Bianchi - Laguna Beach

I have visited Bianchi for the third time and have always had great experiences in the past. Unfortunately, my most recent visit was marred by an unexpected issue when it came time to pay our bill. Our party of six ordered some bottles of Rose and Duality to go, and our server informed us of a mandatory 20% gratuity charge due to our party size. I was surprised when he added the gratuity without informing me, as I believe tipping should be based on service received and not on bottle purchases to go. This policy turned a $73 bottle of wine into almost $90, which was disappointing. I have always enjoyed my visits to Bianchi and even considered joining a wine club, but the mandatory gratuity policy has deterred me from returning. I would recommend that Bianchi disclose this policy to customers before their visit to avoid similar experiences. I reached out to the tasting room manager about my experience but never received a response.

I was traveling for business and had a free Sunday, so I decided to go to Laguna Beach to watch the sunset from Heisler Park. I came across this small restaurant on the corner and decided to check it out. The service by Rich was excellent! It was quiet in the restaurant most of the evening, so we had the chance to chat and he gave me some great recommendations. I tried the rose and Sauvignon Blanc, both of which were fantastic. I will definitely be returning!

The service was excellent and the wines were spectacular.

The atmosphere was very relaxed. The staff were excellent. The view of the sea was calming.

The restaurant is still in its soft opening phase with flexible hours. It has a very upscale tasting room, resembling more of a wine bar even though it is on the smaller side. They offer a beautiful selection of wines along with some dips and cookies to pair with them. There is a lot of potential here and I am excited to see how they develop it further.