IN LAGUNA BEACH , THERE ARE MYRIAD EATERIES TO CHOOSE FROM , DEPENDING ON YOUR SPECIFIC TASTES AND MOODS . HERE ARE VENUES TO TRY THAT OPENED THEIR DOORS IN 2015 AND 2016 :
The Famous Yellow curry at Thai Bros . has been a popular dish for 20 years .
Centrál Coastal Peruvian 949-715-0801 centralcoastalperuvian . com
Gu Ramen 949-715-0825
Pizza Bar 949-497-2277 pizzabaroc . com
Rasta Taco 949-715-1510 rastataco . com
Sergio ’ s Empanadas 562-298-0251 sergiosempanadas . com
Skyloft 949-715-1550 skyloftoc . com
Ti Amo 949-499-5350 tiamolaguna . com
Taverna Pizzeria and Rissoteria 949-715-0821 tavernabylombardi . com
Urth Caffé 949-376-8888 urthcaffe . com
Thai Bros . owner Panida Pikultong
alive the memory of Laguna ’ s original greeter , Eiler Larsen .
From the Turkish fare coming out of GG ’ s Bistro for the last 10 years to the tantalizing racks of lamb and tandoori chicken served by Natraj Cuisine of India since 1990 , many of the eateries that have been successful for decades reflect the city ’ s diverse population — Laguna gets 3 million visitors per year , according to the city website .
Spiers , too , realized the city ’ s embrace of varied cultural cuisines 10 years ago with Mozambique , which boasts signature dishes like peri-peri prawns and samoosas . “ It reminded me of home [ in South Africa ], and I felt like Laguna Beach would be the perfect fit for what I was envisioning , which was a
22 SUMMER 2016 CITY GUIDE upscale restaurant that served South African flavors but with a contemporary American twist to them ,” Spiers says .
Like many other long-standing establishments , Mozambique ’ s tenure has not been without change , as Spiers conducted significant remodeling of the venue — most notably the third-level veranda , which overlooks the Pacific Ocean — in 2013 . For other restaurants in town , however , maintaining as much of their original presence as possible has been vital to continually attracting customers . Laguna Avenue dining legacy Thai Bros . has been serving Thai dishes like its Famous Yellow curry for 20 years , and owner Panida Pikultong says it was important to maintain the same look and design that customers have grown to love , keep the menu simple and hire experienced chefs in order to stay relevant within the evolving Laguna restaurant scene .
“ Three years ago , we got two of our family members to come from Thailand , so we are set in the kitchen ,” Pikultong says . “ We believe our customer retention rate is fairly high . Once we can get you in here , we have a good chance of keeping you .”
Expressing a similar sentiment , Spiers believes that while trends come and go , it ’ s great food , service and ambience that attract and keep new customers , both locals and tourists alike . And competition often encourages businesses to strive for a higher level of excellence .
COMING IN SUMMER 2016 :
Asada Tacos + Beer
Jan ’ s Health Bar janshealthbar . com
Reunion Kitchen & Drink reunionkitchen . net
ROUX
“ I think with the mix of great restaurants , there will be a natural push to raise the bar in menu , service expectations and the overall dining experience ,” McIntosh adds . “ I don ’ t like to make predictions , but it looks like it ’ s shaping up to be a busy 2016 in Laguna Beach .”
FOR MORE WAYS TO EXPLORE LAGUNA , HEAD TO OUR DINE LISTINGS ON PAGE 46 .