Such Is Life … Or Better Yet, Such IS The Life at C’est La Vie in Laguna Beach!

Picture this if you will… sitting beachside on the balcony on a beautiful breezy afternoon, it’s about 75 degrees, in Laguna Beach, on Pacific Coast Hwy., you’re enjoying the sounds of waves breaking, people laughing and playing, enjoying a remarkable ocean view (as you can see) and amazing food. I do mean amazing! There are almost no words… almost.

Whether you’re a tourist looking for some fabulous beachside food, or a local just looking to find somewhere new, this is definitely a place you want to check out. You won’t be sorry, I promise.

C’est La Vie not only offers fine dining, but also has a bakery (with MANY delicious treats to choose from) offering both inside and outside seating to accommodate everyone’s fancy.

The service was wonderful, including our friendly server, Odie. We found him to be extremely helpful in his recommendations, offering up some of his favorites. I took him at his word and I wasn’t sorry one bit! Thanks Odie!

My husband Greg and I started off with some appetizers. Wow, almost too pretty to eat. OK, slight exaggeration; nothing is ever too pretty to eat. First the Petite friture de calamares arrived: baby calamares, lightly fried and served with a spicy tomato coulis flavored with chili and peppers. Need I say more? As you can see, Greg couldn’t wait any longer. These were by far the best calamari I’ve ever eaten. They were crisp and yet so light that they almost melted in your mouth with just the right texture. Very tasty!

Meanwhile, I was across from my hungry hubby, trying not to drool over the Jumbo Mushrooms stuffed with lump crab meat, garlic butter, and bread crumbs. We were both so eager to dig in we almost did so without plating up. Oh yes and of course, by Odie’s recommendation, a delightful glass of La Crema Chardonnay paired quite nicely.

At this point I had to pace myself. I was very much enjoying this pleasure cruise of food I was on. However, there was no way I was going to allow myself to get full before my much anticipated main course, which we shall get to in a moment.

But onto another of Odie’s recommendations: Salade d'Endive et Poire au bleu. Roasted pear with baby green and Belgian endive salad, caramelized walnuts and blue cheese, and a hazelnut vinaigrette dressing. Again, super yummy! Odie is scoring some big points here.

Then, much to our pleasure, we were brought a sample of the Lobster Bisque soup. I almost thought for a second that Greg was going to start licking the inside of the little espresso cup it came in. Not really, but it was that good. Super creamy deliciousness.

They even brought us a wee bit of orange sorbet just before our main course. It was amazingly flavorful and perfect in every way.

OK, now what you’ve been waiting for, or at least what I had been waiting for. As Odie approached our table and I saw what was set before me, I was so excited that I could hardly stand it. Filet mignon de boeuf au Roquefort. Grilled natural aged beef filet mignon, topped with melted Roquefort cheese, Cabernet Sauvignon reduction sauce, mashed potatoes and sautéed "haricots verts". Seriously?!

The first bite of heaven… OMG! For the record, I do love food, but it doesn’t usually cause me to dance a jig. I was trying my darndest not to cause a scene, so I just did a mini jig in my seat, almost clapping my hands as I hummed a tune while I chewed. No, chewed is an exaggeration for this. It practically melted in my mouth. It was cooked to perfection, medium rare just as I had requested. You could most definitely cut it with a fork. It was “ridiculously good”, as Greg said. It was, by far, the best filet either of us had ever eaten (yes I shared), and we have had our fair share of steaks at some really great places. Greg’s sentiments were right up there with mine. In fact, he almost started singing a song about it. Not really, but it could happen, right? Greg was a bit jealous, until he tasted his entree. Well, he was still a little jealous, a good Rib eye will make any man happy, but I’m not sure it rises to the occasion of the best filet mignon of our lives. I don’t mean to ignore the other items on my plate; they were very tasty as well. The potatoes were light and airy and the green beans were nice and crisp and fit in nicely.

As I mentioned, Greg’s choice for the evening was the Rib eye, also known as Entrecote au poivre Parisienne. Grilled Rib eye steak, brushed with crushed tricolor peppercorn, Cognac and Cream sauce, served with fresh vegetables and French fries.

See? He couldn’t be too jealous right? I mean, just look at it. He was all smiles the entire time he ate. And you can believe that he ate the entire steak, every last bite. That ought to sum up his take on the whole thing.

Could this meal get any better? Hmmm. As a matter of fact, I think it can. The desserts were phenomenal, the coffee was delicious. It was crazy. We were brought a tray with a bounty of desserts, again, almost too beautiful to eat. But we did manage to forgive ourselves for destroying their beauty by indulging and finding a bit of room for some sweet delight.

Greg ordered the Cappuccino Mousse Cake and I had the Chocolate Mousse Cake with Crème Brule. Both were outstanding -- moist cake, super creamy chocolaty mousse. Yum! We also managed to bring home three desserts for later. Nice huh?! They were equally delicious and it was hard not to over indulge. A Three Layer Cheese Cake, Tiramisu and the Chocolate Mousse Cake. Off the chart deliciousness!

After dinner, we walked along the board walk and enjoyed the sunset before heading back home.

If you’re up for some outstanding French cuisine at a lovely
bistro on the beach, whether it’s for a romantic evening, breakfast or lunch, this would be a fabulous place to venture to. Besides offering fine dining, the bakery and bar, they also have wedding packages, as well as some great specials to choose from. Monday Night is ½ Price Wine Night, Wednesday is Lobster Night ($29.95 for 1 ½ pounds of Main Lobster), and Saturday Night is Entertainment Night with live music. A fabulous time will be had by all.

C’est La Vie

373 S. Coast Hwy.

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

949-497-5100

cestlavierestaurant.com