Rum Social announces chef lineup & menu

By Diane Armitage

Laguna’s culinary world seems to be starting off on the right foot in 2022. 

Conflict eases over AhbA’s speakeasy

For starters, in the last week of December, the City of Laguna Beach worked with AhbA restaurateur Nick Bennett to stave off its closure. The popular SoLag eatery’s speakeasy in question – Helen’s – on the back patio, was the source of the issue. Complaints had been filed that alcohol was being served without proper permitting.

Just days before Christmas, a petition signed by more than 1,700 AhbA fans hit Director of Community Development Mark Wiener’s desk. “The petition was the first I’d heard there was an escalated problem,” he told me. 

Bennett and Wiener met in person the next day to work through the kinks, and on December 23, a Temporary Use Permit (TUP) was granted for the extended outdoor patio.

Case closed, and thank goodness, because no one makes that kind of burger anywhere in the state of California. 

Rum Social rounding to the finish line

Rum Social, the anticipated new eatery in the old Watermarc space, is nearing ever closer to its finish line. Describing itself as an “upscale Hemingway speakeasy,” Rum Social will feature a variety of Caribbean-based drinks and dishes. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of Rum Social

The anticipated Rum Social restaurant hopes to open by the end of February in the old Watermarc location

“We’re tentatively looking to open at the end of February,” said Co-Owner John Fisher. “We had hoped we could be open by Valentine’s Day, but there’s just too much between here and that date, and we’d like to get our feet under us before trying to handle such an important date as Valentine’s,” he said. 

While the holidays, county permitting delays and COVID outbreaks have continued to affect its construction, the seasoned Rum Social restaurateurs are nothing but persistent. The three partners, Fisher, Ken Ussenko and Stephen Sherwood, are longtime restaurateurs who’ve seen it all. They’re still plucky and enthusiastic as they note that rough electrical and plumbing is done, and kitchen equipment will begin arriving for installation next week. 

The team is also starting to close up the walls to begin final finish of both the upstairs bar and downstairs dining. 

The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel’s Adams will helm the Rum Social kitchen

Meanwhile, the team continues to grow with the announcement of two well-known talents in the Orange County culinary world. 

Jered Adams, most recently with The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, will be acting as food & beverage director overall, “but I’ll be spending plenty of time in the kitchen, too,” he said. 

Adams has a long and storied career in fine dining and menu consulting, having developed more than 30 concepts, many of which were in conjunction with Rum Social co-partner Ussenko’s many restaurant concepts. 

Adams began working as the executive chef at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel in 2009. Six years later, he left to take over the food and beverage direction of a San Diego restaurant group while working on several concept consulting projects, too. 

In late 2019, he returned to the Ritz family, moving to a heightened position at the illustrious Colorado Bachelor’s Gulch location in Beaver Creek. Within weeks of his move, COVID struck and he stayed there for the duration.

When restrictions lifted, Adams returned to the Laguna Niguel location to serve as executive chef of Eno Steakhouse and oversee all chefs and culinary supervisors at the establishment. 

“For a few years now, Ken and I have talked about actually working together on a new concept, so when Rum Social came together, I knew it was where I wanted to be,” said Adams.    

“The menu will be a funky, tropical escape”

The Rum Social concept menu will be making its way through the tropics with “bright fun flavors that showcase Caribbean and Asian flair,” said Chef Adams. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of Rum Social

While still under development, these Crispy Rice Cakes at Rum Social feature fresh salmon and tuna, riceberry, dragon sauce and tangerine lace

“This menu is influenced by all things tropical; I like to think of it as a little funky, a tropical escape that is influenced from a variety of places that are familiar with the term, ‘rum’…Brazil and Jamaica to Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, even the Polynesian islands,” he said. 

Rum Social will be “responsibly sourced seafood forward” with a mix of sweetness and spice. 

“The North African spice routes that plied the northern Caribbean islands had a significant impact on that culture,” noted Adams. “So, while we want to really feature many seafood options, we will be adding in those bold, full flavors, too.”

Though “sweetness and spice” may sound like danger to gluten-free diets, the Rum Social menu will be almost entirely gluten free with many vegetarian options available as well. 

While the menu is not yet finalized, the team shared a few “research and development” photos that include a Raw Yellowtail ceviche-type dish, House Noodles with shrimp, and Crispy Rice Cakes fashioned from salmon and tuna. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of Rum Social

Rum Social’s House Noodles currently features shrimp, spinach, scallions, carrots, sprouts, radish, cilantro, peanuts and hard-boiled egg

Chef Nick of former Playground 2.0 also comes to play

Never will anyone get me to tell them what my favorite restaurant is in Laguna Beach. 

