WHERE Orange County Magazine Spring 2014

SPRING 2014 WHEREOC.COM

Orange County SOUND BITES: MUSIC AND DINING SEE-WORTHY SHOPPING IN NEWPORT BOOK OF MORMON IN COSTA MESA FINNISH FLASH TEEMU SELÄNNE

SEE the

MUSIC

ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PERFORMING-ARTS VENUES

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An Amazing Collection of Restaurants JUST STEPS FROM DISNEYLAND® RESORT

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where orange county

spring 2014

CONTENTS

THE CULTURE ISSUE

departments

the guide

5 Editor’s Note

30 DINING Restaurants by cuisine and by city

Practice, practice, practice!

7 Hot Dates

50 ENTERTAINMENT Special events, performing arts and sports

The Book of Mormon at Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa.

64 30 Things We Love

52 ATTRACTIONS + MUSEUMS Theme parks, exhibitions and outdoor activities

Plus five things Segerstrom Center president/COO Terry Dwyer loves.

55 SHOPPING The county’s major retail destinations 56 GOLF The most beautiful and most interesting courses

where now

57 BEACHES + PARKS Paradise found, on the trail and on the coast

8 Dining Fig & Olive in Newport Beach, Solita in Huntington Beach and seafooders all over.

58 NIGHTLIFE Hottest clubs, lounges, bars and wine bars

10 My Orange County

59 TOURS + TRANSPORT Getting out, and getting from here to there

Ice hockey legend Teemu Selänne, aka the Finnish Flash.

Plus Teemu’s Perfect Day.

11 Shopping See-worthy shopping: Seafolly swimwear, See Eyewear and the biggest See’s Candies anywhere.

ON THE COVER The interior of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa.

See feature on page 12.

Photo by Cris Costea.

CITY TOURS

16

Shrek Pannacotta at Leatherby’s Café Rouge

Metro Cities The Coast South Coast North Coast

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features 12 See the Music Architecturally significant performing-arts venues include gems such as Yost Theater in Santa Ana, the county’s oldest, and Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo, its newest. BY JOSEPH ELLIOTT

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Outlets at Orange

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Bella Terra

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The Marketplace

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Segerstrom Center for the Arts

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Explore the county north to south and A to Z PAGE 61

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The Triangle

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16 Sound Bites CONNECT WITH US ONLINE

Hearing is the sense most overlooked when talking about food. Yet music affects aspects of the dining experience including what comes out of the kitchen and how much diners spend. BY ROGER GRODY

Copyright © 2014

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whereoc.com Get the up-to-the-minute buzz from our Southern California WHERE editors online and on your smartphone.

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where MAGAZINE

On the Web: WhereOC.com PUBLISHER Jeff Levy EDITOR Benjamin Epstein ART DIRECTOR Carol Wakano ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Danielle Dolen MARKETING DIRECTOR Audrey Nimura CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER PRODUCTION ARTIST

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125 E. Baker St., Suite 250 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Phone: 714.825.1700 Fax: 714.825.1710

EMAIL Advertising JLevy@WhereOC.com Editorial Benjamin.Epstein@WhereOC.com Art Art@WhereOC.com Production Ads@WhereOC.com Website Christina.Xenos@WhereOC.com Circulation Stephanie.Reid@WhereOC.com Plan ahead for your next visit to Orange County.

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Contact: Stephanie Reid 714.825.1700, Stephanie.Reid@WhereOC.com © 2014 Southern California Media Group. All Rights reserved Published by Southern California Media Group. Printed in the United States. where makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. All rights reserved.

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In Orange County, where magazine is pleased to be a member of Anaheim/Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, CalTIA, Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, Orange County Concierge Association, Orange County Visitors Association.

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welcome

W y l a nd

A note from the editor

art and conservation

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE! Whenever someone asks me how to break into writing, I always say, “Practice your piano!” It’s my riff on the old saw about a New York visitor asking how to get to Carnegie Hall. The answer: “Practice, practice, practice!” It worked for me, anyway.

While a piano major in college, I took a course in music criticism and was subsequently invited to write reviews for the L.A. Times. Writing is like speaking a foreign language: The more you do it, the easier it gets. One thing led to another and ultimately to Where, GuestBook and Performances magazines. I still play piano—albeit mostly as accompanist for my teenage son Noah, a budding baritone—and I love it now more than ever. All this is to say that, with a background in music, it gives me endless pleasure to live and listen in Orange County, where the resident Pacific Symphony and visiting orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic perform in the aesthetically and acoustically stunning Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, and where I can hear a fabulous recitalist, chamber ensemble or jazz act—or the Pacific Symphony—at Soka Performing Arts Center in Aliso Viejo. See our feature on architecturally significant performing-arts venues, See the

A Pacific Paradise, original oil painting

by Wyland and Steven Power© 2012

Wyland Galleries

509 South Coast Highway Laguna Beach, CA 92651 800-WYLAND-1 OPEN DAILY 9 AM TO 9 PM

www.wyland.com

Music, on page 12; find complete music and dance listings on p. 50.

Follow Wyland

Considering a pre- or post-performance repast? Be sure to read Sound Bites, on p. 16, which explores the fascinating intersection of music and dining. And meanwhile, keep practicing your piano! —BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

where in the world

WHERE is an international network of magazines first published in 1936 and distributed in 4,000 leading hotels in more than 50 places around the world. Look for us when you visit any of the following cities, or plan ahead for your next trip by visiting us online at wheretraveler.com UNITED STATES Alaska, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Georgia, Indianapolis, Jacksonville/St. Augustine/Amelia Island, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Maui, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New Orleans, New York, Oahu, Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Scottsdale, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, St. Louis, Washington, D.C. ASIA Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore CANADA Calgary, Canadian Rockies, Edmonton, Halifax, Muskoka/Parry Sound, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, Winnipeg EUROPE Budapest, Istanbul, London, Milan, Moscow, Paris, Rome, St. Petersburg

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ExpEriEncE World-class shopping, dining and pErforming arts,

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WHERE CALENDAR SPRING 2014 Search the full calendar at whereoc.com

HOT DATES

Top Stops

ART MUSEUMS MAKE FOR HOT DATES, TOO!

OPENING APRIL 13 FATHER & SON Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach offers Sarkisian & Sarkisian, a survey of art by Peter Sarkisian (b. 1965) and his father, Paul (b. 1928).

The show includes 22 perception-challenging video sculptures by Peter and nearly a dozen ’60s-era avantgarde paintings by Paul.

MAY 13-25 Speaks Volumes The New York Times calls The Book of Mormon “the best musical of this century.“ Entertainment Weekly says it’s “the funniest musical of all time.“ Well, it was at least good enough to win its creators, South Park’s Trey Parker and Matt Stone, nine Tony Awards including best musical. Never mind the name: Think profane— as in raunchy humor and explicit language—as opposed to sacred. p. 50

7 BOOK OF MORMON, JOAN MARCUS

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HERE FOR THE WEEKEND? Check out our Weekend Roundup at WhereOC.com for the up-to-the-minute lowdown on the coolest concerts, sporting events, festivals, art exhibits and restaurants.

GREAT THINGS NOT TO BE MISSED

1 FESTIVAL OF WHALES > MARCH 1-2, 8-9 43rd annual event celebrates the migration of the California gray whale with a parade, street fair, classic-car shows and cruises. Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point, 949.496.1045 2 VIENNA PHILHARMONIC > MARCH 3 Italian conductor Daniele Gatti brings one of the world's great orchestras to the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787 3 ANGELS OPENING DAY > MARCH 31 Cheer on faves Mike Trout (left), Josh Hamilton and Albert Pujols when the L.A. Angels of Anaheim take on the Seattle Mariners at Angel Stadium. 800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.464.2901

4 L.A. KISS > APRIL 5 Rock legends Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons bring pro football back to SoCal. First home game is against the Portland Thunder. Honda Center, 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2500 5 NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL > APRIL 24-MAY 1 Event features 350 films as well as sessions with directors and screenwriters.

949.253.2880, newportbeachfilmfest.com

THROUGH MAY 18 LUDWIG ARTIFACTS Beethoven: The Late Great, at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, includes five handwritten manuscripts never before shown on the West Coast, the composer’s life mask of 1812, locks of his hair and his household account leaf.

The show marks the Philharmonic Society of O.C.’s 60th anniversary.

THROUGH JUNE 1 JOLLY CONES ’N’ PIES Following the 92-yearold artist’s gifts of art to Laguna Art Museum, the venue hosts Wayne Thiebaud: American Memories, 60 paintings, drawings and prints by one of the greatest living painters. Thiebaud depicts objects such as pies and pinball machines—see Jolly Cones (2002), below—as well as California cityscapes and landscapes. p. 54-55

6 SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS > APRIL 26-MAY 25 Film great Leslie Caron offers a comic and heartfelt valentine to the human condition. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787 7 DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL > MAY 17-18 Blues, rock and R&B on three stages; plus microbrew tasting. Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.360.7800

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where now orange county

THE BEST IN ENTERTAINMENT, ATTRACTIONS, SHOPPING AND DINING

DINING

Riviera Cuisine Welcome to Lorange County! Fig & Olive, Pascal Lorange's stunning olive-tree-studded new spot, has opened on the periphery of Fashion Island. Lorange's Riviera-inspired cuisine uses olive oils in place of butter, and it's all sophistication and loveliness.

Decor elements include trapezoidal chandeliers, walls of olive-oil bottles, a huge wraparound bar and a walk-around fireplace in the garden room. Highlights of a first meal: crostini such as one with mushroom, artichoke, scallions and Parmesan; a crudo tasting including salmon crudo and beef tartare; sea scallops with truffle-artichoke tapenade; lemon-thyme-marinated Chilean sea bass with celery-root puree, charmoula mascarpone and harissa olive-oil emulsion; and crème-brûlée cheesecake. Meals include a tasting of three olive oils with olive-oil fougasse bread. Enjoy it all with sangria or Mediterranean wines. p. 39 8 WHEREOC.COM SPRING 2014

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Skinny Burrito at Solita, new at Bella Terra in Huntington Beach

SOL POWERED When the owners of acclaimed Mexican destination Sol Cocina in Newport Beach started talking about a casual neighborhood spinoff in Huntington Beach focusing on tacos and margaritas, the operative word seemed to be “casual.” As it turned out, both the space and Deborah Schneider’s menu at new Solita were most thoughtfully conceived and executed. Decor elements, handmade in Mexico, include the chandeliers, huge candle sconces and agave-inspired bar stools; a surprisingly stylish brick wall was inspired by one in Guadalajara. Menu highlights include queso al forno, bubbling Mexican cheeses with green onions and serrano chilies; whole grilled corn elote; tacos such as chorizo, bacon and sweet potatoes, chili tofu and the standout wood-grilled carne asada; and the calzone-like El Panzón (“big belly”). Libations include the refreshing watermelon and smoky El Hombre margaritas and a superb michelada (think beer bloody mary). p. 40

SOLITA, ANNE WATSON

Seafaring New seafooders have set sail. Ways & Means, a globally inspired oyster house and whitetablecloth dining room, has launched in Orange (p. 42). Consider the salmon rillettes; seared wild bass with whitebean puree, casserole of clams, peppers and parsley; and rum flights such as Sail the World.

Gulf grouper, Snake River rainbow trout and coldwater-lobster tails are paired with warm mango salsa, chimichurri or other sauces at Bonefish Grill at the Market Place in Tustin (p. 40). Star of the show is Bang Bang Shrimp; burgers include a Parmesan-dusted longfin-tilapia fillet on a buttery brioche.

Choose a fish—e.g., Skuna Bay salmon or local harpooned swordfish—choose your rub and choose your sauce at American seafood grill Shor, part of the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach's redo (p. 41).

Also on the menu: beer-braised Carlsbad mussels and porcinidusted diver scallops.

Tropic Heat Martini at Bonefish Grill

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WHERE NOW / orange

county Selanne Steak Tavern in Laguna Beach

TEEMU'S PERFECT DAY

⁄ 9 am ⁄ Golf-View Breakfast I’d start my perfect day with the lobster scramble at Pelican Grill in Newport Coast (949.467.6800), followed by a round of golf at Pelican Hill Golf Club (p. 56). ⁄ noon ⁄ Ocean-View Golf I’d still be playing my perfect round at Pelican Hill. And since it’s a perfect round, I’d get a hole-in-one on hole No. 12, a tough par 3 of 200-plus yards.

THE FINNISH FLASH

Teemu Selänne—five-time Olympian, assistant captain and right winger for the Anaheim Ducks, one of the highest scoring players in National Hockey League history and at 43 its oldest player—has announced that this, his 21st NHL season, will be his last. Selänne and his wife, Sirpa Vuorinen, live with their daughter and three hockey-playing sons in Coto de Caza, in Southern Orange County. He enjoys golfing and auto racing, has an impressive car collection—he is one of the few people owning an Enzo Ferrari—and heads up the nonprofit Teemu Selänne Youth Sports Foundation.

Readers of Finnish fashion magazine Eeva once deemed him Finland's sexiest man. He recently opened Selanne Steak Tavern in Laguna Beach—and it's a winner, too.

What do you miss most about Orange County when you are in Finland?

When visiting Finland, we don’t have time to miss Orange County as we’re so busy seeing family and friends!

But I’m always glad to return for the great weather and terrific beaches.

What do you appreciate most about playing at the Honda Center? How does it compare with other ice hockey venues?

Playing for our fans at the Honda Center (p. 51) is always more energizing than playing on the road. The Canadian ice hockey venues are definitely louder than anywhere else.

Where do you take visitors from Finland?

Our family and friends always want to see as much of Southern California as possible. We take them to Disneyland (p. 52) and Universal Studios (p. 54), but no visit would be complete without showing them our beautiful beaches! El Moro Beach, between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar, is an awesome secluded beach in a little cove in Crystal Cove State Park (p. 57) that gets some really great waves. Sometimes, I take my visiting friends to Newport Beach and Huntington Beach (P. 22)—there is so much to see and do in those cities.

Our research turns up no Lord Stanley cut of beef, yet it is Selanne Steak Tavern’s signature cut.

It's a Wagyu bone-in rib-eye, also called a tomahawk cut.

Because the cut that we use is so big, I thought it would be fun to name it after the Stanley Cup—adding a touch of hockey to the menu.

What is your favorite specialoccasion dining spot other than Selanne?

For special occasions, we typically visit Studio (p. 35) at the Montage Laguna Beach or Splashes (p. 35) at the Surf & Sand Resort, also in Laguna Beach. Anything on the Studio menu is awesome. I love the Splashes location, right on the beach. It’s nice to watch and hear the ocean, and to enjoy an ocean sunset, while enjoying either the Alaskan chinook salmon or the beef tenderloin.

What is your best Orange County memory?

My fondest memory is my first day in Orange County.

I had just been traded to the Ducks from Winnipeg, and the weather was simply amazing—somewhere in the 80s. I couldn’t believe my good fortune.

⁄ 3 pm ⁄ Sunset-View Libation After my golf round, I’d visit Mosaic at the Montage Laguna Beach for a late beer, a Moscow mule or a nice glass of wine, and to watch the sunset (866.271.6953). ⁄ 6 pm ⁄ Eponymous Dining Dinner at Selanne Steak Tavern (p. 44). I’d have our chef’s Pacific diver scallops and the Lord Stanley Cut. And I’ll eat any dessert there—our pastry chef Heather makes truly incredible desserts. ⁄ 9 pm ⁄ Surf-Side Nightcap After dinner, I’d cross the street and have an afterdinner drink at Surf & Sand (877.741.5908) and watch and listen to the waves crashing the surf.

Pelican Hill Golf Club in Newport Coast

SELÄNNE, DEBORA ROBINSON, GETTY IMAGES/NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE COLLECTION

MY ORANGE COUNTY

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SHOPPING

See Worthy Who imagined that the opening of C. Wonder boutique at Fashion Island (p. 55) in Newport Beach in 2012 would be such a harbinger? More recent openings at Fashion Island include Seafolly, the first U.S. location of the Australian swimwear boutique, and See Eyewear, offering the hippest frames from all over the world; we’re looking forward to the opening of Blue C Sushi, known for conveyor-beltstyle sushi service. Sometimes, C is for chocolate! Michelle Haut Chocolat, featuring artisan chocolates once found only at celebrity events such as the Oscars, has opened at the OC Mix at Costa Mesa’s South Coast Collection (p. 56); See’s Candies (714.368.7581) has launched its largest shop ever —more than double the floor space of any other—at the Market Place in Tustin.

Swimwear by Seafolly

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SEE

THE

MUSIC

ARCHITECTURALLY SIGNIFICANT PERFORMING-ARTS VENUES.

German author Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, “Architecture is frozen music.” Or at least that’s the part of what Goethe said that’s most quoted. The complete quote is even more interesting: “Music is liquid architecture. Architecture is frozen music.” Certainly, the relationship between architecture and music has provided fodder for countless philosophers, not to mention architects and musicians, and above all in our technological age, for acousticians. Enjoy a performance at one of the venues on these pages and, doubtless, you’ll discover that the aesthetics of one heightens appreciation of the other.

XXXXX XXXX

BY JOSEPH ELLIOTT

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RENÉE AND HENRY SEGERSTROM CONCERT HALL ⁄⁄⁄ COSTA MESA

T

he graceful facade of architect Cesar Pelli’s concert hall (2006), nearly an acre of curvilinear glass, offers a counterpoint to the angular stone arch of Segerstrom Hall (1986) across the plaza. Patrons see into the interior as they approach; the facade, which encloses the foyer and Leatherby’s Café Rouge, functions as a stage curtain behind which concertgoers seem as much a part of the performance as do the musicians.

Guests seem to pass through the glass as they enter. Once inside the exquisite atrium, they can look out on two monumental sculptures: Richard Lippold’s Fire Bird, which seems to burst forth from the larger hall’s facade, and, on the plaza, Richard Serra’s Connector.

(Step inside Connector for acoustical fun.)

Overhead in the 2,000-seat concert hall are three gently curving acoustical canopies whose aluminum leafing creates a shimmering, elegantly reflective surface. Four sixstory reverberation chambers,

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sound closets painted skyblue and illuminated, have doors that can be opened or closed for acoustical versatility. Velvet draperies in recessed pockets can also be deployed for such purposes.

Adjustable acoustics can accommodate configurations from a single vocalist to full symphony orchestra.

The hall’s outer shell, chamber doors, orchestra platform, rear wall and organ base are fashioned from light Canadian maple. The organ’s silver pipes, some 40 feet, disappear into the canopies. Balconies are cantilevered from the walls in graceful curves of undulating compound plaster—another essential acoustical element.

The Pacific Symphony and the Pacific Chorale are the hall’s resident ensembles.

The venue also hosts visiting orchestras presented by the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, among them the Vienna Philharmonic, Haifa Symphony Orchestra of Israel and Scharoun Ensemble Berlin in March and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in April.

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SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER ⁄⁄⁄ ALISO VIEJO

T

hree years ago, about the same time as major new halls were opening in Helsinki, Finland; Montreal, Canada; and Kansas City, Mo., a modest 1,000-seat performing arts center opened at Soka University of America in Aliso Viejo. U.S. News & World Report recently deemed Soka one of the top 50 liberal-arts colleges

in the nation and one of the top seven on the West Coast. Upon hearing the Pacific Symphony’s dress rehearsal prior to the hall’s opening gala, Los Angeles Times music critic Mark Swed declared Soka’s “the best concert hall of its size in Southern California and most likely in a much greater area than that....

For a multipurpose hall, it seems

an exception to the laws of physics.” Yasuhisa Toyota—the same acoustician used for the Helsinki and Kansas City venues as well as Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles—“has produced a small masterpiece.

At less than half the size of Disney,” Swed wrote, “Soka is considerably more intimate, creating a powerfully immersive

feeling for the listener.” Want that powerfully immersive feeling yourself? Consider recitals

by Van Cliburn International Piano Competition gold medalist Vadym Kholodenko on March 23 and renowned violinist Midori on April 26 or concerts by the Pacific Symphony on April 27 and jazz saxophone great Branford Marsalis on May 9.

songwriter Ernest Ball—best known for “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling”—died backstage in the dressing room. That side is dark enough that television’s Ghost Adventures staged a lockdown and aired an episode from the location in 2013.

As for the bright side, upcoming offerings include hip-hop artist Hopsin; Nervo, featuring Australian musicians and songwriters Miriam Nervo and Olivia Nervo; and Reservoir Burlesque: The Quentin Tarantino Burlesque Film Festival Parody.

T

he downtown Santa Ana building known as the Yost Theater and Ritz Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is Orange County’s oldest theater, having recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. The Yost first opened as the Auditorium; Ed Yost bought it in 1919. It originally served as a venue for vaudeville, and since for silent films, Mexican cinema and several churches. Perhaps most prescient in light of its function today, acts presented there in the 1970s included Ike and Tina Turner and Sonny and Cher.

Restoration and conversion to a live theater took place in 2007.

Two years later, lessees Dennis Lluy (of Koo’s café) and

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Dave Leon devoted themselves to making the all-ages concert venue “the oldest theater with the newest technology.”

You’ll find an art deco facade and signage. Handcrafted chandeliers hang from the antique-tin ceilings, and carved iron railings separate the plush lounge seating from the dance floors. Projection screens now flank the stage; the soundboard is purportedly the same as that used at the Hollywood Bowl. An additional performance space opens presently in the former Ritz Hotel.

Did we mention the building’s darker side? Makeshift cells in the basement, for instance, once held the drunks and criminals of an earlier Orange County;

PREVIOUS SPREAD: EDWIN SANTIAGO. YOST, TLAYNE PHOTOGRAPHY

YOST THEATER ⁄⁄⁄ SANTA ANA

FOR EVENT LISTINGS FOR THESE VENUES, SEE PAGE 51

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PLUMMER AUDITORIUM ⁄⁄⁄ FULLERTON

D

esigned by architect Carlton M. Winslow and constructed for less than $300,000 in 1930, the auditorium is an outstanding example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture —with Italian Renaissance elements.

Neoclassical motifs grace the symmetrical facade; cast-concrete emblems embellish the parapet, windows and portico. An octagonal dome clad in blue, gold and green mosaic tiles tops the four-story tower.

A 75-foot-long mural— Pastoral California (1934), by WPA artist Charles Kassler— is beneath the arched arcade on the building’s west side.

The mural, a true fresco, was restored in 1997 after being covered by paint for 56 years.

The auditorium seats more than 1,300. It features the original wrought-iron chandeliers; an elaborate ceiling of painted and decorated rough-hewn beams; and arched side aisles with composite capitals and other classical ornamentation.

On April 6, Jonathan Ortloff accompanies a silent film on the facility’s original grand Wurlitzer organ, which was restored in 1995.

Legally Blonde the Musical and Mel Brooks’ The Producers had recent runs; the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical Into the Woods is slated for May 2-18.

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Tomato salad at Bayside

SOUND BITES HEARING IS THE SENSE MOST OVERLOOKED WHEN TALKING ABOUT FOOD.

BY ROGER GRODY THE CULINARY AND MUSICAL ARTS enjoy so

many parallels that there’s a host of cliché analogies—about ingredients blended as harmoniously as a symphony orchestra, for example, or at least a jazz quartet. In fact, music is virtually always present in restaurants, and in various roles. It can inspire chefs, set the mood for diners and even be manipulated to influence consumers’ spending habits.

It’s usually playing over a sound system, and studies show that what’s playing may actually affect behavior. Slower-tempo music, for instance, makes people linger, underestimate how long they’re at the table and spend more money, particularly on alcohol. Music is a critical environmental factor and in some restaurants can be as important as the menu.

