While looking at nearby restaurants for Valentine's Day dinner, we decided to book a reservation at Lumberyard. We had never heard of Lumberyard before, but the menu seemed to have balanced selection of land and sea offerings. So this was perfect for both of us. Lumberyard is located in a walkable section of Laguna Beach, in the heart of all of the action. The ocean/beach is a quick walk from the front door, so this is the perfect location for dinner and an evening stroll. Parking is challenging as you have the option of parking in the lot across the street or in the structure down the road. Traffic is also quite heavy as Laguna Canyon is a road that is heavily traveled. Lumberyard is a restaurant that offers an intimate dining experience with more of a laid back vibe. It's kind of dark inside as they keep the lights dimmed. The bar is front and center and takes up a good portion of the restaurant. There's a small section toward the front, just behind the hostess where live bands play a small set for guests. The menu has a nice selection of items that appealed to both of us. I am an incredibly picky eater, often focusing on vegetarian dishes or seafood. I ended up ordering the Parmesan crusted sole with mashed potatoes and lemon butter with a Shirley Temple. My husband ordered chicken pot pie and a creamsicle mocktail. I liked the presentation of the whole meal. My Shirley Temple had little heart candies floating atop of it. So cute! As for our meals, I can say that this was well worth the price. I took a bite of the pie crust on my husband's chicken pot pie and it tasted homemade. It was delicious! My sole was pretty tasty! The lemon butter was super creamy and it added more flavor to an already tasty piece of fish. The potatoes were light and fluffy! The meal was delicious! Our experience at Lumberyard was great. People from all walks of life were there that evening. Some people were dressed in jeans with sneakers while others were dressed to impress. The staff were very professional and our waiter was attentive. Our experience at Lumberyard was quite nice and we would definitely return for another date night in the near future. read more

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In town for birthday week, decided to take my wife and friends to dinner to celebrate her birthday. When we arrived it was busy but we were seated with our reservation at a high top in the bar. Live music and rustic decor with plenty of TV's playing the Olympics. Great cocktails and no skimping, our server brought our orders and they all were delizioso. Reasonably priced and will be back, my only disappointment was I mentioned the birthday when I made the reservation as well as confirming and nothing was done to acknowledge the birthday. Ciao read more

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My partner and I went here together on a date, and over all the experience was just so so. The food: Overall mixed reviews here. I got the spinach and ricotta cavatteli, and it was very tasty. The ricotta was zesty and the artichoke hearts had a nice flavor as well. Cavatteli isn't my favorite pasta though, and I think it could have been less Al Dente My partner got the grilled halibut sandwich. Overall very yummy! I thought the fish was a little dry but that's about it. On the side, they got the coleslaw. Not recommended. We also ordered a skillet cornbread as an appetizer. I liked the jalapeño and cheese inside. It was a fluffy cornbread, which isn't my preference, but if that's your cup of tea it's a good cornbread. The positive: They had live music and the musicians were very good. It made the restaurant very lively. The negative: The price. The cornbread was $14 so we were disappointed when it came out and wasnt too much larger than the bread you might expect to come with your entrée. My pasta dish was $23, and my partner's sandwich was $25. While the food was pretty good, and this is Laguna Beach, the quantity was not much for the price. We also prefaced at the beginning of the meal that we were planning on ordering dessert. After we finished our entrées, our waiter was MIA. When he came back around it was just after closing. In order to make sure the kitchen staff could go home on time, we didn't order dessert. Overall, it was a largely mediocre experience. I would probably eat somewhere else if given the option. read more

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I've been here a few times and have always loved it. This time I went with my mom for lunch. She ordered the fish and chips with cole slaw and I ordered the filet of sole sandwich with spinach. Both were really superb dishes. My mom's fish and chips dish was picture perfect in the way the Alaskan cod was prepared: crispy batter, very fresh fish, a great tartar sauce. The cole slaw was very well prepared: fresh ingredients, crunchy texture. My filet of sole sandwich had huge pieces of fresh sole on ciabatta with avocado, arugula and aioli. The spinach that came with it was a generous portion and delicious. Our servers were wonderful: friendly and helpful. We sat on the outdoor patio on a beautiful day. The ambiance couldn't have been better. Finally, for lunch, the dishes were $16. Very reasonably priced, especially for Laguna Beach. This place will become a regular of mine. read more

