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
Seabutter is Melt-in-Your-Mouth Fresh Sushi
Last week, the popular Seabutter Beverly Hills sushi restaurant welcomed the arrival of its little sister, Seabutter Laguna Beach. Owners George and Angie Fratkin opted for a week of soft opening evenings but, as the Laguna Beach local coconut telegraph goes, it...
Rum Social Hoping to Open Late August
As of about a week ago, the City of Laguna gave Rum Social owners the greenlight to complete their interior renovations. Rum Social is the highly anticipated new concept moving into the old Watermarc location at 448 S. Coast Highway in "Restaurant Row." The ownership...
Upcoming Events & News
Laguna Beach Fireworks 2021
The Laguna Beach fireworks show is back in play and will begin at approximately 9 pm on Sunday, July 4th. As usual, the fireworks show will originate from Monument Point at Heisler Park. For this reason, the Monument Point area will be closed all day on the 4th of...
Sunglass Gallery’s Harry Bagga Shines
After properly grieving the loss of my 14-year Fendi sunglasses, I trooped back to the only man I trust - 31-year Sunglass Gallery Owner Harry (Harjit) Bagga. This is the guy who looks at you once and heads right to the perfect sunglasses. Fendi, apparently, has lost...
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 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...
Best Food & Drink
Seabutter is Melt-in-Your-Mouth Fresh Sushi
Last week, the popular Seabutter Beverly Hills sushi restaurant welcomed the arrival of its little sister, Seabutter Laguna Beach. Owners George and Angie Fratkin opted for a week of soft opening evenings but, as the Laguna Beach local coconut telegraph goes, it...
Rum Social Hoping to Open Late August
As of about a week ago, the City of Laguna gave Rum Social owners the greenlight to complete their interior renovations. Rum Social is the highly anticipated new concept moving into the old Watermarc location at 448 S. Coast Highway in "Restaurant Row." The ownership...
Seabutter Sushi Opens This Week
This week, Seabutter Sushi began its soft open phase in the old San Shi Go location at 1100 S. Coast Highway. Essentially, they're using this week to dial in the service and food before they expand to full operational hours. This Friday and Saturday (and moving...
Best Burgers in Laguna Beach, 2021
This week, July 11th - 17th, launches "Burger Week" across Orange County, Long Beach and L.A. County. All told, about 80 restaurants and chains are participating. In Laguna Beach, exactly ONE restaurant is participating. Sapphire. Cellar. Craft. Cook is featuring...
Chef Rainer Schwarz Debuts Flavor-Filled Menu at Hendrix
Last Friday, after my second day in a row at Cinepolis in Ocean Ranch to see In the Heights, I gathered fellow movie friends and walked 100 yards to Hendrix, the third restaurant in South OC from Chef Rainer Schwarz and his team. You may be more familiar with Chef...
Oliver’s Osteria New Spring Menu is Blooming with New Flavor
Last week, all diets were off with a visit to one of my favorites, Oliver's Osteria in Laguna Canyon next to Sawdust. While Chef Erik is never one for loading in frothy, empty calories, his dishes are so rich and fabulous in flavor that you simply can't stop eating....
Upcoming Events & News
Laguna Beach Fireworks 2021
The Laguna Beach fireworks show is back in play and will begin at approximately 9 pm on Sunday, July 4th. As usual, the fireworks show will originate from Monument Point at Heisler Park. For this reason, the Monument Point area will be closed all day on the 4th of...
Sunglass Gallery’s Harry Bagga Shines
After properly grieving the loss of my 14-year Fendi sunglasses, I trooped back to the only man I trust - 31-year Sunglass Gallery Owner Harry (Harjit) Bagga. This is the guy who looks at you once and heads right to the perfect sunglasses. Fendi, apparently, has lost...
Citing COVID Cases, Sawdust Marketplace Closes
Initially scheduled through December 20th, the Sawdust Marketplace closed yesterday (Saturday) for the season and the year. Marketplace organizers noted that "Due to rapidly increasing COVID-19 cases in our own area, and several confirmed cases among our Sawdust...
“Tuscany Beyond Expectations” Documentary Fills That Travel Yearning
Did you miss your trip to Tuscany this year? I have a solution for you. Three years ago, a friend introduced me to Brian Gendece. My friend was a giant foodie fan, and Brian had recently retired with the idea to expand his cooking hobby as "The Showbiz Chef." Brian...
Sawdust Festival – Plenty of Shop Opps Thru Dec. 20th
After a thwarted attempt to open at the end of July this year, our famed Sawdust Festival chose to wait it out a few more weeks They finally opened on Sept. 19th to a scaled back "Outdoor Marketplace" on weekends only. And so far, it's moving along just beautifully....
The Drake Nears First Anniversary With Enthusiasm
Exactly one year ago, I interviewed the founders of The Drake Laguna Beach who, after three long years, were putting the finishing touches on the city's new posh jazz supper club. They finally opened the last week of September, just when the City of Laguna Beach...
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 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 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 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...