Selanne Steak Tavern - Laguna Beach, California

Claudia L.

Restaurante de lujo, comida deliciosa, opciones para niños adecuadas, excelente trato de Mariano el mesero y su ayudante, 100/10 👍

Benjamin G.

Muy rico

Paul M.

Selanne Steak Tavern: A Culinary Experience Worth Savoring

A meal at Selanne Steak Tavern is more than just dining—it’s an experience, a carefully curated blend of refined flavors, artful presentation, and an atmosphere that exudes understated elegance.

The evening began with a lemon-strawberry mocktail, a vibrant, citrus-kissed refreshment that was as light on the palate as it was visually enticing.

Then, the Pacific Diver Scallops arrived—a dish so beautifully composed it felt almost criminal to disturb it. The delicate sweetness of the scallops paired harmoniously with the silkiness of cauliflower purée, while pickled shimeji mushrooms and black garlic added layers of umami and depth.

Of course, no visit here would be complete without indulging in 6 ounces of Japanese A5 Wagyu, flawlessly prepared to a perfect medium. The marbling, the melt-in-your-mouth tenderness—pure decadence on a plate. A personal favorite, and for good reason.

To accompany, the broccoli gratin proved an irresistible choice. Tillamook cheddar béchamel, smoky bacon, and a crisp panko topping transformed this humble vegetable into something truly indulgent.

When faced with the age-old dilemma—house-baked bread or chocolate soufflé—there was only one logical answer: dessert. A masterfully executed soufflé, rich yet impossibly airy, that justified every bite.

And, as always, the evening concluded with a signature cappuccino, the final note in an exquisite symphony of flavors.

About the Venue

Set within a historic 1934 home, Selanne Steak Tavern has been a fixture of Laguna Beach’s fine dining scene since its establishment in 2013 by NHL legend Teemu Selanne and businessman Kevin Pratt. With its blend of classic steakhouse opulence and coastal sophistication, the restaurant offers a variety of dining spaces—from an intimate upstairs dining room to a relaxed tavern, an elegant wine library, and stunning outdoor terraces.

Beyond its undeniable charm, Selanne Steak Tavern has earned high praise, including seven consecutive “Best of Award of Excellence” honors from Wine Spectator, thanks to a world-class wine list that celebrates California cult wines and international vintages. In 2023, its culinary excellence was further recognized when it was added to the Michelin Guide’s list of “new discoveries.”

A visit to Selanne Steak Tavern is not merely a meal—it is a testament to culinary craftsmanship, where every dish, every detail, and every moment is designed to be savored.

Karen G.

Visited Selanne last night, and the experience was wonderful. The 1934 historic home on PCH is even more stunning in person, with an interior design that adds so much character to the restaurant.

We started with fresh oysters, and the ice wine mignonette elevated their flavor beautifully. The shaved Brussels sprouts salad with mustard vinaigrette was a delight. I loved it so much that I might try replicating it at home. The house black pepper and thyme loaf, served with a trio of butters, was delicious and complemented the bread perfectly.

For my entrée, I had the Chilean sea bass, which was cooked to perfection and paired wonderfully with the potato fondant. I also ordered the wild mushrooms as a side, and they were incredibly flavorful. My boyfriend had the NY strip steak, but unfortunately, he found it slightly undercooked and was a bit unimpressed.

For dessert, we shared the almond and date gâteau, which was absolutely divine! It had just the right level of sweetness, making for a perfect ending to our meal.

Service was fantastic throughout the night. Before leaving, we explored the upstairs level and learned that it’s only open on Fridays and Saturdays. It features a gorgeous private room and an impressive wine display.

Overall, it was a great dining experience, and we’ll definitely be coming back!

A R.