Serving the Classics The very existence of Leatherby’s Café Rouge, one of the county’s finest restaurants,

revolves around music. It’s located within the voluptuous glass curves of the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, for starters.

Part of the culturally conscious Patina Restaurant Group, Leatherby’s is the go-to place for concertgoers seeking sophisticated cuisine and convenience. “We provide the fine food and wine; the museums and performance centers provide the fine art, music and entertainment,” says founding partner/chef Joachim Splichal, who has venues from New York’s Lincoln Center to L.A.’s Disney Hall.

But Leatherby’s chef Ross Pangilinan has made it much more than an arts-patron amenity. At 30, the chef has a Cal-French style that’s both refined and approachable; he occasionally slips a dish onto the menu reflecting his Filipino heritage, e.g., pork belly with spicy vinegar, mango and papaya.

It’s a huge challenge to offer an ambitious menu to pre-theater diners with an eye on the

clock. “You want to be creative, but you can’t get too crazy, because you have to get people out on time,” says Pangilinan. His pre-theater menus are often themed to the current show.

Evita recently inspired the whimsically named specials A New Argentina, a peppercorncrusted flatiron steak with chimichurri sauce, and Don’t Cry for Me Argentina, a dulce de leche flan presented in a mason jar.

Their tastes differ, but music is as important to Pangilinan as to Segerstrom season subscribers. “I love music. I like to listen to it, dance to it and watch it live,” he says. “I’m not really into classical music, but I do like classic rock!” He enjoys Justin Timberlake but notes, “I was in Nashville recently and have begun listening to country music.” Splichal favors Beethoven and charismatic L.A. Philharmonic conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

The dining-room playlist is a soothing jazz/ New Age mix. The vibe in the kitchen is more

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raucous—an eclectic, blasting array of sounds with perceptible effects on attitudes. “Gangsta rap makes everyone grumpy, oldies put people in a good mood, punk makes them hyper, and country makes them sad,” the chef says. His crew can select the music, but he retains veto power over all selections.

Steps away is the musically named Silver Trumpet, a hotel restaurant and bar also offering themed menus to coincide with Segerstrom Center programming. But general manager Paul Sanford and executive chef Carlos Garcia take it a step further. In addition to serving Argentine specialties during Evita, tango music played in the background, and tango dancers performed on opening day. But a contemporary mix of top 100 songs is what's usually played. “The dining music and musical presentations are very much a magnetic force to our loyal customers," Sanford says.

Garcia’s menu offers modern takes on classic American fare: crab cakes with rémoulade or bacon-wrapped shrimp with Jack Daniel’s barbecue sauce preceding pepper-crusted filet mignon or Meyer-lemon-honey-glazed salmon. Specials are often influenced by the music the chef has been listening to. “What you feel inside is what your guests taste,” Garcia says.

He offered tomahawk chops with achiotepepper sauce after hearing heavy-metal classics by Aerosmith and Mötley Crüe. Feeling

melancholy after listening to Boyz II Men, he opted for comfort food that reminded him of home. “My grandpa’s favorite was filet-mignon pot pie,” he recounts.

Garcia immerses himself in music, in and out of the kitchen: “I want to be sure I spend time with my kids—not around the TV, but around music.” At work, his crew is exposed to a spectrum from Tupac Shakur to Carrie Underwood. When a mariachi band finished its wedding-reception gig at the hotel, the spontaneous chef lured all 16 musicians into the kitchen to continue their performance.

Rockin’ Out Crossroads at House of Blues is another restaurant provided as an amenity for concertgoers, in this case fans of Sweet and Tender Hooligans or the Vandals rather than Mozart or Schubert. But its food is no afterthought.

All House of Blues locations—a dozen coast to coast—provide very respectable restaurants under the direction of celebrity chef Aarón Sánchez. At Downtown Disney, he entrusts the kitchen to chef David Suscavage; they’ve collaborated on a menu that combines Southern classics including jambalaya, Latin-inspired dishes such as adobo-rubbed pork, and allAmerican chicken wings and burgers.

With its crystal chandeliers, seductively illuminated coffered ceiling and flamboyant color

palette, the decor is part Big Easy, part Hollywood. The Sunday Gospel Brunch—a festive ticketed event in the music hall presented by contemporary gospel singer Kirk Franklin— features a sprawling buffet of Southern specialties along with spicy bloody marys.

There’s no need for a boom box in Suscavage’s kitchen. “We’re so close to the music hall we listen to whatever’s onstage,” he says.

Bookings reflect everything from country to punk. “A live act is so much more powerful than ... a radio,” says the chef, who enjoys all musical genres. “My 3-year-old sings along to Pink in the car. I’m down for any kind of live music.” His prep crew, working when nobody is onstage, turns up a radio playing anything from mariachi music to hip-hop. “I consider what we do the entertainment business,” says Suscavage, noting that chefs and musicians tend to work the same brutal hours.

Two-Stepping The worlds of Hank Williams and Escoffier meet at The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon, on the ground floor of the Extron Electronics building in Anaheim. The restaurant is the vision of Extron founder/president Andrew Edwards. While diners at the restaurant sip first-growth Bordeaux from the 14,000-bottle cellar, suburban cowboys and cowgirls dance the two-step in the adjoining saloon.

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Bayside, left, and Shrek pannacotta at Leatherby's Café Rouge

The cuisines at the two venues couldn’t be more different: Skuna Bay salmon with quinoa and tangerine nage is paired with pinot noir in the dining room; chicken-fried steak is washed down with Wild Turkey in the saloon. Country music permeates both the rustically elegant dining room and the saloon, but the restaurant playlist is lighter and more instrumental.

Amid the saloon’s 1,200-square-foot sunken dance floor and western-themed disco ball, DJ Leo Sierra spins classic Johnny Cash on some nights, contemporary stars such as Miranda Lambert on others. The scene is Amarillo-meets-Silicon Valley as the Extron audiovisual components are fully deployed.

The Ranch, where executive chef Michael Rossi is committed to market-driven cuisine, gets its produce from Edwards’ very own farm. Its 2.5 acres in the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains are swollen with squash, cucumber, beets, melons and herbs. Ninety varieties of tomatoes ripen under the sun on 600 heirloom vines; orchards produce figs, pomegranates and Valencia oranges. “You can’t get any fresher than picking them in the morning and cooking them that very evening,” notes the chef.

When Rossi and master sommelier Michael Jordan were working at acclaimed Napa Rose nearby, before they joined Edwards at the Ranch, Rossi knew only of the stereotypical cowboy 18-wheeler blues of Merle Haggard and George Jones. Now, after exposure to the more contemporary country acts in the saloon, the chef has a far greater appreciation for the quintessentially American genre. “When you hear these artists live and see how they energize the crowd, you feed off it,” says Rossi. Country Listening&Tasting

artists Luke Bryan and Zac Brown often blare from the kitchen’s own speakers.

Rossi’s brother David, the Ranch pastry chef, exercises tight control over the music, but eclectic repertory from punk rock to reggae can be heard over the clanging of pots and pans. Whether it’s Talking Heads or Red Hot Chili Peppers, high-energy sounds typically motivate the crew, Rossi says: “Music can create energy and calm you down at the same time.”

Jazz Age Jazz is particularly well-suited for dining and is a preference of restaurateurs everywhere.

To its connoisseurs, a talented quartet can be as meaningful as what comes from the kitchen; for the foodie contemplating the skills of the chef, jazz isn’t particularly distracting. The Ghoukassian family owns a pair of notable Orange County restaurants, Bayside and Bistango, where jazz is a major component of the experience.

Overseeing Bayside, where a recent makeover underscores its unpretentious brand of sophistication, third-generation restaurateur Marc Ghoukassian attempts to balance the food, art and music. “We try to touch as many senses as possible,” he says, noting that the rotating art on the walls creates a gallerylike setting that stirs conversation. “The look at Bayside is never stale. If you don’t like what you see, it will be gone in a few months.”

Paul Gstrein, executive chef since Bayside opened in 1999, keeps the New American menu fresh as well. Its eclectic items include soy-glazed Scottish salmon with ginger-ponzu sauce, rack of lamb with a mustard/port-wine reduction and a contemporary take on paella.

The music at Bayside is as carefully

choreographed as the art and cuisine, with performances tailored to each day of the week. The week begins with a pianist and a softer mood, transitions to a contemporary jazz quartet on Thursday and culminates with a lively jam session during the late hours on Friday. Ghoukassian seats parties interested in quiet conversation farther from the music or on the tranquil terrace; other tables are reserved for guests seeking more of a supper-club experience.

Ghoukassian, who appreciates many musical styles, admits that much of what wafts through the dining room reflects his own tastes. “I love the blues,” he says; Buddy Guy and Eric Clapton are personal favorites.

The family’s other restaurant, Bistango— the older of the two, a local institution for more than 25 years—mirrors Bayside’s attention to art and music and provides a menu laced with contemporary American and Italian dishes. But the Irvine spot showcases an entirely different set of performers and is one of the few places in Southern California where a dance floor and serious food coexist.

Javier Montoya started as a pastry-chef assistant when Bistango opened in 1987 and worked his way up to executive chef.

Montoya enjoys Bistango’s live jazz and the Brew, a Latin-flavored jazz band. “Jazz is relaxing. I like listening to it on the drive home after a hectic night at work,” he says.

Montoya also enjoys classic rock acts such as the Police and contemporary Latino singers Luis Miguel and Alejandro Fernández; he says “no thanks” to Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus. Montoya’s all-Latino staff—no doubt a future executive chef among them, thanks to his mentoring—opts for salsa and mariachi music.

BAYSIDE p. 30 BISTANGO p. 30 CROSSROADS AT HOUSE OF BLUES p. 30 LEATHERBY’S CAFÉ ROUGE p. 30 THE RANCH p. 32 SILVER TRUMPET p. 35

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EXPLORING

Metro Cities

COSTA MESA, A RETAIL, CULTURAL AND BUSINESS CENTER, ADJOINS IRVINE AND SANTA ANA, THE COUNTY SEAT.

➺Where is the heart of Orange County? Irvine, home of the historic Irvine Ranch, is O.C.’s financial Costa Mesa

On one side of Bristol Street is South Coast Plaza, whose annual sales of $1.5 billion is highest among the nation’s shopping destinations. On the other is the county’s center of culture—two concert halls and its largest repertory theater—and business high-rises.

Henry Segerstrom and his family founded South Coast Plaza in 1967 on a lima bean field where as a youth he’d driven a tractor.

Today, South Coast Plaza and its Bear Street wing, connected by the Bridge of Gardens, offer hundreds of stores, boutiques and restaurants. The state-designated tourist attraction boasts the nation’s highest concentration of elite retailers; Berluti luxury shoes for men and Diptyque fragrances, both from Paris, are new; superb dining options include Marché Moderne and The Capital Grille.

It’s an easy walk to the “arts campus,” the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Repertory and, in the not-too-distant future, Orange County Museum of Art. The Segerstrom Center for the Arts, built in 1986 mainly with Segerstrom money on Segerstrom land, includes 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall, presenting a range of genres including dance and Broadway musicals, and the newer Renée and Henry Segerstrom Hall, a 2,000seat facility designed by Cesar Pelli that hosts events as diverse as tributes to Mahler and Paul McCartney. There are two intimate

venues within the venues, Founders Hall and Samueli Theater, respectively.

Renowned South Coast Repertory, with three stages inside its David Emmes and Martin Benson Theatre Center, opened at its present location in 1978, also with Segerstrom family donations. Among Town Center’s professional buildings is one of the nation’s premier collections of outdoor art. Start, or end, at the 1.6-acre California Scenario (near Anton Boulevard) by sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

Metro Pointe and South Coast Plaza Village—whose movie theater is often ahead of the curve with top foreign films—are a crosswalk away. All three retail centers are accessible from North or South County hotels, thanks to dedicated taxi and motor coach service, and Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner delivers visitors from San Diego and Los Angeles to the Santa Ana train station.

To the west is the South Coast Collection of design showrooms. Of note to foodies is Surfas Culinary District, Arc restaurant and the farmers market on Saturdays. The hip OC Mix features 30 vendors including Deer Lovely and Stoned Jewelry as well as Shuck Oyster Bar and new Taco Maria. The Mixing Glass and Michelle Haut Chocolat are new.

South on Bristol are The Lab and The Camp. The Lab has the kinds of shops you’d likely find on L.A.’s hip Melrose Avenue; Klein Epstein & Parker for men and vegetarian

Seabirds Kitchen are new. Opposite is the Camp, set amid woods, aluminum and pipedin sounds of crickets. Dining options include Ecco for fabulous pizzas, Taco Asylum for unusual tacos, Umami Burger and Wine Lab. Newly rebranded dine-and-play center The Triangle unveils several new restaurants including Saddle Ranch Chop House; highend Tavern + Bowl bowling alley opens presently. The Orange County Fair and Event Center hosts events year-round, the county fair in July and concerts at the Pacific Amphitheatre.

Santa Ana

Hip, arts-minded downtown Santa Ana offers the Artists Village, Santora Arts Complex and Cal State Fullerton’s Grand Central Art Center. A centerpiece of the East End along historic Fourth Street is the Yost Theater, now a concert venue. The area is filled with restaurants, such as Playground and new Little Sparrow, and bars. Historical highlights include the Queen Anne-style home of Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle, and the Old County Courthouse, a setting for numerous movies.

Bowers Museum, founded in 1936, offers blockbuster exhibitions mounted with the world’s major museums. Visitors can also view pre-Columbian artifacts, Pacific Island art or artifacts from American whalers two centuries back; a real gem is its permanent exhibit of local history.

IRVINE SPECTRUM AND CONCERT HALL, EDWIN SANTIAGO; BOWERS, KIRILL POPOV

hub. Santa Ana is the county seat. Tustin’s massive twin hangars are near the county’s geographic center.

But Costa Mesa residents would say their city is hands-down the county’s heart and its cultural soul.

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The Discovery Science Center’s mammoth tilting cube is perched seemingly inches off Interstate 5; a $62 million expansion and renovation now underway will nearly double the center’s size. Westfield MainPlace houses Macy’s, Nordstrom and 200 shops. Intimate Santa Ana Zoo, in Prentice Park, is home to 250 species and features a primate exhibit, African aviary and children’s zoo.

Irvine

Its Giant Wheel can be seen for miles along the 5, 405 and 133 freeways. But it’s the Irvine Spectrum Center’s 150 shops, many of them entertainment-related, top-notch restaurants including Cucina Enoteca and Paul Martin’s American Grill, and the nation’s most visited movie complex, that together draw more visitors annually than Disneyland.

Irvine Barclay Theatre, at UC Irvine, presents an impressive roster of music, dance and dramatic events; there’s not a bad seat in the house. Nearby is the UCI Arboretum (Jamboree Road and Campus Drive, 949.824.5833).

San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (Michelson Drive between Jamboree Road and Culver Drive, 949.261.7963) offers 10 miles of trails through coastal fresh-water marshlands. The Irvine Museum houses Joan Irvine Smith’s collection of California Impressionist art on the ground floor of an office building.

The one developed corner of the Orange County Great Park offers a farmers market and other outdoor events, an arts complex and a carousel; you can ride 400 feet up in the iconic tethered orange balloon. The restored blacksmith shop and general store of Old Town Irvine (Sand Canyon Avenue and Burt Road, 949.660.9112), near Interstate 5, now house a hotel and restaurants.

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa.

(Opposite, left to right) Carousel at Irvine Spectrum Center; Bowers Museum in Santa Ana.

Irvine offers a relatively problem-free world carved from the Irvine Co.’s land holdings. The vibe extends to John Wayne Airport, whose pleasant ambience and ease of departure and arrival make it vastly superior to LAX.

Tustin

Forbes magazine recently listed Tustin in its Top 25 places “to live well.” The city, known for its fine parks and its century-old trees, has preserved many of its 1870s buildings along Main Street and El Camino Real.

The District at Tustin Legacy, at Jamboree Road and Barranca Parkway, is a sprawling shopping center with scores of shops. Draws

G R E AT F I N D

➺

include restaurants such as The Winery and Bluewater Grill, a cineplex, bowling at Bowlmor, outdoor fireplaces, a stage for bands and giant video walls. The nearby twin hangars are 1,000 feet long, 17 stories tall and have five acres of open space within each.

The Market Place (714.730.4124), on Jamboree Road off Interstate 5, is older and even more sprawling. Though often called Tustin Market Place, part of it is actually in Irvine.

The Marconi Automotive Museum (714.258.3001) displays 80 vehicles, notably Ferraris and historic open-wheel race cars.

For bold items, see the where guide listings.

For neighborhood maps, see page 63.

/ street savvy

New Dax Gallery, near the Lab and the Camp in Costa Mesa, is the county’s first gallery devoted to “fine urban street art.” Founders Alex Dax Amador and Chris Kane hope to bring a taste of the movement that pervades major metropolitan cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York to an entirely new audience. “My dream is to inspire a deep appreciation for unconventional street art ... where this type of art is not seen every day,” says Amador, a young entrepreneur with a passion for graffiti, oil paintings, fashion photography and mixed-medium creations. 2951 Randolph St., Costa Mesa, 714.957.1706, daxgallery.com

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EXPLORING

The Coast

­­ THE COUNTY’S PRIME BEACH COMMUNITIES INCLUDE NEWPORT BEACH, BALBOA, CORONA DEL MAR AND HUNTINGTON BEACH.

➺Newport Beach offers the county’s most pleasant shopping destination, countless fine restaurants and Newport Beach

Newport Beach and its environs have been called California’s Riviera. Sandy beaches and bougainvillea are a backdrop to yachts and dream homes, from cottages to some of the nation’s most expensive real estate.

Its retail center is Newport Center, near Jamboree Road, Coast Highway and MacArthur Boulevard. Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s are anchors at elegant and relaxed shopping destination Fashion Island.

Island Cinema offers leather seats and wine service. Halston Heritage, See Eyewear, Red O and Fig & Olive restaurants are new; there’s a stunning Whole Foods Market, too.

The Orange County Museum of Art, also in Newport Center, focuses on 20th century California artists and throws hip fetes.

Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, aka the Back Bay, boasts some 160 species of birds. Hike, bike or jog along 10 miles of trails. Rowing and kayaking are popular; rent equipment from Newport Aquatic Center (949.646.7725). At Newport Dunes, Moe B’s Watersports (949.729.1150) offers sailboats, kayaks, pedal boats and electric-boat rentals; a guided kayak tour of the marshlands departs Sundays at 10 am ($15 includes kayak rental). There are also Segway tours of the Back Bay ($75, 949.729.3863).

Newport Beach boasts the world’s largest small-boat harbor. Mariner’s Mile, along

Coast Highway, is lined with restaurants, luxury-car showrooms and yacht clubs.

Private charters and narrated harbor cruises, aboard vessels including luxury dining cruisers and ro­mantic gondolas, depart from Mariner’s Mile as well as from Balboa Pavilion (see Balboa, below), and pass huge luxury abodes. All manner of boat rentals are possible, from canoes and kayaks to motorboats and surrey-fringed electric boats.

The “beach” in Newport Beach includes two piers, Balboa and Newport, great sandy expanses and one of the cleanest and most colorful bike paths and boardwalks anywhere.

The action never stops around Newport Pier, off Newport Boulevard on McFadden Square. The Dory Fishing Fleet leaves soon after the bars close in the wee hours of the morn; you can visit the open-air fish market after the sun comes up. The fleet, begun in 1889, is the last beach-side fishing cooperative of its kind in the United States.

Balboa

To reach the Balboa Pier, continue southeast on Newport Boulevard (its name changes to Balboa Boulevard at 22nd Street), turn right on Palm Street and park in the metered lot.

The Wedge, where the peninsula meets the harbor jetty, is one of the world’s most famous bodysurfing and bodyboarding spots.

Currents and riptides can be dangerous, so

don’t go in the water unless you really know what you’re doing. Watching is fun enough.

On the harbor side of Balboa Peninsula are the Balboa Pavilion and a Fun Zone, marking 75 years, whose few remaining rides include a Ferris wheel. Try a custom-dipped Balboa Bar or frozen banana. Take advantage of the Balboa Bay Front Webcam at the Harbour House coffee shop; find a sunny seat outside, call friends in snowbound or humid states, have them log on to talesofbalboa.com and gloat! The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum is transforming itself into ExplorOcean.

Balboa Pavilion, a 1905 gabled, cupolatopped structure, is the de­pot for boat excursions: harbor tours, whale-watching trips and Santa Catalina cruises. As classic pop-song lyrics attest, Catalina, known for its beaches, buffalo and glass-bottom boats, is “26 miles across the sea.” The city of Avalon is 75 minutes away via the catamaran Catalina Flyer.

The Balboa Island Ferry is a three-car shuttle between docks on the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island, a tightknit community featuring charming cottages, shops, galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Marine Avenue is the island’s only nonresidential street.

Corona del Mar

Heading south along Coast Highway takes you past Corona del Mar Plaza, where upscale destinations include Sienna Brown

SURF SHOP, EDWIN SANTIAGO; PIER, SARAH HADLEY. OPPOSITE: BALBOA, IAN WHITE

gorgeous golf, not to mention its most coveted real estate. Along the coast, you’ll find wide sandy beaches, the world’s largest pleasure-boat harbor, renowned piers and Surf City USA.

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and Savory Spice Shop as well as Sprinkles Ice Cream and new Beauty Collection.

Corona del Mar, whose streets are named for flowers, has expansive beaches and some of the country’s most expensive real estate.

On East Coast Highway, just south of MacArthur Boulevard, is Sherman Library & Gardens, offering 2,000 plant species on two landscaped acres. Consider a repast at Café Jardin or the Tea Garden Crêperie. Coast Highway is lined with elegant design showrooms, rug dealers and boutiques.

To find Corona del Mar State Beach, head south on Marguerite from Coast Highway, turn right on Ocean Boulevard, then follow signs to the parking lot below. You’ll find bodysurfing, volleyball, fire pits and facilities.

Picturesque Little Corona Beach is just south.

South of Corona del Mar is Newport Coast. Crystal Cove Shopping Center offers boutiques such as At Ease for Men and new Z Collection and Mastro’s Ocean Club, Bluefin, Javier’s and Tamarind restaurants.

Nearby are Crystal Cove State Park, with miles of sandy coves and miles of trails, and gorgeous Pelican Hill Golf Club.

Huntington Beach

Surf City USA has gotten more sophisticated since 1963, when the Jan and Dean hit Surf City topped charts. Though Huntington Beach retains some of its sand-in-the-cracks, beachtown personality, shops along Main Street, fine-dining options and luxury hotels have resulted in a dramatic transformation.

The action is near the water. Main Street is a promenade with lots of surf-wear and beachwear shops, a Surfing Walk of Fame and the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum. Tenants at The Strand, at Pacific

Balboa Island.

(Opposite, left to right) Huntington Beach surf shop; Balboa Pier in Newport Beach.

Coast Highway and Fifth Street, include Forever 21, Rip Curl, RA Sushi and Bruxie.

Adjacent to Huntington Beach Pier Plaza are restaurants including Duke’s and Sandy’s HB; the plaza often hosts street performers, art shows and live bands. A statue of a surfer at Coast Highway and Huntington Street captures the town’s spirit.

The area offers three beaches: Huntington City Beach, Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach are popular for surfing and volleyball as well as for fire rings and nighttime weenie roasts. Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve (714.840.1575), near Warner Avenue and Pacific Coast Highway,

G R E AT F I N D

offers 200 species of migratory birds in a saltmarsh setting with a 1.5-mile loop trail.

