Studio Restaurant

Studio has become one of my favorite places to fine dine in Orange County. From the moment you step into this restaurant you are treated with the utmost care and service. They make you feel like you are the only people in the restaurant, sort of like your the master of an estate that has just sat down for his dinner.
The dining area features a beautiful view of the ocean and the Montage grounds at sunset, and just makes for a perfect romantic dinner (in my opinion). Our main host for the evening, Jamie, did such an impressive job explaining the tasting menu that you could taste the food in your mouth before it got to the table. She came back at every course and asked what we thought of it, and was genuinely pleased that we enjoyed each course. It was like she was enjoying our meal with us.
One of the highlights of their excellent service was they noticed I was cold and offered me a blanket! And that made my evening.
I also really enjoyed their non-​alcoholic cocktail selection. They are fun drinks with such unique flavor combinations that you almost want to try them all at once.
The food is excellent and really more of an experience, than just going out to eat food. The flavor combinations are phenomenal, and my husband and I can’t wait to go back.

4 Stars for the AMBIANCE really but 3 for the food. Enjoyed my time there because of the patio views we were at and more than made up for the food they served. Had their tomato salad, rabbit ravioli, prawn risotto, and veal ribeye (roasted). Service was also 4 stars, very caring and service oriented. Claudia, Thank you for taking a picture of us as it was greatly appreciated.

This is definitely a 5 star restaurant/​dining experience. The staff was very attentive and accommodating in every way. Even our water was filled with Fiji H2O when our glasses got passed the half way point. The filet was amazing and cooked to perfection, and the lobster risotto was to die for! Desert was less than perfect, but the alcohol situation more than made up for that. Two thumbs up!

The Studio is my favorite special occasion restaurant in Orange County, and we enjoyed another fabulous dinner there for my birthday last week. Our server, Saul, made the evening memorable with his welcoming, kind, genuine, and professional nature. We had the pleasure of meeting Saul during another dinner at The Studio, over a year ago, and although he was not a main server at the time, he made our experience enjoyable then as well. I am happy that they have promoted him to a lead server position, as it is well deserved and a benefit to diners.
My husband ordered a five course meal, picking and choosing his items, while I opted for the vegetarian tasting menu, which was perfect. The only major disappointment came when we realized that the chef removed the crab cavatelli from the menu, which was our favorite item. When you have something so unique and amazing, why take it off the menu? I have recommended The Studio and specifically, the crab cavatelli, to many people over the years, and now this gem of a dish is no longer served. Hopefully, they will bring it back. The new shrimp risotto dish was good, but nothing compares to their famous crab cavatelli. Even in Trip Advisor reviews, it is mentioned so frequently that it shows up in the highlights area.
Our outdoor ocean view table was romantic and the best possible way to celebrate my birthday. Everything was spectacular. Throughout dinner, I kept comparing it to our recent fine dining experience at Joel Robuchon, a 3 Michelin Star rated restaurant in Las Vegas, which was double the price and half as delightful as The Studio. Food, service, and ambiance at The Studio were outstanding. We will be back, and hopefully, so will the crab cavatelli!

May be pricey but I cannot say enough good things about this place. The service was impeccable. Food was to die for. We will definitely be back !

We stayed in the Montage over New Years Eve and the whole experience was great. We did dine at The Studio again.
It was a Sunday early evening, January 3^rd and we were served by a blond woman who was excellent! She was friendly and knowledgeable. The food and service was great. The view of the sunset was impeccable! It’s like an artist had hung a large painting in the sky. Sorry The Studio staff, but you can’t compete with those sunsets we see from the restaurant around 6pm ;-)
We will defenitely be back again in 2016. I like the different flavored butters for the bread. That is a very unique concept. I also enjoyed watching the You Tube video on your executive chef and the buying local produce concept. My compliments to him and the butters :-)

I came here specifically for the chocolate sphere dessert. I’ve seen it all over social media and this is the only place I was able to find it.
As my friend and I walked in we were greeted with kind hostesses. As well our server/​bartender was great!
The down part, the chocolate sphere wasn’t as good as I thought it would be. It was super rich and very plain. It would be great if they put ice cream in it like others do with fruit on the outside.

8÷9÷13
My birthday dinner surprise from the husband… I had no idea we were coming here… after walking from the valet through the Montage we were greeted and seated outside with the ocean in front of us! Everyone wished me a happy birthday! The service was impeccable… with still or sparkling water constantly being filled at our table… the view was beautiful. We also saw a wedding on the lawn of the Montage during our dinner.

