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Name: Mare Culinary Lounge
Address: 696 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA, 92651
Telephone: (949) 715-9581
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.99

Mare Culinary Lounge

696 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA, 92651

(949) 715-9581
Store is closed

Mare Culinary Lounge Menu

Frittate

The Wave

Sunshine

Burrata Meatball

Artichoke And Turkey

Steak And Eggs

Mushroom And Sausage

My Way

The Healthy Choice

The Wave

Sunshine

Burrata Meatball

Artichoke And Turkey

Steak And Eggs

Mushroom And Sausage

My Way

The Healthy Choice
Breakfast Panini

Good Morning

Turkey

Good Morning

Turkey
Espresso Bar

Espresso

Cappuccino

Latte

House Coffee

Hot Chocolate

Macchiato

Americano

Caffe Mocha

Espresso

Cappuccino

Latte

House Coffee

Hot Chocolate

Macchiato

Americano

Caffe Mocha
Specialita

Mare French Toast

Modd Mio

Tuscany

Uova Arrabiata

Mare French Toast

Modd Mio

Tuscany

Uova Arrabiata
Sides

One Egg

Side Of Bacon

Side Of Salsiccia

Side Of Potatoes Della Nonna

Toasts And Preserves

Homemade Granola And Yogurt

Bowl Of Strawberries And Bananas

One Egg

Side Of Bacon

Side Of Salsiccia

Side Of Potatoes Della Nonna

Toasts And Preserves

Homemade Granola And Yogurt

Bowl Of Strawberries And Bananas
Drinks

Fresh Orange Juice

Fresh Orange Juice

Healthy Meal suggestions for Mare Culinary Lounge

Frittate

The Wave [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sunshine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burrata Meatball [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Artichoke And Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak And Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom And Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

My Way [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Healthy Choice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Wave [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Sunshine [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burrata Meatball [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Artichoke And Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Steak And Eggs [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mushroom And Sausage [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

My Way [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

The Healthy Choice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Breakfast Panini

Good Morning [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Good Morning [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Turkey [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Espresso Bar

Espresso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Macchiato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Americano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caffe Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Espresso [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Cappuccino [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Latte [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

House Coffee [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hot Chocolate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Macchiato [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Americano [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Caffe Mocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Specialita

Mare French Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Modd Mio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuscany [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Uova Arrabiata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Mare French Toast [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Modd Mio [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tuscany [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Uova Arrabiata [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Sides

One Egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Of Bacon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Of Salsiccia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Of Potatoes Della Nonna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toasts And Preserves [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Homemade Granola And Yogurt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowl Of Strawberries And Bananas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

One Egg [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Of Bacon [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Of Salsiccia [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Side Of Potatoes Della Nonna [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Toasts And Preserves [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Homemade Granola And Yogurt [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Bowl Of Strawberries And Bananas [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Drinks

Fresh Orange Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Fresh Orange Juice [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Carolyn W.

Great food, cool decor, great service.
(5)
Faith R.

The butternut squash sage ravioli entree is outstanding!!!!!! Great friendly service.
(5)
Dennis L.

Came here for happy hour today. I got the calamari and the carpaccio! The calamari was average but the carpaccio was delicious. Great flavor and great value for $7. Calamari was $7 as well. Only downfall that I noticed with the carpaccio is that they didn't serve it with bread. I usually always had bread to eat with the raw meat but this place didn't serve it. Oh well still delicious! 4 stars!
(4)
Rushabh S.

Wonderful combination of good food and good service. Went here to celebrate an anniversary. First of all, Polly the lunch hostess made sure to reserve and have our table ready on time. Check! Luigi, amazing waiter. Knew the wine list and menu. Made excellent recommendations. From the appetizers to dinner to dessert he took the time to understand our palette and diet (no seafood no pork etc) Jim, the manager, made sure to come by and check on us twice, during and after the meal. The food was good. Burrata, tortellini, gnocchi. All well prepared and fresh. The wine was fantastic and their cocktail list was extensive for an Italian restaurant/lounge. They treated us with the same courtesy and care as the regulars. Even got us free cinnamon toast crunch shots. I wish I could give 4.5 stars. If the food was a little more tasty, because the menu description makes your mouth water, and I feel the expectation doesn't meet the result. So go there on a date or with family/friends and enjoy the experience of a lounge and a fine dining restaurant.
(5)
Kelsey B.

The WORST experience I have ever had at a restaurant. I made reservations 4 days in advanced. I requested a corner patio seat for a quite more intimate setting because it was my anniversary. When we arrived they took us to our seat.... I was shocked it was underneath an open door frame that connects outside to inside surrounded by large parties. I noticed that if we were to sit there people would have to move out of their chairs for us to sit down because we were closed in. I told the host this is not what I asked for. So she sat us inside the dining room that was so hot it was like a sauna. We sat there for 20 minutes waiting for someone to take a drink order. Our drink order was taken and we ordered 2 waters and a Jack and coke. 15 minutes later our waiter came with our waters and started taking our order. We ordered an appetizer and said thank you, he then said "well what do you want for your main course" I said we are going to dine slowly to enjoy our time, he said "you have to order it all at once." so we did without even looking at the menu cause we were rushed, I ordered a Rare Filet and my husband got a Rare steak as well. Our appetizer came out 10 minutes later (still no jack and coke) We at the appetizer and waited about 45 minutes for food, during that time no one came and refilled water, asked how we were doing NOTHING and still no jack and coke, so I walked to the bar to get our drinks and the busser of the tables kept dropping off bread at our table, no dipping sauce, butter etc just dry bread and we had nooooo water so we sat there just waiting. Our food came and at that point i knew i would never come back my Filet was cold and cooked all the way through not once pinch of pink on the inside it was so tough and chewy i had two bites and was just done. My husbands steak was so under seasoned and over cooked he lost his appetite. Not only that but I had a random glob of cold spinach on my plate. It didn't come with potatoes or artichoke like it said. We will never return here and will recommend people stay away. We ended up going to a different place in laguna to just get a quick bit because we were soooooo upset with our food. Bummer. PS the look of the restaurant looks upscale, like you are to dress nicely, there were people in bathing suits and flip flops all over the place, so confusing, This is a place to go for a beer after the beach IF THAT but nothing else.
(1)
Lori R.

We had a party of 8. Everyone's meal was delicious. The waiter was very attentive. The red sangria was excellent with plenty of fresh fruit. The bread was served with a pesto olive oil, delicious. I had the filet mignon which was cooked to perfection. The fried calamari was tender but crispy. The seafood linguine had plenty of calamari and shrimp. The food was delicious, atmosphere great, overall a fine dining experience.
(5)
jonathan s.

I'm a fan of the Alessa's and Pirozzi so was looking forward to trying this spot. Real nice patio. They really do a good job of making you forget that you are at a crappy hotel. Best thing we had was the meatball appetizer. So light. Great to share. Calamari was very standard italian restaurant calamari. Fried burrata wasn't bad. Very rich and heavy. Wild boar sausage gnocchi was a good sized portion but lacked the big flavor that I've had at the other restaurants. A friend got the special of arugula infused pasta, peruvian peppers,and shrimp. Real creative and probably the winner of the entree round. All in all I'd come back if I was in Laguna and needed last minute dinner plans. Other than that I think I'll stick to his other restaurants.
(3)
Matt C.

Probably the second worst meal I have ever eaten in Orange County! I wish the food didn't even make it into my stomach. Isn't this restaurant related to Alessa Laguna? I've been there before and it was ok. Here is what we ordered from Mare: - Fried Burrata: needed to be more crunchy, the inside was still cold, and needed more sauce. 2/5 - Limoncello Infused Raditori: seems like a popular dish based on yelp reviews but there was nothing special it. Didn't impressed us at all. It's just lemon sauce pasta. Also, the lobster portion was so small. It was half of a small lobster. The meat was only 3 small bites worth. Might as well just use langostino baby lobster instead. 2/ 5. - Five Cheese Gnocci: so... I already hated the dish before even eating it because the server carried the dish with an old sour towel. The smell was so disturbing that it made it seem like old rotten cheese was used in the dish. I still went ahead and tried the dish. Two bites in, I returned the dish. No flavor whatsoever. You call this Five Cheese, but no cheese flavor at all? Chef, please use some salt! Awful dish. 0/5 - Black Ink Tagliolini: since I returned the Five Cheese Gnocci, I ordered this instead. Once again, I was disappointed and wanted to send this dish back too! The only flavor in this dish was salt water. I could not taste any "seafood." This was supposed to be a seafood white wine sauce. The only thing good was the shrimp which was crisp. 1/5 At the end of my meal, I wish I didn't eat anything at all. My stomach didn't feel right. Waste of calories. Another thing to note, there was a large 12 person party sitting next to us who were completely obnoxious and loud. Some of them were drunk before even coming into the restaurant. The manager should have told him to quiet down as they were disturbing quite a few tables. I would never come back. What a horrible dining experience and waste of money. Go to Cucina Alessa in Newport instead, always delicious.
(1)
Arty H.

We continue our feasting (literally) at, we think as former New Yorker foodies, at Mare Cukinary Grill because they are our extended family that develop insane Italian food but is NOT the industrial sauced up pasta ridden canned experience. I'm talkin incredible Master Chef treats from every enticing bite of appetizer to entree through desert. We love this place soon much and we are happy Chef Alesandro has become so celebrated. It is about passion and if you let Luigi or Jess or anyone of the excellent staff guide you (always a treat when Allesandro is in the house as there are 2 other restaurants (Alessa - Laguna (( always busy downtown Forest Ave)) or Pirozzi in Corona Del Mar) you will be swept away.
(5)
Andrew S.

It's the same as Alessa! Same menu same quality. So if Alessa is packed, walk a block to here. Never busy, always fast service and such good food
(5)
Taylor-Leigh K.

Just popped into Mare on a Sunday with my fiancÃ© just looking to grab a light bite and have a glass of wine. Great Bartending service and their food was amazing!!! Amazing quality, red sauce on their margarita pizza was so flavorful. The Caprese was delicious with a quality olive oil. It was really nice. Will definitely be back!!!
(5)
alex f.

Came here on Mother's Day brunch. Was excited about the menu which sounded great. But the moment we walked in I started getting a bad feeling. We asked to be outside in the patio (which had several tables available). They told us it was being held for large parties coming in later. Within 20 mins another party our size was sitting there. Very strange . Started the meal w a bad taste in our mouths. Then there was the food. Oh my god --- $100 later at $24-$27 per plate for 4 ppl gave us maybe 1.5 persons worth of food total. Mare describes the French toast as "thick slices of French toast dipped in vanilla cinnamon batter ....." I kid you not we got three small-medium "crostini size" toasts. The "Alessandro's smoked butter fish w tiger shrimp" was a few sashimi-thin slices of smoked fish w what are the tiniest tiger shrimp I have ever seen. Maybe kitten shrimp is more like it. I am suspicious that they jacked up prices and served sub par meals for Mother's Day knowing that they would have business no matter what in the very busy Laguna beach industry. I will not be patroning this restaurant again. And I will warn all my colleagues and friends to stay away. Went home on Mother's Day with all of us feeling quite a bit disgusted
(1)
Robert S.

Worst restaurant in Laguna Beach. Got there and waited for 40 minutes to get any service. Our waiter showed up and got us water and our drinks and did not get any service for 40 minutes. Finally a lady showed up, I asked her if she was our waitress she said no and took our order. Appx 45 minutes later we got our food. Which was ok. Then I had to call the restaurant to get the check. Then that took 10 minutes to get thT done. If you service is below expectations it matters not how good the food is.
(1)
Ashley S.

This is the perfect spot for a date night! First we got the fried burratta to share. I thought it needed a little more salt, but honestly it tasted great and the cheese was the way I wanted it- ooey and gooey. Then, I had nothing negative to say about everything else I ate that night. The bread with pesto dipping sauce is addicting. The sausage gnocchi dish was the perfect balance of sweet in a savory dish. The lemon lobster pasta was simply divine. I love my seafood with a whole lot of lemon, and that was basically the whole dish. The chocolate souffle was more like a cross between a flourless chocolate cake and a molten chocolate cake, and it was so luscious. Then my decaf coffee was the perfect way to end the meal. I could not have been happier with my meal at Mare Culinary Lounge and I will definitely make the far trip down from LA to come back in the future.
(5)
Emmy W.

This place is the worst. My boyfriend and I came on a Tuesday evening, when it wasn't even busy. We waited for the hostess or somebody to seat us, for what felt like 20 mins. When we were seated, we hardly ever saw our waiter. Long story short we found out he was actually the bartender! That's how short staffed they were. When our food came it was cold and we never got to see our "waiter" again. Will never come back again!!!!
(1)
Norma A.

San Shi Go was too long of a wait and my date and I were both pretty hungry so we ended up at Mare next door. Came here the day before Valentine's and it seemed almost every restaurant in the area was packed. While the hostess was very friendly and attentive as she got us seated in the bar immediately, overall the service def has lots of room for improvement. We had to flag someone to get the bar table cleaned up and that took a while. Everything else just seemed to take a long time from bringing us bread and water to having our server take our orders. The chef saved the night and prevented me from giving Mare a 2 star rating because the black ink tagliolini and salted caramel ice cream were both very good. I would like to come back here on a week day/night. The food was very tasty that I am willing to give this another shot sometime soon...
(3)
Joel R.

Fantastic pasta dishes here. Full of flavors and big portions. Everything is good. Been here 3 times and each app and entree is good. You will not be disappointed here.
(5)
Cassandrq B.

Very disappointed with our evening on Saturday. The service and the food were sub par and our memories of the wonderful meals we enjoyed there when they first opened have now unfortunately become just distant memories. The patio is amazing and really had a European feeling. Hope they come to terms with their success and again offer the delicious food that they had a reputation for.
(1)
Janet M.

I love the food here however the service has been horrible the last few times we've come. Food gets 5stars, service gets 1, hence the 3 stars. We had a party of Six last night. They brought us one small basket of bread and one plate of pesto sauce to share. Asked for another but it didn't come. Another server walked by and I asked him as well. He didn't bring it either. Asked another person walking by. He brought back two pesto sauces.... No bread. Gave up at that point. This was within a half hour of our being there. Two people had iced teas and everyone had water. Was never refilled. Asked for Parmesan cheese when our food was brought out but they never brought it. The server appeared when we finished our meal....don't know where he had been til then ? So.... Come for the food, not the service.
(3)
Judy P.

We had reservations at a fave location in Laguna. Requested the patio (it was empty) and got seated at the worst table-the ONLY table for 2-right by the door. We asked to be seated at any other table, but the hostess insisted this was the only one available, all the others were for parties of 4. Love the food and the wait staff..... But the management should be ashamed to treat customers with disrespect.... It was obvious that as couples (parties of 2) came in and were given the option of where to sit-the hostess had lied to us and our romantic dinner was spoiled with all the people going in and out of the doorway, often bumping my husband..... Bad, just bad and not a bit of apology from management when it was brought to their attention.
(1)
Bob M.

We dine here all the time, and make sure that friends who visit us in Laguna Beach experience the excellent menu. Mare is the sister restaurant to the popular Alessa in downtown Laguna, both run by the same executive chef. Mare is south of downtown and is deceptively nestled in the space occupied by the Best Western, with which it is not affiliated. The menu is wonderful, the food is beautifully prepared. We especially enjoy the lobster limoncello pasta, the lamb chops which my wife says are the best she ever has had, and the various fish entrees which often feature a terrific branzino. Service is good, staff is charming, parking is right around the corner. And they call everyone Bella or Bello, so you'll feel very attractive for the length of your meal.
(5)
Carmen M.

I came here for dinner and found the food to be absolutely delicious! The service was good, but there were a few hiccups that prevent me from giving them 5 stars. While we made reservations, we arrived as soon as they opened and were offered to seat anywhere we wanted. We chose to sit outside, which provides for a nice ambience even though the courtyard is inside the Holiday Inn premises. We started our meal with the spicy salami, which was delicious. Very thinly sliced, a lot of flavor. We also got the alla luciana as an appetizer, which was also delicious. It had a lot of calamari and shrimp, and the tomato sauce was so full of flavor and fresh. Loved it. As our entree, we got the rigatoni, which came in a delicious white cream sauce. And, we got one of the specials for the night -- large shrimp on the grill on top of a bed of linguine pasta tossed in a light tomato and herb sauce. So delicious. Now, here's where we ran into the first hiccup. Apparently, after you get your drinks, the server is supposed to bring a small serving of warm focaccia bread and a small plate of olive oil/pesto sauce. We got these, and they were so good that I asked for more bread and olive oil/pesto sauce. Then, we got our appetizers and entrees. During the entrees, I reminded the waiter about the bread and olive oil/pesto sauce, and he said the bread was being warmed up. As the night progressed, more people started to come in, and the server was bringing bread and olive oil/pesto to each of the tables. What happened to our refill?!! At that point, we asked for our check and I told the waiter that we never got the bread and olive oil/pesto, and he believed someone else had brought it out for us. We waited until our credit card got processed, and still..... no bread and olive oil/pesto. I'm not one to fill up on bread, but this was delicious! Major bummer that they couldn't accommodate this simple request. Second hiccup was that when the server brought out the receipt for me to sign, he only brought out the customer copy. No restaurant copy. So, I had to write the tip and sign the customer copy and turn that in to them; I only kept the itemized receipt with what we ordered. A bit sloppy. Lastly, they seemed to be having issues with the ladies' bathroom. When I went, there was barely any toilet paper left and one of the toilets didn't seem to be working well. All in all, I would return because the food really was delicious. Just don't expect to get a refill on the bread and olive oil/pesto sauce... and ladies, you may want to take your own toilet paper roll.
(4)
Samantha E.

My man having lived in Naples, Italy for 3 years he is a tough critic when it comes to Italian cuisine.. this place blew him away!!! Brown butter butternut squash ravioli, baked ziti, pesto and bread, gniocchi any thing and everything is amazing. So authentic! My hubby was looking for a specific dessert that they ended not having and the owner and chef gave him his personal email and contact info for us to call him when we come back and he said he will make it specially for us. Such a great warm and cozy place and all of the staff were so friendly. They even opened the place for us before their regular hours since we had arrived early and were sitting outside. Def a great find. Would come back over and over
(5)
Disco B.

Made a reservation for 830, wasn't honored because they close at 9. Ridiculous. Won't be trying to eat here again anytime soon. What a shame.
(1)
Sara Y.

We made reservations on opentable for 2 at 6:30pm Saturday night. Surprisingly, we were able to get street parking nearby! Also, even more surprisingly, the restaurant was not busy! Perhaps because it was the weekend before halloween and everyone was out partying?? Anyhow, the decor is very funky and eclectic. The lounge type atmosphere is really strange and unfitting with a projector showing the most random pictures that does not fit the music playing. It reminded me of music videos at asian karaoke places where the videos are completely unrelated to the music! haha. Anyway, onto the food. Appetizers: Cheese and Charcuterie Plate-Pick 6. Out of the 6, the most outstanding meat was the Wild Boar! I really loved the Smoked Mozzarella cheese and the Burrata.The house-made caramelized nuts were a nice touch. Cuori Di Zucca-Too sweet for my taste but the pasta itself was very fresh, light, and delicate. Entrees: Limoncello Infused Malfadine-I requested gluten free pasta option to which they replied that they only had GF penne. I wish they had a better variety of gluten-free pastas and that they cooked it better. My pasta was very inconsistent, some bites were really hard and some were soft. The lobster was succulent and tasty, however, I barely touched the pasta since it tasted so bad! I do not recommend getting gluten-free pasta here! Special of the day: Chilean Sea Bass-pan roasted to perfection! This fish was crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. One bite and I was hooked! I wish I got this entree instead! I did not enjoy the limoncello mashed potatoes. It was unique, however inedible and not a good combination. Desserts: Creme Brulee-Best creme brulee in my life! This was made to perfection with the ratio of vanilla bean flavor outweighing the eggy taste. It was outstanding! I loved the crunchy caramelized crust. Ricotta Cheesecake-I did not eat this but my date said it was ok, very light and not heavy which was nice. However, he fell in love with my creme brulee and proceeded to steal my dessert! Our server was super friendly and gave outstanding service! She gave excellent recommendations and I really enjoyed the Italian red wine she recommended with my meal. It was a perfect pairing! I highly recommend this place for a romantic date or a nice meal with the family.
(4)
Danielle C.

Mare is soooooo good! The food and the service are awesome. My husband and I had our wedding reception on the patio and it turned out amazing! Chef Alessandro is the best and he really knows how to take care of his clients. Everyone at our wedding said the food was outstanding. If you ever get a chance to go there you have to try the meatballs! They don't get any better than at Mare.
(5)
Patti W.

"Don't let the location fool you!" Reviewed June 17, 2015 NEW via mobile My husband, daughter and I went to a wine tasting at Laguna winery and the lady there told us about Mare. We are from the east coast and Italian food snobs. We didnt want Italian food but we decided that since you could bring your own wine there we would give it a shot! As we walked into the restaurant and noticed it was in the Holiday Inn I have to say I was ready to leave. The receptionist was friendly and brought us back to a cute courtyard. Our waiter was knowledgable and friendly. You can bring your own wine BUT there is a $20 corkage fee...alittle excessive. We had 2 bottles and they only charged us the $20 for both bottles. Food was excellent. The burrata appy with the artichoke was outstanding! We also really enjoyed the lemonchello pasta! Bread was delicious! Usually I judge the restaurant by the bread they serve! Good bread is usually followed by good food! This restaurant was so reasonable in comparison to other restaurants in the area. It is definitely the one place we would go back to if we are ever near Laguna again! tripadvisor.com/ShowUserâ€¦
(4)
Kim H.

