Orange County Restaurants
So Fresh and So Green
Greenleaf Gourmet Chopshop has come to Orange County and brought a marketplace and wine bar along with it. The Costa Mesa restaurant is the largest of three locations and is a one-stop shop for meals, after-work drinks and organic treats on the go. Both Patina alumni, owner Jonathan Rollo and Executive Chef Kristi Ritchey are committed to serving fresh, organic and local dishes that embrace a healthy lifestyle without sacrificing flavor. Known for specialty salads such as the antioxidant orchard salad and lemongrass chicken salad, Greenleaf also offers heartier options such as the grilled chicken panini with avocado pesto on focaccia or turkey melt on pretzel bread, which will fill you up without putting you in a food coma. Sides such as grilled vegetable pasta or quinoa salad round out a satisfying and healthy lunch. The restaurant features a dog-friendly patio and a garden installed by Newport-based Harvest to Home. Throughout summer, Harvest to Home owner Mike Saraylian will teach gardening classes for kids aged 7 – 13, focusing on the benefits of growing and eating organic foods (for details call 949-873-5400). Greenleaf also plans to use produce grown in the garden in the restaurant and marketplace. (234 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa; 949-200-3950; greenleafchopshop.com)
The Summer Seasons
Seasons 52, the acclaimed fresh grill and wine bar restaurant at South Coast Plaza, recently kicked off its summer menu, which features Piedmontese all-natural bone-in strip steak, chilled lobster and shrimp spring rolls, grilled jumbo shrimp cavatappi pasta, summer vegetarian tasting and more. The restaurant changes its menu four times a year and offers weekly fresh features to capture the flavors of the season. Nothing on the menu is more than 475 calories, from the signature flatbreads and appetizers, to all entrees and the popular Mini Indulgence desserts. (3333 Bristol St., Ste. #2802, Costa Mesa; 714-437-5252; seasons52.com)
Resort Regale
Dining specials are available at The Resort at Pelican Hill throughout summer months to ensure this season is a tasty one. Quality time at the Coliseum Pool with loved ones is made better with a comfort food feast. Served family-style, menu choices include pot roast, lasagna, paella and chicken potpie. Adults can relax by the Coliseum Pool and the Villa Pool with summery drinks like fruity margaritas, Venetian mojitos, sangria, Nero’s bloody marys and draft beer for $40 per pitcher. For gold medal appetites, the Coliseum Pool and Grill will celebrate the Summer Olympics with dishes inspired by the day’s televised events. Private cabanas await, each with their own flat-screen TVs—perfect for cheering on your favorite team while sharing Parmesan-garlic fries, flash-fried calamari or pepper jack quesadillas. Sports fans can also head to the Pelican Grill Lounge to catch the action on two 9-foot TV screens while enjoying a Stadium Burger or Skuna Bay salmon BLT sandwich. Summer in Orange County also means fresh, local produce. The Pelican Grill and Coliseum Pool and Grill present a summer ranch-to-table menu, which features local ingredients such as asparagus, avocados and strawberries. For extra special meals, the resort now offers a Chef’s Table for up to eight diners which includes a five-course dinner along with reserve wine pairings and tableside culinary presentations by chef Chang Sivilay. Planning a romantic rendezvous outside of the resort’s boundaries? The Caffé offers Crystal Cove picnic baskets, customizable assortments of gourmet goodies on the go. (22701 Pelican Hill Rd. South; 949-467-6800; pelicanhill.com)
Savoring Summer at Tommy Bahama
Tommy Bahama apparel is synonymous with summer, so it makes sense that the Tommy Bahama Island Grill in Corona del Mar Plaza has introduced new menu items that reflect the season. The regular menu already celebrates the island lifestyle, but Executive Chef Jacquelyn Nabong has created several innovative dishes that virtually shout “summer.”
“We wanted to do a comfort menu for summer, so we took the richness out of the new items but kept the comfort intact,” Jacquelyn explains. One new entrée, rock salt grilled Meyer flat iron steak, has white bean puree, Shimeji mushrooms and a root beer reduction.
“Root beer is a classic summer drink, but we weren’t sure we could make it into a sauce,” Jacquelyn says. “We tried it and loved it. It’s savory with a sweet finish and a perfect complement to the smokiness of the steak.”
Another new menu item, the lemongrass encrusted ahi tuna salad with kale, edamame, hearts of palm, Beech mushrooms, roasted corn, pine nuts and a tahini-miso vinaigrette, has become an instant hit, while the hot iron swordfish and barbequed Tiger shrimp with charred corn succotash, spinach, local herb quinoa and lemon beurre blanc works perfectly despite Jacquelyn’s shellfish allergy.
