The Sapphire Experience:
Nestled in the heart of South Laguna, enjoy personalized service, quality food, and a warm and inviting ambience.What you are about to read should be taken with a pinch of salt. I am neither a chef nor an established food critic; these are just some ramblings based on my experiences and thoughts. I’m just your average foodie who spends way too much money and time on food. I can’t believe I said that, blasphemy—there’s no such thing as “too much” when it comes to food! Noosheh Jan to that!
It’s been such a gorgeous summer this year in Southern California that it’s hard to imagine the cooler months are right around the corner (of course by “cooler” I mean 68 degrees, burr). So I decided to make the most of it and drive down the 133 to Laguna Beach and find a restaurant with outdoor seating where I could enjoy some yummy food and soak up what’s left of the summer.
I asked one of my food loving friends to join me on my first restaurant review adventure. I seem to have established quite a reputation among my friends for not being shy when it comes to all things food, so it was an easy decision.
Now let me start off by telling you that I don’t know the first thing about being a “food critic.” I’m surely no expert, but my taste buds have served me well and I figured most of my friends trust my food judgment and I certainly have paid my dues (and bills) over the last few decades, so why not?
We found ourselves at Sapphire Laguna where the Pottery Place used to be, and where the owner is a renowned chef recognized for his global cuisine and just happens to be, get this—Iranian. Did I know Chef Azmin Ghahreman was Iranian? Yes. Is that why I chose Sapphire? Maybe a little—after all this is for Payam— I thought it would be a nice touch.
Hala…to keep things honest, I didn’t tell anyone at the restaurant what I was up to so I wouldn’t get any special treatment. Happy?
The restaurant is quite charming with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating and a fire pit to keep you warm in the cooler months. There’s a gourmet specialty shop next door where you can find all kinds of goodies. (Truth be told—I didn’t get a chance to go in because I was starving, but the exotic wheels of cheese in the window greeted me on my way to the restaurant so I was happy).
I really wanted to sit outside, but since we were only a party of two and didn’t have reservations we couldn’t get our own table. Instead, we sat at a long “communal” table with two other couples. Before either of us had a chance to say anything we were presented with drink menus and were busy chatting up our neighbors. The seating worked out nicely as it allowed me to eat off other people’s plates when they weren’t looking, but if that’s not for you, I suggest you call in ahead of time.
Our server’s name was Tony. I mention this because Tony was fabulous, and he wasted no time in getting us some very “refreshing” refreshments that took my mind off of the seating arrangements and allowed me to focus on what was left of a gorgeous OC summer evening. Tony was well versed on the menu and took really good care of us. I learned later that Ghahreman was the executive chef at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort & Spa and Tony worked with him there as well—which says a lot about Ghahreman.
After a few sips and a piece of toasty warm bread and butter, I was ready to order. I was delighted that the menu fit on one page—front and back. The selection was perfect, just enough to satisfy your cravings but not too much to confuse you. I looked at the appetizers and basically wanted to say, “Okay, I’ll have one of each.” Alas, I refrained.
Instead we ordered the Tandoori Jumbo Shrimp ($14.75), Prosciutto Wrapped Figs ($14.50) and Pan-seared Day Boat Scallop ($13.75). The scallops were delectable and I wanted to bathe in the sauce; the figs were the perfect balance of salty, sweet and meaty. I didn’t care as much for the shrimp, it was cooked well but the flavors weren’t nearly as exciting as the other two. The portions are not very big so it’s easy to order several items and each dish has three pieces so keep that in mind if you’re a party of four.
For our main course we picked the Hawaiian Style Steamed Barramundi ($27.50) and the Grilled Prime Rib-eye Steak & “Truffle fries” ($29.75). The barramundi is a very light dish so you kabob lovers might need to order two. If you aren’t familiar with barramundi then I suggest you Google it and then order it. Trust me. It’s similar to a Chilean Sea Bass without the controversy; it’s so flaky and buttery- yum- that you will wonder how you went through life without it. They served it with bok choy, ginger-shitake mushrooms and a side of rice. I have to say, the dish would have been absolutely perfect with a little less shoyu (a type of soy sauce). I felt like my fish was drowning—is that even possible?
The prime rib-eye was good but not as amazing as the fish. I ordered the steak medium-rare—thank you very much—but it was cooked through more than I would have liked. My friend, on the other hand, was delighted because she prefers it medium-well. Whatever. The truffle-fries were addictive and the green peppercorn sauce saved the dish. Overall, it had some nice elements, but the dish as a whole wasn’t too impressive. Next time I’ll try the beef tenderloin.
For dessert—yes, I had room for dessert. (Studies have shown some people actually have a second stomach just for dessert. I’m one of them.) Back to the dessert—you must order the Valhrona chocolate cake with rum-caramel sauce and pistachio ice cream ($8.50). You must. It’s lovely and it’s good for you and it has pistachios. It has pistachios and chocolate mousse. It has pistachios, chocolate mousse, and cake. Vay! We also ordered—yes, I know—the Trio of crème brulee ($9): white espresso, chai latte, and orange-chocolate—a smooth and creamy treat each with its own deliciously distinct flavors. Ba kamaleh por-rooyi I took care of the first two and left the orange-chocolate for my friend. She couldn’t do anything about it because I drove. Ha!
Our neighbors ordered the Australian passion fruit Pavlova with fresh berries and mango coulis and I had some. It’s a meringue dessert with fresh fruit, and whip cream, named after the Russian ballet dancer, Anna Pavlova (Google is my best friend). The dessert is a diabetic’s nightmare and a sweet tooth’s dream and somehow it disappeared off the plate. But of course, no dessert is complete without chayi, so I made sure to order a hot pot of Earl Grey.
Overall we had a great time and as I took my last sip of tea, I reflected back on my summer evening and thought to myself…hmmm, I wonder what I should eat tomorrow?
If you get a chance, I recommend you call up some friends and pay a visit to Sapphire Laguna. Just be careful, if you have an appetite like mine, the bill will add up.
