Went to Driftwood Kitchen last minute for brunch. They used to have a great vegan hash on the menu, but unfortunately there are no real vegan options anymore. I am not a fan of places where you simply remove the cheese from a dish to make it vegan, don't replace it with anything else, and still charge the same price. It just feels like an afterthought rather than a true option. I did have a watermelon mocktail which was actually pretty good. The inside was really loud though, and it was hard for our table of four to hear each other. There were also no tables available outside when we arrived. That said, the location really is beautiful and the ocean view is great. One thing to note is that it is valet only, and we ended up waiting quite a while to get the car back. Overall: great location and views, but I wish they still offered a thoughtful vegan dish like they used to. read more

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So, my mother in law passed a few weeks ago, dragged my wife out of bed for mother's day brunch today at one of her favorite places, Driftwood. Everything was fine, then I overheard the manager "Steve" complaining to our waitress, Bianca, about us being at the table too long. She then rushes over with our check and reminds us there's a "90 minute limit" on our table. My wife heard it too. We both felt embarrassed and uncomfortable by his ear-shot statement. We immediately pay, almost $500 for 3 people, and move up to the bar, and the bartender "Jose" is rude to us. Won't wait on us. Won't make eye contact, won't acknowledge us. Lucky Dillion comes over and saves the day. Totally helpful. Totally friendly. To the Driftwood GM, what gives? We've never had a bad time at Driftwood in the 11 or so years we've been patrons. Then to be pushed out by a "manager"! It wasn't like we were not paying for our drinks, there was no bottomless mimosa offering. If he treats guests like that, how does he treat your staff?? Sorry Bianca and Dillion, your hard was work ruined by sour team members. read more

Our experience at this restaurant was absolutely dreadful. We were seated right next to an open door, and the cold ocean breeze from 9:30 am blew right in on us. To make matters worse, they couldn't remember to close the door, so we had to change our seats. The menu was incredibly limited, offering only a few options for breakfast. I decided to order the eggs Benedict, but when they arrived, they were freezing cold. They were so hard and overcooked that the yolks turned into crumbles when I sliced them in half. Who serves food like this to other humans? I wouldn't serve it to my dog. If I were to make food at home and serve it to my friends, I would be ashamed of it. The staff seemed completely indifferent to the situation. I would definitely avoid this tourist trap. read more

We spent $500 for three people, and while the ambiance is beautiful with ocean views, that's where the value ends. This was a champagne buffet with very disappointing food. The omelets were made fresh but somehow served cold--I'm not sure how that happens. The pancakes were cold as well. The crab cakes were displayed in front of diners but had a strong fishy smell, and the shrimp tasted off--surprising for an oceanfront restaurant charging $125+ per person. The champagne was good, and the cookie I had for dessert was enjoyable. That said, for the price, I expected a much more elevated dessert selection. Come for a drink and the ocean view--it's stunning--but I'd skip the food. read more

Highly recommend Driftwood Kitchen! The food was absolutely amazing. Every dish was fresh and full of flavor. The service was just as great, friendly and attentive. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to! read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

We ordered quite the feast. Best food in the city. Juan had amazing service and overall this was the date we needed, thank you! Also ocean view and relaxing!! read more

Driftwood Kitchen - We ordered quite the feast. Best food in the city. Juan had amazing service and overall this was the date we needed - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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We came here a few minutes before opening and had the whole restaurant to ourselves, with a beautiful view of the beach in the morning. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Snow crab omelette and lobster hash were delicious. They were on the richer side with a very generous portion size - great to share with big groups. I could see how this place would be packed during regular hours... I mean look at that view! Highly recommend Driftwood for brunch, but you should come early or make reservations in advance. read more

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The one star is for trying to make a reservation for six people. So you can't. You call the place because open table doesn't allow you to make a reservation for more than four. Then you get a machine that just sends you a link to make a reservation, which is through OpenTable, which only allows you to make a reservation for four. Yet open table says give them a call if your party is too big. Someone needs to get this memo and fix that. Too bad we're going to have to go to a different restaurant. Which is a bummer because we really do love Driftwood when we can actually make a reservation. Update: After writing this review, Driftwood did call back. At first they made the reservation for the wrong date. Wow. Called back again and we now have a reservation for 6 on the right date. The only reason I've kept at it is because the food (brunch) and view are amazing. read more

Recently ate here for my friend's birthday. Arrived to find an almost empty restaurant at 1:30. We were seated outside and it was a beautiful day. Our server came pretty quickly and took our drink orders. He came back in a timely manner to get our food order. Our food came out hot and as ordered. We enjoyed sitting outside and had a bird friend sit on the rail behind me for a while. I'm sure he was looking for some food. If you're looking for Michelin star food you will want to go elsewhere. If you want great service, an amazing view and ambiance this is your place! Will be returning I'm sure! read more

