The Loft Restaurant

Our server, Scott and the rest of the staff were extremely attentive, the food was amazing and the view was beautiful. We never had an empty water glass and the attention to detail in the food and service was top notch. We look forward to returning as it’s a wonderful venue for any occasion or no special occasion.

The sandwiches we ordered wasn’t that special or great. The turkey club bread was too hard and oily. The best thing here is the cocktail Mr Big and view. I looked around and food didn’t look that great here. Service is excellent by the way.

We had breakfast on the outside patio with amazing views of the ocean. The service was very good and the food was spectacular! I had the lobster eggs Benedict and it had so much flavor. This is a top notch restaurant in Laguna.

It’s our first year anniversary and decided this place would be perfect to take my girlfriend for an early Valentine diner. The view is incredible and service was fantastic. Wish I can say the samething for the food. The food is of poor value and completely over price. She ordered the NY STRIP MR. It came out dry and over cooked. We sent it back and came cooked just right…“how ever” the meat was not NY STRIP. Think the cook or chef tried to cover the texture of meat with heavy sauce. I ordered rotisserie chicken and it was sublevel at best. I can see they are having a major issue in the kitchen.
We would have been better spending $ 75 on beautiful piece of NY STRIP at Ocean Club.
Rachel was our server and she great. Kinda made us feel at home.
Food for thought:
The Montage is truly amazing. Should go for the experience but don’t eat at the loft. I have not visited the other restaurant in property. Go have glass wine and enjoy the ambience and then go else where for dinner.
UPDATE;
Thank you Rick Riess and James York for reaching out regarding our last visit to the loft. Thank you for going out of your way to read our post and taking care of us, showing that we are important to your team. We will see you for dinner in near feature.

What a birthday treat!
It was a girls’ day out and the weather was perfect! The Loft, located at the Montage Resort has a gorgeous view of the pool and ocean. Our table was outside on the balcony with a picturesque view and we were lucky enough to spot a pod of dolphins cruising by!
I had the chopped wedge and filet mignon stroganoff, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. The salad had thick pieces of pancetta, which I couldn’t get enough of. The stroganoff had a generous serving of tender filet mignon.
I would love to try their dinner menu and maybe come around sunset. Overall a fun place to dine with the girls and catch up! You can also walk off your meal by heading down to the beach after you eat.
P. S. We spotted Magic Johnson on the grounds while we were walking around!

Sure, you come for the spectacular ocean views at the Montage, and you get them here at the Loft as well. Bring your sunglasses during the day and get a sunny window seat. Simply stunning. But lucky for you, the food’s also equally terrific as is the friendly and attentive service. I had the burger with fruit subbed for the fries. One of the best burgers ever (done med) with delicious fresh-​tasting fruit. I also had the excellently balanced Cesar’s salad with perfect romaine, generous parmesan and white anchovies. Terrific bread, too (only flaw: butter was served too cold).
Oh yeah, there is a serious downside: $$$$$$$$$. OMG, would have been a $ 65/​person lunch (and that’s w/​o alcohol), but we split the burger and the salad. Both are generous and should be enough food for most people.

Reprehensible and abysmal service! Jim Crow Style.
This is our third time at the restaurant. Each time, my partner had the reservation under his name.
The first time-​despite a dinner reservation, we had to wait for over 40 minutes for the table. The second time, they gave our dinner table away and we wound up having to sit in the bar area at a café table.
Today, we had a reservation for brunch. They had us wait to the side for the table on the balcony and then after 15 minutes gave our table away to «their VIPs» & told us we have to wait longer or take another table inside instead of on the balcony.
They did not address the person whose name carried the reservation – the person who went to the host stand to check in. Instead, they only addressed me-​the white member of the party, ignoring the Black person.
Clearly this is no longer a coincidence but a disturbing and reprehensible trend. Apparently there wasn’t a table near the bathroom or the kitchen door for us.

This place, located in Mongtage resort, has great atmosphere with the terrace so we can see the ocean view.
I’ve been here 2^nd time with my friends.
I ordered the mushroom risotto it tasteed perfect.
However, on the 2^nd time visiting here, I ordered a pasta with some shrimp on it and it tasted too salty. So we left most of them.
Service is awesome. I really love their appitizer bread (the one with the cheese in it especially)
I will be back to try more foods in here.
Parking — you can do street before the entrance of the resort or vallet is almost 11dollar w/​validation.