I have to say I was a little nervous pulling up to this restaurant. It appears to be inside a Holiday Inn. The location kind of hurts the restaurant, in my opinion. Once you get inside--and especially when you try the food--you realize that it's more deserving of a location next to the Montage. The ambiance is nice--trendy, modern. There's a cool central bar with a TV, if you want to just get a quick drink. There was hardly anybody in the restaurant on a Thursday night. Do people just not know about this place? It really is worth a visit. Oh, and the back of the menu states that the restaurant is not at all affiliated with Holiday Inn. Ha. Good to know. Our service was great-- shout out to Drew, our funny and totally attentive waiter. The food was great, too. They give you really yummy, focaccia-ish bread with a pesto dipping sauce. We tried 4 of the appetizers -- calamari, clams and shrimp, fried burrata, and zucca ravioli. They were all really good. My favorites were the calamari and burrata. I'm partial to fried things. We all split a pizza too and it was DELICIOUS. We got the burrata pizza and I very highly recommend it. The caramelized onions and balsamic and little bursts of salt -- mmmmmmm. There are 8 slices, so good for sharing. For dessert, we got the chocolate souffle cake, which comes with a little scoop of vanilla ice cream. Nothing extraordinary, but definitely good. Prices are totally reasonable. In addition to all that food, the 4 of us split TWO bottles of wine. The total bill was under $150! Amazing, I know. The chef came by our table at the end to ask how our meal was. Very, very nice.
(4)
April R.

Best Mare Soup ( tomato base)- no sharp taste of acid, soup was so smooth, deliciously blended. I like their unique Zucca Ravioli - sweet butter squash filled top with fried sage leaves and brown butter sauce, if you like light dish but full flavor ( this is leading by sweet taste). Excellent Radichio raspberry Salad with strawberry , romaine, and arugula---so refreshing. And you must try Scottadito--Australian lamb chop--perfect portion and simply delicious with , again, full flavor. I can actually just be there to eat perfect soft inside crispy outside Foccacia bread and basil-spinash pesto! Excellent wine selection as well. Nice ambiance, with Sunday pleasant jazz. One star deducted because it is inside Holiday Inn and I nearly passed it! I also quite a brat--my glass was empty for awhile and had to ask for more water!:P I will DEFINITELY come back for more. The menu has so many varieties that I couldn't find from other 4 stars Italian Restaurants. It was great feeling having excellent food, perfect portion, relaxing atmosphere, everything was just RIGHT! This is the restaurant I can enjoy without worrying about calories and salt:P By the way, the food is opposite to traditional American ones, including the portion.:P
(4)
Lusineh A.

Intrigued by the name, we gave this place a go just based on yelp reviews and zagat award. My friend & I were visiting Laguna for the weekend and we were both craving some good ol' Italian food. When we arrived around 8pm on a Saturday night, we expected the place to be more full. We sat outside under some heated lamps to keep us warm on a windy night. We enjoyed a bottle of wine while tasting some bread. We started off with the calamari and sad to say it wasn't what the waiter made it out to be. I prefer mine crispy and this was just a soggy mess of sea water & tomato sauce. Based on that we decided to order a safe dish and go with a simple neapolitan pizza. Well, while we waited, more bread was brought over which was nice but we kept waiting and finally the chef came out to tell us that he didn't like the way our pizza had turned out so he had the cooks redo it. While we appreciated the honesty & hospitality of receiving a free house salad while we waited, how can a restaurant mess up a simple pizza dish!? As we got our thin crust pizza, it was hard to imagine it would take over 30 min to get it cooked with very few ingredients. Nonetheless, we took a bite and again the flavors just failed. It was like the tomato and cheese never married into one recipe. Sadly, I had to give 3 stars because the food was mediocre but the service was great. Not sure if this is the best Italian in town.
(3)
Chanel L.

Outstanding food. Wow..the squid ink pasta was just amazing. The calamari was soft and fried right..simply amazing. Boyfriend had the steak and I remember him loving the potatoes! Atmosphere is nice--although it was right underneath the rooms in the courtyard. The only weird thing about this restaurant is the fact that we had to park in the church across the street rather than their own parking lot.
(5)
Ben P.

second time here. The first time was wonderful, this time a disaster. made reservations, and when we arrived we asked to be seated on the patio. We were the first people to be seated and were given the smallest table RIGHT IN THE DOORWAY to the patio. When we asked if we could have a different table we were told that they were reserved for groups of 4. after a 2 1/2 drive to dine here, we reluctantly took the table. We had no privacy, and were bumped into more than once in the process of seating other people. During the course of our dinner, 5 different couples arrived and were given the option of sitting at any of the tables we were told were only for groups of 4. I informed the hostess that I felt we were treated with disrrespect, she had nothing to say. I spoke to the manager, and she said she would talk to the hostess about this. Unbeknownst to me, my wife also spoke to the manager, and was told she was sorry, but "it was a judgement call". What's that supposed to mean, we looked like we weren't the type of people who shoild be dining in their restaurant? There was no attempt by either the hostess or the manager to try and turn a negative into a positive. So we will never dine there again, and I will go out of my way to tell anyone I know not to risk dining there, lest they be found unworthy of being seated at a good table. We have had the good fortune to have dined all over the United States, as well as other countries, and have never been treated like this.
(1)
Ij S.

Food is amazing here (fresh pasta etc). Service is amazing here (warm, polite servers). Pricing is amazing here (definitely reasonable). Location is amazing here (next to the ocean). Do visit when you are in town.
(5)
Elaine T.

I ordered the chef's special, a $22 spaghetti verde with shrimp and peppers that was the definition of summer on a plate. The home made pasta was cooked al dente, the shrimp were tender and the zingy little peppers added just enough color and pizazz to make the lemon and butter based sauce sparkle. Everyone at the table loved this dish and I would gladly order it again. After the hearty appetizers, I barely made a dent in this bowl of pasta, so it became my lunch the following day, and it reheated to be as tasty as it was the night before. The friend who was living on the beach decided while we were still in the parking lot that she wanted the $24 limoncello infused radiatore pasta* with Maine lobster, shallots and a pinot grigio sauce. If I had not ordered the special, I would have ordered this delightfully rich sumptuous dish.
(4)
Cathryne R.

Not so good. I was very disappointed. Had dinner in Wednesday excellent service and food. Tonight (Thurs 19Feb) another restaurant in total. Caesar salad, Risotto Nonna Ida and a glass of Cakebread Chard. Service near non existent. More sand in the clams than I could ever imagine (gross). The risotto al dente, perfecto, but was drowning in excess tomatoe sauce. My server, a figment of imagination at best .. No offer of bread, fresh cracked pepper on the LIMP Caesar salad, or shaved Parma on my Risotto. Had 2 sips of wine, didn't finish .. It was not good. He never asked, didn't finished the risotto, he never asked, dessert he never asked. Took 10 minutes to get the check after my plate was cleared (attentive bus service) and credit card was out on the table. .. Yes, I expected better. Much better
(1)
Ram F.

From the outside you don't know what you're getting from this restaurant. The looks are a bit deceiving because they food here is to die for. There's only a select few restaurants that have wowed me with every bite and this is one of them. I was with a party of 24 people and you know this always brings some problems. I ordered the veal ravioli and it was arguably one of the best dishes I've ever had. The servers were prompt with refills for most of our stay, they also brought bread and that kept us satisfied before our meals arrived. There were three small issues with my time here though. First, I want to state again that we were in a large group and that caused a huge problem with the bill. I personally didn't like the fact that they wouldn't split the bill even in two halves. Trying to arrange what everyone was paying was a pain because all 24 of us had to wait one by one to look at how much our total was. Even printing a second bill would've been helpful but the server didn't bother. Why would she? The restaurant was busy and she didn't seem to care anymore. Second, it seemed that immediately after we finished our meals, the refills stop coming. Not sure why this was the case as the refills were prompt while we were eating. More than one person noticed that the refills stopped right after our meals were done. Albeit, the restaurant was busy that shouldn't mean that our refills had to stop since we were paying customers and our bill was close to one thousand dollars. Third, for some strange reason the music was raised numerously several times over the course of our stay. I'm talking a drastic increase in volume where we almost had to shout just to talk to the person across the table. I don't know if this was done via a timer or if an employee was doing this on purpose. The only reason that I think this would even be done would be to sort of shut people up because it was a very loud environment. That being said, I don't think that raising the volume of the music actually decreased the volume of those speaking. If anything, it only forced everyone to speak even louder in order to be heard over the music. Lastly, for a restaurant that places markets itself as a high end restaurant given its prices, we sure didn't feel the air conditioning. I noticed that there were a few wall-mounted AC units in the bar area but none anywhere else. We dined during the early evening hours so we were able to see the sunset. Unfortunately the restaurant didn't seem to have anything set to block the sun from directly hitting our eyes so when we asked them to do something about it they taped napkins to the windows.....yes, they grabbed the cloth napkins given to customers and taped them to the windows using scotch tape. So here I stand loving the food but not some of the finer details. If you're looking for great food this is the place for you. If you're looking for a restaurant that can deliver in all areas, Made might be able to do it but then again they might not. I recommend a visit just for the food itself.
(5)
Nathan P.

Outstanding service and quality fresh food. You must order the butternut squash ravioli and eat the fried sage leaves between each bite. Don't be ashamed to lick the plate clean because it's a necessity. Another piece of advice, if a place makes fresh pasta you are silly to not order it. Gluten Shmuten. Unless you have celiac disease, break your diet and get some of their fresh noodle fare. Take a left on Cleo and a right on Glenneyre and park in the church parking lot directly on your left.
(5)
Anita L.

This place is fantastic. The parking sucks though but at dinner, you can utilize the parking lot of the church on Glenneyre just up the street. Chef Alessandro, formerly of Cucina Alessa helms the kitchen here and I personally think his food is quite amazing. I usually do not like eating Italian food out because I'm usually always disappointed. Mare is different. Everything here is delicious and not what you would find in other Italian restaurants in OC. The pastas are outstanding and I highly suggest you order one or two of these to share. The fish here is also amazing and I suggest the seabass. It literally melts in your mouth! Please disregard the fact that the restaurant is located in the Holiday Inn. Location is weird but the food is so well worth it!
(5)
Ron H.

Excellent. I tend to think restaurants in South OC are a bit overrated in their little bubble world of theirs, but this one hit the spot, for a very fair price. The first good sign was the complimentary bread. I think at any nice restaurant, the bread sets the stage for what's to come, and it sucks when the bread's disappointing, but here the bread was good. It had a crisp, lightly oiled crust with a soft, airy crumb. Came with a lightly spicy green sauce. Next up came the prosciutto platter with burrata. Comes with a well-seasoned, crispy flat bread of some sorts. I gobbled this one up. Finally, for entrees, my friend got the turkey artichoke omelette, and I got the spaghetti verde, which is arugula infused spaghetti with tiger shrimp, fresh garlic, pinot grigio, baby tear drop Peruvian peppers, and Calabrian chile. I loved my dish. I had never seen or eaten baby tear drop Peruvian peppers, but I can see them becoming more popular some day. Story has it, Alessandro saw them listed on Amazon.com and decided to give them a shot! And I'm glad he did! I think it's an amazing fruit. They look like tiny radishes, but taste like a mix between sweet baby tomatoes and chile peppers. Everything on the dish was cooked perfectly, and the peppers added a kick that just hit the spot. The omelette was good, too, but at this point my gut was ready to explode. Oh, service was excellent, too, if a bit undermanned.
(5)
Jenny J.

Excellent! Romantic setting, we were seated on the patio and loved it! Great pasta selection (I had DiCarne and butternut squash ravioli as an appetizer). The chocolate soufflÃ© was pretty good as well. The waitress was very attentive and very pleasant to deal with. Reasonably priced! Will come back for sure.
(5)
Maggie C.

Friend recommended this place for its reasonable price (in Laguna area) and relax lounge atmosphere. We were hungry for brunch around 1pm after an intense workout and saw the sign at the door, "Now Serving Breakfast 7 Days a week, from 7 a.m... Sunday jazz Brunch and Bloody Mary Bar 10am-2pm." We thought this was perfect! Little did we know, this is far from perfect, let alone satisfactory... When we put our name down for brunch, the hostess said, "sorry, no more brunch, it ended at 12pm." What do you mean it ended at 12pm... the sign said 10am-2pm. She asked if we would like to order from regular menu; we settled since we were hungry and tired and didn't want to walk anymore. Once we were seated, we asked the waiter to clarify what the brunch deal was... it turned out that there is NO BRUNCH at all at this restaurant, just breakfast entrees that they stop serving at 12pm, and really, the brunch refers to the Bloody Mary Bar. Talk about false advertisement and misleading... Then the waiter asked if we would like to have lunch menu instead of regular menu. What the heck, why didn't the hostess offer lunch menu instead of regular dinner menu (which is available after 3pm) when it's still 1pm. Seeing our interest for brunch, the waiter offered to check with the kitchen if they can still prep breakfast entrees. After comparing the breakfast/lunch and regular menu, the breakfast seemed overpriced and not worth the bucks. We quickly ordered our entrees and waited for our food to arrive. One of our friends ordered hot cappuccino, and it was served in a tall beverage glass instead of a mug or cup. How do you drink hot cappuccino in glass with bare hands without burning your hands? When we shared our concern, the staff replied abruptly, "you don't have to drink that" and took it away leaving everyone at the table in dead silence... Later he brought back the cappuccino in a mug... not sure if was safe to drink~ Up to now... this was an ONE star experience, poor service, disorganization, inconsiderate/rude staff. The restaurant was not even full of patrons. When the food came, we began eating, and the food redeemed the place a little bit, earning another star: ** Complimentary Bread - good with olive oil and pesto, needed reminders for them to bring us more bread ** BLACK INK TAGLILIONI $19 - Squid ink pasta with manila clams, sauteed tiger shrimp, sun-dried tomato, and Chardonnay sauce - look unappealing but tasted quite good, especially the black squid ink pasta, very flavorful ** RIGATONI UGO D'ORSO $14 - Rigatoni with grilled chicken, homemade sausage, sun-dried tomatoes and mushroom cream sauce - Good but on the heavy/salty side, needed to eat extra bread to balance out the salty flavor. I ended up eating the rigatoni and take the sauce home separately to make another batch of pasta for next day's lunch. Overall, the food was decent, on the heavy side, but the dining experience is just awful that I probably would avoid this place unless there's good incentive to come back.
(2)
April R.

About 20 girls came here for a reservation at 8pm. Things didn't start out so well because although we had a reservation our table wasn't ready until closer to 9pm. Luckily after that the service was great. They did an amazing job taking care of our large table and hook us up on some items as well. I loved the appetizers that we shared, including a bunch of their meats and cheeses. The butternut squash ravioli was really good but my favorite was the olive fritte, super yummy! I could have eaten those all night. I had the pollo al forno for my main course and it was also good, the sauce was the best part. The atmosphere was elegant and probably a nice place to go on a date.
(4)
Lillian W.

Loved this place and there wasn't one bad thing our table ordered. The gnocchi was delicious and I personally ordered the chicken funghi, which was fantastic. The starter bread and pesto is wonderful and they have a really good selection of wines. The atmosphere was inviting and warm. Kinda weird how it was situated in the Holiday Inn, but that wasn't even really noticeable and the ambience was great. Definitely coming back!
(4)
Kailey G.

Mare Culinary Lounge is the epitome of excellent dining, amazing service, as well as a great ambiance. Although the restaurant is located underneath The Holiday Inn, the restaurant is not affiliated with the hotel in any way. After reading raving reviews about the restaurant, my family and I were anxious to try. We were greeted by a lively hostess and I was thrilled when I saw pink peonies (my favorite flower). The ambiance was a perfect blend of contemporary as well as very eclectic. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, the walls were a chic shade of grey, and the tables and chairs were white. Aside from the marvelous ambiance, the service and food was amazing. The menu offers a wide variety of food from pizzas, salamis, and salads to pastas, cheeses, and meats. Overwhelmed with the choices, we told Luigi, the manager, to bring us out whatever he wanted. Our first course was prompted with burrata Fritte which was burrata cheese flash fried with a rich pomodoro sauce. Needless to say, it was absolutely delicious. Following the burrata, we had the special "ahi carpaccio" which was thinly pounded ahi tuna drizzled with chili oil as well as lemon Olive oil, with a fresh salad of arugula, fennel, and Peruvian peppers on top. It was very refreshing but it did have a bite from the pepper and chili oil! Luigi then brought us out "On the Fly Ravioli". It was a delicious ravioli filled with braised short rib and black truffles topped off with a delicious brown butter truffle cream sauce. After, we were brought out "Mama Mia" or three delicious all beef meatballs topped with burrata cheese in a beef ragu. Then we were given a mushroom and black truffle pizza. The crust on the pizza was so thin and crispy; it was absolutely scrumptious. Finally, after the pizza we were handed garlic prawns straight from Santa Barbara and they were very refreshing. After the prawns, Luigi paced our meal perfectly leaving us twenty minutes in between our next course. After the prawns, we were given lamb chops and filet mignon. The lamb chops were perfectly seasoned and infused with rosemary, sage, and pepper and were grilled to a perfect rare. Although the middle of the chop was pretty pink, the outside has this perfect Caramelized crust. The filet mignon was absolutely amazing. It was perfectly grilled to a rare yet was crusted with black lava salt. Following the delicious red meats, Luigi brought us our "last course," a poached Chilean sea bass that was then grilled and baked to create a crispy crust. The sea bass melted like butter in your mouth and was the perfect compliment to the lemon cream sauce that went with it. To cleanse our pallets, a fresh arugula salad with a lemon vinaigrette was on the side. We thought our meal had come to a close but Luigi brought us one final course, saving best for last, dessert! Luigi brought us out this decadent plate. In the middle was a ricotta cheesecake with raspberries on top and a raspberry compote and surrounding it was balls of vanilla bean tiramisu. The ricotta cheesecake was so creamy and sweet and the tiramisu was so rich and brought balance to the dish. The entire three hour meal was the ultimate dining experience. I had never had such amazing Italian food and the service made all the difference. Luigi was such an amazing waiter (and manager of the restaurant) and he really made the restaurant fun and more lively. We will be definitely coming back for more and we will be referring all our friends to Luigi and Mare Culinary Lounge
(5)
Andii U.

Have been back a few times since original post and its been great every visit. Favorites have been: starters - eggplant parm - sweet peppers with goat cheese - seabass carpaccio - amazing! Pasta's - mini beef ravioletti - thick, rich meat sauce over mini raviolis a true favorite - radiatori - nice lamb ragu sauce - spaghetti verde - light, flavorful and a little spice kick...my fav! We really need to expand our selections as we continue to order the same things at each visit...but it's just so good. They have a decent corkage fee so we always BYOVino and they always swap out the table wine glasses for me upon request #wineglasssnob. Only (strange) comment...we always get seated in the lounge...at the same table even with RSVPs. It's kinda funny at this point and we've made a note to specifically request dinning room or outdoor patio for a change of scene. Speaking of scenes...love telling friends we are taking them to the "Holiday Inn" for good Italian : )
(4)
Chris H.

Only two days into our first trip to Laguna but we've tried several of the "best" places based on recommendations, tips, etc... This one came from a local and it was, far and away, the best meal/experience we've had. We passed it several times on foot but didn't give it a thought, thinking it was part of the Holiday Inn, but turns out it's not affiliated in any way, Loved the vibe. Walked into a casual, comfortable but upscale environment with Depeche Mode in the background. Started with the meatballs, which were outstanding. I went with Alessandro's Newest Creation, arugula-infused spaghetti with teardrop peppers and tiger prawns. Get it. My wife had the limoncello-infused radiatorre wih lobster and loved it. Outstanding food complemented with outstanding service in a great atmosphere. We'll be back. Maybe tomorrow.
(5)
Amit K.

It's hard for me to give a 5 star to a restaurant inside a Holiday Inn. On valentines, Yvette was super busy but was Very nice and attentive. The food had some highlights, like the creative combinations of flavors and the freshness of the food. It is hard for me to get inspired about a restaurant in a Holiday Inn despite the good ambiance, the great service, the great caring staff and the good chef/food.
(3)
Kim A.

Don't let the motel entrance deter you. Great food and nice patio. I agree with other yelper that butternut squash ravs and sage leaves were great! The only annoyance was the rude hotel guests using the restaurant to leave/enter.
(4)
Lori G.

Great food and selection of wines! We had the seafood linguini and the rigatoni and lobster dish and they were all amazing! For appetizers the fried olives were something we hadn't ever had and it was very interesting - Definitely something to try! Even though it was located in the Holiday Inn don't let it deter you. It also takes big parities. We were 17 and they were able to accommodate and they take reservations! Only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was that service was slow and when our meals came out 2 were missing for at least 8 minutes which isn't cool! Since everyone else was practically done when theirs came out. Would go back!
(4)
Robert B.

