A Trip To Laguna

During the last week in August, Ron and I drove to Laguna Beach to meet some old friends.  Mark and Lisa live in Nevada so we don't see them that much, but it's always a pleasure to be with them.  They were staying the Montage Hotel, so we drove there, spent a few hours meeting on business matters, then off to dinner.  They had made a reservation at a Mexican restaurant, Lisa told us.  She said it was the best Mexican food in the area, and she wasn't kidding.

Javier's opened in 1995.  They have 3 locations right now, Irvine Specrum, Los Cabos, and the one we went to, Crystal Cove.  (just about 10 minutes north of Laguna Beach).  I had forgotten how beautiful Laguna Beach was, and made a mental note to go there soon for a full day.  Lots of wonderful shops, art galleries and restaurants, with drop dead view of the Pacific make it someplace I want to spend the day.  We drove to Javier's, and I was impressed from the moment I stepped in the door.  First, the customers were all well dressed.  Lots of men were there for drinks and Happy Hour, coming directly from work in suits and ties.  I was surprised, because beach city dress is typically very casual.  The restaurant itself sits atop a bluff with  sweeping views of the ocean, so going there for a drink around sunset affords you a birds eye view of the sunset.  They'll start you off with some fresh, hot chips and a pretty spicy salsa.  We ordered guacamole, a smooth, mild version, that suited me just fine.  Their drink menu is extensive (for you drinkers).  I had a blended margheritta, which was cool and refreshing on a warm, muggy evening.

The best thing about the food was that it was atypical.  Yes, they had tacos and enchilladas, but everything was with a twist.  This was the kind of Mexican food you might get in a fine restaurant in Mexico City.  No huge plates of food like you typically get, but moderate portions,  artistically presented, on a medium sized plate.  All their beef is prime, their prawns are #1 (the biggest), and they use fresh local ingredients and change the menu depending on what's in season. 

I had delicious crab enchilladas.  They were stuffed with local crab, topped with a green tomatillo sauce and served with a small amount of rice and beans.  I ate the whole thing.  Lisa had grilled prawns in a lemon garlic butter.  Also, all gone.  Salads were beautiful to look at (I didn't have one), but they too, were unique and used locally sourced fish and produce.  The price for all this is high (for Mexican food), but well worth it with the ambience that's included.  Crab enchillada dinner was $22, shrimp dinner was $23, and salads ran around $17.  Many dishes included local lobster, and sounded wonderful too.

If you're ever in that area for the day, make a reservation at Javier's for dinner.  You won't be disappointed.  If you're going to Las Vegas, Javier's is opening soon in the Aria Hotel.  They were scheduled for a late August opening, but you know what that means.

The menu reflects various regions of Mexico. It's like all the cooks brought their favorite family recipes from Mexico and incorporated them into a unique, gourmet experience.  I definitely plan to try them again, perhaps at the Irvine Spectrum, on my way back from LA someday.