Sapphire Laguna Beach, California

One beautiful, sunny afternoon, on my drive back to San Diego from Los Angeles, I decided to drive by the coast to bask in the amazing weather and views of Southern California. Midway home, I decided to take the 1 HWY, also known as the South Coast Hwy, which runs through Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point. I’m glad I did! It was lunch time, and I figured I would grab a small bite at the many novelty restaurants or shops along the way…

Blue sky landscapes, picture perfect homes perched upon the green hillside, the warm embrace of the sun, and the unique boutique shops and restaurants lured me into spending much more time in Laguna Beach than I had anticipated. By the luck of the draw, I came across a welcoming restaurant with bright yellow umbrellas and happy people leisurely enjoying their drinks, meals, the sun and the view. That was enough to entice me in! Welcome to Sapphire!


The chef, an Iranian native who received his culinary training in Switzerland, happened to be at the restaurant. I was impressed with the quality of service and professionalism shown to me by the entire staff. I assumed this had to do with presence of the chef/owner. That was not the case. I have yet to receive inadequate service upon my numerous dining experiences at Sapphire, even when the chef was absent.
What keeps me going back frequently? Not just the location, great ambiance, and outstanding service, but the menu and food, of course! I am constantly impressed with the diversified, international menu which changes frequently. Therefore, I would hate to pick one dish that is my favorite…there is something to thrill any taste bud.

If I had to make a recommendation it would be there signature drink, a white peach sangria! It is a subtle, refreshing drink that hits the spot on a hot day. If you enjoy a good burger, by all means try their Kobe Burger with havarti cheese! It is sinfully good!
There is also a gourmet shop next door to the restaurants that offers a variety of wine, cheese, condiments, and food to go. If you enjoyed your Kobe Burger, you can purchase the burger patties here. Word of caution: I tried BBQ my patties but had a difficult time with it due to the high fat content of the Kobe Beef causing soaring flames….Perhaps I should have used a griddle. But the taste was fantastic!

Check out their ever changing menu on http://www.sapphirellc.com/

Next time you want to take a scenic drive along Southern California, give Sapphire’s menu the opportunity to introduce you to the many diversified flavors of the world!

Marjan

From our partner: LO+JUNE

From our partner: LO+JUNE
Artisanal French products in our Swiss fine food boutique