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This review is for the Thanksgiving buffet. Parking is valet or street parking. For starters, I tried the gem salad (had candied beets, goat cheese, and pomegranate vinaigrette), grilled vegetables, shrimp, octopus salad, crab cake, shredded crab, and tuna sashimi. The gem salad was pretty tasty, although it had a little too much dressing for my preference. The shrimp and octopus salad tasted fresh. The tuna sashimi was soft, but wasn't the freshest. The crab cake had some egg pieces on top, so that was yummy! I also enjoyed the shredded crab! It was soft and sweet, but the sauce was a little too spicy for me. The carving station had turkey and prime rib. I got a lot of dark meat for the turkey, so the pieces were soft. The cranberry sauce ran out, but I tried the gravy, which didn't have a savor or rich enough flavor for me. The prime rib was pretty tender. My favorite entree was the salmon! It was sooo tender and fresh, and the gribiche sauce was unique. For sides, I tried the green bean casserole and the honey and thyme glazed carrots, which were both solid For dessert, I tried the chocolate chip cookie and marble cake with a large scoop of chocolate sauce! The cookie tasted buttery and was soft in the middle. The marble cake was pretty good, but not exceedingly special. Price was $125 per person, but it's a holiday plus you get the beach views, so the buffet was a nice experience. read more

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My favorite meal I've had here and prob top 5 in my life. Service was impeccable, I wish I would've gotten his name to give him a shout out but he was so sweet, incredibly attentive, had the best recommendations based on what our preferences were. And the food was fantastic! I am not sure I will fully recover from how amazing everything was read more

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Beautiful ocean views, but the food let me down. I ordered the egg plate and the eggs looked and felt spongy, not like real eggs at all. When I asked the server, he insisted they were organic, but that didn't explain the texture. Felt brushed off rather than heard. Nice ambiance, poor experience. read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Minus 1 star for parking. There is no parking...only valet, as least that's what it appears. You have to park on the metered street. Ordered: 1) Avocado toast: 3/5 tasted just what you expected 2) Grilled prawn and street corn chilaquiles: 3.5/5 the shrimps were tiny...when I think of prawns, i think of large shrimps. Regardless, great service and great view of the ocean! read more

This was such a wonderful experience. Unbeatable view and great service. Very attentive and kind. The food was also so good! Definitely recommend the brussel sprouts and the sea bass is to die for. Adding this place to our favorites. read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Sea bass and sticky rice - decadent! - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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After 10 years of being opened, and 3,000 reviews, I think it is time for Driftwood to receive a huge makeover to it's building, menu, and staff training. While maintaining it's values or it's vision, I hope that Driftwood continues to strive for excellence. The location is off PCH and the signage is barely non-existent as you turn down a dodgy driveway at night. It is difficult to spot as there isn't a lot of lighting and seems like you are driving in a motel parking alleyway. There is a Valet and they did not disclose there were two entrances for the main dining area or the patio area. Atmosphere: After walking up and down the stairs through the patio area, we were greeted with a hostess and were immediately sat down with our reservation. There were about 8 other tables eating and our seating was towards the middle. There was an unlit Christmas tree and some lighting ropes on the ceiling. However, one of the biggest wishes I have for Driftwood is to modernize their dining room with decent lighting. My table had to take out our flashlights to read the menus. I also did not appreciate that my chair was tightly placed between walkways where people bumped into me. Menu: It is a bit confusing when we see a happy hour drink menu when we can not even order from it in the dining room. It should be on a separate menu only place by the bar area. Service: Our waitress was very kind with explaining the sizing of the appetizers, drink ingredients, and menu items. Food: While some of the dishes we ordered were flavorful, other items we ordered were very salty and fatty. The seabass was flavorful and cooked well and some of the appetizers liked the least were the Brussel sprouts doused in sauce made the dish very soggy. While our table left full, I don't think we were eager to come back. read more

A beachfront restaurant. The outdoor seating area was a bit small but it was still nice to enjoy the weather and view. We ordered 3 dishes: - Crispy Brussels Sprouts & Shishito Peppers - Scottish Smoked Salmon Bagel - DK Benedict with Steak Some places make the dishes very salty, especially the crispy brussels sprouts, but I liked how this place didn't. The service was okay. Recommend making a reservation ahead of time read more

