variety of yummy bites. From the olives to the perfect feta, spanakopita, hummus and that fresh and soft pita bread!! Sooo good!! Thank you to the staff at Pinafini for giving my mother and I a lovely dining experience. read more

We were planning to have dinner at Nick's Laguna, but the wait was an hour long so we decided to try a different restaurant and we ended up here. The restaurant was nice and well decorated. The staff were very friendly and attentive. The food were phenomenal. We had grilled squid and hummus as starters and they were absolutely delicious. We ordered others dishes for our main entrée and they were all very yummy . We will definitely come back to try other items on the menu. read more

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Excellent branzino and delicious cocktails! This is a family owned and operated restaurant and from the moment we walked it, we felt the warmth of the atmosphere and liveliness. Highly recommend for a date night or to celebrate with friends. The owner, Pierre, was so sweet, welcoming, and shared his story about how he and his family previously had a restaurant in Pasadena. You could just tell he is passionately in the restaurant business to serve his customers and offer quality food and service. We'll be back! read more

We had a nice meal here, though I think my expectations for the food were a little too high. I'll start with the positives - the mezze platter and beef koobideh were pretty good. But the dish I was most excited about, the lamb shank, was somewhat disappointing. Good flavors and the bulgur was fine but the lamb shank itself wasn't very tender. The interior is on the modern side and is a nice vibe. Friendly and attentive service. Not sure if I enjoyed the food enough for a return visit. read more

Five stars for takeout and they are so nice when you call and ask questions! They are very patient! The food is great and most of it is gluten-free and super healthy so I vote them one of the best restaurants in Laguna Beach Pierre is so SWEET and offered to drive over some utensils since the uber eats delivery person had already left with my order. read more

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The ambiance in this place makes you feel like you're back in the luxury coast of Greece The filet mignon kabob was extremely impressive, and even when the service was a little off, the manager came and gave us a dessert to apologize. Very well done. read more

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Our friends who have a beach house in Laguna Beach invited us over and we all went to Pinafini. This restaurant has been there in lovely Laguna Beach for about 14 months. The food was amazing, the staff was amazing as well and the owner and his son were the nicest people. I had the lobster ravioli which was delicious and everyone had something different. I highly recommend this restaurant if you happen to be in Laguna Beach! Luxury while you eat in the best place in the world, Orange County!! read more

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We really enjoyed our dinner at Pinafini. The food, drinks, service and vibe were great. Favorite dishes: Curry shrimp, Mediterranean mezze, red curry risotto Least favorite dishes: branzino (overcooked), lamb chops (underseasoned), cappellini (picture looked better than it tasted) The restaurant was buzzing and had great energy. I'd love to come back and try some of the kabob dishes. read more

Pinafini - Mediterranean Mezze, tzatziki and curry shrimp - Mediterranean Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Very cool and hip spot with awesome ocean views. Service is fast and friendly. Unfortunately our meals were mediocre. The beef koobideh was crunchy and dry. The rib eye steak was sinewy and tough. Although the branzino was fresh and flaky, and the pita bread and fresh hummus was delicious. I've had much better Mediterranean cuisine, but Pinafini is a nice date place and local scene. read more

Pinafini - Mediterranean Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Excellent service, dog friendly, food was perfectly flavorful and the price competitive to other high end restaurants in the area. Two thumbs up read more

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This is a real Mediterranean restaurant. Quality of the food is phenomenon . Highly recommended! read more

Pinafini - Calamri is top notch! - Mediterranean Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The restaurant is a little smaller (but expected since it's in Laguna so close to the beach). However, it's also nice and modern in there, perfect for an intimate date night. We got a seat by the window during the sunset time and the view was stunning. Everyone was friendly and our server was great and attentive. The food was absolutely delicious. We got the Mediterranean mezze, taboule, and Moroccan lamb shank. For drinks, I got the lime mirage cocktail. The Mediterranean mezze was nice because of the variety of items that were on the plate. The pits served with it was fresh out the oven and just so warm and tasty with the platter. We also got some taboule, and wow it was absolutely delicious. I could not put it down. The flavors were mixed so well with each other and every bite was fantastic. The Moroccan lamb was delicious as well and the couscous were nice and smooth. I'm not big on raisins but that didn't have an impact on the entree. Overall, we enjoyed Pinafini! We want to come with a group next time to enjoy this family style but recommend coming even if it's by yourself! read more

