Harvest Restaurant At The Ranch Laguna Beach
This post has been sponsored by The Ranch at Laguna Beach through Kitchen PLAY. All thoughts are my own.
Where do you dine when you want a culinary experience that will give you a 5-star ambiance feel, sweeping views and food that has a creative and intensely local take on seasonal comfort food? If you guessed “Harvest” At The Ranch Laguna Beach, you are correct.
This rustic and charming restaurant is home to Laguna’s only golf course and offers guests serenity in a private resort overlooking Aliso Canyon .
Harvest Interior
Harvest has a striking interior and you will immediately feel like you have stepped into a cozy cabin high in the sierras with vaulted wood ceilings, woodsy lighting, a burning fireplace and rustic furniture.
Harvest Food and Drink
Led by executive chef Charles Imbelli, Harvest offers diners a limited yet, delicious walk through American and Californian Cuisine. The menu changes with each season, integrating fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables grown and gathered from their own half-acre Harvest Garden. The new bar features an innovative handcrafted cocktail menu, enticing wine list and 18 craft beers on tap.
During a recent visit to Harvest, I started my night off with a “Tree House” Cocktail and my husband ordered the Harvest Moon Cocktail from the bar. Both were refreshing hit the spot.
Appetizers
There are 5 starters/appetizers on the menu as well as daily specials that can also an appetizer. We chose the pickled charcuterie platter which has a unique twist on a tradition charcuterie plate. True to its name, there is no cheese, instead it’s meat and vegetables and all of the vegetables are pickled. It also comes with a side of honeycomb, and whole grain mustard.
We also had the shrimp cocktail with plump selva shrimp, sun-dried tomato and horseradish, avocado mousse, curried almonds and hearts on fire.
Entrees
There is something for everyone on the Harvest Menu. I typically order steak when I dine out, but on this night i decided to try the half Mary’s chicken. The presentation is quite pretty and is surrounded by beluga lentils and a lot of swiss chard. The meat was tender and the portion size was just right.
They also serve Skuna bay salmon with a tzatziki sauce (the salmon is pa seared and mostly raw on this inside) or if you are craving meat you can order the grilled hangar steak with baby bok choy. All of the greens were fresh and flavorful.
They also had some lamb meatballs that my husband and son devoured. they came in a creamy tomato sauce sprinkled with micro greens.
Dessert
This was my absolute favorite part of our meal. As a matter of fact, the apple fritters were probably the best dessert I have had in years. These sumptuous fried little hand-held delicacies are dusted with cinnamon sugar, orange whipped cream and apple cider reduction.
Also not to be missed is the Chocolate Pot De Creme. Espresso, whipped cream, chocolate nibs, a little sea salt and chocolate mint will send your eyes rolling into the back of your head.
We had a great first experience at Harvest and truly hope they can expand their menu in the near future.
Harvest is located at:
Ranch Laguna Beach
31106 Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
