Raya

Raya – A Feast For The Senses
By Kristin Vicelja

Craving a five-star dining experience with breathtaking views of the Pacific? Raya at The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel is just the place to deliver this and more. The restaurant offers one of the most sought after ocean and coastline views in Orange County, flavorful Pan-Latin Coastal Cuisine, and a sleek, contemporary atmosphere to satisfy your appetite and engage your senses on all levels.

Conceptualized by renowned Chef Richard Sandoval, Raya serves up masterful creations using local, organic and sustainable ingredients. At the restaurant’s helm is Chef Steve Wan who recently steered us through a truly memorable culinary feast.

While you peruse the mouthwatering menu and drink in the expansive views, I’d suggest sipping on a refreshing Passion Fruit Mojito or the Yuzu Fresa, prepared with housemade fruit purées, as are all of the restaurant’s signature cocktails. On our journey through Chef Wan’s most popular small and large plates, we were guided by server extraordinaire Kristi. Her expert knowledge of the menu, spot-on recommendations, and helpful demeanor allowed us to sit back, relax and want for nothing more than our next bite.

Our small plate tasting included the flavorful Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Ceviche with plantain chips, a fabulous Grilled Octopus prepared with aji panca, potato purée, unagi sauce, chile toreado, pickled onion and jalepeños, and a Wild Mushroom Huarache featuring caramelized onions, black beans, goat cheese and truffle oil. My personal favorite, the uber delicious Lobster Tacos with chile de árbol salsa, delivered the slightest touch of heat and were whimsically presented in flour tortillas pinched together at the top with miniature clothespins.

The adventure continued with a delightful sampling of large plate offerings from both land and sea. Steak aficionados will be wowed by the outstanding, All Natural Prime New York cut served with a Dungeness crab potato purée, grilled pickled onions, a chipotle hollandaise and truffle chimichurri. The heavenly Piloncillo Prawns and the melt-in-your-mouth Pan Seared Sea Scallops will equally delight seafood lovers. If you can’t decide, take Kristi’s recommendation and select the can’t-miss New York steak with the addition of a few Piloncillo Prawns to create the perfect surf and turf.

Please do save room for desert so that you don’t miss out on the unique interpretation of the deconstructed Carrot Cake with cream cheese ice cream or the sinfully decadent Chocolate Soufflé Tart. If not, you can always delight in the scrumptious view.