“I can’t taste the shrimp,” Jacquelyn admits, “but I have developed my sense of smell to the point where I can tell if a dish is not quite right.”
Tommy Bahama has introduced novel cocktails—dubbed “farm to shaker”—that also reflect the season, including a sensational Thai Basil Martini made with Citron Vodka, Cointreau, simple syrup, Meyer Lemon and Thai basil. The drink is bursting with flavor and color—the bright lime green liquid looks somewhat surreal, but goes down real smooth. (854 Avocado Ave.; 949-760-8686; tommybahama.com) —Christopher Trela
New Update for an Old Favorite
Complete with a contemporary facelift, the Newport Rib Company is ready to show off its brand new look. The restaurant moved from its old location on Newport Boulevard 14 years ago, and the management and staff were ready for a change. Completely gutted to open up the entire restaurant while keeping the same neighborhood feel, the ceilings are now 10 feet higher, and the carpet has been replaced with new wood flooring.
To the delight of sports fans, they increased the number of TVs from three to 10, while guests who are more interested in simply grabbing a seat quickly and devouring some ribs will be happy to learn that they increased seating at the bar and booths. The sleek and shiny Arizona granite-top, honey brown bar is a swanky centerpiece and completes Newport Rib Company’s new, hipper vibe. Guests can enjoy some new items on the menu, including some new sliders and baskets, and the restaurant is now open later on Fridays and Saturdays. (2196 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa; 949-631-2110; ribcompany.com)
New on the Back Bay
Just in time for summer, Back Bay Bistro and Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina are cooking up new ways to enjoy great cuisine on the bay. First, Back Bay Bistro brought on new Executive Chef Kurt Schaeffer. After graduating from the Culinary School of America in 1985, Kurt worked at a number of upscale hotels and fine dining restaurants before landing as executive chef of McCormick and Schmicks in Irvine. He then started his own consulting company, KMS Consulting, during which time he opened The Capital Grille and Bistro West. Now, Kurt brings his passion, experience and flair to the Back Bay Bistro at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort. As executive chef, he adds his personal touch to the menu, which includes fresh seafood, top grade beef and meat dishes, and other fare that takes advantage of California’s abundant produce. Try the new summer menu, which recently debuted.
If bay views aren’t enough, get out on the water by enjoying a meal on a Duffy boat. The public can rent the electric watercrafts and tour the Back Bay and nearby environs while enjoying specially prepared offerings from the award-winning Back Bay Bistro. Each of the three picnic packages, which come complete with linen napkins, plates and stainless steel utensils, is paired with fine wines personally selected by Food and Beverage Director Thomas Giulioni. The Duffy boats are available for $50/hour for two hours and $75/hour for one hour with the purchase of the gourmet meals. A designated “driver” is required (the Dunes can supply a cruise operator at $25/hour). (1131 Back Bay Dr.; 949-729-3863; newportdunes.com)
Hotels and Resorts
Andrea
The Resort at Pelican Hill, 22701 Pelican Hill Rd. South; 800-820-6800; pelicanhill.com
First Cabin Restaurant
The Balboa Bay Club, 1221 W. Coast Hwy.; 949-630-4145; balboabayclub.com
The californian
The Hyatt Regency, 21500 Pacific Coast
Hwy., Huntington Beach; 714-845-4776; huntingtonbeach.hyatt.com
Palm Terrace
The Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Dr.,
949-760-4920; theislandhotel.com
Raya
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, 1 Ritz Carlton Dr.,
Dana Point; 949-240-2000; ritzcarlton.com
Sam & Harry’s
Marriott Newport Beach, 900 Newport Center Dr.;
949-640-4000; samandharrysnb.com
Stonehill Tavern
The St. Regis Monarch Beach, 1 Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point;
949-234-3200; stregismb.com
Studio
Montage Laguna Beach
30801 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach;
949-715-6420, studiolagunabeach.com
Newport Center/Fashion Island
Brasserie Pascal
327 Newport Center Dr.
949-640-2700; French75.net
Canaletto Ristorante Veneto
545 Newport Center Dr.
949-640-0900; ilfornaio.com
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
455 Newport Center Dr., 949-720-9633
flemingssteakhouse.com
Mariposa Restaurant
Neiman Marcus, 601 Newport Center Dr.;
949-467-3350
Muldoon’s Irish Pub
Newport Center Dr.; 949-640-4110;