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A very nice fine dinning spot in the beautiful city of laguna beach! We came here on a Saturday night around 7:30, walked past it at first and was redirected by staff at the deck bar lol! The outside was very cozy to walk into and when you first walk in, it's like a rustic cabin that turns into an old fashion lighthouse...very on theme. For drinks we started with a glass of Chardonnay and a drink I ordered called the passionate one. The wine was a clean Chardonnay and the passionate one was like a traditional mimosa with a fruity twist to it! We ordered the meat and cheese board to start. 95% of it was to our liking, ran out of the bread they provide fast with the heavy amount of cheese they put on the board. My wife ordered the steak and I ordered the lobster carbonara. Both were amazing and above par, 2 large onion rings on the side of the steak is a hardy combo, steak sauce was a lot like a high class ketchup (not our favorite). To our opinion, does not pair well with these type of steak. Lobster was good, pasta was alittle undercooked. There was also a loud group of teenagers at another table that in my opinion should have been kicked out. I'm still going to leave a 5 star review since this place was amazing overall!! If you see my other reviews you'll know I'm picky when it comes to fine dining, and just because some things were not EXACTLY to my taste, does not mean it earns itself less than 5 stars. Thank you driftwood kitchen for an amazing night! read more

Stunning views, consistently delicious, and the perfect brunch spot Driftwood Kitchen continues to be one of my favorite Laguna Beach gems, and our recent brunch in the main dining room was another reminder of why it's a go-to. We brought our parents here for a weekend visit, and they were completely impressed from the oceanfront views to the warm service to the consistently delicious food. The chilaquiles were the star of my meal: perfectly balanced, with just the right amount of spice and incredible flavor in every bite. I'm still thinking about them. The pineapple mimosas were bright, refreshing, and such a fun twist on the classic brunch drink. We also ordered the Brussels sprouts as a starter, and wow were these were so good I genuinely want to learn how to make them at home. Crispy, flavorful, and a perfect opener to the meal. Between the breathtaking views, reliably great food, and an atmosphere that feels both relaxed and special, Driftwood Kitchen delivers every time. Highly recommend for brunch, especially when you want to impress visitors. read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Chilaquiles - Brunch Menu - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Visited Driftwood Kitchen on an early Wednesday morning and was able to get a table very quickly. The servers were up beat and seemed to enjoy working there. My server specifically was knowledgeable about the menu and told us that everything was delicious. Started off with a simple espresso martini which was expertly made and refreshing. Also ordered the Blueberry pancakes, and the DK Benedict with steak and the DK Benedict with crab cakes. Moment of silence for the pancakes!!! They were fluffy delicious, warm, sweet just all around amazing. I would go back over and over again for these pancakes. The DK Benedict with crab cakes were tasty. The crab cakes were a great size and flavorful. The DK Benedict with steak was not my favorite. The steak itself was a bit overcooked and I was surprised that there was lettuce on the Benedict. The lettuce completely threw me off, because it was under the steak it was soggy - and it really did not add any value to the dish. Lastly tried the French toast which was decent, was not a fan of the granola crust. Overall I would recommend this place for a nice weekend brunch with friends or family. I will definitely be going back for those pancakes! read more

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We decided to give Driftwood another chance! We made a reservation and arrived about 50 minutes early to try and get an outdoor seat for the sunset -- totally worth it. The view was stunning, and we ended up waiting around 50 minutes, so arriving early definitely helped. We split the surf and turf -- I'm eating low-fat right now, so I just had the lobster, which was amazing. I also got the potatoes again, and they were just as good as I remembered. My boyfriend enjoyed the steak, mashed potatoes, asparagus, and the flauta. The little hearts near the flauta were such a cute touch -- we really appreciated the extra detail. Our waitress, Devon, was incredibly sweet and super accommodating with my dietary restrictions, no hesitation at all. That kind of thoughtful service really stands out. Always a wonderful experience at Driftwood -- great food, beautiful views, and genuinely kind staff. read more

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Review #1013 - Really great service and excellent dinner spot for breathtaking sunsets. Located right up on the beach make sure you request one of the 4 balcony tables. We had a delicious dinner and dessert. There is only valet parking so be prepared to walk from a ways away or just valet. read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Sunset from their balcony. - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The service was great, however the lobster spaghetti was not. It did not taste like lobster and there was very little lobster pieces and there was one small square size piece of bacon the size of my pinky nail. We brought family from out of town and I didn't want to draw attention to the disappointed meal and I debated on writing this review, but this was something I debated doing for the past few days. So here it is... read more

