Family feasting is fun at The Boom Cafe

DINING OUT

What must be one of the biggest surprises in the local restaurant

realm these days is the emergence of The Boom Cafe in Laguna’s

landmark Coast Inn.

Purchased a few years ago by Eastern entrepreneurs, James Marchese

and Patrick Oloughlin as part of the hotel and nightclub, the

restaurant has now become very family friendly offering a

surprisingly affordable menu designed to appeal to local tastes.

Surrounded by illuminating windows for a grandiose daytime view of

Coast Highway, the sunny room features a huge oval central bar

flanked on one side by tables graced with fresh linens and flowers

and on the other by two entertaining pool tables.

A trio of silvery overhead fans above the dining room and a

quartet of ballroom style globes suspended from a faux-pewter

hammered ceiling lend a happy glow, the theme continued with the

bar’s brushed aluminum siding. Colorfully enhancing the setting is

the vibrant personality of dynamic Violet, known locally as “The

Purple Lady,” a reflection of her perpetual choice of attire in that

passionate color spectrum. Busily bustling from table to table, her

delightfully lively presence truly brings the room alive as she

caters with warm sincerity to the dedicated clientele.

While evenings are resplendent with fascinating entertainment most

nights, and with enticing dinner offerings captivating happy patrons

Tuesday through Friday, it is the family style weekend brunch menu

devised by chef Jeff Johnson that heralds the real news here.

Noteworthy on the two-part menu is a selection of bountiful plates

encompassing each of breakfast and lunch favorites. This translates

to good, hearty American fare designed to attract family appetites.

Start with those hefty sandwiches, all heaped with some of the

crispest, hot French fries this side of the equator. Ask any kid

about the Boom burgers, 1/2 pound of certified Angus beef grilled to

your preference with a slab of Swiss or cheddar cheese and laden with

juicy tomato slices, lettuce and slivers of red onion. No less

enthusiastic are adults who equally consider this $6.95 treat a

hands-down winner. Further embellishments for 50 cents each include

sauteed mushrooms, bleu cheese, caramelized onions and bacon.

Johnson is equally proud of his turkey club sandwich because the

turkey is freshly roasted and served in hefty slices on triple decker

sourdough bread layered with plenty of bacon, tomatoes and romaine

lettuce. Toasted wheat bread is the base for the popular BLT, and for

the tuna sandwich made with tender white albacore. There’s a hearty

chicken Caesar wrap, the warm flour tortilla firmly encompassing

generous chunks of succulent chicken breast, Caesar dressing

enhancing romaine lettuce and tomatoes. Jamaican jerk chicken in a

spicy dressing with roasted bell peppers is presented on a fresh

braided roll. And, of course, those delicious greaseless French fries

accompany every order at a nominal $5.95 to $7.95.

Breakfast devotees have as many choices starting with a bountiful

fresh fruit plate going to ubiquitous steak and eggs, a 6-ounce rib

eye served with two large eggs as you like them, home fries and toast

of choice. In between comes everything from the all-American

breakfast of ham, bacon or sausage and eggs sided with home fries and

toast, to eggs Benedict and Florentine, a vegetarian scramble and a

bacon / tomato duo. You may even create your own omelet with cheddar

or jack cheese, spinach, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, ham and bacon

from which to choose. At $5.95 for most entrees to $9.95 for steak

and eggs, this price range certainly harks back to a much earlier

era. The popular variety of favorites coupled with such decidedly

incomparable tariffs makes it small wonder locals are increasingly

finding this a deliciously affordable way to celebrate any weekend.