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OC Sourdough Burger with Swiss cheese , tomato , lettuce , dill pickle and Thousand Island dressing on Parmesan-grilled sourdough , with the option of adding grilled onions . And Sapphire , Cellar-Craft-Cook sets itself apart with an American wagyu beef burger that features Spanish cheddar cheese , sweet gem lettuce , shaved onion , hothouse tomato and house-made pickles with secret sauce slathered on a challah bun .
But when a restaurant ’ s entire ethos is surrounded by proteins , such as the phenomenal Selanne Steak Tavern , it takes special skill to make the burger shine . “ When constructing a steakhouse burger , I take two things into consideration : the quality of the meat and making sure all the flavors are identifiable ,” says Executive Chef Vince Terusa .
“ We start with a brioche bun , brushed with clarified butter , toasted on the flat top . From there , [ it gets ] a spread of house-made mayo made with bacon fat . Our patty is an 8-ounce wagyu beef patty with an aged white cheddar melted on top . Baby arugula for a bright kick tossed with a green onion vinaigrette . Applewood-smoked bacon , sliced tomato and our ‘ angry onion ,’ which is a breaded onion ring with cayenne pepper
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and Hungarian paprika in the flour dredge .” This preparation follows the concept of tweaking each individual item with enough expertise that the entire plate changes to a top-tier dining experience — a sentiment shared by the chef . “[ It ’ s ] classic construction where every element of the burger is treated in a way to enhance the quality of the patty ,” he says . This execution gives the humble cheeseburger a roaring voice among the other dining options .
ELEVATED BEACH BURGERS One of the best aspects of dining in Laguna Beach is the beach itself . Nearly every restaurant is either on the beach or just across the street . Even those “ inland ” eateries are mere blocks from the stunning coastline . This means that dining next to sandcastles and sunsets is a feat that ’ s easy to accomplish . Pair this experience with a top-tier beach burger , and you could ’ t ask for a finer dining experience . Hotel Laguna and its accompanying restaurant , Larsen , are a prime example of this .
A picture-perfect rendition — the Laguna Burger — comes with cheddar , caramelized onions , crispy shallots , lettuce and grain
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mustard aioli , served with fries . Enjoy this burger while enjoying the view through floor-to-ceiling windows or dine on the patio and listen to the waves crash and seagulls chatter about . The atmosphere and design of the hotel pairs perfectly with the flavors and ambiance of eating at Larsen . The Classic Burger at The Loft at Montage Laguna Beach is another prime example of a wonderfully made cheeseburger , with a stunning view to enjoy as well . With heirloom tomato , bibb lettuce , pickles and red onions on a challah bun , this is a showstopper of a meal .
Great burgers can be enjoyed beachside without having to waltz through a hotel lobby as well . Take , for example , The Deck on Laguna Beach , which presents a behemoth of a burger for guests to enjoy : Featuring Vermont cheddar , applewood bacon , arugula , tomato and chipotle aioli between brioche buns , this will have diners contemplating a cat nap under the California sun . At The Cliff Restaurant , several burger variants share menu space waiting for hungry guests . Among them , of course , is a classic presentation : The Cliff Burger is a half-pound beef patty , layered with lettuce , tomato , red onion and pickles , jazzed up a
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SARAH KING PHOTOGRAPHY |
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