Came in for a weekend dinner. The place has an amazing ocean view, and it didn't disappoint at sunset. Menu offers a lot of fresh seafood, we ordered the oysters to start, the Chilean seabass and the blue crab risotto. Wow generous portions and tasted delicious. Staff was pleasant and great vibe. Check it out. read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Chilean seabass - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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We came back for a post-Valentine's Sunday dinner hoping to relive a great 2019 experience. It's gone far downhill. The surf and turf was the headliner disappointment. The steak had a large grey band with a burnt exterior despite ordering medium rare. Asparagus was fine, nicely toasted, but the lobster sauce was forgettable. Oysters arrived with no variety names listed, one small fork for the table, and one dud that was half meat. Shells weren't even scrubbed. For what they charge, that's inexcusable. The lamb chops came out well done and bone dry. The whole plate was incoherent: chalky pesto, an overly breaded croquette, and an eggplant larb wrap that added nothing. None of it worked together. Service matched the food. Our server picked up plates right next to our glasses. Valet was fine but we had to settle the check outside rather than at the table. Staff left exterior doors open and never came back to close them. We wanted to love this place again. We won't be back. read more

Everything about my experience at Driftwood was 5 stars. After reading the reviews I saw it was best advised to arrive extra early for your reservation if you want to try to get one of the few patio tables for sunset. The restaurant opens at 5, our reservation was at 6. We checked in at 5:15. Sunset was scheduled for 6:30. The host let us know that we would get the first table that opened on the patio as they have locals that arrive right at 5 and take the patio tables. No problem we waited at the bar and had a cocktail and chatted. About 6:00 the host came to us to let us know a couple of the tables got boxes and he's watching for us. At 6:20 none of the tables had gotten up (they were waiting for the sunset) he offered us a two top right inside, we declined hoping someone would get up so we could catch the last of the sunset. He said in the mean time we were welcome to walk out there and take pics of the sunset. (Took full advantage of that). Unfortunately no table opened up before the sunset. (Lesson learned make the 5:00 reservations for a 6/6:30 sunset and be the first one there to get a patio table) this was no fault of the staff. However we didn't want to sit outside as it got darker so they quickly sat us at a table inside where the manager (I'm guessing) thanked us for our patience and apologized for the wait). He kindly brought us 2 more cocktails on the house, totally unexpected and unnecessary but very appreciated. We ordered. I got the spaghetti carbonara and my friend got a salad and Thai shrimp. Everything else as absolutely delicious. I wish the portion had been bigger, but if it had I wouldn't have had room for dessert. I got the banana bread pudding and kk friend got the sticky toffee cake with bacon. Again, both were absolutely delicious. I didn't even talk about the views. The views were phenomenal it was clear enough to see Catalina as the sunset and the beach below was quite. It was perfect. We enjoyed the food, atmosphere and service. I am definitely adding Driftwood to my list of sunset view restaurants to visit when people are in from out of town. read more

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This was actually my first time dining here. We decided to come here before we head off to the festival of arts and the pageant of the masters. Because of that we were very early for dinner however, it worked out perfect! The views from here are beyond stunning! Our server was also quite fantastic tonight recommending one of our favorite dishes, the Seabass. What was unique about this dish was how they cooked the rice. In this case, it was like a sticky rice ball and absolutely It paired so well with the Seabass!! I only took photos of my SeaBass and unfortunately my photo of our shared pasta dish turned out blurry however, I'll post it anyway. I think this is a great restaurant. I cannot wait to come back. read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Our shared pasta dish... sorry it's so blurry. It is delicious though. - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Came here to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary and had a wonderful brunch with a even better view our server Bianca was so wonderful and even brought us a complimentary desert, we will DEFINITELY be coming back for more anniversaries to come. 100% must visit restaurant. read more

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Came here for breakfast and it did not disappoint. Great view of the ocean, friendly staff and yes they fill your water. Food is delicious and came out timely. Definitely recommend! read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Organic eggs meal - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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I had lunch here on a weekday, so the restaurant wasn't packed at all. Nothing can beat the view, having great food right next to the ocean, how fantastic was that!! I definitely can come everday! HA HA Service was great. Food tasted great. We ordered the DK Benedict with crab cake, clam chowder, granola crusted french toast and DWK fish & chips. The DK Benedict w/ crab cake was tasty! The crab cake did not have any fillers, it's real crab meat. It's super tasty. I had crab cake at other resturants, they had fillers and little crab meat. I like it a lot. It came with potatoes, but wish the skillet potatoes were more roasted. The eggs were cooked perfectly. Definitely recomment this benedicts. Clam chowder was perfect, exactly how I like it. It has real clams and very few potatoes in it. I love it so much! I had clam chowder at many places and it's always full of potatoes and little clams. This one has bacon, chucks of clams and clams w/ shells (not just one, it's a few!!), very little potatoes. Highly recommend this! DWK Fish & Chips is definitely a surprise! The batter/crust is super light, I can smell the beer when I cut it open. The portion is bigger than I expected. The fish is a one big piece and thick! It really tasted like fish, and juicy. I can have this everyday! The fries are crunchy with seasoned salt. The french toast was tasty also. Berries were fresh and sweet. There were 4 big pieces of toasts. It's quite light and moist. Another tasty dish! Overall, the food was tasty. For sure I'll come again. read more

