Broadway by Amar Santana

We dined here with a couple of friends while enjoying Laguna Beach for the day. We initially read about this place online and then decided to book a reservation for dinner later that day after seeing it on our walk. It's conveniently located in the heart of Laguna, and has an upscale yet cozy feel. The service was all-around kind, helpful, and prompt. In short, we loved our experience and highly recommend this place! We decided on several plates to share: - Grilled Charred Spanish Octopus with black olive yogurt, romesco, pickled peppers, and crispy potato (the unanimous favorite dish!) - Stuffed Baby Vegetables with warm quinoa-cucumber salad, ratatouille, red beet horseradish hummus, lemon oil, and crispy mushroom - Thyme Basted Chicken Breast with chicken bastilla, carrot-harissa purée, and preserved lemon chicken jus- A unique salad dish that was tasty, but can't recall the details. Multiple dessert options sounded incredible, so we decided to split the following: - Brown Butter Banana Tart with vanilla bean ice cream, candied pecans, and miso caramel- Chocolate Praline Crunch with caramel ice cream and candied hazelnuts- Bourbon Vanilla Bean Panna Cotta with strawberry sorbet, chocolate pearls, and tarragon coulis- Lemon Ricotta Fritters with lemon cream and rosemary honey (this was least favorite dessert for our group--each of the others was a top dessert for at least one of us!) Cheers to the chef and staff at Broadway by Amar Santana for such an incredible evening!

We had a great experience here! Our waitress was outstanding and had a really positive impact on our experience. First off, the restaurant is very chic and has some art on the walls, which we thought might have been made of recycled plastic. There seemed to be plenty of seating. The drinks were all super unique. I had a cocktail with a plum wine which was flavored like strawberry shortcake and it was one of the best cocktails I've ever had. I was really impressed! We also had the focaccia bread which was so delicious. It came out warm and we ordered it on the suggestion of our waitress, so we were grateful for that. We used the bread to soak up the sauce from the raviolo, which was so unique and had a nice sage flavor. The raviolo also had toasted nuts which added a nice crunch and prosciutto which was delicious and savory. The combination of flavors in the raviolo was fantastic and worked so well together! I had a pasta dish which was similar to gnocchi but was called gnudi. It was pretty good, but didn't knock my socks off. I expected more, it was kind of like any other noodle dish and the noodles were just okay, and I kind of expected them to be more of a pillowy texture, but they were not. The sauce was also okay but I felt like it was missing something. My dad was also not really impressed by the steak dish he had ordered, which seemed quite small and like they were stingy with the veggies (there were like, 2 halves of fingerling potatoes and 3 shishito peppers). My fiancé got the mole which was good but lacking spice, and needed something more. We liked the dessert, but again, did not blow us away and was not memorable to me from the experience. If I came back, I think I would come for some appetizers and drinks, because those were really the star of the show for us!

Top chef watcher so I had to come !!! Drove 50 minutes and didn't disappoint. We had he's famous lamb shack and I got the steak skirt. Sauce was on point and lamb was tender as it can be. Service was amazing. We sat in front of the chef kitchen and loved it. Will go back to try more. Also order the fries and Brussels sprouts

Loved the food and drinks here, and the ambiance was nice and cozy! We ordered the octopus to start, and had skirt steak and lamb shank as entrees. Every dish was perfectly cooked and seasoned and amazing. Their old fashioned here is strong and delicious! Wish they had a bigger selection of wine though. Although service was polite and attentive, something about the vibes felt off and stiff. There was some warmth missing?All in all an enjoyable dining experience, but not quite 5 stars when compared to other similar upscale restaurants.

Been here multiple times. The drinks are always good i will say. The bone marrow is good but everything else ive tried is bland and not worth it. This place needs to use salt big time. Everytime ive gotten pasta here its like i have covid and cant taste anything.

Was excited to recently check out Broadway by Amar Santana, being a big fan of Amar from watching him on Top Chef (especially his most recent run on the all-stars season). Everything about the meal was excellent!We started with the Egg Yolk Raviolo (with ricotta, duck prosciutto, hazelnut, and aged balsamic). I was initially concerned it might be too heavy to kick off the meal, but the flavors were indulgent yet beautifully balanced -- an absolute delight.For mains, we had the Herb Roasted Branzino and the Grilled Marinated Prime Skirt Steak (prepared medium rare). The branzino was delicious, paired beautifully with a cauliflower purée (which was so good, I could have eaten a whole bowl of it by itself!)As for the skirt steak, my fave of the night. It can be a tricky cut to get right since it can easily end up chewy, but this was perfect: tender, flavorful, and beautifully complemented by the shishito peppers, chimichurri, and caramelized onion jus. The waiter mentioned the kitchen makes this dish so much that they get it perfect everytime, so for anyone ever dining here, you can't go wrong ordering this dish!Every dish came with its own absolutely delicious sauce or jus. Thankfully, our server recommended a side of bread, and I'm so glad they did because I used it to soak up every last bit of the sauces.The ambiance was another highlight -- cozy and inviting, perfect for an evening night out. Not too stuffy, but still with an elevated feel. Amar was unfortunately not in the kitchen the night we went, but for the nights he is, you can easily see him in the open kitchen, as it is highly visible from any part of the restaurant.The cocktails were fantastic as well. They're featuring a holiday menu right now, and the spiked cider was boozy, festive, and delicious.What a memorable meal. I'm already looking forward to returning and trying even more of the menu!

