230 Forest Avenue

230 Forest Avenue Restaurant is located at 230 Forest Ave in Laguna Beach and has been in the business of Retail - American Restaurant since 1995.

Parking: Street parking is competitive, and the restaurant doesn't offer valet. Try one of the low-priced lots a block or so to the east.

What to Drink: The menu offers 13 specialty martinis, from a simple mix of vodka and raspberry liquor to the Creme Brulee, a cocktail of Kahlua, Smirnoff vanilla vodka and cream.

I stopped in last Saturday without a reservation on a whim. The decor looks modern and attractive, even though the space is relatively small. It's a busy place, so don't expect an intimate quiet meal, but the food and service were very good. I ordered the Frutti Di Mare ($23) for lunch which is basically large bowl of linguini with a red sauce topped with seafood.

The seafood was very well prepared. Generous pieces of fish, tender calamari, shrimp and mussels and the red sauce looked it was probably made from tomatos and pureed red peppers; it was flavorful without being heavy because it had no cream or butter that I could taste. They also serve a small baguette of fresh baked white bread which was also hot and nicely done. My wife had the Ahi Tuna Tartare ($14) which was also very good, and a chopped seafood salad ($18), which was fine but unimpressive for the price.

If I'm in the area again I'd go back.

Chef-owner Marc Cohen's "lively" Californian in the heart of Laguna Beach is "frequented by locals" and tourists who come for the "unique", "delicious" menu abetted by "top-notch" service and "great people-watching" in "trendy" surroundings; despite the "cramped quarters" ("be prepared to sit in the laps of the couple next to you"), "fair prices" make it a "winner."

230 Forest Restaurant Review: 230 Forest, located in the heart of downtown Laguna, is chef Marc Cohen’s flagship restaurant in OC. And while he’s gone on to open other locations under his less interesting Opah concept, Cohen’s talents still shine mostly brightly here even though his fusion cuisine does at times seem rather outdated. First off, this chic spot with its minimalist and artsy décor...

230 Forest, located in the heart of downtown Laguna, is chef Marc Cohen's flagship restaurant in OC. And while he's gone on to open other locations under his less interesting Opah concept, Cohen's talents still shine mostly brightly here…

In Short
A chatty crowd drinks cocktails and dines on Cal-Asian cuisine at street-side patio tables and an outdoor-indoor bar that disappears into the restaurant through floor-to-ceiling...

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