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
Papa’s Tacos is Back With 60+ Menu Items To Go
After temporarily shuttering on March 223nd, Papa's Tacos Owner Michael Skerly figured he might be able to quietly merge back into business eight weeks later … on Saturday of Memorial Weekend. Instead, he and his crew were zambonied. "It was three days in an absolute...
Laguna Beach Restaurants Open for Dining as of Thurs, May 28th
Laguna Beach restaurants are beginning to open for dine-in and/or patio dining. This is a list of those who have opened to date. Watch for dates of more openings this week here in this blog and in my Instagram and Facebook platforms. Please share the news! This is...
Upcoming Events & News
Super “Heart” Fan? Win Tix to Nancy Wilson at KXMas Concert – 12/8
KX 93.5 is looking for a lucky Heart super fan. Starting now until November 18, the station is accepting written submissions on why you’re the biggest Heart fan. Entries should be 250 words or less and tell KX 93.5 why you should be the lucky winner. The winner will...
OC Chef’s Table 2019 – Top-Ranked Chefs and 3 Laguna New Entries
These last few days, I’ve been immersed in what is certainly one of the most enjoyable aspects of my life – interviewing chefs. Forty-two of them, actually. For the second year in a row, I have the pleasure of working with the Illumination Foundation and their...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
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Best Food & Drink
Broadway Resurrects Favorite Throwback Thursday Cocktails
There are people who make cocktails in this town and there are people who invent them. Since its opening day three years ago, Broadway by Amar Santana set itself above the regular cocktail crowd with serious mixology that introduces phenomenal liquors, cognacs,...
The Ranch Opens for Daily Breakfast Far Beyond Traditional Scheme
For those of you still gnashing your teeth over the loss of North Laguna’s Jean Paul’s Goodies, I have amazing news for you: JP’s famous espresso machine was saved from the trash heap by none other than Ranch owner Mark Christy. Today, the completely refurbished...
Now, This is a Gourmet Thanksgiving To Go!
With my Friday Dining Column on Chef Camron’s new breakfast and lunch menu at The Ranch, you might have realized that this guy has some serious cooking chops. … All the more reason to bring his cooking home to your Thanksgiving table. (Hey, if you’re going to do it...
Maro Wood Grill Sparks “Clean, Healthy Food” to Exalted Decadence
If any of you are familiar with the term “Mercury in retrograde,” you’ll understand why the espresso machine broke down at Maro Wood Grill on Tuesday. When I arrived on Tuesday to chat with Mariano “Maro” Molteni and his Chef, Debra Sims, Maro was up to his elbows in...
Starfish Asian Takes on the Tree Lighting Flood of Humanity
If you're intent on attending the enormous annual Montage Tree Lighting event on Monday, Dec. 1st, allow me two small pieces of advice that will make the entire evening a most excellent affair for you. Tip #1. Go early. The event begins at 4:30 p.m., and if you're...
Tortilla Republic’s Nov. 19th Tequila Dinner Should Prove Interesting
Leave it to newcomer Tortilla Republic in Laguna Beach to add some interesting spark to our November calendar with a 5-course dinner, each course paired with Partida tequilas. Now that's interesting! Scheduled for this Wednesday, Nov. 19th, at 7:00 p.m., the dinner is...
Upcoming Events & News
The Best Stair Run Ever – 1,528 Stairs
After a week of eating debauchery (including Halloween candy, glory), I decided that early Sunday morning deserved the "Di Stair Crawl," a most amazing tour of ups and downs, varied terrain and plenty of challenging stair sets over something close to a 7-mile loop....
Todo Mundo & Pepe Gonzalez Putting Groove in Your Move Nov. 6th
Pepe Gonzalez is arriving in Laguna Beach on Thursday, Nov. 6th and, for the record, he promises to be even livelier than the City Council race we will have put to bed two days prior. Pepe, an energetic, fun presence in his own right, will be joining the extremely...
Sip and Shuck Party Officially Upgraded to “Shindig”
Monday, Nov. 3rd update: Just chatted with Driftwood and Deck General Manager John Nye and, boy, this party has become a serious shinding. See my updates at the end of this article! Last year, the owners of Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck came up with a marvelous idea:...
Buddhist Monks Return to Create Sand Mandala
There are more great events in a single month in Laguna Beach than most towns can hope for in a lifetime of existence, but it didn't take me long to hone in on one of my most favorites - the Tibetan Monks creating a Sand Mandala (the Compassion Painting) at the...
Bungalow Restaurant Owners Buys The House
This week, the Bungalow Restaurant, a longtime favorite for steaks and fresh fish in Newport Beach's Corona Del Mar, has acquired The House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer here in Laguna Beach. Bungalow owners Jim Walker and Louie Feinstein will be renaming the...
News on Coming Soon Opening and Restaurant Party
At last Wednesday’s Taste of Laguna event at the Festival grounds, it was great to see all the executive chefs representing their restaurants at the booths. Of the 33 restaurants there, I’d say less than a handful of the primary chefs were MIA, and that says a lot for...
Get to Know OC & LA Chefs
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