Cafe Zoolu   

860 Glenneyre St
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949-494-6825
www.www.zoolu.net

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Like any great independent restaurant, Cafe Zoolu is a mirror image of its surrounding neighborhood. Resembling the Laguna Beach town it's surrounded by, Zoolu is eclectic, charming and expensive. A very casual clientele full of well-dressed and well-mannered locals frequents Cafe Zoolu, but don't let the exclusivity scare you away, everyone with deep pockets is welcome. Although the menu doesn't settle on one cuisine, most dishes are based around steak and seafood. The pan-fried sea bass covered in Japanese herbs and the rib chop with peppercorn sauce are two Zoolu favorites, but the owners claim the softball-shaped swordfish is the most-ordered item on the menu. Don't just load up on the entrees, Zoolu has a great appetizer menu: buffalo mozzarella, pot stickers and the ahi Nicoise salad are all great starters, especially accompanied with one of the restaurant's boutique wines. This individualized Polynesian-styled restaurant is a great place to eat, not only for the eclectic menu and attention-to-detail motif, but also for the simple fact that people dining here always seems to have a great time. Unfortunately, having a great time in Laguna Beach comes at a steep price. Expect to drop at least $75 for two people -- and that's before drinks. -- Michael Alarcon