Outside of Laguna Beach, however, my go-to favorite was unquestioningly Playground 2.0, an inventive chef’s table led by Chef Owner Jason Quinn. 

One of the greatest up-and-coming talents on Quinn’s team was the young Nicholes Herrera (Chef Nick). He started first in Jason’s Playground restaurant but was then trotted “across the wall” to the 2.0 experience where he could work more closely with the immense talents there. 

When Nick left that playground in search of another sandbox, I followed him wherever I could find him. 

His initial forays included Michelin-starred Taco Maria and alongside the talented Chef Tony Celeste at Dana Point’s Whitestone. From there, Nick set off to open restaurants with two different restaurant groups (at different times). Both, however, suffered over-long renovations and opening stalls. 

While the Rum Social group was enduring the same frustrating issue, the timing couldn’t have been better when Chef Nick decided to try yet another opening concept option. 

Now the new restaurant’s Chef de Cuisine, Chef Nick says that he and Jared are working on a “more playful menu with a lot of shareables.” 

“We’ll have a larger menu with a lot of different variations on our proteins, but we’ll have a variety of smaller portions, too, so that people can try more in one sitting,” he said. 

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of Rum Social

Rum Social’s Raw Yellowtail might serve as a shareable plate with avocado, jicama, mango, pickled onion and micro greens

“A third of the team is already hired.”

With her own vaunted history as assistant general manager, general manager and food & beverage director at places such as the Bungalow Huntington Beach, Lifetime and Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern, Rum Social General Manager Jean Stenger says that training in front and back of house will begin in late January. 

“We’ve already hired about a third of our team, including an elevated bar team that recently made cocktails from our menu and showed us their creations,” she said. 

“When we’re ready to hire the remainder of our team, we will be posting it at RumSocial.com,” she noted.   

Stay tuned…

I’m as eager as you are to learn more about the cocktail “creations” that make it through the final round menu at Rum Social. It turns out that Chef Adams is quite a cocktail and wine enthusiast, endeavoring to create “a modern twist on the classics.”

We’re starting with at least 18 specialty cocktails, with about 50% rum-based and 50% based in other spirts,” he said. “Some drinks you expect to be rum based won’t be, and others you don’t expect to see created with rum will actually be created with great rums,” he said (somewhat mysteriously).

 Stay tuned for details and drink photos from me in my social channels and at my website as the opening date draws closer. 

The best-selling author and blogger on The Best of Laguna Beach™, Diane Armitage is on an endless quest for the most imaginative adventures in Laguna’s restaurants, events and lifestyle. Check out chef interviews, retail and restaurant news and favorite events at https://thebestoflagunabeach.com/ and follow on Instagram @BestofLagunaBeach (look for Diane’s smiling face).

Slice Pizza & Beer releases new artist-designed box created by Lauren Howell

By DIANNE RUSSELL

In Laguna Beach, art is often found in unexpected places. Yet who would imagine that a pizza box could be a work of art? The Redfearns.

Slice Pizza & Beer, owned by Suzanne and Cary Redfearn, has just released its fourth Laguna Beach artist-designed box. “In keeping with the concept of promoting community, we decided when we opened to have local artists design our boxes,” said Suzanne.

Their fourth pizza box features the work of local artist and designer Lauren Howell. To access her website, click here. 

“Two things inspired me for the design,” said Howell. “One was my favorite quote by Maya Angelou I used on the box flap, ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’ The second was community. That feeling and sense of place that is Laguna, our community, which is what Suzanne and Cary’s Lumberyard and Slice are all about. A spot where everyone is welcome at the table, this feeling, this was my inspiration. Incorporated on the box are words about songs echoing thru the hills, and how every now and then, with a gentle breeze, the world sits right. So, I got out of the way and let the process take over!” 

Click on photo for a larger image

Submitted photo

Lauren Howell holding the fourth artist-designed pizza box

Based on Suzanne’s initial prompt “community,” Howell further explained, “I instantly thought about the community tables at both her restaurants. And how the Redfearns created this friendly local vibe at Lumberyard for as long as I remember. And I am always aware of how a space makes a person feel, to me this is more important than how a space looks. I knew I wanted to design the box art around the warmth and feel of a community table.” 

According to www.behindthecanvas.net, Howell also tried her hand at acting, and appeared in film and on stage for a period of time. However, she soon discovered that she was more interested in the stage sets than in the acting. This interest segued into painting interior murals in residences in Laguna Beach, being commissioned to paint, and ultimately, interior designing.

Eye-catching detail is the soul of her design philosophy and that translated to her design for the pizza box. 