muldoonspub.com
R+D Kitchen
555 Newport Center Dr.
949-219-0555; hillstone.com
Taco Rosa
2632 San Miguel Rd. 949-720-0980;
tacorosa.com
The Ritz Restaurant & Garden
880 Newport Center Dr.
949-720-1800; ritzrestaurant.com
True Food Kitchen
451 Newport Center Dr.
949-644-2400; truefoodkitchen.com
Wahoo’s Fish Tacos
1091 Newport Center Dr.
949-760-0290; wahoos.com
Yard House
849 Newport Center Dr.
949-640-9273; yardhouse.com
Newport Coast/Crystal Cove
Beachcomber Cafe
15 Crystal Cove; 949-376-6900; thebeachcombercafe.com
Bluefin Fine Japanese Cuisine
7952 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-7373; bluefinbyabe.com
Javier’s
7832 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-1239;
javiers-cantina.com
Mastro’s Ocean Club Fish House
8112 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-6990; mastrosrestaurants.com
Tamarind of london
7862 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-8338; tamarindrestaurant.com.
Zov’s Café Bakery & Bar
21123 Newport Coast Dr.
949-760-9687; zovs.com
Balboa Peninsula
21 Oceanfront
2100 W. Oceanfront
949-673-2100; 21oceanfront.com
Aurora Mediterranean Restaurant
2307 Balboa Blvd. 949-642-1073
Avila’s El Ranchito
2800 Newport Blvd.
949-675-6855; avilaselranchito.net
Bluewater Grill
630 Lido Park Dr.
949-675-3474; bluewatergrill.com
Buddha’s Favorite
634 Lido Park Dr.
949-723-4203; buddhasfavorite.com
Charlie’s Chili
102 McFadden Place 949-675-7991;
charlies-chili.com
Commonwealth lounge & Grill
2406 Newport Blvd.; 949-675-4444; commonwealthlounge.com
Crab Cooker
2200 Newport Blvd.; 949-673-0100, crabcooker.com
Malarky’s Irish Pub
3011 Newport Blvd.; 949-675-2340; malarkysirishpub.com
Mama D’s Italian Kitchen
3012 Newport Blvd.; 949-675-6262; mamadsnewport.com
Mutt Lynch’s
2300 W. Oceanfront; 949-675-1556
muttlynchs.com
Newport Beach Brewing Company
2920 Newport Blvd.; 949-675-8449
nbbrewco.com
Newport Landing Restaurant
503 E. Edgewater Ave. 949-675-2373
newport-landing.com
Pescadou Bistro
3325 Newport Blvd.; 949-675-6990 pescadoubistro.com
Regatta Cafe
3421 Via Lido; 949-675-1878
thebaritone.com/home.htm
Ruby’s Diner
1 Balboa Pier; 949-675-7829; rubys.com
Rudy’s Pub & Grill
3110 Newport Blvd.; 949-723-0293 rudyspubandgrill.com
Rusty Pelican
2735 W. Coast Hwy.; 949-642-3431 rustypelican.com
Sabatino’s sausage company
251 Shipyard Way, Cabin D; 949-723-0621
sabatinosausagecompany.com
San Shi Go
205 Main St.; 949-673-3724
Sol Grill
110 McFadden Place;
949-723-4105; solgrill.com
The Alley
4501 West Coast Hwy.; 949-646-9126 thealleynewportbeach.com
The Blue Beet
107 21st Place; 949-675-2338
thebluebeet.com
The Cannery
3010 Lafayette Ave.; 949-566-0060
cannerynewport.com
The Dock
2816 LaFayette Ave.; 949-673-3625 eatatthedock.com
Balboa Island
Amelia’s Restaurant
311 Marine Ave.; 949-673
6580; ameliasbalboaisland.com
Barolo By the Sea
305 Marine Ave.; 949-675-6193
Basilic Restaurant
217 Marine Ave.; 949-673-0570 basilicrestaurant.com
PasTu
216 Marine Ave.; 949-566-9525 pasturestaurant.com
Shanghai Pine Gardens
300 Marine Ave.; 949-673-3802
Wilma’s Patio
203 Marine Ave.; 949-675-5542
wilmaspatio.com
PCH/Mariner’s Mile
3 thirty 3
333 Bayside Dr.; 949-673-8464
3thirty3nb.com
A restaurant
3334 W. Coast Hwy.; 949-650-6505; arestaurantnb.com
Back Bay Bistro Newport Dunes
1131 Back Bay Dr.; 949-729-1144; backbaybistronewportbeach.com
Bayside Restaurant
900 Bayside Dr.; 949-721-1222; baysiderestaurant.com
Billy’s at the Beach
2751 W. Coast Hwy.; 949-722-1100
Cappy’s Cafe
5930 W. Coast Hwy.; 949-646-4202 cappyscafe.com
Nesai Restaurant
217 Riverside Ave.; 949-646-2333 nesairestaurant.com
SOL Cocina
251 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-675-9800
solcocina.com
Villa Nova
3131 W. Coast Hwy.; 949-642-7880 villanovarestaurant.com
Zubies Chicken Coop
414 Old Newport Blvd.; 949-645-6086