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The food is just mediocre. Had the salmon which was in a miso orange sauce, it didn't work. The meatloaf wasn't very good and the sea bass didn't look like sea bass Cocktails and service we're good but here's the kicker WHO THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE LIVE MUSIC DURING DINNER SERVICE ( at 6 pm) and they got louder and louder as the night went on to the point we were yelling across the table to be heard read more

Still amazing! Came in with some girlfriends to have dinner before going to see Pageant of The Masters and we had the best meal and service. The alcoholic root beer floats are amazing! Dinner and service are always great here. Highly recommend if you are in the area and want to have a nice meal! Sit by the window and people watch. Super interesting. read more

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Service was slow, but food was great! We had 6:00 dinner reservations and the place was busy, it took a long time to be served - but once the process started it was ok. The server was friendly. read more

An unexpected treat. I stopped in for lunch waiting for Laguna beach permitting.... French onion soup = 10/10 Fish & chips = 10/10 Laguna beach building and Saftey 0/10 read more

What a great place for a dinner! Food was good and service was great! Staff were very professional and accommodating. Great place before a show or date! read more

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After planning to go to Zinc Café just down the street... We pivoted and came here instead... As I did not know Zinc is vegetarian (and my girlfriend and I are both meat eaters)! Jose was our server - and he was exceptional. At the moment, I am having so many issues with food and things I have to stay away from... It's a pain to go out to eat- and a stress to believe the server and restaurant will deliver. After listing all of the foods/ingredients I need to avoid... Jose didn't miss a beat. He helped me navigate through the menu- and knew EXACTLY what was in EACH dish and every single dressing and sauce which I SOOOOOOO appreciate because it ensures I'm not going to be sick in a few hours. I ordered the beet salad (minus the goat cheese and minus the dressing (can't do dairy at the moment and he said the dressing had canola oil in it.)... I also added chicken and he said they could grill that with olive oil. Jose is literally the most INFORMED server I have ever had! Seriously. The only reason I didn't give this place five stars... Is because of the food. While it all tasted really yummy... I wish the chicken was organic/Pastor raised... And that they always used olive oil in their dressings, not just when requested. We now how bad seed oils are at this point- so it's always disappointing for me to see nice restaurants still using it. We are not at Taco Bell, after all. Because I couldn't have the dressing it came with, Jose brought me a side of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Right now, here are the foods I need to avoid: *Gluten *Meat glue (yes, you read that correct- and it's more commonly used in restaurants than you think, so I'm hoping my chicken breast wasn't held together with it!) *Canola oil (used in nearly every restaurant and in nearly every marinade/vinaigrette/sauce) *Dairy *Certain veggies *Certain herbs Knowing all that- I'm so grateful Jose was my server today... or who knows how I'd be feeling tonight! read more

Lumberyard - Modified Beet salad w/Grilled Chicken - New American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The Lumberyard is a Laguna Beach staple, a spot you can always count on for solid food, great service, and strong drinks. Every time. If you go, don't skip the chicken pot pie and meatloaf -both are next-level comfort food and dishes I'd consider special. Rich, hearty, and packed with flavor, they're the kind of meals that keep you coming back. Whether you're a local or just visiting, The Lumberyard delivers consistency and quality in a warm, inviting setting. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Lumberyard - New American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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The Lunch menu had nice offering. The fish & chips with fries were good and crispy. The sole fish on the ciabatta was perfectly baked. The arugula, tomato and avocado sauce (with hint of spicy) made it a tasty and filling sandwich. Service was efficient with one person taking care of seating, bar and serving read more

Lumberyard - New American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Lumberyard in Laguna Beach is a refined yet cozy American comfort food destination known for its warm, lodge-like atmosphere and a menu that appeals to both locals and visitors. Located in a historic 1913 building on Forest Avenue, it is frequently described as having a "Cheers"-like vibe--welcoming, lively, and deep-rooted in the community. The interior features dark mahogany wood, cozy soft booths, and a stone fireplace, creating what guests call a "sexy library" or mountain-cabin feel. It can get quite loud inside during peak hours, particularly when live music plays on Friday and Saturday nights. Famous for Chicken Pot Pie (known for its flaky crust), Bacon-wrapped Meatloaf with mushroom demi-glaze, and Cedar Plank Salmon. While downtown Laguna parking is notoriously difficult, the restaurant offers free validated parking in a lot located directly behind the building on Ocean Avenue. read more

