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Help us make it rightOpen for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, starting at 5pm.The best seafood restaurant in the area is just around the corner. If you are looking for fish, steak, or just a great dinner make your reservation now! Our quasi-Polynesian cafe is described as Eclectic California Cuisine with a menu influenced by Hawaiian, Asian, Mexican and Cajun. We pride ourselves on our fresh, wild caught seafood...
Laguna's neighborhood cafe, in famous Laguna Beach, California. Just up the street from Thalia Street on Glenneyre, this funky quasi-polynesian cafe is casual and hip without being trendy. Zagat calls the enormous swordfish plate The Best on the Planet.
Owner operated by Toni Leech and husband-chef Michael, have built this funky quasi-polynesian cafe into a casual and hip spot, without being trendy. The Zagat Guide calls Cafe Zoolu's swordfish "The Best on the Planet," but they also serve fine wines and Hinano, the traditional lager from Tahiti. Of course, it goes without saying, that Cafe Zoolu has one of the most superb selections of fine...
Owner Toni Leech and her husband and chef, Michael, run this neighborhood bistro, which is a real hit with locals. Located just one block from the beach, Café Zoolu thankfully lacks pretension, offering instead funky Laguna charm. Chef Michael’s dishes all have a certain Polynesian or Asian flair, such as the blackened ahi sashimi with avocado, grapefruit and a Thai ginger-horseradish sauce....
Owner Toni Leech and her husband-chef Michael run this neighborhood bistro, which is a real hit with locals. Located just one block from the beach, cafe Zoolu thankfully lacks pretension, offering instead funky Laguna charm. Chef Michael's… Read More
"Quirky doesn't begin to describe" this midpriced Californian "gem" in Laguna Beach, where "incredible" seafood (the charbroiled mesquite swordfish is the specialty) is served up by a "wonderful" staff in a "beachy" Polynesian setting; the portions are "huge", but the dining room is tiny, so "make reservations."
Seems that places in OC that are institutions don't care much for manners. Diners that haven't been here since day one tend to find themselves terrified of the hostess. Ah well. The swordfish is good. That's the main thing to snarf here, though all seafood gets high marks. As do the surroundings, tiki-tastic rooms carved out of a nondescript house.
One block from the beach, Café Zoolu offers daily specials such as ahi and crab cakes, warm scallop salad and ahi tartare for starters. Try Zoolu's Famous Chunk-O-Swordfish, the house signature dish, served in a lemon-caper butter sauce. Other intriguing entrées you may encounter include the 20-ounce Cowboy steak, fresh Yoko Ono (charbroiled and served with a citrus-coconut ginger sauce) or...
We walked in no reservation, (next time we will make them), but he had a table we could have for an hour! Cool vibe, casual, $$$! One relief room, lol! We split ahi, yummy. Big portions so split! Can't wait to go back.
Our visit came on the recommendations of locals and it was without a doubt, wonderful. The swordfish and seabass were the best we ever had. Its a cool little place thats big on great food prepared by the owner. Its not about frills, its about a great meal and good people. We're from Connecticut and will definitely be back on...
We were greeted by a somewhat rude hostess and finally seated at a minute high table near the bar, even though we had a reservation. We were served by about four different people who didn't seem to communicate with each other about what we had ordered. However the salad and main courses were very good. We both had sword fish...
My husband and I ate here on a recent trip to Laguna and loved everything about our experience. We've been to Laguna several times and always gravitated towards the restaurants on the main strip or something with a view, often times presented with a fine experience but also a very touristy one. Cafe Zoolu was a welcome reprieve from our...
The fish was good here, but the restaurant was way too cramped inside. It has a small local feel, and that is exactly what you will get. Would only go back at a less crowded time, even though we did have reservations.
The best seafood restaurant in the area is just around the corner. If you are looking for fish, steak, or just a great dinner make your reservation now!
Laguna's neighborhood cafe, in famous Laguna Beach, California. Just up the street from Thalia Street on Glenneyre, this funky quasi-polynesian cafe is casual and hip without being trendy. Zagat calls the enormous swordfish plate "The Best on the Planet.
Open for dinner Tuesday through Sunday, starting at 5pm. The best seafood restaurant in the area is just around the corner. If you are looking for fish, steak, or just a great dinner make your reservation now! Our quasi-Polynesian cafe is described as Eclectic California Cuisine with a menu influenced by Hawaiian, Asian, Mexican and Cajun. We pride ourselves on our fresh, wild caught seafood...
The Laguna Beach Cafe boasts its swordfish as the "best on the planet." The cozy cafe is a local favorite for dinner.
Perhaps one of the OC's best (and most under-publicized) Californian options, Cafe Zoolu is a true product of its surroundings. Eclectic, funky decor features the bold (zebra-striped seats), the unusual (autographed photos of k.d. Lang and the Kingston Trio), and the outright eccentric (Polynesian-style salt and pepper shakers). Owner-chef Michael Leach's menu, noted for its global appeal, is...
Save Money: Appetizer and pasta portions are quite large. Ask your server for a half order at half price.
What to Drink: The back wall wine cellar is well-stocked with boutique California labels as well as international selections.
Know Before You Go: The cafe is as tiny as it is popular, so be sure to make a reservation if you don't want to wait.
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