“For over 30 years I have been an artist and for 18 years, a local Interior designer, so I am drawn to clean lines, balance, scale, texture and the need for negative space,” Howell said. “To me, all of those elements are in the collage. And I am also a voracious reader, so I love the power of words and the way our memory holds on to a favorite quote.”

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of Suzanne Redfearn

Previous three pizza box artists (L-R): Sharon Hardy, Lisa Mansour and Cynthia Fletcher

The inaugural box was designed by local painter and screen printer Cynthia Fletcher. It’s a depiction of two clasped hands and represents kindness and unity. The quote that accompanied the design (printed on the inside lip of the box) was by Mother Teresa: “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”

Ceramicist Sharon Hardy designed the second box. Hardy used to live on Cerritos Drive and would wake each morning to the golden hills of Laguna and the soaring hawks. Her box quote was by Langston Hughes: “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird.”

Slice’s third pizza box featured a mother-daughter collaboration. The art on the face of the box was created by local artist and Sawdust exhibitor Lisa Mansour and the quote on the inside flap was written by her daughter Chloe Mansour: “Without red flag days, there would be no waves of change.”

To get a closer look at the new design, stop by Slice Pizza & Beer, order a pizza, and get the fourth edition of their artist-inspired boxes.

Slice Pizza & Beer is located at 477 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach.

For more information, go to www.slicelb.com, or call 949.715.3993.

Follow Lauren Howell on Instagram @laurenhowelldesign.

Updates for Laguna Christmas dining

By Diane Armitage

“Since Friday’s column, I’ve had more than 30 changes in availability reported by restaurants in Laguna Beach. Here is an updated list. If your favorite restaurant is missing from the list, there’s a good chance it’s either fully booked already or is closed for the holiday.

Please check my BestofLagunaBeach.com column for all listings, including all closures.   

Christmas Eve & Day feasts for take out

Brussels Bistro – Order by Wednesday, Dec. 22 to pick up on Christmas Eve (Friday) between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the Laguna Beach or San Clemente locations. Choose a la carte options that include 24-count oysters, Norwegian Smoked Salmon and three options of entrées that include Christmas lobster, Beef Wellington and Christmas turkey with all the trimmings. 

If that doesn’t suit you, scroll through their many a la carte options for your own Christmas feast. 

Order Take Out: www.BrusselsBistro.com (scroll down for their Christmas package.)

Click on photo for a larger image

Courtesy of Brussels Bistro

Brussels Bistro offers a Christmas Feast To Go, which includes four Apple Tarts. Choose a la carte items as well.

Nirvana Grille – Build your own feast with Chef Lindsay Smith’s Mix & Match for Christmas. Order by Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 12 p.m. Pick up Christmas Eve (Friday), between 3:30 p.m. and 5 p.m. (designate your pickup window when ordering). Choose from two pages of Christmas a la carte options at their website. Shop ‘til you drop, and don’t forget the house-crafted desserts.
Order Take Out: www.NirvanaGrille.com

Three Christmas Eve prix fixe menus

To date, just three restaurants have reported specialty menus, but they’re all quite memorable: 

C’est La Vie – Christmas Four-course Prix Fixe Menu, 12-9 p.m. $69 per guest, $16 for kids under the age of 12.

Chef Antonio starts the meal with an amuse bouche of wild mushroom cappuccino and fennel pollen foam. From there, it’s salad options and four entrée options that include Barramundi, Scallops & Shrimp Pappardelle, Grilled Ribeye and Duck Leg Confit with a Pan-Seared Breast.

Reservations: www.CestLaVieRestaurant.com

Larsen at Hotel Laguna – Chef Craig Strong is offering both A La Carte items and a Christmas Four-course Prix Fixe Menu, which is $150 per person, $25 for kids under 10 years of age. (This same menu is served on Christmas Day, too.)

A la carte items include items such as chilled oysters, Grilled Spanish Octopus, his famed Short Rib Cigars and the Hotel Laguna Burger. 

The Prix Fixe menu includes salad, Butternut Ravioli and entrée choices of Sautéed Salmon, Roasted Prime Rib or Oven Dried Tomato & Eggplant Terrine. 

Dessert options include Craig’s Spice Cake, Lemon Tart and more.   

Reservations: Go directly through OpenTable for LARSEN.

Click on photo for a larger image

Photo by Diane Armitage

Larsen is offering both prix fixe and a la carte menus on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, which include Chef Craig Strong’s famed Lemon Tart recipe

Christmas Eve restaurant options – closing early

The following restaurants will be serving their regular menus and closing early. Reservations are recommended at all wait service restaurants. 

Closing in the afternoon: 

Avila’s El Ranchito – The kitchen closes at 4 p.m., bar closes between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. 