This was one of my bucket list place to eat, and my boyfriend decided to take me for my birthday this year. It was incredible! The atmosphere is cozy when you walk in, and the staff is top notch. Also note that the menu IS seasonal, so it does change, meaning some of the items I'll mention may not be available next menu change, but don't let that stop you. We were seated in the wine library next to a window. To start off the evening, our waiter Guillermo was fantastic. He was able to explain the menu beautifully, and answer any questions we had. We started off with the bread service, and the rosemary brioche was delicious, and the house made butters were phenomenal, we especially enjoyed the salted caramel stout butter. I had the 10 oz Wagyu fillet, medium rare. Now all the steaks come with a rich bordelaise sauce and truffle butter, and I took our waiter's suggestion and had them on the side. Normally fillet mignon isn't the most flavorful of cuts, just one of the most tender. This was not the case with my fillet, it was tender AND flavorful. The care and attention was notable, at least to me. The crust and sear was lovely, and it was the most flavorful fillet I have ever had. The sauce and butter on the side was a great call, and I barely touched them though they did add to the steaks, they weren't necessary. On the plate there was also a smoked mushroom which I will now crave (they could have just given me a plate of them and I would have been happy), and a seared cipollini onion which brought out the sweetness, and helped cut a little of the richness of the meal. My boyfriend has the 14 oz 45 day dry aged bone in ribeye, and it was amazing as well (from the 2 bites he gave me, lol). The sides are served family style, and we chose the parmesan truffle risotto, which was rich and creamy and decadent in all the best ways, and the broccoli gratin, which was decadent and cheesy and something I'm going to try and remake, because yum. To end the meal we ordered the Raspberry Souffle with the house made honey ice cream. The souffle was just what a souffle should be, a light sweet cloud with a delicious burst of fresh raspberry flavor. The ice cream was, once again, phenomenal. Sweet, creamy with a hint of salt that complimented the sweetness of the ice cream and souffle. I am now going to have to try to find honey ice cream because it was so delicious. They also brought out a piece of vanilla cake with macerated berries and fresh whipped cream for my birthday. The last lovely and wonderful touch was the hand written birthday card, which made the whole experience that much more amazing. Thank you to my amazing boyfriend for taking me for my birthday, and thank you to Selanne Steak Tavern for making it one of the best!

Mr M.

A great experience. The cesar salad, prime rib eye, and oysters were delicious. But the star of the night was the Alaskan crab legs in saffron infused butter. If you like old fashion's, then try their "cherry smoked old fashion." It's pretry choice. "Jay," our waiter made great recommendations for our meal, and he was spot on with everything. Thanks to the staff and chefs for such a fine meal. We can't wait to be back.

Maurice N.

Almost perfect... but a few minor complaints. We had a delicious meal, but it did not rank with the best I have had... especially not for the price.

Appetizer was tasty. One of the best scallops I have had. Salad was nicely prepared, but nothing exceptional. Not for $20 per scallop.

Lobster mashed potatoes were more like a lobster soup... very soupy. But tasted nice. But not $42 nice.

Steak was very tasty, just slightly overcooked, but nothing I could really complain about. Was a beautiful steak. And for $100 per steak, it should be the best steak I have ever had.

Desert was very pretty and tasted good. Espressos were also very good.

The drinks... that's my biggest complaint. They were about $20-25 and quite small/average. There is NO generosity in the pours. Nothing really exceptional for the price.

I guess that's my overall review... it's was nice, food was very good, but we left a little underwhelmed. There was nothing terribly rememberable about the place. For $550 for two people, we didn't leave with an overwhelming feeling of amazement or desire to ever go back. It was very good, just not great.

Adrian Y.

Came here on a Monday evening around 6 pm. My buddy and I didn't have trouble getting seats at the bar. The full menu is also available at the bar. Overall, the restaurant has a really good atmosphere. My buddy thought some parts of it had some low ceilings, but I felt that everything worked to make a nice feel. And the restaurant isn't overly noisy, even when it started to get busy. They have enough people working so it seems like a well run establishment. Our bartender was really attentive and great. We ordered broccolini, Caesar salad, the spot prawn appetizer, New York strip steak with a baked potato (with everything), filet mignon, and the raspberry souffle for dessert. Everything was really good. The steaks were perfectly cooked. Our bartender recommended the souffle and we were really impressed with it. Sorry I didn't take too many presentable pictures, I was WAY too busy eating! I'll definitely come back soon!