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High quality food and a good ambiance. The portion of food was small but it was good quality. read more

Down in Laguna beach for the art festival. We were walking around and saw the lumberyard on the corner. They would prefer reservations, but they were kind enough to squeeze us in. We came early so we wouldn't have any trouble. There were two of us. The food was yummy. yummy Yum. We started with a crab cake salad, followed by a French dip with sautéed spinach on the side and ended with an apple mango cobbler That I can't even describe. It was so good with ice cream. Our servers name was Victor and he was very attentive. My water glass was constantly filled, and he made sure everything was good. I would suggest if you're here out of town it's a good location to come to. read more

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A nice cozy restaurant within walking distance of the beach. Rustic decor, as be fitting the name. Plenty of seating, we had a reservation but didn't need it since the place had so many open tables. We had a mixed variety of food including the chicken pot pie, the beef stroganoff, fish, and a cheeseburger. The food was reasonably priced and good if not amazing. I was a little disappointed in the chicken pot pie. The crust was perfect but the filling needed a little bit more seasoning. The zucchini planks were amazing, easily the highlight of the meal. Drinks were good and the service was lovely. I would definitely recommend this place and if I'm in the neighborhood will gladly return read more

Lumberyard - Lumberyard Planks - New American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Very nice place with lovely ambience. Spacious seating and we got a lovely booth. The service was good. I ordered the raspberry rose Collins cocktail, which was very disappointing. While the presentation was nice, the cocktail was very bland and flavorless. It also felt like they did not add any alcohol in it. I would not order this again. The flavor of the beef stroganoff was absolutely delicious. However, they should've asked me how I like my meat. The meat that came to me was well done on the outside corners perfectly the way I love it. The center of the meat was pink (I hate rare and medium). We ordered the lumber yard planks as the appetizer. This was fried zucchini with garlic, aïoli sauce. Let me tell you that this is the best fried zucchini I have ever had in my life. I would've easily ordered four of these and made it an entrée for me. They had crusted Parmesan flakes all over the fried zucchini, which was chefs kiss to the overall dish. Superb!!!! Sure, I would come back and make an extra special request to have the beef in the beef stroganoff to be well done, and I would order other cocktails as they have a variety of cocktails to order from. read more

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Food, service, location all so good. We often sit at the bar and the bartenders are so amazing and kind. Food is high quality...love their stroganoff, French dip, salad. And great selection of wine. Never disappoints! read more

My husband and I came here based on a recommendation from someone who used to live in OC. We were catching a show in the area and needed to find a place for dinner. We booked reservations for the evening and I'm glad we did. It was pretty busy! We arrived and were taken to a booth to be seated w/no wait. We ordered the Lumberyard sticks (basically fried zucchini) with aioli dip. It was crispy and a bit greasy. The crispiness was good though. We both ordered the halibut sandwich but I had mine with a GF bun instead of the ciabatta bread. It was good and the flavor was light. We both had sweet potato fries. Unfortunately, they brought my husband spinach by mistake but corrected it. The sweet potato fries were perfectly cooked. There's street parking if you are lucky to get a spot. read more

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Delicious food (we ordered the meatloaf and the chicken Cobb salad with the half size sourdough bread). The meatloaf melted in your mouth and we loved the mushroom gravy. Service was attentive (although it was quite busy and too loud for most conversation). They provided me a thoughtful birthday dessert, which was tasty and always a nice touch. Definitely a great experience overall. But next time we may elect to sit outside. read more

Lumberyard - A complimentary birthday treat for the birthday girl... - New American Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Really good service and friendly staff. We are at Lumberyard before a performance and they were efficient and the food was good the cocktails were well done as well. We ordered the friend calamari, skirt steak, filet, and salmon, and everything tastes great. The desserts were especially good and stood out -- especially the cookie dessert -- do not miss that. The key lime cheesecake was amazing as well. read more

We went there before we went to see the pageant Masters. We have an excellent dinner. The food was amazing. The service was good. read more

