Diane Armitage
21-year Laguna Beach resident &
absolute devotee of this amazing town.
Here our thousands of insider tips and
recommendations
for all the best places
to dine, drink and play in
LAGUNA BEACH
Best Food & Drink
Easter Restaurant Options in Laguna Beach During COVID
I love celebrating Easter, but this year has almost gotten away from me. (Seems I've had other things on my mind. You, too?) Several restaurants are reporting special menus for Easter Sunday, many of which are still under construction. Keep in mind that just about all...
Tues, 4/7/2020 Restaurant Update & Cool New “Challenge”
Here I am again, back with more Laguna Beach restaurant updates for you. I hope the news I share here and at StuNewsLaguna is a happier daily briefing than most of the news you're seeing elsewhere. I've always adored our restaurant owners and chefs in this town. I'm...
Tues, April 7th – Downloadable PDF: Laguna Beach Restaurants Offering To Go & Easter Options: Version 7
This is VERSION #7, dated Tuesday, April 7th, 2020, of current Laguna Beach restaurants serving to-go and delivery as well as an update on EASTER specials. Thank you for all your support of our amazing restaurants, dear reader
New Sapphire Pantry Opens with Inventive Breakfast, Lunch Options
As restaurants are temporarily shuttering everywhere, it's such a blessed and optimistic turn to see Sapphire Pantry's new ownership actually do the opposite. On Wednesday, April 1st, Restaurateur Russ Bendel opened The Pantry, a portion of his new Sapphire operation...
Tues, March 31st – New Laguna Restaurant Creativity + Updated Complete PDF Directory!
Restaurant operators: If I don't have your information listed here or if it needs to be updated, contact me at Diane@TheBestofLagunaBeach.com and we'll get it updated. Also, if you want a clickable link in the Restaurant Directory PDF to your website, contact me....
Thurs Update: 3/27/200: Laguna Restaurant Updates: It Just Keeps Getting More Creative
So, here's the thing I've learned about my beloved Laguna chefs and restaurateurs this week: If you want to see the real creativity they possess, just take them out of their daily routine and tell them to figure out how to make business happen any way they can. These...
Upcoming Events & News
Laguna Beach Unified closes school and cancels student-related activities effective March 16 to April 3, 2020
The Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), after careful deliberation and in an abundance of caution, announced today that it is closing its schools, effective Monday, March 16, in an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The District’s Spring Break is the...
2020 Festival of Whales Parade Changes Dana Point Route
While Laguna Beach has its Annual Patriot's Day Parade on the morning of Saturday, March 7th, neighboring Dana Point has its own parade - the 49th Annual Festival of Whales Parade - same day, same timeframe – which is just the beginning of a two-weekend festival of...
Laguna Playhouse’s “Barefoot in the Park” a Must
Laguna Playhouse is debuting one of my all-time favorites, Barefoot in the Park, with shows that begin on Sunday, March 1st and run through Sunday, March 22nd. No less than Paul Rodriguez and Rita Rudner are in two of the four starring roles. Rodriguez plays the part...
2020 Patriot’s Day Parade Promises Fun & LESS Traffic Snarls!
In Laguna Beach, the well-loved Annual Patriot's Day parade starts at 11 a.m., which means hundreds of happy citizens participating, thousands watching from the sidewalks, and traffic diversions beginning as early as 9:00 a.m. The parade starts at 11:00 a.m. by Laguna...
Beach Club at Main Beach has reopened behind Hotel Laguna
Hotel Laguna operators, Laguna Creative Ventures, has launched what it calls a "first stage" Beach Club, open Wednesday through Sunday and holidays (weather permitting) with limited beach service. Anytime between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., you can walk down or park in the...
Big Fundraiser Keeps Getting Bigger This Sunday (Feb 23rd) for Adam & Rachel Bernstein
Three weeks ago on January 25th, a GoFundMe page went live for well-loved, longtime Laguna Beach bartender Adam Bernstein and his wife, Rachel. The couple has been financially beleaguered since Rachel was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer last summer. GoFundMe...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
Chef Peter Lai – The Blind Rabbit Speakeasy – Anaheim
Meet Chef Peter Lai, new Chef of the award-winning Blind Rabbit speakeasy in Anaheim. Chef Peter Lai wasn't even looking for a new job when he was invited to take a look at The Blind Rabbit … and then he couldn't even find the door when he showed up for his...
Chef Linda Johnsen – Filomena’s – Costa Mesa
Meet Chef Linda Johnsen, Owner and Chef of the ever-popular Filomena's in Costa Mesa. Chef Linda purchased the restaurant in 2009 when the real estate market tanked (her primary career at the time), and she's never looked back. Click to learn more about Chef Johnsen...
Chef Rich Mead – Farmhouse – Newport Beach
Meet Chef Rich Mead the unassuming chef of Farmhouse in Newport Beach at Roger's Gardens. Chef Mead has been cooking for GIANT tables of guests for years, so he's looking forward to his return to OC Chef's Table where he simply tends to 10 guests during the...
Chef Jet Tila – Food Network’s Iron Chef
Meet the Food Network’s Celebrity Chef Jet Tila, the likable and uber-talented chef on a number of shows, including Iron Chef America. Chef Jet Tila is returning for his second year to OC Chef’s Table as the spotlight celebrity chef. Click to learn more about Chef...
Chef Jason Neroni – Rose Cafe – Santa Monica
Meet Chef Jason Neroni, the renowned L.A. based chef of Rose Cafe in Santa Monica. Chef Neroni has heard about the OC Chef's Table, and was so affected by the homelessness in his own neighborhood, that he contacted Illumination Foundation, the non-profit entity...
Chef Randy Gruspe – Duke’s – Huntington Beach
Meet Chef Randy Gruspe, new Chef of the renowned Duke's in Huntington Beach. Chef Randy Gruspe was born and raised a Hawaiian, which might make him the best possibly suited chef for the popular Duke's chain. Click to learn more about Chef Randy Gruspe and … The events...
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