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Driftwood Kitchen, Laguna Beach, CA

Driftwood Kitchen

4.5
4.5
1377 Reviews
$31 to $50
Seafood

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 41 times today
Experiences are available.
  • 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

Experiences

  • Easter Brunch Buffet

    $0.00 - $112.10 per person

    Apr 20, 2025 only
    Join us Sunday, April 20th 2025 from 10:00 AM- 4:30 PM, For an Easter Brunch Buffet (regular menu not available) Adult $95.- / Children (6-12) $25.- / Kids under 6 years eat free (an auto gratuity of 18% will be added to each check upon payment of bill) Cold Station: -Assorted Breakfast Breads / Vermont Creamery Butter -Farro and Arugula Salad - roasted vegetables / marcona almonds / dried cranberries / sherry shallot vinaigrette -Chopped Salad - gem lettuce / radicchio / tuscan kale / fennel / red onion / celery / peppadews / gigante beans / cherry tomatoes /salami / provolone / oregano dressing -Seasonal Fruit & Berries - mint gastrique / chantilly cream -Cold Smoked Salmon Lox - red onion / capers / dill / crostini / meyer lemon and dill cream cheese -Omelet's & Eggs – Made To Order (Live Cook Station) - bacon / ham / sausage / smoked salmon / cheddar swiss / onions / red & green bellpeppers / salsa / tomatoes / spinach Carving Station: -Whole Roasted Double R Ranch Prime Rib of Beef -Maple Glazed Turkey Breast Fish Station: -Jumbo Lump Blue Crab Cake - green bomba sauce / pepino pico de gallo -Wild Prawn & Date Skewers - chimichurri Sauce Hot Station: -Driftwood Kitchen Eggs Benedict -Pecan Wood Smoked Bacon -Niman Ranch Breakfast Sausage -Breakfast Potatoes O’Brien -Roasted Baby Carrots -Buttermilk Pancakes Kids Station: -French Toast Sticks -Chicken Tenders & Fries -Mac and Cheese Desserts: -Seasonal Fruit Crisps -Easter Carrot Cake -Fresh Baked Cookies -Petit Fours

Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,377 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 offers a "breathtaking ocean view" and "delicious food" in a cozy atmosphere. While some guests have experienced service inconsistencies, the "friendly staff" and "amazing seafood" generally impress. The ambiance is relaxing and perfect for special occasions. Reservations are recommended, as it can be busy, especially during sunset.
1,377 Reviews

  1. Kathy

    Portland6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a lovely evening. The service was amazing. As a person who eats plant based, it is had to find a nice restaurant that actually has a few options that are specifically vegan. Everyone at the table was able to find food they enjoyed. The view is so pretty!

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  2. dee

    Los Angeles2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    The food is delicious and the service is wonderful at Driftwood. It might be nice if the tables looked a little more upscale, but not a huge deal. It looks more beach, friendly.  

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  3. Genecis

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved it! Found this spot on TikTok and did not disappoint. We were accommodated outside with little to no wait and the service was great! Our food was brought out at an appropriate time the wait was literally nothing.

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  4. OpenTable Diner

    San Diego1 review

    2.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 5
    beautiful view and food was delicious . felt very rushed by the servers though and the portions are very small for the price

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  5. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County1 review

    4.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Love the view, food and ambiance. We recommend reserving your dinner as it can be packed, especially on Fridays. This restaurant is on the pricey side.

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  6. Michael VIP

    Orange County43 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 16, 2025

    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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  7. Kieran

    Orange County7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 16, 2025

    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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  8. Tim VIP

    Phoenix20 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 15, 2025

    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.

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  9. Meredith VIP

    San Francisco1 review

    5.0

    Dined on March 11, 2025

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

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    Los Angeles1 review

    1.0

    Dined on March 9, 2025

    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.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Driftwood Kitchen is rated 4.5 stars by 1377 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 41 times today
Experiences are available.
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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