“What a spot!” said S. Irene Virbila in the Los Angeles Times. Chef Craig Strong’s new three-star stunner, Studio, sits on a bluff overlooking the Pacific at Montage Laguna Beach, about an hour’s drive south of L.A. In the early evening, diners sitting on the outside terrace have an unobstructed view of palm trees “ablaze with the setting sun.” Formerly chef at the Ritz-Carlton Huntington in Pasadena, Strong has created a true destination restaurant that combines a superb menu, a deep wine list, and exceptional service. Best of all, it has a backdrop that can’t be beat.
The menu has a distinct Mediterranean “and even Catalán influence” (Strong once lived in Barcelona). The seafood courses are especially fine—try a stunning roasted lobster tail with fideo noodles in a green curry lobster sauce, or a French turbot on a pillow of semolina gnocchi with artichokes and peas. Thick medallions of duck are topped with Bing cherries, and the lamb chop is served with a “melted” tomato—one stuffed with diced ratatouille —on a bed of white beans and Tuscan cabbage. The straightforward desserts include a plum compote embellished with toasted-almond ice cream. Montage Resort & Spa, 30801 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, (949) 715-6420
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