I hate leaving such a bad rating for a place that has such wonderful food but the service was just that terrible. We ate here last year while visiting and loved it. My fiancÃ©e has been going on and on about it since we left. That experience was 5 stars. So, for her birthday, I thought it was be a nice surprise to take her again. I placed my reservation for 7:45. We get there 10 minutes early and are told we would be seated shortly. We ended up waiting 40 minutes for our table as we watched about 20 people who just arrived get seated before us. (I guess a 2-top was too much for the place to handle) Pros- amazing food. Really great chef and authentic Italian Cons- front of house was horrible at managing the guests. In no world should someone wait 40 minutes to be seated when they have a reservation. We also has to ask for the complimentary bread. As we were leaving, no one told us to have a good night and sorry for the wait. Suggestion: get your front of house in line with your cooks and this place would be unstoppable again. I would not recommend this place for a special night out due to the lack of service.
(3)
Howard F.

Unbelievable experience. I've been here frequently. The food is consistently good. The wine list is excellent as well and the wait staff is very knowledgeable. Alesio is one of the most attentive and friendly servers I've ever had. I highly recommend this Laguna hidden gem.
(5)
Julee H.

Great food, poor service. I love the ambiance at Mare--trendy, modern, all in good taste. The decor reminds me of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Vegas. I came here on a Saturday with my girlfriends for drinks, appetizers, and dessert. The Limoncello Drop was delicious, strong but sweet with small bits of ice. If you like truffles, the truffle salami is a must. They also make good pizzas, we had the mushroom and sausage pizza. This place would've gotten five stars if it weren't for the service which to put simply, was not good. We waited 15 minutes after being seated to get greeted, all the while our server passed by us multiple times to serve a table nearby. It was not busy with many empty tables in the dining room. Everything came after much waiting..water, bread, drinks, order taking. Even when the server did grace us with her presence, she was just "nice enough." The only thing that arrived promptly was our food which was brought to us by a food runner. The highlight of the service was a visit from Chef Alessandro, who from my knowledge, is of all of the hype in OC right now. He has restaurants popping up everywhere in the beach cities. He was friendly and down-to-earth. He even sent a complimentary tiramisu our way which was delicious.
(4)
Mich N.

This place is awesome. It's inside the Holiday Inn right off the PCH in Laguna Beach which seems a little weird, but it's independent of the hotel and fantastic!!! The ambiance is really nice. Could be a little loud for some but I don't mind it. Cool outdoor patio too. Our service was excellent (I think his name was Mario?) My dirty martini was perfectly made and our waiter recommended a bottle of wine which we both loved. We got the Octopus Carpaccio which was awesome!! I have never had anything like it but we both enjoyed it. I got the spicy pizza which was very delicious and my boyfriend got one of their special pasta dishes. I definitely recommend this place if you're looking for a nice Italian restaurant!
(5)
Gina G.

Didn't get bad service at all. Maybe bec. we were there early, around 6pm on a Saturday and place was still pretty empty. Definitely more people arrived by the time we left. Luv the modern dÃ©cor. We had their seafood linguini which was very good. Also ordered from the Happy Hour menu, an octopus carpaccio and it was delicious! Their drinks were pretty good as well. I would definitely come back here. I was parked somewhere else since I love walking in Laguna Beach anyways, so this was not an issue.
(5)
Vanessa P.

Poor service, horrible food. This restaurant has gone downhill. I was here two years ago for a private dinner and was pleasantly surprised that a restaurant above the Holiday Inn would have above average food- we had a fixed menu and it was a large group so I guess they made sure to get everything right. However, I was recently here last week on a Monday eve celebrating a bday, and the service, not to mention food, was awful. We were greeted by our waitress to take our drink and food orders, and that was it. When our food came we had to flag her down for refills, etc. even had to ask busboy for dessert menu. Same thing with getting check. I ordered the shrimp risotto and it was a bland cheese mixture with frozen shrimp that tasted worse then something from Olive Garden. My sister's chicken Marsala was dry and rubbery, my hubby's pasta was severely overlooked. The only saving grace was that we are locals and received a discount for a Mon eve, which if we had not, I would have thrown a fit! We will not eat here ever again.
(2)
rene r.

Best thing about restaurant - food; worst thing- atmosphere! Friend and I ordered rib eye and sea bass and split them- both were properly cooked and tasty. We each had starter salads which were good too. Atmosphere, however is odd (at best). Entrance is on PCH literally next to Holiday Inn entrance. While I understand it's not Holiday Inn's restaurant, it felt like it was! Tables are raw, no linens, which makes the place less special/fancy. While I know that's the trend, this felt somewhat coffee-shop. Across from us was a family of 5 with high chair, boosters. Nothing against families and young kids, my kids were young once too. Aside from the family, overall clientele and servers were just odd!
(3)
Raina C.

Not cheap but great food. Make a reservation since it gets really busy - the only downside for me is that it gets quite noisy inside the restaurant and parking is off the side of the street or at the church across the way. They have a fantastic selection of meats and cheese, so we started off with an antipasti plate as an app and cocktails. I ordered the Limoncello Infused Malfadine for my entree and it was so lemon-y and memorable - I felt as though I was back in Sorrento! Quite tasty.
(4)
Kim S.

This place is excellent for food. We are from VA. We came from our hotel to have breakfast. The French toast is Amazing!!! Yes, they do serve breakfast & so yummy. The people who work here are so friendly & helpful. We highly recommend this place .
(5)
Allie P.

My friend was getting married and after rehearsals, this is where we had dinner/drinks. The restaurant is attached to the Holiday Inn - they have a beautiful indoor/outdoor patio area (where we ate), but beware b/c apparently we were being too loud for the guests at the hotel per this guy that came out... assuming he was w/ the hotel and not the restaurant. We had a special menu to order from & this is what I ate: - Calamari Fritti, appetizer - Bruchetta, appetizer - Pollo Marsala, entre (two pan-roasted chicken breasts with portobello mushrooms and sicilian marsala w/ wine sauce served w/ rosemary potatoes - Tiramisu, dessert Runner up for entres were: - Zucca: Butternut squash ricotta ravioli in a brown butter sage sauce. (I got to try a piece off of someone else's plate & it was good, just on the sweet side) - Eggplant Trouffie: Eggplant infused pasta sauteed with a creamy mozzarella, fresh eggplant and micro basil. The bar area was lit w/ blue hues. I had the house chardonnay - keepin' it classy. The service was swell and so was the food :] Wouldn't mind coming back! We did street parking (meter) - a few blocks away... I'm pretty sure they have valet? I don't remember actually, lol.
(4)
Josh S.

Great dinner. Came here to celebrate an anniversary on a weeknight so it was not too crowded. We had been to the Alessa in Laguna a few blocks away several times and loved it. This is the Chef's 4th restaurant and this doubles as a nightclub/lounge as well. That is about the only negative. The music is a little clubby as is the decor but who cares when the food is so good. Next time I'd request to sit on the patio and hope its a little more quiet. As mentioned, it was a mellow night so the Chef came out and greeted us personally and even told us the specials for the night and menu highlights. He talked my wife into a seabass special and myself into a lobster and lemon pasta. Then he told us he'd cook our dishes personally. Not sure it happened but both meals were great. Before that we started with the fried burrata which was heavenly. The seabass was flaky and buttery with a great topping. My pasta was amazing. Shallots, butter, lobster, fresh pasta, crazy good. They brought us complimentary dessert of the cream puffs and berries which were tasty. Only complaint would be that our waitress was a little slow and not too attentive. Since he's 2 for 2 in my book with Alessa and Mare, I will be sure to visit again. Great meal. Thanks Chef!
(5)
Liz P.

We stayed in Laguna Beach for 10 days, and ate at Mare 3 times. Every meal was memorable, as is Luigi. Tonight was outstanding, we had the antipasto special was braised short ribs, shredded and stuffed in ravioli with truffle oil, the lamb special was delicious and dessert was fabulous. I highly recommend visiting Mare if you're in Laguna Beach.
(5)
Rosie K.

Delicious salmon and butternut squash plates, no kids menu but our 12 year old had a side meat ball and a side of the delicious potatoes and it was enough for her. Not crazy about it being next to the Holiday Inn, it seems like it's part of the hotel but great service and delicious menu!
(4)
foodieFORever F.

THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE BAR ONLY: They painted out the wall and decor looks nice. I just wish they could pay more attention to customers at non busy times (like late happy hour). AGAIN: delicious carpaccio! Still haven't got a chance to try the restaurant.
(3)
Heidi T.

This is a local gem. Tourists go to the owner's other restaurants like Alessa's but locals come here. Do not be deterred because it shares a building with Holiday Inn. They are not related the restaurant is just on the street level in the same building. We came here twice in the same week. Once for dinner once for happy hour. Their happy hour is a great deal. Their house cab was good and only $4.00. They have several items on the happy hour menu for very reasonable prices. We had the HH Zucca ravioli which was delish! It's buttetnut squash ravioli in a brown butter sage sauce. It was all we could do not to lick the plate. The orange peppers stuffed with goat cheese and walnuts were also good. Happy hour is from 2:00 - 7:00. Earlier in the week we had dinner. I had the Limoncello pasta dish with lobster and my husband had the spaghetti verde. Both were very tasty and not something you will find at other restaurants. Between the two the spaghetti verde was our favorite but the Limoncello dish was a close second. Great atmosphere, nice patio and good music. We'll be back.
(5)
Mark W.

Alessandro is an amazing host and talented chef. There is so much to choose from in Laguna but finding something special that doesn't break the bank is virtually impossible.... Enter Mare Culinary Lounge! Yes it's noisy but it oozes a vibrancy that originates from the Head Chef! In Order: 1. Veal Ossobucco Ravioli 2. Rack of Lamb 3. Sea Bass In doubt stick with a Pasta, Gnocchi or Risotto....
(4)
Paolo B.

Good food but service very bad. They ignored us for most of the time. We had to request twice to refill water, they brought a wrong plat that then replaced it, had to wait also to pay.
(3)
Kristine C.

Okay so I don't even know where to begin! I took my family here last night (spontaneous decision). The atmosphere was beautiful, the vibe was on point and the food was TO DIE FOR. A lot of places seem just the same but what ruins it for most usually, is the bad service. FEAR NOT! Best service ever! Smiles all around. Especially, our waitress (unfortunately didn't catch her name.. Brown hair/full of life) was the best! She literally made me feel like my best friend was helping us pick out the best food AND served us too. All around Amazing Amazing Amazing!!! Will DEFINITELY BE COMING BACK!
(5)
Lisa G.

Everything about Mare was perfect with the exception of a bit of a wait to get our entree. The atmosphere, food and service was great. Lamb with Risotto was perfectly prepared, prawns and meatballs delicious.
(4)
Jeanie L.

Unexpectedly stopped by this little lounge nested within Holiday Inn. My friends couldn't get into Kya, so we decided on making reservations at Mare. At first glance, the modern , fresh restaurant gave a very nice vibe to start our dinner. We were seated in the patio area since the space was larger. The only thing we all complained about was that there wasn't enough heating in the patio area. It gets super cold at night..so my advice is just bring a sweater just in case you stop by this place. We received complementary bread which was fresh and seasoned with rosemary. The "green dipping sauce" was just basil, olive oil, and some vinegar. I have to say that sauce was very addicting nor too salty. Our group continued getting seconds soon after. The happy hour menu wasn't much of a happy hour, but the selection was decent. My friends and I ended up ordering the pizzas, calamari, pink farfalle pasta, eggplant pasta, and dessert, which included both a chocolate souffle and tiramisu. My favorite appetizer of that evening was definitely the calamari. Very crispy, hot, and tasted fresh, plus the calamari wasn't too chewy like other places. I also my pink farfalle pasta, so creamy and savory. My friend's eggplant infused pasta was pretty unique. The pasta noodles were a deep purple since it was made from eggplant, and was cooked in a tomato sauce, which gave it a more sweet and savory taste to it. The best part of our meal was probably the dessert. The tiramasu was my favorite of the night! It had Kaluhua liquor and as an added bonus the manager Victor gave us extra wafer rolls for our table. I thought that was so kind of him. He also gave me more of that "green sauce" which I kept asking for throughout the night. Service was AMAZING. Probably one of the best I've encountered out of many restaurants I've been to. If there is one thing that would keep me coming back is the service. The staff treated us so well that evening, which really enhanced my dining experience at this restaurant. Definitely a place I would recommend to anyone visiting Laguna Beach and looking for an beautiful, intimate restaurant to have dinner.
(5)
Zedar B.

Service is poor, food is okay. Basically, besides the fact that I never got the water I ordered, my husband thought his iced tea tasted funny and they served my coffee with skim milk and I had to ask if they had half and half and it took five minutes for them to find out that no, there was no half and half. Then the bill was taking so long get there that I asked a bus boy for it and, eventually, my family left without me. A half hour later (and it wasn't busy in the restaurant) I stood up and waited near the POS system. The bus boy saw me waiting and said I should just leave, but I waited until my server came and I said, we are staying in the hotel, please charge it my room (I gave her the room number). The policy is that kids eat free who are guests at the hotel, so when she charged me for my toddler, I asked her to take it off the bill. The server came back with a supervisor who blamed me because he claimed I didn't tell her we were guests at the hotel until after we got the check. I told him that I had told our server before she ran the bill, but he didn't attempt to apologize for blaming me for their mistake. It turns out that the server had entered our bill incorrectly the first time, including leaving off our daughter's orange juice, so the new bill without my daughter's granola was about the same as the old bill, because, as the server explained, "kids eat free but do not drink free at Holiday Inn." I don't know if that is true, but by that point it was a ridiculous statement to make considering all that they put me through. Bottom line: If you stay at the Laguna Holiday Inn, cross the street and enjoy breakfast from the Orange Inn instead of Mare. The food, coffee, fruit juice and service at the Orange Inn is much, much better, although there isn't as much seating (get it to go).
(2)
Lannie N.

I had lunch here today for my friend's graduation celebration. The place was fairly empty and quiet. I would say the ambiance is definitely fancy here. The food and service was exquisite. I don't know if the dinner menu gets more expensive, but lunch for such a nice place is affordable at around $20 something per dish. The bread with the pesto is so good. We had the mushroom and cheese something appetizer, and that also was very good. Something so simple also. I had the wild mushroom risotto with chicken and Gorgonzola. It was delightfully creamy without being sickening. I couldn't finish the whole plate and ended up bringing it home for dinner. My friend's parents and sister had seafood linguine and that was also very good. They seem to handmake their pasta here and it definitely shows. The only thing I need to say is that they do not have free parking, everything around this area is metered parking. And no matter what, do not I repeat DO NOT PARK AT RALPHS. My friend parked there and they towed her car. It was not even 2 hrs. The city takes this parking thing seriously and it is strictly reinforced.
(5)
Tyler C.

Got a recommendation of this place from a friend of ours and decided to try it. We were told the Zucca appetizer is incredible so we had to order that when we got there and it turns out it was as incredible as we had heard. We sat out in the patio and the ambiance was really nice and the fire lamps kept us warm. I swear it felt like someone called ahead and told them we were secret shoppers or something because they treated my fiancÃ© and I like family. The manager sat us and talked to us for awhile and then the owner/head chef Alessandro came out and brought our wine and our food dishes and talked to us and made us feel completely comfortable. I had the Parma (prosciutto filled tortellini) and my fiancÃ© had the Lasagna. Both were absolutely incredible. The Parma was the best Italian dish I think I've ever had. I'm recommending this place to all my friends and family and we will be going back every time we come back to OC.
(5)
Majid J.

Great food. Good service, but the atmosphere is strange. In the hotel cortyard was kind of strange.
(4)
Trena R.

Who would think that "the restaurant at the Holiday Inn" would be at the top of anyone's list. I guess things are different 'round here. Sit outside in the courtyard, for sure. Big trees, fresh air and fire add to the atmosphere. The dining experience is relaxed and paced. Enjoy an hour or three sipping cocktails and nibbling on squash ravioli appetizers before diving into the specials. The bar inside gets hoppin'. Enjoy the people watching!
(4)
Ruby R.

I really love Mare, the sister restaurant to Alessa. Many of the menu items, if not all, are the same. Mare has more of a hip ambiance compared to Alessa, but I like them both equally. They serve my favorite dish, octopus carpaccio, at both restaurants. It usually is easier to get a table at Mare, and I'm sure it's because of the location, just far enough out main beach to be out of the majority of the tourist crowd.
(5)
Ali D.

Currently my favorite restaurant this place is freaking awesome. Good vibes good food quality ingredients. Might seem somewhat pretentious at first glance but the servers and bartenders are cool. It's not particularly pricy either.
(5)
Shouka S.

I brought my mom here for her birthday a few months back and wow, did we enjoy it! The manager is so nice and makes you feel so comfortable. He came up to our table and was talking to us, I felt like he was an old friend I've known forever! Their drinks were great. Now...the food...WOW!! I'm a huge Italian restaurant snob. I have lived in Italy for several months out of the year growing up and my dad used to own an Italian restaurant so I am very picky with Italian food. However, Mare's food is as authentic as it can get here! We ordered the calamari as our appetizer. They also fried olive and jalapenos along with the calamari and it was delicious!! I'm not a huge jalapeno or olive fan but I'm pretty sure I demolished it all. I ordered the Dolce e Gabana as my entree which is pasta with salmon and tomato sauce. Wow, the fish and pasta were both so fresh!! You can tell they make their own pasta. Sadly, I haven't had time to come back here but I definitely do want to come back! I came here on a weekday during the day for lunch with my mom. I would like to come back on a Friday or Saturday night, it seems like it would be a lot of fun. If you're looking for authentic Italian food with great service and a great atmosphere, I highly recommend this place!
(5)
Matt B.

I didn't really like the experience. With an empty restaurant you'd like service could move faster. And the bland food was also overpriced.
(2)
Klara S.

The place was very enjoyable and we were seated right away. We sat inside. If the weather is nice I highly recommend out on the patio which looked much nicer when I walked by. The food was excellent and even the vegetarian in our group had plenty to eat. The downside, the bar was slow and the drinks were not mixed well. Also, they must have been short staff because while our waiter was friendly and apologetic, the food was slow to arrive and we weren't always filled up on drinks (they took long to prepare). Get a couple more waiters in here and a descent bartender and this would be 5 stars.
(4)
Max G.

Great Neapolitan friendly atmosphere! Alessandro's fresh (even gluten free!) pastas are simply perfect! I will not miss the opportunity to come back here.
(4)
Kay A.

I'm always reluctant to try Italian restaurants. I feel like most are mediocre. I had high hopes for this place since the chef is well known. It's inside of a Holiday Inn, interior is updated. We tried the tacos mai way, which were actually quite tasty. However, our entrees were less exciting. We tried their famous dish, the lobster lemon pasta and the rigatoni. The lemon pasta had a good amount of lobster, but had 2 flaws for us - too salty and um too lemony. OK you might laugh at us for the lemon part so I'll give ya that one, but yes, too salty! A few tweaks and this could be great. As for the rigatoni, it was too woodsy mushroomy LOL. I know, I sound freaking stupid but it just didn't taste amazing to me.
(2)
Maria N.

Delicious and darling patio atmosphere. Really enjoyed!
(5)
Claire S.

Finally, I managed to come out and try Mare, after reading so many rave reviews about it. Thank god I have a roommate who's always down for a foodie adventure! The place was fairly empty on a Tuesday night (kind of to be expected, really), but I'd prefer that to a crowded place anyways. The menu is one of those gems where everything sounds so great, it's kind of annoying having to narrow down your choices to just one or two dishes. We ended up starting with the prosciutto and burrata - it was gorgeously presented, on a wooden plant - a massive pile of creamy mozzarella on a bed of greens, next to a heaping of perfectly salted prosciutto, accompanied by two bread-like crackers. It was delicious, an excellent start to the meal. The bread-to-burrata ratio was a little off, so we ended up piling it on top of the warm focaccia they brought us (along with a plate of pesto to dip it in, a nice change from the usual oil-and-vinegar). For my entrÃ©e, I went with the black ink tagliolini with manila clams and black tiger shrimp, mostly because I wanted to try something different. While it was unlike any dish I've had before, it was good - the contrasting color of the dark pasta with the sun-dried tomatoes and seafood was quite nice, and it was seasoned perfectly. I can't wait to come back to try more of the amazing sounding creations!
(4)
Gerri V.

Love! Love! Love! This is my favorite Italian around! Many of their dishes are authentic...everything I've tried here I've really enjoyed. Their cheese and meat platter is the most generous and best quality I've had anywhere around. Their prices are very reasonable. The patio is better for conversation.
(5)
Shehzein K.

This place is way too loud to even talk to the person sitting right next to you. The food is good though but the waiters running around/ crowded seating just ruins it.
(3)
Patty ..

Went here for a bday dinner and it turned out being a solo evening my friend got in an accident on the way down so I decided to stay and check it out. The HH was still going on until 7 pm ordered a HH beverage and paid full price...not sure why? Also ordered the calamari friti which was AMAZING, the calamari was prepared perfectly, lightly battered not overcooked and the sauce had a spicy kick that gets you be careful. My main entree was the Sea Bass Special with Risotto and Asparagus...the sea bass was unreal and the chef had grilled it perfectly even the risotto was cooked perfect and it's one of the hardest dishes to prepare. The bummer part was there was no surprise dessert that my friend J had said he had arranged?
(3)
Nurooj O.

