One of the best meals we've had in Laguna. Love the music, service and the food was incredible. My mocktail was perfectly refreshing, we also enjoyed the espresso martini. Started with the crab guacamole, broccolini and lamb lollipops, everything was delicious but the lamb is incredible. For entrees we had halibut and venison. Both were delicious, if you want something light the halibut is perfect, the venison was a fuller meal and was very good too. Finished with the salted Carmel Budino, prefect sweetness and unique dessert. Overall 10/10 meal, will absolutely be returning. read more

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We found the food to be very over priced and very mid. I had the chicken and my husband had the Caesar salad. We got the mushrooms for the side dish. The mushrooms were $22 and were some criminis with butter. They didn't even salt them. The $24 Caesar had stale croutons and no flavor. The $40 chicken got served with one plain scoop of white rice. Really?? You can't even add a vegetable or be bothered to season some rice. Service was incredibly slow and the music was so loud. $160 for one salad, one entree, a side and two drinks. I know it's Laguna but there's a ton of other places to get a better bang for your buck. I really lost it when their menu claims you need to pay $10 a person for the band...what????? read more

Romantic, intimate and delicious dishes. Great place for a night out with lovely live Jazz music. Portions are large enough to share. Workers are very friendly and pay close attention to details We order 1.Beet Salad 2.Large Shrimp 3.Wagyu beef stroganoff 4.filet 5.big piece of seabass Parking suck, so just valet for $11 read more

The Drake - Tiger shrimp and Waygu beef stroganoff - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

WOWWWWW!!!! Ugh the live music was so good! I got the chicken yucata and the portion size was great for the price!!!! We also got the triple chocolate parfait (i think thats what its called) for dessert and it was absolutely banging. Def the place to go if youre looking for a nice meal in Laguna! The service was also impeccable we had such a wonderful time at the Drake! read more

The Drake - Triple chocolate parfait - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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I can't wait to go back!!! Flawless experience, from the food to the service to the atmosphere--it was amazing from start to finish. We eat steak a lot, and this was probably the best filet either of us has ever had. Loaded with flavor and the meat just melted in our mouths. The seabass was incredible, I could eat that every night! We went for our wedding anniversary. My husband is a huge Jazz fan and we both love a good steak house, so The Drake was the perfect choice. The band was playing a mix of cover songs, reimagined in Jazz. It was so cool! They mostly selected Frank Sinatra songs, which we loved. We sat at the chefs table (think at the bar but we're watching them cook) in elevated bar stools, so we not only got to view the chefs hard at work but we had an unobstructed view of the band. The setting was intimate and moody. And if you want an experience without the band front and center, they have patio seating and bar side seating where you can enjoy the music from a slight distance. A five star experience all the way. read more

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This place is awesome! Not too big but a fair amount of seating. It has a stage for live music and you can watch the chef cook your food! SERVICE: Great! We had a private event (Jan 20) and they took great care of us. Kept our drinks flowing, and were very attentive and friendly. FOOD: Steaks were very tender and flavorful. Their potatoes 3-ways were good (the chip could have been crispier). The sauce was Fab!! And if you have not tried their fries?? Get the fries!! That with their dipping aoli - super yummy!! We enjoyed our evening and recommended this place - great job! read more

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I feel like it's rare a restaurant stands out to me, the way The Drake does. The ambiance & food is 10/10. Don't Miss it! read more

The Drake - Unique cocktails, really different - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

What an experience! 12 months ago Incredible live band, Great service, food, and company? What else could you possibly want!? Beautiful restaurant incredible decor and service. We were seated right next to the band, which was a memorable experience. Tiger prawns 8/10 Filet mignon 10/10 Guacamole and chips 7/10 Fig salad 10/10 Sorbet 10/10 Salted caramel budino. 10/10 read more

