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Ambrosia
801 N Main St, OC Pavilion, Santa Ana, CA 92701 · 714-550-0880
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SANTA ANA. Enveloping, semi-circular booths, stands of leafy palms, and a grand piano with pride of place create a backdrop for special occasion dining at this elegant establishment. Presentation is old-school, thanks to tableside preparations of dishes like shrimp scampi and caesar salad. Entrees range from veal "schnitzle" with crispy sweetbreads to Sonoma pheasant with toasted hazelnuts and hedgehog mushrooms to North Atlantic turbot with black mussels and saffron curry fumé. Express lunch and happy hour menus are available as well.
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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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French 75 Laguna
1464 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 · 949-494-8444
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LAGUNA BEACH. Recollecting Parisian bistros – dark woods, leather booths, pre-World War II posters, and a fireplace – French 75 Laguna attracts more than its fair share of Orange County's elite. The "Bistro Classics" section of the menu is always a safe bet, thanks to the likes of "Rich Homme, Poor Homme" (monkfish on lobster mashed potatoes), croque monsieurs with pomme frites, and Alsatian-style pork with apples, cabbage, and peppercorn sauce. Desserts like Callebaut chocolate soufflé and pumpkin cheesecake with molasses crème fraiche are a must, as are reservations.
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La Vie en Rose
240 S State College Blvd, Brea, CA 92821 · 714-529-8333
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BREA. Highly acclaimed by local and regional food critics, La Vie serves traditional French cuisine in a picturesque Normandy farmhouse. Tantalize your palate with classic Gascon and Provençal dishes: sautéed shrimp scampi with fennel cream sauce, roasted pork tenderloin with port wine sauce and St. Agur cheese, and sea scallops sautéed with lemon grass beurre blanc. In addition, the hand-selected wine list features a good mix of Californian and French labels.
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Marché Moderne
3333 Bristol St, South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 · 714-434-7900
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COSTA MESA. A gathering place for local power brokers and celebrating couples, this husband-and-wife-owned restaurant benefits from personalized attention and Florent and Amelia Marneau's love of food. The classy space, including a seductive patio, hews to the details, as does the kitchen's flawless cooking. Expect traditional favorites like moules frites, savory tartes, charcuterie plates, and rabbit braised in red wine. Expect, too, to see short ribs, scallops, and lamb, all sumptuously presented. And to top it all off, rich, delicious desserts are a specialty of pastry chef and wife, Amelia.
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Picayo
610 N Pacific Coast Hwy, Ste 102, Laguna Beach, CA 92651 · 949-497-5051
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LAGUNA BEACH. This attractive restaurant keeps a place in the spotlight, thanks to its cozy, country house setting and romantic atmosphere. The innovative menu changes every month and boasts a delightful array of Mediterranean-influenced dishes, including a shrimp, artichoke, and mushroom-stuffed purse and sautéed foie gras with sherry vinegar sauce. While there's no strict dress code, most patrons opt for business dressy attire. Outdoor seating is available.
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Pinot Provence
686 Anton Blvd, Westin South Coast Plaza Hotel, Costa Mesa, CA 92626 · 714-444-5900
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COSTA MESA. A romantic rusticity imbues this well-received restaurant with charm and hospitality, while fresh flowers add pops of color amid stone and wood elements. An excellent menu fits the ambience, pleasing diners with duck breast with white bean gratin "sous vide" (or vacuum-packed to intensify the flavor), an Angus beef filet with pommes frites, rotisserie chicken, and Nantucket Bay scallops with a Meyer lemon truffle emulsion. Great wines and careful service also further the cause beautifully.
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The Cellar
305 N Harbor Blvd, Villa del Sol, Fullerton, CA 92832 · 714-525-5682
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FULLERTON. Imported German china, monogrammed crystal, fresh flowers, oil paintings, velvet chairs, and leather banquettes set the stage for The Cellar's incredible cuisine. For more than 30 years, the restaurant has set the bar for fine dining in Orange County, and patrons linger to enjoy exquisite food and romantic atmosphere. The award-winning wine cellar offers 1,300 labels, and table service is impeccable, so it's no wonder that this is the location for a special occasion.
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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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