G.G.’s Bistro – open 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Gina’s Pizza & Pastaria – open 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Laguna Beach Beer Company – open until 4 p.m.

McClain Cellars – open until 3 p.m.

Papa’s Tacos – open 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

Poké Tiki – open 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Rasta Taco – open 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Ruby’s Auto Diner – open until 3 p.m.

Sergio’s Empanadas – open 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Starbucks – open 5:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

Sueños – open 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Cliff Laguna Beach – open until 4 p.m.

The Stand – open 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Wharf – open 12- 5 p.m.

Urth Caffé – open until 6 p.m.

Wild Taco – open until 4 p.m.

Z Pizza – open 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Zeytoon Café – open until 4 p.m. 

Zinc Café – open 7 a.m.-12 p.m.

Open through evening (though closing earlier than regular hours): 

Domino’s – open 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

Mandarin King – available for take-out only until 7 p.m.

Nirvana Grille – open 5-9 p.m.

Ristorante Rumari – open until 8 p.m. 

Salerno by Chef Pirozzi – open 3-9 p.m.

Slice Pizza & Beer – open until 7 p.m.

Thai Bros – open from 4-8 p.m.

The Deck Laguna Beach - open 3-8 p.m.

Christmas Eve restaurant options – regular hours

These restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve, too, serving their regular menus and staying open through standard operating hours: 

Closing in the early afternoon:

Anastasia Café 

Heidelberg Café

Orange Inn

Tippy’s

Open through evening:

BJ’s Restaurant 

Carmelita’s

Las Brisas 

Lumberyard

NEA Pizza

O Fine Japanese Cuisine

Pizza Bar

Romeo Cucina

Skyloft

South of Nick’s

Thai Brothers 

The Rooftop at La Casa del Camino

Wahoo’s Fish Tacos

Christmas Day dining room & outdoor dining options

Closing in the afternoon: 

Lost Pier – Certainly good news for beachgoers, their crafty beach hut at Aliso Creek is open regular hours, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

South Swell Donuts – SoLag’s go-to for the best donuts in town is open Christmas Day until they sell out. The owners will be doubling up on favorites that day and are open from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. (or closing earlier if sold out).

Starbucks – open 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Open through the evening: 

C’est la Vie – The regular menu is available throughout the day, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.

Reservations: www.CestLaVieRestaurant.com

Domino’s – open 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m.

GG’s Bistro – Enjoy the full menu fare from 11:30 a.m. to an early close at 7 p.m. 

Reservations: www.GGsCafeBistro.com

Greeter’s Corner – Holding down the south corner of Main Beach Park, Greeter’s is offering its regular menu, regular hours, 8:15 a.m.-9 p.m.

Larsen at Hotel Laguna – Chef Craig is offering both A La Carte and a Christmas Prix Fixe menu, see details above for Christmas Eve. 

Reservations: Go directly through OpenTable for LARSEN.

Las Brisas – Christmas Brunch is available at 11 a.m. with dinner options available thereafter. 

Reservations: www.LasBrisasLagunaBeach.com

Taco Loco – open until 9 p.m.

Thai Bros – open 4-8:30 p.m.

The Wharf – open 12 p.m.-12 a.m. with live music

Z Pizza – open 12-9 p.m.

For confirmed Christmas Day closures…

Please see my website at TheBestofLagunaBeach.com for the complete list of closures. Thank you, again, for your continued support of our great Laguna Beach restaurants. 

The best-selling author and blogger on The Best of Laguna Beach™, Diane Armitage is on an endless quest for the most imaginative adventures in Laguna’s restaurants, events, and lifestyle. Check out chef interviews, retail and restaurant news, and favorite events at https://thebestoflagunabeach.com/ and follow on Instagram @BestofLagunaBeach (look for Diane’s smiling face).

Christmas dining options for merrymaking

By Diane Armitage

“Christmas Eve dining is like the 4th of July in Laguna,” said Chef Rainer Schwarz of Driftwood Kitchen. “Most of us here in town don’t want to miss Christmas Eve, but it’s always great to take that break on Christmas Day.” 

Indeed, many of Laguna Beach’s restaurants are open on Christmas Eve, but the vast majority of our restaurants close on Christmas Day. If you’re planning to take the family out, get rolling on those reservations now! (For the record, Harvest at The Ranch Laguna Beach and Splashes at the Surf & Sand Resort are fully committed and not taking any more reservations.)

Remember, too, there are many Christmas Dinner take-out options, which I’ll note below. 

 Let’s get started with the most wonderful time of the year’s dining opportunities. 