Let’s just get to the chase… This is by far one of the BEST views and dining atmosphere I’ve been to. But it’s also one of the WORST meals I’ve had for an expensive restaurant.
For the price you pay at a $$$$ restaurant, the meal isn’t up to par. Sure, the plating looks absolutely beautiful. But does the look matter much when the food is mediocre? We ordered oysters that were covered in some sort of gelatin that tasted super plain with no flavor at all. They were very fresh but really lackluster in flavor. The scallop appetizer was not bad, but just a tiny one on a plate? Still hungry here. The meat entrée was tender and soft. It had decent flavor, but once again the flavor was just lacking. I don’t know but flavor was extremely crucial here when having such small amounts of food, and it just wasn’t there. Don’t expect to get full here as the portions are small, so you might wanna grab a burger down the street afterwards. Just saying.
Service of course is impeccable. At a place like this, expect constant attentiveness. I really enjoyed my dining experience here as the open patio view overlooking the ocean is truly top notch, and I would’ve liked to give it a much higher rating. But at the end of the day, you go to a restaurant, you want good flavorful food. And especially at a $$$$ restaurant, it better be out-​of-​this-​world amazing. And it’s not. I don’t see myself going back to this restaurant. But like usual, I just go to The Montage for drinks and a nice stroll along the path overlooking the ocean. Want that gorgeous view with a glass of wine? Make a small picnic for yourself… Bring a bottle of wine, some light snacks, and sit at the bench with that stunning ocean view. That’s what I’m doing.

Studio is exceptional. We all had the 3 course dinner menu. Then dessert. We couldn’t have asked for more. The ambiance, the sommelier and wait staff were wonderful.

Get the tasting menu, add the A5 wagyu and a half bottle of wine plus a pairing for the entrée. Great special occasion dining spot with a great view and amazing service from the moment the doors are flung open upon your arrival. Try coming near sunset time to enjoy the view.

Very slim pickings in the area for fine dining. Studio stands out amongst their mediocre competitors. The service and grandiose dining room are impressive in itself.
For those directionally challenged like me, it’s VERY difficult to get from valet to the restaurant, I think it took us 10+ minutes. Traverse through the hotel, down the elevators and through the property, there are stairs and it’s chilly outside, so ladies, beware.
Rarely do I feel truly cared for during a meal, very intimate genuine service. They remembered every detail of what they heard during our conversations, used the information and made magic happen.
Currently their truffle supplement is $ 25, not bad. We had it on the risotto and pumpkin ravioli. I would recommend the addition. The tasting menu overall was a very solid meal and the wine pairing expertly tailored by the sommelier.

Being from the area, we hear a LOT about this phenomenal restaurant. Our family has been here twice now (once without me), and it was «top-​notch» every time. The wine list is incredibly extensive and amazing, and the service is impeccable. The time I spent there was with a group of 5, as we were celebrating a birthday, and bar mitzvah, and it could not have been better!
Our reservation was about 30 minutes to sunset, and the ambiance is purely beautiful. Our waiter, gosh I wish I could remember his name, was the absolute funniest and always had us laughing. For the first/​second course, we shared the Parmigiano-​reggiano Risotto, Belgian Endive Salad, and Hamachi Sashimi; and from the start was very delicious.
For our main course, we ordered the Swordfish, Duck Breast, and Tenderloin. We never really agreed to share, but the minute I tasted that tenderloin and the purée, I can’t recall if anyone ate it besides me!
Afterwards, we ordered the Guanaja Chocolate Ball which was followed by a surprise entry of a cake and mini dessert sampler plate! (someone must have notified ahead of time, but I still can’t figure out who it was). I cannot get over the experience of that chocolate delight!
All in all, it was a magnificent night and I will take any chance to go again!

No complaints but be prepared to break the bank.
Went here for mothers day. The hotel is beautiful. You can walk around and see the view.
The view of the restaurant is great as well.
Id def come back for a special occassion.

We celebrated our one year anniversary here last weekend and were blown away by the five star service we received.
I may have mentioned that we were celebrating our first anniversary and I’m so glad I did! They went all out for us! We arrived about thirty minutes before our 6:45pm reservation and they sat us right away at their best table outside on a patio that’s perched on a hill between the ocean and the montage resort offering a spectacular view of the coming sunset and a 180 view of the water just breathtaking!
We ordered a few cocktails to kick things off and ordered the chilled oysters and seared ahi for our first course — both were beautifully presented and delicious. I preferred the orange habanero and ponzu oysters over the red shisho. My husband’s ahi was perfectly tender and the sauce was a wonderful compliment to the tuna.
For our second course we tried the parmigiana — reggiano risotto, which I absolutely adored and devoured and my husband enjoyed the dungeness crab and ricotta cavatelli — which I stole a few bites from as well. Both were amazing, but if you’re a fan of risotto and Parmesan — don’t hesitate to order this — so good!
For our main, my husband ordered the tenderloin and I selected the halibut. Again, the presentation for both was artful and outstanding — living up to the restaurant’s name. While I truly enjoyed the halibut, the tenderloin stole the show — an amazingly tender and flavorful cut of beef — paired with these silky potatoes that melted in your mouth that I couldn’t help but keep stealing bites of from my husband’s plate!
We of course had to finish up with their dessert selections — I ordered the Guanaja Chocolate Sphere and my husband their seasonal orange crème brûlée. The sphere contained a delectable ice cream inside and the whole dessert became insanely creamy after they poured the piping hot caramel on top! Joe also treated us to a delicate tiramisu with congratulations beautifully scribed on the plate along with a note about our one year anniversary and a candle for us to make a wish for more amazing dinners like this one! :)
This was by far one of the best meals we’ve enjoyed to date — surpassing Geoffrey’s in Malibu and Capo in Santa Monica — which also took our breath away!
Joe and the rest of the Studio team took excellent care of us the whole evening and were incredibly attentive throughout our entire culinary experience!
Thank you to everyone at Studio from the hostess, to our delightful server and the thoughtful service staff who all ensured this evening was an unforgettable one for our first anniversary! And thanks again to Joe for the additional salty and sweet pralines, and coffee cake gift as well! :)

