Broadway by Amar Santana

Broadway by Amar Santana Restaurant Review:

Tucked in the heart of downtown Laguna Beach, this cozy restaurant festooned with sleek images of New York hung on earthy brick walls has a strong neighborhood vibe. Its urban atmosphere is a welcome juxtaposition to the surrounding surf culture. Outdoor dining is available. Owner and executive chef Amar Santana presides in the enormous open kitchen with his skilled staff. Santana creates forward-thinking New American dishes throughout every course. The menu’s array of small plates bears the first witness to this, with innovative fare like Spanish octopus with roasted carrot hummus, and the nicely balanced roasted bone marrow served with oxtail mushroom marmalade. Mains continue the theme with spice-rubbed venison with braised red cabbage, shawarma-spiced Scottish salmon, and herb-roasted branzino coupled with cauliflower purée, pickled clam shell mushrooms and truffle au jus. For dessert, we recommend the bourbon vanilla bean panna cotta and the chocolate praline crunch with salted caramel ice cream. Additionally, the long, chic bar and solid list of wines and handcrafted cocktails make it a good option to grab a pre-meal libation or a nightcap.