Orange Inn

703 South Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA - (949) 494-6085

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Posted By Michael Stern on November 23, 2010 7:25 AM

Whether or not the smoothie was invented at the Orange Inn is a question culinary historians likely will not settle. The Pacific Coast Highway shack does list its smoothie with a trademark sign in superscript, and it does taste like original intent: nothing about it is outlandish or exotic, at least by 21st century standards. This smoothie is elemental, a blend of strawberries, bananas, dates, juice, and ice topped with a sprinkle of bee pollen. It tastes quite healthful and it is refreshing in two ways: first, for its cool, fruity flavor, but also for its ingenuous simplicity. In an era when ambitious smoothie shops offer mixological catastrophes made with everything from crumbled Oreos to powdered libido enhancers, it's nice that the Orange Inn offers one and only one kind. Or you can get a date shake.

But whirled drinks aren't all. The Orange Inn happens to be a place to sip excellent coffee with or without espresso and eat freshly-made pastries. Among the latter are seriously gnarly muffins with tops that are chewy and dense. On the counter above the morning muffins, I spotted a tray of brownies that were billed as "extra chewy [with] a thick crispy edge... baked in great grandma's glass baking dishes." God bless great grandma and whoever makes these dark brown monuments today. Taste in brownies varies tremendously; some like them light and feathery textured, others prefer them as intense as a chocolate truffle. To me, Orange Inn's are a perfect balance: powerfully chocolaty and offering serious tooth resistance but more like cake than fudge.

There is a modest lunch menu of sandwiches, Cal-Mex fare, soups and salads, as well as eggs and such for breakfast, none of which I've tried. But I did get a bowl of Orange Inn granola, which is terrific. Like the smoothie, it contains nothing surprising, but it is a masterful mix of nuts, grain and fruit, just barely sweet and perfectly complemented by a good dab of plain yogurt.

Overall Rating

Original Smoothie

Date Shake

Granola

Brownie

Muffin

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Posted By Dale Fine on July 17, 2009 10:34 AM

The Orange Inn has retained the unusual distinction of being one of the few restaurants written about in Jane and Michael Stern's first Roadfood book, that is still going strong more than 30 years later. Like an old friend who moves away and is gone but not forgotten, the Orange Inn moved a couple of towns away from its original location in Corona Del Mar two decades ago due to burgeoning condo development and somehow got lost in the Roadfood shuffle. Well, I'm delighted to say that the Orange Inn is alive and well and thriving in artsy Laguna Beach.

Since 1931, The Orange Inn has been serving to sunny Southern California's health nut enthusiasts, food that is not only good for you, but also tastes good. Although the Orange Inn offers oat bran muffins, and creative sandwiches with locally grown avocado or tuna and sprouts on whole-grain bread with creative names like "Lagoona Tuna," the Orange Inn's self-proclaimed moniker and claim to fame is "The Home of The Original Smoothie."

The Orange Inn's smoothie contains tart strawberries which mingle well with the banana and dates which contribute a sweet, rich taste and thick texture. Fresh juice, protein powder, bee pollen, and crushed ice seal the deal. It was quite clear after the first gulp that this smoothie was one of the best I've ever had.

The date shake is no slouch either. Although it's not advertised on their menu, it's available for "those in the know." You would never think that these thick shakes were made with ice milk. Each mouthful has small fine clumps of sweet dates that were not quite pulverized in the blender. Unlike their counterparts at Shields Date Garden, the date shakes at the Orange Inn are not overwhelmingly sweet.

Although many folks believe that Roadfood has to be "bad for you," The Orange Inn proves otherwise.

Overall Rating

Original Smoothie

Date Shake

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