Mark’s

Mark the owner is always here to greet you with a smile. The setting is cozy and the staff friendly. The food is ambrosial. It’s a can’t miss on Monday’s and Wednesday’s :-)

Came here for a friends birthday on a friday. Wasn’t too busy was seated immediately. They were out of the salad I wanted so ended up getting a wedge. Was decent. for entrée I got the duck and my girl got the pork. Duck was overcooked and dry, mashed potatoes seemed like they been sitting around for quite a while. On the other side the pork was quite good. Came with mashed sweet potatoes that I was very jealous of not having. Service was good, brought out of cake and couple servers sang happy bday with us. Had our cake so didn’t try their desserts. I would be ok with the prices if my duck wasn’t sic a poor dish compared to the pork dish. Don’t think ill be coming back soon.

Big flavors, small-​ish restaurant wonderful food. One of Laguna Beach’s best kept secrets.

You always feel special when you are greeted by the actual owner of the restaurant. Mark was the concierge and so friendly. He spent time chatting with me and my fiancé and was so personable. We had a glass of wine at the bar while we waited for our friends to arrive and was surprised with the reasonable wine prices.
The restaurant is smaller size but very nice ambiance and vibe. It definitely feels like you’ve stumbled upon Laguna’s best kept secret.
I absolutely loved the table bread. It was warm cheesy bread and tasted 100% home made. That was a great start. My fiancé and I split the Marks salad and it was just okay. But our entrée’s were amazing. I had the Ahi which was cooked perfectly and was awesome. My fiancé had the rib eye. It wasn’t a huge piece of steak but it honestly was one of the best tasting rib eyes we have ever had. Overall it was a wonderful dinner and a great restaurant. We will definitely be going back soon for the Monday night happy hour.

We went to Mark’s before our cooking class to grab a drink and kill an hour, unfortunately they were closed (we found out after walking in)… But we were welcomed and greeted by a warm and friendly staff as they prepared for a catering event. They went out of their way to make us feel welcomed even on the one day they were closed… We were able to have a glass of wine and we were even offered samples of the tasty treats they were preparing for the upcoming event. (Amazing flavors BTW) The restaurant manager was friendly and charming and a great representation of how every person in the service industry should treat customers and clients. I will definitely come back…

Excellent service. With a local feel, a classy ambiance, and the friendliest staff in town, Mark’s offers it’s patrons an excellent experience. Upon meeting Mark, you will feel as if you’ve known him for years. It’s no wonder why he has such a great reputation in the restaurant industry. On the several occasions I’ve come here, the staff has always been the best. They will go out of their way to please their customers, from customizing martinis to opening their doors the one day they are closed to accommodate us when we stopped by for a bite and a drink then realized they were closed Sundays.

Was at Mark’s Resturant last week and the service was terrible. Ordered short ribs and they were out of them. Said it would take half an hour to get my dinner. It took one hour for them to bring my dinner and the short ribs were overcooked. They didn’t even refill our water. My husband had asked for more water and he never got it. The first time I went to this restaurant they gave me the wrong check. When I checked my bank account they added $ 15.00 to the total. I would never go to this restaurant again.

We had dinner at Mark’s last night before attending the Pagent of the Masters. We sat in the bar for happy hour, which was fine and stayed there for dinner. I had the quesadilla which was barely average. No flavor or heat. Next came the real disappointment. Whatever you do, DO NOT ORDER THE DUCK! It was absolutely horrible. Then menu states «Crispy and Oven Roasted Duck with a Raspberry Chambord sauce.» Sounds impressive. What came out was a messy heap of microwaved rubbery duck pieces with what looked like a red tattoo on top. I guess that was the sauce. They should have been shot for wasting the life of that poor duck for this travesty of a $ 22 insult. My partner was equally disappointed with the filet mignon croûton which were thin and tasteless like a bad and tasteless breakfast steak at Norms (only Norms has more flavor). He shared my utter disappointment in the duck. The kicker was the bartender who asked me «is that the best duck you ever had?» and when I said it was the worst I have ever tried to eat, he started making fun of me. Not a pleasant experience.

