“It’s been a few great years and the people have been terrific,” Cohen told me. No one in town does corned beef hash like Chef Cohen.) By the time Cohen was ready to open, however, the scenery had drastically changed.Īgainst all odds, Chef Cohen opened anyway, creating an entirely different menu and craft cocktail world just a few hundred feet from the 230 mothership. He had secured the former Partner’s space in early 2008 when the world was still relatively stable. Watermarc: born in the other financial crisisĬhef Cohen has been a foundational pillar in Laguna Beach’s fine dining scene since the opening of his first restaurant, 230 Forest Avenue, more than 25 years ago.Ĭhef Marc Cohen announced Watermarc’s closure on MondayĬohen opened his second Laguna Beach restaurant, Watermarc, in the middle of our last financial crisis in 2008. “These are very difficult and unprecedented times, but we have hope that we will be able to re-open 230 Forest Avenue and Opah as soon as possible to get back to doing what we do best,” he concluded. “The staff, management, and customers throughout the last 12 years have been amazing, and I feel honored to have worked with such a great team of people. “I can’t tell you how distraught I am to announce that Watermarc Restaurant is now closed permanently,” he noted in his online message. On Monday (yesterday), Chef Marc Cohen announced that he has permanently closed his second restaurant in Laguna Beach, Watermarc. Chef Marc Cohen permanently closes Watermarcīy Diane Armitage, The Best of Laguna Beach™

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