The Cottage Restaurant in Laguna Beach, CA

The Cottage Restaurant (minus the patio)

I always think this restaurant is going to be better than it is.

After this picture was taken, they added an outdoor patio on the right-hand side. Great on wonderful SoCal days, but bad when they put flowers that attract bees on the table.

Waitstaff is friendly and professional.

Food? Overpriced. But, they give you a lot of it. And while it is nothing to write home about (unless you’re blogging home about it), the omelets and french toast and pancakes are average. Stay away from the homefries. I ordered a side with my pancakes ($6 for 2), and they were just boiled to mush with overcooked veggies and their moisture and grease eeked out on the plate. Just stay away from the potatoes altogether. Their cottage fries are crispy fingers of tastelessness.

I have yet to find a really good Laguna Beach breakfast haunt. My guess is they’re further away from the beach and off the beaten path, as most good things are.

PEOPLE: ****

PLACE: ***

FOOD: **

OVERALL: ***