Well I really wanted this place to be better. It was packed when we got there on Friday and we ended up sitting at the bar for dinner. If your hungry or have plans after dinner that you don’t want to be late for, don’t eat here. We weren’t in a rush but I’m usually a little interested in eating when I show up at a restaurant. Our drinks came quickly but it took maybe 25 minutes for our appetizer and 50 minutes for our meal.
The quesadilla appetizer was the best thing we had all night. It set me up to expect a great main course, so it set me up to be disappointed.
I ordered salmon ravioli which came out as cheese ravioli with two hunks of salmon on the top. The salmon was thin and had a nice crisp to it, the sauce was good, but the ravioli could have easily been frozen grocery store stuff. At $ 18 I shouldn’t get that feeling. I overheard a server say to someone who saw my plate come out that lots of people make the mistake that thinking that the Salmon comes in the ravioli. Well then, maybe you should update your menu to be more specific.
Rob had the prime rib and mashed potatoes. For $ 22 you should get better than flavorless meat and mashed potatoes that come in second to the dehydrated stuff we have in the pantry.
On a plus side, the atmosphere of this place was great. Small, modern, busy, noisy. But I don’t think I’ll be missing out if I don’t go back.

I have driven by this place a thousand times in canyon and have always wondered how good it was. I heard rumors about how good the old Mark’s was on PCH, and now it was time to find out. My wife and I showed up and the staff were great the food was good and have now added to our regular rotation.
They make the food with love.

Tried marks on the last locals night of the season, and have to say this was one of the best dining experiences I’ve had lately, our waiter was friendly and made sure we had everything we needed.
Tried the Filet mignon trio with three sauces, the most unique was the blueberry sauce, unlike anything I’ve tried on meat before. The meat itself could have been servered with no sauces it was so good and tender on its own, but the whole thing came together perfectly into a medley of flavors, this is a must try place.

I really need to give this place a dual review – one for celiacs and one for everyone else.
First, for celiacs: I chose this place in part because when I called and asked if they could accommodate a wheat allergy, the manager said, «do you mean gluten? Yes, we can prepare dishes without gluten. We even have gluten free soy sauce.» Promising, right? Well, read on. I made sure the waiter knew about my gluten allergy and asked him to check with the kitchen about my dish (sea bass) before I ordered it. He said all they would need to do was substitute mashed potatoes for risotto (which, by the way, he thought was made of pasta). The fish came out with a thin layer of crust on it – a tell-​tale sign of dredging in flour. (It was lucky I even noticed since we were seated outdoors in the dark.) I went into the restaurant to inform the manager I had spoken to on the phone and he tried to tell me that it was a crust made of cashews. I did not believe him and asked him to double-​check with the kitchen, which he did. Sure enough, they had dredged the fish in flour. In the 18 months since my diagnosis, this is the first «nice» restaurant where I have encountered a problem like this. It is especially problematic and dangerous since they made such a show of acting like they knew what they were doing. On the other hand, they were very apologetic and even gave me a free martini. Also, the replacement fish was even better than the original. (Luckily, it turns out I am not the type who gets violently ill from a small exposure to gluten – I did eat one bite before I noticed the flour crust.) So, celiacs (and other folks with allergies), be vigilant!
For everyone else: Obviously, I could not taste everyone else’s dishes, but I was there with a large party and people seemed very pleased with the food. I wouldn’t say it was brilliant or that anyone had anything earth shatteringly delicious. But the food was good and the atmosphere (outside at least) was lovely. At about $ 20 a plate, this place was more reasonably priced than other restaurants of similar quality in Orange County. It’s worth wandering a few blocks inland to save $ 10/​plate and still have fine cuisine. The staff were friendly if not completely knowledgable. (As I mentioned above, my server thought risotto was made from pasta and the kitchen screwed up an allergy request.) We did not have appetizers or desserts, so I can’t speak to that. Sitting outside was comfortable, even on a chilly evening, thanks to the space heaters. Plus, you get a great view of some precariously perched mansions on the hillsides.
In spite of its flaws, I would give this place another chance.