FOOD POISONING. Everyone at our table. Horrible attitude from the waiter too. I hope the two are unrelated. He barely made eye contact with us because he was clearly too cool, barely checked on us, and thumped our plates down. This guy works at Alessa in Laguna Beach too. Wont be going back there for any reason.
(1)
Sheila D.

Fantastic place! Had dinner with my two girls and the staff was welcoming from the moment we set foot into this beautiful, bright restaurant. Luigi was amazing and recommended some dishes that we shared, family-style....Lobster Ravioli, Mushroom Risotto, and a trio seafood dish....all were fantastic!! After being in the OC for five years....we've FINALLY found a great Italian restaurant!!
(5)
Marlene R.

In just over a year since this restaurant opened, Alessandro's reputation has grown, judging by the crowds. Many locals dine here, and even if you're new and its your first time, it's like you're family. The food is as good as ever and I prefer this location to the one on Forest (Alessa) because there's more elbow room, a nice bar area, and a larger outdoor dining area. We've held parties here for 20 people or more and the service has been great. The noise can grow loud in the main dining area when it's crowded. A great place for kids as there are kid friendly pizzas or pasta, and there is live music for brunch and dinner on the weekends. We love it here and I have to eat here at least once a week or I feel deprived.
(5)
Melissa P.

I cannot get a food of this place! It is delicious and the staff is beyond friendly. Luigi is wonderful, incredibly sweet and full of knowledge about the delicious food. Each time you go, the level, taste and sophistication of the food is consistent and delicious. When I eat the food, my entire body trembles because it is that delicious. Mare is better than Mastro's and perfect for lunch, a private party or date night!!! Luigi is the best - ask for him and you will be taken care of on every level with the personal touch of going the extra mile!!!
(5)
Cathy G.

Arrived at 6:30 on Saurday night and were able to get in without a reservation (although, within 30 mins, it was full). I admit I wouldn't have gone here on my own but a Laguna local raved about it and I now understand why. The decor is pretty, the food is really good and the prices are reasonable. There were a number of large parties which made it alitle loud, but it was Saturday night in Laguna, so... Don't let the location keep you away (in front of the Holiday Inn), it's a real treat!
(5)
Lavinia H.

My husband and I had dinner and lunch many times at Mare and if you love EXCELLENT food, great service and a great ambiance this is the place to go! I love the Zucca, Olive Fritte, the Branzino is incredible...the black ink pasta is also delicious, chicken funghi...everything is so good...you can't go wrong. Luigi is the manager and he is doing an outstanding job! The chef is obviously extremely talented and SO nice!!! I highly recommend this place for breakfast,lunch, dinner but also special events. We had our wedding reception here and the team at Mare made sure we were going to have the best day ever. The food was amazing and perfectly cooked...and the service was OUTSTANDING!!!
(5)
Harold J.

Ate at the bar. Every app, entree, and desert was awesome. Service at the bar was attentive and welcoming. All staff were well educated on what was on the menu. Well worth the money for the food.
(5)
Tina C.

Love this place. The complimentary focaccia bread and pesto sauce were amazing. I especially loved the braised octopus, served sliced paper thin with a tangy vinaigrette dressing. The clams and shrimp dish was also delicious, served in a red sauce. I also tried the burrata pizza. The crust was tasty but the burrata cheese lacked texture and tasted too creamy. The cocktails were very creative. My fav was the lavender martini.
(4)
Jeff D.

Great place for the food, the space and the staff. It's one of those places where everything hits the mark. Whether they are packed full or empty the level of service and the consistency of the food is always great. This is a must for anyone looking for a great night of fine dining without breaking the bank. Their cheeses and charcuterie are the best!
(4)
Michael J.

The setting was nice and service was great but the plate I had which was the salmon dish was a little bland. Spinach was good though!... I might give it another shot but not anytime soon
(2)
Borna R.

low key bar, great cheese dishes and prosciutto with wine. fish not bad, filet was good w/ sauce on side. ppl who work there are cool. however, it's very blue inside. i'm talking like a lot of blue going on in there but you get used to it.
(4)
Amit S.

Was out in the area and I came here for our anniversary dinner after we saw the reviews. Made reservations and when we got there we waited close to 90 minutes after our reservation time, which was a real buzz kill. They were extremely busy that night, but it was very irritating that I had made a reservation few days in advance and still had to wait that long. The food was good, but our night which started off amazing ended at Mare to a dismal end. Best part of the meal was the cocktail we both had that got us in a better mood whlist blasting music down PCH. Service was ok, food was pretty good, and they will make you wait on a Saturday night for over an hour if you have a reservation and then tell you "you shouldve come last night, it wasnt this busy.' I will never recommend this place nor will I ever consider going back.
(2)
Daena H.

I have mixed feelings about this place. Even though it is in a hotel, there is no valet and you have to park at a nearby church and walk into the restaurant. The ambiance was great, the decor was very pleasing. I almost forgot that I was in a Holiday Inn. The food was good, but the service was lacking. Our waitress was spacing out and was not attentive at all. The served us our charcuterie platter and we have to ask for bread. I ordered a pear martini, and she bought out pinneapple. I told her i didn't like the pinneapple and have her take it back, she bought back the same drink. Uggghhhh. She doesn't check on you so when you need something you have to look all over the place for her. Had there been a more attentive server, I think I would have given this restaurant a 4 star.
(3)
William K.

I almost didn't eat here, as the restaurant is in the lobby of a Holiday Inn! I felt like... Uh Oh... I don't like hotel food, usually, and... it's a Holiday Inn... However... we sat down and ordered up some things to share and I must say it was GREAT. The service was great, too. The chef even came out and talked to us... The Carpaccio of Organic Heirloom was deilicioso... but... the mushroom risotto was nearly orgasmic... The salmon seemed a tad over cooked, but we didn't care because the meal, overall, was perfect.
(4)
Tish S.

We made reservations and were seated promptly. The ambiance and the staff were great. Appetizers were great, entrees were so so. We definitely liked that we could bring out own bottle if wine :-)
(4)
Jason R.

Great remodel from the previous restaurant and don't let it being connected to the Holiday Inn deter you away. The food is excellent. Had the Lobster Ravioli and Sausage Rigatoni. Both dishes flavors were on point. Our favorite was the Heirloom Tomato salad. One of my favorite starting dishes I have had. Wine selection is solid and the service is excellent. The chef walks around the dining floor and gets personal with each table giving in a real homey feel. Found out that this is the same Italian family and chef from Alessa downtown Laguna. Credibility points for sure! Place has a fun bar on the other side of the dining room as well. With all the great food options in town, this is a solid choice for Italian with a focus on seafood.
(4)
Eddie L.

We tried this based on the past 11 glowing reviews. They weren't wrong -- the food was delicious: organic, made from scratch, and fresh. The two pastas we had were made from organic ingredients (and you could taste the difference from, say, Whole Foods organic pasta); the lamb and salmon on the pastas were cooked to perfection. We also had a pizza--although not from a wood grill (not allowed in LB), the oven Alessandro designed for the kitchen emulates a wood grill perfectly. We went for a lunch; no reservation necessary as it was basically empty at noon on a Friday. Only one waiter, one bus boy; service from them was satisfactory considering there was only one other table in the restaurant. Our server was knowledgable and friendly, just not as attentive as we would have liked. You can definitely tell it's a month old and still in its soft opening stages--but that's the best appeal as it's not too crowded (yet) and the prices aren't as high as they could be (yet). Menu online is not the one they have in house but again that must be due to its infant stages. Parking was a bit confusing. The restaurant told us we could park in the Holiday Inn lot but once we parked, glaring signs of "you will be towed without a pass" spooked us into asking the hotel about parking; the hotel said we weren't allowed to park there and the restaurant had no authority to tell us where to park. They should clear this up to make for easier parking. I give it only 4(.5) stars because of parking and one hidden charge; someone in our party couldn't drink ice water for stomach problems and they charged us $3 for hot water and a lemon. We tried arguing this but the server said it was considered "tea." Not even the fanciest restaurant has charged us this before. Still - the food was delicious (see pictures) and a definite recommendation to try before more people start discovering it!
(4)
Briss M.

I like this place the food is very good & the service was amazing the girl at the bar was great!!! loved bar area... The only thing is that the food portions are very small.. & the management is not so great.. they definitely need to upgrade management. Manager was rude & didn't look professional. Overall good experience at this location, definitely going back soon purely because of good service in bar/location & food.
(4)
Megan G.

4.5 Stars--Lacking in 5 due to delayed waiter service and a couple other minor problems but I can totally overlook them because of the quality of the food. To Share's: Prosciutto and Barrata- Creamy, delicious and enough to share with a group of 4. Cuori di Zucca- Butternut squash in brown butter sage sauce. The sage is candied and to die for. Great flavor and also enough to share with a group of 4. They serve small bread pieces with a pesto sauce--amazing. Paste: Our group shared 3 dishes. Limoncello infused Mafaldine--this was my favorite but not my order! Brilliant lemon flavor and delish lobster. Highly recommend! Black Ink Tagliolini--heavier than it sounds. One downfall is we received 2 pieces of shrimp and they weren't tiger shrimp. Lots of clams though and great flavor. Fresine Lunghe- great for the eggplant lovers! The basil really shined. Great location for touring Laguna Beach and it's across from the ocean. Fantastic date location. The ambiance feels fancy but you don't have to dress up to eat here (which I like). I think with it being a part of the Holiday Inn, it brings the fancy down a notch :)
(4)
Scott B.

Popped in here for my 23rd anniversary with my lovely wife...we had eaten at Alesso's in downtown and the owner's (Alessandro's) wife recommended we try this new eatery...tucked inside a Holiday Inn (I know, kind of strange, particularly for the outside seating which is in the courtyard of the hotel) so you may give up some ambiance for incredible food, fair prices and phenomenal service. Our waiter was Luigi (if that is his real name, it could be Stan but uses this names for a more authentic experience and higher tips) was the best. Quick service, honest recommendations and a personal touch. Alessandro was there kissing babies, shaking hands and working the room. We had clams and shrimps in a lobster reduction sauce for the appetizer...I could, and may, bathe in that sauce one day. My wife had the lasagna which is filled with meatballs instead of the usual plain meat...fantastic....and I had the rib eye with a side of grilled artichokes. Yummy. To get an idea about the level of service and attention...Alessandro brought us a plate of olives stuffed with cheese that are deep fried to perfection...and when I casually mentioned the reason for out visit, they brought a dessert of panna cotta. There are a few things if you do it well, the world will beat a path to your door...a good attorney, a well designed car, and good italian food...the door is crowded at Mare and Alesso's in Laguna Beach.
(5)
Brenda C.

I came in with huge expectations due to the great reviews, but we were disappointed. Our server was waaaaaaay overloaded. It took us 25 minutes just to get a glass of wine. She was nice, but seemed like she had too many tables last Saturday night. 2/5 My seabass special was great! 5/5 However, my date's ribeye was chewy and overcooked, and his asparagus was stringy. He would've sent it back, but we waited so long for our food as it was, we were starving and didn't want to deal with it. 1/5 We ended on a good note with the creme brulee. 5/5 Sadly, I doubt we'll return due to the poor service and sad ribeye/asparagus.
(3)
Matt F.

My wife and I love this place. Every dish that we've ordered is fantastic. They also bring out bread in the beginning with some kind of pesto olive oil dipping sauce, it is amazing. My wife had the salmon and she loved it. I had the chicken fontal and it was really well done. The potatoes blend perfectly. My daughter had the meatballs, and frankly I was jealous, they looked really good and she loved them. If you go here, you will not be disappointed.
(5)
Shelby C.

Great service and amazing food. Loved it! It's is not associated with the holiday inn. It is family owned and operated!
(5)
Jeff T.

Chef Alessandro is truly an iron chef. He came to our table and made the menu come to life. The limoncello parpardelle with lobster and chilis was unbelievable. The combination of hint of limoncello and chili offset was a party in out mouths. We live in ny most of the year and we never eat Italian here bc it is typically disappointing. The fried burrata was also outstanding, actually pretty light and not greasy. Our meal was better than any I've had in Italy itself.
(5)
Lisa C.

We ended up here because we were looking for a bite to eat before the Pageant of the Masters event and Alessa was crowded. The hostess there suggested Mare as it is co-owned by the same Italian chef and was within walking distance. The inside looked intimate and cozy with live music. We sat outside and realized the restaurant is located in a hotel. Our large party of 10 stuck to a mix of appetizers mostly with some pasta dishes. I had the calamari and it was light and not greasy and my butternut pasta was simply fabulous. Our waiter was really patient and answered all our questions plus he made sure our ordered in plenty of time for us to make the last shuttle to the show. I would definitely go back again and try other dishes.
(4)
Simon B.

The fried burrata was just Amazing !! We also had the pizza (good) and the eggplant parmigiana (really good). The place is good for a intimate dinner. Try the back patio (super cute). The chef came to our table and chat with us. The service was impeccable !!!
(5)
Tracy O.

Locals know if you can't get a seat at the owner's Alessa's, then walk the few blocks to MarÃ© for, almost, the same menu. It's a hidden gem off the main drag of downtown and I can already tell people are swarming. The food is beyond spectacular - beyond. And the service is top-notch, best in the business. Try everything on the menu (meaning, everyone order a different dish so you can share) because it's all so flavorful, fresh and authentic Italian cuisine. Whatever you imagined the dish might taste like, it's 10 times better. And the desserts! Holy cow...lick.the.spoons. I'm drooling just imagining the tiramasu. Best of all, it's by the beach so you get diners who are casual during the day to dressy for night time. But for dinners, people go all out to look nice. It feels right for this place. And they have a beautiful courtyard they share with the hotel. It's beautiful.
(5)
Stephanie Z.

I was expecting more. We sat at the bar (second time here) and were able to order off the regular menu. The service was very slow, especially considering it was a week night and the bar was not even at a quarter capacity. My friend ordered pasta which was very average. Their parmesan cheese was "powdery", not real, aged parmesan. My chicken Caesar Salad was very bland and the chicken was cold. The dressing tasted like it came from Albertson's next door. I will never go back and I would advise to go elsewhere.
(2)
Jackie M.

Great food great service a bit loud but it was a busy night. The setting is dark with candles very romantic. We would be coming back for sure. Lamb chops amazing, and the pasta (not sure what I got) chicken mushroom and cream sauce yum!!! Loved it
(5)
J K.

The fried burrata was DELICIOUS!!! We also had the Crispy Soppressata Pizzovale and Pink Farfalle Everything was really good...my only complaint (taking away the 1 star) is that the food was very salty. It wasn't noticeable at first, but a few bites in, which every dish, got to be overwhelmingly salty. I am thankful that my water glass was being refilled often. Also, the house-made salame on the pizza tasted a bit gamey, which I've never tasted in other salames.
(4)
Steve J.

We have eaten here several times this year, always out on the patio during the warmer months. Decided to stop in for an early dinner/happy hour at 5:30p on a Friday. Couldn't believe that we were practically the only ones in the restaurant. Probably the holiday slow-down. We sat inside near the bar area. The food, as always, was fantastic, but this time the service was extremely slow and the waitress had to be reminded about an appetizer we didn't receive. Also, the bartender and his friends/customers were talking super loud and were pretty distracting. Granted, the place was pretty empty, and not much going on, but there's no reason for them to carry on a loud conversation with customers trying to eat dinner. The manager needs to manage his/her employees better. Still, one of the best restaurants in Laguna, though.
(3)
Jennifer N.

excellent cheese board. try the sottocenere & parmigiano. we had a great waitress, too. I wish I could remember her name. corkage is $20.
(4)
Larry G.

Stayed at the Holiday Inn this week in Laguna, -- nice hotel, clean, comfortable, affordable and in one of the best locations on PCH for walking around Laguna. Stumbled upon this restaurant connected to Holiday Inn, yet independent of the hotel. Heard about the Chef / Owner Allesandro as he also owns two Italian Gems that I've dined at and love. So I gave this a shot and it was truly amazing. I ordered the Rack of Lamb that I saw on Yelp, -- not on the menu, but available. It was simply the best Rack of Lamb I've had in my life and I live in Chicago and great restaurants are the norm. Also had breakfast here two times during my Irvine area business trip, (yes they serve an amazing breakfast too), -- especially liked Brittany the server for my breakfasts, -- very friendly and she set my day off well with her great service. This restaurant has simply deliciously prepared food, -- I will return every opportunity I can. I give this restaurant 5 stars, my highest recommendation.
(5)
Trina C.

Bravo for the most fabulous authentic and flavorful Italian meal I have had outside of Italy, and just as incredible as anything in Italy! The food was superb! Luigi and Alfonso were excellent hosts. Absolutely fresh and well prepared. The seafood tasted as if it was caught minutes earlier. The Branzino and Langostine were perfection. This was a super special meal and a memory that will last a lifetime! Alessandro set up everything and every detail made for an unforgettable evening. It brought back memories of our fantastic times in Positano. I cant impress how perfect our dinner & evening was! . We have dined all over the world and extensively throughout Italy, and this food was the BEST! Every detail from the hostess, drinks. wine, appetizers, dessert to the expresso were out of this world! Thanks, we will be back soon.
(5)
Robin O.

Foodies in Laguna are always looking for the next best thing to hit our area. And it has - right downtown inside the Holiday Inn - Mare Culinary Lounge. Chef owner Alessandro has done an amazing job with an upscale look, beautiful bar and outdoor area, not to mention the creative menu. If you can do it, please sit in Luigi's section. He's brilliant with describing everything down to the last drop of olive oil. We did 3 of the starter specials including a carpaccio of branzino, stuffed, battered and deep fried squash blossoms and a shrimp something. All delicious. Entrees were lemonciello linguine with lobster, thin veal saltimbuca style, lasagna with meat balls and another fab pasta dish. Our waiter suprized us with Oreo cookie gelato. So great place, great food, fresh pasta made daily, can it get any better? Oh live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights, live jazz Sundays. For more great Italian - go to Alessandro's other restaurant - Alessa's in downtown Laguna.
(5)
mindy l.

The hubby and I came here for breakfast. He got the steak and eggs and omg, they had a BIG steak came out juicy and perfect. I got a few bites and it was delicious, perfectly seasoned with salt and pepper no need to add anything. I had the chicken panini and it was good/ok. You can't really go wrong with a panini but it wasn't really what I was expecting. I was expecting more of a Panera Bread Panini where they cut it in half. This came out kind of like a sandwhich that was cut into 4 squares. The vegetables that they used for fresh but too much arugula in the middle like a side salad? I'm not sure since there is no dressing. I threw it away. We also came here for dinner for my 30th bday and it was really yummy. We got the Lamb with risotto. It was like a bit of amazingness in every bite!!! The meat was slightly undercooked and paired with the buttery risotto which did not disappoint! I loved the sauce that it came with and would dip my bread in it. I didn't care too much for the pesto olive oil that the bread came with though. It was actually a really big portion that could be shared for two people. The butternut squash dish was a little on the sweet side but I liked it a lot! The only thing I wouldn't get again was the eggplant infused pasta dish since I thought it looked weird and didn't taste like it was anything special. It was black b/c the eggplant infusion. At first, I thought it looked like bugs! We actually didn't eat much of it and just let it go. Next time, I would probably try the salmon pasta. For desert, we shared the Oreo cookie gelato. I felt like I had over 1000 calories for the meal but hey, you only turn 30 once! I was really tempted to order some champagne/wine but couldn't since I was nursing the bebe! Next time for sure since they had a good list and prices seemed reasonable.
(4)
InHee K.

They certainly do not need my review to validate their restaurant! But it is THE TASTEIST, FRESHIEST, and just PLAIN BEST food you can have in OC/LA area. I frequently dine at nicer and better quality restaurants but Mare is absolutely is one of the best! You are treated like an Italian family member and the vibe is really chic and fun! My husband tells me he can eat here for the rest of his life and will not complain EVER!
(5)
Gerry F.

After reading the reviews, I was anticipating a great dining experience. I took my family on a Saturday night for my wife 20th anniversary. I also brought a great bottle of wine; the corkage was only $15 (bonus!). Appetizers were good; pizza and calamari, but the entrees are what suffered. Three of the four meals were ill prepared, flavorless and dry. Needless to say, we were not impressed with the service either. Very, very slow... Sorry Laguna, you have better than Mare.
(2)
Dave R.

The food is absolutely delicious no doubt about that. However, the service here really is horrid. We had to wait approximately 20 minutes for a waiter to come by our table. Want some water? You're going to have to scream across the restaurant if you'd like some. Two stars for the food, -9 stars for the service.
(2)
Phil C.

Don't let the idea of a restaurant in a Holiday Inn fool you, this is a first class New Italian Restaurant. We had reservations for 7pm on a busy Saturday night, and found the service prompt but not hurried. Our waitress, Jessica, was very knowledgeable about the entire menu, the fresh catch, the wine list with specific recommendations and surprising insight into the taste and qualities of the wine selection, and even went so far as to recommend off menu adjustments for a member of our party who wished to try something special. Salads were tasty and petite, but exactly the right size for the entrees that were to follow. For Caesar aficionados, they make the dressing the correct way with anchovies, so all was good there. Our group had entrees including a Veal Chop (14oz) with fresh black cherry reduction served with mushrooms and and a kind of sweet yet tangy pickled onion combination. A surf and turf of Petite Filet with a half lobster, and a succulent filet of Sea Bass with a lobster reduction and baby bok choy. The food quality and presentation was outstanding. Our waitress recommended a selection of wines and we elected to go with a Scarbolo Pinot Grigio, which complemented that selection of entrees beautifully. Deserts included Creme Brulee and Gelato both of which resulted in completely cleaned dishes. The prices at Mare Culinary Lounge are not outrageous, but the food quality and service standard were outstanding. For a busy Saturday evening, we did not feel hurried to vacate our table, nor were we left waiting for service or our food. The ambience was busy, as you might expect for a Saturday evening, but very pleasant indeed. The restaurant has made an arrangement with a nearby church to use their parking facilities in the evenings. From the PCH, you turn inland onto Clea Street between the Holiday Inn and Ralphs, take a right on Glenneyre St and the church parking will be immediately on your left. We were delighted to have found this little gem, primarily because we were unable to get a reservation out our first choice! We will certainly go back as there were way too many interesting things on the menu that deserve attention...
(5)
Miss B.

