Laguna Beach Restaurants Celebrated For Wine Lists, Service

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — Wine Spectator released their annual list noting the best restaurants for wine across the country and this year two favorite Laguna Beach favorite restaurants maintained their standing of excellence.

Some 3,169 restaurants made the cut in 2022, receiving recognition at three different levels: the Award of Excellence, the Best of Award or Excellence and the Grand Award — the most prestigious.

Honored restaurants not only feature interesting and extensive lists but have wine selections that complement their food menus and appeal to a wide range of drinkers, according to Wine Spectator. A winning restaurant must also have an accurate and complete wine list with descriptions of where the grapes are grown.

“These awards not only guide our readers to dining establishments with impressive wine lists and outstanding service but also serve to honor restaurants for their achievements and commitment to maintaining pristine cellars,” Wine Spectator Editor and Publisher Marvin Shanken wrote in a news release.

Only 97 restaurants across the country received the magazine’s highest award, the Grand Award. This award is reserved for restaurants with a whopping 1,000 selections including vintage choices, large-format bottles, superior presentation and service and a menu to match. One California restaurant made the top award for the first time: Press Restaurant in Napa Valley.

The second-best award covered 1,290 restaurants across the country for their selections of at least 350 wines. These restaurants show “a deep commitment to wine, both in the cellar and through their service team,” according to Wine Spectator.

In Laguna Beach, both Salanne Steak Tavern and Splashes at the Surf & Sand Resort received this second tier award.

Salanne Steak Tavern has earned this Wine Spectator standing since 2017. It is known for its extensive French and California wine list and restaurant-goers will delight in the menu which features American and true steak house cuisine. There are approximately 400 wines on their extensive list, and a 3,000 bottle inventory. If you bring our own, they do offer a corkage fee of $25. As for cuisine, Salanne Steak Tavern offers a range of menu offerings from chef Vincent Terusa. that ranks expensive, at over $65 per person for a two-course meal.

Also in Laguna Beach, Wine Spectator once again awarded Splashes their second-tier nod which it first earned in 2018. This restaurant, situated inside the Surf & Sand Hotel, Splashes is a little less pricey but no less ideal for a perfect fine dining experience. Splashes is best known for its extensive California and French wine lists. Pricing per bottle is considered moderate, with a range of high and lower price points. They have 375 selections on the wine list, and an inventory bursting at 6,800 bottles. Along with the view, the cuisine at Splashes centers around French and seafood offerings of Chef Ronald Fougeray.

Some 1,782 restaurants received the Award of Excellence, meaning their list features at least 90 selections with variety and quality. These wine lists will satisfy a discerning wine lover, according to Wine Spectator.