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We went to this restaurant for the first time as we were going to Pageant of the Masters and it's walking distance from the venue. They have a really nice outside patio to eat and the inside is a nice size with comfortable booths. They have a full bar so my friends enjoyed the red Sangria and IPA. Our server was very sweet and attentive. She told us the specials and recommended some customer favorites. She was a joy as she was always smiling even though it was pretty packed before the show. I really enjoyed my tender halibut sandwich with avocado aioli and perfected cooked sweet potato fries. The salmon salad was a huge portion and filled with lots of goodies on Arugula. My husband had the fish and chips which he said were perfectly breaded. What a nice surprise when you're out of your general area and find such a great spot. Plus Laguna Beach is a lovely place to visit, to walk around especially while the Sawdust Festival is open. read more

Colleague recommended this and I figure let's book this for Father's Day dinner. Made reservation and scheduled a few weeks before and was easy to make. The parking was convenient with it near the restaurant and walking distant away($4 for pretty much the night ) It looks like the name : lumberyard and wooden planks everywhere with the bricks with multiple shapes and sizes. We ordered the following 0) hamachi carpaccio (5/5): refreshing and vinaigrette on the slices 1) Filet Mignon (4/5) medium and done perfectly to Dad's tasting and clobbered it within minutes. 2) salmon sandwich (3/5) bread was too dry. Salmon is a bit too well done but the spinach platter was done deliciously. 3) Short Rib (3/5). The short rib definitely fell apart and melted into the plate. Portion was small and the massive amount of potatoes mash was alarming. Though the mash potato was delicious, the short rib literally was SHORT. Overall delicious but I think we could have had a better meat and seafood portion elsewhere down the street. Still beautiful place with its decor and the bar in the central of the yard is nice. read more

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I remember having had a wonderful meal at the Lumberyard some many years ago (per my last review it was 2011). So, being in Laguna Beach on a Friday night without reservations, we headed over to the Lumberyard, knowing that it was a large space and they could accommodate more customers than some of the smaller restaurants. Anyway, we were warmly greeted and readily seated in a booth toward the back of the restaurant. The restaurant was busy, but not full. Th volume of the restaurant was a bit off-putting, as something about the way voices echoed made it hard for me to converse with my husband, but we got used to it after a while. Once seated, we were greeted by a staff member, given water and notified that our server was coming. It took a while for her to arrive, and she apologized for the tardiness, and took our drink and appetizer order. Our first round of drinks came quickly. I enjoyed a nice glass of Albariño and we shared the calamari. I liked the presentation and flavor of the calamari, but the texture was fried a bit too fried for my liking. Unfortunately, once out drinks, waters, and the appetizer, our server was nowhere to be found. So we waited, at first very patiently... and waited... and then the wait to even order was getting ridiculous. I asked a staff member for our server. Anyway, someone who appeared to be a manager showed up and took our food orders, as well as an order for another round of drinks. These all came out quickly. I really enjoyed my crab cake salad. My husband had the chopped seafood salad which I think he also enjoyed. Unfortunately, after that, service went back to zero. We probably would have stayed for another drink or maybe a dessert, but, by the time our server returned, we were basically over it and ready to leave. All in all, the atmosphere is OK, food is good, but service was terrible that night. I would go somewhere else next time. read more

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Fun atmosphere. Food was really good, basic but good. Skillet cornbread itself was worth the trip. Chicken pot pie was outstanding. read more

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Had lunch with friends yesterday and we all were thrilled with the food and service. Chelsea kept us supplied and the table clean and every thing we ordered was delicious! I never take home leftovers but I couldn't resist every bite of my beyond burger and fries. Great place! We'll be going back! read more

Our food server was adorable and very attentive. I wish I could remember her name. She wore long braids if her name comes to me, I will add her name into the review later Unfortunately, the food was not very good. The clam chowder had no flavor whatsoever. The portobello mushroom fries were tasteless also plus more batter than mushroom unfortunately. I ordered the skirt steak. The presentation looked beautiful and yet it was so tough. I kept having to spit out the grizzle. The old fashions, on the other hand, were amazing. The problem is when you're coming for dinner. You can't just drink and not eat. Lol The other positive is the location. We were within walking distance, approximately three minutes, to the pageant of the masters, which was where we were headed. read more

