SCP Taste 2022

south coast plaza dines

Volume 41 2022 Issue | Lee Healy, Editor

Discover fresh flavors from SCP's premier chefs

SIX NEW RESTAURANTS

The newest dining experiences at South Coast Plaza

PRIX FIXE LUNCHES

Five celebrated venues offering three-course midday menus

THE ART OF PRE-THEATER DINING

Convenient pre-theater dining options

THE ARTS

Arts partners and performances RESTAURANT AMENITIES

Listing of dining details

CONCIERGE AND SERVICES

South Coast Plaza concierge and attractions

Wild California Spiny Lobster,

six new RESTAURANTS

BY ANNE MARIE PANORINGAN AND JENN TANAKA

South Coast Plaza’s dining collection is advancing to the next level with the recent and pending arrival of six independent restaurants. From crepes to creative cocktails to caviar, get acquainted with our newest stars.

MOULIN

Conveniently located on Garden Terrace, MOULIN is a welcome oasis for shoppers. Freshly baked baguettes, sandwiches, made-to-order crepes and salads are perfect for al fresco dining. Click here for menu.

PETROSSIAN AT TIFFANY

Tucked into the flagship Tiffany & Co., Petrossian at Tiffany is an ode to opulence and a natural pairing of the iconic jewelry brand. Petrossian’s exquisite caviar is showcased through executive chef Carlos Cabrera’s French-influenced offerings. Click here for reservations.

POPULAIRE MODERN BISTRO

Michelin-lauded chef Ross Pangilinan follows the success of his first South Coast Plaza restaurant, Terrace by Mix Mix, by collaborating with his longtime pal, chef Nicholas Weber. At Populaire, found in the Saks Fifth Avenue wing, their fine dining background has led to Parisian bistro dishes that come alive with Californian ingredients. Click here for menu and reservations.

MIÀN

James Beard Award-nominated chef Tony Xu of Chengdu Taste and his partners have debuted at South Coast Plaza with an OC exclusive. EATER declared MIÀN “one of Los Angeles’s best — and spiciest — noodle restaurants.” Beer, wine and tea drinks complement the spicy cuisine. Click here for menu.

TABLEAU KITCHEN AND BAR

Chef John Park and restaurateur Ed Lee opened their new concept, Tableau Kitchen and Bar, last winter in the Macy’s Home Store wing. The popular brunch destination showcases Park’s inventive palate with dishes such as Jasmine milk tea French toast and Greek yogurt parfait with mandarin granita. Click here for menu and reservations.

CALÓ KITCHEN + TEQUILA

Restaurateur Clemente Heredia's southof-the-border cuisine in a contemporary setting is on track to debut at SCP this winter. Caló Kitchen + Tequila's forthcoming menu joins traditional tastes alongside iterations of modern Mexican. Entrées vary from the family recipe for crispy carnitas to Chilean seabass in Veracruz sauce. A world-class selection of tequilas is perfect for sipping solo and serves as the basis of creative margaritas and Mexico-inspired cocktails. Opening in 2023.

BY GRETCHEN KURZ

Some days, the world is a lot. Making a brief retreat is irresistible. Somewhere chill, dusky, low volume. That cushy corner where the frosty martini arrives quickly from a server who reads your mind. The Capital Grille is acclaimed for such spoiling of guests with next-level hospitality and an artfully prepared menu.

Stellar steaks, meticulously dry-aged and butchered on-site, may be an increasingly scarce luxury, but here they’re a house signature. Bold beef flavors and divine texture are perfectly showcased by the popular bone-in dry aged Kona crusted NY strip with shallot butter. Renowned for excep tional ingredients, feasts here often open with top-grade seafood — say a luscious jumbo shrimp cocktail or velvety lobster bisque. Dishes get masterful support from an acclaimed wine collection of coveted bottles and a polished team who deliver an impeccable experience worth repeating.

prix fixe lunches

When Chefs Do the Ordering

Follow the lead of culinary insiders — don’t wait for dinner to indulge in first-class, chef-designed menus when you can treat yourself to a prix fixe lunch. These five celebrated venues offer of-the-moment daytime menus perfect for that special meet-up or solo office escape.

Populaire Modern Bistro

The table d’hôte menu thoughtfully created by chef Nick Weber gives choices in the first and second course; dessert is often a luscious crème caramel.

Monday–Friday, 11am–3pm

Knife Pleat

Michelin star chef Tony Esnault showcases a beautiful menu du jour with seasonal touches and generous portions. Pastry chef Germain Biotteau is a master of his craft, as reflected in the fine dessert offering.

