Las Brisas in Laguna Beach

Going Down Memory Lane

I try  not to clutter my dining blog with touristy places that you can read about on Yelp. But for nostalgia's sake, I need to throw out a few words about Las Brisas!

Now

This is a photo I took in May 2014.  I don't have a photo from the early 1980's when Don and I lived up the road often walked to the restaurant for Happy Hours on the patio.  At that time it had just been open a couple years, as Las Brisas. 

Way Back

Back in 1938, when Laguna Beach was a more isolated beach town, the building with its grand ocean view, was the Victor Hugo Inn.   That was long before Don and I used to come.  It was also before O.J. Simpson used to frequent the place.  It's a little creepy that we hung out at Las Brisas about the same time period that he did. 

Happy Hour in 2014

A year ago, it was an even shorter walk from our hotel to Happy Hour than our walks from home 30+ years earlier.   It was early evening, and blue umbrellas were shading us from the hot sun.  I was glad to see the blue and white theme was still happening.

The patio was as packed as we remembered.  Back in the '80's, you had to be sly and quick to grab a table. I also remember only eating Mexican food.  The menu had expanded and we enjoyed some excellent sushi.

 
Another Visit

We were in town a week, so we headed over again on the evening of Cinco de Mayo.  At least one of us had to have a margarita to celebrate the occasion.

Getting Chilly

I knew I was back in California, when my brow felt damp from the hot sun... until the sun began to lower and I felt a shiver of cool!

In a matter of minutes, the staff was running around, turning up the flames of the standing heaters and lighting the fire pit.

Mariachis on Cinco de Mayo!

I don't recall seeing mariachis at Las Brisas in the past!  But suddenly we were surrounded!  Perfecto!

We requested our favorite song "Malaguena" which requires at least one very decent singer, who can hold notes for a long time!  These guys got a good tip!

One More Visit

I paid one more visit to Las Brisas, on an early morning run.  I snapped a cell phone pic and sighed at the old favorite with the wonderful view of the Pacific. 

Empty

It was odd to see the place empty, especially the tiled table that circled the fire pit. So many had gathered around that pit on the other evenings. 

Bette Davis... a Few Days Later

After leaving Laguna Beach and heading back to Texas, we stopped at a hotel.  As always, I checked to see if the hotel TV got the Turner Classic Movie station.  It did, and what should be playing, but the 1942 film, "Now Voyager" starring Bette Davis.  In this scene she is seated on the patio of the old Victor Hugo Inn... in just about the same spot as the fire pit!  Small world!  I love it!