Knolls Restaurant — Restaurant in Laguna Niguel

7/25/2026 Had reservations this evening for Knolls in Laguna Niguel after stopping by a garden party in our community. The night was still young and the music at Knolls was calling our names. Lauren the owner greeted us at the door as did Alex R. one of our favorite servers. The place was packed and so many folks were enjoying themselves with great food, music, ambiance and people. We started with drinks and then Alex took our entree order. Lauren even stopped by our table to say hello and I complimented her on the joy and flavor she brought to Knolls as we have been patrons prior to her ownership. She is amazing as are the staff she has helping everyone with smiles and excellent customer service. My wife had a bite prior to coming to Knolls so only had a Caesar Salad and I had the Orange Sesame Salmon with fresh veggies. Oh so good! Lauren always brings in top notch entertainment and offers it 7 days a week plus a killer happy hour from 3pm to 6pm. A great place and highly recommended!

3/21/2025 Great time tonight at Knolls. We had drinks and boom boom shrimp to start. Rocky was our amazing server. We had two BBQ chicken salads and the. Danced while having a few cocktails. Yes Don Julio is a friend for about 4 rounds. The owner Lauren was amazing as well. Great band good times. Highly recommended.

2/15/25 What an amazing evening at Knolls. The ambiance was positive and the place was hopping. Alexander was our amazing server and was not only professional but kind and personable. We met Lauren the new owner and what an amazing person with a smile that lights up a room and the personality to match. We started with drinks and the boom boom shrimp. We had Don Julio Blanco with pelligrino and three limes muddled with mint and they were fantastic. For dinner my wife had the Ceasar salad with chicken and I had the short rib pasta. The food was amazing. We ordered a pizza and sliders and took most of it home. The coffee and cheesecake were awesome as well. The band was crossroads and played some awesome tunes including steely Dan, Fleetwood Mac, the double brothers etc. Great place, great people and food. Thank you. Highly recommended.

9/28/2024 Great spot. We stopped by this evening and sat at the bar as the class of 84 was having a party. Enrique was our bartender and server. We stated with chicken wings which were very good. The band was fantastic with an awesome sax player. My wife had the boom boom shrimp and I had the chicken linguine. Both dishes were excellent. We heard the news that Vee sold the restaurant and I am sure this place will continue to flourish. Good peeps, good service and good food. Highly recommended

1/12/24 Had a great time at Knolls tonight. The ambiance was perfect and the band fantastic. Garrett is our favorite server and bartender and was amazing. The lovely owner, Beata, stopped by a was very welcoming and kind as well. Such an amazing ace and the drinks, food, and service are top shelf. The dance floot.has been expanded and the band area as well. We both had the orange salmon and several drinks and joined our friends their as well for a wonderful evening. Garrett is a true professional and made the evening that much better. Highly recommended.

5/6/2023 Had a terrific time this evening at Knolls celebrating my wife's birthday with friends. The staff is always amazing and the food is very good as well. Luis was our server as we requested him as he is very attentive, remembers his guests' drinks, likes and dislikes, and makes the evening special every time. The band was quite good and played a variety of quality tunes. A great hidden gem. The bartenders are also seasoned and experienced and mix a mean cocktail. The calamari, salmon, and shrimp special and other food items were perfect. Luis planned a special dessert birthday dish for the entire party and made the evening that much better! Highly recommended and ask for Luis as he will truly take...

On Sunday, July 28th, I was eating at this establishment and had to use the restroom. When I went into the restroom and into the bigger of the two stalls in there (which was not a handicapped stall) I could not shut the door behind me and my wheelchair. My sister was with me and said she would go ask the owner if it was okay if we locked the outside door to the restroom while I was in there so I could have my privacy and the owner said that was okay. I locked the door behind me and about two minutes after I did so, someone was banging on the door and trying to open the locked door. I thought that it was a customer and so I rest assured that the owner would explain what was going on, but the banging and the trying to open the door did not stop. Soon, I started to hear voices and realized that my sister was talking to someone and saying, "But you told me that she could lock the door". Then I heard what I realized was the owner of the restaurant say, "If she can not get into the restroom she can not use it". Then she kept yelling that I need to unlock the door. I am not able to walk at all and was in the middle of using the restroom so there was nothing I could do until I finished and got back into my wheelchair. I did so about 5 minutes later, unlocked the door and came out of the restroom. As soon as I looked at the owner I realized she was belligerently drunk. I just looked at her and said, "I could sue you" and walked away, which I could; for not having a handicapped stall, for refusing me to use your restroom and harassing me. After that I left the...

My recent experience at Knoll's Bar was incredibly disappointing due to the presence of a rude, crabby, and clearly alcoholic owner. From the moment I walked in, her negative energy permeated the atmosphere, creating a hostile and unwelcoming environment. Her treatment of the staff was nothing short of appalling, as she consistently berated and belittled them without any regard for professionalism or basic respect.

It was evident that the owner's alcohol consumption was out of control. Her slurred speech, unsteady movements, and bloodshot eyes left no doubt about her intoxication. It is disheartening to witness someone in a position of authority displaying such irresponsible behavior. Her alcohol-induced impairment clearly affected her ability to manage the bar effectively, resulting in poor service, forgotten orders, and a general lack of attention to detail.

Furthermore, the owner's rudeness extended to the customers. She made condescending remarks, openly dismissed their concerns, and created a hostile atmosphere. It was clear that her behavior was not an isolated incident but rather a reflection of her character and lack of professionalism. Overall, my visit to Knoll's Bar was a regrettable experience, and I strongly advise others to steer clear of this establishment due to the rude, crabby, and...