It's a good thing the food was so good, because the service was just awful. The menu is well-composed and everything we ate was perfectly executed. The service was painfully slow, and we were left for long periods of time. Our wine was served, and appetizers ordered, then we didn't see our server again for 30+ minutes to place our dinner order. We will likely come back again, but never during the summer/festival season. They really can't handle the crowds.
(4)
Denise O.

Save your money OC. This was a very average restaurant. It took 10 minutes to get a waitress after being seated. While we were seated, the busboy was sweeping & cleaning windows, really, this should be done prior to or after closing. The waitress was pulled from the kitchen and didn't really want to be our waitress. As far as the food, very average Italian food. I see this place closing in 6 months. Don't waste your time or money
(2)
Nikki C.

Had a great Father's Day dinner here. The environment is relaxed and the waiter, Enrique, was very helpful and hospitable. We had the Catch of the Day which was a Grouper fish, the butternet ravioli and the Bruschetta. FYI: The Bruschetta is a thing bread, kind of like pizza crust, with a bowl of chopped tomato and basil. Didn't save room for dessert but the menu looked great.
(4)
G L.

This place is a gem! We read the reviews which captured our interest. On a late Saturday lunch, around 2 pm, the place was somewhat empty. I find it intimidating to go to empty restaurants. However, we were greeted by a friendly host (Luigi). I ordered the Chicken Milanese... Incredible! My new favorite! We also ordered the Wild Boar pizza... Delicate and tasty! Alessandro was very friendly and shared some freshly made sorbet with crispy salt flakes. At first I thought it was odd... Wow! The contrasts really wake up your taste buds. Don't be intimidated if the place is sparse, go in and try it. I recommend the Chicken Milanase. Fantastic! The place is clean, fresh, and the staff is friendly. Well done.
(5)
Jess M.

This is another great restaurat in Laguna Beach, located right next to the Holiday Inn. The back patio area of the restaurant actually connects to the Holiday Inn. For starters, this place has great bread (soft and warm) with a delicious green pesto dip. Mare also has all of my favorite foods: Carpaccio of Organic Heirloom with burrata - Really flavorful, fresh thinly sliced heirloom tomatoes served on a warm plate, so it was different from most tomato/mozzarella salads & i just love creamy burrata with arugula Burrata Fritta over pomodoro sauce - Did I mention how much I love burrata?! This dish was a generous portion for two to share and a unique way to have warm foccacia bread crumbs covering a ball of fresh burrata I had the special of the night, which was a pan seared crusty on the outside but soft on the inside Sea bass with some argula and artichoke. The sea bass was delicious and cooked perfectly, however the argula salad was a bit over salted. For dessert, there was tiramisu served in a very interesting way in like a tall glass that was foamy and had the taste/essence of a tiramisu, but it was light, not heavy nor cake like. If that makes sense... it was good! Lastly, the owner/chef Alessandro graciously came by our table (as he did with all tables) to check on us . He was so sweet and even gave us a shot of limoncello to finish the meal! Overall, awesome dinner experience; it wasn't busy for a Friday night, but I'm sure as more people find out about this gem, it'll soon be fully packed.
(5)
Juan K.

I found this place on Yelp, looking for a nice restaurant for the family while visiting in Newport Beach. After looking at the menu, I decided to have a dinner of appetizers. My wife and daughters had entrees, so I got to sample these as well. In short, everything was just delicious, the service was knowledgeable and attentive and we had a great meal. It's definitely on my list of places to visit when back in the area.
(5)
Kissy S.

Alessandro has done it again! Wow..this is the place where he can experiment & use it as his test kitchen for Ã¼ber cool recipes. Don't be fooled by the location & ambience (it's the restaurant adjacent to the Holiday Inn- so don't let the "ick" factor sway you)! He's there Wed-Fri I believe... Start with the Olive Frittes & the orange stuffed pepper w/marscapone things (sorry- forgot their name), then an app & you MUST try the Lobster Malfadine homemade pasta infused with their homemade Limoncello. Just to die for flavors!! Get over there STAT!
(5)
Brandon A.

The food here was very good! They have a lot of items on the menu with Burrata cheese, which is a "milkier" mozzarella. The Burrata Fritta (Large fried ball of Burrata cheese) was amazing! We literally had the best pizza of our lives here...Tip: the Crispy Soppressata pizza comes with farmer's goat cheese, Calabrian hot chili peppers, and spicy salami... Order it with Burrata instead of goat cheese and it will blow your mind... A couple of more negative things...The manager was very nice but obviously drunk. As the night progressed on, she sat in a corner texting on two phones (talk about multi- tasking) and became very reserved; presumably not engaging in a very fun conversation. Our waitress, however, joined us for a few rounds of shots and was very fun! The restaurant is inside of the Holiday Inn, which is a bit interesting, and the decor is a little "we want to be fancy, but cut corners and aren't as fancy as we maybe should be". If they remodel and do away with the cheesy 30-sec underwater clip that plays repeatedly from a ceiling hung projector, they'll be in good shape. Sometimes less is more!
(4)
Fat Badboy J.

Mare Culinary Lounge...what a joke! I hope this review gives you great insight into what a horrible experience you'll have if you attempt to dine here. My party had a reservation booked and confirmed for 7:30 to sit in their outside area. Since its Laguna beach and my party had all visitors to town, we wanted to make sure we could eat outside and booked the table at Mare because they confirmed an outside table was available. Arrived 15 minutes before our reservation to be told to head to the bar to grab a drink while they get the table ready. Then, at the time of our reservation the hostess walked up to let us know that if we wanted to eat outside we had to wait another 35 minutes to an hour. Then, the hostess mentioned she had a table inside that could be ready soon if we opted to eat inside. At this point if we wanted to eat dinner at a reasonable hour we had to take the inside table. Now here's where the real fun begins. First, the acoustics inside suck. You literally had to yell to the person across the table to be able to hear them. After letting the hostess know that it was wrong not to plan properly and get us a table outside (per the reservation made) I, in some way expected a manager to apologize and possibly offer a free appetizer or round of drinks (not that it was needed), but to make the experience better, a manager should have at least apologized. This never happened. As for the food. I give the appetizers a good grade. The burrata was tasty and the bottle of wine we had was ok. As for the main courses....yuck yuck and one more time yuck! Its like the chef went to the supermarket across the street, bought some frozen dishes and pasta and went heavy on the microwave. Another funny thing that happened is the table next to us complained about the shrimp they were eating and asked to know where the shrimp came from. We next saw a waiter bring over a bag of frozen shrimp that you can get at your local grocery store. The table next to us wasn't that amused and both our tables shared a little giggle as we were both having a below average experience. Basically, nothing tasted fresh and service needed an upgrade. I feel at a restaurant of this nature they should at least remember who ordered what so that hot plates don't need to be shuffled around when the food arrives. As you can tell...this restaurant failed on many levels. To wrap this up, I was very taken back by the lack of respect by never getting an apology or any type of communication saying we were wrong and we apologize for messing up your reservation. I think the main thing that would have smoothed everything over was a little communication by the manager to at least say let me make this experience better....maybe a round of drinks on the house, appetizer, or just saying we're sorry would have gone a long way. Instead, I had to ask to speak to the manager after the meal was over since the hostess's didn't give any message to the manager. Oh..the manager happened to be the Chef and owner Alessandro Pirozzi. This guy just doesn't get it. Spit out nothing but nonsense and I can tell why the restaurant was empty soon after we were seated. Save yourself money and head to any other establishment in Laguna for a great meal. I recommend the restaurant 230...simply amazing :) Another small tibit for ya...for a fine establishment as Mare claims to be, the bathrooms (both men and women) were nasty. My family members visiting town were scared to enter.
(1)
Allison D.

I don't write many reviews, but having found this place for my anniversary dinner based on it's excellent yelp reviews I just had to after our super disappointing dinner here. We made reservations for almost 2 hours before we needed to be at a nearby show, thinking that was more than enough time. We ordered our food right away and the trouble started when it took at least 45 minutes for our appetizer to show up- which I might add was just a basic bruschetta so I have no idea what took so long. At this point we notified our waitress that we had a time restraint and she assured us it wouldn't be a problem and she could get our food to us in 10-15 minutes. The time kept ticking by and it got to the point when we literally had less than 10 minutes before we needed to be out the door and STILL no entree. We should have left at that point but our waitress kept telling us our food was just "a few minutes away." At the five minute mark I was pretty fed up and finally pointed out that the table next to us had ordered after us and now completely finished their multi-course meal... then our waitress flat out lied to my face, telling me they had pre-ordered their meal with their reservations... I literally saw them order, clearly, or I wouldn't have pointed it out. Long story short, we had to scarf down a $70 dinner in literally 4 minutes. The food was ok- I probably would have said it was good if I wasn't so irritated by the time I had it, but certainly not as good as I was expecting based on the reviews and the time it took to make it. The least she could have done was taken our app off the tab considering she completely acknowledged the painfully slow service, but nope, got the full bill.
(1)
Gigi C.

We loved the excellent quality of the food and the service. Our group of 7 ordered a wide variety of food and everything was fresh and tasty. We are foodies and love the complexities of a well prepared dish. The food here was freshly made and fresh tasting. The service was also beyond the norm. My daughter didn't care for the black ink pasta, so they were more than happy to credit our bill and bring her whatever else she wanted... quickly and with an honest apology. Beautiful We will be back :) The only negative issue was the parking, which is quite far away, fine for us (we like to walk) but not cool if you are disabled or have difficulty walking on the uneven street and sidewalk.
(4)
Chewiest U.

We arrived here around 7:15 and the place wasn't packed at all so we were seated immediately. Our server was attentive and patient enough with my family that takes a long time to order. Food took a while but we were a party of 8. Once the food arrived the presentation was awesome and the taste the same. I had the paste trofie which is ooeygooey deliciousness yet the pancetta added a crisp smokey flavor. The service was and atmosphere was nice. The portions are pretty big so expect leftovers! The service, food, and ambiance all get a 10 out of 10. Definitely coming back :)
(5)
Tiffany S.

Went to brunch there for brunch with a friend on a Sunday morning. Awesome. Atomsphere - relaxed sunny Laguna beach area. can't get any better. great LIVE BAND on Sunday's. nice for any kind of meal. Food - Panini: SMOKED TURKEY BREAST is my favoriate. You can taste the real turkey slices inside unlike those cheap and authentic. It is quality turkey. I like it with extra lettuce and tomato. The crispy slice of bacon certainly gives the panini a special twist. Panini: GRILLED CHICKEN BREAST would be the pick if you simply can't decide which gourmet you are going to try today. The roma tomatos (read: yum) and pesto is one of a kind. The panini as a whole is original and refreshing. MARE HOUSE SALAD: fresh ingredients, not too heavy on the dressing. loved it. You can also order a small salad for $2 when you order a main course. Pasta: You can't go wrong with any of the pastas. One of the best in town. TAGLIATELLE BOLOGNESE: It is pasta with slow cooked meat sauce. The meat was so tender it literally melts in your mouth. The wonderful blend of the meat and the pasta was so unforgettable, I could not wait to go back. (My family, including me, were never fond of pastas. But this one completely changed our mind. Definitely worth 5 stars.) MARE FRENCH TOAST: unlike other "toasts," Mare's special french toast uses BAGUETTE bread served with berries and almond slices. With this special condenced milk-ish sweet yet not too sweet sauce, I was begging for more after the 3rd piece. It is a must if you come to Mare. Luigi also gave us a SORBET sampler just to try it out. My friend said it was one of the best sorbets he has ever had. I concur. Service - true, try to sit in Luigi's section. He'll take care of everything ;) A little bit spacious on weekend mornings, but it will soon be full when lunch and dinner rolls around. Parking - may be a little tricky. street side parking. bring quarters. 15mins for every $0.25.
(5)
Edward T.

Went for a large group meal for a company outing, and I was very disappointed. We were limited to three choices from the menu due to the large group, two of them being pasta, and the third being salmon. I didn't feel like a heavy carb meal so I chose the salmon. Mine was burnt on the outside, dry, and inedible. I sent it back, and the replacement was only slightly better. I would have been more satisfied with a filet o fish sandwich from McDonalds. Those in my group who ordered the lasagna seemed to be happy with it though.
(1)
J K.

I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Mare with Beth, Alessandro and Luigi at the helm! We had our rehearsal dinner there (at the last minute) and they were INCREDIBLY accommodating with menus and the open bar was fantastic. I have nothing but positive, wonderful things to say about this place! When you go, try the zucca (mouth-watering)! Thank you guys for the last-minute booking. My wife and I owe you BIG TIME!
(5)
Hope D.

The shrimp risotto was excellent. House salad fresh w/ just the right amount of dressing. The tiramisu was outstanding.
(4)
Sharon S.

The food was great and the service delightful, but this place is very loud. Not for quiet conversation.
(4)
Laura E.

I was excited to try this restaurant once I heard about it and it did not disappoint. As you walk in it feels glam. The lighting is a flattering and inviting purple and blue color with lounge music playing in the background. We started out with the signature cocktails, the Lavender Ginger Martini and the Passion Fruit Margarita. Both were good, it was hard to pick a favorite. The martini was smooth, more subtle and subdued in taste. The margarita tasted like real passion fruit so I think that was the winner of the two for me. From the appetizer menu we started with the Orange Sweet Pepper and Olive Fritte. Both unique tastes and good bar bites. If you like Olives or Peppers definitely give each one a try. The goat cheese is divine with the sweet pepper and the olives are great with the fried batter... yum I love anything fried. We ventured into the Tacos "Mai" Way which were AMAZING. Wow. A completely unique item with a Vietnamese spin. The Bahn bao perfectly complements the braised oxtail. You must try this. Home run for sure. You get two per order so it could easily be a light meal or something great to split with someone so you both can try it. I could stop at that so we also got the Slider Meatballs. If you love meatballs and burrata, this is an appetizer for you. $5 per slider and well worth it in my opinion. My dinner companion ranked this as her favorite dish we tried. It was in my top 3! We tried two of the pastas for our main course, the Limoncello Infused Mafaldine and the Black Ink Tagliolini. I'm extremely picky with pasta and it takes a lot for me to consider the dish good since I find most pastas don't stand out to me. The Limoncello pasta was so good I'm still thinking about it. I may have to go back and get another order of it tonight. The lemon flavor was bursting out of the cream sauce and there was TONS of lobster in the pasta. I think I died and went to heaven after eating this dish. I cannot sing its praises enough, definitely my #1 choice on the menu hands down. The Black Ink pasta was well done as well, lots of mussels in that dish so you get your money's worth. It didn't light a candle to the Limoncello one though... We sampled some desserts (I think we had a 3 1/2 hour dinner), we just couldn't stop eating! My favorite was a custard limoncello one. I don't remember the name but it was good. We paired it with limoncello as our night cap. The limoncello was fantastic. I will be back again and again. Nice work Alessandro!
(5)
Nikki S.

We were staying at the hotel and stopped in for a drink. The bartender was super friendly and made my boyfriend a Mojito. I took a sip and I don't like them, but it was so tasty I had to order one for myself. We were going to get the prosciutto and burrata and she recommended the carpaccio of organic heirloom which was the same price. It was delicious! It was the same thing we wanted but had heirloom tomatoes and arugala with a basalmic drizzle. Since we had dinner plans this is all we ate (but we did come back every day for drinks). But every morning or afternoon as we walked through on the way to our room the food the diners had looked delicious (especially breakfast)! Next time we are in town we are for sure going to eat a full meal here.
(4)
Charisse F.

We had an open bar and heavy appetizers for a friends' rehearsal dinner. It seemed a little sketchy at first, but I was thoroughly impressed! I love the set up. The high, standing tables, coupled with the sit down options were great for mingling. The food was amazing! I LOVED LOVED LOVED the butternut squash ravioli with browned butter and sage...to die for! The calamari, meatballs, stuffed artichoke bites, and pizza were all delicious. I would definitely go back here if I were in Laguna Beach again. The bartenders were great, too. Louie treated my (slightly inebriated) friends well! And the wait staff was excellent--very friendly and helpful! Yay for the Mare Culinary Lounge!
(5)
Marianne B.

Excellent food and service! Friends recommended Mare when we were visiting Laguna Beach, outstanding food and excellent service by Sara and Ashley. The prices are VERY affordable, a must to eat at when you are in Laguna!
(5)
Walter L L.

Had dinner here the other night.An appetizer of sea bass"crudo"(Raw sea bass which was supposed to"cook"on a hot plate was ill prepared.Plate was not hot but lukewarm,bass was raw and tasteless.Main course of chicken milanese was overcooked,dry and also tasteless. Won't be back soon.Service was good.
(2)
B J.

Went back again. Last time, it was a fiasco. This time, they made a lot of improvements since we were there, so here's the review: Service -- waited 20 minutes before some saw us! Ordered drinks, then waited 20 minutes before they came and we could order! 2 stars for this :( Carpaccio was the best, ever. 5 stars. "pizza" thing was sucky. 1 star. over all, 2 stars.
(2)
T H.

The secret is out.... this is now my FAVORITE in ALL of OC! Best to reserve your table before the whole of Laguna find it. It's located in the Holiday Inn ~ the cutest one Ive seen in the US with wrought iron railings in a beautiful courtyard. The entire restaurant has a great sense of space with a lounge feel (very LA with white walls, minimalist art pieces, hip lighting fixtures, candlelight with a laid back beach chill). There are the high tables in the bar area projecting the beautiful and poetic images of 'Ashes and Snow'. There are the low lounge tables in the hidden corners for privacy. There are intimate clusters of dining tables for great conversation. Final option is the quaint patio surrounded by herbs. The restaurant is still in its 1st baby month, working out the kinks. I couldnt tell because my dining experience was absolutely delish! Alessandro has kept the Italian menu fresh with a Cali twist. The heirloom tomato carpaccio w burrata is to die for. The pastas are made fresh and balanced. All the martinis are a treat especially the Lavender Ginger. I was SO stuffed with no more for dessert. I need to visit ASAP just for desserts and drinks. They have a Level 2 Italian Pastry!!!
(5)
Vardan P.

Get the clams and tiger shrimp with black pasta it is delicious, and so is the appetizer which is this sweet ravioli dish yum yum yum..... Don't bother with the bartender needs help
(4)
Jon S.

I have gone to Mare Culinary Lounge maybe half a dozen times. I first went based on a review in a local paper. You can't help but be skeptical about a restaurant in the lobby of a Holiday Inn, even if it's Laguna Beach. I have brought friends or just gone with my partner. It is fun, welcoming, professional, and honors reservations on time. The patio is perfect for a romantic dinner and the crowd is real eclectic. But the best things about Mare are the food and the people. The owner is an energetic showman who is good at schmoozing guests and making everyone feel like he's genuinely glad you're there. The wait staff are knowledgable about food and wine. Luigi is the best. He has a fun personality and sincerely wants to make the evening memorable. The food is authentic coastal Italian, even the decor seems like a funky little place in Capri or Amalfi. My favorites are the octopus carpaccio and the Spaghetti Verdi . . . indescribable. My favorite places are ones that no one would ever suspect as being good . . . a hidden jewel.
(5)
Jim M.

We weekly go to Mare Culinary Lounge. Luigi the manager is awesome! He is an asset to this restaurant. He is to be commended for doing a job well done! He is always very welcoming. I enjoy knowing that each time we return Luigi will make us feel like we are coming to his home for dinner. We also wants to comment on the great job that Christian is doing.....he always makes sure that our water glasses are full and the bread basket is never empty! The food is always delicious and we look forward to our next dinner at Mare Culinary Lounge!
(5)
Paul P.

This place is amazing! I stopped in last week with my wife for happy hour. I felt like we were sitting at the kitchen table of of an old friend eating some of the most spectacular food I have ever had. I am an east coast guy and a bit of a snob regarding Italian food. Everything we ate exceeded our expectations. A simple thing like a meatball is raised to new heights. Luigi took care of us he was exceptional in every way. I can't wait to go back
(5)
Monica B.

Amazing food, great ambience and outstanding service! The Limoncello infused Mafaldine is a must have. Pasta made fresh daily. Owner/executive chef, Alessandro came by to see how our meal was and I had to fight myself not to kiss him full on the mouth for the wonderful food. I'll be back!
(5)
Lory V.