Inland, at Talbert Avenue and Goldenwest Street, is 350-acre Huntington Central Park; the park encompasses Shipley Nature Center (714.842.4772), an equestrian center, a Frisbee golf course, two “lakes” and the city’s Central Library (714.842.4481)—which has the largest children’s library in the state.

Bella Terra is a Tuscan-themed shopping destination. Draws include outdoor sports specialist REI, a 20-screen cineplex and new Solita for tacos and margaritas.

For bold items, see the where guide listings.

For neighborhood maps, see pages 62-63.

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EXPLORING

South Coast

COLORFUL CITIES ON OR NEAR THE COAST INCLUDE LAGUNA BEACH, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND DANA POINT.

➺Four of the county’s most historic cities are nestled into its southern corner: Laguna Beach, Dana Laguna Beach

It’s fitting that you pass Laguna College of Art + Design as you enter the county’s original art colony along Laguna Canyon Road. Admire the sculptures! In fact, it is easy to spend a day along the thoroughfare before ever entering the city proper, especially during the summer, when it hosts three art festivals— Festival of Arts, Art-A-Fair and the Sawdust Art Festival—and the renowned “living tableaux” presentation, Pageant of the Masters.

Acclaimed Laguna Playhouse offers both comedic and profound fare year-round.

Laguna Canyon Road becomes Broadway, then comes to a T at Main Beach and Coast Highway. Turn left toward downtown or right toward Laguna Art Museum and you’ll find galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

Laguna Art Museum presents modern and contemporary art, mostly by California painters; often explores pop culture; and displays art from Laguna’s past, including lots of seascapes. Steps away are coastal vistas at Heisler Park and a stretch of Coast Highway called North Gallery Row, where you’ll find Hobrecht Sports Gallery (350 N. Coast Hwy., 949.945.3283) and Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry (352 N. Coast Hwy., 949.715.0953).

Historical cottages dot the neighborhoods above. On a steep hillside is the Hortense Miller Garden (open by appointment, 22511 Allview Terrace, 949.497.3311, Ext. 426).

Main Beach gets action year-round. There are volleyball and basketball courts, a playground and a boardwalk popular with walkers and joggers, and one more major attraction: The beach is just across the street from scores of the shops and galleries that give the city its distinctive aura.

Get deeper into the action in the downtown heart of Laguna, also known to locals as the Village. Must-sees include the sculpture garden at Dawson Cole Fine Art Gallery (326 Glenneyre St., 888.972.5543). South along Coast Highway are dining options including hockey great Teemu Selänne’s new Selanne Steak Tavern, K’ya Bistro Bar at La Casa del Camino and posh Studio at the Montage.

Dana Point

Richard Henry Dana, the seaman who wrote 1840’s Two Years Before the Mast, described the area now named for him as “the only romantic spot” on the California coast, noting its “grandeur” and “solemnity.” The grandeur is still there, but you won’t find much solemnity along Harbor Drive, now bustling with boaters, diners, shoppers and those headed to see the tall clipper ships in port.

In addition to its sand and shore, Doheny State Beach offers five acres of lawn. Families picnic, couples rent bicycles. An interpretive center focuses on the underwater Doheny State Marine Life Refuge. The beach hosts a

blues festival in May and in summer, Lobsterfest, a surf competition and outrigger racing.

Busiest day of the year? Fourth of July, with fireworks launched from a barge.

Make your way along Harbor Drive to the tide pools at the end of the harbor’s rocky ledge. Public benches are a stone’s throw from seals basking on sea-logged boulders; take in both the quiet beauty of the harbor and the roar of the surf against the rocks.

Dana Point Harbor offers 2,500 slips for vessels of all sizes, three yacht clubs, a fishing pier and Dana Wharf Sportfishing, which also offers whale-watching trips. The Ocean Institute displays the Pilgrim, a full-sized replica of the square-rigged brig on which Dana sailed, docked adjacent to the fishing pier.

Wharf highlights include the White Pelican for Native American jewelry (34475 Golden Lantern St., 949.240.1991) and the Harbor Grill seafooder, known for its oysters.

North of town are luxury hotels featuring superior dining—Stonehill Tavern at the St. Regis, and Raya at the Ritz-Carlton—and pristine Salt Creek Beach Park.

San Juan Capistrano

There’s no beach in this burg, but there’s plenty of history, style and charm. And there is no passing up a visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano, often credited with being the birthplace of Orange County. It was founded

LOS RIOS, EDWIN SANTIAGO; LAGUNA, KIRILL POPOV; DANA POINT, IDRIS ERBA.

Point and San Clemente along Coast Highway, and nearby San Juan Capistrano. Whether for shopping, dining, history or just tantalizing poetic beauty, these small burgs have spectacular offerings.

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by Father Junipero Serra in 1776, the same year America was born. It took nine years to build its Great Stone Church, completed in 1806; it took just a minute for an earthquake to destroy it six years later, killing 40 people.

The priests left the ruins, a dramatic benchmark of the struggle to build California. The dome atop the nearby rail station was made with stones from the ruins. Priests still celebrate Mass in the Serra Chapel; the original adobe walls shelter a magnificent Baroque altarpiece decorated with 52 carved gold-leaf angels. The 10-acre site is filled with walkways, gardens, fountains and exhibits. Mission events include the renowned Swallows’ Day Parade in March.

Just across the train tracks is the Los Rios Historic District. A stroll along Los Rios Street is a most pleasant experience; 31 homes, the earliest dating to 1794, look as they did in centuries past. Near the train station is the O’Neill Museum (31831 Los Rios St., 949.493.8444), home to the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society. The Ramos House Café, in an 1881 board-and-batten house, offers an unforgettable breakfast.

Camino Capistrano is lined with shops and restaurants. One of South County’s most popular taverns is the colorful Swallow’s Inn (31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188).

For a different kind of nightlife, consider the nearby Camino Real Playhouse (31776 El Camino Real, 949.489.8082). San Juan Capistrano Regional Library (31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752) is a postmodern masterpiece by architect Michael Graves.

San Juan Capistrano is the county’s equestrian center; luxurious residences, many with their own stables, surround the city. Eight miles east is Ronald W. Caspers

Beach in Dana Point. (Opposite, left to right) Sign at Los Rios Historic District in San Juan Capistrano, Brown’s Park in Laguna Beach.

Wilderness Park (33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.923.2210).

San Clemente

La Casa Pacifica, President Richard Nixon’s “Western White House,” has long since been broken up into million-dollar homes by a private developer. But one grand, historic home you can see is Casa Romantica (415 Avenida Granada, 949.498.2139), once the residence of the city’s founder, oil entrepreneur Ole Hanson. It’s on a hillside overlooking San Clemente Pier and is now the Cultural Center and Gardens, with galleries and a popular veranda.

From the pier, the sun sets across the blue

G R E AT F I N D

➺

water between Catalina Island and the Dana Point bluffs—just look past the constant stream of surfers. Metrolink and Amtrak trains run alongside the beach and stop right at the pier. The best shopping and dining is on Avenida del Mar, lined with antique stores and galleries, and El Camino Real, where you’ll find the wine-country cuisine of Vine.

Talega Golf Club (949.369.6226), in the hills above the city, has a championship layout designed with input from Masters champion Fred Couples. Sundried Tomato is among the draws at Talega Village Center.

For bold items, see listing in the where guide.

For a map of these neighborhoods, see page 63.

/ go north, young man

New North Menswear is a classically curated collection of clothing, accessories and supplies for men reflecting the sensibilities of American work and outdoor gear. Amid a rugged aesthetic—wooden beams, hanging Edison pendant lights, displays fashioned from WWII gun crates—you’ll find flannel shirts by Taylor Stitch, denim by Nashville’s Imogene + Willie and dress boots by Eastland. Goods include Huberd’s Shoe Oil, Manly Soaps and Kung Fu Tonic. Owner Pete Surprenant and his wife, a fourth-generation local, live nearby in the house her grandfather built. 380 Glenneyre St. Laguna Beach, 949.715.9873, northmenswear.com

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EXPLORING

North County

ANAHEIM, BUENA PARK, ORANGE AND FULLERTON OFFER THEME PARKS AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS.

(Left to right) Angel Stadium and Anaheim Packing House

➺Long before orange groves and Walt Disney shaped the landscape of Anaheim, and before Napa Valley Anaheim

Making millions of dreams come true every year, Disneyland is beloved by children of every age. Since Walt Disney opened the main gate in 1955, families have made the pilgrimage, starting on Main Street, U.S.A.; today they explore eight lands, from Frontierland to Toontown. Captured in countless vacation photographs, iconic landmarks such as the snowcapped Matterhorn, Sleeping Beauty’s castle and the Haunted Mansion beckon even as new attractions debut. Enjoy Mickey’s Soundsational Parade and, in the Fantasyland Theatre, the live show Mickey and the Magical Map. Travel to corners of the universe in 3-D on Star Tours: The Adventures Continue in Tomorrowland.

Sister park Disney California Adventure launched Cars Land, adding 12 acres and three attractions—notably Radiator Springs Racers—inspired by the Disney-Pixar film Cars. Guests enter along Buena Vista Street, evoking the era when Walt Disney arrived in Los Angeles; Carthay Circle Theatre houses an elegant restaurant. World of Color wows nightly with choreographed fountains, lights, lasers, music, animation and Disney storytelling. The thrills never end at California Screamin’, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and, for the less daring, Soarin’ Over California, an amazing simulation of gliding above the gorgeous Golden State.

There’s no admission at adjacent Downtown Disney, though restraint may be necessary to avoid splurging in the lively promenade’s shops, cafés and entertainment venues such as House of Blues, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen and ESPN Zone. Eateries range from fast to fancy, but none outclasses Napa Rose in the dazzling Grand Californian Hotel.

Shop, eat and play some more at Anaheim GardenWalk, a still-growing collection of shopping and dining options in an outdoor setting. For indoor entertainment, consider bowling at Bowlmor, viewing a first-run movie at UltraStar Cinemas—some with motion seats—or shaking your tail feathers at sultry Heat Ultra Lounge. Nearby, The Ranch, a sophisticated restaurant and super-fun saloon modeled on the late Crazy Horse, made the North County’s most smashing dining debut since Napa Rose.

Boldface names and sports action are the lure at Honda Center, home for the Anaheim Ducks ice hockey team and new L.A. KISS football team, host to touring acts such as Rihanna; Wolfgang Puck’s Puck Tavern is new.

At Angel Stadium, “the Big A,” major-league baseball rules when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play; arena rock acts such as U2 invade when the team’s on tour; the Oakley store is new. Anaheim Convention Center unveiled a grand Grand Plaza; the Anaheim Bolts soccer team plays in the center’s arena.

New in Anaheim’s downtown is Anaheim Packing District. It includes the hip shops and restaurants of Center Street Promenade and Umami Burger in a former Packard showroom; foodie-inspired Anaheim Packing House opens soon. Muzeo is a small museum in the Carnegie Library building (1908).

Anaheim Ice, training facility for the Anaheim Ducks, is open for public skating daily.

Buena Park

Roller coaster, Old West and boysenberry jam enthusiasts flock to Knott’s Berry Farm, a theme park with roots back to 1934, when farmers Walter and Cordelia Knott opened a roadside stand selling berries and a diner dishing fried chicken. Diners still feast on drumsticks and berry pie at Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant, and shoppers wander through the California Marketplace; both enjoy the Independence Hall replica (1966).

Inside the park, a daunting collection of roller coasters separates the bold from the bashful. Xcelerator rockets to 82 mph in 2.3 seconds. Silver Bullet turns riders upside down six times. GhostRider is one of the world’s longest and tallest wooden coasters.

Less hair-raising are the High Sierra Ferris Wheel and kiddie rides at Camp Snoopy.

Explore bygone eras without leaving Beach Boulevard. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament revisits an 11th century castle.

STADIUM AND FULLERTON ARBORETUM, EDWIN SANTIAGO; PACKING HOUSE, VLADIMIR PERLOVICH.

became a household name, German immigrants made the area California’s first wine country. It still fuels high times and joyful memories with world-class attractions that make it the gateway to endless fun.

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Audiences cheer jousting knights and pageantry starring Lipizzaner stallions while serfs and wenches serve a four-course feast. A banquet at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure fortifies guests for skirmishes aboard a replicated 18th century Spanish galleon in an indoor lagoon.

Orange

Old Towne Orange is often used for movies and commercials, thanks to its diligently preserved pre-1940 homes and buildings.

Anchored by a picturesque traffic circle—oval, actually—at Chapman Avenue and Glassell Street, the district is on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes antique shops, cafés, lounges and restaurants. The Orange Chamber of Commerce (439 E. Chapman Ave.) offers a map of historic sights.

Chapman University, one of the state’s oldest private universities, marks its 150th year.

To the east are the bucolic hills of Irvine Park; its petite Orange County Zoo is ideal for wee ones, who also enjoy the narrow-gauge train.

Big kids go for The Outlets at Orange, a collection of retailers at once high-end and discount. Draws include Last Call by Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th. Families fall like pins for hip bowling alley Lucky Strike Lanes and flock to Thrill It Fun Center.

Teens can’t resist Vans Skatepark.

Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove— formerly known as Crystal Cathedral—is a must-tour for architecture buffs. Philip Johnson’s striking structure has 10,000 silver-tinted windows. Also there are Richard Neutra’s Tower of Hope and Richard Meier’s International Center for Positive Thinking.

Fullerton

Most visitors to Fullerton, home of sprawling

Fullerton Arboretum

Cal State Fullerton, gravitate to the historic core along Harbor Boulevard, with its endless supply of boutiques and watering holes. South of Commonwealth Avenue, a short stroll from the historic train station, are night spots and restaurants such as Hopscotch.

Significant sights nearby include Fullerton Museum Center, offering dynamic exhibits including a gallery devoted to Leo Fender, native son and pioneer of the electric guitar.

The museum offers maps pinpointing fine examples of architecture styles within walking distance. A short drive away, the stately Muckenthaler Cultural Center hosts varied design and art events and exhibits.

G R E AT F I N D

➺

Back at CSUF, the Fullerton Arboretum is a garden of delights, with streams, trails, flowering plants and a restored Victorian cottage.

A few miles east in Yorba Linda is the modest birthplace of Richard Nixon. The tiny home and an impressive rose garden are on the handsome grounds of the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, a rich repository chronicling the president’s public and private life.

Neighboring Brea, once an oil town, now takes pride in its Birch Street Promenade, which offers contemporary retailers, casual restaurants, cinema and stand-up comedy.

For bold items, see listings in the where guide.

For a map of these neighborhoods, see page 62.

/ gehry on ice

You find great architecture in the most interesting places! The Rinks Anaheim Ice, originally Disney Ice, was designed by architect Frank Gehry, best known for the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. It serves as the Anaheim Ducks’ practice rink as well as for public skating sessions. The 1995 building was commissioned by Michael Eisner, then CEO of former Ducks owner Disney. Gehry, he said at the time, “was on the list of architects who were pushing the envelope. We bought a hockey team. We needed a practice rink.” 300 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, 714.535.RINK, anaheimice.com

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Sophistication

by the

Sea

Offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Las Brisas is proud to serve the freshest seafood, exclusive offerings of wine & margaritas, and authentic cuisine of the Mexican Riviera.

361 Cliff Drive • Laguna Beach • 949.497.5434 • lasbrisaslagunabeach.com

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where

the guide SPRING 2014

DANCE

On the Move Dance aficionados are in good companies this season. March 7-9, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo returns to Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa with the American premiere of choreographer Jean-Christophe Maillot’s take on Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake. At the same venue March 27-30, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (above) and director Robert Battle promise Ailey classics as well as works by today’s most exciting choreographers; its dancers are perhaps the most acclaimed international ambassadors of American culture performing today. May 16-17 at Irvine Barclay Theatre, on the UC Irvine campus, L.A.’s Diavolo Dance Theater and artistic director Jacques Heim take on skateboard culture, ramps and all, in Transit Space; the second program also includes visceral, inspirational Trajectoire, set on an abstract 21st-century galleon. p. 51

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Dining SPOTLIGHT

American

Guidelines Restaurants are listed by city on page 45. Map locators

A RESTAURANT Stylish, nostalgic spot with red-leather booths gives dishes such as beef Stroganoff, pot roast and scallops an of-the-moment treatment. Café/market adjacent. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 3334 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.650.6505 $$$ Map N13

at the end of each listing (Map A3; Map H10, etc.) refer to maps on pages 61-63. Compendium includes editors’ recommendations and advertisers.

ANDREI’S CONSCIOUS CUISINE & COCKTAILS Conscientiously created dishes (warm octopus salad, hanger steak with zinfandel-and-beef-marrow sauce, goat-cheese cheesecake), excellent cocktails and striking decor with water wall. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 2607 Main St., Irvine, 949.387.8887 $$ Map D4 ARC “Flame, flavor, finesse” cuisine (e.g., savory meatballs with garlic and whiskey) amid rustic-apothecary decor; superb cocktails use housemade bitters, infusions, syrups, sodas. L, D (daily). South Coast Collection, 3321 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.500.5561 $$ Map J12

Chicken-salad sandwich at Provisions

Cure for the Common Deli The teams behind Chapter One: The Modern Local in Santa Ana and Haven Gastropub in Orange have respectively rethought classic delicatessan fare at a pair of new spots: C4 Deli: Cure for the Common (p.

44), near Chapter One, and Provisions Market (p. 44), near Haven. C4 combines a “local-centric” kitchen with a worldly wine-and-craft-beer bar, offering ciabatta-roll sandwiches such as an off-the-charts porchetta and sodas such as Wild Poppy’s Blood Orange Chili. Provisions serves up a starter of smoked marlin, a porchetta di testa sandwich called Pig Face and a CB&J sandwich— roasted cashew butter, stout-apricot-bacon jam and banana chips. Deli-cious!

BACK BAY BISTRO Snazzy spot overlooking the Back Bay at the Dunes; retractable roof. Cancun-style shrimp cocktail, New York steak au poivre. B (Sa-Su), L (daily), D (Th-Su), Br (Sa). Newport Dunes, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.1144 $$ Map M14 BANDERA Perennially popular spot known for woodfired rotisserie chicken and wood-grilled prime tri-tip; start with iron-skillet corn bread, finish with banana cream pie. D (nightly). 3201 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.673.3524 $$ Map M16 BAYSIDE First-rate New American fare at stylish spot with limited view of harbor canals. A smashing new interior update and sprawling bar and patio draw exec lunches, romantic dinners and lazy brunches. Live jazz; art displays. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.1222 $$$ Map M14 THE BEACHCOMBER On Crystal Cove State Park beach; it’s like a weatherworn yacht. Roasted French feta; Prime flatiron steak with wild-mushroom-and-truffle mac; and Gimme S’mores! dessert. Outdoor Bootlegger Bar. Shuttle from Los Trancos lot. B, L, D (daily). 15 Crystal Cove, Newport Beach, 949.376.6900 $$ Map E4 BISTANGO Beautifully presented contemporary cuisine, extensive wine list, changing contemporary art exhibits and jazz nightly. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 19100 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.752.5222 $$$ Map K14 THE BLIND PIG New. Creative fare (such as King Trumpet Royal with coconut curry, fried plantain, pickled daikon, mushroom “soil,” purple mint and cilantro) and superlative cocktails (50 Shades of Orange) at high-decibel lakeside spot. L, D (Tu-Su).

31431 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, 949.888.0072 $$ Map east of D6 BROADWAY BY AMAR SANTANA Popular spot offers creative “cuisine of the Americas,” e.g., seaweedbutter-basted Maine sea scallops with calamari risotto and piquillo peppers. L (Sa-Su), D (nightly). 328 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, 949.715.8234 $$$ Map H15

Index

American....................................30 Belgian..........................................33 Brewpubs/Gastropubs..........33 California..................................... 34 Chinese........................................ 36 Continental................................ 36 Eclectic......................................... 36 French........................................... 36 Indian.............................................37 International...............................37 Italian.............................................37

Japanese..................................... 39 Mediterranean.......................... 39 Mexican/Latin.......................... 39 Quick Bites.................................44 Seafood........................................40 Steak.............................................42 Thai................................................ 43 Themed....................................... 43 Vegetarian.................................. 43 Vietnamese................................ 43

CLAIM JUMPER Craftsman-style spots offer rotisserie chicken, fresh fish, baby-back ribs, pot pie, salads, SixLayer Chocolate Motherlode Cake and craft beers. L, D (daily). Seven locations include South Coast Plaza, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.434.8479; 7971 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.523.3227; 2250 E. 17th St., Santa Ana, 714.836.6658 $$ Maps J13, H8, G13 CROSSROADS AT HOUSE OF BLUES Southern hospitality and rafter-raising music. Faves: Aarón’s Citrus Chicken; shrimp and grits; jambalaya, lobster mac and cheese; St. Louis ribs. Sunday gospel brunch. L, D (daily); Br (Su). Downtown Disney, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.778.BLUE $$ Map I10 THE DECK Open-air spot serves breezy cocktails and beach fare such as burgers and baked clams, as well as a flatiron steak and paella for two, steps from the sand.

L, D (daily). Pacific Edge Hotel, 627 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach, 949.494.6700 $$ Map I15 THE IRON PRESS Waffle sandwiches—grilled pankocrusted tilapia with habanero-mango salsa; Belgian waffle with Nutella and fruit—and California beers. L (daily), D (Tu-Sa). South Coast Collection, 3321 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.426.8088 $ Map J12 IVA LEE’S Restaurant and lounge offers savory interpretations of Southern and Creole cuisine. Music W-Sa. D (nightly). 555 N. El Camino Real, Suite E, San Clemente, 949.361.2855 $$ Map south of F6 JIMMY’S FAMOUS AMERICAN TAVERN New. David Wilhelm’s creative regional comfort faves: French Quarter boil with shellfish and andouille in spicy beer-and-garlic broth; steak frites, grilled rib-eye with béarnaise; Bananageddon for two. L, D (daily). 24901 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.388.8900 $$ Map K17 JULIETTE KITCHEN + BAR Superior New American fare and cocktails and adjacent wine merchant. Juliette Chung oversees the restaurant, husband Jon Hughes the wine, and daughter Erica Choir the pastries. The gifted chef is Daniel Hyatt. L (M-Sa), D (Tu-Sa). 1000 Bristol St., Newport Beach, 949.752.5854 $$$ Map J13

CHAPTER ONE: THE MODERN LOCAL Hip librarythemed spot’s new chef Jason Montelibano ushers in Chapter One 2.0 with Tuna 2-Step (ahi fillet/tuna tartare) and Little Fried Hen (actually braised) with ginger risotto.

“Culinary cocktails.” Open until 2 am. L, D (daily). 227 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 714.352.2225 $$ Map H13

LEATHERBY’S CAFÉ ROUGE Chic and sleek affair within Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Cutting-edge cuisine and menus themed to Broadway shows.

Ideal for pre- or post-performance. D (Tu-Su). 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.429.7640 $$$ Map J13

CHARLIE PALMER Awash in sunshine by day, smartly lit by night, star chef Charlie Palmer’s space is superstylish and relaxed. Exceptional modern American dishes.

Palmer’s wine shop Next Vintage and DG Burger are adjacent. L, D (daily), Br (Su). South Coast Plaza, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.352.2525 $$$ Map D3

LITTLE SPARROW New. Eric Samaniego offers improvisational and approachable bistro fare (e.g., crispy veal sweetbreads with eggplant puree), a significant addition to the O.C. dining scene. Look for the CAFE sign on the corner. B (Sa-Su), L (Tu-Su), D (Tu-Sa). 300 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.265.7640 $$ Map G13

Two new spots radically revamp Coco’s Bakery sites: Red O in Newport Beach (p. 40), serving Rick Bayless’ Mexican fare, and Ways & Means Oyster House in Orange (p. 42).