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Love love love the Vibe From start to finish we had a Marvelous time As we entered, we were greeted with a warm welcome and smile. The energy of the place hits you immediately -- upbeat but not overwhelming, classy without being pretentious. Everyone here knows how to have a great. From food to entertainment, it was a dining experience I would recommend you experience at least once a year -- if not more often! I loved that it was fancy, yet you can dress casually. The vibe is that perfect sweet spot between special occasion and just-because-you-deserve-it. This event bécame the yearly (never-miss) birthday celebration for my highschool friend and I. Low lighting, tasteful decor, and just the right volume of music provided by Sharon Marie Cline was just perfect to set the mood without drowning out our conversations. You can tell every detail of the space was thought through, from the cozy, intimate seating arrangements to the elegant table settings. Our server Emilio had an alternate ego named George, who never woke up throughout the entire dining experience (inside joke). Emilio was friendly and attentive to our dining needs. Our water glasses were always full. Our meals delivered at the perfect temperature and pace. And can we talk about the powder room please? When there is wainscotting in the bathroom, you know they mean serious business! Even the restroom felt like an extension of the experience: clean, chic, and clearly cared for. We left full, happy, and already planning our next visit. read more

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While on vacation in Laguna Beach, we were looking for a place with great jazz music and a nice vibe, and we definitely found it at The Drake. When we arrived, it was a full house and we didn't have a reservation, so we sat at the bar. Even though we weren't seated in the main dining area, the experience was still fantastic. There was a projector screen showing the performers, and the music could be heard throughout the entire establishment, which made it easy to enjoy the show from anywhere in the room. When seats became available in the main area, the staff invited us to move so we could enjoy the full effect of the show, which we really appreciated. That gesture alone showed how attentive and exceptional their service is. The music was amazing, the drinks were great, and the food was absolutely delicious. We ordered the stroganoff dish and the portion size was generous enough for us to split. What made it even more special was that it was finished in the back of the house before being served, which was such a unique experience I've never seen before. The pictures truly don't do it justice -- I would honestly go back to Laguna Beach just to have that dish again. The service was exceptional as well. I mentioned to the bartender that it was my partner's birthday, and he kindly offered him a drink on the house. I really wish I remembered his name because he was nothing short of amazing. If you're looking for great jazz music, strong drinks, delicious food, and an overall classy vibe, The Drake is definitely the place to go. It's a beautifully run establishment, very professional, and truly a memorable experience. read more

The Drake - Beef Stroganoff - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Unique craft cocktails in a mid century modern setting and feels like a vintage super club. Chef Nick comes from a long line of restaurateurs dating back 500 years in Austria. The food is delicious and creative. My Salmon was perfectly cooked. The NYfries with béarnaise were exceptional. The Buddino is a sweet treat easily shared by the table. The Memphis King Quartet played on the night we dined there and they matched the restaurants cool decor perfectly! Like a blast from the past but super current all at once. I highly recommend this restaurant. read more

Food and vibes are always phenomenal at The Drake, and last night was no exception. Nick was our server and was incredibly friendly, attentive, and made us feel genuinely taken care of throughout the evening. Ezikiel, the server assistant, was outstanding as always with his attention to detail and elevated service never go unnoticed. We ended the night at the bar with Janaka, who made some delicious cocktails. read more

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This is a stylish restaurant located in South Laguna Beach, often featuring great live music. The place is not very large but is exquisitely designed, making last-minute reservations difficult, especially on weekends. The hostess was very attentive and suggested we take seats at the counter table, where we could enjoy the same menu and music as the main dining area. My friend, who loves cooking, was delighted with the opportunity to observe the chefs at work up close. We thoroughly enjoyed all the dishes we ordered, and surprisingly, the hamachi of the day was even fresher and tastier than the highly praised tuna tartare. We've decided to visit once a month to explore more of their menu! read more

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Fun local place, lots of personality! Clientel is from all walks of life and life style. Regulars inhabit the Cozy bar area. Welcoming BT and staff. Good Menu options and wine list. VG martinis and pleasant live music every night. Fun spot. Will revisit -again and again read more

Damn, I can't believe I have lived in this area for all these years and never been to this place. It is super cool to say the least. There are two sides to it, almost like individual restaurants. Absolutely beautiful inside and the night we went had live jazz. The staff is most professional, well attired and the food is excellent. read more

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Great food, vibes and drinks! The only reason it is not a 5-star is that the waitress took forever to service us. We had already picked everything before she first even introduced herself. We ordered drinks and she didnt take our food or appetizer order until the drinks came out. Otherwise awesome place to be on a weekend night. read more