Tuesday–Friday, 11:30am–1:45pm

Terrace by Mix Mix

Steal away to the tropical terrace and partake of chef Ross Pangilinan’s inventive express lunch, with three varied choices in both the first and main courses. Finish with artisan sorbet or ice cream.

Monday–Friday, 11am–3pm

Vaca

Chef de cuisine Edward Pak’s weekly exercise in creativity is composing the three-course express lunch. Expect the unexpected with bold dishes full of flavor.

Tuesday–Friday, 11am–2:45pm

Hamamori Restaurant & Sushi Bar

Acclaimed sushi master James Hamamori crowns the three-course executive sushi lunch with his signature sushi gems — each work of art is uniquely sauced and garnished.

Daily, 11:30am–2pm

Kurobuta

Long

Crispy Fish Taco, Enchilada Entrée, Classic

the art of PRE-THEATER DINING

BY BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

Leatherby’s

Pre-theater dining foreshadows the excitement of the show itself — curtain-raisers for the night, as it were.

The best is on the lighter side in anticipation of the evening that awaits. These restaurants are minutes from the theaters; savvy diners valet park and take a quick stroll to their venue destination. Discover the best that pre-theater dining has to offer and make an evening at the theater even more memorable at Water Grill, Vaca, Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge, Costa Contemporary Kitchen, and Outpost Kitchen

SCFTA.ORG | 714.556.2787

Hamilton

September 28–October 16, 2022

Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan

October 26, 2022

BODYTRAFFIC November 3, 2022

Moulin Rouge! The Musical November 9–27, 2022

Mannheim Steamroller

Christmas December 4, 2022

American Ballet Theatre: The Nutcracker December 9–18, 2022

Alton Brown December 20, 2022

Johnny Mathis Christmas December 23, 2022

To Kill a Mockingbird December 27, 2022–January 8, 2023

Pink Martini January 12, 2023

Frozen February 1–19, 2023

Bluey’s Big Play February 23, 2023

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RENÉE AND HENRY SEGERSTROM CONCERT HALL

Bernadette Peters

September 29, 2022

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

October 11, 2022

Duruflé (Requiem) + Hagen

(The Notebooks of Leonardo de Vinci)

October 15, 2022

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone™ in Concert

October 29, 2022

Belinda Carlisle November 2, 2022

Israel Philharmonic Orchestra

November 3, 2022

John Williams: A 90th Birthday Celebration November 4–5, 2022

Attacca Quartet November 6, 2022

Lila Downs November 8, 2022

Farruquito Flamenco November 9, 2022

Aniil Trifonov, piano November 11, 2022

Mavis Staples with Kandace Springs December 9, 2022

Chita Rivera December 11, 2022

Holiday Pops with The Manhattan Transfer December 16–17, 2022

Tis the Season! December 18–19, 2022

Fiesta Navidad December 23, 2022 Salute to Vienna December 31, 2022

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Frozen

Samara Joy

October 1, 2022

Apollon Musagète & Garrick Ohlsson

October 9, 2022

Chris Mann October 20–22, 2022

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show

About a Terrible Monster

October 29–30, 2022

STAGE

Charles Dickens’

November 26–December 24, 2022

Voices of America:

Appropriate

January 28–February 26, 2023

The Little Foxes

January 29–February 26, 2023

Calidore String Quartet

November 2, 2022

Vijay Iyer Trio November 5, 2022

NORTH November 12–13, 2022

Jessica Vosk November 17–19, 2022

Randall Goosby, violin

December 2, 2022

Broadway Holiday Songbook

December 15–17, 2022

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The Nutcracker

A Christmas Carol

ORANGE COUNTY

MUSEUM OF ART OPENS

The new Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) opens to the public October 8, 2022 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Designed by Pritzker Prize–winning architect Thom Mayne of Morphosis Studio, the state-of-the-art 53,000-square-foot building in its new, central location features greatly expanded gallery space to showcase its collection and major traveling exhibitions. The new museum also features inviting public areas, enabling the museum to engage the community through art.

Among the inaugural exhibitions planned for OCMA’s new home is “California Biennial 2022.”

OCMA is also a unique venue with a variety of beautiful spaces for events and a rooftop terrace with spectacular views. Visitors can enjoy a cocktail on the terrace or dine at Verdant. Hospitality and private events are overseen by chef Ross Pangilinan of South Coast Plaza’s Terrace by Mix Mix and Populaire.

concierge and

CONCIERGE

South Coast Plaza’s Concierge can make your visit extra special with welcoming amenities and personalized services.

SOUTH COAST PLAZA’S ICONIC CAROUSELS

Generations of families have made it a cherished tradition to ride the Carousels at South Coast Plaza since 1967.

Family Dining

WALKING SCULPTURE TOUR

Spend a morning or afternoon exploring this incomparable public art collection.

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