Coastal Food and Wine worth dropping in for...

There are many great spots to enjoy along the coast for good food and wine. Below are a few that I have been to recently, some more often than others, that I thought were worth noting. Many more to follow.

Stonehill Tavern
-located in the St. Regis Resort of Monarch Beach. Design, food and service that teleports you to San Francisco and New York... I could eat here every week. Worth the trip from anywhere, and almost certain to see someone famous... besides Tim Flowers, GM. Table #15 is a great booth in the bar where you can watch the action and be incognito. I recommend #54 if you want to be in the dining room. Funky designer jeans to Armani suits.

Vine
-Located in the beach community of San Clemente. Grab a high top table in the bar near the open kitchen and enjoy. They are producing good clean "wine country" food with a focus of California wines.

Husky Boy Burger
-a drive up burger joint on the PCH just North of main beach in North Laguna. Don't skip the onion rings.
802 N Coast Hwy Laguna Beach. 949.497.9605

Tabu Grill
-Fun & hip with great food in a small space. Just north of the montage on the PCH, you've probably driven by it and never noticed. Go there. Open kitchen with the chef owner behind the range. Microbrew beers- ask about the orange Blossom.

LOFT
-located in the Montage Resort of Laguna Beach. It has good straight forward food. Perfect for a nice refined lunch meeting / date. Grab a table on the patio overlooking the Pool and Pacific ocean, or one of the more spacious booths toward the back past the cheese bar... Did I say cheese bar. Worth the trip for dinner if only for the Cheese bar. It is an incredible selection of artisan cheese with a Maitre d’Fromage who guides you through the choices and matches them with compotes.

Studio
-located on the grounds of the Montage Resort of Laguna Beach. Probably the best located restaurant in Orange County. Located at the edge of the Pacific Ocean with lights that accent the white water crashing on the rocks. Very refined food and service with a dress code (no jeans) that pushes the restaurant toward special occasion for the beach community. Best tables are in the main dining room area, near the glass doors that open up to the sound of the waves.

Purple Feet ~ wine boutique and tasting room
-Dana Point Village. A wine bar that offers 70 wines by the glass and 300 by the bottle. They also have a retail section where you can grab a bottle or two for the road. Good place to stop in and grab a high top table. A glass of wine with some olives, cheese and charcuterie from their Tapas style menu. Not a night cap place, Closes at 10 pm.

Sushi Laguna
OK. I know everyone has their favorite sushi place and this one happens to be mine. You'll see the same people in here week after week. Sushi Bar Seats are a must! Let Hero or Cody take you through some fresh fish. Expect friendly service and the room to get a little, well interesting past 9 on the weekends. Thai Snapper, live shrimp, blue crab hand roll and monkey balls.

Anyone been to the new Beachcombers in Crystal Cove?