My GF (now fiancé) visited on New Years Day. It was a super special occasion as I had just proposed to her down at the Montage’s Blue Lagoon and it was time to celebrate!
I made reservations in advance, but was hesitant to share that I was getting engaged as I didn’t know (based on timing) whether I would have time to pop the question before hand… so I didn’t share that information with the restaurant. In the end, it didn’t matter as this place doesn’t miss anything. The waiter noticed my fiancé taking pics of the ring and came over with a dessert and Congrats written out on it… perfecto! And if you have read my others reviews, then you’ll know that this little plate was a HUGE deal! :-)
It was the perfect evening. The food was amazing, the service outstanding and the view spectacular. With regard to service, it doesn’t get any better than this. If you so much as look up, a staff member will pop up out of no where to ask if you need anything. Very nice! And its not that type of service where they are sitting on your shoulders during the entire meal making things uncomfortable… no sir! I think they have Keebler Elves watching you and signal for wait staff when you need something. haha… don’t know the secret but the service is amazing.
After dinner, we hung out at the bar/​lounge that overlooks the ocean and my fiancé REALLY enjoyed that as well. It was a super important occasion and The Loft exceeded my already high expectations. Highly recommend!
Btw, for any guy that is thinking of proposing — The Montage will make you a legend! Dead serious about this… my fiancé loved it and has shared the story a million times already. There’s a nice little spot on the beach called Blue Lagoon… hard to explain but it sits right on the water and is nice and private. The attached pic is from the spot where I proposed.

Absolutely an amazing dinner and experience! The staff was great and the food was spectacular.
A+!

Good food, great service, casual ambiance.
Food (⁴⁄₅): Recommend having the cod entrée & sticky toffee pudding.
The cod entrée comes with sweet potatoes, pomegranate seeds, and crispy kale. The entrée was a bit on the sweeter side, and could’ve definitely used a bit more of the crispy kale to balance out the dish. The cod was cooked perfectly, though — the meat was tender & not too dry.
The toffee pudding was good! I’m not a huge fan of alcohol-​infused ice cream, so I ate the pudding cake moreso than the ice cream. The pudding itself wasn’t too sweet, but sat on a bed of caramel sauce, so the dessert turned out to be a good mixture of texture and taste.
Also, as a side note: Love the variety of the bread that they give you for the table :) The bread selection ranges anywhere from sourdough bread slices to cheese bread rolls. It’s paradise for a carb-​lover like me.
Service (4.5÷5): Waiters were very attentive & helpful. Only issue was that it took about an hour for us to get our food, but it could’ve been a function of us having a large party (9 people).
Ambiance (⁴⁄₅): Pretty casual setting. It’s a floor below the lobby and has a view of the ocean. The restaurant décor itself is very home-​y.

I was at a conference with no decent vegan options. Luckily this restaurant has a special vegan/​vegetarian menu. You would never know unless you ask. I had the Forbidden (black) Rice with Curried Veggies. It was delicious but a little lacking in nutrition, it could have used some tofu or tempeh. Surprisingly it was the most expensive thing on that special menu at $ 33! I only don’t give them 5 stars because it’s expensive for so little and they should have these options on the normal menu to not deter any vegans! But great job on all the options!

Great service, excellent food, and a gorgeous view. I enjoyed my delicious shrimp cocktail and Caesar salad. My wife doesn’t eat bacon, so when she had her club sandwich I used her delicious thick cut bacon on my Caesar… it was amazing. Iced tea was delicious as well — well brewed — no sugar needed.

Was here last night for the first time at this restaurant. I ordered the oysters for an appetizer, beef short ribs for main course, and their raspberry white chocolate soufflé for dessert. I also asked for Evian water, but my server Rachel told me that they were out. About 5 minutes later, a gentleman, overheard me requesting the water and went out of his way to find a bottle of Evian. It wasn’t a big deal, if they didn’t have it. But the fact that they went out of their way to get one, was very nice. I was seated next to a window with a million dollar view of the ocean. Overall, the food was delicious, the service was award winning, and overall experience, Priceless. I will definitely return to this restaurant located on the 4^th floor at the Montage hotel. Well worth it!!!

The view is great. I love this hotel.
was not so impressed with the fresh juice they have on the menu it sounded as if they were making it fresh but it was store bought in a bottle. I had the Healer and my friend had the Restore neither one of us were impressed. For $ 14 I was expecting freshly juiced not a bottle I could pick up from grocery store. I won’t be getting the juice anymore and will stick with the alcoholic beverages

It was great I loved it great place the chicken piccata amazing. Service was great they got us a table outside in the view was spectacular.
I love the food is amazing.