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Traditional Italian Cuisine with a specialty in flambĂŠ

South Coast Plaza Village (714) 751-7153 | 3800 S Plaza Dr. Santa Ana, CA 92704 www.antonello.com

Unique Italian Food with a Mediterranean flair

Crystal Court (714) 540-3365 | 3333 Bear St. #118 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 www.nellocucina.com

Northern Italian Cuisine made especially for the American palate

South Coast Plaza (714) 754-0300 | 3333 Bristol St #1201 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 www.quattrocaffe.com

Let us cater to you!

Antonello's Specialty Restaurant Group offers

three unique restaurants that can accommodate anything from simple lunch or dinner arrangements with friends and family, to business luncheons, banquets and full-service catering. We also offer party trays for pick up or delivery!

Antonio Cagnolo, owner, chef, and manager, wishes to extend an invitation to you!

Questions or Inquiries?

Contact our banquet manager at Antonello Ristorante (714) 751-7153

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Dining MEMPHIS Southern, Cajun-Creole and Southwest dishes in a hip retro setting. Start with gumbo or the pulled-pork sliders. L (M-F), D (W-Sa), Br (Su). 2920 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.432.7685 $$ Map J13 OLD VINE CAFE Regional, seasonal and a pleasure any time of day, be it for its caramel apple french toast, beef-tongue panini or four-course tasting menus with wine pairings. B, L (daily), D (Tu-Sa). The Camp, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.545.1411 $$ Map J13 PALM TERRACE “New edamame,” prime-rib short ribs sous vide in California red wine and dazzling desserts served amid tropical urban oasis decor. B, L, D (daily). The Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.760.4920 $$$$ Map L15 PARK AVE Owner-chef David Slay’s creative renditions of classic American fare feature housemade and homegrown specialties. Most produce meticulously grown on premises; visit the garden! Architecture is Googie, decor midcentury retro. L (Tu-F), D (Tu-Su). 11200 Beach Blvd., Stanton, 714.901.4400 $$ Map I8 PAUL MARTIN’S AMERICAN GRILL Restaurateur Paul Fleming (P.F. Chang’s, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse) opens spot done in dark woods, brick and balsa-wood chandeliers, presents menu featuring mesquite-grilled items. L, D (daily). Irvine Spectrum Center, 31 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.453.1144 $$ Map D5 THE PINT HOUSE Comfy bistro-pubs. Blackberrybourbon pork chop; housemade cheesecake with Fireball cinnamon whiskey caramel sauce. Craft beers, beer-infused cocktails. D (daily); Orange L, D (daily).

1547 W. Katella Ave., Orange, 714.633.7468; 136 W. Wilshire Ave., Fullerton, 714.525.7468 $$ Map I11, A3 PLAYGROUND Chef Jason Quinn, whose Lime Truck won Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race, offers New American small plates (e.g., Knuckle Sandwich!!!!!!!!, Jamaican Jerk Snow Crab), a tip-top-tier off-the-menu burger and craft beers. Adjacent Playground 2.0 is a “culinary theater” for tasting dinners. L, D (daily). 220 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana, 714.560.4444 $$ Map H13 RALPH BRENNAN’S JAZZ KITCHEN Creole cuisine and New Orleans jazz (beaded piano!) at spot inspired by New Orleans’ French Quarter. Pasta jambalaya, Gumbo Ya-Ya, Creole calamari, bananas Foster. Beignets at Jazz Kitchen Express; romantic dining upstairs; casual meals downstairs. B, L, D (daily). Downtown Disney, 1590 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.776.5200 $$ Map I10 THE RANCH Sophisticated restaurant and separate super-fun, glittering saloon. Chef Michael Rossi offers Kobe beef carpaccio; silver barramundi with white shrimp and artichokes; bone-in cowboy rib-eye. D (nightly). 1025 E. Ball Road, Anaheim, 714.817.4200 $$$ Map I11 RAMOS HOUSE CAFÉ One of the county’s best restaurants serves O.C.’s best breakfast in an 1881 house next to the train tracks in the historic Los Rios district.

Soju bloody mary; pain perdu. B, L (Tu-Su). 31752 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.1342 $$ Map I17 SADDLE RANCH CHOP HOUSE Rock-western experience with huge rustic bar and mechanical bull—look for the stagecoach on the roof! Extensive menu, some southof-the-border accents. B, L, D (daily). The Triangle, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.287.4652 $$ Map K12 SANDY’S HB Steps from the sand at Huntington Beach Pier. Gilroy-garlic-fried green beans; pecan-crusted sea bass; Prime flatiron steak with chimichurri and marrow butter. B (Sa-Su); L, D (daily). 315 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.374.7273 $$ Map N9 SEASONS 52 No deep-frying. No dish more than 475 calories. Lots of flavor. Fab piano bar, stylish decor, eclectic seasonal menu, Mini Indulgences desserts, superior wine list. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, 714.437.5252 $$ Map J13

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Dining brunch. lunch. dinner.

SMOQUED California barbecue in Old Towne Orange.

Meats smoked in-house. Avocado fries with sriracha ranch dip; pulled-pork sandwich; St. Louis ribs; creative sauces; pecan pie; craft beers. L, D (daily); Br (Su). 128 N. Glassell St., Orange, 714.633.7427 $$ Map C4 STONEHILL TAVERN Michael Mina’s urbane ode to New American dining, in shimmering room at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, turns the cozy tavern concept on its ear, bringing the ocean indoors via windows, mirrors and veranda seating. Stunning tasting menus by executive chef Raj Dixit. D (Tu-Su). 1 Monarch Beach Resort Drive, Dana Point, 949.234.3318 $$$ Map J17 THREE SEVENTY COMMON Chef Ryan Adams offers winning fare such as kale salad with stone fruit and pecorino; halibut with peas, mint, onion and preserved lemon; and apple fried pies. Family-style Sunday Night Social dinners. D (nightly). 370 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, 949.494.8686 $$ Map H15 TULSA RIB CO. Local mainstay in new digs. Tempura artichoke hearts, Cajun or Caribbean baby-back ribs, Tulsa potatoes, profiteroles. L (M-F); dinner (nightly). 220 E. Katella Ave., Orange, 714.633.3760 $$ Map B4

sustainable seafood & prime aged steaks. endless champagne brunch saturday & sunday. late night lounge thursday - saturday. happy hour monday - friday. private events.

714.979.2400

www.ScottsRestaurantandBar.com

3300 Bristol St., Costa Mesa Ca 92626

ZIMZALA Surfer-chic restaurant-and-bar at hip Shorebreak Hotel offers “American/beach comfort” cuisine— and excellent Cal-Med. Br, D (daily). 500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.960.5050 $$ Map N9

Belgian BRUSSELS BISTRO Belgian menu, drinks, decor. Chicon gratin (endives, white sauce, cheeses), Belgian stoemp, crepes flambés. All-you-can-eat moules frites M-W. DJs/ dancing F-Sa after 10:30 pm. L (Sa-Su), D (nightly). 222 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.376.7955 $$ Map H15 BRUXIE O.C.’s original waffle sandwiches. Hot tickets: Pastrami Bruxie, Creamsicle float. B, L, D (daily). The Strand, 180 Fifth St., Huntington Beach, 657.215.3559; 292 N. Glassell St., Orange, 714.633.3900; 215 W. Birch St., Brea, 714.255.1188; 279 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 657.888.9892 $ Map N8, C4, A3

Brewpubs and Gastropubs AMERICAN TAVERN EATERY & DRINK Family-friendly spot at Hotel Ménage. Chili-seared edamame; flashgrilled Caesar salad; cheddar-ale burger; chimichurri flatiron steak. Plus tropical drinks—and view of Disneyland fireworks!—at outdoor Palapa Bar. B, L, D (daily). 1221 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.758.0900 $$ Map I10 BLACK KNIGHT GASTRO LOUNGE New. Convivial indoor-outdoor spot with a dozen sports screens offers finger foods such as delectable eggplant poke, wood-fired pizza and excellent flatbreads alongside wine, craft beers and generous cocktails. L, D (daily). The Triangle, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.646.2401 $$ Map K12

Spectacular Waterfront Dining Fresh Fish • Prime Rib • Steaks Relax in an atmosphere of comfortable elegance while you savor the culinary delights that make Chart House legendary.

Fantastic Happy Hour A S K Y O U R H OT E L A B O U T Y O U R F R E E A P PE T I Z E R O R D E S S E RT

34442 St. of the Green Lantern • Dana Point • 949.493.1183 chart-house.com

THE CROW BAR AND KITCHEN Cut-above creative fare, and outstanding selection of burgers, from James Beard Award-nominated chef John Cuevas. Superb brew selection. D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 2325 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.675.0070 $$ Map M16 HAVEN GASTROPUB Adventurous fare and palateprovoking handcrafted beers on tap. Vadouvan-crusted lamb belly with spiced rutabaga and house harissa; sticky toffee pudding with brown-butter-bourbon ice cream; superlative burgers. B (Sa-Su); L, D (daily). 190 S. Glassell St., Orange, 714.221.0680 $$ Map C4 JT SCHMID’S RESTAURANT AND BREWERY Beers brewed on-site and brewpub cuisine. Wood-fired pizzas, Prime steaks, seafood, pastas and burgers share menu with jambalaya, fish tacos and sashimi. L, D (daily). 2610 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.634.9200; 2415 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.0333 $$ Map I11, C4

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Dining MULDOON’S Dublin pub and Celtic bar; gastropub food years before the word was coined. Off-the-menu Black Bush Stew with shot of Irish whiskey and baby lamb chop. L, D (Tu-Su); Br (Su). 202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.4110 $$ Map L15 SIDE DOOR Superb spot shares historic building (replica of England’s oldest inn) with dining landmark Five Crowns; regional accolades in 2011 include Restaurant of the Year. D (nightly), Br (Su). 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.717.4322 $$ Map M16

Any reason is a great reason to Buca. { L ike f eeding a c raving f or aut hent ic itaL ian in L as vegas }

SLATER’S 50/50 Design your own burger. Or try Flamin’ Hot, Peanut Butter & Jellousy or Fritos Crunch burgers. Signature patty is half beef, half bacon. Superior brew list. New in Lake Forest. L, D (daily). 8082 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.594.5730; 24356 Swartz Drive, Lake Forest, 949.460.9314; 6362 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim Hills, 714.685.1103 $$ Maps L9, E6, B5 TILTED KILT PUB & EATERY Celtic-themed pub near Honda Center and Angel Stadium. Drunken clams, Scottish cheesesteak, Olde Dublin stew. Sports on 48 screens; servers in plaid mini-kilts. L, D (daily). 1625 W. Katella Ave., Orange 714.633.5458 $$ Map I11

California Cuisine BAMBÚ Creative fare creatively presented in a fourstory atrium amid lush palms, orchids and bamboo trees; seasonal regional foods Asian, French and Italian influences. Four-course prix-fixe lunch. B, L, D (daily).

Fairmont Newport Beach, 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.476.2001 $$$ Map K14 THE CALIFORNIAN Contemporary, elegant finedining room with creative cuisine, ocean views. Roastedchicken tortilla soup; pan-seared salmon with gremolata crust; goat-cheese cheesecake. B, L, D (daily). Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort, 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.698.1234 $$ Map N9 GREENLEAF GOURMET CHOPSHOP Healthful, flavorful menu includes lemongrass chicken salad; turkey melt on pretzel bread. Wine bar; soju-based cocktails.

Adjoining market. B, L, D (daily). 234 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.200.3950; South Coast Collection, 3321 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.862.2480 $ Map L12, J12 K’YA BISTRO BAR Handsome bistro at La Casa del Camino hotel offers expansive selection of small plates and wines by the glass. Wild Hawaiian poke, goat cheesefennel-orange salad, grilled filet mignon, lobster macaroni ’n’ cheese. B, L, D (daily). La Casa del Camino, 1289 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.9718 $$ Map I15 LARK CREEK New. Coastal cuisine as nutritional as it is flavorful—and prettily presented—below Island Cinemas at Fashion Island. Steaks and fish grilled over a wood fire, salads, sandwiches and pastas prepared with local ingredients. L, D (daily). 967 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.6700 $$ Map L15 LEMONADE New. Seasonal Southern California comfort food in a fast-casual cafeteria setting. An array of distinctive salads, sandwiches, slow-simmered stews—and several lemonades, of course! L, D (daily). 987 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.717.7525 $ Map L15

Anaheim | 11757 Ha rbor Blvd. • 714.740.2822 Brea | 1609 Ea st Imperia l Hw y. • 714.529.6262 Huntington Beach |7979 Center Ave. • 714.891.4666 Irvine |13390 Ja mboree Rd. • 714.665.080 0

BUCADIBEPPO.COM

A French Bistro �Bakery Featuring fresh soup, sandwiches, salads, pasta and French specialties served in a casual dining atmosphere.

Serving Breakfast, Lunch � Dinner

NAPA ROSE Wine country at Disney Resort. Stunning celebration of beauty in the bottle and the bounty of nature; chef Andrew Sutton offers sophisticated seasonal fare in stylish setting; polished staff includes dozens of sommeliers. D (nightly). Grand Californian Hotel, 1600 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.635.2300 $$$ Map I10 ONOTRIA WINE COUNTRY CUISINE Ristorante honors wine with Italian dishes concocted especially to flatter fine varietals (onotria translates to “land of vines”). Dishes are seasonal and game is a specialty. The wine list runs 40 pages. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 2831 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.641.5952 $$ Map J1

South Coast Plaza Costa Mesa, CA 92626 714-557-1734 www.viedefrance.com

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Wild King Salmon, as featured in “25 Dishes You’ve Just Gotta Try”

Dining

– Orange Coast Magazine, December 2013 SEALEGS WINE BAR Seasonal California share plates—e.g., Pig and Fig Flatbread, Stinky Fries, Banana Foster French Toast—plus limited-production wines and craft beers amid Hamptons-style nautical decor.

D (nightly), Br (Su). 21022 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, 714.536.5700 $$ Map M9 SHADES Casual elegance, deft Cal-Continental menu and ocean views make this a popular steak (boutique ranch meats) and seafood destination. Lavish brunch (unlimited crab legs!) on poolside patio. B, L, D (daily); Br (Su). Waterfront Hilton, 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.845.8444 $$ Map N9 SILVER TRUMPET Musically themed restaurant and bar opposite Segerstrom Center for the Arts, ideal for pre- or post-theater repasts. Seasonally driven fare, housemade pastries and desserts. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). Avenue of the Arts Wyndham Hotel, 3350 Avenue of the Arts, Costa Mesa, 714.442.8593 $$ Map J13 6IX PARK GRILL Applewood-fired grill fare in airy space with floor-to-ceiling windows and garden terrace.

Roasted-chicken tortilla soup; grilled diver scallops with coconut bacon rice, broccoli rabe and butternut squash beurre blanc. B, L, D (daily). Hotel Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Road, Irvine, 949.225.6666 $$ Map J14

FA R M - F R E S H D I N I N G

FA S H I O N I S L A N D, B E LOW I S L A N D C I N E M A 9 5 7 N E W P O RT C E N T E R D R I V E L A R KC R E E K N B .CO M 949. 6 4 0. 670 0

Named one of the “Ten Great Power Lunches in OC” by OC Weekly, November 2013

Where Magazine Lark Creek Newport Beach ad: 1/3 Square: 4 5/8” x 4 7/8”

SPLASHES RESTAURANT AND BAR Indoors by the fireplace or on the patio steps from the sand, the water’s-edge Pacific view provides a dramatic backdrop for meals meant to be gorgeous memories. B, L, D (daily); Br (Su). Surf & Sand Hotel, 1555 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.497.4477, Ext. 550 $$$ Map H15 STUDIO Airy bluff-top Arts and Crafts-style bungalow with stunning azure and endless Pacific view oozes an offhand luxury befitting its premium resort setting. Chef Craig Strong reaches far beyond the predictably posh with an ambitious menu of creative Cal-French cuisine. D (Tu-Su). Montage Resort & Spa, 30801 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 866.271.6953 $$$$ Map I16 SUNDRIED TOMATO CAFE Eclectic, bold Cal-Med. Creamy sun-dried-tomato soup with Gorgonzola; crispy blackened-chicken spring rolls; chopped salad. 361 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.494.3312 (L, D daily); 31781 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.661.1167 (L, D daily; Br Sa-Su); 821 Via Suerte, San Clemente, 949.388.5757 (L, D daily; Br Su). $$ Map H15, I17, K17 TABU GRILL Local in-spot/Zagat high scorer brings on new chef Rayne Frey, who continues its winning ways. D (nightly). 2892 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.494.7743 $$$ Map I16 TANGERINE GRILL Find culinary California adventure opposite Disney’s California Adventure. Consider tangerine chicken, tangerine scallops or Malibu culotte steak.

B, L, D (daily). Anabella Hotel, 1030 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.772.1186 $$ Map I10 THE TWISTED VINE Cozy neighborhood wine bar offers winning savory and sweet small plates. L (Tu-Su), D (nightly). 127 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, 714.871.1200 $ Map B3 VINE Laid-back beach burg takes wine-country detour at top spot for poised California cuisine and enlightened wine selections. Jared Cook is the new executive chef and partner. Chef’s Pub is adjacent. D (Tu-Sa). 211 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2079 $$$ Map south of F6 VUE “Forward-thinking California coastal cuisine” on a bluff overlooking Dana Point Harbor. Outside, the ocean breeze and fire pit add to the romantic ambience. B, L, D (daily); Br (Su). Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort, 25135 Park Lantern, Dana Point, 949.661.5000 $$$ Map J16 THE WINERY Chef-partner Yvon Goetz offers superior contemporary California regional cuisine at handsome, bustling spot at the District at Tustin Legacy. The freshest

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Dining seafood, wild game and USDA Prime steaks; 7,000-bottle wine cellar. Excellent bar menu. L (M-F), D (nightly).

2647 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.7600 $$$ Map J14

Chinese CAPITAL SEAFOOD More than 100 kinds of dim sum, offered from pushed steam carts at lunch, plus Asian tapas, clay-pot items, tofu, noodles and congees at Irvine Spectrum Center. L, D (daily). 85 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.788.9218; 2700 Alton Parkway, Irvine, 949.252.8188 $$ Map D5, J14 P.F. CHANG’S Chinese-fusion dishes—Shanghai Waldorf salad was a recent seasonal special—served in an upscale, casual setting; the Irvine location got a striking remodel. L, D (daily). 1145 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.759.9007; 61 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.453.1211 $$ Map L15, D5

Continental FIVE CROWNS Venerated Lawry’s spot in English inn replica gets new decor, new chef, new dishes. Prime rib and other favorites stay. Superb SideDoor Gastropub is adjacent. D (nightly), Br (Su). 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.760.0331 $$$ Map M16 THE HOBBIT Dinners are a transporting experience at this homey hacienda revered for special occasions. Multicourse prix-fixe affair includes cocktails upstairs, elaborate appetizers in the wine cellar, new Continental classics in newly redone elegant dining rooms. Menu changes weekly.

Reservations are essential. D (W-Su). 2932 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.997.1972 $$$$ Map J11 ORANGE HILL Hilltop hideaway with endless city-light views; traditional and updated fare includes seafood, prime rib, lobster. Orange Bar has retro orange theme and orange piano. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 6410 E. Chapman Ave., Matador-WhereMag-Foodie.indd 1 Orange, 714.997.2910 $$ Map C5

10/28/2013 9:53:07 AM

Tangerine Grill & Patio at the

21 OCEANFRONT Romantic restaurant offers sunset views, cozy bars, classic decor, award-winning wine list, servers in black tie and menu featuring abalone, oysters Rockefeller, jumbo prawns and superb crab legs. Topnotch steaks and osso buco, too. Live entertainment in the lounge. D (nightly). 2100 W. Oceanfront (Newport Pier), Newport Beach, 949.673.2100 $$$ Map N13

Eclectic MIX Executive chef Kyung Soo Carroll offers imaginative, often organic “classical French and nuevo American fusion” cuisine in the atrium lobby of the Hilton Anaheim. B, L, D (daily). 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, 714.740.4412 $$ Map I10 SAPPHIRE LAGUNA Chef Azmin Ghahreman offers globally inspired dishes at his stylish restaurant and lounge.

Gourmet pantry for picnic and takeout. The popular patio has a partial ocean view. L (M-F), D (nightly); Br (Sa-Su). 1200 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9888 $$$ Map I15 TRUE FOOD KITCHEN Healthful-living author Andrew Weil presents globally inspired, locally sourced dishes in cheery room and on inviting patio with linear fire pit. More healthful cocktails; biodynamic wines. L, D (daily); Br (SaSu). Fashion Island, 451 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.644.2400 $$$ Map L15

French THE CELLAR Subterranean setting at 1920s-era California hotel oozes character, straddles categories with its modern European fare. Three B Hash; chateaubriand; chocolate soufflé. Late-night lounge Tu-Su until 2 am. D (Tu-Su) 305 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, 714.525.5682 $$$ Map A3

Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

1030 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim

714.772.1186

tangerinegrillandpatio.com

Anabella Hotel, located next to the Anaheim Convention Center and opposite The Disneyland® Resort, offers casual ambience and elegant cuisine amid Spanish mission-style decor.

The imaginative menu uses free-range ingredients and locally grown produce; highlights include coconut-crusted mahi mahi, California tacos, and grilled citrus chicken with tropical fruit salsa. Dine on the lovely patio or inside in the beautifully appointed dining room. Happy Hour daily.

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Dining C A S U A L , M O D E R AT E LY P R I C E D

>

O P E N 7 DAYS

GEMMELL’S Fine chef Byron Gemmell serves up fairly traditional French fare and adds California touches.

Casserole of escargots; hearts of palm and crab; roasted duck. L, D (daily); Br (Su). 34471 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.234.0063 $$$ Map K16 MARCHÉ MODERNE Chef Florent Marneau and pastry chef wife Amelia raise the bistro to delicious heights with their unstuffy but oh-so-French effort. He revels in what’s seasonal. Dessert? Exquisite cheeses or Amelia’s transcendent desserts. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.434.7900 $$$ Map D3

come in

get hooked

Voted Best Seafood in Orange County!

Full bar and patio featuring classic and contemporary seafood specialties!

f

N E W P O RT B E AC H

TUSTIN

REDONDO BEACH

C ATA L I N A I S L A N D

630 Lido Park Dr (949) 675 3474

2409 Park Ave (714) 258 3474

665 North Harbor Dr (310) 318 3474

306 Crescent Ave, Avalon (310) 510 3474

prime steaks.

Legendary service.

Fine Wine • private dining • exquisite menu

PINOT PROVENCE Sophisticated French-Med dishes and decor from Patina Group favored for executive lunches, pre-theater dinners, brunch and special occasions.

Charming walled patio. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). Westin South Coast Plaza, 686 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.444.5900 $$$ Map J13 VIE DE FRANCE Classic onion soup, breads and pastries baked fresh daily, sandwiches made to order, desserts homemade at charming bistro and bakery.