LOVED THIS RESTAURANT!!! Service, food and ambiance was great! I was invited to a girlfriends birthday dinner and I must say I was impressed. I started off with the Zucca Ravioli and Eggplant Parmigiana and they both were delectable as was my entrÃ©e- the Chicken Milanese. I would definitely recommend sitting in the courtyard as the ambiance seemed to be the best there but the rest of the establishment is beautifully decorated as well. It was most definitely fancy and great for any celebration. So much so, that I plan to celebrate my birthday there as well as I want to share it with the rest of my friends and family. Highly recommend it! ;-)
(5)
Nichole M.

Had dinner here last night with my husband and some friends of ours. We made a reservation on Open Table and when we arrived (about 10 minutes early) the Hostess told us she did not have our reservation. We told her we made it on Open Table and she informed us when you make a reservation on Open Table, the Hostess' do not get them, the reservation goes straight to a server!? WHAT?? Does that make any sense? I work in a restaurant that uses Open Table and our Host stand receives every reservation made. My husband and his friend were parking the car as this was taking place. The greeter takes us inside and tried to put us at a table right by the front door. She said since they don't receive the reservations it's hard for them to hold tables. I told her it was our first time there and it was my husband's birthday and we would prefer not to sit right next to the door. She sat us at a table toward the back of the dining room instead. My husband and his friend met us at the table, then we sat and waited for 13 minutes before a server came to get a drink order. We ordered our drinks and waited another 10 minutes for the drinks to arrive at the table. The restaurant was busy but it wasn't slammed. The drinks were good, good pours on wine and a great pour on the martini's, the martini came nice and full. It took just as long for our server to come back and take a dinner order. We ordered the Buratta Fritta, and Filet Mignon Carpaccio for apps. The Burrata was very good. The sauce that accompanied it was GREAT. I did not try the Carpaccio, however, our guests at the table said it was very good. Dinner entrees were: Lobster Ravioli, Limoncello infused Mafaldine, Fresine Lunghe, and Lasagne (which I ordered because it was highly recommended by our server). I was torn between that and the Rigatoni, I wish I would have gone with the Rigatoni. The Lasagne was bleh, it was a large piece of very mushy, messy, lasagne. It came with two very large meatballs on the side. The meatballs had good flavor, but again very mushy. The Lobster Ravioli, and the Limoncello pasta were said to be really good. My husband has the Fresine Lunghe. I tried it and actually thought it was pretty good and I HATE eggplant! :o) While we were finish our entrees, someone came over and opened the door to the patio (maybe the manager). Opened all the way so all of a sudden we were getting blasted with freezing cold air. Why would you all of a sudden just decide to open the doors to outside with out checking in with the people seated right next to it? We all put our jackets on, and suffered through it until we finally had to ask if they could close the door. After dinner our server offered dessert. We declined, but our guests reminded our server it was my husband's birthday. Our server turned into a very pushy salesman trying to get us to order dessert. We had planned on going elsewhere for dessert, but were basically forced into getting dessert there. We got Sorbet. It was good the pineapple is way more flavorful than the strawberry. All in all I give this place 3 stars, because most of the food we had was decent. My husband and I decided we are in NO hurry to return. It's too bad I really wanted to like this place.
(3)
Kathleen T.

Chilean sea bass was a crispy perfectly done piece of art with multiple veggie aspects. Beautiful and delicious. I guess they were busy but they forgot my request for lemon and a taste of their moscato. Otherwise they did a great job of taking care of our large party. The decor was beautiful. Very modern.
(4)
San N.

I won't say the restaurant is super innovative, but the food is great and perfectly seasoned. For some reason, people seem to think that masking food with more seasoning and indulgence in overly rich decadent food is fabulous. Therefore, I really liked that MCL allows their fresh ingredients to shine. Service - Very good. Never pushy nor did we ever feel rushed. Reservations - Highly recommended Parking - Street Food - 1. Lavender Martini - No longer on the menu. 2. Diet Coke - Flat 3. Complimentary Focaccia with Pesto - Warm soft foccacia with pesto that was bright in flavor. 4. Filet Mignon Carpaccio - Average. No hint of truffle and the oil only made the meat soggy and oily. 5. Orange Sweet Peppers - 6 stuffed peppers. Great play on sweet and savory. 6. Polipo Mediterranean - My favorite! Paper thin octopus but with a good chew. 7. Limoncello Infused Mafaldine - Very good and surprisingly light. The cream sauce wasn't overpowering and thankfully, my pasta was not drenched in sauce. A healthy dose of lobster didn't hurt either. 8. Cream Brulee - Eh. 9. Spumoni - Average
(3)
Jeffrey S.

Excellent calamari and the complimentary bread and olive oil dip were very good.. Other entrees were well-prepared, but not necessarily spectacular. People in prior reviews raved about the Lemoncello pasta served with lobster. Lobster was slightly rubbery and the pasta was spiral noodles, not my favorite. I would give the dish only two stars. Otherwise, server was polite and attentive and seating outdoors in the courtyard was a plus.
(3)
Christopher S.

Mare recently hosted a Sunday morning engagement party brunch for my fiancÃ©e and me. The event unfolded flawlessly and the staff was pretty amazing. I did not try the French Toast but I hear it was fantastic! I plan to go back very soon just to try it. Thank you guys for doing such a great job on such a special occasion.
(5)
Betsy R.

Just fabulous delicious. Had the Burata Frittata appetizer which is Burata cheese coated in focaccia bread crumbs flash fried served with a delicious pomodora sauce that was to die for. Also had the lobster ravioli which had the most delicious sauce with it. We were also served bread with a basil/olive oil/pine nuts pesto, wow! My take on this place is their sauces are what make it so good! And the homemade pasta is a huge plus. A very nice find because we have been to Italy 3 times and experienced the wonderful cuisine and am so glad to find this in our home turf of OC, love the touch of these real Italiano's!
(5)
Kylie R.

Located in the Best Western Hotel In Laguna, this place was a hidden gem as they would say. The service was incredibly warm and genuine. The manager also came out during the last half of our meal to talk to us about the food and the service. The food was fresh and absolutely delicious. One of my favorite places in Laguna Beach to eat. Definitely worth it!
(5)
Alan R.

Ordered the octopus carpaccio which was so thinly sliced I could not taste the octopus plus it was INCREDIBLY salty. It should have been sent back. Then I ordered mussels and shrimp which was also too salty. My friends each ordered pizzas which were awful! None of us will ever go back.
(2)
Josie L.

Had dinner here with some special out-of-town guests and I was nervous if it wasn't as great as all the reviews. MCL came through for us! The restaurant is downstairs from the Holiday Inn (which made me nervous as I drove by) but inside the decor is modern and very comfortable. Our server was Luigi - a very knowledgeable, friendly, and helpful guy. I asked him what we should order to "wow" us as first time visitors and he asked if we're allergic to anything and if we eat anything. We do eat anything....so he just said, "Ok. I'll be back." He proceeded to bring out small dishes of appetizers, describing how they were cooked and what made the delicious. They WERE delicious! He made a great wine recommendation, too. My friends and I had a fabulous time there - it was comfortable, warm - almost like we were the guests in someone's home. Luigi and the food were awesome! I'd highly recommend eating here ....and be adventurous in what you order!
(5)
J B.

This is my second review of Mare... unfortunately not near as fine as the first one. As I look back at my 1/18/14 review I see that the excellent cuisine and service still abounds. What changed significantly this go-around was the handling of an unfortunate situation. Once again because of an early reservation, we were the 1st customers of the evening. Being a wonderfully comfortable Southern California summer evening, we chose to sit on the patio. All was wonderful until a wedding rehearsal dinner party began to arrive. Although they had two-thirds of the patio set up for the group, their attendees descended upon us (and another table of diners) like ants at a picnic. We had a young woman use a plug at our table to charge and then use her phone, we had an older woman decide to use the extra chair at our table to lean on (at our table), we were surrounded by guests on 3 sides to the point that we couldn't get the attention of our waitress. It made for a very uncomfortable situation and brought our otherwise delicious dinner to a very quick end. When we spoke to the manager, he was extremely unsympathetic and made us feel that it was our fault that we chose the patio table in the beginning. If we'd known from the start that the large group was expected we probably wouldn't have opted for the patio. If the food wasn't as good as it was and our sweet waitress didn't try as hard as she did, the dinner would have been a disaster... however management was most discourteous and certainly was no value added in an attempt to rectify a bad situation.
(2)
Jeremie B.

The raviolini (must try) is a must try. Food was perfect and creative. Refreshing.
(4)
Raymond H.

I do not like this location at all, it's downstairs from a Holiday Inn on PCH in Laguna Beach and adjacent to a swanky Ralph's grocery store. Ambiance outside this location is negative 5 stars but inside is a tad better in an updated modern themed restaurant serving good cuisine. It's 3 star A-ok food and will not blow your socks off nor is it likely to impress a date or anything like that but the staff is super nice and they do their best.
(3)
Tim R.

This was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. There were only three tables seated and it still took them 40 minutes to cook an omelette. The waitress Adela was horrible. After checking with her manager the waitress told us she could substitute toast for fruit no problem (no charge) then charged us! Waited a very long time for just hot sauce. Forgot our waters. We ordered a vanilla latte only to get a cold latte (no vanilla) and when we asked if they forgot the vanilla they said they don't have vanilla! Fresh OJ is not fresh. You can get the same breakfast at Denny's with better service and a third of the cost. Terrible...just terrible!!!
(1)
Vik M.

Exceptional service and food. Rudy, our server, was extremely helpful and spot on with his suggestions. We started with the butter-nit squash ravioli, and had the sea bass and lamb chops specials - both were excellent. Their Tiramisu was one of the best I've had in a while. The ambiance was romantic, yet laid back, especially with the great live jazz on a Sunday night.
(5)
Pazit B.

we celebrate my husband's bday with group of 8... This is one of the best food and services we even experienced! the manager and waitress was very kind. we order 8 different meals, each one of then was testy and nice served. Highly recommend for romantic evening or group party.
(5)
Mina K.

stumbled on this gem of a place on yelp, and decided to make a girl's night. As two girls that have truly experienced italian food, culture and language, my friend and I could not have been more pleased. The ambience, the food, the wine, even the cute waiter, were amazing. The cherry on top... when the head chef and owner, alessandro, came and personally thanked us. In short, my new favourite place. Will definitely be coming back!!!! and did I mention, the best Tiramisu I have ever had... even better than those in Milan :-).
(5)
Shannon H.

We were drawn by the positive reviews, and sorely disappointed. On a positive note, the very friendly service, and the regular folks crowd were a refreshing departure from the cheesy hipster fare that has invaded most of our town. The decor is okay, if a bit night clubbish. But the food is just plain terrible. The "signature" pasta dish is lobster with a lemon cream sauce. The lobster was dry, the cream sauce tasted like it came out of a tube, the pasta was spongy and the whole thing tasted like it had been sitting around for half an hour. My husband said his fish was okay. If you are going to make something your signature dish it had better be good, and this was really inedible. Bummer, we were really hoping for a little gem here.
(1)
Phil T.

Great lunch in a beautiful restaurant. The lamb panini was the best panini ever. Our waiter was attentive but not over bearing and was always available if we needed him. We look forward to experiencing their dinner menu.
(5)
Ilio P.

I really have mixed feelings about this place. Probably should give them another try but....nah. Lets start with the bread, they have a great pesto dip for a not so good bread, should reaaally get better bread...as far as everything else goes: I started my meal with the mare soup that was actually pretty amazing; what followed was the not so amazing part... had the shrimp risotto and the black ink pasta. The Shrimp risotto was overwhelmingly cheesy. If you like cheese, get it. I take a little fault on that though, I shouldve asked... the black ink pasta, well...blah. Clams were generous but pasta was rather dry. I was expecting more sundried tomato sauce w the pasta, but it was rather dry. After that i had a creme brule. Dessert was good. All and all 3 stars seems fair for blah bread and sort of bland food I had. I bet they must have some great stuff in their menu. I mightve chosen wrong...
(3)
Sarah K.

I came here once a few weeks ago on a slow night & had a pretty much experience. However, this past weekend, I came on a busy night & had a horrible experience. We sat at a high top at the bar and order a glass of wine & a cocktail as well as a the fried burrata as an appetizer and then a vegetarian pizza & pink vodka pasta as our entrees. After ordering our waitress abruptly told us she was leaving and told us that someone else would take care of us. After several minutes of waiting, all of our food came out at the same time. Everything was cold & the vegetarian pizza was a joke (it was red sauce with squash and asparagus). Throughout the meal, no one checked on us. We then waited several minutes for someone to bring us a check. We almost left without paying because it became so ridiculous. Finally, the bartender brought over our check after we had to ASK. Of course we left no tip. I probably would not return here.
(2)
Jennifer C.

Worst restaurant experience I've had in a long time and we eat out a lot! Food has good flavor but the portions are an absolute joke. My husband ordered the Chilean sea bass salad that was in the "to share" section of the menu. There was nothing to share! It was four bites of thinner-than-paper-thin fish and a few sprigs of arugula. $18. They can literally make $1000 off of a single fish they give you so little of it. Then he was told he was welcome to order more food if he was still hungry. I don't think so. The owner knew we were unhappy and told our waitress he was too busy to come talk to us. What kind of customer service is that? The decor is a joke. Trying to be modern they screwed a collection of second hand cabinet knobs into plywood and called it good. Is this a former hardware store location? I would continue walking down the street to any other restaurant in town. I'll never set foot in this place again.
(1)
Christopher S. K.

Randomly stopped at this place after watching the sunset. Didn't have many expectations, but we were pleasantly surprised with the atmosphere in the bar. We ordered drinks and absorbed the atmosphere and started chatting up some locals. Recommendations were stuffed pepper appetizers and martini's. We ordered calamari, stuffed peppers, filet, and a roasted duck salad. The food was awesome, so we rounded it out with sorbet and tiramisu for dessert. It was a nice evening and we were pretty happy with the outcome! I would recommend it if you want a nice atmosphere and aren't too concerned with the bill.
(4)
Jane K.

Had dinner at Mare this past week. Where do we begin? From the minute we walked in the door we were greeted by a very nice hostess who was very accomodating as to where we wanted to sit. We were seated on a lovely outdoor patio and immediately a very nice server approached our table and offered us a drink. When he returned with our drinks he promptly told us about some specials and asked us what we liked, we determined he would just send out several different things based on what we liked. We were dazzled from the first course he brought out to us. From the octopus carpaccio to the sweet peppers to the limoncello pasta with lobster and finally the lamb ravioli we were very impressed with the food and service. We will be returning to Mare on a regular basis as the food and service was the best we have experienced in a long time!
(5)
Adrienne S.

So good...
(4)
Estrella J.

This place is amazing!!!, I had their steak, I wasn't really hungry but it was so good I finished it all!! Best great tasting juicy steak I have ever had!!!. Can't wait to come back here again and try their whole menu... eventually
(5)
Maureen T.

We tried this place out based on the amazing Yelp reviews. It did NOT disappoint. Our time here was exceptional, as was the food. This restaurant is attached to the Holiday Inn, but do not let that sway you at all. If you need to find parking, there is a church about a block away that allows parking for the restaurant. Because this place is right by the beach, parking otherwise is near impossible. The service was incredible. Our server came by often and the owner dropped by a couple times. Both made sure we were taken care of. The chef came out to the restaurant regularly while it was slow to check on the customers and make sure everyone was happy. Happy we were. Now for the food... (and we all tried each others plates, as family often does) The RISOTTO was perfect. Neither overcooked nor undercooked. The seasoning was perfect. Creamy, cheesy, melt in your mouth risotto. The PINK FARFALLE was very good. My least favorite of our choices but I did still enjoy it. The pasta was perfectly cooked and so fresh and the chicken was delicious. You really can tell that they make their pasta fresh every day. It is that good. The LIMONCELLO INFUSED MAFALDINE was my absolute favorite. I would drive an hour and a half again just to have it. Well, that and the amazing beach steps away. The pasta was fresh and just melting as I ate it. The sauce was extraordinary. Tart and creamy and just perfect. Lobster, shallots, pinot grigio, etc. How can you go wrong. Everyone loved it. Definitely what I order the next time I go back, if that happens. PLEASE LET THAT HAPPEN! I do hope you like this place as much as we did. Enjoy!
(5)
Anka R.

When I was Yelping places to have a nice dinner and I categorized the search by highest rating. Mare Culinary came firtst, so I read some reviews and about all of them were good reviews. So I gave Mare a shot and on 8/18/12 my g/f and I were there. Its located on PCH in a Holiday Inn (weird). Parking was a bitch to find and there parking at a church however it was $10.00. So I parked in the neighborhood which was 2 blocks away from the restaurant. Upon arrival the host greeted us and they had acknowledged that we had a reservation at 8pm. However, she told me that we had to wait 15-20 minutes which was fine. We decided to to wait in the bar, my first impression on Mare was the ambience of the restaurant is very club/lounge setting. The lights were dimmed to make the place look intimate. The restaurant was packed which means it is poppin and very busy. When we were waiting at the bar, there were 2 bartenders (1 female, 1 male). They were moving, but it took the bartenders a long time to acknowledge us. Especially, the male bartender was lacking attention. He was super slow in acknowledging my g/f and I. It took 15 minutes for the bartender to notice that we were sitting there. Finally we got a drink and the night got started. At this point Mare started to lose with the service. Finally the hostess found us at the bar and seated us. She seated us next to some old crispy couples that have a wanna be young look. The noise factor was crazy, I could hear everyones conversations there and I could barely hear my girlfriend talk. After we got seated it took the server about 10 minutes to greet us. She didnt come back for about another 10 minutes to take our order and the server attendant took a long time to bring us water and the bread. (they need to up the portions on the bread). We were waiting for our server for quite a bit, we wanted to get another My girlfriend ordered the Filet Mignon and I got the Ribeye steak. After 20 minutes of wait time our food came out. The presentation of the food was beautiful on the filet and my ribeye. However, the cook short changed us on the sauteed artichokes. We let our server know about the artichokes and she quickly came back with a side of sauteed artichokes. During our dinner our server checked on us about 3 times. However, I knew that the restaurant was short staffed and the server attendants didnt have a clue. Our server came and mentioned the dessert, but we declined and asked for the check. Overall: The Bad: 1. Please fire the male bartender that was working the night on 8/18/12 (he is plain out blind and didnt have a clue on what he was doing) 2. Please turn on the A/C in there. It was stuffy and hot 3. There needs to be more staff in the front of house. 4. Food expectaions needs to be fulfilled as described on the menu. ( short changing us on the artichokes) Good 1. Flavors of the dish is excellent 2. Ambience 3. Good crowd 4. The bread dip is freaking awesome!!! I gave a 3 star due to the service. However, the food was excellent. There was decent amount of choices on the menu and they had an excellent wine list. Maybe I'll give this place another try and hopefully service has improved by then.
(3)
Mark And Casey M.

my husband found this place while we were searching for a restaurant to host our dinner rehearsal on 08.02.12. we were getting married at seven-degrees and wanted to have our dinner rehearsal close by. we began emailing alessa to see if we can host our event there. he was extremely prompt in emailing us (even throughout the evening). we were able to discuss menu, price, amount of people, everything! he was very thorough and offered great suggestions! after a few days of careful consideration my fiance(now husband) decided to make our final decision after trying the food first. (lets be honest, who would want to plan a dinner rehearsal for 20 and NOT have tried the food first!?) so we went to the restaurant on weeknight and was surprised to find out they were rather busy for a weeknight. we were seated promptly in the patio/outside area(preferred; as that is the area we discussed having out rehearsal at) we were greeted immediately by our server Ivette. i will not go into detail of her service. (it was great, left enough of an impression that i requested to have her serve at my rehearsal.) we decided to order the food we would serve. and WOW!!!!! we ate!!!! -calamari -brochette -butternut squash pasta -eggplant pasta -Pollo Marsala with potatoes -tiramu food was amazing!!!!! granted between me and my(now husband) you can imagine how much left overs we had! lol. our rehearsal was amazing! alessa and his staff set up the patio area BEAUTIFULLY!!! our guests were taken back by the outcome! and by the food!!! since then we have been regulars! their food never disappoints just like their service, and if alessa is at the restaurant he always makes rounds to greet everyone in the restaurant! i have never been to a restaurant that the owner/chef has done this!!!!
(5)
Rebekah F.

We've been to Mare a few times and we like it. The food is very good, especially when the owner is there. The menu is innovative and a great twist that varies from the traditional coastal California cuisine that is the norm in the area. I love the fresh-made pasta, which is very hard to find, especially in a beach town. For breakfast, which they serve daily, the frittatas are the best, although we haven't had anything we didn't like. The ambiance inside is very modern and hip, with blacks and grays. I love sitting indoors for dinner or a late night drink. The patio is completely opposite of inside - lush and has an almost European vibe. You can spend hours on the patio for brunch or an early evening meal. The patio is addicting and keeps me coming back! The only downside to Mare is the service, which is chronically bad. Most of the servers seem to have a lackadaisical attitude and spend more time talking amongst themselves than helping their customers. If the service improves, this place would be one of the best in the area.
(3)
Cosmo G.

Hats off to Chef Alessandro Pirozzi! We came here on 4/27/13 to celebrate my husband's birthday. We had a big group and they were very accommodating. All of our guests loved the food! Everyone loved the Burrata Frita and I now have a favorite dessert- their Panna Cotta! Thank you so much for making my husband's birthday a special one. :)
(5)
Lulu d.

Salmon & spinach was good, but not over the top for a tourist one time meal. Odd to sit and look into a hotel room door when dining outside. Bread & dip were great. Friendly, accommodating staff.
(3)
Dave A.

