Studio at Montage Laguna BeachChef Craig is Going StrongI have eaten meals cooked by Chef Craig Strong many times. I have eaten several meals at the Montage before. I do not remember any meal at the Montage or cooked by Craig Strong that was quite as perfect as this past Saturday night at Studio. The food was gorgeous and ethereal. The wine pairing (the movie Som was premiering at the Montage that night; how fitting that Studio's Som talked me out of the (more expensive) wine that I wanted, and into a better wine that paired beautifully with our food. The service was, as always, impeccable. Truly a night to remember!6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMSunset diningI went with my wife for a romantic birthday dinner and was not disappointed. We dined outside so we could watch the sunset over the water and everything on the tasting menu was phenominal. We were even invited to visit the kitchen after our meal by our server.6/9/2013 12:00:00 AMPerfect ocean view diningCelebrated 10th wedding anniversary and couldn't have pick the most romantic place. Very attentive staff but not intrusive. Enjoyed an elegant yet relaxed dining experience. Very expensive but nothing pretentious. . Not for everyone but reserved for those who want to truly experience excellent meal & service in the most peaceful ocean background setting.6/8/2013 12:00:00 AMPricey but outstandingThe view and food are hard to beat. Excellent presentation of food, great service, and unforgettable view.6/4/2013 12:00:00 AMCoastal Restaurant Par ExcelenceOf note at this elegant establishment are the level of service and the delicious food. We especially enjoyed the efforts of Cameron, a jolly good fellow who had a continual smile on his face. We were celebrating our 30th anniversary and they made us both feel very special. Only one negative comment......parking would have been $37, but with the validation it was "only" 11. Pretty steep, considering the bundle (over $400.00) we spent on a dinner for two. Don't you think they could "throw in" parking for such a costly dinner?6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Anniversary DinnerWe had a wonderful evening dinning under the stars with spectacular views of the ocean. The tea smoked salmon was one of the most memorable entrees I have had. The food was truly creative. The service we had was impeccable.
This is a 5 star restaurant for good reason.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMIn our top five!Absolutely beautiful and comfortable setting. Finely tuned and virtually perfect yet warm and caring service. Wonderful tasting menu, excellent wine pairings.
From the initial greeting to an invitation to tour the kitchen not an opportunity was missed by the dedicated staff. We were made to feel welcome and appreciated. A truly memorable meal.5/28/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Art of a Wonderful ExperienceOur dining experience was perfect from the cocktails outside overlooking the beautiful Pacific to the incredible dinner we had. My second course scallops were prepared perfectly, they melted in my mouth. I would consider them the best I've had and I'm a picky foodie. My Veal was exquisite with the perfect amount of reduction and paired with an enjoyable Sarah. I couldn't have been happier and will be returning for my parents anniversary to share the experience with them. Thank you for leaving such a great impression.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMOutstanding food and serviceWe enjoyed dinner at Studio last night and were amazed by the food, the high level of service and the friendliness. Our table was outside and had an amazing view of the surf and the coast. The sound of the ocean was incredibly relaxing and set the backdrop to an exquisite meal. From Nina, our sommelier, to Lisa, our amazingly personable waiter (and including everyone else who pitched in), we enjoyed a memorable anniversary dinner. The staff went above and beyond to make us feel at home. Highest recommendation and four thumbs up! We will be back soon.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMDelightfulWe just had a delightful evening eating at the Studio in the Montage Hotel. We were given a corner table with a perfect view of the ocean and the sunset. The service was thoughtful and impeccable and the pace of the dinner was perfect as was the food and wine.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was out third visit andThis was out third visit and it was just as great as the other two!!!5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMThank youMy wife and I very much enjoyed celebrating her birthday with your attentive staff and scenic views! We are already planning our next visit!5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Experience in a long whileI dined at Studio while on business, and I can't express how much I enjoyed it. The service was impeccable, and the food was divine. I enjoyed the 6 course tasting menu, and each dish was delicious. I will definitely return when traveling for leisure.5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMEarly Mothers DayGreat evening at Studio...early mothers day celebration out on the patio...tasting menue with added beet salad and dungie crab appey..paired with Krug/09 Coche Meursault and 08 Kapcsandy grand vin/03 d'yquem for dessert!...superb meal... scallop and duck dishes amazing, rest quite good..service impeccable and cordial... atmosphere breathtaking...5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing. Not enough room to write.Had high expectations but this was probably the most impressive dinning experience I have ever had. The food was exceptional and the service even better. Everyone was warm & friendly, and each course was delivered with perfect timing in addition to the normal things you would expect at 4/5 star. At the end of the meal, our waiter Joe asked about evening and once we shared we were there celebrating our engagement, he offered after dinner liqueur, dessert, and a tour of the kitchen where we met and talked to the head chef Craig Strong, and as we were leaving, he brought us a loaf of banana chocolate chip bread with brown sugar crust as "something for the morning complements of Studio". All because he "wanted to make our night more special".5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMthe total dining experiencethe total dining experience was outstanding except for a couple of minor bumps in the service. Although the style of service is meant to be top level, when a server splashes water on the table while refilling glasses or a bread server drops a roll on the floor while offering them to you as well as a waitress tripping over your table leg. You have to think the training of staff leaves much to be desired.
