I can't believe it took me this long to experience Nick's, especially as someone who's deeply…read morefamiliar with the Laguna dining scene. To put it simply: this is the kind of place Laguna has been missing. From the moment we walked in, the energy felt dialed-in in a way that immediately reminded me of a Hillstone experience -- polished but not pretentious, lively but still intimate. That balance is incredibly hard to execute, and Nix nails it. For context, I'm part owner of 230 Forest Avenue, so I don't say this lightly: Nix easily lands in my top five in Laguna Beach. We started with Aperol spritzes (perfectly balanced, not overly sweet), along with a couple of appetizers -- including a fried asparagus dish that was addictive in the best way. Crisp, flavorful, and gone way too quickly. For mains, I ordered the veggie burger, which was genuinely one of the best I've had -- hearty, well-seasoned, and thoughtfully constructed (not an afterthought, which vegetarian options so often are). My boyfriend had the noodle salad, which was fresh, vibrant, and layered with flavor. But beyond the food, what really stood out was the overall experience. The atmosphere feels intentional , great music, beautiful crowd, and a buzz that makes you want to linger. It's the kind of place where dinner effortlessly turns into drinks, and drinks turn into "should we just stay a little longer?" Laguna Beach doesn't have a ton of restaurants that hit this level across the board -- food, service, ambiance, and energy, but Nix absolutely does. We'll be back, and soon.

Can you say delicious x10?! The food here is dangerously good…read more We kicked things off with drinks, an old fashioned and a skinny margarita, both doing exactly what they needed to do! Then came the artichoke appetizer and the soup of the day... and honestly, I could've stopped there and been happy. But we powered through like professionals and went for a late lunch entrée, the Chilean sea bass- and WOW. Worth every bite. And shoutout to our server and the entire staff, total pros. Super polished, attentive, and clearly know what they're doing without being over the top. If you're looking for amazing food with a cool, laid-back vibe, Nick's is your spot. Just come hungry... and maybe wear stretchy pants.

I'd rate this spot as a solid choice, mainly for the atmosphere and the scenery…read more The Highlights: The views here are absolutely amazing. If you can, timing your visit for sunset on the patio is a must--there's nothing quite like that ocean view as the sun goes down. The service is consistently good as well; the staff is attentive and handles the volume well, which is impressive because this place is a bustling, busy spot during dinner hours. The Food: The food is good, though I wouldn't necessarily call it great. It's reliable and tasty enough, but the view is definitely the primary draw here. The Cons: Be prepared for a wait. It is a very popular local hangout, and there are often a lot of regulars who take up the seating near the entertainment. If you're heading there for dinner, expect to wait at least an hour for a table. Overall, it's a pleasant experience if you aren't in a rush and want a front-row seat to the coast!

We ordered the Surfin Cowboy…read more$26.00 A 1/2 lb wagyu patty topped with melty pepper jack cheese, crispy bacon, onion rings, and tangy BBQ sauce on a brioche bun. And Macadamia Chicken $33.00 Succulent chicken breast crusted with macadamia, with a delicate champagne cream sauce and garnished with fresh mango and papaya. The views are great at this restaurant. It was super sunny which made it hot but, the server accommodated us and put up the umbrellas which made it comfortable. Another person in our party dinner was not satisfactory so the server took it off our bill. This was really appreciated and unexpected. Great place to enjoy if you want to eat outside.

Great food and drinks! Chef's Ajillo shrimp was really delicious as was everything. Waiter and…read moreowner were both very helpful and nice!

Love the food , gorgeous atmosphere Ocean view great service, friendly staff . Tony has so much…read moretalent of running high class restaurants businesses more than 30 years . I definitely recommend Oak's

I've been wanting to try this place so we decided to give this one pace a try during OCRW! We made…read morereservations and got a seat on their generous size patio! The water guys were great! We never had an empty glass of water during our meal! That's impressive, haha. We both got the OCRW meal. We got 1 of each appetizer- gem salad & tomato bisque. It took a little bit for the food to come out when it wasn't that crowded but we enjoyed the view. Both were good. Then we waited a bit for our food but we got the lamb shanks which was huge!! The server said it was about 12oz! My friend said it was good! I got the seabass with veggies which I really enjoyed! Light fish and loved the veggies! We both got the crème brûlée which was a good way to end the deal! Everything was delicious! You also get an amazing view of the sunset which we didn't even plan. Definitely worth a try!! SYOY!

