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    Driftwood Kitchen

    4.0 (3.3k reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM

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    DRIFTWOOD KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Driftwood Kitchen

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    Bridget A.

    Great service, great ambiance, great food! Loved this cute little restaurant. They have beach front access which was so nice after eating. I brought my family visiting from Canada and they absolutely loved it! If you are undecided where to try while in Laguna. Give this place a try you won't regret it.

    Inside table for 6.
    Crissy W.

    We came here to celebrate Mother's Day the day before the actual holiday, and it turned out to be such a wonderful experience. The food was delicious, the view was absolutely beautiful, and our waitress -- a wonderful redhead whose name I unfortunately can't remember -- was amazing and made our visit even more enjoyable. Aside from a little hassle with the reservation process, everything else was excellent. The atmosphere, service, and overall experience made this a place we would happily come back to again and again. Definitely a solid choice for a special meal or celebration!

    Friends with our drinks
    Rebecca B.

    The service was great. The food was delicious. The ambience was amazing. I was celebrating my birthday I had a wonderful dining experience because of our server Chris. My friend & I had a fabulous time. I recommend this awesome restaurant.

    Sunset on the deck.
    Sherry L.

    Beautiful view. Delicious food. Friendly and efficient service. Valet parking. Reservations. Took my partner for Father's Day. It was wonderful!

    Nhu V.

    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.

    Thanksgiving buffet 2025
    Jennifer H.

    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.

    Lucy K.

    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.

    Fish and chips.  Good size fish.  Fries just ok.
    Anita W.

    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!

    We ordered quite the feast. Best food in the city. Juan had amazing service and overall this was the date we needed
    Sydney P.

    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!!

    Spanish octopus - Romesco sauce is so delicious! We were blown away by
    Bailey L.

    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

    Bar area
    Sara H.

    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

    French toast

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    Driftwood Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Driftwood Kitchen

    How do i do valet parking? Do i just pay the fee and tip when I leave?

    That's an unusual question? Don't you just pull up and the guy parks your car!! However, what terrible surprise to get hit with the $16 charge when he returned my car! I had to skip breakfast the next morning! Haha Oh well, life's not cheap. PW

    Is it dog friendly?

    There were no dogs in the restaurant when I visited. It's a very nice restaurant, so probably not

    Im trying to make a reservation for a large party but no one ever answers the phone. How do i make that reservation?

    Unfortunately, I am not surprised. I have been staying at the Pacific Edge Hotel (an entirely other negative review) for over a month bc my house is getting repaired. Driftwood Kitchen is the "room service" option for this hotel, and they never… Read more

    Hello, if I have a reservation for Mother's Day, are we able to order off the regular menu or is dining only for the buffet? Thank you!

    The email they sent me said it was buffet only.

    Do you sell gift certificates?

    Do you serve breakfast? Just wondering as I do not see a breakfast menu on your website thank you?

    Yes, we offer the breakfast items on the menu named Brunch

    Is there any onion in the poke tacos?

    Multiple times there, but didn't order Poke. However, I wouldn't go there again. Plenty of other restaurants that have good Poke.

    Is there a second phone number? I keep calling and no one is answering. I need to ensure wheelchair access and seating for my reservation but no one is answering the phone.

    I went there with my baby so I had a stroller with me that I was able to access the restaurant. But if you need to go down to the bar they do not have wheelchair access.

    Is there a way down to the beach from the restaurant? We wanted to have our officiant marry us on the beach and then celebrate at the restaurant .

    Not directly from the restaurant, however this is access right next to it by the Pacific Edge Hotel. It is a very easy walk!!

    How early do you start serving dinner?

    Dinner begins at 5pm each night.

    What's the best option for parking? Do they have valet or a parking lot? Or only street parking?

    Valet

    Is there a dress code? Can we wear flip flops?

    No dress code that i know of, we went for breakfast and i wore my rainbow sandals :) For dinner we did dress up nice though

    Are dogs allowed?

    Yes

    What's the corkage fee and policy to bring your own bottle?

    You can bring your own bottle, but I've been told different things the handful times I've been there so I would just call and ask as maybe they update policies quite often

    Do you accommodate handicap?

    Yes, we do. We have multiple elevators to ensure you are able to access all area's of the restaurant. There are ramps in the dining room as well.

    Do they have a Saturday brunch with bottomless mimosa?

    We do have Brunch! Every Saturday and Sunday from 9am-2:30pm. We do not offer bottomless mimosas.

    Do you need reservations?

    Reservations are recommended but not required.

    Do they have a good Sunday brunch, champagne good crowd etc?

    Not sure but give them a call or check out their website: https://www.driftwoodkitchen.com And yes they do. On the ocean, and bet it's great.

    What time does lunch end and dinner start?

    Lunch stops at 2:30 and dinner begins at 5

    Is it paid parking and if so where?

    Valet is the best way to go for $8 with validation. Even with COVID there is still valet service

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    Just wanted to say a huge thank you to your receptionist for helping with our friend's proposal…read moretoday. She was incredibly patient and kind throughout the whole process. Our plan changed twice(maybe more), and she adapted to every change without hesitation. She also helped hand the flowers to the groom-to-be, which made the proposal more special. They even gave the couple a beautiful corner table by the window so they could enjoy the ocean view. It was absolutely perfect and made the moment even more memorable. We truly appreciate her kindness and the amazing service from your team. Everyone went above and beyond to make this proposal a success, and we're so grateful. Thank you for helping create such a beautiful and unforgettable memory!