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We love Lumberyard! Especially when there's live music with Bob Hawkins! Food and drinks are incredible. It's one of those spots you just have to go to. Locals definitely come here, very relaxed here and service is amazing! Highly recommend the chicken pot pie! read more

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The Lumberyard located in beautiful downtown Laguna Beach is a great place to have lunch or dinner. There is a new $16 lunch menu and I decided to try the fish tacos. There was a choice between salmon or halibut for the tacos which included shredded cabbage with a pink cream sauce and a side of black bean and corn salad. I chose the halibut for my taco and it was cooked perfectly. It was a generous portion of fish in each of the tacos so it could easily be split with a friend. The service was excellent. Our orders were taken within about five minutes of sitting down and the food came out quickly after we ordered. I would recommend the Lumberyard if you are visiting Laguna Beach. You will need to have reservations during the Art Festivals or when there is a play at the Playhouse. read more

The decor was rustic and inviting. Dress was casual. The menu had a good assortment of offerings from hamburgers and fish & chips to steaks and chicken, all of which looked so delicious! They easily accommodated our party of 6. The service was good and we received our food in a good amount of time. All dinners were very tasty. I will be back! read more

Phenomenal service and exceptional food with an unmatched ambiance and the most beautifully classic old town Laguna Beach class that makes your heart melt. The French onion soup was jaw dropping to the sight and for the taste buds a delight. The filet mignon had the most perfect texture with flavor that rivals any steak I have ever had. This is the most beautiful establishment serving the most scrumptious cuisine. Lumberyard is the restaurant you most certainly must try. read more

Wow! Do yourself a favor. Next time you're in Laguna, visit (or re-visit, like we did), Lumberyard! A few specific reasons: Super clean and open inside. Saturday football was on the screens inside the bar and the ambiance was relaxing and fun. Service was 5 STAR! José, our waiter was awesome! And when I say he was a great waiter,...... is an understatement! I have at least five things he did that was "above an beyond", but this review would be boring if I described them all, so please, trust me (as a guy that waited tables in my younger years), this guy was AWESOME! Incredible food! Our table enjoyed four different salads from their menu (and again, I could describe each dish, but that would be a boring read)! Just trust me, their quality was phenomenal! I had the Cobb....... AND finally, they have a TINNED fish menu which is freaken awesome! I will try and explain a tinned menu. It's kinda like a charcuterie board, but with a specialty canned fish as the protein. Tuna, anchovies, shrimp, mussels, clams, scallops, anchovies and more packed (individually) into cans, but canned with different spices, garlic, heat and peppers. All served with pickled veggies like green beans, Brussel sprouts, tomatoes, peperoncinis, and of course with flat crackers and a bag of potato chips (Ruffles in our case) used as a creative element to enjoy each bite! A totally unique and tasty option to start as an appetizer! read more

Such a cool place. Ambiance was great. Live music as well. Will come back again. And why does Yelp make me type 85 characters before I can post? read more

Calamari - very tasty dish. Came with a nice aïoli and a little bit extra Worchester in the red sauce. Or do this again it's not a huge portion, but it was very nice with a lemon squeeze. 5/5 Chicken pot pie: really tasty, looks like a giant portion, but I was able to eat it and still didn't feel overly stuffed. It's a very nice crust I would order again. 5/5 Bucatini - I do love fresh pasta and the artichokes, and those are very good and make it quite savory and umami. i'm not a huge, capers fan, but probably if you like capers, it would be five out of five for you... In my case it was 4/5 Picante Mezcalita - nice spice nice strength 5/5 Añejo orange, cinnamon, sour - great cocktail! I like the egg white and cinnamon 5/5 read more

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Nice area, food was great ! Service was tough... not very busy but they seemed to struggle, no paper towels in the bathroom... host in the front was extremely rude!! First time there didn't know where to put our name in and he was not very helpful and when I asked he was very dismissive, to bad cute place but for how expensive things are and other places in Laguna I wouldn't recommend sadly . read more