I did it again: took the picture after I had several bites. But it smelled so good and after a taste was so delicious I just couldn't help it.The staff was friendly and the service impeccable. Our used plates and utensils were promptly cleared and with a smile. I don't remember ever having a bourbon Manhattan so good. My wife and I shared an appetizer. I ordered the grilled, marinated skirt steak with a side of asparagus. My meal was flavorful and faultlessly prepared. For those looking at the prices and expecting large portions, this is not the place for you. For those expecting an outstanding meal, one prepared with the highest standards, it is highly likely that you won't be disappointed.

First off the service is impeccable. They were always right there when you needed something, as an example I out my toothpick from my cocktail and set it on my napkin. Within 30 sec it was picked up and taken from the table. All appropriate service ware was on the table well before the food was brought to the table.Our waitress was an expert on the dishes and described them perfectly, including the steps that went into the preparation - she really knew her stuff.Now for the food: we started with the grilled octopus, which was tender and smoky, other words delicious. Next we moved onto the bone marrow and toasted bread. That was delicious and something I rarely have or see on the menu. For our entrées we had salmon and Seabass. Both were some of the best I've ever had. The presentation of the Seabass was beautiful, sitting on a bed of butternut squash risotto. The combination of flavors worked great together.Finally, the dessert was chocolate pralines, which was a beautiful presentation and very rich in chocolate, presented on a plate with a brush stroke of caramel on the plate.Just as I was ready to ask for the check, the waitress handed me the bill - talk about anticipating the needs of your customers!If I could find one downside, it would be the white wine list which really didn't have a nice buttery Oaky Chardonnay on the list but to their credit, they had an extensive wine by the glass menu, which I always appreciate because my wife and I don't want to consume a whole bottle at dinner

Recently dined at Broadway by Amar Santana in Laguna Beach, and it was an unforgettable experience.The service was outstanding from the moment we arrived. The staff was attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, making us feel welcome and well-cared for throughout our meal.We started with the grilled octopus, which was perfectly tender and flavorful, served with a delightful combination of accompaniments that enhanced the dish's overall taste. For the main course, I chose the miso-glazed salmon. The salmon was cooked to perfection, with a beautiful glaze that added a rich, savory flavor. The dish was well-balanced and beautifully presented.My dining companion opted for the branzino, which was equally impressive. The fish was fresh and expertly prepared, with a crispy skin and moist, flaky flesh. The accompanying sides complemented the branzino perfectly, making it a standout dish.The ambiance at Broadway is both sophisticated and comfortable, making it an ideal spot for a special occasion or a casual night out. The open kitchen concept adds an exciting element, allowing diners to watch the chefs at work and appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into each dish.Overall, Broadway by Amar Santana is a must-visit for anyone in Laguna Beach. The combination of exceptional food and drinks, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere makes it a great choice for a night out.Overall: 9/10

Give my regards to Broadway by Amar Santana. This gem is tucked away just a couple blocks from the beach, and delivers trendy, hip vibes with top notch service and food that wows. While the price tag is on the higher end, it is comparable to most of the nicer dines in the area.Starting with the popular Free Range Organic Egg Yolk Raviolo, a large single Raviolo sits simmered in buttery goodness with crispy sage and toasted hazelnuts. When you break into the Raviolo, you get a rich ooze of yolk mixed in with ricotta. This decadent dish is topped off with a sliced duck prosciutto, which adds a nice meaty bite. For bone marrow lovers, the Roasted Beef Bone Marrow is otherworldly. With a thin crisp crust on top, the marrow offers a build-your-own-flavor experience with charred sourdough and an option of garlic confit, oxtail mushroom marmalade, and sea salt. It was hard to decide which combination was best, but as a purist, I was surprised by how much I kept going back to the garlic and oxtail. This gave the rich, umami explosiveness you hope for in a bone marrow dish.Another outstanding dish was the Grilled Smoked Pork Chop. With a perfect ratio of fat to meat, the pork chop was so tender that the pieces with fat almost melted in your mouth while the meatier pieces easily gave to each bite. The sauce, farro, and mushrooms were all great supporting stars, but the white bean purée had the thick creamy goodness that really complimented the pork chop.But the best dish of the night was the fan favorite - the Grilled Marinated Prime Skirt Steak. The meat was a perfect medium rare, easily cut with a knife. Each bite was marinated in beautiful, savory caramelized onion jus that you almost wouldn't care about anything else on the dish. But don't forget to try the chimichurri, which was a creamy green delightful accompaniment.For dessert, the Brown Butter Banana Tart was recommended to us by the server and chefs. With thick saucy miso caramel, browned bananas, luxuriously creamy vanilla bean ice cream, nutty pecan crumble, and a cinnamon rich, buttery crust - I'll be dreaming about those bites for a while. On a minor note, I would order dessert in advance if possible as some items can take a bit longer to come out. To top things off, non culinary highlights include:If you're sitting at Chef's Table (bar seating), you have very comfortable bar seats, a hook for your bags under the table, but most importantly, a fantastic view of the chefs cooking your dinner. In our case, Chef Sergio and his cooking mates were incredibly hospitable, guiding us with menu selection while casually wiping off oil burns. The chefs made our dinner even more memorable.Our server Eddie, was patient, attentive, and a fantastic guide of the menu as well. He paced the night well for us and had a calm, kind energy while being very knowledgeable about the menu.Finally, at every turn, our waters were being refilled, dirty plates and utensils removed, and trash being wiped off without requiring request. Kudos to the entire wait staff.Whether you're looking to impress a date, celebrating a special evening, or just looking for a delicious meal, Broadway will have you singing "Mmm~"!