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Driftwood Kitchen, Laguna Beach, CA

Driftwood Kitchen

4.5
4.5
1372 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 50 times today
  • Great for scenic views
  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
Driftwood Kitchen and Stateroom bar is a casual restaurant that serves ocean-to-table fare next to a lovely waterfront view. Helmed by executive Chef Rainer Schwarz, the menu showcases an eclectic selection of seafood dishes that highlight the diversity of the Pacific. Menu highlights include hand-shucked oysters, salmon, octopus, swordfish and lobster, prepared with nothing but the finest and freshest ingredients. Driftwood also offers alternative menu items for landlubbers, such as dishes made of chicken or steak.

Driftwood Kitchen and Stateroom Bar is open all through the week. In addition to its dinner menu, the restaurant serves brunch 7 days a week between 9 a.m. and 2:15 p.m. The airy dining room is a great place to enjoy a casual business lunch or a fun outing with friends. Driftwood Kitchen also boasts a bar, open from 9am - 10:30pm everyday.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, American, Californian
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 9:00 am–2:15 pm Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (949) 715-7700
  • Website
    http://www.driftwoodkitchen.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Resort Casual
  • Executive chef
    Rainer Schwarz
  • Catering
    The Driftwood Private Room is just upstairs of the Driftwood Kitchen and State Room Bar, and offers sparkling ocean views. Inspired by the historical charm of the building, the rich dark hardwood floors and paneling, grey tufted chairs and bay windows, this ambiance offers a very private setting for your business or social gathering.
  • Private party facilities
    With unobstructed views of the Ocean, our unique ocean front property offers a spectacular location for special events and weddings of many styles and sizes. We are able to customize each of our unique spaces to accommodate birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, corporate gatherings, weddings ceremonies and receptions, or a day at the beach,
  • Location
    619 Sleepy Hollow Ln., Laguna Beach, CA 92651
  • Neighborhood
    Laguna Beach
  • Cross street
    Coast Highway and Cleo
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Public transit
    Trolley stop Coast Hwy @ Cleo St, SB - Stop 14
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,372 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • Orange County

    Great for scenic views

  • South Orange County

    Great for scenic views

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Driftwood Kitchen enchants with "amazing ocean views" and "delicious food." Guests rave about the "fantastic service" and the "coastal ambiance" that enhances the dining experience. While some find service inconsistent, the "stunning setting" and "exceptional menu" make it a must-visit for brunch or sunset dining.
1,372 Reviews

  1. Michael VIP

    Orange County41 reviews

    4.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Service was excellent. Ambiance was acceptable...we went Sunday morning and traffic was light in the restaurant. Valet parking is $16. View is ocean but you have to sit outside to see the ocean directly, otherwise you're' looking through people. Temperature was not well-controlled. Food was mixed. French Fries - tasted like tallow-cooked fries but no information about sourcing so don't know. So excellent. Hamburger steak - excellent - again no information about sourcing but tasted like it might be pasture-raised grass fed. Eggs were stated "Organic" but appeared to be pasture-raised and organic by the color of the yolk - again no sourcing info except in this case it said organic on the menu. Blueberry Pancakes were also excellent. Sourdough Bread could have been better - lower quality. Skillet Potatoes on the eggs and sausage plate were awful...not good at all. Looked undercooked in a pot in chunks and then served before ready. Cappuccino was good.

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  2. Kieran

    Orange County7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went to celebrate our anniversary. Early enough to have a great ocean view. Food was delicious. Surf and turf for me and the ribeye for my wife. Looked beautiful on the plate. My Filet was perfectly charred, with great Asparagus spears and whipped potatoes. Lobster seemed a little undercooked. My wife enjoyed her steak and it's trimmings. Waiter was very nice and the food came promptly. They gave us a lovely dessert to celebrate our anniversary. Management was hands on making sure everyone had a great time. Fabulous time and will certainly return.

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  3. Tim VIP

    Phoenix20 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    It was a little cold inside but that’s a minimal thing. The food was phenomenal as was the service. I would definitely go back here again.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Meredith VIP

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Gorgeous view and delicious food. Cozy atmosphere.

    Is this helpful?

  5. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles1 review

    1.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 2
    The check in process for a reservation was stressful. The host was overwhelmed and trying his best. However, the whole experience was uncomfortable, we ended up leaving and not eating there. Noise level is loud. There was nothing relaxing about the experience but the ocean breeze.

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  6. Maddie VIP

    Cincinnati2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 8, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely delicious sea bass!! It just fell apart in your mouth

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    New York City1 review

    4.0

    Dined on March 7, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    great food and the server. only complaint is it was so cold in the restaurant but they couldn’t do anything about it

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  8. OpenTable Diner VIP

    Los Angeles6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic food, great service. First time visiting, will return.

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  9. OpenTable Diner

    Dallas1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I love driftwood kitchen!! I’ve been here 5-6 times now over the last 2 years and it’s always such a pleasant experience! Can’t beat the view, food is delicious and service is also so great. Can’t recommend this place enough!

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  10. Beverly

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful experience for a breakfast date. Friendly and welcoming staff. Delicious food and drinks. Would return and highly recommend.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Driftwood Kitchen is rated 4.5 stars by 1372 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 50 times today
Google Map for Driftwood Kitchen

619 Sleepy Hollow Ln., Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Coast Highway and Cleo
  • Neighborhood
    Laguna Beach
  • Hours of operation
    Daily 9:00 am–2:15 pm Daily 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, American, Californian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Resort Casual
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Public transit
    Trolley stop Coast Hwy @ Cleo St, SB - Stop 14
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Rainer Schwarz
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Indoor Fireplace, Non-Smoking, Outdoor Firepit, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    http://www.driftwoodkitchen.com/
  • Phone number
    (949) 715-7700
  • Catering
    The Driftwood Private Room is just upstairs of the Driftwood Kitchen and State Room Bar, and offers sparkling ocean views. Inspired by the historical charm of the building, the rich dark hardwood floors and paneling, grey tufted chairs and bay windows, this ambiance offers a very private setting for your business or social gathering.
  • Private party facilities
    With unobstructed views of the Ocean, our unique ocean front property offers a spectacular location for special events and weddings of many styles and sizes. We are able to customize each of our unique spaces to accommodate birthday parties, bridal and baby showers, corporate gatherings, weddings ceremonies and receptions, or a day at the beach,
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