The Deck on Laguna Beach at a Glance
Fourteen steps down from Sleepy Hollow Lane, the tables sit directly on the sand. The Deck is the only restaurant in Laguna Beach built on the beach itself, opened in 2012 by Austrian chef Rainer Schwarz and his partner John Nye, the team behind Driftwood Kitchen one terrace up. The kitchen plays coastal seafood straight: tuna tartare, New England clam chowder, a mahi sandwich at lunch. You are not here for a tasting menu. You are here because the Pacific is six feet away and the sun is going down.
The Kitchen
The Deck opened in 2012 under chef-partner Rainer Schwarz, the Austrian-trained chef who also built Laguna's Driftwood Kitchen with business partner John Nye; Schwarz trained from age fifteen in Switzerland before running kitchens in Colorado, Hollywood and finally the Laguna coast. The cooking is unfussy coastal seafood designed to share a table with a view. The tuna tartare and the fresh oyster selection open most meals, the New England clam chowder is a consistent order, and the lunchtime mahi sandwich and the shrimp-and-scallop pasta are the dishes regulars name. Entrees run roughly $30 to $48, putting a full meal around $45 to $75 per person before cocktails, which trend tropical and Instagram-ready. This is a kitchen that knows its job is to keep pace with the setting, not upstage it, and it delivers exactly that.
The Room
There is no indoor dining room in the usual sense; the restaurant is an open-air deck and a stretch of sand set with tables, umbrellas and heat lamps for the marine-layer evenings. The sound is ocean and conversation, never a roar. Lighting at sunset is the entire point, gold then pink then the string lights taking over. Tables on the sand are spaced loosely, dress is resort casual with bare feet tolerated near the water, and seating runs large across the deck and beach. The marine layer can roll in cool, so bring a layer for a night booking.
Best for a First Date
Book The Deck for a first date and aim for the seating about an hour before sunset. The setting carries the conversation when nerves do not, the open air keeps things from feeling claustrophobic, and watching the sun drop into the Pacific gives two people something to share that has nothing to do with small talk. Order oysters and the tuna tartare, get a cocktail each, and let the light do the work. It also makes a memorable backdrop to entertain a client from out of town who wants the California postcard.
Not for
Not for a serious food-first dinner or a quiet business negotiation. You are paying a premium for the only tables on the sand, and the cooking is good rather than destination-level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Deck on Laguna Beach worth it?
Yes, The Deck is worth it for the setting, which is unmatched in Orange County: it is the only restaurant in Laguna Beach built on the sand. The seafood is solid rather than spectacular, and you pay a premium for the location, so expect $45 to $75 per person. Go for sunset and treat the view as half the meal.
How hard is it to book The Deck on Laguna Beach?
The Deck takes reservations on OpenTable, and the sunset window is the hardest table in the house. In summer and on weekends, book the prime evening slots two to three weeks ahead. Lunch and earlier afternoon seatings are far easier to get and still come with the full ocean view.
What is the dress code at The Deck on Laguna Beach?
The dress code at The Deck is resort casual. Because you are dining on the beach, sundresses, linen and sandals are the norm, and bare feet are tolerated near the water. Bring a layer for a sunset or evening booking, since the marine layer can roll in and the open-air deck gets cool.
What should I order at The Deck on Laguna Beach?
Order oysters and the tuna tartare to start, then the New England clam chowder, which regulars rate highly. At lunch the mahi sandwich is the signature, and the shrimp-and-scallop pasta is a reliable dinner. Pair it with one of the tropical cocktails and time your reservation for sunset.
Is The Deck on Laguna Beach good for a first date?
Yes, The Deck is one of the most romantic first-date settings in Laguna Beach. Tables on the sand, an open-air deck and a Pacific sunset do most of the work, which takes the pressure off the conversation. For more ideas, see our first date dining guide.