Charlie Palmer at South Coast Plaza . But Santana dreamed of eventually having a place with his name on it .
“ Originally , Ahmed and I were looking in Newport and … [ Corona del Mar ] for our first restaurant location ,” he says . “ We had opened Charlie Palmer ’ s at South Coast Plaza and many of our regulars lived in those communities . However , business was booming and there was very little space available . We were shown the former Five Feet [ spot ] in Laguna on Glenneyre [ Street ] and we felt good about it .”
Broadway exudes an industrial New York loft vibe with a brick wall , distressed finishes and high ceiling beams as well as an open kitchen that ’ s center stage to those sitting at the chef ’ s counter . Santana wants guests to “ have a great time , … feel comfortable , like they ’ re in their own home , and can ’ t wait to come back .”
Santana says his approach to cooking is “ making good food with bold flavors — food [ that ] people enjoy , … [ then ] come back and tell their friends . If I ever hear , ‘ Your food is interesting ,’ I know we ’ re in trouble ,” he says . That seems unlikely with tempting dishes like Japanese hamachi sashimi with avocado sorbet , grilled smoked pork chop with caramelized figs and the whimsical Oh Beehive dessert with lemon goat cheese mousse and honey ice cream .
After three years of running Broadway , Santana and Labbate decided to open a new concept . As Santana says , “ We asked ourselves , ‘ What do we like to eat ?’ ” The answer : Steaks and tapas for sharing , which became the foundation of Vaca .
“ Vaca is more casual , family-style dining . It fits a lot of different occasions and dining
Left and above : Dishes and interior at Broadway by Amar Santana ; top row : Vaca ; chef-owner Amar Santana ( front ) and business partner Ahmed Labbate
needs . We ’ ve got the components of charcuterie / cheese , tapas , paellas and our steaks ,” Santana explains . “ Broadway is highly creative , where I get to indulge in all sorts of unique creations . Both places have great cocktail programs and wine selections .”
They chose Costa Mesa for Vaca because , being from New York , they understood the value of nearby theaters , a shopping center , office buildings and freeway access , which would all bring people to the area . And , after looking for the perfect place in LA for years , they finally found the right fit : a space nestled inside the new Beaudry residential building on West Seventh Street in downtown LA .
LAGUNA BEACH MAGAZINE 45