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
Rumari Offering $37.50 Family Meals
I was so busy last week that I can't even think of a metaphor to describe it. The weekend prior, I had invited four of my COVID-quarantined neighbors (meaning they're being as cautious as I am) to my roomy patio table for a Thursday night dinner. As I tore through...
Vegetarian Options Abound in Summer Menus
One of my followers the other day commented that I was "focusing on too much meat," and by golly, I can fix that! As it turns out, I haven't pieced together a vegetarian-styled column since the end of April, when I mentioned many of my favorite salads in town. Whether...
“Outdoor Dining” Expands to More Options in Your Own Backyard
With new closure orders issued this week for most California counties (including Orange), our Laguna Beach restaurateurs are "watchful." "It's great that we still have outdoor dining available to us, but I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop," said Cary...
Burger Week Satisfies Mid-Summer Cravings
Just when you thought you could get started on that diet after all your comfort food eating, Burger Week rolls around. (So, yes I'd recommend you put that diet off just one more week.) From Sunday, July 12th through this Saturday, restaurants throughout L.A. and...
Dine-In Closures Prompt Rapid Outdoor Action
On Wednesday this week, Governor Newsom announced that dine-in options would close in 19 counties, including Orange County, for the next three weeks. Outdoor dining and take-out can still continue. Minutes after the announcement, Laguna Beach restaurateurs and chefs...
Burgers & BBQ To Go This Holiday Weekend
Typically on the 4th of July in Laguna Beach, many of our dine-in restaurants close. Our 4th of July crowds tend to flock to Heisler Park and Main Beach, hunkering down for the day and rarely even sending one designated "food buyer" out of the fray to pick up ice...
Upcoming Events & News
Laguna Beach Books hosts best-selling mystery author T. Jefferson Parker
On Friday, August 14 at 5 p.m., Laguna Beach Books is pleased to present the latest virtual event in its new Signature Event Series. Enjoy a literary evening with author T. Jefferson Parker as he speaks about his new book, Then She Vanished. He will be in conversation...
Sawdust Will Open Smaller Outdoor Marketplace on July 17th
Clearly, the above photo will NOT be happening at the Sawdust Art Festival this year. But they DO have a different solution! While the Festival of Arts, Pageant of the Masters and Art-A-Fair all cancelled their summer seasons this year, the Sawdust leadership worked...
Beaches in Laguna Beach – City vs. County Beaches in Laguna Beach
Thanks to all of its beautiful cove beaches, Laguna Beach has an extraordinary number of beaches in just an eight mile stretch. With all of the recent closures, many people have been confused on WHAT a CITY beach is and WHAT a COUNTY beach is as they're somewhat...
Update: Orange County Beach Closures Beginning May 1, 2020
As you probably know, Governor Newsom announced on Thursday a HARD CLOSE of all Orange County beaches. The Governor did not include other counties in California in his order. Beaches may be closed in OTHER counties and cities, based on the decision of their city and...
Who to Complain to About Beach and Traffic Chaos this Weekend in Laguna Beach
This week with warmer weather and impatient people who are tired of staying at home, South Laguna Beach (SoLag) was overrun with beach visitors. It's only going to get busier this weekend. Because the County has closed its parking lots but NOT its beaches, we have...
Laguna Beach Books Announces Virtual Best-Selling Author Events
Just when you thought our entire globe had relegated itself to Netflix binge watching and TikTok karaoke, I have refreshing news: People are ordering books. That's right – actual books that have covers and pages and smell like books! "I can't say that we're seeing as...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
Chef Craig Connole finds new level of expression at Ristorante Rumari
Fourteen years ago, I decided I'd make a hobby out of covering all the "best of Laguna Beach." Initially, it was just a few lonely blogs that - just as the movie Julie & Julie reported - seemed to only attract my Mom's attention and comments. Fast-forward 14 years...
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...