On your «Mark’s»… get set… GO!!! This is how I felt eating at Mark’s — like there was a race. A race to get our drink order then take our dinner order then clear our appetizer plates before we were even finished… SLOW DOWN!
Let me just say that I am glad that Mark’s has reopened in Laguna Beach. The new space is a bit cramped and I am not too sure about the open kitchen concept but it certainly did not bother me. The staff and service was all good but was a bit much at points. We had all kinds of people coming up asking us if everything was ok. It was like we were Gordan Ramsay sitting in their restaurant and they were feeling a little insecure.
My food was good. I had the sea bass. It could have had more sauce on it but I recognize that is probably just me. I am a sauce whore. My partner was disappointed with his steak though and our dessert was just okay. We would have been happier going to Yogurtland.
Overall, I would recommend you try Mark’s. I would give it 3.5 stars — for now — because I think there are some things they still need to work on. We will be back though!

We came here for Valentine’s Day dinner. Everyone was very friendly and gracious. Here was my Mark’s shopping list:
BLUEBERRY PROSECCO
Drink ’til he’s cute. And by the end of this cocktail, he will be anyone you want him to be. Although my man was cute already.
MARK’S SIGNATURE SALAD
Pretty good if you like bay shrimp. It comes with avocado and mango as a garnish. Not sure if you can eat the mango, but mine wasn’t ripe enough. I felt like an unappreciative jerk not swallowing it.
COCONUT SHRIMP
I was expecting the good kind that’s battered in shredded coconut and lightly fried, but it was sauteed. The shrimp was still good though. It’s like the less attractive cousin of the delicious fried stuff we all love.
RIBEYE STEAK
This slab of meat was ½ inch thick at most. I don’t know why they cut their ribeye so thin and it was way overdone, but didn’t want to seem like a jackass, so I ate my meat like a good boy. I don’t recommend this. The Chilean seabass looked awefully good though. I think I’ll order that next time.
CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE
Kind of bland. Where’s the Grand Marnier? But I liked how it’s served with whipped cream and ice cream.
On a side note… I once dated a guy named Mark. I think he looked like a younger Antonio Sabato Jr, but my roommates thought he looked like a Monchichi doll. Haters, I tell you. Haters.
Verdict? I’m a total pig.

It’s really a 4.5, but gonna give Mark’s 5 stars because …
1) The food has been exceptional *every* time
2) It’s waay better than a «4»…
Mark’s is off the beaten path, it’s décor is techno, yet still retains a warm feel… We tried it the first time during the Pageant of the Masters and again last week and we were just amazed at the quality of the dishes. Very good; *very* consistent.
Dishes…
Appetizers — Not keen on the mango brie quesadilla (our servings have been unremarkable) but very, very high marks for the crab cakes, the dumplings and the corn chowder. Getting tired of ahi poke’s in general but theirs is excellent.
Dinners — when they have the sea bass it’s excellent. The macadamia crusted mahi is simply superb, the fillet with portabello is outstanding (and. a fillet w/​a serving size to please a big guy is uncommon). The tournado salmon is a smaller portion, but rich and incredible in flavor.
Dessert soufflé was very good but not exceptional but… the apple pie-​like dish was possibly the best I have ever tasted. Fresh, understated whole-​apple-​part-​filling. Not too sweet and a crust with just the right caramelizing. Wow… amazing.
The prices are normally, very reasonable, so I hate to mention they have a half-​price night because I dont want to wait behind you for a table…
We cannot wait to go back.

Fabulous food and wonderful service!!! If you’re looking for a great dining experience then Mark’s is a must do!!! Make sure and say «hi» to Mark — he’s a great guy!