Early Christmas brunch to get you in the mood

Selanne Steak Tavern starts the season in the best of ways with its Holiday Brunch on Sunday, Dec. 19, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Specialty items include Kevin’s Banana Fosters French Toast, Chicken & Waffles, Selanne’s Benedict, egg dishes, salads, raw/chilled seafood dishes and, of course, Gingerbread Spice Sticky Buns. Reservations: www.SelanneSteakTavern.com.

Courtesy of Selanne Steak Tavern

The return of Selanne’s Holiday Brunch includes popular favorites such as the Gingerbread Spice Sticky Buns

Getting the party started

Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill is leading the Christmas Party Parade with a Thursday, Dec. 23 DJ party. This time, it’s Alaskafornia Misster (sic) Earthwave & Hot Jamale + Square. The party starts at 8 p.m.

Chef Maro shutters the RoHi on the 24th and 25th, so if you’re looking to order those amazing empanadas for crowd hunger control, place those orders soon. 

Stock up on fabulous wines

As a reminder, too, Chris Olsen’s Wine Gallery is offering a cornucopia of bottled wine options for your holiday tables. They too, are closed on the 24th and 25th, so be sure to trot in for your locally purchased wine selections in the week ahead. 

Courtesy of the Wine Gallery

Wine Gallery’s endless varieties (including Owner Chris’ own Mile 216 wines) are ready for your holiday table

Christmas Eve & Day feasts for take out

Last year I relied on my Laguna chef friends to provide sides and desserts, and I’m never going to cook an entire Christmas Day meal again! Here are two great choices: 

Brussels Bistro – Order by Wednesday, Dec. 22. Pick up on Christmas Eve (Friday) between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. at the Laguna Beach or San Clemente locations. Choose a la carte options that include 24-count oysters, Norwegian Smoked Salmon and three types of entrées including Christmas Lobster, Beef Wellington and Christmas turkey with all the trimmings.

If that doesn’t suit you, scroll through their many a la carte options for your own Christmas feast. 

Order Take Out: www.BrusselsBistro.com (scroll down for their Christmas package).

Courtesy of Brussels Bistro

The Christmas feast menu at Brussels Bistro includes classics like this stellar Beef Wellington

Nirvana Grille – Build your own feast with Chef Lindsay Smith’s Mix & Match for Christmas. Order by Wednesday, Dec. 22 at 12 p.m. Pick up Christmas Eve (Friday), between 3:30-5 p.m. (designate your pickup window when ordering). Choose from two pages of Christmas a la carte options at her website. Shop till you drop, and don’t forget the house-crafted desserts.
Order Take Out: www.NirvanaGrille.com

Courtesy of Nirvana Grille

The Christmas Mix & Match options at Nirvana Grille include favorites such as the Butternut Squash Ravioli

Christmas Eve: dining room & outdoor dining 

Here’s a quick rundown of what I’ve been able to collect so far. Reports are still rolling in from our Laguna chefs, so be sure to check my short list of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day closures at my website or call first before driving around in circles. (Please note: Tax and gratuity are in addition to any posted pricing. Please tip these people well. They are, after all, working the Christmas holiday.)

Three Christmas Eve prix fixe menus

To date, just three restaurants have reported specialty menus, but they’re all quite memorable: 

C’est La Vie – Christmas Four-Course Prix Fixe Menu, 12-9 p.m. $69 per guest, $16 for kids under the age of 12.

Chef Antonio starts the meal with an amuse bouche of wild mushroom cappuccino and fennel pollen foam. From there, it’s salad choices and four entrées to pick from that include Barramundi, Scallops & Shrimp Pappardelle, Grilled Ribeye and Duck Leg Confit with a Pan-Seared Breast. Reservations: www.CestLaVieRestaurant.com.

 Larsen at Hotel Laguna – Chef Craig Strong is offering both A La Carte items and a Christmas Four-course Prix Fixe Menu, which is $150 per person, $25 for kids under 10 years of age. (This same menu is served on Christmas Day, too.)

A la carte items include delectables such as chilled oysters, Grilled Spanish Octopus, his famed Short Rib Cigars and the Hotel Laguna Burger. The Prix Fixe menu includes salad, Butternut Ravioli, and entrée choices of Sautéed Salmon, Roasted Prime Rib or Oven Dried Tomato & Eggplant Terrine. Dessert options include Craig’s Spice Cake, Lemon Tart and more. Reservations: Go directly through OpenTable for LARSEN.

Photo by Diane Armitage

Chef Craig Strong’s fabled Lemon Tart is available as an a la carte item on his Christmas holiday menu

The Loft, Montage Laguna Beach – From 5-10 p.m., guests can enjoy a Four-Course Tasting Menu. Pricing is $160 for adults with a children’s menu offered a la carte. (This menu is also served on Christmas Day.) Choose from salads, Shrimp Bisque or Butternut Squash and Bay Scallop Risotto for starters. Entrée options include Roasted Duck Breast, filet mignon or Branzino. Don’t miss the Milk Chocolate Yule Log or Gingerbread Semifreddo for dessert. Reservations: Call Montage Dining at 949.715.6420.