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From start to finish, we had an amazing meal Saturday night. Thank you shout out to Robert for taking such great care of us How could you beat a beautiful fresh breeze and super fresh ingredients? We enjoyed the grilled octopus salad with a side of lightly fried smelts . The octopus was prepared perfectly. This restaurant fills up very fast thank goodness we had a lovely reservation and table in the front . The menu offers something for everyone you can have a delicious Mediterranean styled pizza flatbread there's pastas, gorgeous salads. We enjoyed the fresh fish pastas are made fresh. We also enjoyed the Lebanese ice cream cake, and the rosewater gelato. There is significant street parking and also a lot in the back . We highly recommend you make a reservation. It is well worth it. We can't wait to come back read more

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Slow. Not a busy Saturday but for some reason a slow situation. Kinda nuts that one of the best places in Southern California has so many restaurants/bars with terrible service....to top it off, the receipt they gave me did not match the receipt that was charged and they told me there was a premium because of the Red Bull I purchased....how come you couldn't have figured that out prior to accepting my card? read more

This is a great Mediterranean spot with plenty of options for vegetarians and carnivores. We ordered the mezze plate, fries, and the chicken soup, all of which were really good. Since it was my friend's birthday, they brought out a sorbet, which was a nice touch, though I do wish they had a few more dessert options on the menu. Our waiter was very helpful, and the inside of the restaurant was modern and pretty. Overall, I would highly recommend it. read more

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Pinafini (I think it used to be a Mexican restaurant previously) in Laguna was the perfect backdrop for an intimate birthday celebration on a Sunday night: just me, the bestie and her mom -- people who have become family. I was running late and they were already seated and enjoying the evening with the sampler platter, a delightful introduction to a variety of flavors that catered to everyone. The tabbouleh was a highlight, bursting with tangy goodness that elevated our spirits and sparked joyful conversation. We opt to dine family style and be able to try more dishes. Sharing is caring and best way to enjoy a meal. The branzino was the star--a beautifully cooked fish that evoked cherished memories of a loved one we miss dearly. Each flaky bite wrapped us in warm nostalgia as we laughed at memories of Christmas in Vegas. We also indulged in a pizza that was saucy and rich, the ultimate comfort food that added warmth to our gathering. The Laguna Breeze cocktail was as refreshing as it sounds, perfectly complementing our festive mood. As laughter and love filled the air, it was clear that Pinafini not only served delicious food but also created an atmosphere rich with connection. They offer a few options for the Bday desert, I opted for the baklava and was the only drawback to the evening as it was very dry but lets look at the brightside. It was beautifully plated and made for a good picture. My heart was full as we left, grateful for the memories made--and the people that made them. read more

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AWESOME INTERIOR AWESOME SERVICE BY Martine and phenomenal mediterranean food-- We went first time for lunch and ordered the mezze combination appetizer-- Very High quality grape leave, incredible serving of cheese hummus eggplant and Tabouli salad with high quality olive oil .. AND warm freshly made Pillowy-Soft Pita Bread!! We also ordered a pizza-- perfect crust perfect cheeses!! My new favorite Laguna restaurant!! read more

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Came here on a date a couple months ago. We got there 10 minutes early from our reservation time and they tell us to wait for a bit. Totally fine, we got there early. However, we ended up waiting for our table for up to 30 minutes AFTER our reservation time. Finally, we get seated by the hostess, who wasn't very inviting. Then we order a drink, which took about 20 minutes to get to our table. Then we ordered food, which, as you can guess, also took forever to get to our table. However... if it weren't for the food, I would've given this place maybe 1 or 2 stars. The second I tried the Fillet Mignon Brochette Kebab, all of my annoyance from waiting disappeared. Genuinely, I have never switched up on a place that fast in my life. The kebab also came with rice pilaf, veggies, tzatziki and pita, which were all also cooked to perfection. Overall, service was 2/10 but the food made it worth it. Probably wouldn't come here again due to everything feeling very disorganized, but I will say that was some of the best Mediterranean food I've had in OC. read more