I went to Mark’s recently for the first time for a family holiday gathering. My uncle (an executive chef) knows the owner, Mark and has dined there several times and absolutely loves it.
The restaurant is tucked in the canyon between the Sawdust Festival and Tivoli Too! Unfortunately the location keeps it pretty well hidden from the main traffic of Laguna Beach. The restaurant is small and cozy with an open kitchen. It has a very inviting and warm ambiance.
The quality of the food is fantastic. They have a great wine list. For such superb quality, it blew me away how inexpensive everything was. Since there were several of us, we started with several appetizers: Ahi towers, mango brie quesadillas, filet mignon tacos, and crab cakes. The ahi tower was by far the best I have ever tasted… and I have had my share of ahi appetizers. It was extremely fresh and was layered with avocado and accompanied by a flavourful soy sauce. The mango brie quesadillas were also delicious. I know it is a rather odd combination but the flavours compliment eachother perfectly. The crab cakes and tacos were also very flavourful and delicious. We also had ordered various chardonnays and cabarnets.
The next course was a pear and Gorgonzola salad. That was my favourite! A plate of micro-​greens was plated with pears, candied walnuts, Gorgonzola cheese, and vinaigrette. There were several baskets of various hot breads on the table as well. The bread is made fresh there throughout the night and also fantastic.
The main courses consisted of: Salmon, Filet Mignon, Mahi-​Mahi, Ahi Tuna, and Chicken Curry. Every dish was beautifully presented and flavourful. I had the filet Mignon, which was layered with giant portobello mushrooms and served with sauteed spinach and flavourful Gorgonzola risotto. All dishes were absolutely amazing!
The desserts consisted of: Crème Brulees and flour-​less chocolate cake. Again, all beautifully and artfully presented. The cake was by far my favourite. It was super rich and decadent. The Crème Brulee was heaven as well.
I would HIGHLY recommend this restaurant! It is great for gatherings or even an intimate dinner for 2. Mark’s is definitely a new favourite for me!

I have wanted to go to Mark DePalma’s new Mark’s ever since it opened this year. I finally made it there Saturday night.
All I can say is FINALLY — a restaurant with ridiculously good food.
The restaurant is very accessible in the canyon in between Tivoli Terrace II and the Sawdust. It is unpretentious and the staff was very attentive.
The menu has a perfect balance of soups, salads, appetizers, chicken, fish, beef and pasta and all sounded terrific.
I started with an appetizer that was a special — mussels in white wine beurre blanc. Wow! It was one of those dishes you remember as being one of the best you’d ever eaten. The mussels were a perfect size (I don’t like when they bring you really big ones) and the sauce — oh the sauce! The wine and butter was perfectly integrated with fresh herbs — a perfect accompaniment to not only the mussels but everyone’s bread and spoons.
The other starter was the Corn Chowder soup — another completely amazing creation. It tasted like every essence of a cob of corn was put in the pot. The corn was so fresh and clean and you could also selectively pick out the flavor of the fresh red bell pepper. It was creamy but not heavy. It was heavenly. Another one of those dishes you would order over and over again.
Entrée one was macadamia crusted mahi mahi with a ginger salsa over mashed potatoes. Fish perfectly seasoned and the salsa was fresh — a really really good dish.
Entrée two was the rib eye. I am new to eating beef so this was a big stretch for me and I ordered it (hold on) well done. But, I loved it. The steak had a coffee rub that peeked out just enough to complement the bourbon sauce. The steak was also topped with a good chunk of blue cheese, arugula and cherry tomatoes. Everything was in proportion and just damn good.
For dessert I tried a tart made with Oreo cookie crust filled with Mexican Ibarra chocolate mousse, topped with more chocolate and ice cream on the side, of course. Very good with an interesting flavor I could not make out but kept me digging.
The wine list it not over priced nor is the food. The rib eye dinner was under $ 20.
I found the food to be better than my expectation and would recommend Mark’s to anyone. I can’t wait to go back for dinner again or to try their brunch.
On my way out I met the owner Mark DePalma — what a nice guy. Congratulations Mark on your new restaurant.

This is a small restaurant next to the Laguna Culinary Arts and the Sawdust festival. I heard that this is the same owner that used to have a restaurant with a similar same where Hush is today.
The service was very good — it was actually a little too fast. The food seemed to come out one after another, without even a break for good conversation in between.
The food itself was excellent. I had the brie and mango quesadillas for an appetizer. The combination sounds odd, but it was very good. The saltiness of the brie combined well with the sweet of the mango. My wife had the crab cakes — she thought they were good (so good I didn’t even get to try any!). For dinner I had the sea bass special. The fish was prepared perfectly, and it was served on a bed of ginger risotto — which was excellent. Even after being full, I still wanted to have some more, but I couldn’t have another bite.
Overall, the food was a 5 star place, but since the service was so speedy and on the verge of interrupting it goes down to 4 stars.