Dining at Raya at the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, CA offers a taste of the pacific that it overlooks.
Supporting Sustainable Seafood
Located 162 feet above the ocean with awe-inspiring views, Raya is the perfect place to combine respect for the environment with a love of fresh coastal cuisine. Acclaimed Chef Richard Sandoval focuses on using sustainable seafood for Raya dishes such as the Miso Black Cod that features Alaskan black cod with daikon radish, asparagus, lemon-togarashi aioli, and kabayaki sauce.
The Alaskan black cod is recommended by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program as being certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council. Chef Richard supports sustainable fishing by participating in the Seafood Watch Restaurant Program that is “committed to protecting the health of the oceans.” The restaurant has taken another step to promote environmental sustainability by having the menu printed on recycled paper.
Utilizing Local Produce
Another way that Chef Richard creates a high-quality menu with fresh tastes is by using natural, organic, local produce for his dishes such as the Maggie Farms Arugula Salad that combines pea shoots, cranberries, almonds, goat cheese and a spicy balsamic vinaigrette or the Sweet Corn Soup with truffled masa dumplings and a huitlacoche purée. Although the dress is resort casual, the cuisine is anything but low-key.
Latin Food Flair
As Bon Appétit magazine’s 2006 Restaurateur of the Year, Chef Richard strives to infuse his Latin heritage into regional recipes such as the Mushroom Huarache appetizer made caramelized onions, roasted wild mushrooms, black bean purée, goat cheese and truffle oil served with crispy masa flatbread or the mouthwatering Yuzu Citrus Cake with five-spice custard sauce, ginger ice cream and a sesame lace cookie.
Perfect Wine Pairing
To accompany the exquisite menu is an extensive wine list. Unsure which wine pairs well with each dish? The wait staff at Raya is knowledgeable and passionate about food and wine. Their expertise goes beyond the basics and they are well prepared to suggest a wine that will bring out the flavors of each menu item.
On Sunday, enjoy an a la carte Champagne Bruch that includes an appetizer and your choice of a first course, main course and dessert for $65.
Looking for a little privacy and intimacy? Raya has an elegant private dining room that seats up to 14 guests.
Hours
- Breakfast served daily 7 to 11:30 a.m.
- Lunch served daily from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Dinner served daily 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Location
One Ritz-Carlton Drive
Dana Point, California 92629 USA
Phone: (949) 240-2000
Sharael Kolberg - With a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from the University of Hawaii, Sharael combines her interest in family travel with her passion for ...
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