Great location. Great staff. Great service.
Great food quality.
For the price and the location we were given cold coffee and when we asked for the second round of coffee, they didn’t have any coffee left in the fresh brewed pot and they just give us a little left of coffee and didn’t bother to offer us more coffee.
Oh well. We’re not perfect even we try hard to make it happen.

My girlfriend and I came here to celebrate a special occasion. The studio restaurant is definitely not your everyday TGI Fridays or Outback Steakhouses. So be prepared to dress well. From reservation to the end of your meal, you will feel satisfied with the entire service.
Our table had several different server specialists, each does one particular task. For example, we had someone just for pouring the Fiji Water/​Sparkling water and serving the hot baked bread with 3 different types of butters, one person is just for taking orders and provide wine selections, one with explaining the different types of dishes.
The wine server is French, he was really nice and when we order 2 glasses of wine, he even poured a little bit first for us to taste to make sure we like the wine, very patient with someone who is new to the restaurant. The server who explains the dishes is really awesome too, he is very knowledgeable, I’m sure if he wants to become a chef, he will be a good one. And the server who served the bread and water, he was always on point with serving the hot breads, really delicious. Lastly, they change your forks and knives for every dish.
The food is really delicious! We ordered 1 tasting menu, 1 dish of Seared Diver Scallops, 1 dish of Parmesan Risotto, and 1 main entrée of Duck Breast. In addition, the chef also gave us complimentary appetizer starter along with complimentary dessert and candies to take home. Total cost without tip is $ 300. I mean for about 11 – 12 dishes, I think its really reasonable in terms of price. All of the dishes that they served were not your typical cooked food at home, including Foie Gras.
So, if you plan to have a special dinner here, enjoy the amazing service from beginning to end and the beautiful Laguna Beach setting.

It is and by far the best 5 stars I
husband and I dine and work at great restaurants but hospitality at studio is amazing! chef strong cuisine is spectacular and excellent. Never seen such a wonderful chef gracious and accommodating!
The tasting menu with nicely chosen superb wine will make you lingering for more. service is perfect and synchronize like orchestra! You add the Wonderfull view and you experience memories that live with you a life time! thank you for making ours unforgettable !!

My wife and I came here celebrating our 11 year anniversary with high hopes. Location was amazing as it was right on the beach. From the moment we entered the restaurant service was also excellent. Great start… until we ate the food! Let me say the food was good, not great and for sure not worth $ 200 per person. We ordered the tasting menu and it was just okay.
Again I love the location and service, but if I’m paying over $ 400 for 2 people, it better be some pretty amazing food… Unfortunately it was not. Sorry.

The Studio is a beautiful spot to dine for special occasions. It’s too pricey to dine here for a «regular» meal because you are going to drop $ 150 to $ 250 at the very least per person (and that is assuming you aren’t choosing the pricey wines).
It’s located at The Montage Laguna Beach, right along the cliff so you get gorgeous ocean views. If you choose one of the outdoor tables, be sure to bring an extra layer as the temperature drops in the evening by the ocean and the wind picks up. A definite winner when it comes to ambience.
The service too is five star with plenty of wait staff to see to every need.
Unfortunately, the food isn’t on par to the atmosphere or service. I wanted to love the food because it all looked great. I had oysters to start which were okay. Of the three different jellies that came with the oysters I only really liked one of them (the ponzu one). The risotto was good though I forgot to get a pic of that. My main entrée of swordfish was mediocre. I liked the spicy lentils but the swordfish wasn’t very good. I chose it because the waitor said the swordfish is locally caught about ten miles away from here. I was also disappointed in my Venezuelan chocolate cake. It looked and sounded better than it all tasted.
On the flip side, they were great about offering a lot complimentary things such as the artisanal bread and butter, amuse bouche, and mini desserts/​truffles.
So, if you decide to dine here, enjoy the beautiful atmosphere and excellent service. Just don’t expect five star food.