"When my wife and I moved to University Heights in 2011, we were fortunate to discover an entire food market right down the street in Hillcrest, and we absolutely loved it! They offered an extensive selection of craft beers, high-quality food, and friendly service, along with a tavern on the corner called 7th Avenue Pub. It quickly became our go-to spot for delicious burgers, craft beers, and even live music in the evenings.
However, after moving to Solana Beach in 2015, we found ourselves near another Whole Foods Market in Del Mar. Again, we enjoyed an impressive craft beer selection, excellent food, and welcoming service, this time at the Trifecta Tavern, which served some of the best burgers around and even had a nightly deal that included a free beer. It was fantastic! Unfortunately, the pandemic and the rise of Amazon Prime significantly affected our beloved tavern community.
Fast forward to 2022, we now live in Irvine, just minutes away from three Whole Foods Markets, but sadly, the in-store taverns no longer serve food. We really missed that experience!
On Saturday, we decided to visit the Whole Foods Market in Laguna Niguel for the first time. We were pleasantly surprised to find that their tavern was fully operational. A very helpful cashier named Stacey took excellent care of us when we arrived for lunch around 1:30 PM, pushing our loaded shopping cart behind us. We settled at a cozy bar top table in a corner, and Stacey took our order. I started with a large glass of ice water — too early for a beer! My wife chose the Chicken Strips with fries, which came with ranch dressing, while I opted for the Market Club Burger featuring two organic grass-fed beef patties, American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, secret sauce, and roasted brioche buns, served with a side of salad or fries (I went for the fries).
Stacey mentioned that live music had been put on hold at the start of the pandemic, but it might return soon. The tavern offered a great selection of craft beers on tap, delightful music in the background, and a happy crowd of diners — it felt wonderfully inviting! After a short wait, Stacey delivered our beautifully presented lunch. My wife relished her perfectly cooked chicken strips and crispy fries, while my massive Market Club Burger certainly made an impression. The freshly cooked fries paired perfectly with the ranch dressing — absolutely delicious!
We truly enjoyed our lunch, feeling reminiscent of those good old days!
**Note:** With over 22 million views on my Yelp reviews and photos in 2022, I can confidently tell you what’s great!"