B, L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.1734 $ Map J13

Indian CLAY OVEN Globe-trotting owner offers regional and creative Indian cuisine. Samosa triplets; habanero shrimp vindaloo; goat curry; tandoori venison. L, D (daily). 15435 Jeffrey Road, Irvine, 949.552.2851 $$ Map D5 ROYAL KHYBER Acclaimed spot, often cited as the county’s best Indian, marks 30 years. Warm eggplant salad; lobster masala; signature Khyber’s Nectar, lamb shanks simmered 14 hours with aromatic spices. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza Village, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.5679 $$$ Map J13 TAMARIND Sibling to London’s Michelin-starred spot serves Moghul-derived tandoor-oven favorites and seasonal fare. L, D (daily). Crystal Cove Shopping Center, 7862 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.8338 $$$ Map J13

International MARRAKESH Moroccan multicourse prix-fixe feasts including b’stilla (phyllo-chicken pie), sans silverware.

Great value. Belly dancing (W-Su). D (nightly). 1976 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.645.8384 $$ Map L13 MOZAMBIQUE African fortress gone hip and stylish.

Cal-Portuguese-South African cuisine. Piri piri chicken livers or prawns, chop house sirloin steak. Veranda rooftop dining. Casual spinoff in Newport Beach. 1740 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.7777; the Bluffs, 1332 Bison Ave., Newport Beach, 949.718.0956 $$ Map I15, E4

Italian ANAHEIM WHITE HOUSE Italian steakhouse in restored 1909 manor; romantic setting, refined cuisine elaborately presented and impeccably served amid fresco recreations. White chocolate salmon; peppered hanger steak; game dishes. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.772.1381 $$$ Map I10 ANDREA Elegant but unstuffy. Spectacular views of elysian vistas and the ocean. Superb northern Italy cuisine. Pasta and gelato made in dedicated rooms. L, D (daily). Resort at Pelican Hill, 22701 Pelican Hill Road S., Newport Coast, 949.467.6800 $$$$ Map L17

Santa Ana I 1641 W. Sunflower Ave. I 714-444-4834 Anaheim I 1895 South Harbor Blvd. I 714-621-0101 mortons.com

ANTONELLO RISTORANTE Top-notch, romantic northern Italian restaurant in faux villa; don’t miss the osso buco with risotto milanese. Enoteca Lounge and bar menu. D L (M-F), D (M-Sa). South Coast Plaza Village, 3800 Plaza Drive, Santa Ana, 714.751.7153 $$$ Map J13

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Photo: Jim Collins

Dining CANALETTO Venetian-style restaurant features superb salumeria, antipasti, wood-fired pizzas and specialty meat and seafood dishes—think vermicelli Cassopipa with fish ragu, clams, mussels, scallops and grape tomatoes. L, D (daily). Fashion Island, 545 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.0900 $$$ Map M16 CUCINA ENOTECA California-inspired Italian classics and wine shop amid fun decor. Vasi (filled mini-mason jars), stuffed squash blossoms, short-rib pappardelle, foraged-mushroom and truffle-oil pizza. Wines are retail plus $10. L, D (daily), Br (Su). Irvine Spectrum Center, 31 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.861.2222 $$ Map D5 ECCO Cozy, hip spot serves up goat-cheese-stuffed squash blossoms; sophisticated wood-fired pizzas, among O.C.’s best; ricotta gnocchi with grilled prawns; pork porterhouse saltimbocca; sautéed broccoli rabe with garlic and chilies. L, D (daily). The Camp, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.444.ECCO $$ Maps J13 FRANCOLI GOURMET Convivial, handsome northern Italian destination takes a quantum leap in quality, both in style (e.g., ornate orange-glass chandelier) and cuisine since its move to Old Towne Orange. B, L, D (daily).

100 S. Glassell St., Orange, 714.288.1077 $$ Map C4 IL BARONE RISTORANTE Chef Franco Barone and wife Donatella offer distinctive fare at stylish spot hidden near John Wayne Airport. Modern-art-filled room reflects his sophisticated side, tripe his rustic Sicilian roots. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 4251 Martingale Way, Newport Beach, 949.955.2755 $$ Map K14 IL DOLCE PIZZERIA Artisanal, authentic Naples-style pizzas and pastas in modest spot at busy intersection.

The simple pepperoni pizza may be the county’s best; the pistachio pizza, with Parmesan, red onions, rosemary and Gruyère, is a more unusual delight. L, D (daily). 1902 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.200.9107 $$ Map J14 IL FORNAIO Upscale casual trattoria and bakery features crusty fresh bread, housemade and imported pastas, wood-fired pizzas and roasted meats in a romantic atmosphere. L (M-Sa); D (nightly). 18051 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.261.1444 $$$ Map J14 IL GARAGE Beguiling Italian spot from David Slay, of acclaimed ParkAve, in a garage, amid a 1924 tractor and red-checkered tablecloths; it overlooks the garden that inspires and supplies the menu. D (Tu-Sa). 11200 Beach Blvd., Stanton, 714.901.4400 $$ Map I8 MAMA D’S Neighborhood spot on the peninsula has a loyal following thanks to large portions and very personable wait staff. Extensive menu; pasta, chicken and hero sandwiches at lunch. L (M-F), D (nightly). 3012 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.675.6262 $$ Map N13 MARE CULINARY LOUNGE Chef-owner Allessandro Pirozzi tops his fine Cucina Alessa locations at glittery new spot. Infused pastas include limoncello-infused mafaldine pasta with lobster tail, shallots and pinot-grigio local-lemon sauce. B, L, D (daily). 696 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9581 $$$ Map H15 NELLO CUCINA Italian steakhouse plus thin-crust pizzas, innovative pastas in South Coast Plaza’s Bear Street wing; sibling to Antonello Ristorante. L, D (daily). 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, 714.540.3365 $$ Map J13 PIZZERIA MOZZA Culinary stars Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton and Joseph Bastianich replicate their L.A. and Singapore spots. Pizzas use beguiling ingredients, distinctive dough. Start with bone marrow al forno; end with caramel copetta with marshmallow sauce. L, D (daily). 800 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach. $$ Map M13 PIZZERIA ORTICA Spot owned by L.A. chef David Myers (Comme Ça) offers refined authentic Neapolitan fare using intriguing ingredients beneath soaring arched ceilings and frescoes. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 650 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.445.4900 $$ Map J13

Waterfront Dining and Drinks

Woody’s Wharf Lunch Mon-Sat 11am-4pm :: Dinner Mon-Sun 4pm-10pm Waterfront Dining Happy Hour Mon-Fri 3pm-6pm :: DJ Thurs-Sat 10 pm-close

BRUNCH

LUNCH

DINNER

Bottomless Champagne Brunch Sat-Sun 10am-4pm

2318 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, CA 92663 been a Newpor t Beach:: landmark since 949.675.0474 woodyswharf.com

Woody’s Wharf has 1965. Join us for award winning cuisine featuring the freshest seafood, poultry and prime beef available anywhere on the coast. Our waterfront location and casual, fun atmosphere make for a memorable dining experience. Our renowned Sunday brunch with bottomless champagne draws large local crowds looking for an easygoing afternoon.

Woody’s Wharf is one of the few restaurants on Newpor t Harbor hosting guests in our own boat docks. Boaters can tie up and be served in our restaurant or on their own boat.

Our patio offers the finest outdoor dining on the harbor for those looking for a great view while enjoying award winning food.

Our enter tainment includes karaoke on Tuesday evenings and live music with DJ’s on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Lunch 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Dinner 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM Sunday Champagne Brunch 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

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2318 Newport Blvd.

Newport Beach, CA 92663 1/28/14

1:03 PM

Dining QUATTRO CAFFÉ Antonio Cagnolo of nearby, muchlauded Antonello Ristorante rejuvenates shoppers with stylish fare. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.754.0300 $$ Map J13 VITALY New. Maurizio and Barbara Cocchi of Bologna offer croissants, piadine and tigelle sandwiches, espresso, beer, wine, gelato and gelato flights in tiny cones. B, L, D (daily). The Camp, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.662.5500 $$ Map J13

Japanese BLUEFIN Master sushi chef Takashi Abe offers exquisite sushi and hot entrées. Toro tartare with osetra caviar; seafood tempura with truffle sauce, matcha salt; prime filet mignon with mixed mushrooms. L, D (daily). Crystal Cove Promenade, 7952 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.7373 $$$ Map M17 HAMAMORI Sparkling environment with undulating curves overlooks Bear Street. Rice-cracker-coated jumbo asparagus with yuzu sea salt; tamari-marinated black cod. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, 714.850.0880 $$$ Map J14 RA SUSHI Red-globe-light-bedecked ceiling, oversized aquarium and hip soundtrack give the Huntington Beach location a club-like feel. Try the crispy Asian tacos! D (daily). The Strand, 155 Fifth St., Huntington Beach, 714.536.6390; District at Tustin Legacy, 2401 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.566.1700 $$ Map N9

Mediterranean FIG & OLIVE New. Pascal Lorange’s cuisine is an ode to olive oil and what’s on the plate—from crostini and crudo starters to crème-brûlée cheesecake—is all loveliness and sophistication. The olive tree-studded setting is stunning, too. L, D (daily), Br (Sa-Su). 151 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.877.3005 $$$ Map L15 LUCCA CAFE & MARKET Euro-chic bistro, deli and wine bar is a destination for foodies seeking unusual items and dishes using artisanal and organic local ingredients. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 6507 Quail Hill Parkway, Irvine, 949.725.1773 $$ Map D5 MESA Stylish spot at the Camp, on the Bristol Street stretch known as SoBeCa, offers a hip scene, retractable glass roof, intriguing decor, inventive appetizers, superb cocktails and unisex restrooms. D (Tu-Sa). 725 Baker St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.6700 $$ Map J13 MOTIF Euro-eclectic dishes—grilled quail with Thai spices; cocoa-pistachio baked rack of lamb—amid ocean views. B, L, D (daily); Br (Su). St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort and Spa, 1 Monarch Beach, Dana Point, 949.234.3320 $$$ Map J16 ZOV’S BISTRO Zov Karamardian’s culinary passion propels her spots. Acclaimed Med cuisine at all locations; bakery-café in Tustin also offers jewel-like desserts and premium breads. L, D (M-Sa). 3915 Portola Parkway, Irvine, 714.734.9687; Enderle Center, 17440 E. 17th St., Tustin, 714.838.8855; 21123 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, 949.760.9687 $$$ Map C5, C4, L17

Mexican/Latin EL ADOBE California historical landmark serving traditional Mexican fare is housed in a 1797 adobe and 1812 jail. L (M-Sa), D (nightly), Br (Su). 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1163 $$ Map I17 GABBI’S MEXICAN KITCHEN Old Towne day-trippers and tequila connoisseurs duck into this rustically stylish haven for spirited takes on regional Mexican fare far beyond tacos and burritos. L, D (daily). 141 S. Glassell St., Orange, 714.633.3038 $$ Map C4

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Dining

Twice the View, Double the Dining.

JAVIER’S CANTINA Both lively locations are known for spectacular decor and mucho-gusto ways with south-ofthe-border classics. La Tablita, prepare-your-own tacos for two; chili colorado of Kurobuta pork chops in guajillo chili sauce with nopalitos. L, D (daily). 7832 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.494.1239; Irvine Spectrum Center, 45 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.872.2101 $$ Map H15, D5 LAS BRISAS Window-lined, elegant cliff-top spot with renowned guacamole and superb coastal views. The patio is packed. B, L (M-Sa); D (nightly); Br (Su). 361 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, 949.497.5434 $$$ Map H15 MATADOR CANTINA Upscale spot with red-brick walls in 1899 building serves traditional dishes but also “Mexican-inspired,” such as chorizo ravioli. Also consider queso fundido and chocolate enchiladas. L, D (daily). 111 N. Harbor Blvd., Fullerton, 714.871.8226 $$$ Map A3 RAYA Sophisticated global cuisine from chef Richard Sandoval, spectacular ocean views. Ceviches, sweet-corn soup with huitlacoche puree, roasted halibut with truffled boniato and crispy jalapeños; the churros are a must! B, L, D (daily). Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000 $$$ Map J16 RED O New. Sexy design (with lots of Moroccan accents), menu by Mexican cuisine guru Rick Bayless.

Ceviches, guacamole tasting, lamb chops mole negro.

Extensive tequila list; the Topolo house margarita is outstanding. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 143 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.718.0300 $$$ Map L15 SOL COCINA Stylish spot overlooking harbor canals features vibrant Baja-inspired dishes by Deborah Schneider, author of the cookbook Amor y Tacos. Pibil-roasted fish on a banana leaf; Kurobuta carnitas; cocktails, side dishes and flan are sensational. L, D (daily). 251 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.675.9800 $$ Map O15 SOLITA New. Sol Cocina spinoff offers tacos (e.g., chorizo, bacon and sweet potatoes, chili tofu and wood-grilled carne asada) and margaritas. Start with queso al forno, bubbling, spicy Mexican cheeses. L, D (daily). Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.894.2792 $ Map C2

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TACO ASYLUM Unusual tacos, excellent brews and small-batch sodas. New on the menu: lobster-pancetta taco, rabbit taco, beef-tongue taco. L, D (daily). The Camp, 2937 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.922.6010 $ Map J13 TACO MARIA New. Food truck goes brick and mortar at OC Mix. “Chicano cuisine” such as quinoa fritters with goosefoot herb, and hanger steak with onion, quelites and bone marrow. Dinner is four-course prix-fixe. L (Tu-Sa), D (Th-Sa). South Coast Collection, 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.538.8444, $$$ Map J13

Seafood AMELIA’S SEAFOOD & ITALIAN RESTAURANT Charming local favorite for almost half a century offers scampi Caesar salad, linguine with fresh bay scallops and baby calamari in marinara sauce, and cioppino. The intimate patio table is coveted. D (nightly), Br (F-Su). 311 Marine Ave., Balboa Island, 949.673.6580 $$ Map M15 BLUEWATER GRILL Fresh seafood selection at handsome spots changes daily. Grilled Australian barramundi, Costa Rican mahimahi, farm-raised Mississippi catfish.

Outdoor waterfront dining in Newport; new on Catalina Island. L, D (daily); Br (Su). The District at Tustin Legacy, 2409 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.FISH; 630 Lido Park Drive, Newport Beach, 949.675.FISH $$ Map J14, N13 BONEFISH GRILL New. Market-fresh seafood, from gulf grouper to cold-water-lobster tails, with sauces.

Bang Bang shrimp; tilapia and Kobe-beef burgers; Lily’s Chicken with goat cheese, sautéed spinach, artichoke hearts and lemon basil sauce, and USDA Choice Angler’s Steak. L, D (daily); Br (Su). The Market Place, 2915 El Camino Real, Tustin, 714.368.7613 $$ Map C5

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Dining THE CATCH Sleek spot popular with baseball and hockey fans as well as concertgoers. Drunken mahimahi; Kobe filet mignon; salted caramel custard and Cracker Jack; 5-pound OMG burger feeds 10. L, D (Tu-Su). 2100 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.935.0101 $$ Map I11 CHART HOUSE Distinctive architecture, seaside vista.

Seafood dishes, many with Asian touches, plus aged beef and signature salad bar. Chimichurri grilled shrimp; grilled watermelon and feta salad; crab imperial sea bass; prime rib. D (nightly). 34442 Green Lantern St., Dana Point, 949.493.1183 $$ Map J16 DUKE’S Hawaiian-inspired seafood, Prime steaks and beach-house ambience. Next to the pier; endless ocean views. L (Tu-Sa), D (nightly). 317 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.374.6446 $$ Map N9 FIRST CABIN Bayside spot with panoramic view of gleaming yachts and sailboats; chef Josef Lageder presents seasonal Cal-Continental fare. Superior wine list.

B, L, D (daily). Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.645.5000 $$$ Map M14 GULFSTREAM Fine seafood; huge glasses of wine; popular patio dining scene. L, D (daily). Corona del Mar Plaza, 850 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, 949.718.0187 $$$ Map L15 HARBOR GRILL Excellent mesquite-grilled seafood, pastas, gumbos, bouillabaisse at Dana Point Harbor; consider the rosebud martini and the sustainably farmed oysters. L, D (daily); Br (Su). 34499 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, 949.240.1416 $$$ Map K16 HOUSE OF BIG FISH & ICE COLD BEER As the name suggests, it’s fresh fish paired with one of the best beer selections in town. Hawaiian ahi poke; Thai-glazed calamari; macadamia-nut-crusted tilapia. Wraparound windows offer ocean views. L, D (daily). 540 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.4500 $$ Map H15 MASTRO’S OCEAN CLUB FISH HOUSE Bluff-top, ocean-view spot. Dry-ice enshrouded Seafood Tower; freshest seafood in majestic proportions; signature warm butter cake. Glass-topped grand piano in the O Bar. D (nightly). Crystal Cove Shopping Center, 8112 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.376.6990 $$$$ Map N14 MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S Citified fish house offers simply prepared fresh seafood. Old-school cocktails, legendary happy hour; microbrews on tap at Irvine’s Pilsner Room. L (M-F), D (nightly). 2000 S. Main St., Irvine, 949.756.0505; Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.535.9000 $$$ Map L14, I10

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BEFORE YOU FLY, SURF. www.whereOC.com Discover timely information on current events, restaurants, sights and attractions on the WHERE Magazine website.

ROY’S RESTAURANT Roy Yamaguchi‘s Hawaiian fusion fare amid stylish tropical decor. D (nightly). Fashion Island, 453 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.7697; Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.776.7697 $$$ Map L15, I10 SHUCK OYSTER BAR Foodie funsters Leonard Chan and Noah Blom offer meticulously shucked selections from a wallful of varieties each day. Superb clam chorizo seafood stew, grilled cheese sandwich. Bubblies and brews, too. L, D (daily). OC Mix, 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.420.0478 $$ Map J12 SCOTT’S Fine dining close to shopping and ideal for pre-theater—there’s a bell 15 minutes before showtime.

Lures include superb seafood, USDA Prime steaks and fun desserts, and there’s a superlative new cocktail list in the lounge. Live music (W-Sa). L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 3300 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.979.2400 $$$ Map J13 SHOR New. Choose your fish or meat, choose your rub, choose your sauce at American seafood grill, part of huge renovation at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach. Fresh-from-the-docks specials daily.

B, L, D (daily). 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, 949.644.1552 $$ Map M14

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Dining SLAPFISH Boat-to-table cuisine includes banh mi burrito and a variety of lobster items including lobster grilled cheese, lobster sandwich, lobster dog and “clobster cake” (half crab, half lobster). L, D (daily). 19696 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, 714.963.3900 $$ Map D2 TAPS FISH HOUSE AND BREWERY Gold medalwinning brewmeister (Brewer of the Year at world’s largest commercial beer competition—twice!) plus oyster bar and fine steaks. L, D (daily); Br (Su). Birch Street Promenade, 101 E. Imperial Hwy., Brea, 714.257.0101 $ Map A3 WAYS & MEANS OYSTER HOUSE New. Globally inspired seafooder and oyster bar. Hot Naked Oysters with chorizo, watercress, hot sauce and hollandaise; fish pie; seared Skuna Bay salmon. L (M-F); D (W-Su). 513 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.516.1800 $$ Map C4 WOODY’S WHARF Waterfront spot with colorful history serving seafood and steaks since 1965. Cary Grant and Mickey Mantle were guests. Chuck Norris once owned it; doormen included Jean-Claude Van Damme! 2318 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.675.0474 $$ Map N8

Steak AGORA CHURRASCARIA Choice cuts at Brazilian steakhouse are cooked over fire pit, seasoned with rock salt. Gaucho-garbed waiters offer succession of 16 sumptuous cuts, from picanha (a sirloin specialty) to coração (delicate chicken hearts). Elaborate hot and cold bar with vegetable and seafood specialites. L (M-F), D (nightly).

1830 Main St., Irvine, 949.222.9910 $$$ Map J13 THE CAPITAL GRILLE Elegant steakhouse offers dryaged beef amid portraits of local historic figures. Pan-fried calamari with cherry peppers; bone-in kona-crusted dryaged sirloin; ethereal cheesecake. 5,000 wines; classic cocktails. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.432.1140 $$$$ Map J17 FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR Sleek venue serves prime everything. Classy feel extends to bustling bar with 100 wines by the glass and in flights.

Superior small plates; sizzling steaks; Wine Country Brunch, prime rib on Sundays; “retro chic” and “couture” cocktails. Br (Su), D (nightly). 455 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.720.9633 $$$ Map L15 MASTRO’S STEAKHOUSE Swanky spot offers largerthan-life portions and white-jacket service. Wet-aged hand-cut bone-in filet; off-the-menu crab gnocchi; and— oooh—warm butter cake. Bar offers generous cocktails, fine live music. D (nightly). 633 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.546.7405 $$$$ Map J17 MORTON’S, THE STEAKHOUSE Classy bastions of beef get slick new redesign. Service-plus, colossal portions. Double filet, Cajun rib-eye, retro filets Oscar and Diane. Show-and-tell menu recitation. Bar 1221.

Anaheim, D (nightly); Santa Ana, L (M-F), D (nightly).

1895 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.621.0101; South Coast Plaza Village, 1641 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, 714.444.4834 $$$$ Map I10, J13

American-style cuisine with a tropical flair Downtown disney® district location open for breakfast

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RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE Bone-in “cowboy” rib-eye; caramelized banana cream pie. Soaring ceilings, modern sculpture, ironwork, colorful glass at Anaheim location. Anaheim, D (nightly); Irvine L (F), D (daily). 2041 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.750.5466; 2961 Michelson Drive, Irvine, 949.252.8848 $$$$ Map I10, K14 SAM & HARRY’S Swank repasts feature hand-cut Midwest corn-fed steaks aged 28 days, seafood flown in daily, potent cocktails.. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su).

Newport Beach Marriott, 900 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.6900 $$$ Map M15 SAVANNAH CHOP HOUSE American regional cooking—steaks, chops, seafood and Southern specialties— amid clubhouse decor. Tamarind-glazed duck breast; filet mignon Stroganoff. D (nightly). 32441 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, 949.493.7107 $$ Map I17

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Dining SELANNE STEAK TAVERN New. Ice hockey legend Teemu Selänne unveils upscale spot with several distinct settings in historic cottage. Pacific diver scallops; scarlet beet ravioli; Lord Stanley (bone-in rib-eye) Wagyu steak for two; Bloomsdale spinach side; excellent desserts. D (Tu-Su). 1464 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9881 $$$ Map I16

Thai ROYAL THAI CUISINE Casually elegant familyowned spots on the coast for more than 30 years.

Honey duck; Lady Thai prawns. L, D (daily). 4001 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.645.8424; 1750 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.494.8424 $$ Maps N13 and I16 THAI THIS “Cuisine to Thai for.” Fun names of dishes: Handrool Salad, Porkupie and Holly Cow. I See Dead People cocktail. L, D (daily). 24501 Del Prado, Dana Point, 949.240.7944 $ Map J17 THAI WAVE Traditional noodle, curry and seafood dishes in pleasant surroundings. L, D (daily). 522 Main St., Huntington Beach, 714.960.0219 $ Map N9

Themed PIRATE’S DINNER ADVENTURE Swordplay, pyrotechnics, comedy, romance aboard galleon replica in indoor lagoon. Call for weekend schedule; D (nightly). 7600 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.690.1497 $$$ Map G8 RAINFOREST CAFE Creative decor, animatronics, special effects bring the rain forest indoors; dine among lush vegetation, lightning storms and wild animals. Extensive menu. Don’t forget the Volcano at the end of your meal. B, L, D (daily). Downtown Disney, 1515 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.772.0413 $$ Map I10

Vegetarian NATIVE FOODS Casual Cal-vegetarian fare.

