For my last night before heading home, I wanted a casual restaurant with good food where my son and I could sit outside along the Pacific. My daughter-in-law suggested Driftwood Kitchen in Laguna Beach for good food on the ocean.

Great suggestion, as the food, service and views are quite good. I sipped a margarita-like upside-down 42 caddy ($16) made with Cointreau, Don Julio 1942 anejo tequila and lime juice while my son tried their high tide ($16) made from Dikel 8 rye,  fresh pineapple juice, ginger, lemon sour mix and fresh mint.

We sipped our cocktails as the sun set over the Pacific with a rainbow visual in the other direction. We first shared their lobster flautas ($19) with a green bomba sauce and pico de Gallo. Tiger, our waitress, brought the lime crema on the side after learning that my son couldn’t consume dairy.

Next, we shared their crispy Spanish octopus ($21) with slices of Bilbao chorizo and crispy fingerling potatoes in a romesco sauce and chimichurri. I recommend that as I do their cioppino, a seafood stew ($49) with crab, shrimp, mussels and other fish in a nicely spiced tomato sauce, along with a slice of garlic toast. We requested an additional bread slice to sop up the flavorful sauce (+$2). We shared a bottle of  Malbec Terrazas Reserve ($42).

My son enjoyed the chef’s selection of sorbets ($9) with ladyfingers while I sipped an espresso martini ($16) for dessert.

I highly recommend a visit for casual, tasty dining along the Pacific.

Driftwood Kitchen
Laguna Beach
619 Sleepy Hollow Ln
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 715-7700
Website
driftwoodkitchen.com/