06/23/08

Yummy French Cuisine in Laguna!

by moonbunny22

I had read about this in my zagat and came with somewhat high expectations. We made last minute reservations and the host on the phone was friendly. Unlike some overrated restaurants in Laguna, I was surprised to find there was no wait and we were seated promptly. It was semi romantic and the staff were very friendly, always smiling, and attentive, and personable. I believe the owner seated us and kept offering us their own baked olive bread which was fresh and warm and soooo yummy. I felt like I was in NY with all the wonderful restaurants which I've missed very much...the menu was appealing from the (I can't say the full word for some reason they say it's inappropriate so I mispelled it) Rak of Lamb, to the Foid Gras, the scallops, pastry wrapped salmon, Ribeye...or Chilean Seabass. I went with the Seabass which was good...but with the caper lemon tartar sauce (or that's what I tasted)...it was heaven in my mouth. I miss good food that's decently priced. It's not cheap, but it's not expensive either. Also their garlic mash potatoes were very yummy. I will definitely be going back there. I also tried the shrimp and scallop special with saffron sauce...I must say the sauces are what I enjoy most. Though I had high expectations, I tried to not expect too much, but overall the experience was delightfully good. Compared to restaurants in Laguna...it's 1 of maybe 3 restaurants I would say is worth going to. Sorrento Grill and The Cottage being the others. Oh last thing...the purse appetizer puff pastry was also very very good...yum!

05/16/08

Over-confident

by coupleshelper

Pros: ample portions, interesting menu with a nice range of seafood and meat entrees, some nice flavors,

decent wine list.

Cons: undisciplined staff - gales of laughter repeatedly heard from the back room, wait-staff high 5ing each other as they pass, staff hanging out in waiting area. wait staff pours and refills wine glasses without asking if patron wants wine, nobody checks back once the food is delivered until the meal is over, the lobster bisque had a lovely flavor with no hint of lobster present whatsoever. For $10.00, put some lobster meat in it! The ribeye was suspiciously similar to a thin cut of london broil with a very unoriginal, thick wine reduction that showed no evidence of the shalots promised. It's $20.00 meals for $35.00 and an ambiance that while pleasant does not make up the difference.

Make no mistake, its a fairly nice place with fairly good tasting food. The ambiance in the sunny day room section of the restaurant feels in no way upscale or elegant. The point is that this place is priced like a 4 or 5 star restaurant that doesn't deliver on the promise.

• Pros: creative menu, ample portions, decent wine list
• Cons: way overpriced for the quality, ambiance, and service

04/03/08

Shout down by the health authorities. 2008

by OCFugee

Need I say more?

4/3/08

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08/27/07

Good food and great people

by 310valleygirl

My boyfriend and I checked this out before the Pageant this year. The lobster bisque, lamb chops, and flourless chocolate cake was a sure winner for me. ...Oh, and if you can make it for their happy hour (Sunday - Thursday @ 5-8pm), their bartenders will really fill up your martini glass for $5. Try the Shorebreak, it's truly sinful.

12/08/06

A French chef who's always in the kitchen excels at luxurious comfort food.

by Andrea Rademan

The Scene
The room is as sunny as the food in the new, larger location of this insiders' favorite. When French doors between two eating areas (seating 30 and 15) are closed, the separate spaces feel like private dining rooms. A 15-seat patio handles the overflow. Whitewashed walls hung with Mediterranean landscapes and a Spanish guitar strumming Catalan music complete the effect.

The Food
The kitchen's secret ingredient is Chef Bijan Risdana, who cooks New French cuisine the old-fashioned way--himself. A good bread basket is a signpost to a great meal and, sure enough, nearly every dish here is a revelation. Orange zest zaps the rich, but not heavy, lobster bisque, enhancing its flavors without drowning them. A hillock of sweet-starchy chestnut puree props up tender slices of venison loin sided by perfectly undercooked baby carrots. Brazier gets all fired up over his velvety creme brulee--and so do his patrons.

11/12/06

Nice Local French Fare

by apoclyps

Explored around my new neighborhood and stumbled upon this hidden gem and thought I would try it some day. A friend of mine came down for a visit, so I decided to finally try it out. Our server was Charity who has a vast knowledge of boutique wines and helped us pick out our wines for our meal. Every one she picked out we liked. An unexpected starter was the salmon rillette, which my friend quickly gave me a scared stare (he doesn't like salmon). He tried it, and really loved it to his surprise. We both had the Foie Gras and it was sinfully melt-in-your-mouth delicious. For entree, I had the scallops and while he had the filet. Both were prepared very well with great flavors and perfectly cooked veggies. We are always too stuffed to try any of their desserts.

I have been back several times with different friends and have tried their sea bass and bouillabaisse (all have been excellent). Every time I go, I always ask for Charity. This is one of my favorite restaurants to visit in Laguna.

• Pros: excellent food, location to me, locals night, knowledgable and friendly wait staff (and owner), new Martini Bar
• Cons: no view

07/20/05

Great place for a couple

by crazylegs1868

Very accomodating, and food was great. Parking was not hard at all, the restaurant is small and intimate, and the manager/owner makes a point to check in with everyone at some point during the meal.

• Pros: parking, intimacy, food
• Cons: water refills

01/03/05

Sinfully Decadent!

by gvgseg

To sum it up, our experience at Picayo was FANTASTIC! Our server, Chad, was world-class, and the food was nothing less than perfection. Even the bread basket was superb. The chef offered us a complimentary salmon pre-appetizer, which was a delicious surprise. The entrees and appetizers were very savory and the desserts were extraordinary. The creme brulee and chocolate truffle cake were perhaps the best we've ever had. We highly recommend the lobster bisque and shrimp cake appetizers as well as the seabass and sea scallop entrees. We can't wait to visit Picayo again in the future! Two thumbs up!

• Pros: Great Service, Delicious Food, Ample Parking