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. (Currently, approximately 2,200 downloads on each updated PDF!)

On Friday, March 20th, we had 82 Laguna Beach restaurants offering take-out and delivery. Last week that number dropped to 67 restaurants open, but that included the re-opening of three restaurants and three “bar/wine bars.” Now, on March 30th, we’re at 65 with the same scenario. A few more have closed through this “temporary” period, and a few have re-opened with hoped for to-go activity.

Meanwhile, the creativity only gets more entertaining! This Version 5 Directory shows changes for every single restaurant in hours of operation to all discounts, features and deals including “to-go” cocktails, pop-up grocery and market options, family-style meals and bulk freezable items. Download the entire directory here … 

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New “to go” Stories to Share:

1.
Subway – Sandwiches for First Responders + Online Grocery
Subway closed its doors this weekend for take-out and delivery, but they came up with a great online grocery that sells all your favorite Subway foods for your refrigerator and freezer. As an example, their addictive Italian Herb and Cheese Bread can still be yours for just $1.50 per 12-inch loaf, as are all their other fresh-baked loaf options.

What I found most enticing – 150 pre-cooked bacon strips for about $35. What can be better than ready-made bacon? Subway even has whole egg and egg white patties sold by the dozen for super-easy egg sandwich assemblage. Find sliced cheeses, whole and sliced veggies and a number of frozen soups sold in 2-plus pound bags. Even their famous cookies are sold individually for 89 cents. Their best idea, though, is their First Responder Sub. Priced at just $5, you can add any number of sandwiches to your cart. They will assemble and deliver to Laguna Beach local doctors, nurses, police, fire and EMTs.

Coffee, Wine, Cocktail & Beer News

I know many readers used to think these three items were the necessities of life, but they still seem to carry significant importance in the middle of this crazy crisis. Oddly, cocktails to go are proving the biggest item of purchase at most restaurants, so our smart restaurateurs have simply expanded their options.

2.
GG’s Bistro is still going strong, with an expanded lineup of family meals and salads as well as its entire restaurant menu of single servings. They’ve also introduced “Morning Coffee” service with Lavazza Italian coffee drinks and breakfast items from 7 am – 8 am. Just point your phone at the QR code on the receipt they present to pay.

3.
Wine Gallery’s online selection of fab wines by the bottle just keeps growing. Place your order online at their website and pick up or have it delivered to your door.

4.
On Friday, Slice Pizza & Beer announced that their Beer Wall (pictured above) is trotting home with you now – that is, 12- and 24-ounce fresh draws of at least eight gourmet  beers, along with 24-ounce popular wine pulls (that’s three cups of wine, folks!) with prices ranging from $15 to $24.

5.
And, our Canyon-based wine merchant, McClain Cellars has now created “Wine TV,” which features  virtual wine tasting events and wine education classes on their proprietary McClain Cellars wines. Classes are Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:00 p.m.

6.
And best news till last: My favorite Bloody Mary in town hails from the Lumberyard. This coming Sunday, April 5th, when you order a $10 breakfast burrito, you get the Bloody Mary and all its fixins’ for just $5.

Free Kids’ Meals

7.
 Las Brisas is still offering free kids’ meals with any order from their custom, daily menus.

8.
Ruby’s Auto Diner is offering free kids’ meals with any order through the end of March and continues to do so on every Tuesday of each week.

Royal Stokes Up the Wood Grill Again

9.
After two full weeks of closure, and just two days before its 1-year anniversary, Owner/Operator Chef Maro Molteni at Royal Hawaiian Fire Grill is firing up that giant wood grill this Wednesday April 1st (no joke) for a custom menu of family style meals for two or four people.

In this case, the family  that locks down together stays together – Chef Maro is only allowing his immediate family into the kitchen to help with meal prep and packaging. Orders must be made online the day prior (beginning Tuesday, March 31st).

Daily items range from wood grilled pork chops, chicken breast, salmon, shrimp and steaks as well as house-made cannelloni. His famous empanadas can be ordered in half dozen and dozen allotments and all bottles of wine are 50% off. Order online at the website and pick up at the kitchen door the next day (in the alley behind the restaurant) or ask for delivery.

That’s it for this early week update! Restaurants, keep sending me your specials and photos! Diane@TheBestofLagunaBeach.com