L, D (daily). The Camp, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.751.2151; Fashion Island, 1091 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.760.9999; The District, 2453 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.259.0400 $ Map J13, L15, C4 118 DEGREES Creative raw plant-based cuisine, organic wines and beer, fresh-pressed juices and smoothies. B, L, D (daily); Br (Su). The Camp, 2981 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.754.0718 $ Map J13 VEGGIE GRILL Yummy plant-based “chickin’ “ and “steak” sandwiches; fast-casual. L, D (daily).

81 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.727.9900; University Center, 4213 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949.509.0003 $ Map D5, K14

Vietnamese ANQI Innovative cuisine dominated by small plates; sexy setting includes backlit bar and glass catwalk over running stream. Filet mignon pot stickers, secretrecipe garlic noodles, and molecular gastronomy with advance notice. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.5679 $$$ Map J13

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EAST BOROUGH Casual fare on a patio at the Camp.

Banh mi, lemongrass tofu. L (daily), D (Tu-Sa). 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.641.5010 $ Map J13 PHANS 55 Creative Vietnamese. Turmeric pangar white fish; Shaken Beef Filet; chocolate pyramid dessert. 1981 Sunny Crest Drive, Fullerton, 714.441.0714 (L, D M-Sa); 6000 Scholarship Drive, Irvine, 949.724.1236 (L M-Sa, D M-Su) $$ Map A3, K14

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Dining VIETNAM PEARL Storefront location with newly hip decor, younger vibe. Excellent vermicelli, pho and a host of spicy specials. L, D (M–Sa). No credit cards.

1215 Baker St., Costa Mesa, 714.540.2212 $ Map J12

Quick Bites C4 DELI: THE CURE FOR THE COMMON New. Local-centric kitchen with wine-and-craft-beer bar and even more distinctive craft sodas; ciabatta-roll sandwiches include the standout porchetta, B, L, D (daily). 200 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 714.263.1555 $$ Map H13 CROW BURGER KITCHEN Casual sibling to the Crow Bar + Kitchen in Corona del Mar offers Angus and Prime beef burgers in intriguing configurations.

Try Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger!.

L, D (daily). 3107 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.673.2747 $ Map N12 GAUFREE New. Waffle sandwiches, notably one with Louisiana tasso ham, Emmental cheese and garlic aioli, and another with kale, scallions, bell peppers, eggplant and port-wine-glazed tofu. L, D (daily). Westpark Plaza, 3851 Alton Parkway, Irvine, 949.222.5622 $ Map D5 THE GRILLED CHEESE SPOT New. Tiny, table-less, cash-only. Choose among 15 cheeses, seven breads, meat or vegetable add-ons; or order house creations such as the Starving Artist. L, D (daily). 318 W. Fifth St., Santa Ana, 714.542.2235 $ Map H13 LINX Artisanal sausages: 10 “Haute LinX,” 15 condiments, 15 sauces. Finish with apple strudel ice cream sandwich with salted caramel sauce. L, D (daily).

238 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.744.3647 $ Map B4 MCDONALD’S Burgers, California history mural beneath golden arches near theme parks. B, L, D (daily). 1500 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.491.0563, plus 70 other county locations. $ Map I10

Home Sweet Home .

PORTILLO’S Chicago hot-dog mecca offers amazing value near Knott’s Berry Farm. The dogs are just one reason it’s got so many fans. L, D (daily).

8390 La Palma Ave., Buena Park, 714.220.6400 $ Map G8 PROVISIONS MARKET Specialty market and bottle shop serves up new take on classic deli foods.

Smoked-marlin starter; sandwiches including the Pig Face porchetta di testa and a CB&J—roasted cashew butter, stout-apricot-bacon jam and banana chips. L, D (daily). 143 N. Glassell St., Orange, 714.997.2337 $$ Map C4 PIE-NOT Aussie-style bakery offers meat, veggie, gluten-free pies. Mary’s pie with rosemary, garlic and lamb; Slice of Heaven dessert, shortbread crust with housemade caramel, milk chocolate and sea salt. B, L, D (daily). 270 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.650.7437 $ Map H13 UMAMI BURGER Deservedly lauded burgers in 10 styles (e.g., Truffle, Tandoori, Port and Stilton) in hip venues; off-the-menu “tater tots.” L, D (daily).

601 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.342.1210; 338 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.991.8626; The Camp, 2981 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.957.8626. $ Maps G15, I10, J13

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RESTAURANTS City Index Our superguide by area, with cross reference to listings by cuisine.

ANAHEIM

MORTON’S (Steak)....................................................... 42

GAUFREE (Belgian)...................................................... 44

AMERICAN TAVERN (Brew Pub) ........................ 33

NATIVE FOODS (Vegetarian)..................................43

IL FORNAIO (Italian)................................................... 38

SAM & HARRY’S (Steak).......................................... 42

ANAHEIM WHITE HOUSE (Italian)................. 37

NELLO CUCINA (Italian).......................................... 38

JAVIER’S CANTINA (Mexican)........................... 40

SHOR (Seafood)................................................................. 41

ROY’S RESTAURANT (Seafood)........................... 41

BENIHANA (Japanese)................................................ 39

OLD VINE CAFE. (American)................................. 32

LUCCA CAFE (Mediterranean)................................. 39

SOL COCINA (Mexican)............................................ 40

THE CATCH (Seafood).................................................. 41

118 DEGREES (Vegetarian)........................................43

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S (Seafood)........... 41

TRUE FOOD KITCHEN (Eclectic)....................... 36

CROSSROADS AT H.O.B. (American).............30

ONOTRIA (California)...................................................34

PAUL MARTIN’S (American)................................... 32

21 OCEANFRONT (Continental)............................ 36

J.T. SCHMID’S (Brew Pub) . ......................................... 33

PIE-NOT (Quick Bites)................................................... 44

P.F. CHANG’S (Chinese)............................................. 36

WOODY’S WHARF (Seafood)................................. 42

MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S (Seafood)........... 41

PINOT PROVENCE (French).................................. 37

PHAN’S 55 (Vietnamese)............................................43

NEWPORT COAST

MCDONALD’S (Quick Bites).................................... 44

PIZZERIA ORTICA (Italian)................................... 38

RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE (Steak)....... 42

MIX (Eclectic)...................................................................... 36

QUATTRO CAFFE (Italian)..................................... 39

6IX PARK GRILL (California).................................. 35

MORTON’S (Steak)....................................................... 42

ROYAL KHYBER (Indian)......................................... 37

VEGGIE GRILL (Vegetarian).....................................43

SADDLE RANCH (American).................................. 32

ZOV’S BISTRO (Mediterranean).............................. 39

SCOTT’S (Seafood).......................................................... 41

LAGUNA BEACH

SEASONS 52 (American)........................................... 32

BROADWAY (American).............................................30

SHUCK OYSTER BAR (Seafood).......................... 41

BRUSSELS BISTRO (Belgian)................................ 33

NAPA ROSE (California).............................................34 RAINFOREST CAFE (Themed)............................43 RALPH BRENNAN’S (American)......................... 32 THE RANCH (American)............................................. 32 ROY’S RESTAURANT (Seafood)........................... 41 RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE (Steak)....... 42 SLATER’S 50/50 (Brew Pub) .................................34 TANGERINE GRILL (California)............................ 35 UMAMI BURGER (American)................................. 44

BREA BRUXIE (Belgian)............................................................. 33 TAPS FISH HOUSE (Brew Pub/Seafood)............. 42

BUENA PARK CLAIM JUMPER (American)....................................30 IL GARAGE (Italian)..................................................... 38 PARK AVE (American).................................................. 32 PIRATE’S DINNER ADVENTURE (Themed)........43 PORTILLO’S (American)................................................ 44

CORONA DEL MAR BANDERA (American)..................................................30 CROW BAR AND KITCHEN (Gastropub)...... 33 FIVE CROWNS (Continental)................................... 36 SIDE DOOR (Gastropub).............................................34

COSTA MESA/ SOUTH COAST METRO

SILVER TRUMPET (California)............................... 35

THE DECK (American).................................................30

TACO ASYLUM (Mexican)....................................... 40

HOUSE OF BIG FISH (Seafood)........................... 41

TACO MARIA (Mexican)........................................... 40

K’YA BISTRO BAR (California) . ...........................34

UMAMI BURGER (American)................................. 44

LAS BRISAS (Mexican).............................................. 40

VIE DE FRANCE (French)........................................ 37

MARE CULINARY LOUNGE (Italian)............. 38

MASTRO’S OCEAN CLUB (Seafood)................ 41 TAMARIND (Indian)...................................................... 37 ZOV’S BISTRO (Mediterranean).............................. 39

ORANGE BRUXIE (Belgian)............................................................. 33 FRANCOLI GOURMET (Italian).......................... 38 GABBI’S MEXICAN KITCHEN (Mexican)..... 39 HAVEN GASTROPUB (Brew Pub)....................... 33

MOZAMBIQUE (International)................................. 37 ROYAL THAI (Thai).....................................................43

DANA POINT

SAPPHIRE (Eclectic)..................................................... 36

LINX (American)............................................................... 44

CHART HOUSE (Seafood)......................................... 41

SAVANNAH CHOP HOUSE (Steak)................ 42

ORANGE HILL (Continental).................................... 36

GEMMELL’S (French)................................................... 37

SELANNE STEAK TAVERN (Steak)................43

THE PINT HOUSE (American).................................. 32

HARBOR GRILL (Seafood)........................................ 41

SPLASHES (California)................................................. 35

PROVISIONS MARKET (American)..................... 44 SMOQUED (American)................................................. 33

THE HOBBIT (Continental)........................................ 36

JIMMY’S (American).......................................................30

STUDIO (California)........................................................ 35

MOTIF (Mediterranean).................................................. 39

SUNDRIED TOMATO (California)........................ 35

TILTED KILT (Brew Pub) . ...........................................34

RAYA (Latin fusion).......................................................... 40

TABU GRILL (California)............................................. 36

TULSA RIB CO (American)....................................... 33

STONEHILL TAVERN (American)........................ 33

THREE SEVENTY COMMON (American)......... 33

WAYS & MEANS (Seafood)...................................... 42

THAI THIS (Thai)...........................................................43

UMAMI BURGER (American)................................. 44

RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA

VUE (California)................................................................. 35

NEWPORT BEACH

BLIND PIG (American).................................................30

FULLERTON

AMELIA’S (Seafood)..................................................... 40

SAN CLEMENTE

THE CELLAR (French/Modern European).............. 36

A RESTAURANT (American)...................................30

IVA LEE’S (American)...................................................30

MATADOR CANTINA (Mexican)........................ 40

BACK BAY BISTRO (American)............................30

SUNDRIED TOMATO (California)........................ 35

PHAN’S 55 (Vietnamese)............................................43

BAMBÚ (California/French)...........................................34

VINE (California)................................................................ 35

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO

BAYSIDE (American).....................................................30 BLUEWATER GRILL (Seafood)............................ 40

HUNTINGTON BEACH

CANALETTO RISTORANTE (Italian)............. 38

BRUXIE (Belgian)............................................................. 33

CROW BURGER KITCHEN (Gastropub)........ 44

BLACK KNIGHT (Gastropub)................................... 33

THE CALIFORNIAN (California)...........................34

FIG & OLIVE (Mediterranean)................................... 39

BRUXIE (Belgian)............................................................. 33

DUKE’S (Seafood)............................................................. 41

FIRST CABIN (Seafood).............................................. 41

THE CAPITAL GRILLE (Steak)............................ 42

RA SUSHI (Japanese).................................................... 39

FLEMING’S (Steak)....................................................... 42

CHARLIE PALMER (American).............................30

SANDY’S HB (American)............................................ 32

GULFSTREAM (Seafood)............................................ 41

ARC (American).................................................................30

BLUEFIN (Japanese)...................................................... 39 JAVIER’S CANTINA (Mexican)........................... 40

VITALY (Italian)................................................................ 39

THE PINT HOUSE (American)............................... 32

ANTONELLO RISTORANTE (Italian)............. 37

THE BEACHCOMBER (American).......................34

VIETNAM PEARL (Vietnamese)........................... 44

TWISTED VINE (California)..................................... 35

ANQI (Vietnamese fusion)..............................................43

ANDREA (Italian)........................................................... 37

CLAIM JUMPER (American)....................................30

SEALEGS WINE BAR (California)....................... 35

IL BARONE RISTORANTE (Italian)................. 38

EAST BOROUGH (Vietnamese).............................43

SHADES (California)....................................................... 35

JULIETTE KITCHEN + BAR (American)........30

ECCO RISTORANTE (Italian)............................... 38

SLAPFISH (Seafood)..................................................... 42

LARK CREEK (California)..........................................34

EL ADOBE (Mexican)................................................... 39 RAMOS HOUSE CAFE (American).................... 32 SUNDRIED TOMATO (California)........................ 35

SANTA ANA C4 DELI (American)...................................................... 44 CHAPTER ONE (American)......................................30 CLAIM JUMPER (American)....................................30 GRILLED CHEESE SPOT (Quick Bites)........... 44 LITTLE SPARROW (American).............................30 MEMPHIS (American).................................................... 32

GREENLEAF (California)............................................34

SLATER’S 50/50 (Brew Pub) .................................34

LEMONADE (California)..............................................34

HAMAMORI (Japanese)............................................... 39

SOLITA (Mexican) ......................................................... 40

MAMA D’S (Italian)....................................................... 38

IL DOLCE PIZZERIA (Italian)............................... 38

ZIMZALA (American).................................................... 33

MOZAMBIQUE (International)................................. 37

TUSTIN

PLAYGROUND (American)....................................... 32

THE IRON PRESS (American)................................30

IRVINE

MULDOON’S (Irish Pub).............................................34

BLUEWATER GRILL (Seafood)............................ 40

LEATHERBY’S CAFE ROUGE (American).......30

AGORA CHURRASCARIA (Brazilian).............. 42

NATIVE FOODS (Vegetarian)..................................43

BONEFISH GRILL (Seafood)................................. 40 J.T. SCHMID’S (Brew Pub) . ....................................... 33

MARCHÉ MODERNE (French).............................. 37

ANDREI’S (American)...................................................30

PALM TERRACE (American)................................... 32

MARRAKESH (Moroccan).......................................... 37

BISTANGO (American).................................................30

P.F. CHANG’S (Chinese)............................................. 36

NATIVE FOODS (Vegetarian)..................................43

MASTRO’S STEAKHOUSE (Steak).................. 42

CAPITAL SEAFOOD (Chinese)............................ 36

PIZZERIA MOZZA (Italian).................................... 38

RA SUSHI (Japanese).................................................... 39

MEMPHIS (American).................................................... 32

CLAY OVEN (Indian).................................................... 37

RED O (Mexican)............................................................ 40

THE WINERY (California).......................................... 35

MESA (Med.-American)................................................... 39

CUCINA ENOTECA (Italian).................................. 38

ROYAL THAI (Thai).....................................................43

ZOV’S BISTRO (Mediterranean).............................. 39

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MELIA’S SEAFOOD A & ITALIAN RESTAURANT

Amelia’s is celebrating more than 50 years of delighting visitors and locals alike. Located among the boutiques on Balboa Island, this quaint European-style restaurant specializes in exquisite pasta and delectable seafood. Try the linguine with baby calamari and fresh bay scallops with marinara sauce. Amelia’s features at least 5 very fresh fish daily and mouthwatering combination dinners such as the filet mignon and scampi. Fine wines available. Private parties from eight to 48. Sunset dinner $12.50, SundayFriday 5-6 pm. D (nightly), Br (F-Su).

311 Marine Ave., Balboa Island 949.673.6580 ameliasbalboaisland.com

BLUEFIN Critically acclaimed chef Takashi Abe serves classic and cutting-edge Japanese cuisine in an intimate setting with a dramatically illuminated sushi bar, rich furnishings and spectacular ocean views. Named one of the top rated restaurants in the US by Zagat, Bluefin’s menu offers traditional sushi from the world’s most pristine waters combined with European-inspired fusion cooking. Signature specialties include Kobe beef with sautéed mushrooms specially prepared and served on a Japanese hot plate, and halibut carpaccio dusted with pink peppercorns and chives in a truffle-perfumed ponzu sauce. For a truly memorable experience, just ask for the omakase, putting yourself in the hands of Chef Abe. L, D (daily).

7952 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast 949.715.7373 bluefinbyabe.com

JT SCHMID’S

JT Schmid’s Restaurant and Brewery, Orange County’s preferred brewhouse, steakhouse and clubhouse, has two locations, in Anaheim opposite the Honda Center and in Tustin at The District. Enjoy handcrafted microbrews and contemporary California cuisine including Angus steaks, burgers, salads, sandwiches, wood-fired pizza, pastas and seafood. numerous wide-screen televisions mean you’ll never miss the big game. Banquet and meeting facilities for 20 to 250 people. Enjoy the new outdoor patio in Anaheim or the full bar and premium cigars at both locations. Happy hour Monday-Friday. L, D (daily).

2610 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.634.9200 2415 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.0333 jtschmids.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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IL FORNAIO

Il Fornaio’s award-winning authentic Italian cuisine is a favorite in Irvine. Specialties include housemade pastas, wood-fired pizza, grilled fish, authentic risotto and rotisserie meats. Artisan breads and pasta are made fresh daily. Each month a special menu from a different region of Italy is featured. With an event coordinator on-site to handle all of your needs, Il Fornaio is the perfect location for rehearsal dinners, weddings and business functions. The Il Fornaio Bakery Café next door offers an array of tossed-to-order salads, soups and Italian panini.

18051 Von Karman Ave., Irvine 949.261.1444 ilfornaio.com

21 OCEANFRONT Looking out onto the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island, 21 Oceanfront offers breathtaking sunset views from three beautifully appointed dining rooms. 21 Oceanfront is known for its baseball-cut swordfish, tender California red abalone, Alaskan king crab legs, fresh cuts of beef and its extensive wine list. Perfect for a romantic dinner for two as well as for corporate gatherings, the local favorite has been consistently recognized as one of O.C.’s best and most romantic restaurants. Complimentary transportation for groups of eight or more. Live entertainment and happy hour in the Oceanfront Bar and Lounge. D (nightly).

2100 W. Oceanfront, Newport Beach 949.673.2100 21oceanfront.com

THE HARBOR GRILL

Since 1984, proprietors John, Wanda and Keegan Hicks have taken pride in the sincere friendly attitude of the staff and the quality of food. Serving lunch, dinner and Sunday breakfast, the Harbor Grill offers a delicious array of fresh seafood cooked in a variety of styles including Southwestern, Pacific Rim, Caribbean, Cajun and Mediterranean. With its reasonably priced menu, premium cocktails and extensive wine list, the Harbor Grill has become a favorite with locals and a popular destination for visitors who are made to feel like “regulars.” Whether they’re enjoying the cozy dining room or the colorful terrace, the view of the harbor sails encourages a leisurely meal while a pianist adds the perfect background music each evening.

34499 Golden Lantern, Dana Point 949.240.1416 harborgrill.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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AMERICAN TAVERN EATERY & DRINK

Located at the Hotel Ménage, American Tavern Eatery and Drink offers comfort food at affordable prices as well as a large selection of craft beers, boutique wines and creative cocktails. Chef Craig Connole’s menu includes mini-bratwurst sandwiches, a “messy” smoked bacon and cheddar ale burger, lobster mac ’n’ cheese, chicken and waffles and four cheese and funghi flat bread. Rich woods, chalkboard walls and a lively bar make for an inviting atmosphere. The Palapa Bar and Lounge, just outside, offers Hawaiian-style cuisine and tropical cocktails and affords some of the best views of Disneyland Park fireworks— poolside, no less! B, L, D (daily).

1221 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim 714.400.9104 americantaverneatery.com, palapabarandlounge.com

K’YA BISTRO BAR Locals love this bustling eatery with its San Franciscostyle atmosphere and menu of 60 mouthwatering small plates meant for sharing. Nosh on lobster mac-n-cheese, filet mignon, Hawaiian ahi poke, organic beet salad, and truffle risotto, all at affordable prices. Gluten-free and heart healthy dishes too. Cozy up to the fireplace for craft cocktails and live music or head upstairs to the Rooftop Lounge for mojitos and a fiery sunset over the crashing Pacific. The coastal views are epic. $5 happy hour daily 4:30-5:30 pm. B (Sa-Su), L, D (daily).

1287 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach 949.376.9718 kyabistro.com

HOUSE OF BIG FISH

At fish-house-meets-gastropub contemporary eatery, diners enjoy fresh sustainable fish, farm fresh produce, creative small plates, along with handcrafted cocktails, boutique wines and over 50 global and local craft beers. The seafoodcentric menu features Peruvian-style ceviche, crudo, oysters, blackened salmon, lobster fondue, chowders, ahi poke and line-caught daily catch. Great raw bar and seafood specialty happy hour Mon.-Fri 4:30-5:30 pm. During happy hour receive half off any item from the dinner menu when you buy any cocktail, beer or wine. Taco Tuesdays feature a special menu all night long with taco platters stating at $5. Beach casual vibe with ocean sunset views. B, L (Sa-Su), D (M-F).

540 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach 949.715.4500 houseofbigfish.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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SLATER’S 50/50

Design your own gourmet burger at Slaters 50/50. Of the menu’s five patties, the star is the signature 50/50 made with 50% ground beef and 50% ground bacon. If you’d rather someone else do the work for you, choose from ten “designed” burgers such as the award-winning Peanut Butter and Jellousy burger smothered with creamy peanut butter and strawberry jelly and topped with thick cut bacon.

Sip a craft beer from the tap or bottle while watching your favorite team on one of Slater’s many big screen TVs. For dessert, try the famous bacon brownie with warm Ghiradelli chocolate sauce and chopped bacon sprinkles. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. 3-7 pm and Sun.-Thurs. 11 pm-close. L, D (daily).

6362 E. Santa Ana Canyon Rd., Anaheim Hills, 714.685.1103 8082 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.594.5730 slaters5050.com

ANDREI’S CONSCIOUS CUISINE & COCKTAILS This Irvine restaurant thinks responsibly, from the sourcing and preparing of its food to its commitment to sustainability on all fronts; the Nature Conservancy recently named it its “favorite green restaurant” in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Signature dishes include panko-crusted portobello mushroom fries, grass-fed buffalo sliders and their famous warm octopus salad. Andrei’s may be best known for unique cocktails like the basil-cucumber gimlet, made with Nolet’s gin, muddled basil, cucumber and house-made basil-lime simple syrup. Try the popular Silver Oak Saturday promotion: a bottle of Alexander Valley Cabernet for only $49 (regularly $125). Happy hour (Mon.-Fri., 3-7 pm, Sat., 5-7 pm) Private dining and event space available. L (M-F), D (M-Sa).

2607 Main St., Irvine 949.387.8887 andreisrestaurant.com

MIX RESTAURANT

Savor globally inspired flavors and fresh locally sourced ingredients that will leave any palate satisfied. Executive Chef Kyung Soo Carroll brings responsible cuisine to Hilton Anaheim, supporting local farms and in-season items through his thoughtful approach and treatment to each dish. Chef Carroll believes in serving food that people recognize and understand. With varied techniques learned throughout the years, Carroll consistently maintains the integrity of the ingredients with refined, worldly execution. Great for a quick bite during your lunch hour, or it may become your new happy hour spot. Reservations recommended for special occasions. Complimentary valet parking. Mention the code WHERE OC to your server and receive 20% off your entire meal. (Offer excludes alcoholic beverages). B, L, D (daily).