With a lot of excitement we made a reservation to celebrate our 45th anniversary at this restauran that we have been waiting for so long to try!! Unfortunately, our experience was not that great! Our server was so unfriendly and not welcoming at all! With a lot of enthusiasm I told her it is our 45th anniversary and she looked at me like So???? Ugh Then we ordered Kebe and tabuleh for appetizers and when I asked for some pita bread she said that will be extra! I said ok don't bother!! Then for dinner I ordered Koobideh thinking with the Iranian owner it should be delicious! it was not a real Koobideh at all! It was some kind of little pan Kabab with two spoons of Uncle Ben's type of rice shaped in a little square! Awful!! My husband had seafood risotto with couple of shrimps and few tiny mussels! VERY small portion with no dinner bread or butter! Drinks were ok! Not much of an ambiance ! When we asked for desert menu she said we don't have a desert menu and she named couple of things as she was taking the plates away! So we decided not to have desert in this place with this waitress & service! We will not be back to this place! it ruined our 45th Anniversary celebration! What saved the night was we went next door to this restaurant and had a huge Gelato! The girl there was so sweet to acknowledge our anniversary! It made us happy ! read more

Service was very slow. We came in during a slow time with only three other tables in the room. Took awhile to get our food and when we did it was just warm. Server didn't bring our hummus and tzatziki and the koobedeh was dry. Took forever to flag down someone and owner was just picking and choosing tables to touch and speak to, husband tried to flag him down multiple times but he just ignored. Not coming back and not worth the price! read more

Pinafini - Mediterranean Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Wow, we were really blown away by all of the delicious dishes that we tried. It's a beautiful atmosphere and when the summer season starts, the patio will be amazing. You have a full ocean view. Very crowded on a Friday night so make a reservation. Fun bar atmosphere too! Our server Jess was very knowledgeable about each of the dishes we wanted to try! highly recommend the octopus salad. read more

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The ambiance was wonderful and the patio by the street was great people watching. The biggest and most pleasant surprise was the grilled calamari app which is actually fantastic salad with very well balanced flavors. The service was very friendly but just a bit slow. Everything was delicious. I do recommend. read more

Pinafini - Grilled calamari salad - Mediterranean Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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I've been to Pinafini 4x now and they have never disappointed as far as the quality and taste of the food, wines, impressive service and view of the ocean!! Yesterday Edwin served my best friend and me and was on top of everything!! He was friendly, professional, checked in on us but also gave us space to chit chat. My battery was low on my phone so he plugged it at the bar with my request and permission. I've never had a bad meal here. Everything is flavorful and delicious. The pita bread is freshly made. This is my favorite restaurant in Laguna Beach! read more

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Stopped in on Saturday (11/8) for brunch with my sisters. First time at Pinafini Restaurant & Bar. We had a great experience with the food, drinks, and friendly service. My sisters and I specifically chose this restaurant because we LOVE Mediterranean food, and we LOVE exploring new dining experiences. Pinafini did not disappoint! The only think I am disaapointed about is I wish I would have taken more pics of the food! But, we were so wrapped up in great conversation and enjoying the ambiance that I forgot to take more pics! If you are a foodie & love Mediterranean, please check this place out! Pierre, the owner's son & key-partner in the success of Pinafini, mentioned they have immediate plans to incorporate DJ house music on Saturdays, and Sunday lunch will be chill jazzy music. All of this sounds great and looking forward to visiting again! Parking in Laguna Beach can be a hassle, so I do recommend you UBER there so you don't have to work about parking. But, if you have to drive, then your options are metered street parking if you can find a spot, or paid parking lots & garages near by. read more

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First visit and not disappointed, pleasant modernist atmosphere , clean , good service and very good tasting food, no salt and pepper required to enhance flavor. read more

Great food! Great service! Beautiful Mediterranean feel with ocean views!! Totally recommend the Mediterranean salad and pizza! read more

Service could've been better, it was really slow but the waitress was kind. Ambiance was nice, food wasn't anything noteworthy but the octopus appetizer was amazing. I'd go back for that alone. read more

Fresh and delicious Mediterranean cuisine with an incredible view. Everything we ordered was excellent. This has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants in Laguna Beach. The ambiance and flavors truly remind me of Europe. Great service. read more

Was recommended this restaurant last night by our concierge at our hotel. Was pleasantly surprised there was no wait for the two of us at 8:30pm on a Saturday night. This was a random trip to Laguna from San Diego (and my friend from Los Angeles) so we didn't make reservations. We were happy/surprised they were able to accommodate us immediately. Atmosphere was nice. Staff was very casual. I'm only giving 4 stars because service was nothing out of the ordinary. Not memorable. I ordered the grilled octopus and my friend ordered the Greek salad. My salad was a little overdressed and salty. My friend said hers was good. They both came out promptly. Priced seemed a little high but I haven't eaten in Laguna for a while. California is just so expensive now when eating out. read more