The food and presentation was outstanding. Enjoyed meeting the chef who visited after the meal. If they could only find trained staff to equal the food and decor they would rival any Michelin starred spot in the US.
I recommend the restaurant for certain just be prepared for a few glithces along the way.4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMAn amazing, intimate experience!An amazing, intimate experience! The food was unbelievable, the service attentive and unpretentious, the setting is beyond gorgeous! Very special place indeed.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMWe splurged with the tastingWe splurged with the tasting menu paired with wine. It was a special celebration, so this very expensive experience will not be a routine event.
However, the food variety, wine matching, quality and quantity was perfect. The service, attention to detail and overall experience made this event one of the best we had. Highly recomend it! Be proper ad to pay the price.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing. Exceeded all expectations.Amazing. Exceeded all expectations. We ordered the tasting menu paired with wine. Bravo.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMOrange County's BestIt doesn't get any better then this! Studio is, hands down the best of the best in Orange County! The food is perfection and the service is impeccable. We had the risotto appetizer followed by the melt in your mouth duck breast. I had the veal ribeye which was incredible. Have dessert. You'll be glad you did.3/26/2013 12:00:00 AMQuality isn't CheapStunning view, impeccable service, extensive wine list. Beautiful location at the Montage in Laguna Beach.
We all know quality is not cheap. That being said, Dinner for our family of five exceeded $700. A $58. entree does not include soup or salad- expect to pay an additional $28. per. I appreciate fine dining, but found myself thinking my daughter would rather be spending the money at nearby South Coast Plaza, than on a few bites of Tenderloin-delicious as it was.
For a special occasion, the quiet ambiance and superb service would most likely be worth the investment.3/24/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat an amazing dinner experienceWhat an amazing dinner experience my boyfriend and I had for his Birthday. The place is beautiful. I wish I could have seen the view during the day.
The service is the best that I have ever had anywhere. Every single person is where they should be and when they should be. They are polite and wait for the right moments to serve and ask anything.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service, too average foodGreat view, great service but food is very average for the price. Good presentation, but a bit disappointing for that class of restaurant. Was expecting much better.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was our 2nd time to theThis was our 2nd time to the Studio, and the 2nd time to have the Chef's Tasting menu, paired with wines. The first time we went we had an absolutely outstanding meal. All the preparations were complete with very complementary flavors. However, this time, we were disappointed. The flavor and textures just didn't seem to go together well, and the preparations were comparatively generic. For example, the tuna tartare, paired with spaghetti squash, all blended together into a bit of a mush. Disappointing. We enjoy everything else about this restaurant. We were just disappointed that for the price (expensive), we would get much more.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMTRANSCENDENT dining experience.TRANSCENDENT dining experience. Every single detail was perfect. This is not a restaurant, this is a work of art. The service is attentive, unobtrusive, friendly, just perfect. The tasting menu is delightful from start to finish. The sommeliers have created a wine pairing that bestows the exact right interplay between each course and the wine.
Troy Smith, one of the 3 brilliant sommeliers, has done what I thought was impossible- to present both a Chardonnay and a Malbec that puts all of my pre-conceived biases to rest.
The price is very reasonable considering the incredible quality and high-cost ingredients. Once in a lifetime dining experience- take someone you love here.3/19/2013 12:00:00 AMMy husband and I had beenMy husband and I had been to Montage before, but never for dinner. We knew we wanted to go to the Studio for my mother's 85th birthday celebration. And I cannot say enough about everything! from beginning to end, it was beautiful, delicious and service delightful. My late father always said "every once in a while you have to go first class", and thanks to the Montage we did again for my mother! Thank you...3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMMy wife and I had a marvelousMy wife and I had a marvelous Saturday evening at Studio. It was an aniversary of sorts for us and we were looking for a special time as we are fine dining enthusiasts. We were seated promptly at a nice romantic corner table with the Pacific in the background. We chose to order off the ala carte menu, but noted the tasting looked superb (and a good deal) given the prices of the menu selections. Each course was superb, the flavors were balanced and highly nuanced. The word that came to mind was seductive, no flavor jumped out at us aggressively, it just got better and better as we made our way through the meal. We finished with a really tasty cheese course paired with a 40 year old tawny. Just wow!3/16/2013 12:00:00 AM'way overpriced for what you'way overpriced for what you get. Innovative, but the connections between ingredients can get lost in their cutting-edge creativity.3/16/2013 12:00:00 AMStudio keeps getting Better!It doesn't get ANY better than this! Expensive (very) but definitely worth every penny! I always say...I would rather go to the STUDIO once rather than 3 times to a regular dining establishment. I have been going here since they opened and it keeps getting better. If you went a few years back you will notice is is NOW more casual and relaxed. Craig Strong, Chef, is amazing and also a wonderful ambassador for the Montage.
This sounds like and infomercial...but it's the truth.11/24/2012 12:00:00 AM