Hilton Anaheim Hotel, 777 Convention Way, Anaheim 714.740.4412 hiltonanaheimhotel.com SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Entertainment Special Events

Guidelines Map locators at the end of each listing (Map A3; Map

FESTIVAL OF WHALES March 1-2, 8-9. 43rd annual festival celebrates the migration of the California gray whale. Parade, street fairs, concerts, crafts and marinemammal cruises. Call for hours. Free. Dana Point Harbor, Dana Point, 949.496.1045 Map J16

H10, etc.) refer to maps on pp. 61-63. Compendium includes editors’ recommendations and advertisers.

ORANGE COUNTY MUSIC AWARDS March 8. The county’s music industry gathers to honor achievements by local artists in 26 categories. Grove of Anaheim, 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.712.2700 Map I11

Theater............................... 50 Music + Dance................. 50 Sports....................................51 Attractions.........................52 Museums...........................54

TOSHIBA CLASSIC March 10-16. Legendary PGA players compete. Tee times begin at 10:30 am. $25.

Newport Beach Country Club, 1600 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.644.9550 Map E6 RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS PARADE March 22.

Event salutes storied annual bird visit from Argentina. 11 am. Free. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1976 Map I17 NEWPORT BOAT SHOW April 3-6. 40th annual inthe-water show at Lido Marina Village. Th noon-7 pm, F-Sa 10 am-7 pm, Su 10 am-5 pm. $15, 12 and under free.

Free parking/shuttle from Newport Health Center, 500 Superior Ave., and Newport Harbor Lutheran Church, 798 Dover Drive. 949.757.5959 Map N12

Index Special Events.................. 50

Shopping Destinations...55 Golf Courses......................56 Active Outdoors..............56 Beaches + Parks................57 Nightlife...............................58 Tours + Transport.............59

SISTER’S EASTER CATECHISM April 7-9, 14. Sister answers questions about the origins of Easter bunnies, bonnets and baskets in this hysterical class in the famed Catechism series. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787 Map G15 MAMMA MIA! April 8-13. The ultimate feel-good show—about a daughter searching for the identity of her father—is full of love, laughter and a score composed of songs by Abba. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787 Map J13

NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL April 24-May 1.

More than 350 films including features, shorts, documentaries and animation, as well as sessions with directors and screenwriters and galas. Jury and audience awards.

949.253.2880, newportbeachfilmfest.com Map K16

SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS April 26May 25. A stong-minded widow, played by legendary actress Leslie Caron, and her gay dance instructor transcend their differences and build a compassionate connection. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787 Map G15

NEWPORT BEACH TO ENSENADA RACE April 25-27. World’s largest yacht race; about 200 boats compete. Best views from Corona del Mar coastal cliffs and Balboa Pier. Noon start. 949.644.1023 Map N13

TARTUFFE Opens May 9. Molière’s classic (1664) comedy about the man who gave the word “hypocrite” a bad reputation. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555 Map J13

DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL May 17-18. Live blues, rock and R&B on three stages. Meet performers at the music store. Microbrew tasting. 11 am-9:30 pm. Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.360.7800 Map H15

INTO THE WOODS Opens May 9. Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine’s timeless storybook musical.

Plummer Auditorium, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555 Map J13

GARDEN GROVE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL May 23-26. Parade, carnival rides, strawberry cakecutting ceremony. F 1-10 pm; Sa-Su 10 am-10 pm, M until 9 pm. Free. Rides from $1. Village Green between Main and Euclid streets, Garden Grove, 714.638.0981 Map J9

Theater ALL THE GREAT BOOKS March 4-30. Three men present a roller-coaster compendium of Western literature’s 83 greatest books—the ones you were supposed to read in school but didn’t. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787 Map G15 REUNION March 9-30. Old high-school buddies reunite to relive the fun of high school but soon learn the complex nature of male friendships. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555 Map J13 I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE March 18-23. It’s 1952 and you are witnessing a live taping of one of the most beloved programs in TV history. Relive the side-splitting antics of legendary crazy redhead Lucille Ball. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787 Map J13 REST March 28-April 27. A nursing-home patient with Alzheimer’s disease gets lost in a blizzard; the staff finds itself powerless in the search for him and faces an uncertain future. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555 Map J13

23%

4 famous attractions

THE BOOK OF MORMON May 13-25. Irreverent, raunchy musical comedy from the creators of South Park.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787 Map J13

3-Day Park Hopper® to Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park

Universal Studios HollywoodSM

RITA RUDNER May 31. Acclaimed comedian known for her sharp timing and one-liners offers observations on everyday life. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787 Map G15

Music + Dance GROVE OF ANAHEIM March 1 Fan Halen and Bonfire.

March 5 Merle Haggard. March 7 Lewis Black. March 8 O.C. Music Awards. March 13 Emblem3. March 14 Young Dubliners. March 22 Iration. April 5 Fab Four.

April 11-12 Rock of Ages. April 18 Rodney Carrington.

April 23-24 Spank! Harder. April 27 Loudness. April 29 Gavin DeGraw. May 14 Lindsey Stirling. May 15 Primal Fear. 2200 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.712.2700 Map I11 HOUSE OF BLUES March 1 The Wailers. March 4 Gang of Rhythm. March 6 The Ataris. March 7 The Expendables. March 8 HIM. March 15 Wild Child. March 20 Revolver. March 21 The Sword. March 22 Toadies.

March 24 Defeater. March 29 Aaron Lewis. April 3 Blackberry Smoke. April 11 Craig Morgan. April 19 Pink Floyd Laser Spectacular. April 25 The Fixx. April 29 The Wanted. May 2 Julieta Venegas. May 9 Tab Benoit.

Downtown Disney, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.778.2583 Map I10

The county’s top two employers are the Walt Disney Co., with 25,000 employees, and UC Irvine, with nearly 22,000.

SeaWorld® San Diego

Buy at these attractions - Good for 14 days - Skip most ticket lines Connect for current pricing

citypass.com or (888) 330-5008

Prices and programs subject to change.

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Attractions + Museums IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE March 1 UCI Symphony.

March 2 Mozart Classical Orchestra. March 6 National Theatre, Shakespeare’s Coriolanus. March 8-9 Savion Glover, Stepz. March 11 Tomatito. March 13 Jon Batiste and Stay Human Band. March 15-16 Eva YerbabuenaLluvia. March 21 Scharoun Ensemble Berlin. March 22-23 Festival Ballet, Giselle. March 28-29 Men Alive, The Beatles. April 4 Dennis Miller, America 180. April 5 National Theatre, War Horse. April 9 Myriad Trio. April 12 Dennis Kamakahi. May 3 Colin Quinn, Unconstitutional. May 4 Mozart Classical Orchestra. May 10 Chanticleer. May 16-17 Diavolo Dance Theater. May 24 HAPA. UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949.854.4646 Map K14 PLUMMER AUDITORIUM April 6 Organist Jonathan Ortloff and silent film. May 2-18 Into the Woods. 201 E. Chapman Ave, Fullerton, 714.626.3890 Map A3

C

ome to the Aquarium of the Pacific where you and your family can get in touch with nature and marine life, any time you want. Touch sharks. Feed lorikeet birds. Watch penguins play. Over 11,000 animals await you. aquariumofpacific.org 562 . 590 . 3100 100 AQUARIUM WAY, LONG BEACH, CA 90802

SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS Segerstrom Hall March 7-9 Les Ballets de Monte Carlo. March 11-16 Shen Yun. March 14 Jazz at Lincoln Center. March 18-23 I Love Lucy Live On Stage. March 27-30 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. April 1 Celtic Woman. April 5 Diana Krall. April 8- 13 Mamma Mia! April 25-26 Rain.

May 13-25 Book of Mormon. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall March 1 Symphonic Suite for Healing. March 3 Vienna Philharmonic. March 6-8 Pacific Symphony.

March 8 Dinosaurs. March 12 Haifa Symphony of Israel.

March 13-15 Michael McDonald. March 22 Patti LuPone.

March 26 John Maeda. March 27-29 Pacific Symphony.

March 30 Pacific Symphony. April 4 Cameron Carpenter.

April 10-12 Pacific Symphony. April 26 L.A. Philharmonic.

May 1-3 Pacific Symphony. May 8-12 Pacific Symphony.

May 15 Beethoven: The Finale. May 18 Pacific Chorale. May 27 L.A. Opera, Thais. Samueli Theater March 16 Philharmonia Chamber Players. April 5-6 Gingham Family, Fluff.

April 11-13 Webb & McGovern. April 26-27 Clown Gale LaJoye, Snowflake. May 2-3 Fred Hersch Trio. May 17-18 Lightwire Theatre, The Ugly Duckling. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787 Map J13 SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER March 2 Jupiter String Quartet, pianist Jon Nakamatsu. March 9 Stars of Beatlemania. March 14 Jason Vieaux, Yolanda Kondonassis. March 23 Pianist Vadym Kholodenko, Cliburn Competition gold medalist. March 28 L.A. Jazz Quartet.

April 5 Amy Hanaialii. April 11 Eric Alexander-Harry Allen Quintet. April 13 Umi Garrett. April 26 Violinist Midori.

April 27 Pacific Symphony. May 9 Branford Marsalis.

1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949.480.4000 Map G16 YOST THEATER March 21 Hopsin. March 22 Reservoir Burlesque: The Quentin Tarantino Burlesque Film Festival Parody. March 23 Nervo. 307 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana, 888.862.9573 Map H13

Sports ANGEL STADIUM March 31-April 2 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Seattle Mariners. April 11-13 Angels vs. New York Mets. April 14-16 Angels vs. Oakland Athletics. April 28-30 Angels vs. Cleveland Indians. May 2-4 Angels vs.

Texas Rangers. May 5-7 Angels vs. New York Yankees. May 15-18 Angels vs. Tampa Bay Rays. May 19-21 Angels vs.

Houston Astros. May 23-25 Angels vs. Kansas City Royals.

800 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.464.2901 Map I9 HONDA CENTER March 2 Anaheim Ducks vs. Carolina Hurricanes. March 5 Ducks vs. Montreal Canadiens. March 7 Ducks vs. Pittsburgh Penguins. March 10 Ducks vs.

Toronto Maple Leafs. March 13-15 Big West Basketball Tournament. March 18 Ducks vs. Washington Capitals. March 23 Ducks vs. Florida Panthers. March 27 2014 NCAA Men’s West Regional. March 29 2014 NCAA Men’s West Regional. March 31 Ducks vs. Winnipeg Jets. April 2 Ducks vs. Edmonton Oilers. April 4 Ducks vs. Nashville Predators.

April 5 L.A. KISS vs. Portland Thunder. April 9 Ducks vs. San Jose Sharks. April 12 KISS vs. Cleveland Gladiators. April 13 Ducks vs. Colorado Avalanche. April 26 KISS vs. San Jose Sabercats. May 3 KISS vs. Spokane Shock. May 10 Stars on Ice figure skating. May 25 KISS vs. Arizona Rattlers. 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2500 Map I11

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Attractions + Museums Attractions AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC One of the largest aquariums in the U.S.; highlights include Shark Lagoon, Lorikeet Forest and ethereal sea jellies. Daily 9 am6 pm. $14.95-$28.95, under 3 free. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, 562.590.3100 Map west of C1 BODIES THE EXHIBITION Actual full-body specimens and organs offer detailed views of the human form rarely seen outside an anatomy lab. $15.75-$19.75, under 3 free.

Adjacent Titanic show, separate admission. 7711 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 888.647.2789 Map G8 CAPTAIN DAVE’S DOLPHIN & WHALE SAFARI Dolphin and whale-watching excursions. Departures daily. $35-$65, under 3 free. 24440 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.488.2828 Map J16 CHRIST CATHEDRAL Formerly Crystal Cathedral.

Architect Philip Johnson’s glass cathedral, Richard Neutra’s Tower of Hope, Richard Meier’s International Center for Positive Thinking. Tours M-Sa 10 am-1 pm. Free. 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, 714.489.6100 Map J10 DANA WHARF SPORTFISHING Year-round fishing and whale-watching trips. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Point, 949.496.5794 Map K16 DISCOVERY SCIENCE CENTER Hands-on exhibits and live shows; Boeing Rocket Lab inside mammoth tilting cube. Through April 20 Animal Grossology. Daily 10 am-5 pm. $12.95-$15.95, under 3 free. 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.542.2823 Map G13 DISNEYLAND Mickey Mouse’s first theme park includes 55 attractions in eight lands, from Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln on Main Street, U.S.A., to Star Tours—the Adventure Continues in Tomorrowland. Call for hours.

Admission (includes all rides and attractions): $86$92, under 3 free. 1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.4565 Map I10 DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE Spectacular Pixar-inspired Cars Land and Buena Vista Street are the most recent additions. Soarin’ Over California; California Screamin’; Twilight Zone Tower of Terror; water show World of Color. Call for hours. Admission (includes all rides and attractions): $86-$92. 1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.4565 Map I10 DOWNTOWN DISNEY Twenty-acre pedestrian promenade adjacent to Disney parks offers dining, shopping, cinema and nightlife, including House of Blues and ESPN Zone. Non-gated, free admission. 1510-1590 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.4565 Map I10 FLIGHTDECK AIR COMBAT CENTER Aerial dogfights using very realistic F-16 fighter jet cockpit simulators. No experience necessary. Minimum age 11, height 4 feet 11.

Starts at $59. Tu-Su 11:30 am-8:30 pm. 1650 S. Sinclair, BP-Split_OCWhere-4.625x7.375.indd 1 Anaheim, 714.937.1511 Map I11 FULLERTON ARBORETUM County’s largest botanical garden, with 26 lush acres and more than 4,000 unusual plant species set amid ponds and streams. 8 am-4:30 pm. Free; $3 suggested donation.

1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, 657.278.3407 Map A3

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VISIT THE HOTEL CONCIERGE PROFESSIONAL FOR EXPERT ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE

K1 SPEED Indoor kart racing offers challenging track for speed enthusiasts. $20. 17221 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.250.0242; 1000 N. Edward Court, Anaheim, 714.632.6999 Map I14 and A3 KNOTT’S BERRY FARM More than 165 rides and attractions. Premier collection of coasters includes GhostRider and Xcelerator; Coast Rider is new. Call for hours and prices; under 3 free. 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.220.5200 Map G8

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Attractions + Museums MEDIEVAL TIMES Dinner theater show with knights, Lipizzaner stallions, falconry, four-course feast. Plus Medieval Torture Museum. $36.95-$59.95. 7662 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 866.543.9637 Map G8 OCEAN INSTITUTE Presentations aboard tall ship Pilgrim in Dana Point Harbor; blue-whale safaris. Sa-Su 10 am-3 pm; behind-the-scenes tour Th-F 3:30 pm. $4.50-$6.50, under 3 free. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274 Map J16 ORANGE COUNTY GREAT PARK Huge in-progress park. Tethered-balloon ride, $5-$10, under 6 free.

Carousel, $2. Farmers market, Su 10 am-2 pm. Near Interstate 5, Sand Canyon Avenue and Irvine Boulevard.

Perimeter Road, Irvine, 866.829.3829 Map D5 ORANGE COUNTY ZOO Rustic zoo; animals of the Southwestern United States. M-F 10 am-3:30 pm; Sa-Su 10 am-4:30 pm. $2, under 2 free. Parking $3-$5. Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, 714.973.6847 Map C5 PIRATE’S DINNER ADVENTURE Swordplay, pyrotechnics, comedy, romance aboard Spanish galleon replica. Call for hours. $39.95-$58.95, under 3 free.

7600 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.690.1497 Map G8 QUEEN MARY SHIP AND SEAPORT Historic ocean liner—bigger than the Titanic!—berthed in Long Beach Harbor. Ongoing Diana: Legacy of a Princess. Shops, dining, art deco lounge; Russian Foxtrot Submarine adjacent. Self-guided/guided tours, M-Th 10 am-6 pm, F-Su 10 am-7 pm. $13.95-$24.95, under 5 free. 1126 Queens Hwy., Long Beach, 562.435.3511 Map northwest of C1 RICHARD NIXON PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY & MUSEUM Provocative exhibits at Nixon birthplace; presidential helicopter, presidential tapes and a Watergate gallery. Through March 2. News to History: Selections From the Briscoe Center. Garden tours on Saturdays.

M-Sa 10 am-5 pm; Su 11 am-5 pm. $4.75-$11.95, 6 and under free. 18001 Yorba Linda Blvd., Yorba Linda, 714.993.5075 Map A4 SAFARI PARK (Formerly Wild Animal Park) 1,800acre wildlife preserve with vast enclosures resembling African and Asian plains. $46; children 3-11 $36; kids 2 and under free. Cars $10-15. Open daily, 9 am-5 pm; extended hours on holidays. 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, 760.747.8702 Map southeast of F6 SAN DIEGO ZOO Renowned zoo has 4,000 rare and endangered animals in state-of-the-art environments. $46; 3-11 $36; 2 and under free. Free parking.

Open daily, call for hours. 2920 Zoo Drive, Balboa Park, 619.231.1515 Map southeast of F6 SANTA ANA ZOO Modest, idyllic zoo. Tierra de las Pampas exhibit features giant anteaters and greater rheas. New rare baby colobus and crested capuchin monkeys. Daily, 10 am-4 pm. $7-$10, under 3 free.

1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana, 714.836.4000 Map H14 SHERMAN LIBRARY & GARDENS Ten gardens showcase intimate botanical collection. Library research center. Daily 10:30 am-4 pm. Library open T-Th 9 am-4:30 pm. $1-$3, under 12 free. Free on Mondays. 2647 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.673.2261 Map M16 THRILL IT FUN CENTER New indoor family-fun center features laser tag, rock climbing walls, ropes course and mechanical bull. Open M-Th 1-9 pm; F 1-11 pm; Sa 10 am-11 pm; Su 10 am-8 pm. The Outlets at Orange, 20 City Blvd. West, Orange, 714.937.1600 Map J11 TITANIC—THE EXPERIENCE View artifacts from the wreck of the “ship of dreams,” experience sights and sounds of its voyage 101 years ago. $15.75-$19.75, under 3 free. Adjacent Bodies show, separate admission. Open M-Th 10 am-7 pm; F-Sa 10 am-8 pm; Su 10 am-6 pm.

7711 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 888.647.2789 Map G8

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Attractions + Museums VANS SKATEPARK Skateboard mecca has combi pool, open street course and mini-ramps; Vans store is adjacent. Daily 10 am-10 pm. $12 weekdays; $15 weekends. 20 City Blvd. West No. 2, Orange, 714.769.3800 Map J11

Museums BOWERS KIDSEUM Children’s museum near Bowers Museum; focus on ethnic arts and culture. F-Su 10 am-4 pm. $6, under 2 free. 1802 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.480.1520 Map G13 BOWERS MUSEUM Dedicated to preservation and exhibition of world cultural arts plus displays with a California focus. Through March 15 China’s Lost Civilization: The Mystery of Sanxingdui. Opening March 22 Soulful Creatures: Animal Mummies in Ancient Egypt. Through March 23 Revolution to Romanticism: Freedom of Expression in 19th Century European Painting. Opening April 12 The Lure of Chinatown: Painting California’s Chinese Communities. Opening April 26 Chuck Jones: Drawn From the Far Side. Through May 18 Beethoven: The Late Great.

Tu-Su 10 am-4 pm. $10-$15, under 12 free. Separate admission for some exhibits. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.567.3600 Map G13 FULLERTON MUSEUM CENTER Ongoing Lowdown on the Uproar: Leo’s Electric Basses. Through April 13 Memories of WWII: Photographs From the Archives of the Associated Press. Opening May 3 Melancholy Menagerie: A Gaze Into the World of Big Eyes. Tu-Su noon-4 pm; Th noon-8 pm. $1-$4, under 6 free. 301 N. Pomona Ave., Fullerton, 714.738.6545 Map A3 HUNTINGTON BEACH INTERNATIONAL SURFING MUSEUM Board culture spotlights legend Duke Kahanamoku, classic surfboards and original Endless Summer film. Su-M noon-5 pm; Tu until 9 pm; W-F until 7 pm; Sa 11 am-7 pm. Free. 411 Olive Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.960.3483 Map N8 IRVINE MUSEUM California Impressionism within an office building. Tu-Sa 11 am-5 pm. $5. 18881 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.476.2565 Map J14 LAGUNA ART MUSEUM California Impressionism and contemporary cultural art. Continuing Wayne Thiebaud: American Memories, Expose: Dana Harel and Travels With Millard Sheets, 1950-1986. F-Tu 11 am-5 pm; Th 11 until 9 pm. $5-$7, under 12 free. 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, 949.494.8971 Map H15 LYON AIR MUSEUM Some of the world’s rarest operational 20th-century aircraft and other historical vehicles; on the perimeter of John Wayne Airport. Daily 10 am-4 pm. $6-$12, under 5 free. 19300 Ike Jones Drive, Santa Ana, 714.210.4585 Map J13 MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO Exhibits at the jewel of the California missions, the county’s birthplace, founded in 1776. Swallows Walk and Talk Tour, daily 1 pm. Continuing Camposanto: A Historical Tribute to the Mission Cemetery, Native American Museum and Interpretive Room; Mission Treasures: Historical Collection Revealed Exhibit. Digital audio tour free with admission. Daily 9 am-5 pm. $6-$9, under 3 free. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300 Map I17 MUCKENTHALER CULTURAL CENTER Displays, often design-oriented, in historic North County mansion. Through April 13 Hanji: Contemporary Korean Paper Art. Opening May 1 Turistas en Mexico: Mexican Postcards From the Early 20th Century. W-Su noon-4 pm; Th noon-9 pm. Free. 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton, 714.738.6595 Map A3 MUZEO In historic Carnegie Library building. Through April 4 Con Safos (With Respect): The Art and Culture of Urban Chirography. Daily 10 am-5 pm. $6-$10. Admission fees, hours subject to change by exhibition. 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.956.8936 Map H10

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Shopping NEWPORT HARBOR NAUTICAL MUSEUM Ongoing Sea of Adventure, Extraordinary People. M-Th 11 am-4:30 pm, F-Sa until 6 pm, Su until 5 pm. $3-$5, under 4 free.

600 E. Bay Ave., Newport Beach, 949.675.8915 Map N14 ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART Focus on California modern and contemporary art. Through March 9 California Landscape Into Abstraction. Opening April 13 Sarkisian & Sarkisian and Time Capsule: Recently Acquired Works From the 1970s and 1980s. W-Su 11 am-5 pm; Th until 8 pm. $10-$12, under 12 free. 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, 949.759.1122 Map L15

Shopping Destinations ANAHEIM GARDENWALK Retail, entertainment and dining destination near Disneyland. Stores include Lush Cosmetics, Skechers, O’Neill, Harley-Davidson of Anaheim; some seats at 14-plex UltraLuxe cinema feature film-synced motion technology. 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.635.7410 Map I10 ANAHEIM PACKING DISTRICT Hip shopping at Center Street Promenade. Nearby 1920s Packard showroom features Umami Burger and Anaheim Brewery.

Historic citrus packing building housing 20 foodie vendors opens presently. Center Street and Anaheim Boulevard, Anaheim, 714.966.6661 Map H10 BELLA TERRA Striking Italian-themed open-air center; Whole Foods Market, REI outdoor-sports specialist and 20-screen cinema. Lorna Jane, Casey’s Cupcakes and Solita for tacos and margaritas are new. 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.897.2534 Map C2 THE CAMP Green-oriented enclave for outdoors enthusiasts includes eco-department store SEED People’s Market and a host of intriguing dining options.