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We went to The Drake for my boyfriend's birthday. It is a small footprint bar and restaurant with live jazz music in South Laguna Beach. You may be able to walk into the bar, but the restaurant definitely needs reservations and there are usually two options for reservations during times when they have live music. This was my boyfriend's first formal jazz club style experience, but I have been to quite a few. I wasn't expecting much in terms of quality food and drinks because most jazz clubs are OK with a heavy focus on the music and not much on the cuisine. However, The Drake was excellent. The inside is plush and warm and comfortable. The waitstaff is incredibly attentive and polite. And the food was ample and delicious. Drinks were also excellent. It is definitely more on the pricier side and the crowd is on the older side, but we had an excellent time and will do this again for a special occasion sometime in the future. read more

Was seated at the bar for a friends dinner and Ted's service was phenomenal!! Made sure our waters were always full and offering insight to the menu as well as anything special that he recommended. Drinks and vibes were awesome. Definitely will be back soon! Thank you Ted!! read more

The Drake - Smooth Operator with black tea infused gin #yummmm - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Quite possibly the best dinner ever. Beet salad...super. Tuna tartare was great. Venison was awesome. Shrimp pasta stove HOT and flavorful. Pork chop...MONEY!!! I wish I had room for a sweet but I was maxed out with apps and main. Great vibe. Lounge singer and piano player were super chill. Don't get better!!! Our server was great. The whole thing was super. Kudos to the chef and team. read more

Nice atmosphere, great service, good food, great entertainment. We ordered the seasonal fish poke and it was pretty good flavor wise, but the fish was a little more firm than I usually like. The sea bass was really good. It had a nice crust and a great sauce to accompany it. My wife got the steak and thought it had a good peppercorn sauce, but it was a little tough. Our friends order the bbq shrimp and were raving about it. The entertainer was really fun. I'm not sure if he's there every night, but it wouldn't have been the same without him. Great songs and he had a few people dancing with him, not sure if they were with him or out of the crowd, but just a really good time. read more

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Absolutely loved our time at The Drake! The food, service & ambiance is just absolutely perfect. If you're looking to celebrate a birthday/anniversary or even going out with your beau for date night, this is the spot for you! We had a late reservation so I had an espresso martini, which was exactly what i needed. For starters, we ordered the tuna tartare and lamb lollipops - both were delicious! Tuna was super fresh & the lamb was so tender & cooked to perfection. Husband ordered the venison loin for his main & he was so happy with his choice - the poached pear & lindonberry was so good & gave it the perfect amount of sweet that the meal needed. I ordered the filet mignon with potatoes 3 ways. If you know me, I'm a sucker for potatoes thought that it was such a fun take for a side! Flavor was delicious and the filet was cooked a perfect medium rare. The star of the show is definitely their salted caramel budino - I told my husband that I would drive back to Laguna Beach just for that dessert. If you like salty, creamy, custard & caramel, THIS. IS. IT. Can't wait to come back for another meal at the Drake, we will definitely be back soon! read more

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We decided to have Christmas Eve dinner here with my in-laws. I made the reservations for 7 pm on OpenTable pretty easily. We were excited to have dinner and live music. They have live music most evenings but check the schedule to make sure you catch the act when they are performing. It's hard to get a table in the main room, but we had a table in the bar area which worked out since they projected a view of the stage on the wall near where we were sitting. The outdoor area was enclosed with a direct view of the stage and had heat lamps so it looked fairly warm if you're worried about being outside. For Christmas Eve, we were presented the menu and ordered: lamb chops, chicken, NY fries, salmon, and pork chop. The food was really good and the service was great. My husband really enjoyed the lamb. The fries were perfectly crisp. The salmon was tasty and the pork chop was juicy. The music wasn't as disruptive as the in-laws thought it'd be. The vocalist sang a mixture of jazzy holiday tunes. We had a great time conversing and enjoying the ambiance. The restaurant has a lot of art deco elements which really add to the atmosphere. We also ordered the limoncello tiramisu for dessert. Our server, Taylor, was awesome. Parking on the street can be difficult to find. They offer Valet service for $7 so we took advantage of that. read more

