The Cliff

This restaurant has the perfect opportunity to be a must go if you visit Laguna Beach. The view is amazing. The staff are friendly enough, but they miss all the details. When we arrived at 7:30, we got the hostess to find our reservation for 8PM and ... more

This restaurant has the perfect opportunity to be a must go if you visit Laguna Beach. The view is amazing. The staff are friendly enough, but they miss all the details. When we arrived at 7:30, we got the hostess to find our reservation for 8PM and said it would be an hour. We said 30 minutes. Our reservations where made by our hotel. The Ayers, a very nice hotel. They served my scotch is a badly washed glass. From the pulp I assume the previous drink was a margarita. And then just poured the scotch. They tried to just pour the scotch into another glass. 17 YO Scotch with pulp. Not for me. At 8PM we asked when we were going to be seated. She gave a frustrated look. Tried to sit us at a table with a limited view. I asked here if she appreciated our hotel sending us there. We made her sit us a OK table. But with the view we went there for. The bus boy station was behind us. My Cesar side salad came. For $7.50, put an actual anchovie in as a garnish. Also, there was plenty dressing, but it was sort of tossed. Some lettuce no dressing. Others all dressing. The dressing was good. The lettuce was fresh. The croûtons made at the restaurant. Since the sun was setting. They closed of the large umbrella. But did not take them away to tied them up. So my sisters view was blocked. Had to ask for it to be removed after they had closed all the umbrellas and start lighting the heat lamps. We ordered an appetizer I called the fried special. They called it the "Sampler Trio", $11. zucchini, corn fritters and mac&cheese. Just normal barroom breading and deep frying. Nothing special. the mac&Cheese was too salty. They did nothing to allow you to know if you we picking up a corn fritter or a mac&cheese ball. Do one round and one flat. For $11, plate it so that the trio were separate. Again the view was great. So knowing what the appetizer was, I did not want a starch with my dinner. They offered fruit. I ordered Chicken Oscar, $27.00 . My sister ordered the Chicken Roulade, $21.00. Dinner took about 20 minutes. My chicken was dry. Really dry. The crab/artichoke tasted about the same as any dip my friends have served at a football game. and they did not give me the veggies. Only fruit, strawberries, pineapple slices and orange slices. From the way they were prepared, the bartender must have been pissed at his supplies being taken. I sent back the chicken and asked for the Chick Roulade. It was good. The checked was less dry. the filling made it ok. Instead of the full complement of veggies with this second round, I was given all yellow squash except for one piece of zuccini and no carrots. the veggies were overpowered with garlic and salt. So, overall I'd say get a drink at the bar. But watch the drinking made. Get an appetizer and watch the sun go down. The art shops around the restaurant are cool. Otherwise, this is just an overpriced wanna be. less