I'm right up the hill from this place, and remember the clubby bar days of Blue Laguna. I must say, the place has completely transformed into, well, a culinary lounge. I've taken my girlfriend here twice now, a few weeks ago for dinner and last night for the 10pm-12am happy hour. Both instances were extremely well executed across the board. The place looks great, but as a guy I'd say the atmosphere is definitely a bit feminine. Just a lot of sparkles and floral designs goin on.. but the place feels clean and vibrant. Besides, the success of a restaurant or bar is directly proportional to frequent female attendance. The service so far has been flawless- some of this can attributed to the fact that in both cases the place wasn't slammed, and the rest is simply because every staff member we've encountered is professional, courteous, and possesses a higher level of awareness. You'll never get the feeling that he or she is pushing an up-sell or has something else he/she would rather be doing. The manager, Victor, was also very knowledgeable and a pleasure to talk with. These guys got it together when it comes to staffing. Looking at how many restaurants in LB have 3 or 3.5 stars when they simply shouldn't is just baffling. Truly, only a handful of other locations in the area have enough culinary aptitude to create a good value. The Filet Mignon Carpaccio is a perfect dinner starter as it's light enough not to detract from your main course, but flavorful enough to be one. Think delicate thinly sliced filet, a hint of acidity, balanced savory truffle, with a neutralizing arugula bite. Yum! Just remember not to fill up on the delicious rosemary bread and pesto ! Our mains were wonderful. Obviously plating prowess is expected at a higher end kitchen, and Mare doesn't disappoint. I had the special which was lamb shanks with a cherry reduction sauce. It came out cooked perfectly, having that soft succulent homogeneous texture that is so characteristic of meat cooked on bone. The gamey flavor was subtle and satisfying while the cherry reduction provided a wonderfully rich contrast. Details like this set Mare apart from the mess of restaurants in Laguna living off of location. My girlfriend got the lobster ravioli and said it was phenomenal. I wasn't into sharing that night so I can't provide further details... So we attended for late night happy hour last night. I'm a whiskey guy so when the $6 house is Jameson, I'm already in a good mood. We decided on the Calamari and Spicy Pizzovale. I highly recommend the calamari as it is some of the best I've ever had. Lightly fried in a well seasoned batter with a very delicate interior that screams freshness. It is one of the few calamari attempts ever to achieve a 5/5 texture as many falter with heavy bready batter or a chewy center. The sauces are a cut above. The house made marinara has a hint of spice and WILL be gone in minutes while the other pseudo marinara (pinkish) provides a garlic creamy goodness that pairs beautifully with any fried seafood. TRY IT. The pizza was equally elevated. Being extremely thin, Chef Alessandro has created the highest flavor density I've ever experienced in a pizza. The crust is slender and soft, which is rare for the cracker-like thin-crust I'm accustomed to. The cheese is lightly distributed but heavily flavored, boasting savory, salty, and bitter elements that any good cheese has. IMO, These two components are 80% of what makes a good pizza pie. The large salami-like meat had a hint of acidity, chopped chilies provided mild heat, and deposits of what seemed like goat cheese added richness. Not only were both of these appetizers delicious and well crafted, but each was also only 7 bucks and came in a HUGE portion. The gf and I could only force ourselves to finish maybe half of each. Check this place out guys. 5 stars.
(5)
Kristen M.

Service was great. Food was killer. Our server Luigi was outstanding. He was friendly, knowledgeable and even surprised us with some tiramisu at the end of our meal. We came to visit Laguna from San Diego and this was across the street from our hotel, and stopped in because of all the great reviews. We will definitely come again on our next trip north.
(5)
Laura M.

Wow!! what a great place....Had a party of 12 for a Birthday Dinner, the food was excellent! service was good and the manager made some very nice suggestion's on what types of food a large party could share.... Being a local its nice to have another gem of a place in Laguna Beach. I will be back next week :)
(5)
April S.

Chef Alessandro only gets better and better with every restaurant he opens! The atmosphere at Mare has a very chill, lounge vibe to it at night. Friday nights they have live DJs which adds to the lounge atmosphere. As far as the food, it keeps you coming back for more! I recommend the mini meatballs, lasagna, filet of sole, and pretty much any pasta dish.
(4)
Janelle D.

My boyfriend and I are long time fans and regular customers of Alessa. We were looking for somewhere in Laguna to eat that was different and once I found out that our favorite chef had opened a new restaurant I was in. The reviews were great. We went prepared for the fact that it is located in the Holiday Inn and were up for the adventure. It was pretty empty when we walked in although we made reservations. We went to get a bottle of wine at the bar. I settled on a mixed drinks as the wine list did not impress me much and had sky high prices. I am usually impressed with Alessa's wine prices. My straight vodka was watered down. My BF order a Moscow Mule, she clearly had no idea how to make it. When he attempted to ask her to top it off with a bit more ginger beer since it was so bad the waitress instead stopped talking to him and began talking to a server who interrupted us for a good 5 mins. She then walked away and ignored us for 5 more. Finally we just got the bar check and went to eat. The menu basically is the exact same as Alessa, but somehow, not as tasty. The chicken was that of any other restaurant and the shrimp risotto was exactly the same as Alessa. The carpaccio was not as good as Alessa. The server was absent to the point of the hostess hearing me inquire to my BF if we should go ask someone for help and English was not her first language by any stretch so ordering italian food=a bit difficult. She was very nice however as was the hostess. The atmosphere was kind of off putting. I cannot even explain why. Not bad just not quite right for any situation. Not casual, not formal, not family, not date night. Just, eh. Pretty but eh. The music was irritating xmas carols, not my ideal on a special date night. While we love this chef we will NOT be back. We will in the future save a few bucks and go to Alessa (although the staff there has slipped as well sadly).
(2)
Dan P.

Don't tell ANYONE but - this might very well be THE BEST Italian food on the Coast. The MASTER in the Kitchen, Alessandro (You know, from Alessa's on Forrest) is simply incredible... Order ANYTHING off the menu and you are in for a tasty trip to Italian cuisine lala land. The Lasagna is EPIC!
(5)
Sandra T.

One of the best Italian places I've been to in a long time. Great atmosphere, beautifully decorated. Reservations are a must on the weekends, the flash fried olives for an appetizer is a MUST... been there around 10 x now and always great service (very important) and fantastic food. Tough parking, but worth alittle walk.
(5)
Nicole L.

This place was amazing! We had the sweet yellow pepper stuffed with goat cheese and walnuts as an app and the Sea Bass special & the Limoncello Lobster for dinner. House made tiramisu was to die for. To top it off the service was 11 out if 10 & the chef even came out to ask how we liked it. We are going back again soon.
(5)
Mark B.

A group of four of us visited Mare for the first time last night, and were thoroughly impressed! We had made reservations about twenty minutes before we got there, and waited for about five minutes to be seated. Alessandro greeted us and thanked us for waiting, and assured us our table would be ready shortly. While it was slightly loud in there, what restaurant in Laguna isn't on a Saturday, summer night? When we were seated, warm bread and delicious olive oil and pesto were brought to our table. We ordered a plate of cheese and meats, which were all very tasty. The food came quickly and our server was very kind and helpful. We tried the gnocchi, sea bass carpaccio, beef ravioletti, and a caprese salad with prosciutto. We were all thoroughly impressed with our own plates and happily tried each others' food. I can honestly say that all were delicious, fresh, and some of the best Italian food we've had. The caprese in particular was heavenly. At the end of our meal, the chef brought out a tiramisu on the house, and apologized for us having to wait. While we were enjoying our tiramisu (one of our friends declared that it was by far the best he had ever had) we actually witnessed who I assume is the person below us talking to Alessandro. Although our table was only able to hear segments of what was going on, we actually thought Alessandro handled the matter very professionally. While the person complained for about ten minutes, Alessandro nodded and apologized graciously. Honestly, a lot of people in Alessandro's position would have handled someone complaining so vehemently about not being able to sit on the patio a lot worse, so for this, I take my hat off to the chef. I just wanted to address this because I saw the situation in a very different way and didn't want others to be deterred from dining at this restaurant that I found to be incredible. All in all, this was a superb dining experience and I'll be back very soon!
(5)
Christine I.

Food is simply outstanding. The moment you walk in you are treated like family. The staff is terrific and Chef Alessandro is outstanding. Most of the time you will see him running in and out of the kitchen to be sure everyone is happy. Everything on the menu is delicious. Starting with the fried olives to the deserts. All of the pasta is made fresh daily. Try the black ink pasta it is out of this world.
(5)
Leon K.

It's actually quite difficult to write this review because our experience at Mare exceeded every expectation. Carpaccio of Branzino delivered that rare and balanced combination of warm sweetness (branzino received a short treatment in the oven), a little bit of heat, lemon, and peppery arugula. Carpaccio of Octopus was even better than I expected. Tender, yet firm enough for the best of octopus texture to come through. Limoncello Infused Mufaldine deserves to be in a culinary museum. Calling this dish exceptional would be an unworthy understatement. Mare has just become one of our favorite destinations. What I like about Mare is how the kitchen operates. It's a focused celebration of the best ingredients and how to prepare it in the most complementary manner. Luigi needs to teach a university class for every aspiring server. Service proved to be terrific in every dimension.
(5)
Adam B.

The beef carpaccio appetizer was good but nothing special. The butternut squash appetizer was beyond amazing. The limoncello pasta with lobster had very fresh pasta noodles and a good flavor but the lobster was not fresh and was not enjoyable (and I love lobster). Seabass entree also was disappointing. Place is not worth a return visit.
(3)
Maricelle C.

Came here to celebrate a friend's 40th birthday. We were pleasantly greeted by two hostesses. The decor was a surprise...modern glam, classy, hip and beautiful. Great taste, Chef! The patio looked nice...will have to sit there next time. The wait staff were friendly and attentive. For starters, had the Olive Fritte (fontina stuffed olives, lightly fried). They were light and delicious! Then had the Black Ink Taglilioni (Manila clams, Black Tiger Shrimp, black ink pasta in a sundried tomato Chardonnay sauce). The clams and shrimp were cooked perfectly. Flavorful dish...It was amazing! Chef Alessandro delivered to us some limoncello gelato (gelato infused with an lemon Italian liquer, limoncello). That was so good and refreshing as well! He was really friendly and asked if everything tasted great. So happy we stumbled open this new jewel in Laguna Beach. As word gets out about how superb the service and food is, it will get more and more busy. Will definitely be back soon!
(5)
Olaf K.

Nice ambience. Great service at the bar! Appetizers were marginal. Decided to go elsewhere for dinner.
(3)
Michelle J.

I loved this place! The Buratta frita was delicious. Service was good and food was delicious.
(5)
EatNBhappy P.

After reading rave reviews about this newly opened restaurant, our group of 6 decided to give it a try. The restaurant located in the bottom floor of Holiday Inn lobby. .Decent ambiance with active crowd, the food was overate as I expect better quality for the price/ Alessandro the owner was busy charming his target crowd that he totally ignore our table. The busser was doing a better job serving us.Quite charming indeed. For better food and genuine personalize service, I would go else where.
(2)
Oleene P.

Went 12.7.12 for anniversary after reading reviews. Great food! Good portions, sweet waiter, 80% full on friday evening. I made reservations the same day and with wine, total came out to about $35 per head with leftovers for both of us. I wouldn't say casual but not fully dressy either. Atmosphere - nicely decorated, trendy lighting/bar area, background music but seating is cramped and not very private so that's the only reason I'm giving it 4stars. I felt like our date for 2 included the older couple to my left and the group of 4 drunk girls to my right. Overall fun night with amazing food and wine. Parking - Parking is free at the church behind them as of this posting. Call and ask them about it before-hand!
(4)
Steve E.

This restaurant has been open three weeks. The menu is small but whats on there is very good. The food is excellent. We went there before the Pageant of the Masters, so was walking distance from there, even though it was on the south side of most of the PCH activity along the Laguna Beach "strip." I'm changing my rating to four stars, because getting out of there was a nightmare. They had a private party going on and eventually got caught up in the "weeds." Not paying attention to the customers, I had to beg water from the bar. I imagine this could have been a perfect dinning experience if they had more waiters, or if a wedding wasn't going on at the same time. They are open for breakfast, so will go back and give them another try.
(5)
Patty S.

Was brought here by friends for dinner before going to the Laguna Pageant of the Masters. Meal was exquisite Italian cuisine. I have never tasted better here or in Italy. The red wine was delicious. And, no complaints about the service. They were very attentive, pleasant and considerate. It can always be tricky trying to find a place to park in Laguna Beach. They now have parking available at a church across the street. Reservations are an absolute must.
(5)
Cynthia C.

The food was great! And the service even better. The butternut squash ravioli was to die for. Fried olives, different and delicious, meatballs some of the best ever. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Dee V.

I love this place. They have the best steak (with cherry sauce), tender n favorful. Also love their butternut squash ravioli and lobster ravioli. Tumbs up for all 3 dishes. Steak pairs perfectly with cake read wine. Will definitely go back.
(5)
Hannah B.

Everyone should stop in at least for their signature Lavender Ginger Martini. I think it's my new favorite cocktail!!!
(5)
G C.

This will probably be the best meal we will eat in Laguna Beach, knowing the quality of this resort's cuisine from a previous visit (and it is good). The service was friendly and attentive and every course that my wife and I ate were superb. The chef-owner, Alessandro Pirozzi, came out to poll his guests in their impressions of the restaurant and was really appreciative of the approval he received. He topped our super meal with a gift if some fabulous home-made gelato with excellent, rich texture and a delicious, chewy cookie on the side. The Zucca appetizer (butternut squash ravioletti) was a little sweet and a delicious, very creative dish. The mixed green salad tasted very fresh and the thick balsamic vinaigrette really tasty. The Rigatoni Ugo d'Orso was a super-tasty mix of chicken, sausage, and mushroom cream sauce. And the Pink Farfalle had an equally tasty melange of grilled chicken and tomato vodka sauce. The prices for these great pasta dishes were really fair, representing good value for food of this quality. The setting was comfortable, pretty, and a little moderne, but not overly elegant. A great night out!
(5)
Behr K.

Great service. Great decor. Great Sunday evening jazz band. Average food.
(3)
Tim T.

Terrific food - we ordered six starters including the filet mignon carpaccio and loved everything. Great decor - take a patio seat if you can. Nice tap beer selection - go for the Delirium Tremens.
(5)
Tamara S.

We were there on a Saturday night in August with a less than hip crowd of grandma, grandpa, us (the parents), 21-year-old birthday boy, and little brother. The inside had a cool, hip vibe with blue lighting, gauzy curtains for some booths, arty videos in the bar area, and the perfect music to match. This was a little too much for our crowd and we opted for their patio area outside. Patio is quieter, which we needed, but not nearly as thought out as the interior. While it's ok, is they could use some design-sense in the patio. The wait staff was very good to us, patient with the grandparents, and understanding of little brother's many food allergies. Dinner was served and everybody was very happy with their entree but mine was not great. I had ordered a fish and it was mushy and just not appealing to me. A waiter noticed that I was not really eating and he asked me if my entree was all right. I said it was ok, but not my favorite. He immediately offered to get me something else. I didn't want to be a pain and said, "no, it's ok." But he assured me it would be no problem and he wanted me to have something I really enjoyed. So, I swapped it for a salmon and I am so glad I did. The salmon was fabulous and now I was happily enjoying my dinner like everybody else at the table. The servers were incredibly friendly and smiley and when I think of the care and attention that the servers gave us on a busy Saturday night, I've got to say I recommend this place wholeheartedly and it is every inch a five-star restaurant.
(5)
Chris K.

This restaurant has excellent food. Beef carpaccio, calamari, mushroom pizza, and all of the pasta dishes are fantastic. It's a bonus that prices are very reasonable. It's a surprise that a restaurant with this food quality is in a Holiday inn. Be sure to check out happy hour too.
(5)
Diane K.

There is not enough i can say about this place. Its a hidden Gem! From the gorgeous modern blue hued decor to the mouth watering plates this place does not cease to impress! Ive been here a few times before but my last visit left quite an impression that I wanted to make it known! I was there for a friends birthday and there was also a wedding going on in the terrace. The place was full for a Tuesday night and everyone seemed to be enjoying the full experience of the ambience and amazing food. The staff was incredibly kind, and attentive to our needs. I had the house Pinot Grigio which was not bad and as a group we all shared several dishes. I wish i would have taken some photos so you can see but I really don't think there is anything on the menu that is less than perfection. This little italian place has it down to an art. I can't wait to return, maybe on a date and fully immerse myself in a culinary journey with a bottle of wine to share. I definitely recommend this place. *Tip- parking in laguna can be a challenge but the restaruant has free parking behind the hotel its connected to. Be sure to check there first before parking at a meter!
(5)
Mallie J.

Originally went here to try their bomb bloody Mary's but it turns out that they only serve them on Sundays. Boo! Okay whatever let's sit down and have some happy hour snacks. H-o-l-y Toledo so friggin good! Got the Margherita pizza which was perfection! Just enough sauce and not too much cheese! Also ordered the calamari and it was to die for! On top of the bomb food, the portions were friggin huge! Also for some reason they had Chicago playing off a projector on the wall which was cool, random but cool! Loved it all! On the negative side however, the one bartender helping us was super nice but the other staff were just sitting around and gossiping which is little unprofessional if you ask me. Also when we asked what the bartender special was the reply was " we normally do cosmos" as in they didn't have a special of the day and they made it up on the spot. Would have given it five stars except for the last few comments.
(4)
Tom T.

wow they have live jazz , bloodymary bar in a nice sunday brunch . the food is amazing , my gf order the mare french toast (mascarpone cheese , almonds , strawberry , banana ) the best she ever try and i did order the tuscany ( focaccia homemade bread , topped with spinach and poached eggs over i parmesan cream sauce ) one word to describe it " Amazing " we definitive will be back to try more dishes and of course the dinner menu
(5)
Abby R.

Loved the food and the atmosphere. The yellow peppers stuffed with goat cheese appetizer was excellent as was the eggplant infused pasta.
(5)
Era W.

I was surprised how much I liked the food. I guess because it's in a Holiday Inn I made a bad assumption. But it was good and the staff was great. I would go here again for sure.
(4)
Rachel F.

Had dinner there last night with my husband and some friends. Food, atmosphere, and service were EXCELLENT! Our waiter, Michael, was attentive, knowledgeable, and extremely service-oriented. Our meals were outstanding, fresh and original, and reasonably priced (by Orange County standards). The owners circulated to introduce themselves and to ask how everything was. Very sincere people with a fabulous restaurant. Highly recommend it!!!
(5)
Maira S.

The food here taste really good, but the people are a little snob. I've seen in the reservation plan that we were put as "20" (as we were a couple of 23 y.o). I think they thought we did not have money, so they didn't give us a lot of attention. They didn't even give us the wine menu, and the server almost left before we finished ordering thinking we did not want to order a lot. Too bad for them, it was our anniversary and we were not looking at the price tags, so we continued spending our money in other restaurants with the same quality of food and better service after that.
(3)
Leyla H.

My husband and I tried Mare at the recommendation of the concierge service at The Montage. While we were a little sceptical when they told us that the restaurant was in the Holiday Inn, we decided to give it a shot. And WOW !! were we happy that we tried it. While the inside of the restaurant is gorgeous-- beautiful lighting and cozy, we opted to sit outside on the patio. The ambience on the patio makes you feel like you are dining in a small Italian village. We loved the look of the wrought iron around us with the flowers and other decor. But enough of the decor !! The food and wine was out of this world tasty !! We decided to enjoy an early dinner so when we arrived the patio was not crowded and the service that we received was unexpectedly gracious. We had the honor of meeting Giovanni, the managing partner of the restaurant, and this really made our evening special. Giovanni recommended wines to pair with our dinner choices (I tried the Meritage) and he also recommended (and surprised us with) a couple of appetizers which we would not have ordered ourselves. We normally do not select appetizers prior to our meal but I am SO happy that we had the chance to try these because the flavors were sumptuous !! For appetizers, we tried the Orange Sweet Pepper & the Olive Fritte. You will not believe the delicious flavors in both of these appetizers. Trust me....you taste buds will be VERY happy with those flavors rolling around !! For the main course, I tried the Limoncello Infused Mafaldine. The lemony flavor of this dish was bright & cheery. Meanwhile, there were nice pieces of lobster in every single bight. I don't normally finish my plate but I could not help it. I ate all of it !! My husband ordered the Radiatori. He, too, loved this dish (but he wished that he had ordered the same as mine). Don't get me wrong -- the lamb was extremely tender and tasty but the Limoncello --- oh my !! Last but not least, for our dining pleasure, we were presented with Profiteroles. If you have not tried this dessert previously, you must try them here if they are serving them again. What a way to cap off our fantastic vacation at Laguna Beach. My husband & I highly recommend this restaurant if you are looking for fine dining, original cuisine, excellent ambience and service, and an overall fantastic experience !!!
(5)
brian l.

