David Wilhelm

On the Line: James Nunn of Jimmy's Famous American Tavern, Part One

We try our best to meet up with OTL subjects in person. But in the case of James Nunn, it wasn't possible. His responses are succinct; his personality a bit snarky. Jimmy's may be under construction, but this former Guttermouth musician is ready to rock. Tell us about the cuisine at Jimmy's. How wi ... More >>

Teemu Selanne to Open Steakhouse in Laguna Beach!

This post covers so many categories, where do we begin?Trends come and go, but this one sucks. Back in April, we unexpectedly said goodbye to James Harris and Royal Hawaiian. Jump to last week, when The Cottage was informed of a land sale they had no knowledge of. Another blow to the beach community ... More >>

Three Seventy Common Has a Common Denominator

The former Sorrento Grill brings affordability to Laguna Beach with its Sunday meals

Starfish Opens Today in Laguna Beach

Starfish​Nancy Wilhelm's Starfish opens today at the Albertsons plaza in Laguna Beach. As I said in an earlier post, if the name sounds familiar, she's the woman behind Tabu Grill and David Wilhelm's former wife.

New High-Concept Restaurants Slated for Laguna Beach

Starfish​Ah, Laguna Beach.  If there was a rallying point where the high-concept restaurants flock, it'd be here.  There are at least three new restaurants slated for the Laguna coast this year, all of them fit for a town that seems to demand a new restaurant or bar to go to every weeken ... More >>

Lazy Dog Cafe In Irvine Opening Date Moved Up

​Ready for surprising news? A restaurant is actually moving up its target opening date. A few months ago, a friend tipped me off that The Lazy Dog Cafe in Irvine (which is being developed in the space vacated by the departed French 75 Brasserie) is planning to open on April 1st of this year. ... More >>

Free Dinner at Savannah Chop House; But Read The Fine Print

​My fascination with what was once David Wilhelm's might Culinary Adventures dining group continues since I keep getting unsolicited e-mail newsletters from them (I ate at one of his restaurants once and took advantage of an offer where I'd get a discount on the meal if I signed up for it, which I ... More >>

Laguna Beach's French 75 Rises Above Its Confusing Corporate Past

Savannah at the Beach to Turn Back into Chimayo

​If you recall, Savannah was David Wilhelm's last ditch effort to save his floundering Culinary Adventures.  It's what he turned Chat Noir in Costa Mesa into, thinking that good ol' American food was the way to bring customers back.  And as you may know, last April, Savannah shuttered.  Meanwh ... More >>

Brasserie Pascal Is the Restaurant Pascal Olhats Has Been Waiting to Do

Sorrento Grille Liberated; Wilhelm Back at its Helm

The Laguna Beach Independent reports that David Wilhelm -- who quit the Culinary Adventures empire he built from the success of his Laguna Beach restaurant, Sorrento Grille -- will be back at Sorrento's helm.  This time, he'll be working for its new owners: his old landlords, Laguna Beach resi ... More >>

Savannah Now Offering Lunches From $4-$7

Since filing for bankruptcy protection, David Wilhelm's Culinary Adventures seems to be doing something proactive about it: offering cheap meals. For those just tuning in, Savannah is a rebranding of Chat Noir -- an effort to make the place more seem downscale and affordable. But as I noted in thi ... More >>

Fury Out; Code In

You've heard the grim statistic: Nine out of ten new restaurants close after one year. There are some who question whether it is true, so far as to call it a myth. The figure is closer to one out of four, these experts say. But these days, with established pros like David Wilhelm floundering, ... More >>

Jaqu's in Huntington Beach Wants to Be Everything to Everyone—And It Just Might Be

French Disconnection

David Wilhelm gets crazy with the re-branding

Grub Guide

This week in duck

Meat Juices Down Your Throat!

Savannah Steak and Chop House sizzles

Laguna Beach

This Week in Ice Cream and Other Frozen Delights

A Portrait of the Food Critic as a Young Man

You dont have to be English to appreciate Brussels Bistro, but it helps

This Week in Colorful Restaurants

This Week in Frenching

Bad Kitty!

If this is hell, where do I sign, Mr. Wilhelm?

Have I Poisoned My Fahrvegnugen?

Seasons Recordings and the art of seamlessness

Eat Cheap

Part Two

Southwestern Lives!

The trend is dead, but the flavor remains