After more than a decade hugging the sands of Laguna Beach, Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck will close its doors this year. The Sleepy Hollow Lane eateries are slated to serve their final meal in early September.
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“The closure of Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck is part of the planned redevelopment of the Pacific Edge Hotel property,” said Chris Whitman, managing director of Pacific Edge Hotel. “At this time, we are focused on successfully operating through the final weeks and preparing for the redevelopment.”
Whether or not both eateries will reopen at a later date remains up in the air. According to a WARN notice, Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day, will be the final date.
The late chef Rainer Schwarz and director of operations John Nye opened The Deck, noted for being right on the sands, in 2012. They followed with Driftwood Kitchen in 2013, replacing The Beach House, which shut its doors after 45 years.
The two restaurants made headlines this year after chef Schwarz died unexpectedly in a car crash on April 6 in Dana Point. He was 56.
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During its time in Laguna, Driftwood Kitchen received praise from food critic Brad Johnson, who wrote in 2014, “It’s hard to ignore the view at Driftwood Kitchen. No matter how many times we’ve seen the sun dip into the Pacific, that scene has a way of demanding our attention.”
Johnson also praised the seafood offerings, opining, “The buttermilk-fried soft-shell crabs are as good as you’ll find on the West Coast. And the halibut is stunning, served atop a fricassee of summer corn and fava beans.”
Menu highlights at Driftwood Kitchen include seafood (e.g., oysters, seafood towers, scallops, grilled octopus), burgers and a popular brunch program.
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