So happy this opened right by my house! Alessandro ( owner of the favorite of many.. Alessa! ) has taken over of the old Blue Laguna and turned it into a new Gem in Laguna! Our dinner partners were late so we slipped into the bar and were immediately met by Michael and Amy the head bartenders. They made us their delicious signature drinks which didn't disappoint. When dinner time came we started with the calamari and the cuori di zucca, both were a delight. As for the main dish I had the pappardelle which was spinach infused ribbon pasta with braised ox tail. amazing. At the table was also the crispy soppressata pizza (x's2!) and the rib eye. It seemed like an endless supply of fuccaca and pesto which was the best pesto I've had to date. The staff was amazingly attentive and seemed to be having a great time, Allesandro came and asked how everything was and told us the story of how his new spot became a reality. Will be back again, and again, and AGAIN! Have a HUGE menu to go through and am looking forward to all of it! A+
(5)
Randy O.

OMG!!! Another brilliant success at Italian food by the master Alessandro. Before I go much further I must comment on two of the "low scores" in the reviews of this restaurant. To the guy who gave this two stars and Santoria's pizza subs and wings four stars.... 'c'mon dude! You gotta be joking. And to the woman offended the owner Alessandro did not spend more time kissing your pizza.... How narcosistic honey, get over it. So let's talk about the food. I used to think Il Pistao in Beverly Hills (related to the famous Drago) was the best Italian food in the area. No longer. Thank you Alessandro for saving me the drive from Orange County to Beverly Hills for great Italian food that we used to do very often. My wife and I just returned from 10 days in Italy and our "benchmark" for good Italian food was Mare. Food in Italy is honestly not that great when you can go here. We have been eating at the original Cucina Alessa in Newport Beach then the second location in Huntington Beach and lastly in Laguna Beach (at main beach) and then discovered the fourth by the same owner. Bravo to one fantastic location after another. Pasta; amazing. Fish; superb! (We don't eat meat). Appetizers are divine. Try the calamari. Authentic Italian every single time. Luigi is the best and we ask for him each time but honestly if the devil served us the food it would be worth it! I can explain the bliss each time we go. Trendy decor but if I had to eat in the basement I would still go. Are you getting the message here? The food is the freakin best Italian food ever. Often Giovanni (Alissandro's nephew) is here if not at one of the other hopping locations overseeing business..... what a great guy! If I were to go to another restaurant I would simply just go to one of his other restaurants named Cucina Alessa. But this is a "must go" and once you do you will be apoil Food is just as good just a different twist of menu. Fabulous! Too bad there is not a six star option.
(5)
Becky S.

What a wonderful dinner and Luigi was the BEST!!!! Every bite was fantastic from the appetizer to dessert. the best part was the reasonable pricing for 5 star food!!! A must if you are in Laguna.
(5)
Kris J.

The food and ambience is excellent. The service on the other hand is a lot to be desired... Our waiter did not pour our wine we brought. Charging corkage means you pour the wine. I asked for olive oil and balsalmic, he forgot. He gave us the bill, without asking if we wanted coffee or dessert, which we did want. Then he argued with us when I asked for a glass to give the owner a taste of the wine we brought.. I would give 5 stars otherwise....
(3)
Vance P.

This was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I've had in quite some time. My dinner date and I had the pleasure of meeting Michael (bartender extraordinaire), Alessandro (owner and chef), and most of the kitchen and management staff, on a recent visit. Everyone was so gracious and welcoming, we really felt like we had been invited into someone's home. Not only was the staff and the service exceptional; but each and every dish we experienced was exquisite (I say "experience", because each dish was truly an experience.) We started off by tasting a few of Michael's amazing cocktails, which were his own concoction. What a way to begin! We leisurely moved our way through the menu with a bottle of Insignia to keep us company. I have to say, the food here is truly exceptional. The Filet Carpaccio with white truffle oil was the best I've ever tasted. The peppadew sweet peppers stuffed with goat cheese were delicious, as were the mini meatballs. The burrata fritta was better than what is served at A-16 in San Francisco (and that is saying A LOT). We also enjoyed the Tacos Mai way (named after Alessandro's wife, Mai). The tacos were absolutely incredible; the braised oxtail with baby sweet onions just melted in my mouth. These "shared plates" were so incredible that we couldn't resist trying a couple of pastas. We must sound like gluttons at this point, but it was so worth it. We had the Black Ink Tagliolini (which was excellent), but the highlight of the evening was the Limoncello Infused Mafaldine. The lobster tail was to die for, and the subtle hint of limoncello, was just the right balance. To end a very lovely evening, Alejandro (the pastry chef) gifted us with a sampling of many of the classic Italian deserts, and each and every one was magnificent! I cannot wait to go back, and I have told everyone I know of my experience. It truly was a night to remember.
(5)
Dave M.

Amazing Food , Top notch service , Great vibe and beautiful decor . I've heard a lot about this place and finally made it there . They sat us without a reservation ( no funny looks or grumbling by the young hostess ) and the first thing we noticed was the Decor ... Very modern and comfortable . It was packed by the time we left to have drinks in their bar after and we could still hear our own conversation unlike a lot of newer places that seem really loud . The server was at our table right away and was very consistent throughout the evening . The wine list was great . I had the Black ink pasta w shrimp and clams .. Perfectly cooked and very light . My wife had Sea Bass that melted in your mouth . After dinner a friend met us and we went to their bar for drinks . The music as it got later turned to more house , dance music and the vibe was perfect . The Bartender was super helpful with drinks . He said he made up most of them ... A must try is the Lavander ginger martini . This is a ( not so hidden ) gem in Laguna . Can't wait to go back . One more thing . The owner was making his rounds all night talking w guests and makin suggestions ... Great guy that really seems to love what he does . It shows .
(5)
Donald C.

Visited tonight with my wife. We both had items that were perfectly cooked. Great service as well. The ambiance was very nice for what I understand is a relatively new business. The place shows a lot of care. We dined in the patio area which was very nice. I should also throw in that the prices are very fair. We will definitely be back.
(5)
Kathy G.

Food was good., service good,drinks expensive,music way too loud! I had the farfalle( bow tie pasta) with vodka sauce. I asked them to not put in chicken and just veggies only. It was good but, I was expecting that since I didn't have chicken in it, they would have added more veggies but, that was not the case...I was disappointed at that. My boyfriend had the tube pasta dish with mushrooms and his was wonderful! We ordered the fried olives for an appetizer and they were disappointing...tiny ,tiny little olives with no cheese that we could detect...we were expecting large olives with cheese for that price. The drinks were over priced...glass of wine $9.00-$13.50 and poured into a little decanter...for that price I felt the pour should have been more generous. Loved the focassia bread and dipping sauce...nice touch. Bill for 2 of us, ,2 glasses of wine, 2 well drinks, 2 entrees, olives appetizer with tip $115.00...I think we will go else where for a romantic dinner.
(3)
Lauren N.

I've used Yelp a lot for restaurant ideas, but never wrote a review. My dining experience at Mare was so awesome that I had to write a review. Everything from the ambiance, service, and of course the food!
(5)
Cindy C.

We have eaten here twice now and loved it. Service is superb, chef visited our table. Food wonderful. Highly recommend. If we didn't live in England I would attend the culinary courses they offer. Maybe next trip.
(5)
Randy H.

Fabulous food and service. What a great new restaurant here in Laguna. The limecello pasta was to die for. The deserts were fantastic. This is the best kept secret in Laguna Beach! The menu had solo many excellent choices that my wife and I look forward to going back to try them all. This restaurant will not disappoint .
(5)
Ann K.

Never would have tried a restaurant located in a Holiday Inn but this place was excellent. Cool atmosphere with modern style and indoor or patio dining. Service was very friendly but a tad slow to start. Once we got ordering it picked up though. I ate the lobster ravioli (special) which was very good. They gladly accommodated a special request by one of our guests to have the sea bass served with pasta instead of the traditional sides. My date tried the Limoncelli (not sure on spelling) and it was also excellent. Chef came to table to ask how things were and then sent over 2 complimentary desserts. According to one of our guests, the Tiramisu is out of this world but they were not serving it that night (he was pretty disappointed). Overall, a great experience and delicious food, I would definitely go back. Parking was a little tricky to figure out and we had to ask where to go. They have access to a church lot a block behind the restaurant and down the first street towards the right.
(4)
M R.

Gorgeous ambiance & the food was so good I couldn't stop eating after I was stuffed. Homemade pastas were incredible. I wish I still lived in OC...please open Mare in San Francisco! :) Loved everything about this restaurant.
(5)
Karin H.

Sexy, Sexy upscale Italian lounge! You feel like you've been transported!! And the food!! Let me tell you about the food... Alessa has out done himself!! I am still dreaming about the clams and tiger shrimp!! The black ink pasta is to die for!! Everything is yummy. My new favorite place.
(5)
Soo P.

Wonderful Italian place with great service. I think our waiter was Luigi - the best service ever. I wanted the black ink pasta - it originally came with mussels but was changed to clams on the menu - I was disappointed by this, so Luigi got mussels for us from one of their other nearby restaurants, and plenty of them. It was the best pasta. We had a party of people, so he gave us bite-sized samples of the tiramisu and the limoncello desserts complimentary. We had a great time. Nice job!
(5)
Michael I.

Wanted to love this place and came with high hopes. Sadly the lavender martini was so subtle in taste that it was closer to colored water and the venison filet mignon tasted only of rosemary. The butternut squash was terrific. I'd say pass on this place.
(2)
T B.

Although Cucina Alessa is my favorite restaurant in Laguna Beach, this one ranks pretty high. The food is great, the service is great, the ambiance is great, the bar scene is great and it turns into a dance club at night. We had a birthday party here for around 20 persons and the staff was really easy to work with. The chef made a preset menu for our group that consisted of starters, a fish and a main. Good to know: the restaurant does not have a limit on how many bottles of wine you bring in. Just a corkage fee of $15 per bottle. Definitely worth a visit.
(4)
Michael N.

Let me start off by stating the food we had here was actually pretty good. The restaurant was recommended to me for our rehearsal dinner, so we thought we'd try it out. Our server was helpful and when the manager found out we were there to try the restaurant to see if it would work for our rehearsal dinner, he was very attentive to us, almost too attentive. He recommended we have the dinner on their patio which they were remodeling and would be finished in time. We estimated 30 to 40 guests, so we were not a small group by any means and assumed most restaurants would be glad to have us. We were referred to their catering manager Beth to discuss arranging a menu and reserving our date. This was a 2 month process to review menu options, mostly because she was so slow in responding which required multiple follow ups on our end to see where we were in the process. We were initially given a menu, along with a set price per person including no charge for reserving the patio. After tossing around some different ideas for making changes to the menu, Beth pressed us to change the dinner to Thursday night instead of Friday. We informed her multiple times that did not work for our timeline with people coming from out of town. After a full month into the process, Beth sent an email stating that they recently remodeled the patio, which she and the manager already informed us and was the reason they recommended us using the patio, but now they were going to have to charge us a patio rental fee. Once again, this was after we were already informed of the remodel and our quoted price without the minimum charge. We took this as a slap in the face as we had a large group and our order was not small by any means. We had 3 appetizers for all of our guests, salad, 3 menu items to choose from for dinner which were on the higher end of their menu, one of which was a custom order, plus dessert, not to mention what 30-40 guests would order at the bar. We informed Beth that was not a part of our original quoted agreement and requested her to honor it. Furthermore, our rehearsal at the venue was early, so we were scheduled for dinner from 5:30 to 7:30 at Mare before their Saturday evening rush. Beth said she would have to check with the owner/chef Alessandro to see if they could "accomodate" us. After further follow up, we finally received the okay to proceed without the patio charge. Another two weeks went by when Beth informed us that they had a prior reservation to us on the patio. This was incredibly precarious and convenient that suddenly there is a prior booking to us, mind you, we had been in negotiations of this event for two months ourselves. I could understand that if there was a one off conversation and then when she took another look at the calendar realizing there was a mistake; unfortunately, this statement was not credible at all as we had been discussing our event for a two month period. So either this was an absolute lie, or Beth is the absolute worst catering planner. I decided to contact Alessandro to see if dealing with him directly might save our event at this location. He informed me he was unfamiliar with the sitaution and promised he would follow up the next day. I NEVER heard from Alessandro again. If they would treat our large group in this manner, how do you think they will treat a small dinner reservation for two? I surveyed the other reviews on yelp and you'll see the majority of people find the food is good, but the bad reviews all tend to focus on the terrible service experience they received. They wasted over two and a half months of our time, so we are moving on to find another venue that will care about our event as much as we do. We certainly will tell everyone we know to never visit this restaurant.
(1)
Sarah B.

My friend made a reservation at this restaurant for his friends and family to eat at after he proposed to his girlfriend. Apparently two days in advance is not enough time for this restaurant to get its act together. My friend called to confirm the reservation TWICE today. We arrived about 10 minutes early and let them know we were there. After being reassured that the table would be ready soon, we were told we could wait in the bar. Maybe they think their bar area is much larger, because in reality sending 10+ people into a tiny hole isn't a great idea. The waiters practically ran us over and didn't say a word. Next, the hostess avoided eye contact with us so she wouldn't have to answer about why our table wasn't ready for 15 minutes after our reservation time. When we finally got seated, we were squeezed into tables that were obviously made for two people but had about 4 place settings at each. I couldn't even hear the waitress over the obnoxiously loud music. We ended up having a couple extra people come, and when I went to ask the hostess if we could have another tiny table, there was already someone complaining about their horrible experience. Another friend was already fed up with the service and asked to speak to the manager. He came out of the kitchen and told two of his servers to make sure we were taken care of. He then proceeded to tell us that we could have appetizers and he would take care of them. We were billed for the appetizers. And the service did not improve. The draft beer came in a tiny glass and one person from our party got brought a glass and a bottle of beer. For restaurant that claims to be all-that and a bag of chips, you think they could pour the beer. An hour after our reservation, we finally got our orders taken. My friend that had already complained asked for bread FIVE times before it was finally brought out. Here's the only good part of the review: the food was delicious. Although do not use the online menu as a guide because the actual menu is different and the prices are higher. At the end the waitress gave us attitude because we had not asked for split checks at the beginning of the meal. Maybe she forgot because we ask as soon as we were seated. We also found charges for things we had not even ordered and had to correct the bill. I would never go back to this restaurant. It was a horrible experience and I will be warning people to stay away from it. It was a special night for our friends and we would've gotten much better service at Ruby's or any other restaurant that knows anything about customer service.
(1)
Eric F.

Was in town for family wedding Easter weekend and wanted to have brunch here and surprisingly they were able to accommodate a reservation for 50 peeps!! They gave us the whole private courtyard and 4 waiters just for our group led by the master waiter Luigi. He may have been the manager and if not he should be. He and his staff were able to handle all of our demands and orders without losing a beat and all with a constant smile. We had it all. The French toast, the omelette station, the Benedict's , kids meals, mimosas coffee, whatever we wanted. The service, the food, the atmosphere, was all A plus thanks to Luigi and crew. We even lingered after being there over 3 hours and they never pressed us to leave. One thing is it could be hard to find as it is next to/part of holiday inn so GPS holiday in and u will be good. Parking is metered but I saw lots of people parking at Ralph's supermarket with no trouble even tho posted as Ralph's lot. Thanks again Luigi. You da man
(5)
Samantha D.

My husband and I had drinks, appetizers, dinner and coffee here on a Saturday night, and feel we had a good overall sampling of the experience at Mare. Three stars in this case is because we feel a bit taken advantage of with the daily special. We listened to the appetizer specials from our waiter and changed our order from the menu appetizers to two of the specials the waiter mentioned. When we got our bill, those two appetizers were $22 for sea bass carpaccio + $18 for stuffed and fried butternut squash blossoms. $40 for 2 apps? Really? For perspective, the 8oz filet mignon center cut on the menu is $26 with 2 sides included. The chicken and salmon entrees are $17 and $18 respectively--both of those with sides included. Regular appetizers on the menu (which we switched from) average $11. See attached photo of our receipt. We had 3 alcoholic drinks and two coffee drinks post-dinner, so we've not averse to spending for extras at a meal out. But while the cost of the apps on special was not deceptive, it was not in line with costs on the rest of their menu, and is at best misleading. It left a bad taste in our mouths. No pun intended. Last, I understand that specials are just that: 'special,' but there was no mention of expensive ingredients like truffle mushrooms or lobster tail that would leave a diner to expect a higher-than-normal price. PROS: Service was great. We saw the chef milling around talking to people. The manager struck up a conversation with us and was helpful and charming. We sat outside on the patio that is in the courtyard of the Holiday Inn, and it was a very warm atmosphere. CONS: Prices of specials not in-line with the rest of the menu. Customer beware, I suppose. I have never before left a restaurant feeling like I was taken advantage of.
(3)
NettieMae And PA N.

We had takeout, so cannot comment on the service or ambience. But the food was wonderful, tasty, and very very excellent!
(5)
Jason D.

I had the Branzini (aka, European sea bass) special, and I must say that it was really great. Moist, tender, and perfectly seasoned. Luigi was an awesome server. Great meal! Will definitely be back.
(5)
Mikey W.

This place is awesome. The chef prepared an exciting dinner for us using local grown organic veggies, the sea bass was mind-blowing and of course the tiramisu to finish. Can't wait till we are in town again. Thanks Alessandro!
(5)
Andrew S.

Great place for literally any occasion! The meatballs are awesome. The wine selection is good considering I don't know anything about wine. Soooo yeah, I go with family when they're in town because there's something for everyone.
(4)
Jimmy O.

Found this nice little surprise while looking for dinner on Sunday night. Was skeptical at first since its located in the Holiday Inn but I was wonderfully surprised by the food and service. The restaurant has a modern/contemporary look and a nice outdoor seating which is where we sat. There was a jazz band playing at the bar but it wasn't too loud sitting outside and made for a good backdrop. Since the restaurant is in the Holiday Inn, the outdoor seating is in the courtyard so it's kinda odd but they do a good job closing it off from the rest of the hotel while keeping the outdoor feel. I'll admit that I wasn't expecting anything special but the food was surprisingly good. I had the black ink spaghetti and the girlfriend had the lobster ravioli. The black ink spaghetti was amazing (the flavor wasn't too strong and comes with perfectly cooked clams) and the lobster ravioli came with huge chunks of lobster (the sauce was ok and a bit on the pricey end). Being in Laguna Beach with so many other good restaurants, its not my top choice but if you are looking for somewhere new to try, definitely give this place a shot.
(4)
Kai R.

The restaurant is a bit hard to find - entrance is on PCH / right next to the Holiday Inn. Parking is little over a block away in the church parking lot. Restaurant itself is pretty nice - they did a decent job with the build out / nice outdoor patio area in the back. Food is Italian and not too bad. Rated on food alone, it's probably 3 stars. The food won't rock your world, but it is better than Olive Garden for sure (more expensive though, as expected). As others have pointed out, the main downfall here is service - it's really not very good at all. LB restaurants tend to be more laid back, but here the service is really lacking. I will give kudos to the hostess to stopped by a few times and genuinely seemed to care. Our waitstaff on the other hand didn't seem to give a rip. Key question is will we go back? Nope...
(2)
Simon W.

I love this place. Modern take on italian. Food is brilliant, staff are friendly. Highly recommend the sea bass carpaccio, limoncillo infused radiatori, lobster ravioli, chicken milanese. If you're looking for more traditional Italian, don't forget to check out their sister restaurant in Laguna Beach "Alessa"
(5)
Peter B.

This is a restaurant that is at the Holiday Inn. We were turned away from the hotel parking lot and told that we had to park at a church a block and a half away. Ok, not such a good start... The food was average, service was average, hostess- below average. The outdoor decor that looked like someone went on a buying spree at T-J Max Home goods... I would not return simply because it was an average/below average dining experience that was 20% to expensive.
(3)

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Address : 696 S Coast Hwy
Laguna Beach, CA, 92651
Phone (949) 715-9581
Website https://www.mareculinarylounge.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :7:30 am - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Romantic
Noise Level : Average
Music : Background
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes

Claim Restaurant

Italian Cuisine

The immense popularity of Italian cuisine globally isn't unknown. You can find an Italian Pizzeria around every corner of almost every city in the United States. Not to forget that in every house, people enjoy mac and cheese as comfort food. But it would be wrong to believe that Italian food starts with pizza and ends with good pasta as this Mediterranean country has much more to offer other than these two dishes. In Italian Cuisine, there is a high use of fresh tomatoes, all kinds of herbs, great quality of cheese, all types of meat, seafood and fresh handmade pasta. Many find it hard to believe that Italians have been making noodles long back.

Italian and Greek cuisines are always mistaken to be same, but they are poles apart. The primary difference between the two cuisines is the use of cheese in most of the Italian dishes. Italians love to cultivate their own cheese and process them as per their food requirement. It is believed that some cheese is so expensive that cheese producers secure them in lockers.

If you are bored eating the same old pasta or pizza, you can try some of the authentic Italian dishes like Risotto, Polenta, Ribollita, Lasagna, Fiorentina Steak, Bottarga, Ossobuco, Carbonara, Focaccia, Arancini and Supplì. Another item which Italians love to relish every morning is a good cup of Italian Coffee. Once you taste a freshly brewed cup of Italian Coffee, you might not visit Starbucks ever again. Authentic Italian food is made with heart and soul, so go find a restaurant where you can relish Italian cuisine in your city.

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Mare Culinary Lounge

696 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA, 92651

Mare Culinary Lounge Menu

Frittate

Breakfast Panini

Espresso Bar

Specialita

Sides

Drinks

Healthy Meal suggestions for Mare Culinary Lounge

Frittate

Breakfast Panini

Espresso Bar

Specialita

Sides

Drinks

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