230 Forest Avenue

4.9

2845 Reviews

$30 and under

Californian

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 26, 2024

7:30 PM

Booked 41 times today

Neighborhood gem
Great for outdoor dining
Good for special occasions

Don't be fooled by the crowds and the noise; they are all part of the scene here at Laguna Beach's sexy and intense 230 Forest Avenue. The lean deep room seduces you to the open kitchen, bustling bar, and concrete floors, creating a space that is part modern bistro, part martini bar, and part art gallery. It's the perfect spot to see and be seen, laid back Laguna-style. Executive Chef Marc Cohen is consistently recognized as one of The OC's top chefs. You'll be ready to award him a medal, too, after tasting his flashy-to-the-eye, tickle-the-taste- buds fusion appetizers and entrees. His dishes are often so stunning that they compete with the artwork on the walls, making for a thoroughly satisfying "artistic" experience.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Californian, American, Seafood
Hours of operation
Lunch Daily 11:00 am–3:30 pm Dinner Daily 3:30 pm–8:30 pm
Phone number
(949) 494-2545
Website
http://www.230Forestavenue.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Marc Cohen

Location
230 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Neighborhood
Laguna Beach
Cross street
PCH
Parking details
There is metered parking all along Forest Avenue as well as several "pay" lots near by.
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 2,845 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9

4.9 based on recent ratings

4.9Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.6Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Orange County
Californian
South Orange County
Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

230 Forest Avenue in Laguna Beach is a vibrant dining destination known for its "amazing quality" and "reliable service." Guests rave about the "remarkable fine dining experience," featuring "outstanding food" crafted with "freshest ingredients." The outdoor seating adds charm, and the "attentive staff" make every visit memorable. Highly recommended for a culinary delight!

2,845 Reviews

M
Maggie
VIP
Orange County
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great food and great service!! We will definitely be going back
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D
Deborah
VIP
Los Angeles
49 reviews
5.0
49 reviews
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
This was our second time eating lunch there. Service was friendly, efficient and timely. We had the fish taco special, the mussels in leek broth and the Parker house rolls. If you get nothing else, get the rolls! Crispy and buttery on the outside and doughy and soft inside. The fried fish in the tacos were crunchy and the sauce was flavorful and accompanied the fish well. The mussels were cooked just right - still soft and flavorful in a light, savory sauce. The butter cake was the epitome of decadence. Definitely recommend for lunch.
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W
Wendy
Los Angeles
5 reviews
5.0
5 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We will be back! Our first time to 230 Forest Ave. Our experience couldn’t have been better from the moment we checked in until we paid our bill. Food was delish. Our waiter was really good—lovely, really knowledgeable and just “gets it”. We had a time crunch because we were on the way to the theater. Our food came out quickly and he knew exactly when to drop the check. Such a dining pleasure. We will for sure be back because everything we ate was perfection and there’s so much more on the menu to try!
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K
Kathryn
San Diego
7 reviews
5.0
7 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The host and the Maître d’ were friendly and helpful when we first sat down the young woman next to us did not seem to know how to keep her screeching, loud voice down in a public place. We moved inside and the rest of the experience was absolutely fantastic. The waiters were helpful, knowledgeable and professional. The food was exceptional, particularly the calamari to start and the main courses of halibut and scallops were outstanding and presented well with different vegetables than you usually see. The martinis we enjoyed were perfectly chilled with tiny bits of ice crystals floating on the top. I requested and got blue cheese stuffed olives, which I love all in all a moderately priced restaurant for Southern California, generous portions, and a wonderful night out. Will be back!
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W
William
VIP
Orange County
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined 5 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Consistently excellent food and service.Ambience is great. Part of the Forest Avenue shopping experience.
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W
William
VIP
Orange County
8 reviews
5.0
8 reviews
Dined on December 17, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Excellence in food quality, service and ambience. Consistency in all categories. Highly recommended.
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R
Robyn
VIP
Orange County
24 reviews
5.0
24 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Another wonderful meal at 230 Forest! This time of year is our favorite as the restaurant and Forest Ave are festively decorated for the holidays. We had the filet and it was perfectly prepared and perfect temperature. Also had the halibut special. The fish was delicate and again perfectly cooked. Fabulous cocktails and a great wine menu. Can’t say enough about this favorite local spot!
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L
Lianne
VIP
New York City
103 reviews
5.0
103 reviews
Dined on December 14, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Two Thirty Forest is always outstanding! The food, the service, everything! Given last night was a Friday night, it was a bit louder than usual, but still the ambience was lovely.
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P
Pegi
VIP
Orange County
11 reviews
5.0
11 reviews
Dined on December 11, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We sat outside and enjoyed the holiday decor It was warm and cozy. The food was terrific.
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C
Camille
VIP
Palm Springs
370 reviews
5.0
370 reviews
Dined on December 10, 2024
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We are long time customers because we love this restaurant. We both had the crispy halibut tacos. They were delicious!!!
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FAQs

230 Forest Avenue is rated 4.9 stars by 2845 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Dec 26, 2024

7:30 PM

Booked 41 times today

230 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Additional information

Cross street
PCH
Neighborhood
Laguna Beach
Hours of operation
Lunch Daily 11:00 am–3:30 pm Dinner Daily 3:30 pm–8:30 pm
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Californian, American, Seafood
Dining style
Casual Dining
Dress code
Business Casual
Parking details
There is metered parking all along Forest Avenue as well as several "pay" lots near by.
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Executive chef
Marc Cohen
Additional
Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Website
http://www.230Forestavenue.com/
Phone number
(949) 494-2545

230 Forest Avenue

Make a reservation

Additional information

Menu

What 2,845 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is 230 Forest Avenue restaurant rated?

Is 230 Forest Avenue currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information