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Basilic
217 Marine Ave, Newport Beach, CA 92662 · 949-673-0570
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NEWPORT BEACH. Charming Basilic has a definite European ambience, from its window boxes to its cafe tables and gilt-framed artwork. The details come as no surprise, given the chef's Continental heritage. His Balboa Island restaurant has been a favorite for years, and the intimate place is a favorite for special meals, especially romantic ones. While the menu does change, expect options like coq au vin, oven-roasted duck breast, seafood risotto, a house bouillabaisse, and steak au poivre. A five-course prix fixe menu is available as well, and when the weather turns colder, a monthly raclette meal is well-attended.
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OLD TOWNE ORANGE. A far cry from the standard Mexican eateries that pepper every city, Gabbi's delivers personalized service and fantastic, well-considered dishes that have the place packed daily. Amid moody lighting, aged brick and beams, and large canvases, diners tuck into fresh guacamole, lobster claw and crab crepes, grilled chicken, fresh fish of the day, and tacos built around everything from pork to steak to mushrooms. Regulars also rave about the margaritas, and dozens of tequilas are also on offer. First-timers: Be aware that the restaurant is not marked by an exterior sign.
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Napa Rose
1600 S Disneyland Dr, Disney's Grand Californian Hotel®, Anaheim, CA 92802 · 714-781-3463
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ANAHEIM. Set in an Arts and Crafts-style hotel, Napa Rose takes the best from California's vineyards, dairies, farms, and seacoast and submits it all to chef Andrew Sutton, who creates magical dishes with the bounty. The rose-themed restaurant does everything well and is the hotel's most expensive establishment, so you may want to save it for an adult occasion. The Californian wine list is extensive, and it's refreshing to be able to get a glass in the usually dry Disneyland® Resort.
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Ramos House Cafe
31752 Los Rios St, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675-3114 · 949-443-1342
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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO. With its location near the railroad tracks, Ramos House Cafe showcases a style and charm that make it one of Orange County's most unique restaurants. Built in the 1880s, the board-and-batten home provides a cozy setting for delicious comfort food, whether you crave something with a hint of Creole spice or an omelet stuffed with locally-grown veggies and flavored with herbs grown in the Ramos's own garden. A great experience for folks discovering the Los Rios district. Patio dining is available.
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LAGUNA BEACH. Set in a charming, wood-clad cottage, this much-favored restaurant enjoys a creative bent in both food and decor. Inside, local art and pottery, handmade light fixtures, reclaimed wood flooring, and other decorative accents illustrate the tendency, while on the menu, global culinary traditions represent themselves as garam masala Colorado lamb sirloin, clay pot monkfish, twice-marinated barrimundi with spiced tomato couscous, and pan-seared beef tenderloin with lobster ravioli. Great service and a patio with a firepit and ocean views only increase the allure.
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Stonehill Tavern
1 Monarch Beach Resort, St. Regis Resort, Dana Point, CA 92629 · 949-234-3318
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DANA POINT. Glamorous, sophisticated Stonehill is a far cry from the earthy tavern premise its name asserts. Rather, the Michael Mina enterprise revels in perfectly prepared New American fare, a menu of delicacies which its gorgeous clientele can't seem to deny themselves. Among the treats you'll uncover are prime short ribs, salt-baked Maine lobster, Berkshire pig served two ways, and Tasmanian ocean trout. House-made desserts are decadent creations, and Mina's appetizers (served individually or as trios) are also wonderful, practically enough to nibble on for an entire meal. Great wine list too.
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Studio
30801 S Coast Hwy, Montage Resort & Spa, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 · 949-715-6420
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LAGUNA BEACH. A lovely, light-filled interior boasts accents of wood and stone within its Craftsman-inspired space and invites diners to enjoy window-scooping views of the ocean as they dine on revered French-Californian cuisine. The kitchen, led by chef James Boyce, confidently turns out dishes like pan-seared New Zealand John Dory (a signature that gains depth from caramelized cauliflower and Madras curry), Xeres vinegar-braised short ribs, roasted Maine diver sea scallops, and a Wagyu beef rib-eye. An astounding wine selection adds to the pricey-but-worth-it experience.
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Tabu Grill
2892 S Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 · 949-494-7743
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LAGUNA BEACH. Energetic yet romantic, cozy Tabu has mesmerized locals with its accomplished cooking, which engages diners when being prepared in the open kitchen and becomes more delicious when actually experienced. The fabulous restaurant builds its reputation on steaks and seafood, but they're a far cry from what you might expect in a men's club enterprise. Here, give yourself over to an Australian Kobe filet mignon, to Tasmanian salmon with roasted baby beets, or to an Angus bone-in rib-eye with forbidden rice risotto. Lamb and pork chops and pastas can also be had. Terrific service is a boon, as is the stylish ambience.
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The Hobbit
2932 E Chapman Ave, Orange, CA 92869 · 714-997-1972
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| Avg. Entrée: |
$$$$$50+
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| Reservations: |
Required |
| Outdoor Dining: |
None |
ORANGE. Set in a Tolkien-inspired cottage, this restaurant wows diners with supposedly magical allure and Old World charm that's evoked by a wine cellar, cozy fireplaces, and a patio. With understated elegance, the cozy home-away-from-home features a seven-course, prix fixe Continental menu with standouts like beef Wellington, herb-crusted loin of lamb, beef filet with foie gras ravioli, and filet mignon stuffed with wild mushrooms. The entire meal is served in three "acts" and allows diners time to meet other patrons, relax, and enjoy an eminently luxurious repast.
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NEWPORT BEACH. This soothing, romantic establishment is a long-lived favorite in the area, and its chef, Pascal Olhats, has an experienced knack for delighting patrons with classic French fare. In his hands, that means a grilled beef onglet with shallot sauce and polenta, bouillabaise Provencale, baked sea bass with a thyme crust, and a classic coq au vin. A three-course, prix fixe dinner is a Sunday standard for locals, and lunch specials deliver happily affordable selections to folks on a midday mission.
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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