Studio Restaurant Review

30801 S. Coast Hwy. (Montage Resort Dr.) Send to Phone

949-715-6030 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu

Price

Perhaps OC's most scenic and romantic restaurant with high-class cuisine and a 2,500-selection wine list to match.

Go behind the scenes of Studio restaurant! Watch our exclusive video interview with chef Craig Strong and view photos of our dinner on GAYOT.com's blog.

Studio Restaurant was one of our 2006 Top 10 Hotel Restaurants in the US.

Cuisine

Open

Dinner Tues.-Sun.

Features

View
Heart-healthy dishes
Romantic setting
Private room(s)
Full bar
Reservations suggested
Outdoor dining
Valet parking
Casual dressy

Wine

Great Wine List

* Click here for rating key

Studio captures the casual yet sophisticated vibe of Laguna Beach itself. The Montage Laguna Beach built Studio as a small Craftsman-style house atop a gorgeous bluff. Yes, Studio has the most enviable panoramic views of South Laguna's incomparable shore, rolling hills, hilltop mansions and curvy coastline. Guests can sit on the romantic patio at sunset or feel cozy inside the restaurant with its glowing candlelight, high ceilings, warm woods and white tablecloths. Chef Craig Strong presides over Studio's marble counter-topped kitchen. Strong's French-California cuisine works wonderfully well at Studio, as this resort is an ode to the sophisticated California lifestyle and palate. This chef is a master at letting the natural flavors of local ingredients --- and the best from the world over --- shine without heavy sauces and modern tricks. Somehow, Strong just knows how to create the perfect bite, like Kumamoto oysters paired with mignonettes of bacon, apple and chili cucumber. Dungeness crab leg risotto is composed with vanilla bean, preserved lemon and mascarpone cream. Main courses may include Hudson Valley duck breast and confit, petite spinach, parsnip purÃ©e and pomegranate gastrique. Surprisingly, Strong is also Studioâ€™s pastry chef; he says he has always loved creating both savory and sweet dishes, plus he likes the continuity of delighting his guestsâ€™ palates from beginning to end. His desserts are definitely impressive, such as a not overly sweet and delightfully dense carrot cake with a spicy ginger ice cream. If money is no object, then let an expert sommelier take you on a wine tasting journey around the world by pairing each dish with wine from Studioâ€™s 2,500-selection list. The six-course chefâ€™s tasting menu may be the best way to dine here, especially with the carefully chosen paired wines.

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User Ratings & Reviews for Studio

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Reviews 1 - 1 of 1 1

Awesome dining experience by GeeKaa on 06/28/2008

This restaurant has a fantastic menu,professional knowledgeable service with a welcoming ambience & style. Consistent and a pleasure to visit. Overlooking the Pacific ocean. I noticed that A leader to the front of house staff,consistent, friendly and organized with an unflappable nature. Professional in everyway,takes their job seriously whilst encouraging a fun work environment. They remember you and make you want to return. Consistent and prompt service,they truly value their customers. Committed to top quality products at the best prices. Efficient and accurate. My wife and I celebrated the anniversary here. We had phenomenal time today. Being a vegetarian, I had mentioned concern regarding being a vegetarian and they amiably took care of it. My wife loved the place. Thanks for makng the anniversary special. I strongly recommend the place to someone who would like to get good quality food with the most courteous. I can't wait to go back and bring my family there.

Reviews 1 - 1 of 1 1

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