Splashes Gets a New Chef and a Fresh Look at Surf & Sand
Executive chef Peter Lai takes over the kitchen at Laguna Beach's signature oceanfront restaurant as the resort's property-wide renovation refreshes the dining room.
The signature restaurant at Surf & Sand Laguna Beach has a new look and a new chef. Splashes, the oceanfront dining room that sits just above the surf line, has been reimagined as part of the resort's property-wide transformation, and executive chef Peter Lai now leads its kitchen.
The renovation was a top-to-bottom overhaul of the beachfront property: 165 guest rooms and suites, a new ocean-facing lobby and lounge, a refreshed pool deck and the Aquaterra Spa. Splashes was reimagined as part of the overhaul, and its dining room keeps the restaurant's famous front-row seat over the surf, with sun-drenched views of the Pacific and waves breaking just below the tables.
The focal point of the redesigned room is a custom-designed Chihuly chandelier, a sculpture of hundreds of hand-blown glass elements inspired by the sea, catching the light over the tables.
The resort announced Lai's appointment in October 2025. He brings more than 20 years of experience across acclaimed Southern California kitchens, including The Blind Rabbit, The Iron Press at the Anaheim Packing House, Water Grill at South Coast Plaza and Bourbon Steak at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach.
Raised in a family of restaurateurs, Lai learned traditional techniques in his family's kitchen before graduating summa cum laude from the Texas Culinary Academy and earning an Associate of Culinary Arts degree from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts in Austin, Texas.
Corporate executive chef Ron Fougeray continues to oversee the resort's entire culinary program, while Lai delivers his own creative vision and leadership to the Splashes team.
"The intersection of art and nature has always inspired me, and to work at a restaurant that sits on the Pacific Ocean is a dream," Lai said in the announcement. "With the recent transformation of the resort and Splashes restaurant, this feels like a truly special moment to begin this new chapter. My culinary philosophy is rooted in a deep respect for ingredients and a commitment to sustainability, using a stalk-to-root approach, and I look forward to delivering memorable dining experiences for every guest."
With Lai at the helm, the menu leans into vibrant, seasonal flavors and globally inspired techniques while staying true to the restaurant's ocean-inspired roots, with coastal dishes built on locally sourced California ingredients.
Splashes serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. For a shorter stop, the adjoining Splashes Bar and the open-air Bella Vista Terrace pour cocktails and small bites alongside fire pits and the sunset.
Surf & Sand is a member of the Historic Hotels of America and has welcomed guests to its beachfront property since 1948. The transformation, which JC Resorts president John Doane described as a significant repositioning and reinvestment into the property, brings the seaside icon into its next era.
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