Salad

A few weeks ago at the Patriots Day Parade, a group of Lagunans gathered together on the corner of Forest Avenue and Third Street to chant, "Save Cedar Creek! Save Cedar Creek! Save Cedar Creek!" Many of us have been feeling this way since a news item appeared in the paper suggesting that the restaurant may not be able to renew its lease. From what we can gather, this information may be somewhat premature, as negotiations are still up in the air. Even in the worst-case scenario, they will still be here for another year.

Lauren Vane After hearing a friend rave about their famed tofu mushroom burger, I braved the crowds and muscled my way in to place a lunchtime order at Taco Loco. After a day spent doing nothing but soaking up the rays on my patio, I felt I was ready for a meal that would put an appropriate end to my beach day. Where better than a place specializing in tacos under the sun? Every time I drive by Taco Loco it is hopping with people enjoying a casual meal on the street front -- so it came as no surprise that the line was out the door even on a Sunday afternoon.

DINING OUT There are only 10 days remaining of the summer festivals, so let's get with it at The Sawdust before the lively entertainment ends, because it's party time under the stars every night until Aug. 31. Among lively bands for the listening and dancing pleasure at the al fresco cabaret up front, are the Friday night performances of the Peter Dobson Trio. With talented Sue Cross on bass, melodic Michael J. on drums and inimitable guitarist / vocalist Peter setting the entrancing pace, some memorable moments await.

If you've never been to Splashes at the Surf and Sand Resort before, be forewarned: As you walk into the lobby, there is no sign of a restaurant, nor are there any signs directing you to one. Is it a secret? Are you in the wrong place? You'll never figure it out. You have to ask. You will then be sent to the elevator and instructed to descend. Emerging into a dank and dimly lighted hallway lined with doors, you make your way down this modest corridor, and suddenly there is a light at the end of the tunnel!

Ti Amo has been around for as long as we can remember, so they must be doing something right. In this era of sleek modern box-shaped bistros, all steel and glass, done in tones of beige and brown, it?s kind of nice to occasionally slip back in time to an old-fashioned Italian restaurant decorated like a Mediterranean villa from some Hollywood movie. In fact, it bears an eerie resemblance to the haunted house in Disneyland with dusty deep red drapery, dried flowers, dripping candelabras and pseudo-frescoed walls.

Glori Fickling Unquestionably the oldest Italian restaurant in our town, Polina's Salerno was simply called Salerno when launched in 1974 by Tony Manzi, a native son of Italy. When his longtime dedicated waitress Paula Ferrell purchased the establishment 10 years ago come Valentine's Day, Manzi's affectionate Italian name for her, Polina, was appropriately added to the title. Equally interesting is the fact that head chef Carmelo Rodarte has remained at the kitchen helm since Day One and continues to feature the exact family recipes he was meticulously taught by the original owner.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Much more than a meal, dining at restaurants with an old friend who visits from the East Coast resembles a bad comedy routine -- punctuated by playful under-the-table pokes and stifled groans hidden behind the safety of a menu. My pal, Judy, is not a clever wit who intentionally amuses her table mates. She's just exceedingly particular about what she eats. All salad dressings and sauces go on the side, and wait persons are summarily drilled about how her chosen source of protein is prepared.

Glori Fickling When it comes to alfresco dining, there is probably no more popular spot along the coast than Cafe Zinc & Market on Ocean Avenue adjacent to the bus depot Downtown. Founded in 1988 by enterprising localite John Secretan, the cozy retreat is a vegetarian delight and has been conceived with enough imagination and variety to please even non-vegetarian diners. Directly inside the 20-table patio, a service bar with five more tables poses a backdrop for the works of local artists.

With Marc Cohen?s culinary empire expanding, we were curious to see if his first venture, 230 Forest Ave., has been able to maintain its quality, as many restaurateurs these days have been stretching themselves too thin, like Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Bouloud. With Opah in Irvine and Aliso Viejo, and now Watermarc in Laguna to claim his attention, he?s got a lot on his plate. Yet, he still seems to be cookin? with gas. Mark Singer?s contemporary architecture still retains its hip, cool vibe.

Ti Amo has been around for as long as we can remember, so they must be doing something right. In this era of sleek modern box-shaped bistros, all steel and glass, done in tones of beige and brown, it?s kind of nice to occasionally slip back in time to an old-fashioned Italian restaurant decorated like a Mediterranean villa from some Hollywood movie. In fact, it bears an eerie resemblance to the haunted house in Disneyland with dusty deep red drapery, dried flowers, dripping candelabras and pseudo-frescoed walls.

What a weekend! Festival of Arts Preview Opening Party! Fourth of July! Sunshine and small surf! Laughter, friendship, traffic and crowds. Laguna in the summer. We are on a roll. Kerri Pike, my son Cooper Lee’s girlfriend, rolled into town Friday night. She had tickets for the shakedown dinner at Tivoli Terrace, and I had tickets to the Festival of Arts party. That made for a perfect date. We dressed in walking shoes, found a parking spot downtown and made our way through the growing crowds to Tivoli.

The holiday season is over…Phew! Well, almost over, since the bills haven’t even started to come in yet. With your bank account at its lowest and dining out at its priciest, eating at home appears to be the only affordable alternative; but if you’re at all like us, it simply isn’t a realistic option. We would rather go into debt than give up this crucial sybaritic pleasure. So in order to avoid this terrible fate, we have immersed ourselves in extensive research for your benefit and our own. After endless hours, slaving over a hot computer, we have made the following discoveries right here in town.

Intrepid alimentary explorers that we are, we have just discovered a restaurant that few natives have ever happened upon, and what a find! Nestled behind Laguna Village, it clings to the cliff just up the hill from the Hotel Laguna. There has always been a small sandwich place here with a breathtaking view at the back of this rambling collection of shops; but a little more than a year ago, it came under new ownership and was significantly remodeled. The dining “room” at The Cliff is completely outdoors, as is the cocktail area around a fire pit in the center of the retail area.

When you see the sign for Aliso Creek Inn and make the turn off Coast Highway, you might be put off by the equipment sheds and chain link fences that line the road until you reach a huge parking lot with a giant putting cage off to the left. But as you get out of your car and round the corner, you are suddenly dazzled by a spectacular vista, a carpet of green lawn descending down to a little bridge across Aliso "Creek," framed by the rugged brush-covered hillside beyond. The soft light of the setting sun highlights the gorgeous panorama.