Restaurants Coming and Going in Laguna Niguel Faster Than You Can Say 'Menu'

Two longtime eateries have disappeared from Laguna Niguel's roster of places to eat.

Gone is Cedar Creek Inn at Plaza de La Paz, a higher-end, family-owned restaurant that closed June 25. It took up residence in 2008 in the former Scott's Seafood restaurant and became a popular gathering place for many locals. According to a handwritten note pasted onto its glass doors, the Ayres family decided to close the location but asks diners to visit its "other two locations, in Brea and San Juan Capistrano."

Also gone is Fresh Bite Mediterranean Kitchen, at 28985 Golden Lantern St., in the Grove at Laguna Niguel shopping plaza. The small eatery opened in 2007 and closed recently.

Partly filling the void is Hunter Steakhouse,  which has a tentative welcome banner posted on the facade of what was once Alessio Ristorante, in the Laguna Niguel Town Center.

The building has a long history of eating establishments, including Alessio, which was a former hangout offering Italian cuisine and live entertainment. It closed in 2008.

Prior to Alessio Ristorante, Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina, part of a chain, occupied the space.

According to Hunter Steakhouse owner Michael Schneider, who also owns to other locations—Oceanside and Mission Valley—"this was a perfect location for another Hunter Steakhouse."

Schneider, 45, has owned the other locations since 2008 after buying them out from the now-defunct Paragon Restaurant Group, owner of the former Hungry Hunter Steakhouse restaurants.

"I've always wanted to get into the O.C. market," he said. "Paragon had Hungry Hunter Steakhouses all over, and people in the O.C. know the brand and recognize it.

After researching Laguna Niguel's demographics, Schneider said, he decided it would be a good place for a third steakhouse.

"The demographics are great. It showed what we suspected, and that is that there are not as many restaurants in the suburbs. We looked at the property more than once and learned that it had been vacant for more than two years. We did the homework, and it made sense for us."

He said he hopes to open the Laguna Niguel location in early September after the interior has been remodeled and he gets a liquor license. He also said he hopes to hire around 50 employees for the new location.

"We'd probably be able to open in August, but getting a liquor license has been tough," he said.

Diners can expect a dinner menu similar to those of his other locations, including steaks, chops, "great prime rib" and an expanded wine list more than 40 options. He plans to incorporate an updated lunch menu just for the area.

"We know we'll probably have a busy lunchtime because we're right across from the new City Hall, which is a huge boon for us," he said.

Lunch patrons can expect salads, appetizers and sandwiches, all for around $10 per person. Dinner per person will be around $25, he said.

No stranger to the restaurant business, Schneider has held all positions ranging from dishwasher to owner.

"I started out 30 years ago when I was in college and pretty much put myself through college at San Diego State University while working at a restaurant," he said. "My first job was when I was 16 and I was a busboy at Bob's Big Boy in L.A. It's been a long, hard road, but we're excited to be in Laguna Niguel."

He and his wife, Dorinda, who is a nurse, have four teenagers and live in Carlsbad.