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Such a perfect experience at The Drake! From the moment we walked in, we were greeted by the kindest (and absolutely gorgeous) hostesses. We were seated at the Chef's Table, and it was such a treat to watch the kitchen in action! Chef Nick was creating the most beautiful dishes -- true masterpieces -- and every plate that went out looked incredible. This restaurant truly deserves Michelin recognition; it's exceptional in every way. Our food and drinks were delicious, and our server was fabulous -- I even snapped her photo, though I can't recall her name! The live music added the perfect touch; the group was smooth and soulful, and the lead singer's voice was just like Sade. It made the whole evening feel magical. I absolutely love The Drake! We'll definitely be regulars -- it's just that good. I can't recommend it highly enough! read more

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We chose The Drake for our anniversary dinner after hearing great things about their steak and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The filet mignon was incredible, and the jumbo shrimp appetizer was just as impressive. The live jazz music created a really nice atmosphere, and the servers were all friendly and attentive. That said, I'm not leaving 5 stars because there were a couple of things that caught us off guard. I wasn't aware there would be a $20 music fee, which I'll take responsibility for not noticing ahead of time, but I do wish that had been communicated more clearly. We also had an 8:45 reservation but weren't seated until around 9:25. The delay threw off our plans for after dinner, which was a bit frustrating. Despite that, I want to give credit where it's due, the hostess was great about checking in on us and keeping us updated while we waited, which we appreciated. Overall, even with the hiccups, the food alone makes it worth coming back. That filet mignon really was something special. Thanks again to everyone who took care of us this weekend. read more

This place was amazing so beautiful. I loved the ambiance! And the food was great, service was good too. And the drinks were amazing I would love to come back read more

The Drake - New York Strip with Fries, mashed potatoes, and asparagus - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The Perfect Place for a Romantic Dinner for Two! Live music, with top musicians on weekends, and special occasions. Great Steaks and other entrees. Call in for a reservation and ask for Emily. She will make sure that your dining experience is nothing short of perfect! Valet Parking will make life much easier, than trying to find a spot on PCH, or up a hill on a side street. Fortunately, the cost is very reasonable, and you may want to consider a gratuity, for the friendly, hard-working, and trustworthy valets. read more

This place has really nice service and the food is excellent. There's not much parking around so it's best to valet for $11. We unfortunately didn't get to see the band, but we could hear them from the other side of the bar. read more

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Mainly came here for the jazz music & vibe of this place! Food is amazing, service was pretty good but could be better- bit judgmental but overall very nice experience ! The live music was the best read more

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Amazing first time son was excellent and date is a vegetarian and they made a dish which she loved. Wine was awesome also suggested and jazz band even though orig was cancelled that we really came to see was excellent replacement. Will come again read more

Very cool vibe with good food as well. They have live music on the weekend and although the menu is not extensive, all the dishes were either good or very good. One of the few places that actually serves venison -- which they are quite proud of -- and deservedly so. I highly recommend that dish if you like venison or are interested in trying it. Also the shrimp pasta was excellent -- normally that dish isn't particularly at any restaurant but here it stood out here read more

The Drake - Venison - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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All things dining and experience were at The Drake! Loved our gem of a server, Monica, and her team of kitchen expert folks making all things perfectly perfect WOW! Spent what was needed to experience food, drinks, service and MUSIC and left a pretty tip for best server in some time that I would ask for by name on next visit. Even chatted with Mngr as we departed and honestly he sets the mood, pace and overall 'I wanna come back' attitude to its visitors LOVE this place forever! read more

The Drake - My dinner choice find it on starters but so lovely as an entree - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The live music really set a romantic mood. We had a great time overall. The only small downside was that the main dish wasn't our favorite. read more

The Drake - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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We love The Drake! Our server Taylor was truly wonderful. We dine out a lot and good service is different than excellent service. Taylor and The Drake provide excellent service. We truly appreciated the thought he put into answering our menu related questions (mmmmm lamb) unpictured there was also a delicious pork chop as well. read more

