motif at the st. regis is also good. call ahead and speak to the chef (todd) about a custom tasting menu.

 

Sona is a great choice. Both the food and romantic atmosphere are great and probably perfect for what you're looking for. They have a great wine list as well.

 

Had a great time at 2 fantastic restaurants this weekend.

Friday was Loft at Montage (laguna beach). Dined with some friends of the executive chef, so we got 5* treatment. We picked entrees and let the chef plan the meal around them. Menu was American Contemporary, and had a fair selection of fish, beef, and poultry. Recipes were simple and full of bold flavors - no overly complicated or subtle flavors here. While some (chuck) might not consider this true fine-dining, it was one of the best meals of my life. The spotlight was definitely on the dry-aged new york that was coffee crusted and served with bourbon-caramel sauce. Absolutely delicious...I'm already drooling again!

Saturday night was Studio at Montage, the signature restaurant. This is a true dining experience that rivals Alex, Joel Rubichon, etc... The doors are opened for you and there are no fewer than 5 people greeting us. It was almost overwhelming actually. We're 45 minutes early for our reservation, but we're quickly shown one of the best seats in the house - a semi private table overlooking the ocean. Menu is Contemporary French. Flavors were significantly more subtle and complex than last night. Lots more butter and cream, but it's not too rich. Tasting menu had too many creatures I didn't eat, but my wife tried it - and LOVED it. I ordered a la carte, and the feature was Xeres-vinegar braised short ribs. These were possibly the best short ribs I've ever had, competing for the top spot with Marche Moderne.

Overall, Studio was a much more special experience. However, not being a fan of subtle flavors in my food (I love hot sauce on everything, for example), it was not my ideal food choice. Since I had the exact same opinion about Alex, I'm slowly coming to the realization that I am not a true "foodie". I much prefer entrees that have sock-it-to-me big, bold flavors.

One of my favorite things about both restaurants is that they are unpretentious. The sommeliers do not push you into expensive bottles of wine. We spent $80 on wine the first night and $125 the second night. Excellent choices for relatively reasonable prices!

All in all, a great weekend of eating!