An excellent place to eat before a show at the Playhouse or the Pageant of the Masters. We have been plenty of times and it has never disappointed. The big beautiful bar serves everything. On this particular visit, the bartender made us a a tasty Gin Martini and a Stanley Tucci Negroni. Excellent cocktails to go with our meal. We started of with the Shrimp Ceviche Tostadas. They are quite small but the flavor is big. The Cedar Planked Mahogany King Salmon with Yukon Gold Potatoes is not small; it's large and delicious. Also as good is the Lumberyard Meat Loaf, wrapped in Bacon and served with whipped potatoes. The Mushroom demiglaze is just a tad too salty for my taste but it was gobbled up by the rest of the party. We finished off our meal with the Huckleberry Bread Pudding and Iced Cream - fantastic. The service is friendly and attentive and our meal was just right. I think the only complaint I have is that they close too early. The doors shut at 8:30 or 9pm, depending on the day of the week. They are the perfect place to go, after a show, if only they would stay open later. Nevertheless, the Lumberyard is one of the best restaurants in Laguna Beach and worth a visit read more

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This isn't a knock on the service or atmosphere of this establishment, since it was pretty slow inside, however, this does speak to the price of the food, as well as the quality of the food. Fish of Chips (only decent - bready), Children's Mac and Cheese (OK), and a Cesar Salad (No protein) (It's a salad) cost us $83.00! Waters all around. If you are OK spending that type of money for sub-par food, then by all means. read more

This review is a follow-up to manager's reply regarding our Thanksgiving Day meal experience at Lumberyard. As stated we were so looking forward to relaxing and having a nice warm tasty turkey dinner . Yes Laguna is beautiful, restaurant quaint but unfortunately for us their 3 course Turkey Dinner, not so much. A simple salad was followed by a cold plate of white overly thick square cut turkey pieces piled on top of cold white bland mashed potato, flavorless mushy cold stuffing, a hint of vegetable, touch of cranberry and a small pile of unappealing dark meat cut into weird smaller pieces , all sparsely topped with beyond bland thin cold gravy- But we were hungry so thought presentation looked somewhat inviting -until you tried cutting into and chewing the ole tough byrd! Needless to say, we sadly picked at food and were so angry and upset for coming here-we barely saw our server - bus person seemed confused we refused takeout containers-Oh and let's not forget the apple pastry dessert that was also stone cold and hard as a rock and tasted like cardboard! Have you ever tried to bite thru old cold pastry crust? Needed a chainsaw !! SO how would you feel? As the restaurant had many open tables when we placed our order there is no excuse for being served two cold Thanksgiving Day Turkey Dinners. I do understand we should of said something at the time, why put a customer in that position? We put our time. energy, expectations, $$$, into coming here and looking forward to the nice 3 course meal you advertised so why would we want another entree? That is adding insult to injury. The damage was done when restaurant allowed quality of food beyond mediocre to be served on a special day. No doubt others may have had a more enjoyable experience and no doubt better food served here on regular days, but the JOY OF A THANKSGIVING MEAL COMES ONCE A YEAR and so when a restaurant falls way short because poor quality of food allowed to be served then a customer review is warranted so please don't try and placate us by accusing us of not speaking up when our hearts were broken........ read more

Ambiance: Lumberyard gives a dark, sexy library vibe with masculine mahogany colors and a stone fireplace. This vibe is offset by the lively local band playing for the guests at the full bar top. We had reservations on a Friday night, and it was packed! We got there around 6:30 for a 7pm res thinking we could grab a drink at the bar first. No chance - the place was packed. We weren't disappointed, merely happily surprised, and we got a glass of wine down the street before coming back for dinner. Our booth was right near the fireplace which created a comfy cozy atmosphere. Service: Our server was great. She refilled our wine and water glasses frequently, and she was punctual with everything else. The hostess was very busy with seating and bussing, and was able to remain friendly and helpful. Food: The zucchini planks were plentiful and crispy! The breading was crisp and complimented the zucchini slices perfectly. We got the meatloaf and the artichoke & mushroom strozzapreti. I thought the pasta had a great bite and the sauce was tangy and flavorful. I'm told the meatloaf was delicious as well. I tried the potatoes that came with it and those were buttery and light. We ordered a bottle of Road 31 pinot noir as well. The wine was jammy and complimentary to the meal. Prices were on par with downtown Laguna prices, maybe even slightly less than average. All in all, make a reservation for weekend nights and enjoy! read more