Before getting into anything else, just trust me and go here. I’m not talking about just The Loft, but the Montage Hotel & Resort in general. It’s stunning.
I wanted to surprise my girlfriend somewhere romantic for the anniversary of our promising (we called it a Promisversary). She had actually been wanting to go here for a while, and I was finally able to make it happen. When you first pull up to park (assuming you’ll be doing valet, which is $ 11), you’ll see Lamborghini’s, Ferrari’s, McLaren’s and Aston Martin’s. Don’t be intimidated. We rolled up in my Nissan Altima.
You walk in and the view is just incredible. Overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean, this place nails romance right on the head. Breathtaking. One floor below is The Loft Restaurant.
I made reservations for 5:00 p.m. but we arrived around 4:30. They seated us early, wished us a Happy Anniversary and sat us out on the patio as I had requested. The view, again, was amazing. This is how I need to start eating my dinner. Our hostess (don’t recall the name) was extremely thoughtful throughout. She let us know dinner wouldn’t be until 5:00 but that we could look at the Bistro Menu until then in case we wanted to order from there. Good call on her part as we actually ended up ordering the Shrimp Scampi (for her) and Grilled Bistro Steak (for me). The only negative thing I could say about this place is that for the price, the portions are small, but the place is so great that we didn’t even mind. You’re not just paying for the food here — you’re paying for the experience and it’s worth every penny.
We were brought two complimentary glasses of champagne for our anniversary. Very nice gesture on their part. The bread that comes with the food is very good. They have about four different kinds and each one is great.
The Shrimp Scampi (I had a bite) was great. My girlfriend definitely enjoyed it. The Grilled Bistro Steak was cooked medium (chef’s recommendation) and was also great with the butter on top. Very tender and juicy. The fries were a perfect compliment.
During dinner, we happened to catch a wedding going on down below us. We would love to get married here some day; alas, it’s quite expensive.
After dinner and asking for the check, our hostess brought us a complimentary piece of cake with «Happy Anniversary» written in chocolate on the plate. Needless to say, on a 1 – 10 romantic scale, this place is an 11. My girlfriend and I both can’t wait to come back here when we’re married. Thank you for a making our evening so special. We «Loft» the experience.

The Loft restaurant is in a beautiful area of Laguna Beach, overlooking the ocean. Only a short walk separates you and the sea. It’s on the fourth floor of the Montage resort. If you want to avoid the $ 11 valet fee, you can search for street parking and pay 25 cents per ten minutes. Street parking is free after 7pm in this area. We had our three kids with us, so valet was a must. Going in through the main entrance after valet, you’re already on the fifth floor. We had to go down one level to reach the Loft. Remember to get your parking stub validated. After validation, the fee is $ 11. It’s $ 36 without!
The dining room is classy and overlooks the ocean. The view is beautiful. We asked to be seated on the patio but they didn’t have a table big enough for six adults and three kids. The inside table was good and we still had a good view of the ocean.
Melissa was our primary server and she did a great job. Michelle also helped us a lot and was very nice. I’m not sure if she was a sommelier, manager, or just another staff member. Service was spot on. Various staff refilled waters, stored flowers for us, and assisted with high chairs and other requests.
The bread basket was pretty and featured a variety of bread types. There were crispy, thin large pieces, regular dinner rolls, and a few others as well. I liked the different shapes and sizes. I usually only nibble on the bread in order to save room for the main course.
We started with a half dozen pacific coast oysters. I inquired which type they were specifically, and Melissa and Michelle said they are Minter, from Washington. The ladies informed me they have a sweet finish, which I like. They appeared on a bed of ice, with the usual trio of mignonette, cocktail sauce, and horseradish. Lemon was a usual staple as well. The oysters had a soft chew, soft body, low brininess, and a sweet finish as described (although it was only mildly sweet). I tried the first one naked, and the second and third with cocktail sauce and lemon. They were delicious! (I elected to pass on the mignonette, as I have eaten oysters several times recently and have never liked any of the mignonettes.)
Next the charcuterie arrived. We chose the large board – artisanal cured meats and pickled vegetables with grilled bread. The meats included salami, sausage, and panchetta. I thought the meats were just okay. It also came with a duck pâté, which I spread onto the crispy bread. It was good – subtle and tasty.
The kids food came next, and I was happy because it meant my three boys would be occupied (even if only temporarily). My oldest son got the cheeseburger, and my twins got mac n cheese and chicken strips. All three of them had yogurt. The yogurt was classed up a notch by fresh fruit (peaches and rasperries).
There was a large gap in waiting time between the appetizers and entrees. My coffee crusted New York strip steak finally made a dazzling entrance. Fourme d’Ambert blue cheese and wild arugula were joined by a bourbon-​caramel sauce. The presentation was gorgeous. I requested medium rare and this beautiful piece of meat was cooked exactly to my specifications. It was so perfectly medium rare that I wondered if it was cooked sous vide, although it was probably just seared and placed in a high-​heat oven. I’m not a coffee drinker, but the coffee crust was magnificent. The coffee taste was sweet, and mixed together with the bourbon-​caramel glaze it was a solid match. The beef was tender and seasoned well. The arugula was soft and filling. The Fourme d’Ambert blue cheese didn’t taste strong like other blue cheeses. I scooped it onto the steak and it complimented the meat in stunning fashion.
I tried my brother’s lamb and it was pedestrian. There wasn’t much going on in the flavor department. The portion looked small. I felt bad for him because he almost went with the blackened kurobuta pork ribeye, and he probably would have enjoyed it more.
My wife decided on the cook’s ranch pork bolognese. It had rustichella pappardelle, torn basil, and aged parmesan. The meat was tender and flavorful, and the pasta was cooked almost al dente, but just a little over. The sauce was good.
I tried some desserts and they were okay. Pineapple semifreddo (which they told us means partially frozen) was okay. The Venezuelan dark chocolate caramel pot de crème was not to my liking – the flavors didn’t match; there was too much going on.
The Loft treated us with excellent service. The food ranged from okay to great. The price tag is hefty. The view is gorgeous. I would definitely return when I have some money in my pocket.

