665071 Thu Nov 05 18:59:46 -0800 2009 8 2 Los Angeles Area 0 5159806 Visiting Laguna next week and looking for a nice spot, but not necessarily wanting to break the bank with average food and a bit of an ocean view. Advice from Lagunatics? Will consider all types of food. Thu Nov 05 18:59:46 -0800 2009 137641 socalfoody 1 5160875 Cafe Zoolu - Great halibut, cute atmosphere (hole in the wall feel) Watermarc - Fun and hip. Great place for lots of small tasting plates and wine. Fri Nov 06 08:40:12 -0800 2009 5159806 251266 funkyshanna 1 5161196 I'd second Watermarc - a really nice menu well-executed, esp. strong on the small plates side (consider making a nice meal from a selection of those), great eclectic wine and drinks list, very good service and ambiance (inviting, comfortable upstairs, more exciting and buzzy downstairs). In South Laguna Beach, I'd recommend Eva's Caribbean. It's a really cool place with great food, much smaller place so it's more of an intimate experience. Menu choices won't be as varied as at Watermarc but what they do have is nicely done. Fri Nov 06 10:28:43 -0800 2009 5159806 19558 mikester 2 5161391 I'd second Watermarc and Eva's. I'd also at Nick's Laguna in downtown, actually next to Watermarc. Also Sapphire Laguna if you can get a reservation. Fri Nov 06 11:26:03 -0800 2009 5161196 10974 1000steps 1 5161455 I'll second Zoolu, Sapphire and Watermarc, although my last visit to Watermarc was not very good and none of them are really great in my opinion. Lumberyard is good but ambience/decor is similar to Bandera, which isn't really birthday worthy. Sage in Crystal Cove is just north of Laguna and pretty good as well. Fri Nov 06 11:51:20 -0800 2009 5159806 239779 krick 1 5161662 I like Las Brisas...Decent food and amazing view. Fri Nov 06 12:50:35 -0800 2009 5159806 209207 Jaytizzle 1 5161746 Sapphire is the only one you'll have a great ocean view at, though - and you need to be on the patio. This is a very good restaurant - this time of year, you might have luck with reservations or put your name in and sit at the (small) bar & wait it out... If you want to be right on the water, the beachside bar at the Hotel Laguna serves serviceable food & good drinks and the location can't be beat... I would almost do this, as with the early sunsets, you won't see a lot of water, unless you're right on top of it, from any restaurant at night. Fri Nov 06 13:15:19 -0800 2009 5159806 10392 torta basilica 1 5161854 If this is a special evening, you might consider Bluefin. Most regard it as the best sushi in So Cal. They also have very nice non-sushi entrees. The Omakase there is fabulous. It's small and intimate but during the week it should be fairly easy to get into. Some ocean view but not much. It's in the Crystal Cove mall just a little North of Laguna on PCH. If you want more of an ocean view yet decent food, try Javier's (mexican cantina) in the same development. Fri Nov 06 13:50:55 -0800 2009 5159806 260686 gracekim 1 5162812 I'd also recommend Eva's. Sat Nov 07 00:25:26 -0800 2009 5159806 1120955 LAM7319