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Made reservations for this place well in advance for my dad's 60th birthday celebration. We called because we were running about 10 minutes behind, but they said it wasn't an issue which we were very appreciative of. The hostesses at the front were a little interesting. Their vibes felt kind of robotic, not gonna lie. They weren't mean or anything, but it was kind of a weird interaction. Some things to note. The place isn't that large so the seating where the "live music" is is definitely a little tighter than I was expecting. Not that big of a deal, but I will say that they hand out huge menus here, and for 4 people sitting at a standard size table, there wasn't even anywhere to put our menus.. especially as appetizers and drinks came out. Our server, Tim, was friendly although also his vibes were interesting and a little different than what we are used to lol. In general, our interactions with both the hostesses and our server were just weird which we all noted as a party. Onto the food... my dad liked his filet mignon, which was the most important. My partner told me the white rice was overcooked that came with my mom's chicken dish. He ordered the halibut and said it was good but on the drier side. The wagyu appetizer was pretty good, although you can tell it's not A5. I actually enjoyed the pasta that I ordered. I appreciated that Tim asked if I wanted chili flakes to add to it since I love spicy. Another comment I have is about the live music. I really did book this place because of the fact that live music is played here on a lot of nights. The group that was up there were great, however my complaint is that I think they needed to do a sound-check because we couldn't hear the vocals that well. Lastly, I did want to point out that they added $40 to our check for the live performance. Considering our reservation was for 5:45, and the group doesn't start playing until shortly after 6:30, it's kind of waste in my opinion since you're not there long enough to really enjoy a good portion of music while dining. We were gone around, so I found that to be a bummer. ALSO, maybe this is my fault, but I don't think they should include the $40 in the subtotal before the tip option because then you're just tipping the server more than you need to (off of the $40 with it included in the check). I'd rate everything as a whole a 3.5/5 here. read more

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1.5/5 EXPERIENCE but still love this place. Our waiter Taylor R kept us waiting until the restaurant closed to let us know he didn't put in a main course for one of us. We had three appetizers, three drinks and two mains. Never did we get our Venison lion nor our ranch for our fries. It was odd to me he'd forget as he KEPT REASSURING our plate would be out, not once but THREE times. Also he made a weird comment about blowing the bubble on my drink; "Since everyone else got a bubble I guess we HAVE to do it for yours too"... Such a weird experience. I've been here MANY times and the experiences have been wonderful! This just needs to be addressed with Taylor R. read more

Absolutely loved this restaurant. At last!! We made it to this restaurant after months of planning. Upon entering, you are drawn to the cozy yet elegant atmosphere. The live music was on, not loud, just nice. We were greeted by the friendly staff and gave us options of sitting at the bar or at a table. We decided to sit at the bar since we were going to have just drinks and appetizers. The barman, Janaka was amazing. He made some amazing cocktails for us, each one, a unique blend and flavor. The appetizers were phenomenal. Very nicely presented and so tasty. We had the privilege of meeting the chef , Paul as well and it seemed like we had known him for years. These humans make the restaurant so special and inviting. Everything about this place was so special. Highly recommend this beautiful restaurant and it's worth every buck you spend. read more

The Drake is a fantastic restaurant. The service is always excellent, vibes are always fun and elegant. The food is out of this world the culinary team does an amazing job there. read more

I have no idea how this place has such a good rating. Nearly every dish we had was inedible, except for the fries. My seared scallops were as hard as rocks... I had to use as much pressure to cut into them as I would a raw potato. Needless to say that we had one bite of our entree and could not stomach any more. The entertainment was also not great either. Don't be fooled by the location and high prices, this is NOT a quality restaurant. read more

Came here on a Friday night for the live music- great as always. Service is wonderful, and the food is always prepared impeccably. It adds up here- and it's a pricey night out- but totally worth it if it's in your budget. Brought friends who had never been and they enjoyed their time as well. A special mention for decor- it's is gorgeous. A modern and classy take on Art-Deco style. read more

The Drake - Filet (sauce is made naturally Gluten free!) - Bars Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

The pork chop lollipops were amazing, and the sides paired very well with them. I would definitely order this dish again. I ordered the filet mignon steak medium rare; however, it arrived medium well. Overall, the filet mignon presentation was impressive, but the steak was over-seasoned, resulting in an overly strong flavor. Additionally, the potato chip was extremely salty, which overpowered the steak's flavor. The restaurant appeared to be fully booked, and despite the extremely small kitchen, the food was served in a timely manner. Including dinner, drinks, and entertainment, the overall cost was approximately $500. I will definitely visit this location again, with just a few minor adjustments, to fully enjoy both the culinary experience and the entertainment. read more

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