Beautiful dinner on my 30^th birthday. I made a request to sit outside for the gorgeous open view and it sure was the focal point.
The staff were all very attentive except for some reason that day our waiter seems to lack in service. The man who does water refills/​other service was a lot more attentive. He was around more than our waiter… Everyone else was. –1 star.
Food was great. Breads was beyond great. loved the variety. Dessert is also great esp when I was given one for my birthday.
I’d probably come back.

I was contacted by The Loft management to please try them again, that my experience there was not the way they usually run things there.
At first I felt bad but I really wanted to give it another chance. I’m so glad I did. We had such amazing time. Our sever Rosa immediately greeted us with a smile and and insuring our champagne was being properly chilled. We started with two appetizers — Tuna Tartare and Risotto. Both perfected plated and wonderfully flavored. Caesar salad and a yummy bread basket. We order rosemary chicken and short ribs for our main entrées. Cooked perfectly and large portions.
Ended the evening with coffee and Baileys. As we tried to leave we decided to sit down and listen to the live music in the main bar. We enjoy two more glasses of champagne and left feeling we both enjoyed the evening.
I would like to thank the management for caring and having us come back in

Came by for lunch the other day at the Loft, located inside the Montage Laguna Beach. Same day reservations were available via OpenTable. The view of the Pacific Ocean and the Montage Laguna Beach is absolutely breathtaking and definitely the highlight of the meal!
Meal started off with complimentary bread basket which was excellent! The cheese bread was fresh and cheesy. The crispy bread was very fresh!
Moved on to the Cream of Mushroom Soup which was huge. There were plenty of mushrooms and spinach… this might have been a better idea to share… Soup was very creamy and rich.
Skirt steak salad was mediocre. …didn’t seem like 6 oz of skirt steak was included, although the steak was pretty flavorful. The romaine lettuce was pretty weak for the salad… mine had too much lettuce close to the head…
Salmon entrée was also mediocre. Farmed salmon filet was grilled well and was fresh. The fish, along with the complementary greens and potatoes were too salty…
Dessert sampler was also mediocre. Desserts were on the sweeter side and richer side…
Service was very good by Joseph, although a tad leisurely.
$ 36 valet parking or $ 11 validated parking. Street and/​or private lot parking available for up to 3 hrs at $ 1.5/hr.
~$ 75/​person after tax and tip for lunch.

This restaurant, located on the 4^th floor of the Montage Resort Hotel in Laguna Beach, offers a spectacular view of the Pacific Ocean and some excellent food which is presented beautifully. It was close to a five-​star experience but just missed the mark.
The service was what was mainly lacking. Our waitress had the personality of a dead fish. Everyone else did a great job but, having had true 5-​star service at other restaurants, the service here was close… but no cigar. To me the difference is being made to feel like a special guest rather than a customer. But on to the food…
The bread basket that was brought out after we sat down was spectacular. Each warm piece was deliciously different and there was a variety to choose from. The wine selection was decent and the glass of syrah I chose from the «by the glass» menu was quite good.
The salad (Coleman Farms Limestone lettuce with pumpernickel croutons and Yali pears) was okay but I have to admit it was disappointing. The croutons didn’t have the rye taste I was expecting. A few more pear slices (it only had 4 thin slices) would have livened it up a bit for me.
The coffee crusted New York strip steak was a big time winner. It was perfectly cooked to my specification and was covered in a tasty arugula with a slice of bleu cheese tucked alongside and was sitting in an incredible bourbon carmel sauce. I would have never imagined that a steak and a bourbon carmel sauce would pair together to give my mouth such pleasure.
Two desserts were enjoyed. A chocolate mousse cake and also a lava cake with chocolate mousse. Both were a chocolate lover’s dream come true and made me completely forget any disappointment I had with the salad. The lava cake had a rich & gooey chocolate center. Fantastic desserts!!!
Parking was still $ 11 even with restaurant validation. This is the sort of place where you overpay for small plates of food that are well prepared and presented in artistic fashion which you get to eat while enjoying a spectacular view of dolphins jumping in the ocean and bikinis in the pool below.