Christmas Eve restaurant options

The following restaurants will be serving their regular menus and closing early. Reservations are recommended at all wait service restaurants.

–230 Forest – open until 8 p.m.

–Avila’s El Ranchito – kitchen closes at 4 p.m., bar closes between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. 

–G.G.’s Bistro – open 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

–Gina’s Pizza & Pastaria – open 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

–Laguna Beach Beer Company – open until 4 p.m.

–Mandarin King – available for take-out only until 7 p.m.

–Nirvana Grille – open 5-9 p.m.

–Oak Laguna Beach – open until 7:30 p.m.

–Poké Tiki – open 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

–Ristorante Rumari – open until 8 p.m.

–Selanne Steak Tavern – open 4-8 p.m.

–Slice Pizza & Beer – open until 7 p.m.

–The Cliff Laguna Beach – open until 4 p.m.

–Urth Caffé – open until 6 p.m.

–Wild Taco – open until 4 p.m.

–Zeytoon Café – open until 4 p.m. 

–Zinc Café – open 7 a.m.-12 p.m. on Christmas Day.

These restaurants will be open on Christmas Eve, too, serving their regular menus and staying open through standard operating hours:

–Alessa by Pirozzi

–Anastasia Café

–BJ’s Restaurant

–Carmelita’s

–Comedor at La Casa del Camino

–Driftwood Kitchen

–Heidelberg Café 

–Las Brisas 

–Lumberyard

–Mosaic Bar & Grill at Montage

–Nick’s Laguna Beach

–O Fine Japanese Cuisine

–Orange Inn

–Romeo Cucina

–Sapphire.Cellar.Craft.Cook

–Skyloft

–South of Nick’s

–Starfish 

–Thai Brothers 

–The Deck Laguna Beach

–The Drake Laguna Beach and

–The Rooftop at La Casa del Camino

Christmas Day brunch

Most surprising was my discovery that the shuttered Studio, Montage Laguna Beach will be enjoying a Christmas miracle of its own when it opens for Christmas Day Brunch. 

From 10 a.m.-3 p.m., it’s $175 per adult and $55 per child. The brunch buffet offers a selection of appetizers, salads, cheese, charcuterie, raw bar, breakfast items, a carving station, desserts and a festive Bellini and Bloody Mary bar. Reservations: Call Montage dining at 949.715.6420 

Christmas Day dining room & outdoor dining options

Other welcoming restaurants on Christmas Day include:

–C’est la Vie – The regular menu is available throughout the day, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Reservations: www.CestLaVieRestaurant.com

 –GG’s Bistro – Enjoy the full menu fare from 11:30 a.m. to an early close at 7 p.m. Reservations: www.GGsCafeBistro.com

–Greeter’s Corner – Holding down the south corner of Main Beach Park, Greeter’s is offering its regular menu, regular hours, 8:15 a.m.-9 p.m.

–Larsen at Hotel Laguna – Chef Craig is offering both A La Carte and a Christmas Prix Fixe menu, see details above for Christmas Eve. Reservations: Go directly through OpenTable for LARSEN.

–Las Brisas – Christmas Brunch is available at 11 a.m. with dinner options available thereafter. Reservations: www.LasBrisasLagunaBeach.com

–The Loft, Montage Laguna Beach – The Christmas Four-Course Prix Fixe Menu is also offered on Christmas Eve. See the menu details above. 

Reservations: Call Montage dining at 949.715.6420.

–Lost Pier – Certainly good news for beachgoers, their crafty beach hut at Aliso Creek is open regular hours, 8 a.m.-6 p.m.

–Mosaic Bar & Grill – Enjoy the usual a la carte menu from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. for lunch and 5-9 p.m. for dinner.

–Moulin – Just to be on the safe side, you might want to stock up on Moulin’s popular pies and tartlets before Christmas Day hits, but Moulin will be open on Christmas Day with breakfast pastries, breads and more. Regular hours are 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

–South Swell Donuts – SoLag’s go-to for the best donuts in town is open Christmas Day until they sell out. The owners will be doubling up on favorites that day and are open from 6 a.m.-2 p.m. (or closing earlier if sold out).

For confirmed Christmas Day closures… 

Please see my website at TheBestofLagunaBeach.com for the complete list of closures. Thank you, again, for your continued support of our great Laguna Beach restaurants. 

