Lara’s Fine Dining

We recently held a dinner in the private room at Lara's Fine Dining, and it was a wonderful experience. Nothing beats enjoying a great meal while taking in beautiful views, and this restaurant certainly delivered on both.The private room was spacious and comfortably accommodated our group. The staff was incredibly attentive, checking on us frequently to ensure we had everything we needed. I ordered the salmon, which was cooked perfectly and tasted incredibly fresh. The salad was also fantastic--I'm not sure what dressing they use, but it was absolutely delicious! I also found the crab cakes to be superb.A special touch was when Lara, the owner, personally introduced herself to us. Fun fact--she's not just the owner, but also the chef, which made the experience feel even more special.If you're looking for a fine dining experience with excellent service, breathtaking views, and thoughtfully prepared food, I highly recommend Lara's Fine Dining!

The restaurant is tucked away behind a peaceful residential area, located in the marina with views of the water. The decor / ambiance was classy and quaint; the service was warm and inviting. We enjoyed the complementary bread (perfectly warmed) and fresh oysters. My husband ordered the pesto gnocchi (delicious) and I ordered the fettuccine verde, a vibrant, spinach-infused pasta. When paired with the rich, sweet red-based sauce, the dish transforms into a well-balanced experience where the acidity of tomatoes and a hint of sweetness create the perfect foundation for the seafood. The seafood elevates the dish to another level: mussels add a briny depth, their tender meat soaking up the sauce beautifully; jumbo scallops bring a buttery, melt-in-your-mouth richness; and lobster(?)--cooked to just the right crunch. The sauce clings to the al dente fettuccine, allowing each bite to deliver a harmony of textures and flavors--silky pasta, tender seafood, and a bold yet balanced tomato base.

Lori, Terry and I met here for lunch again today. It was Lori's choice. I would have been there on time, despite sleeping later than planned, had a brain fart that caused me to drive to Point Richmond rather than Marina Bay. I don't know how that happened, as I had fixed the location in my mind before leaving home, but it did. I realized my mistake as soon as I drove into Point Richmond, turned around, got back on the freeway and went to Marina Bay, parking in the far parking lot at Lara's. All the close spaces had been taken. By then Lori had called a couple of times to check on me. I answered the second call and told her I was there and would be right in.I told the hostess I was meeting my friends and she led me to their table, which was right by the window overlooking the marina. They had menus already and were trying to decide what they were having. We agreed to share an order of calamari to start while we were deciding on our mains. I also requested hot tea w/ oat milk and stevia. Our server, Katherina (I hope I'm remembering correctly;; she was charming and accommodating) brought a caddy of assorted teas and a small, graceful pitcher of oat milk. They didn't have stevia but they had Splenda, which is OK. The calamari was delicious, w/ loads of tentacles, which Terry and I both love. The calamari came w/ small ramekins of tartar sauce and cocktail sauce. Both were good. Terry requested bread and a small sliced loaf was brought to us, along w/ a tripartite china tray w/ olive oil, balsamic, and butter. I stuck to the first two.I looked at the Specials menu and was immediately attracted to the Pasta Verde, which was linguine w/ Dungeness crab on top. Having left my reading glasses in the car, as I often do, so I didn't see what else was in it, and when it arrived I was surprised to find a lobster tail on top. It was a pleasant surprise. The photo I took was darker than I'd like, but it'll have to do. The other I took was even darker. I will let Lori and Terry tell you in their reviews what they ordered and what their experience was. It was a beautiful, sunny day, w/ the sun sparkling on the water and the boats in the marina. The pasta was delicious, perfectly cooked al dente. I loved the lobster and the crab. When the dessert cart came around we were too full to partake, but we admired everything. Lara's is a consistently good place to meet for lunch.

I was told this was a hidden gem. Arriving it was in the (cuts) by Richmond Marina. It pretty small in there and quite intimate. On the other side they have a bar with tv in case anyone would like to watch a game. My husband order the carb cakes which was pretty good I did taste them. My mother in law order some oysters that was pretty tasty but I only had one. Which I was hungry I decided not to order an appetizer and go straight to my main meal. I order the scallops with some type of white cream sauce. I was enjoying it until about my second scallops I started feeling queasy. So I immediately pushed the plate back because I couldn't stand to smell or see the food. I had to run to the restaurant and I would leave the rest to your imagination just for the sake of this review. As the kitchen had already closed due to the conversation from the owner he came over and took the plate and asked if I would like some dessert instead. I was actually offended. Like why would I want dessert after damn rear vomiting at the table. I did ask the waiter for some ice and ended the night. I actually believe the seafood may have been old because it didn't agree with my stomach. I'm in the fence if I would ever go back. The waiter was nice but the owner didn't really meet my standards.

We were out the way visiting friends and wanted a nice place to go to for quality appetizers and drinks, and boy, was I upset I hadn't met Lara early lol. We went in on a late afternoon/early evening Friday. The crowd hadn't started and the sun was an hour from sunset. Set at a window table right next to the water and our cocktail orders were taken immediately. From there we decided on shrimp cocktail, fresh oysters, coconut shrimp , artichoke dip and steak strips for appetizers. The taste of freshness was in every bite in all of the seafood. The cocktail sauce they serve should be bottled up and sold in stores. I'm not a big fan of coconut shrimp but I will eat it from Lara's any day of the week! Making it a point to return to try their dinner menu as well.

Enjoyed my tender prime rib. My party also enjoyed their sea scallops and whole fish. Service was attentive and friendly. Sat by the window with views of the marina.

We came here for Mother's Day which had a special menu that day. This place is elegant, overlooking the water which is really nice, and had reasonably good service for a day as busy as Mother's Day.I had the halibut, which was delicious and hubby had the short rib stew. We also had a Caesar salad and clam chowder soup, both nicely done. All were delicious and artistically presented. It was a very nice experience for Mother's Day.

Came back again and tried a different steak and pasta this time, plus the usual Smoked Lilkoi Margarita made by the famous bartender Alex. Still 10/10 on the food, vibes, and service. I had the special Filetto di Manzo - bacon-wrapped filet mignon topped with a port three peppercorn sauce, served with mashed potatoes and fresh vegetables. The filet was cooked to perfection, and the sauce was delicious. My partner had the pesto gnocchi and said it was great. We love that we live so close to this great gem!

Every meal I have had at Lara's has been superbly prepared. The ambiance is outstanding. The only thing that surpasses the quality of the food is the excellent service.

We have been here many times. So we decided to go for Valentines Day last night. When I made the reservation, it said there would be a Special menu, but didn't say what it would be. And certainly not these rediculous prices. When I opened the menu I was literally in tears. $70 for dinner! Really? I Never get dessert! And adding a salad... that doesn't cost much. And certainly not Double the cost of normal. On top of it.. I've been dieting and nothing was diet friendly. I felt the portion was very small and slightly under cooked. Because it came with dessert I ordered my favorite.. Creme Brule. It was about 7:00 pm and they were already sold out! That was just the "Icing on the Cake"!This put a Bad Taste in my Mouth. We won't be going back anytime soon. My husband could see and hear others around that were also not pleased. I've owned several restaurants.... this was totally rediculous.