Corona del Mar
Bamboo Bistro
2600 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-720-1289
bamboobistrorestaurant.com
Bandera
3201 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-673-3524
Five Crowns
3801 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-760-0331 lawrysonline.com
Gen Kai of California
3344 E. Coast Hwy. 949-675-0771
Gulfstream
850 Avocado Ave.; 949.718-0188
hillstone.com
Nagisa Sushi Restaurant
3840 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-673-3933
Panini Café
2333 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-650-0101
mypaninicafe.com
Rothschild’s Restaurant
2407 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-673-3750 rothschildsrestaurant.com
Summer House
2744 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-612-7700 summerhousecdm.com
The Bungalow
2441 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-673-6585 thebungalowrestaurant.com
The Crow Bar and Kitchen
2325 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-675-0070 crowbarcdm.com
The Quiet Woman
3224 E. Coast Hwy.; 949-640-7440 quietwoman.com
Tommy Bahama’s Island Grill
854 Avocado; 949-760-8686
tommybahama.com
Airport Area
Il Barone
4251 Martingale Way; 949-955-2755 ilbaroneristorante.com
Tapas
4253-A Martingale Way; 949-756-8194 tapasnewportbeach.net
Ten asian bistro
4647 MacArthur Blvd.; 949-660-1010
tenoc.com
Upper Bay
Bistro le Crillon
2523 Eastbluff Dr.; 949-640-8181
bistrolecrillon.com
Kitayama
101 Bayview Pl.; 949-725-0777 kitayamarestaurant.com
Pita Jungle
1200 Bison Ave.; 949-706-7711
pitajungle.com
Sage
2531 Eastbluff Dr.; 949-718-9650
Wasa Sushi on the bluffs
1346 Bison Ave.; 949-760-1511
wasasushi.com.
Wildfish
1370 Bison Ave.; 949-720-9925
eddiev.com
Costa Mesa
Anqi
3333 Bristol St.; 714-557-5679; anqibistro.com
Charlie palmer
3333 Bristol St.; 714-352-2525
charliepalmer.com
Haute Cakes Caffe
1807 Westcliff Dr.; 949-642-4114 hautecakescaffe.net
LA CAve
1695 irvine ave.; 949-646-7944 lacaverestaurant.com
MARCHÉ MODERNE
3333 Bristol St., Ste. 3001; 714-434-7900 marchemoderne.net
MI Casa
296 E. 17th St.; 949-645-7626; micasa1.com
The Pizza Bakery
1741 Westcliff Dr.; 949-631-1166 thepizzabakery.com
Pizzeria Ortica
650 Anton Blvd., 714-445-4900
pizzeriaortica.com
Seasons 52
3333 Bristol St., Ste. 2802; 714-437-5252
seasons52.com
Irvine
Bistango
19100 Von Karman Ave.; 949-752-5999
bistango.com
Kimera Restaurant Lounge
19530 Jamboree Rd., 949-261-1222 kimerarestaurant.com
phans 55 vietnamese bistro & bar
6000 Scholarship Dr., 949-724-1236; phans55.com
Ruth’s Chris Steak House
2961 Michelson Dr.; 949-252-8848;
ruthschris.com
Wasa Sushi
The Irvine Marketplace, 13124 Jamboree Rd. 714-665-3338; wasasushi.com
Laguna Beach
370 Common
370 Glenneyre St.; 949-494-8686
370common.com
Asada
480 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-815-5533
asadalaguna.com
Broadway by Amar Santana
328 Glenneyre St.; 949-715-8234 broadwaybyamarsantana.com
Cucina Alessa
234 Forest Ave.; 949-497-8222
The Deck on Laguna Beach
627 Sleepy Hollow Ln.; 949-494-6700
K’ya Bistro
1287 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-9718
kyabistro.com
La Sirena Grill
30862 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-499-2301 lasirenagrill.com
Nirvana Grille
303-101 Broadway; 949-497-0027 nirvanagrille.com
The Rooftop Lounge
1289 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-497-2446
rooftoplagunabeach.com
Sapphire Laguna
1200 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-715-9888
sapphirelaguna.com
Sundried Tomato
361 Forest Ave.; 949-494-3312 thesundriedtomatocafe.com
Tommy Bahama
400 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-376-6886 tommybahama.com
Tabu Grill
2892 S. Coast Hwy.; 949-494-7743; tabugrill.com
Zinc Cafe & Market
350 Ocean Ave.; 949-719-9462
zinccafe.com NBM