The best-selling author and blogger on The Best of Laguna Beach™, Diane Armitage is on an endless quest for the most imaginative adventures in Laguna’s restaurants, events, and lifestyle. Check out chef interviews, retail and restaurant news, and favorite events at https://thebestoflagunabeach.com/ and follow on Instagram @BestofLagunaBeach (look for Diane’s smiling face).

Food Village plans for fresh look, improvements include dining pavilion and community plaza

By SARA HALL

The Planning Commission this week unanimously approved a number of proposed improvements for the Food Village, including a new dining pavilion and community plaza. 

Commissioners voted 5-0 Wednesday (Dec. 1) in favor of the project, which includes a detached pavilion with natural gas heaters, outdoor fireplace, fencing, lighting, hardscape and landscaping. 

The action included approval of required permit and signage program amendments to allow the conversion of a portion of the shared food court to a fenced dining area with alcohol service operated by Carmelita’s. Commissioners also added a condition that an additional tree be placed in the corner planter (as the project calls for removing the existing palms and adding a Mexican sycamore).

Most of Wednesday’s discussion revolved around the location of the proposed fireplace, a potential water feature on a wall slated to be an artistic mosaic design, the loss of the trees and the narrow pathway to the other restaurants in the Food Village. Consensus was that the water feature might be a nice addition, but would go against the city’s conservation efforts, and that the fireplace might be better situated between the dining pavilion and the community plaza to be enjoyed by more people, but neither were dealbreakers for the project.

Commissioners enthusiastically agreed that the project overall will liven up the area, something that’s very much needed in the space they described as uninviting and uninteresting. 

The plaza has been fairly run down for many years, Chair Pro Tem Jorg Dubin pointed out, and agreed that this project will be a much-needed improvement for the very visible space.

“It’s going to be a much better aesthetic for the front row center of Laguna Beach,” Dubin said. 

This space has always been underutilized and unattractive, agreed Commissioner Ken Sadler. 

“It never really enticed me to want to go sit in that outdoor space at all,” he said. 

The project will create another courtyard space in the downtown, a priority in the Downtown Specific Plan, which encourages outdoor spaces for people to dine and gather, added Commissioner Susan Whitin. This project begins to distribute some visible, outdoor activity on the main streets, she said. 

“This is really an important project,” Whitin said. “It’s fresh, it feels current … I think it’s going to be very successful.”

Commissioner Steve Kellenberg also noted his excitement for the project. 

“That has been a sad space for as long as I’ve been in this town … there’s just been something about it that just hasn’t been very inviting,” Kellenberg said. “The idea of activating that street frontage on Broadway, that’s fantastic.”

Seeing life in that space with the fireplace and outdoor dining will completely change the character of that part of the street, he said. 

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Rendering by SWA/Courtesy of City of Laguna Beach

A rendering view from Coast Highway of the concept design proposed for Food Village 

Located at 217 Broadway St., near the corner of Broadway and Coast Highway, the highway-fronting site is developed with a Mediterranean revival style commercial building, Food Village, consisting of three restaurant tenant spaces: Full service Mexican restaurant, Carmelita’s; take-out seafood establishment, Slapfish; and a vacant space most recently occupied by Chinese restaurant Kaowok Asian Bistro. The restaurants flank an outdoor patio area with 60 seats shared by all three tenants.

The property has been significantly modified over the years since its construction around 1935, explained Senior Planner Anthony Viera.

Originally, the building incorporated an additional leg which extended from the rear of the main structure to South Coast Highway, Viera said. This leg was later removed and replaced with the on-site food court, as well as a gas station and convenience store on the adjacent parcel. The properties remain under common ownership.

Plans approved by the commission include converting approximately 1,100 square feet of the shared food court to a 32-seat fenced dining area with alcohol service operated by Carmelita’s. The balance would be reserved for a community plaza providing 28 seats, with seating shared by the other restaurant tenants.

Approximately two-thirds of the Carmelita’s outdoor dining area would be sheltered by a 12-foot-high freestanding pavilion. The metal beam structure would support an inverted gable, butterfly roof finished with grey standing seam. The detached structure would maintain approximately two feet of separation from the existing building.

The landscape plan includes a statement Mexican sycamore proposed to anchor and shade the plaza. The existing palm trees are proposed to be removed. 

The proposed lighting plan would replace all existing ground-level light fixtures with string lights at the pavilion, a wallwasher to illuminate the tile wall, downcast bollard lights for path lighting and selective use of uplights within the proposed planter areas. The proposed light fixtures share a minimalist design and black finishes for design continuity.

Existing planters, landscaping, fencing, lighting, awnings and a flagpole will be removed to accommodate the planned improvements.

