"Laguna's 1937 Pottery Shack reborn as Russ Bendel's wine-first patio room. Book the terrace at sunset for a birthday."
About Sapphire
The Pottery Shack sold hand-thrown bowls on this bend of South Coast Highway from 1937, and the compound it left behind is still the most recognisable address in south Laguna. Since March 2020 it has belonged to Russ Bendel, the Court of Master Sommeliers-certified restaurateur behind Vine in San Clemente and Olea in Newport Beach, who relaunched Azmin Ghahreman's old Sapphire as the coastal anchor of his Cellar.Craft.Cook group. The formula is plain: chef Jared Cook's a-la-carte menu, a serious cellar, and a 90-seat patio that fills before the dining room does.
The Kitchen
Jared Cook runs the kitchens across Bendel's three Cellar.Craft.Cook rooms, and Sapphire is where his cooking relaxes. The duck meatballs are the order that follows the restaurant around; regulars on OpenTable, where the room holds a 4.7 from more than 1,900 reviews, treat them as non-negotiable. Around them sits a coastal menu that changes with the seasons: a citrus-bright ceviche, wild Alaskan halibut, a schnitzel with garden-herb spaetzle that survives every menu rewrite, and a wagyu burger that does lunch duty. Mains top out at $39.50, which on this stretch of coast counts as restraint.
The cellar is the quiet flex. Bendel's certifications show in a list built for drinking rather than trophy-hunting, and corkage is welcomed if you bring your own. The room cooked through OC Restaurant Week in March 2026, its sixth under this ownership, and the group's bench means the kitchen does not wobble when Cook is at Driftwood Kitchen-level volume on summer weekends. For the wider catch on this coastline, start with our best seafood restaurants guide and the full Laguna Beach dining guide.
The Room
One building, three moods. Inside is a 60-seat dining room with a fireplace and the easy hum of a neighbourhood that can afford to eat out on a Tuesday; conversation carries without effort. The terrace seats 90 under heaters and catches the light over Coast Highway at sunset, which is why it books first. A private boardroom takes 16. Dress is genuinely casual, sandy feet included at lunch, and the validated structure behind the building solves the one problem every Laguna dinner has: parking.
Best for a Birthday
Book the patio for a birthday because it does the three things a celebration needs: long tables without a fight, a sunset over the Pacific at no extra charge, and a kitchen that sends the duck meatballs family-style while the corks keep coming. Weekend brunch gives daytime parties a second window. For a starrier budget, Broadway by Amar Santana is the dress-up alternative; see the full Best for a Birthday guide for both.
Not for
Skip it for a tasting-menu evening. Sapphire runs a-la-carte and casual, and the point is the patio at sunset, not the plating.
Frequently Asked
Is Sapphire in Laguna Beach worth it?
Yes, for what it is: the most reliable patio dinner on South Coast Highway rather than a special-occasion splurge. Jared Cook's menu holds a 4.7 across more than 1,900 OpenTable reviews, mains stay under $40, and the 1937 Pottery Shack setting gives it a sense of place no new build on this coast can buy.
How hard is it to book Sapphire?
Easier than its neighbours. Reservations run through OpenTable and most weeknights are bookable a day or two out. The exceptions are sunset slots on the terrace and weekend brunch, which go several days ahead in summer; the bar takes walk-ins. Validated parking in the structure behind the restaurant removes the usual Laguna excuse for being late.
What is the dress code at Sapphire?
Casual, and they mean it. This is a beach-town room where shorts at lunch raise no eyebrows and a collared shirt at dinner counts as effort. The terrace runs heaters after dark, so bring a layer rather than a jacket-and-tie; save the dress-up evening for Broadway by Amar Santana across town.
What should I order at Sapphire?
Start with the duck meatballs, the one dish diners refuse to let off the menu, and the ceviche, the standout of recent seasons. The wagyu burger owns lunch, the wild Alaskan halibut anchors dinner, and the schnitzel with garden-herb spaetzle is the sleeper. Ask for the corkage terms if you have a bottle worth carrying in.
Is Sapphire good for a birthday dinner?
It is the easiest birthday table in Laguna Beach. The 90-seat patio absorbs groups that other rooms in town turn away, the private boardroom seats 16 for something quieter, and weekend brunch from 10am gives daytime parties a slot. Book the terrace half an hour before sunset and let the Pacific handle the decorations.
Reserve a Table
Reserve at Sapphire
Reservations via OpenTable; the terrace books first at sunset.
Affiliate disclosure: Restaurants for Kings may earn a commission when you book through our reservation links, at no cost to you. Our scores are editorial and never paid for.
Practical Information
Address1200 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651
NeighbourhoodSouth Coast Highway
CuisineCoastal Californian
PriceMains $24–$39.50 · brunch from $15
Dress CodeCasual
Seating60 dining room · 90 patio · 16 boardroom
ReservationOpenTable; bar walk-ins