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My boyfriend and I visited on a Sunday morning for brunch and had reservations -- we were seated immediately and were able to choose outdoor seating on the patio! The view was amazing, service was quick and friendly, and the food was good as well! I really enjoyed my time here and would definitely recommend it for anyone who's looking for a relaxing brunch spot with a beautiful view! No parking lot but valet available -- we opted to street park and found parking a few streets down. read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

This place is a gem. The food is spectacular and the view is amazing! I've been before and loved it, but coming back reminded me why this place is worth every cent. The Chilean Sea Bass is a lifetime memorable dish. The service has also been so kind every time. For a fancy date or a simple hang, this place will compliment it all. read more

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Very friendly staff, ocean front seating and lovely Orange County weather! Food was good. And parking was convenient. We had the Parker house rolls, might've been the highlight. Friendly people and lovely views are the draw for this spot read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Menu and patio seating - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Driftwood Kitchen is consistently excellent -- the kind of place you keep coming back to. Perched right on the ocean in Laguna Beach, the vibe is relaxed coastal with food that punches well above its weight. The fish tacos and grilled seafood are standouts, and happy hour on the patio is one of the best deals in town. Service is friendly and the views never get old. read more

Amazing View and Amazing Food and Amazing all around with close friends and family!! Staff members have always provided great service. Fresh crabs salad to steam mussels and OMG desserts!! read more

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My friend and I went to Driftwood for brunch on Sunday and we had a great time - amazing view and good food. We were going to make reservations for Sunday but because we didn't a set time to meet up and you had to put a credit card down, we decided to just show up which worked out! We were able to grab a seat outside with an ocean view. I ordered the crab eggs Benedict which I really liked! read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Lobster Hash - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Great little brunch spot right up on the water. Good food, good drinks, good service. PS. If you like Bloody Mary's, make sure you ask for the Bloody Pirate, but Captain Chance style which comes with a spicy garnish and bacon. Cheers~ read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Bloody Pirate, Captain Chance style, Bloody Mary - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Service is amazing and ocean view is awesome when you seat. Outside seats look very limited and would recommend making reservations. I search everywhere to find the best egg Benedict and their egg Benedict was little disappointing because of the lack of flavors in the sauce... It was way too creamy almost like gravy ? I would like to go back and try different stuff though. read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Egg Benedict - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

It's my third visit to Driftwood Kitchen, and it never disappoints. I always love sitting on the patio, where you can take in the stunning view of Laguna Beach--the ocean waves, the surfers, and that refreshing sea breeze. This time, I ordered three dishes: the avocado toast, crab salad, and lobster entrée--all absolutely delicious. The quality and presentation are consistently impressive. I've always loved Laguna Beach because the people here are so friendly. There's an energy that instantly puts you in a good mood. It's truly an artist's town--you can see and feel creativity everywhere. That ocean breeze makes you want to stay all day, just soaking in the beauty of nature. Always happy to support great local restaurants like this one! read more

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This experience exceeded our expectations. The team at Driftwood Kitchen achieve hospitality, great food, and atmosphere in one go. Even if they weren't right on the ocean, this would be a destination for us. Their bar is clad in wooden adornments, it's the perfect setting for a before dinner cocktail. I only caution those with sensitive hearing. With high ceilings a full dining room was a bit loud. Their host was able to move us to the patio, which was beyond beautiful. Our server Lily was kind and gracious. We were so grateful to the staff for making accommodations for us. The food was not your run of the mill beachside fare. The chopped salad was chock full of fresh vegetables, and left us satiated. Maine lobster flautas, need I say more? We had the miso sea bass, jidori chicken, and lobster carbonara for our mains. Each dish was appropriately seasoned and the proteins were cooked to perfection. We can't wait to bring our family on our next trip to Laguna! read more

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cute restaurant with view of the water. food and service were both ok. food: - vodka pasta: vegan and not very good - salmon: this was so yummy and it came with veggies - parker house roll: so buttery and nice cheese on top read more

Driftwood Kitchen - Pan Seared Salmon & Vegan Vodka Pasta - Seafood Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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