Sapphire is such an amazing restaurant. Its located just a block from the beach so the dining…read moreexperience comes with a beautiful view. The patio area is very spacious so there is plenty of room for people to enjoy the ocean breeze. I dined here on a Friday evening and it was pretty busy. Despite how lively it was, our server was extremely attentive to all of our needs. The manager, Sal, was extremely friendly and I noticed him engaging with tables throughout the night. The food was all so delicious. For appetizers we ordered the White Mexican Shrimp & Chilean Sea Bass Ceviche, the Rosemary Focaccia Bread, and a cup of their Seafood Chowder. The Ceviche was fresh and packed with flavor. The Focaccia was so fluffy and was served with a delicious whipped honey butter. For my entree I ordered the Short Rib Pappardelle. The chunk of short rib was massive and the creme fraise really tied all the elements of the dish together. My friends ordered the Wild Caught Chilean Sea Bass and American Wagyu Beef Burger. Both were yummy. Overall the food, service, and ambiance were top notch. Will definitely be back.

The deck is a great place to have a meal and look out over the vast Pacific Ocean. The views from…read morethe outdoor seating area are absolutely stunning. The service is great and the food is really good. This is the second or third time we've been to the deck while visiting Laguna Beach and it does not disappoint. We shared several different items between the four of us and enjoyed delicious cocktails. Definitely recommend this restaurant if you are in Laguna Beach during the day & really take in those view!

Fabulous experience recently when me and a few friends decided to hit this patio restaurant bar for…read morecocktails and a preshow dinner. First off the view of the shoreline and sunset were AWESOME, perfect backdrop to start a weekend of fun. Service was great, accommodating and welcoming. The first couple arrived at the bar, later joined by more of us and we squeezed in since it would be sometime before we could get a table (no reservations but no matter). The bar tender told us we could order food at the bar so that works since we didn't want to be late for the show. Well shortly after ordering drinks, a table miraculously opened up for our group so we moved. The food was great as I had a seafood Cobb salad which hit the spot. Others had fish tacos, hamburgers and said their food was delicious. No complaints at all from our group and only thanks to me for choosing this place to meet up at. A winner in my mind and I'll be sure to come back next time I am in the area!

We were visiting Laguna Beach and hungry and thirsty while walking around so we stopped in Finneys…read more Friendly staff sat us and took really good care of us. Great decor and very open so it was nice to enjoy the fresh ocean air while we sat inside. Food was very good and priced reasonably, the beverages quenched our thirst and amazingly delizioso. So when you see Finneys especially this location, mosy in and pull up a seat. You won't be disappointed. Ciao

I absolutely love Laguna Beach and go into all establishments there with high expectations…read more Finney's Crafthouse has a prime location on PCH and the one thing I loved was our street-side table offering a front-row seat to the stylish locals, casual beach-goers, exploring visitors while enjoying the coastal breeze. Terran (sp?) was adorable and began serving with high energy and attentiveness. However, we had completely finished our appetizers and had no drink refills or ability to order another cocktail and simply felt abandonded. Upon her eventual return she appeared more flustered, took our meal and drink orders (which she forgot) and it just went downhill from there unfortunately. Since I was unable to get Terran's attention to inquire on the contents of my husband's cocktail, I had to go directly to the bartender. I was surprised at the lack of helpfulness and that instead of taking my question as a welcoming experience to show/explain how Finney's make this particular drink and help clarify why it may not have looked and tasted similar to what he was used to, this bartender immediately went on the defense and had an offensive attitude and made it in front of me to "prove" to me that all the ingredients were in fact included. It wasn't JUST about that. I have never experienced such a lack of customer service. (What I also felt immediately was that this was not the first time this particular concern regarding this same drink has come up.) As a former bartender myself, FYI, I am quite familiar with how drinks are made as well as proper bartender etiquette and behavior. My husband said this cocktail tasted "funny" not simply that this "one" ingredient may not have been included so I was in fact curious what the components were so I was very happy to let him make it in front of me. Needless to say, Finney's has a great airy casual atmosphere if you're looking for fun with big-screen tvs for sports with a massive variety of craft brews and a sizeable menu that includes many fun bar foods like wings, pizzas, tacos and tater tots. My husband and I also enjoyed competing against other locations on the tabletop trivia game. I may have had more of a positive experience if I went with different intentions and less expectations. But again, they're in Laguna Beach so... Very disappointed. :(

One of my favorite Mexican restaurants in SoCal! It is a…read moretrue sit down restaurant with great service all the way around. I almost never eat beans voluntarily (I know I'm weird) but their bean dip that comes with their chips and salsa is soooo good! It's the only bean dip I love. The food here is just so amazing. The seafood enchiladas are a must for me when I come, crab, shrimp, and lobster. Doesn't ever miss! Great drinks as well. And I feel like this place is the most reasonably priced out of all the nicer sit down Mexican restaurants in the OC. Have to give them a try!