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Rendering by SWA/Courtesy of City of Laguna Beach

A rendering of the dining pavilion concept 

Carmelita’s owner Marcos Heredia opened the restaurant in 2012 with his brother. Over the past decade, he learned more and became part of the community, he said during the meeting on Wednesday. 

Heredia described meeting with Commission Chair Steve Goldman, who said he’s never been inside Carmelita’s because – as Heredia recalled the conversation – the outside is unattractive. It is a bit of an eyesore, Heredia noted. 

Goldman clarified that he called it “nondescript.” 

“There was nothing to draw me in,” Goldman said. 

That’s exactly what he would like to change, Heredia said.

“I would really like to give the people that enjoy Laguna Beach a new destination,” including longtime locals like Goldman, Heredia said.

He would like to get better use out of the plaza area more, he explained.

“It’s not being utilized to its full potential at all,” Heredia said. “It’s incredible to me because it’s right in front of the main beach.”

Most people drive right by the space either coming or leaving Laguna, he noted. If longtime locals like Goldman aren’t going in because of how it looks, there are probably a lot of visitors who avoid it for the same reasons, Heredia said. 

He’ll do everything possible to ensure people will be enticed to come enjoy a margarita in front of the ocean and have a good time, he added. 

The plaza design was inspired by Heredia’s passion and they hope it will encourage both residents and visitors to enjoy the space, added Andrew Watkins, a principal at SWA Architects, the firm handling the project. 

“(They) want to create an iconic piece on the street,” Watkins said. “A landmark, a beacon within Laguna.”

The pavilion is designed as a lightweight structure that’s transparent to the rest of the plaza, Watkins explained. It also acts as a bit of a buffer from Broadway Street, he added, and creates a room-like feel sheltered by the nearby Mexican sycamore. 

They plan to replace the pavings in the plaza and design a “rug motif,” drawing from the cultural heritage of Carmelita’s and create a fresh canvas for events and gatherings, Watkins said. 

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Rendering by SWA/Courtesy of City of Laguna Beach

A rendering of the plaza concept featuring the mosaic wall design 

Commissioners were split on the idea of a water feature on the back wall of the plaza (rear wall of the convenience store), something that was suggested in the staff report and discussed at length during the meeting.

The stucco wall is set to receive a Mexican-inspired tile mosaic that overlooks the community plaza and serves as the rear building wall of the convenience store at the adjacent property.

The big blank wall is kind of asking for something creative to be done with it, Watkins said. 

The idea of a water feature was discussed, but there were some concerns with maintenance and upkeep, Watkins said. 

“I’m not sure that we’re fully on board,” with the water feature, Watkins said. “We like the idea in terms of a white noise effect, but we also really like that wall in terms of an art piece.”

He’d like to give the opportunity to a local artist to use the space as a canvas, Heredia added. A water feature could cause maintenance issues and kids might disturb it if the restaurant staff can’t easily keep an eye on it, he said. 

As a city of water conservation, a water feature might not be a good idea, Dubin noted. 

Whitin didn’t support the water feature, it’s an outdated idea, she said. 

Other commissioners liked the water feature idea as “white noise” to cover the traffic noise, but weren’t adamant about including it in the plans. 

Location of the outdoor fireplace, which will be open on both sides, was also discussed quite a bit at the meeting. 

Dubin said the proposed fireplace location is in the view corridor of the beach. He suggested possibly moving it between the dining pavilion and the community plaza so that people on both sides could enjoy it.

“I get hung up on aesthetics,” Dubin said. “It just seems like more people would enjoy it that way.”

That’s the other location option they explored, Watkins said. They decided on the proposed location as a way to draw people into the plaza, he explained. Although a few commissioners noted that the suggested “location B” would potentially be more inviting.

They could definitely consider the alternative location, Watkins confirmed. 

A majority of commissioners seemed to lean toward the alternative location for the fireplace, but agreed it wasn’t a dealbreaker for the project. Either location is acceptable, several said. 

Although moving the fireplace to the second suggested location would open up the walkway a bit more, something Kellenberg noted as a concern. 

The passageway from the street to the other two restaurants is fairly narrow, Kellenberg noted. 

Part of what the Planning Commission should consider is to maintain the viability of businesses, he said. Carmelita’s is being “a little greedy” taking up space and not leaving much of a corridor for the other tenants, Kellenberg said. 

The monument sign will be redesigned and relocated to a more prominent location, near the new entry area, which will alert pedestrians to the other businesses on the property, Viera pointed out.

The only public speaker on the item, Catherine Jurca, pointed out the historic status of the property as well. That should be considered with the project, she said. 

Viera confirmed that the historian stated that the project would not impact the property’s historic character. 

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Sara Hall covers City Hall and is a regular contributor to Stu News Laguna.