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Bayside
900 Bayside Dr, Newport Beach, CA 92660 · 949-721-1222
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NEWPORT BEACH. One of Newport's more exclusive restaurants, chic Bayside has garnered quite a reputation for itself, thanks to deftly-prepared seafood and an atmosphere more Beverly Hills than Orange County. A favorite with the young, trendy crowd, Bayside is an exercise in juxtaposition: Gallery-like dining rooms and a sleek bar contrast with a vine-draped exterior, reminiscent of a spaghetti Western set. The menu is equally fascinating, composed of dishes like Pacific grilled swordfish and risotto with pancetta-wrapped tiger prawns.
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Bistango
19100 Von Karman Ave, Irvine, CA 92612-1539 · 949-752-5222
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IRVINE. Sleek and stylish, this establishment is ideal for a romantic night on the town, and live contemporary music adds to the appeal. Within the restaurant, soft light highlights original artwork hanging from earth-toned walls. After whetting your appetite with one of the chef's sublime starters – the griddle crab cake and cast iron-seared foie gras earn high marks – find delight in innovative New American entrees, which include cordon bleu with cave-aged Swiss cheese, Pacific grilled swordfish, veal sweetbreads, and pork loin stroganoff. A four-course prix fixe menu is available.
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LA HABRA. While dining options in scenic La Habra are few and far between, this Dickensian cottage has garnered quite a reputation. Cozy and traditional, the house-turned-restaurant features multiple dining rooms, most with fireplaces and all with English country manor-inspired decor. While the setting is traditional, the menu is anything but, and contemporary American offerings like grilled culotte steak with four-peppercorn sauce and a grilled rib eye with garlic mashed potatoes headline the menu.
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First Cabin
1221 West Coast Hwy, The Balboa Bay Club & Resort, Newport Beach, CA 92663 · 949-645-5000
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NEWPORT BEACH. Dine throughout the day at this classy restaurant, which showcases amazing views of the bay and boasts a terrific heated patio that lets patrons experience the setting even more immediately. Dinner promises to be an upscale event, as suitable for business as for romance, and diners enjoy it with macadamia nut-crusted mahi mahi, a 14-oz. grilled rib-eye, broiled Maine lobster, shrimp and chicken curry, Dover sole, and garlic- and rosemary-crusted rack of Colorado lamb.
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Five Crowns
3801 E Coast Hwy, Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 · 949-760-0331
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CORONA DEL MAR. Designed to emulate an age-old English country inn, this cozy enterprise whisks diners away from the bright, open spaces of California and tucks them into quaint rooms adorned with antiques, fireplaces, and charming accents. The menu is hearty and substantial, built around steaks and seafood. Give yourself over to thick-cut prime rib or to rack of lamb, roasted duckling, a pork porterhouse, or to butter-poached lobster tails or potato-crusted salmon. Great for ex-pats and folks who appreciate Old World style.
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Rendezvous
26701-B Verdugo St, Capistrano Depot, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 · 949-496-1006
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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. Elegantly appointed with a 1920s-era flair and a nod to the heyday of early 20th century rail travel, Rendezvous occupies a stylish depot and even expands its realm into vintage train cars. The romantic setting fits the accomplished cuisine, which includes dishes like a chicory coffee-crusted bison rib-eye, olive oil-poached rack of lamb, and Rendezvous BBQ shrimp with oven-roasted corn flapjacks and baby wilted spinach. The lounge serves as a lovely, sociable hang-out before or after dinner.
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NEWPORT BEACH. Lauded by regional and national organizations for its service, atmosphere, and cuisine, this gracious, elegant restaurant is lushly furnished and speaks to a moneyed clientele. Its old-school ambience recalls an era when dining was a social event, and regulars adore its classy appeal. Appetizers – escargot, Sevruga caviar, and steak tartare – hew to the theme. So, too, do main courses, which include steak Diane, roast rack of lamb, Dover sole, and grilled calf's liver. A lovely special occasion destination.
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WESTMINSTER. Dress to the nines for one of Orange County's oldest, most respected restaurants. Tuxedo-clad waiters cater to every need, and an air of professionalism recalls an era when substance and class were prevalent. Timeless entrees have graced the menu since the late '60s; stalwarts include broiled salmon in béarnaise sauce, veal Oscar with asparagus and crab legs, duckling à l'orange flambéed with Cointreau, and sweetbreads Calamart. Afterwards, treat yourself to a fantastic dessert – perhaps a banana flambé or crêpe Riviera with vanilla and chocolate rum sauce.
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Sage
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2531 Eastbluff Dr, Eastbluff Shopping Ctr, Newport Beach, CA 92660 · 949-718-9650
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NEWPORT BEACH. At this upbeat bistro, savvy tourists and long-time locals adore chef-owner Rich Mead's sublime regional American cuisine. Indeed, you'll find no pretense or snobbery inside these Spanish mission-style walls; rather, the casual air and friendly waitstaff quickly make everybody feel at home. Menu highlights include a grilled portabello with Swiss chard and papaya mustard, roast chili-crusted lamb rack with red pepper coulis and red wine reduction, and grilled balsamic salmon with roast asparagus and new potatoes. The eclectic wine list features labels from Santa Barbara to the Russian River Valley, and brunch draws high marks from area critics thanks to specialties that range from a tomato-basil omelet with fried potatoes to blue corn huevos rancheros with black beans.
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Summit House
2000 E Bastanchury Rd, Fullerton, CA 92835 · 714-671-4111
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FULLERTON. Old English hospitality and a view of the city lights come together at the hilltop Summit House. Take this wonderful ambience and add great prime rib, John Dory (a white fish), salmon Wellington, and unrivaled service, and you can see why it's a local favorite. The tavern bar offers piano music, mixes great martinis, and is the perfect place to wait for your table. Save room for the chocolate almond souffle torte or the English trifle. A special place for a special occasion.
Looking for a restaurant? We've explored the options, checked with critics, and pounded the pavement to offer only the best. Recommendations come complete with contact information and a brief description highlighting the important features of the restaurant. Fit our choices to your mood, or let us guide your tastes. You'll likely find a few places that not even locals know about.
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