DEPLORABLE SERVICE, Part II. I had written a negative review on my last "Nick's" visit last week…read moreand it seems someone, probably a restaurant management crybaby, contacted Yelp's "Feeling Patrol" division and had it removed. So, here it is, plain, simple, and generic. The food on our visit was wonderful. The service was DEPLORABLE enough to make me and my wife more of a JAVIER'S fan now. There, a short concise critique that hopefully spares the feelings of those that can't handle criticism...

Food is great here. best food I had in Laguna and didn't break my bank thankfully. Just want to…read morethank the servers and baristas for being so sweet! Everyone was super awesome and kind. Food came out really fast. Very clean and super aesthetic! I'm surprised this place doesn't have a higher rating. Deserves all the love and hype! My friends and I had a great time here for visiting in the area. Can't wait to come back!

Laguna Beach, Ca. It was a lunch meeting with an old friend…read morewho is a regular here. He likes the burgers and the steaks. Parking during the lunch hour can be a problem, you may have to walk a bit from the upper neighborhood. Some of the residents there do not hold back their disdain for tourists parking in front of their homes. Place your order outside, like a fast food joint, get a number and sit down somewhere after you get your drinks from another outside window. They are very busy here and have a good system in place to process and complete the orders. The wait time for your food is minimal. The vibe here is touristy yet the crowd is young. Beach goers mostly I suspect. Picnic tables inside with an assortment of round patio tables and chairs inside and out. The burgers taste good. They are a double patty, so they were cooked up quickly and were definitely served hot off the grill. The meat is without much taste. The cheese is American which is nothing more than a mysterious blend of yellow ingredients, few which are probably real dairy products. It does melt easily though and kind of makes a runny addition to the sauce they use. Flavor from the sauce and the texture from the meat made the burger interesting but not great. Probably on the level of an In and Out puck. The bun was ok, it held up well to the sauces. Since this a well cooked double patty, there was no juice to sog up the bun. Of course the lack of juice makes the overall product lacking. The fries are great and ample but the stingy amount of catsup provided is almost good enough for only half the fries. The ice tea is average and very small. It is not enough to wash down the meal. Make sure you get waters because your ice tea will not be refilled.

Our server was so friendly and the food was great. Our favorite item we ordered was the fried…read moreasparagus. Definitely recommend!

Laguna Beach: Ample parking and outdoor seating is always a plus in any beach city. We made…read morereservations and glad we did. It was a weekend and the place filled quickly. Loud crowd! Ordered: Salmon Citrus salad. The salmon was cooked perfectly, and my friend was very happy with the amount of salmon to salad ratio. Attractive dish! Sliced Steak & Potato Salad was a nice portion of sliced steak, a decent warm potato salad, and a great side salad. I can't remember if that was one of her side options, but it was a solid choice. Steak was ordered medium rare and it was definitely all rare - but edible. Sometimes it's not a good option to send it back. Fear of over cook. Blackened Halibut Sandwich was my choice and the fresh tasting halibut was cooked to perfection. I would go lighter on the blackened seasoning next time and skip the non-crispy onions straws. Love those but most definitely they were prepped long before we got there. Minor culinary issue as the halibut sandwich was a delicious combo of fresh ingredients that I had to deconstruct so I could manage to eat it. I think only a mega shark could take a bite of this sandwich as it was meant to be built! So it nicely transformed into a Blackened Halibut Salad plate with a highly recommended crispy Caesar salad for the side. I enjoyed every bite. I would go here again. Service was courteous and prompt, and our food was served on the spot. We were too full to try their recommended warm butter cake. Next time it's Brussel sprouts and desert! Well, maybe a side of a self-deconstructed Halibut Sandwich.

Went to Driftwood Kitchen last minute for brunch. They used to have a great vegan hash on the menu,…read morebut 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.

So, my mother in law passed a few weeks ago, dragged my wife out of bed for mother's day brunch…read moretoday 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.