    This is the perfect restaurant to have a fancy meal or a girl's brunch!…read more Whenever I come across any restaurant known for its views or ambiance, the food is often subpar so I didn't have high expectations coming here. But wow did that change my mind!! The margherita flatbread was a table favorite and approved by my Italian friends. We also loved the alaskan halibut tacos & crispy chicken sandwich. The portions were big enough to share or eat individually so it felt worth the price. As a party of 8, we honestly had a great experience with our food, service, and waterfront seating. The staff were not quick to rush us while we celebrated my friend's birthday with a cake and pictures, so that was very much appreciated. I would absolutely come back for my birthday or any special occasion! Some things to note: - $10 valet parking with validation but there's plenty of metered street parking out front - 20% service charge automatically added to the bill

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    The Deck On Laguna Beach

    The Deck On Laguna Beach

    4.0
    (2.3k reviews)
    0.0 mi
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    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.

    On the deck overlooking the Pacific Ocean! What a beautiful view!!…read moreWe came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. Upon arrival, you'll find that the valet completely disregards the flow of the street. They use the southbound lane as a parking lot, effectively turning a small two-way road into a one-way alley. The valet guys were also rude to people trying to drive through for no apparent reason. When sitting outside on the deck, there are 12 heaters available, but the hostess wouldn't turn them on. (I've eaten at many waterfront restaurants, and they all turn the heaters on--especially when the temperature drops from 80°F and sunny to 68°F after the sun goes down.) The website states no seating after 8 p.m., yet they were still seating people well after 8:15. The menu was also not what I was expecting. While waiting for dinner, the aroma of marijuana drifted across the dining area. (I know they can't control what happens outside their establishment.) the deck is roped off because apparently it's unsafe and could fall off at any moment in addition to the rotting floor. The food: The menu is underwhelming. I ordered the chicken with sun-dried tomato risotto and vegetables. The risotto was undercooked and flavorless, and the chicken was also lacking flavor. I sampled the New York steak with mashed potatoes--the steak was cooked well, but the potatoes were cold. We didn't even bother ordering dessert and went elsewhere instead.

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    237 Ocean Avenue

    237 Ocean Avenue

    4.5
    (75 reviews)
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    We came on NYE. There was music happening at 9pm, but we…read morecame early and missed it. That was our fault. We were the only ones there. The experience was all over the map. The owner served us initially, and he was really friendly and funny. We ordered a bottle of wine, and some cocktails. We put in some salads and an appetizer, they were really really good. But after that, our server (the owner we were told) left, and another server introduced himself. The new server was inattentive. He sat chatting with the other servers at the bar, leaving empty glasses and empty plates on the table. We had to flag him to come back to fill water. Having been myself in the service industry for years, my biggest pet peeve is when servers sit and chat where you can see them, and when they do come, they don't do a sweep and take care of things on the table. We had to put our empty glasses and trash on a side table. It was weird. The bolognese had hardly any meat in it. It was mostly tomato and onion. I've been to Argentina. Meat is a staple. Also weird. We ordered dessert and after waiting for 5-10 minutes, the server came back and told us they were missing crucial ingredients to make it. The owner came back at the end and was really gracious, but all in all, I think the execution was lacking. The service was not great. The food was 3.5/5 I love to support small business, perhaps we will try again another night.

    First beer release from 237 Ocean. I'm a beer guy so love that they're making their own beer now…read moresince I remember coming here when it was a brewery. It's definitely been upgraded with higher end furnishings and a farm-to-table menu. The servers and staff are always friendly and welcoming and do their best at getting to you when it's busy. We love the various types of seating with some family-style seating as well as outdoor couches and chairs to watch the people go by.

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    South of Nick's

    South of Nick's

    4.6
    (1.2k reviews)
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    Delicious, well prepared, elevated Mexican dishes with an artisan's aesthetic flare to put it…read moremildly. From the beef options to the ever so delightful seafood options - your tastebuds will enjoy a night out here. Atmosphere is energetic and most inviting. Excellent for a date night or book a gathering - you'll be well cared for - staff is most welcoming. Views across PCH allow glimpses of the ocean and sunset beyond. Highly recommend / suggest you make a reservation.

    PHENOMENAL dinner service from the waiters here. Great cocktail pairing recommendations with meal,…read moresuper attentive, always delivered, and great end to my engagement night. Would 100% come back. That said, I'd admit, a certain DTLA Michelin restaurant has set my expectations of south of border seafood cuisine a bit too high (starts with H) so I'll try to be reasonable. Also the items picked were surprisingly huge and i was too full to finish my meal. 9/10 The chips tasted delicious, bean dip was something new and delicious, salsa was fresh and bold, and the roasted pepper salsa was surprisingly not too spicy, really good. 8/10 trio de cheviche. Good assortment and size of the dish. Shrimp was ok, I felt it was missing something, octopus was good, my personal favorite was the marinaded tuna. 8/10 seafood chile relleno, not a bad assortment, sides were good, large portions of food. 10/10 Coco rita, this margarita is definitely something different! And pairs with everything amazingly, I love it, and this is coming from someone who normally hates coconut. 9/10 they brought out this chocolate cake I dont see on the menu but they will if it's your birthday, but in my case to celebrate my new engagement. Super moist. The place is really loud ambient wise when busy which was around 8pm which is normal of any popular place but after near closing around 9:30 is pretty quiet and casual on a Sunday. Total bill after a 21% tip ran me total $165 and I had leftovers. Free chips, 1 large giant appetizer, and 1 large entree could potentially feed 3 people if you don't eat a lot. If you don't wanna have leftovers, go easy on the chips but that's gonna be hard.

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