Pinafini - Grilled calamari - Mediterranean Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Wow, where to begin. I reserved the back event space in Pinafini to host my wedding party and it did not disappoint. The chicken and dips were incredible and kept people coming back to the table. The most surprising items however, were the pizzas. They were AMAZING! From a hosting perspective, I can't say enough about the staff especially Peyton, Homero, and Pierre. The coordination offered was white glove service. They even created a signature cocktail for us that ended up being a smash hit of the party. Each worker associated with our party was sure to greet our guests and made them feel right at home. The event area was sensational as well. We fit around 50 people between standing and sitting and were able to contract and deploy the retractable roof to keep our guests shielded from sun, while also having the sky as a beautiful part of our big day. Thank you so much Pinafini for making our day the most special! We can't wait to come back for our month-aversaries and anniversaries to come! read more

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We recommend this place, unreservedly. Lara was a wonderful server, who took wonderful care of us. We sat in the patio, and it was heated nicely. We recommend the Mezze plate to start with--oh how wonderful everything was. Entrees were the Pinafini Salad, Margherita Pizza, Artichoke Pizza and the ground beef kebab (can't remember its proper name). Everything took us to Food Nirvana. Go! Enjoy! We will be back! read more

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Stumbled upon this restaurant last night while a random outing in Laguna Beach. We didn't make reservations at that time, so we were pleasantly surprised when they had availability for a party of 4. Ambiance is beautiful- modern and airy! Felt like we were on vacation. Service was weird- she was kind but never around. We waited a very long time for simple things like an extra plate (had to ask multiple staff members) and to add onto our order and even took so long to get our check. Food was wonderful- we got the calamari salad (great fresh flavors), halloumi (over cooked - I'd skip), curry shrimp (amazing, vibrant flavor), margarita pizza (I'd skip also, nothing exciting honestly), koobeh and taziki (excellent). The mocktail - Lychee flavored was also wonderful, refreshing and balanced. Stunning spot- Wish it lots of success! read more

Absolutely love this place!!! Been waiting to try it out for quite some time. From the moment we got there we were greeted by everyone. The food was amazing and a wonderful choice of wine. The home baked focaccia bread is a must. Wife opted for the Kubi de kebab. I tried the ribeye steak and it did not disappoint. We had a wonderful seat overlooking the ocean. Will definitely come back again. read more

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Service 10 Owner greeted and sit us. Server buster runner all very attentive. Food 10delicious waaaay better than average Mediterranean restaurant. Vibe 10 back patio is great for a date night and front for meetings or family dinner. Pricing very reasonable! P.s Armenian Greek Syrian and Lebanese people would love the food, reminds back home! Definitely coming back with a bigger party next time! read more

Pinafini - Salmon and Moroccan Lamb - Mediterranean Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Ambiance, service, and food were all great. Had been wanting to try this place out since it opened but hadn't had a chance. Went last night with friends, it was excellent. Already thinking of going back. We ordered a few appetizers and even the pickiest of the group was impressed. We had a few drinks, I tried the Un Fig-edible. Sort of disappointed because I love figs and it just didn't have enough of that flavor in it, but it didn't matter as the food was what we were there for. The Malbec our server suggested was delicious. Our server Laura was incredible. She handled our table with a smile. One star off because the TV's were on a news channel, I don't think many people go to a nice restaurant to watch any sort of news. Maybe try a screensaver that's neutral or take the TV's out completely. 5 stars for our server. read more

Pinafini - Espresso martini, Old fashion. - Mediterranean Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Their salad was exceptional! The interior was modern and cozy, perfect for date night

My bestie and I had the best time with Mike the bartender. He made my best friend's bday the best time.

Husband brought me here for a Saturday night date night after we realize The Cliff restaurant had extremely loud live music. We've passed by this place so many times and never realized we've never tried so decided to give it a shot and it was an ell worth it! They were quick to seat us and is dog friendly. Ordered their mezze plater and grilled octopus to start. Portions were very generous and absolutely delish! Especially the baba ghanoush, which had this great smoky flavor to it. The grilled octopus was grilled to perfection. It was not chewy, and it was full of flavor. We then ordered the lamb shank. Generous portion that we could easily split between the two of us. The server was wonderful and super kind. And we love the ambience of the restaurant and the decor. Everything was priced well within reason for being in the heart of Laguna Beach. This will become a regular for our date night! read more