2937-2981 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa Map J13 CORONA DEL MAR PLAZA Boutiques include Gail Jewelers, Jack’s Surfboards and Sienna Brown. Among other draws are Savory Spice Shop and new Sprinkles Ice Cream. 800-984 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, 949.720.2689 Map M15 CRYSTAL COVE SHOPPING CENTER Ocean views amid Tuscan setting. Upscale boutiques, fine dining and home stores; restaurants Settebello Pizzeria Napoletana and Babette’s open presently. 7845-8085 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.720.2689 Map M17 THE DISTRICT AT TUSTIN LEGACY One-millionsquare-foot retail, entertainment and dining destination.

Boutiques include Madison Bleu and Ulta Cosmetics; Whole Foods Market; Bowlmor bowling lounge. Union Market opens presently. Jamboree Road and Barranca Parkway, Tustin, 714.259.0290 Map J14 DOWNTOWN DISNEY Twenty-acre complex includes House of Blues, Build-A-Bear, Studio Disney 365 and Ridemakerz. 1510-1590 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.300.7800 (See Attractions.) Map I10 FASHION ISLAND Elegant open-air center with anchors Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom; Halston Heritage, Babakul, Seafolly for swim, and Skin Laundry for quickie facials, are new. 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.2000 Map L15 5 POINTS PLAZA Neighborhood center offers Wet Seal, Big 5 Sporting Goods, Charming Charlie jewelry, Cloudmover Day Spa and Hashigo Sushi. The dog-friendly local favorite has a barking lot! 18593 Main St., Huntington Beach, 714.841.0036 Map D2 IRVINE SPECTRUM CENTER Moorish-themed entertainment-retail center includes nation’s most visited movie complex, anchors Nordstrom and Macy’s and a bevy of new restaurants. Blackheart, Brandy Melville and the Melt are new. Giant Ferris wheel visible from freeways. 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.753.5180 Map D5

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Golf THE LAB Indoor-outdoor venue with youth-skewed boutiques, gallery and salon. Men’s store Klein Epstein & Parker and art/design bookstore As Issued are new.

Dining includes Zipangu, Gypsy Den and Habana. 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.966.6660 Map J13 THE OUTLETS AT ORANGE Calvin Klein joins Perry Ellis and Tommy Hilfiger outlets, Nordstrom Rack, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th and American Eagle Outfitters. Vans Skatepark for indoor boarding. Formerly known as the Block at Orange.

20 City Blvd. W., Orange, 714.769.4000 Map J11 SOUTH COAST COLLECTION Center of showrooms and creative studios includes Design Within Reach for midcentury modern, Surfas Culinary District and Arc restaurant. OC Mix features 30-plus vendors including Deer Lovely boutique, Portola Coffee Lab, Seventh Tea Bar, the Cheese Shop and Shuck Oyster Bar. 3303-3323 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.333.0893 Map J12 SOUTH COAST PLAZA “The Ultimate Shopping Experience” is a state tourist destination. Marquee retailers include Christian Louboutin and Prada; Lanvin, Brioni, Berluti and Diptyque are new. Macy’s Home Store and Crate & Barrel anchor Bear Street wing. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 800.782.8888 Map J13

Golf Courses ANAHEIM HILLS GOLF COURSE “The Hills.” Fine golf value, with 18 holes set amid California terrain with vistas, valleys, stream, oaks, sycamores. M-Th $50, F $57, Sa-Su $68. Includes cart and use of GPS system. 6501 E. Nohl Ranch Road, Anaheim, 714.998.3041 Map B5 DAD MILLER GOLF COURSE Tiger Woods’ home course during high school; for beginning to intermediate golfers. M-Th $28, F $35, Sa-Su $40. 430 N. Gilbert St., Anaheim, 714.765.3481 Map G8 MONARCH BEACH GOLF LINKS Ocean views abound at 18-hole course at St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort. M-Th $185, F-Su $210. Includes cart with GPS system. Twilight rates available. 50 Monarch Beach Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.8247 Map J16 NEWPORT BEACH GOLF COURSE Contoured executive course offers night play. $13-$27. 3100 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach, 949.852.8681 Map M15 PELICAN HILL GOLF CLUB Two gorgeous courses reopened after a two-year renovation as part of the sumptuous Resort at Pelican Hill; coastal views from virtually every hole. $280 daily. 22701 Pelican Hill Road S., Newport Coast, 877.735.4226 Map L17 STRAWBERRY FARMS GOLF CLUB Eighteenhole course; rolling greens, picturesque canyon, wetland vistas, county’s longest hole. M-Th $110, F-Su $160. 11 Strawberry Farms Road, Irvine, 949.551.1811 Map D4 TUSTIN RANCH GOLF CLUB Upscale, resort-style course designed by Ted Robinson has challenging greens, palm trees and lakes. O.C.’s only public course with private caddie service. M-Th $110, F $130, Sa-Su $160. 12442 Tustin Ranch Road, Tustin, 714.730.1611 Map C5

Active Outdoors AIR COMBAT USA Dogfight training in actual highperformance small planes. Instructors handle takeoff and landing, riders have control in the air. Fullerton Municipal Airport, 3815 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, 800.522.7590 Map A2 BALBOA BOAT RENTALS AND PARASAIL Panoramic views of Newport Beach and harbor while you’re aloft; choice of altitudes. Boat, kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals, too. Parasailing $65-$75. 510 E. Edgewater, Balboa, 949.673.7200 Map N15

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Beaches + Parks CHINA COVE KAYAK ADVENTURES Customized kayak tours around Newport Bay. Bicycle adventures, too.

Hidden beach Jeep and kayak tour is new. 949.632.4694, chinacovekayakadventures.com CLINT CARROLL SURF SCHOOL Son of surf great Corky Carroll offers instruction at all levels. Beach transport and equipment provided. Newport Cruisers Bike Rental Shop, 111 23rd St., Newport Beach, 949.355.7285 Map N15 COUNTRY TRAILS AND RIDING SCHOOL Guided horseback rides among massive coast live oaks and California sycamores. Tu-Su. Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, 714.538.5860, ctriding.com Map C5 JETPACK AMERICA New water-propelled-jet-pack adventure in (and over, of course!) Newport Harbor. $159-$549. 2600 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 888.553.6471 Map N13 PEDEGO ELECTRIC BIKES Electric bike rentals $14 per hour with two-hour minimum or $50 per day. Tour three piers and Newport Harbor for $69. 301 Fifth St., Huntington Beach, 714.465.2782; 2515 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.612.7989; 34155 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.488.0696; 1065 Pacific Coast Hwy., Seal Beach, 562.296.5782 Map N9, M16, J16, C1 SKYTHRILLS Aerobatics in biplanes. Receive instruction, assume control of the aircraft, execute maneuvers such as a loop, roll, spin or inverted pass over the coast—no experience necessary! Or gentler flights in open-cockpit 1930s biplane. Rides videotaped and include DVD. 230 Dale Place, Fullerton, 866.484.7455 Map A2

Beaches + Parks BALBOA BEACH Pristine sunning and swimming beach.

All amenities. Metered parking. Along Balboa Boulevard at Balboa Pier, Newport Beach, 949.673.3371 Map N14 CORONA DEL MAR STATE BEACH Large, sandy beach—with volleyball—below beautiful homes. Lifeguards, all amenities, fire pits. Waveless cove adjacent.

Fee for parking. At Ocean Boulevard and Marguerite Avenue, Corona del Mar, 949.644.3151 Map M16 CRYSTAL COVE STATE PARK Hiking and mountain biking trails, sandy coves and steep cliffs. Historic district with beach cottages and Beachcomber café. Irvine Coast Marine Life Refuge offshore. Lifeguards, restrooms. Fee for parking. Along East Coast Highway between Laguna Beach and Corona del Mar, 949.494.3539 Map E4 DOHENY STATE BEACH Popular swimming beach, interpretive center. All amenities, fire pits. Fee for parking. Dana Point Harbor, along Del Obispo and Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point, 949.496.6172 Map K17

Come discover the beauty of Anaheim Hills Golf Course. We

welcome visitors to enjoy the incredible value of daily tee times and pristine course conditions – all nestled right in the heart of Orange County, located just minutes from Disneyland.

Escape today and take advantage of our FREE Rental Club Offer, New Nike VRS Series Rental Golf Clubs, for a savings of $30.00!

Play like the pros, or at least test drive the clubs they use. It’s on us!

To redeem offer, book your round through your hotel concierge. www.AnaheimHillsGC.com | Phone (714) 998-3041 Anaheim Hills Golf Course | 6501 Nohl Ranch Road | Anaheim, CA

HUNTINGTON CITY BEACH Wide, sandy beach; amenities include fire pits. Fee for parking. Along Pacific Coast Highway between Beach Boulevard and Main Street, Huntington Beach, 714.536.5281 Map N9 HUNTINGTON STATE BEACH Expansive, sandy beach; amenities include fire pits. Bolsa Chica Wetlands are across the highway. Fee for parking. Along Pacific Coast Highway between Santa Ana River and Main Street, Huntington Beach, 714.536.1454 Map N10 MAIN BEACH Large beach close to shops and restaurants offers great people-watching, basketball, volleyball, chess. All amenities. Metered parking. At Broadway and Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 714.834.2400 Map F5 NEWPORT BEACH MUNICIPAL BEACH Popular golden strand with many fine surfing spots. All amenities, including fire pits. Metered parking. Along Oceanfront at Newport Pier, Newport Beach, 949.673.3371 Map N13 NEWPORT DUNES RESORT Beach at RV park on the Back Bay has full-time lifeguards, giant inflatable in-water

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Nightlife novelties (e.g., teeter-totter, climbing apparatus) and various water vessels for rent. Segway tours. 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.DUNE Map M14 SALT CREEK COUNTY BEACH Long, pristine stretch below the Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. Beautiful, grassy Bluff Park with basketball court. All amenities. Pay-anddisplay parking $1/hour. Off Ritz-Carlton Drive, 33333 S. Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.923.2280 Map J16 VICTORIA BEACH Laguna’s prettiest beach has tower fit for Rapunzel and man-made, high-tide swimming pool circa 1920. Metered parking. Victoria Street off Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 714.834.2400 Map H15 THE WEDGE World-renowned bodysurfing and bodyboarding spot. The break is dangerous; watch unless you’re an expert. Free parking lot. West Jetty View Park, tip of Balboa Peninsula, end of Channel Road, Newport Beach, 949.644.3309 Map N16

Wilderness Parks LAGUNA COAST WILDERNESS PARK Sycamoreshaded canyons and high ridges offering spectacular ocean views and hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Nature center serves as a gateway to 7,000-acre natural habitat. 18751 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.923.2235 Map G15 UPPER NEWPORT BAY NATURE PRESERVE At Newport Back Bay with vistas of the coastal wetlands.

One of the finest birding sites in North America; several endangered species make this home. Interpretive center is open Tu-Su, 10 am-4 pm. 2301 University Drive, Newport Beach, 949.923.2290 Map K13

Nightlife BAMBÚ Lounge for light dining or nightcap; live entertainment. Fairmont Newport Beach, 4500 MacArthur Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.476.2001 Map K14 BOWLMOR Hip, state-of-the-art, glow-in-the-dark bowling lounge with sports bar and global cuisine. The District at Tustin Legacy, 2405 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.2695; Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.783.2810 Maps J14, I10 DUKE’S PLACE Live music and dancing at classy lounge with bay views. Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 888.445.7153 Map N13 HEAT ULTRA LOUNGE Vegas-style club near Disneyland has a state-of-the-art sound system and an indoor smoking lounge. Th-Sa. Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.776.4328 Map I10 HOPSCOTCH The county’s best whiskey list, 75 craft beers, cocktails, creative and slow-cooked cuisine inside 1918 Pacific Railway Station. Two patios, one for cigars.

Flat-screens air vintage westerns and sports. 136 E. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, 714.871.2222 Map B3 HOUSE OF BLUES Touring bands, dancing and soul food. Filled with outsider art. Rafter-raising gospel brunch on Sundays. Call for schedule. Downtown Disney, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.778.2583 Map I10 IRVINE IMPROV Top comedy. Two-item minimum (food or drink). Irvine Spectrum Center, 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.854.5455 Map D5 LUCKY STRIKE LANES Retro-cool bowling lounge with DJ. The Block at Orange, 20 City Blvd. West, Orange, 714.937.5263 Map J11 MARINE ROOM TAVERN Laid-back locals bar with pool table offers live blues and rock on weekends. Open until 1 am Su-Th, until 2 am F-Sa. 214 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.494.3027 Map H15

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Tours +Transport MESA Small plates and cocktails at hip and stylish lounge with retractable glass roof. Open until 2 am Tu-Sa. The Camp, 725 Baker St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.6700 Map J13 MULDOON’S DUBLIN PUB Cozy spot with courtyard offers fun Irish-themed events in the Celtic Bar. 202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.4110 Map L15 PIE SOCIETY New. Slick speakeasy hidden behind Pitfire Pizza offers innovative cocktails and superb snacks—the chef is from Venice Beach’s Superba Snack Bar. 353 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.313.6335 Map N12 ROOFTOP LOUNGE Hot spot for sunset cocktails on wraparound patio with panoramic coastal views atop La Casa del Camino hotel. 1289 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.497.2446 Map I15 STEAMERS CAFE Premier jazz spot, the county’s best. 138 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, 714.871.8800 Map B3 SUTRA LOUNGE Club with cool decor, musical acts and big-name deejays. Open Th-Sa. The Triangle, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.722.7103 Map K12 TILTED KILT PUB & EATERY Celtic-themed pub with servers in plaid mini-kilts and sports on 48 screens.

1625 W. Katella Ave., Orange 714.633.5458 Maps I11 WILD GOOSE New and popular. Cocktails (and barrelaged cocktails!), seasonal beers, creative sausages and burgers amid hunt-lodge-saloon decor. 436 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.722.9453 Map N12

Surf Today 949.355.7285

Learn to Surf

or Reconnect Your Surfing Skills

ClintCarrollSurf.com Summer Classes, 1-on-1, Groups, Parties, You Name It!

World Class Instruction for ALL AGES! Clint Carroll, son of Surf Legend Corky Carroll, and his team of World Class Instructors will have you surfing the first day. Our Surfing Family has over 50 years of experience!

Clint Carroll Surf School & SUP Lessons

Private one-on-one surf lessons and group surf lessons for all ages and levels.

All surf lesson packages include:

Surf instructions and hands on guidance with Clint Carroll and his experienced team of world-class surf instructors.

All equipment is provided: surfboard, wetsuit & leash.

The Surf School is conveniently located only one block from the beach in world famous Newport Beach, California Transportation: Clint Carroll Surf School will provide shuttle service at your hotel 1/2 hour prior to your scheduled lesson.

Please bring swim wear and towel.

WINE LAB Wine/cheese tasting room and store at hip outdoors-themed center. Open Tu-Su. The Camp, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.905.9521 Map J13 YOST THEATER Historical landmark now plays host to popular musical acts and deejays. Open daily. 307 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana, 888.862.9573 Map H13

Tours + Transport ADVENTURES AT SEA Luxury yachts for groups and special occasions. 3101 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.650.2412 Map N13 AMTRAK Train service within the county and to destinations throughout California daily. There are stops in Anaheim, Fullerton, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano and Santa Ana. 800.USA.RAIL, amtrak.com ANAHEIM RESORT TRANSPORTATION (ART) Shuttles cover 19 routes with transfers to Disneyland, Anaheim GardenWalk and Anaheim Convention Center.

Purchase passes online, at Amtrak station and select hotels. 866.364.ARTS, rideart.org BEST CHAUFFEURED WORLDWIDE Chauffeured vehicles. 7472 Warner Ave., Huntington Beach, 866.323.2378; 714.375.9128 Map C2 BEVERLY HILLS RENT-A-CAR Luxury and exotic rentals; pickup service. 3939 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.250.4386; 800.258.5353 Map L13 CALIFORNIA YELLOW CAB Transportation in sedans, town cars, minivans to/from airports, attractions, restaurants, nightlife, shopping. 877.935.5692 CATALINA EXPRESS Round trip from Dana Point Harbor and Long Beach to Catalina Island. Dana Wharf Sportfishing, 34675 Golden Lantern, Dana Harbor; 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach, 800.481.3470 Map K16, northwest of C1

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Tours +Transport CATALINA FLYER Fastest boat from Orange County to Catalina Island: 75 minutes. 500-passenger, triple-decker catamaran departs from the historic Balboa Pavilion.

Call for schedule. $51-$68, $4 children 2 and under.

400 Main St., Newport Beach, 800.830.7744 Map N15 CITY PASS Pass includes discounted admission to Disney theme parks and admission to other parks in L.A. and San Diego counties. Purchase online or at attractions. $269-$306, under 3 free. 888.330.5008, citypass.com DANA WHARF SPORTFISHING Sportfishing, 82-foot schooner yacht for charter and whale-watching expeditions. Corporate parties, private fishing cruises. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, 800.979.3370, danawharf.com Map K16 DAVEY’S LOCKER Year-round whale-watching, deep-sea sportfishing, fishing charters and boat rentals at Balboa Pavilion. 3400 Main St., Newport Beach, 949.673.1434, daveyslocker.com Map N15 ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR Daily car rentals with some 25 locations throughout Orange County. Pickup service available. 888.484.HOTEL, enterprise.com EXECUCAR Luxury sedan service. Sedan and SUV, flat rates, special group services, frequent-flier points and miles with select airlines. 800.410.4444, execucar.com GONDOLA ADVENTURES Romantic gondola cruises through Newport Harbor canals. 3101 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.646.2067; 888.446.6365 Map N13 HAVE FUN TOURS Sightseeing tours of Southern California’s highlights from San Diego to Los Angeles. Adults $99, children 3-12 $50. 714.658.2291, havefuntours.com HORNBLOWER CRUISES F-Sa dinner-dance cruises, Sa-Su champagne brunch. Mariner’s Mile Marina, 2431 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.646.0155 Map M13 JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT Gateway to O.C., vastly superior to LAX in ambience and ease of arrival and departure. Art exhibits, “Red coat” ambassadors, free Wi-Fi. Ticket counters open at 5 am. 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, 949.252.5200, ocair.com METROLINK Train system connects to San Diego, Riverside and Los Angeles; stops in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, Irvine, Tustin, Santa Ana, Orange, Anaheim, Fullerton and Buena Park. $10 Metrolink Weekend Pass on Metrolink rails and Southern California public transportation F 7 pmSu 11:59 pm. 800.371.5465, metrolinktrains.com OCTA Orange County Transportation Authority bus system. $2; day pass $5, 60 cents for 65 and older, under 5 free. Day pass for buses and Metrolink trains $7, $6 for seniors/disabled. Exact change. 714.560.6282, octa.net

714 TICKETS Tickets to sporting events, theater shows and concerts, opposite the Honda Center. Local delivery available. 2620 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.TICKETS (714.842.5387), 714tickets.com Map I11 SUPERSHUTTLE Transportation to and from all SoCal airports around the clock. Groups and charters welcome.

310.222.5500; 800.BLUE.VAN, supershuttle.com TMZ HOLLYWOOD TOUR Bus with state-of-the-art audio/video explores celebrity haunts and scandal sites. $53-$63. Starline Tours, 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 855.486.9868

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Applies to Economy through SUV size vehicles reserved in advance for rentals up to 30 days at participating Southern California locations. Participating locations are available by calling 1 800 rent-a-car. Sorry, this offer is not valid at airport locations. Rates are as posted at time of reservation at enterprise.com or by calling 1 800 rent-a-car. Weekly rates may apply depending on length of rental or for longer rental needs. Rental must end by December 31, 2014. Offer may not be used with other coupons, offers or discounted rates. Vehicles are subject to availability. Standard rental qualifications apply. Offer does not apply to taxes, surcharges, recovery fees, and optional products and services including damage waiver at $14.99 or less per day. Check your auto insurance policy and/or credit card agreement for rental vehicle coverage. Other restrictions, including holiday and blackout dates, may apply. Pick-up and drop-off service is subject to geographic and other restrictions. Void where prohibited. ©2013 Enterprise Rent-A-Car. E01833 10.13 JM

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WHERE 30 THINGS WE LOVE / orange

county 5 THINGS I LOVE

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Terry Dwyer, president/COO of Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, O.C.’s go-to spot for music and dance.

⁄1⁄ Harbor House Café, Dana Point

The porchetta sandwich, and craft sodas, at C4 Deli: The Cure for the Common in Santa Ana. p. 45 Hole No. 12, the county’s longest, at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine. p. 56 New contemporary art and design bookstore As Issued at the Lab in Costa Mesa. p. 56 3x30 Yoga Studio at the Camp in Costa Mesa.

714.557. 2257

30 Luxury men’s-shoe boutique Berluti at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. 714.641.3582

New Blushington makeup and beauty lounge at Fashion Island. 949.640.8800

New Casey’s Cupcakes at Bella Terra, Huntington Beach.

657.400.9097

Edgy shows at Orange County Center for Contemporary Art in Santa Ana. 714.667.1517

Titanic—the Experience in Buena Park. p. 53

The virtual courses at Orange County Indoor Golf in Irvine. 949.354.4653

The fashion design classes at Fashion Camp: Create, Design, Sew at the District at Tustin Legacy. 949.478.0846

The Topolo house margarita at new Red O at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. p. 41

Puck’s Tavern, new from Wolfgang Puck, open during games at the Honda Center in Anaheim. 714.704.2992

The chili tofu taco at new Solita, at Bella Terra in Huntington Beach. p. 41

Watching sports near the Honda Center at Tilted Kilt in Orange. p. 34

California Impressionism at Irvine Museum in Irvine. p. 54 Bowers Kidseum, cultural arts for kids near Bowers Museum in Santa Ana. p. 54

The nighttime HB2Newport party bus (Huntington BeachNewport Peninsula-The Triangle in Costa Mesa). 714.737.0388

The watches at JaegerLeCoultre at South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa. 714.955.4048

A fun spot for breakfast to kick off the weekend. The casual diner atmosphere and delicious comfort food is why I return.

I’m a fan of the vintage movie posters. 949.496.9270

⁄2⁄ Crystal Cove State Park This is a quintessential outdoor O.C. experience. The stunning views and wide, open spaces make for an unforgettable day of hiking. p. 57

⁄3⁄ Andrea Ristorante, Newport Coast

Curated cocktail ware at The Mixing Glass, new at OC MIx in Costa Mesa. 714.975.9952

The ambience, outstanding food and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean make for a spectacular dinner experience, especially at sunset. p. 38

New Jennifer Joyce Ceramic Arts studio in San Clemente, 949.300.8200

⁄4⁄ Claire Trevor School of the Arts, UC Irvine

New Barnoa Wine Bar at Talega Village Center in San Clemente. 949.388.4378

Bang Bang Shrimp at new Bonefish Grill in Tustin. p. 42

The Champagne Bingy, with limoncello sorbet and red-wine sauce, at SeaLegs Wine Bar in Huntington Beach. p. 35

New Kendra Scott jewelry at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. 949.258.9285

Lobster rolls at Slapfish in Huntington Beach. p. 43

Bardot boutique in Newport Beach. 949.515.2710

American Vintage boutique in Huntington Beach.

714.969.9670

New See Eyewear at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. 949.629.9099

The M Bars at Michelle Haut Chocolat, new at the OC Mix. 949.630.5886

This outstanding arts center presents great productions of music, theater, dance and art shows and also educates future generations of artists.

949.824.2787, arts.uci.edu

⁄5⁄ The OC Mix, Costa Mesa There’s a lot to love. With each visit, it seems a new and even more fantastic store has opened. I like Shuck Oyster Bar and Saturday’s farmers market.

Before I do anything, I stop at Portola Coffee Lab. p. 56

DWYER, STEVE DAWSON

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