OK, folks. As much as you may decry the blasphemous sale of love on Valentine’s Day, the fact is this: If your partner is expecting some sort of special Valentine’s Day dinner in one of Laguna Beach’s finest restaurants, you had better get hustling.
Several restaurants are already booked solid, and that includes places like Las Brisas, whose food mention … ehrm … doesn’t reside in my Best of Laguna Beach travel guide.
Given that we’re expecting the usual crazed upswing in people and traffic this coming holiday weekend, most Laguna restaurants are simply offering their regular menus with Valentine’s Day entrée and dessert specials on Sunday.
If, however, you’re determined to enjoy a romantically-inclined prix fixe menu, there are still 12 restaurants offering multi-course prix fixes that still have seating availability. I’ve listed my favorites first – based entirely on romantic appeal and great food.
Valentine Dinner Options – The Top 5 I’d recommend:
Broadway by Amar Santana – Our Top Chef season participant is very close to selling out his 5-course menu at $110/person.
Nirvana Grille – Always a perennial favorite for romantics, Chef Lindsay at Nirvana is offering a 4-course prix fixe, $59/person.
Driftwood Kitchen’s Chef Rainer is offering prix fixe menus at $79/person on both Saturday and Sunday.
K’ya Bistro, one of my forever favorites with Chef Craig, still has seatings at $99/couple (not per person, per couple).
Chef Azmin at Sapphire tells me that seatings are closing out for his 3-course prix fixe dinner, priced from $76-$88 per person, depending on your entrée choice.
Other Restaurants Offering Special Valentine Dinner Options
Big Fish Tavern – 3 course prix fixe for $45 per person.
The Deck on Laguna Beach – Prix fixe available Saturday and Sunday, $79 per person.
Mozambique – 3-course prix fixe for $75/person.
Tortilla Republic – Brunch extended to 3 p.m., and 3-course prix fixe from 3 – 11 p.m., $69/person.
The Montage’s Loft and Studio are both sold out, and Selanne Steak Tavern is reporting the same. Splashes at the Surf and Sand is only accommodating hotel guests until 9:30 p.m. … no comment on that one.
Whether you choose a specialty menu, or decide to choose from regular menu offerings around town, be sure to make your reservations immediately so that you won’t find yourself sitting down to dinner at 10:00 p.m. Enjoy your Valentine’s Day!