Need Anaheim restaurant info, please (Tustin, Laguna: hotels, houses, live)

[jkd]

I'm only a half hour from Anaheim, but am not that familiar with most restaurants in that area. My friend from another state is meeting me there, and I need to find something suitable (she has worked as an exec chef).
Are there any nicer restaurants that also have a nearby, decent shopping area as well? Thanks!

[CESpeed]

Try Downtown Disney. There are several top-quality restaurants and shopping that isn't totally Disney-related.

[bhcompy]

i personally do not enjoy the eats at downtown disney. orange county mining company is a nice place to eat and its about a 10-15minute drive down chapman from there to the block for some shopping, but can be confused as a romantic place to eat. a bit further south in the county you have some good eats like gullivers off macarthur and the 405/55, ruth chris(which is a chain) which is off jamboree/405 i believe and is in a shopping center, etc.

your best bet for high quality dining coupled with high quality shopping would be south coast plaza. plenty of nicer restaurants at south coast plaza along with the best upscale shopping outside of rodeo drive as far as so cal is concerned

[Fontucky]

Thai Lingo
118 N. Tustin Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92807
714-998-3241

Excellent Thai cuisine.


There's an wonderful little Mexican place directly across Katella from The Grove of Anaheim. Can't remember the name, but it's a couple doors down from a Baskin-Robbins.


EDIT: Ooops, you said nicer restaurants. Disregard.

[CESpeed]

Originally Posted by bhcompy

i personally do not enjoy the eats at downtown disney. orange county mining company is a nice place to eat and its about a 10-15minute drive down chapman from there to the block for some shopping, but can be confused as a romantic place to eat. a bit further south in the county you have some good eats like gullivers off macarthur and the 405/55, ruth chris(which is a chain) which is off jamboree/405 i believe and is in a shopping center, etc.

your best bet for high quality dining coupled with high quality shopping would be south coast plaza. plenty of nicer restaurants at south coast plaza along with the best upscale shopping outside of rodeo drive as far as so cal is concerned

Interesting considering that the most of the restaurants Downtown Disney, especially the one in the Grand Californian are considered high-end, four star restaurants and an executive chef or anyone who enjoys gourmet dining would enjoy. I wouldn't offend the palate of an executive chef by taking them to a chain restaurant.

[bhcompy]

the restaurant at the grand californian is okay considering how pricey it is. even the "cafe"(storytellers) is pricey

the downtown disney restaurants are very meh. rainforest cafe is standard overpriced chain fare, tortilla jos is very poor mexican food for what you can get in so cal, espn zone?, and the jazz kitchen was okay.

there are far better eats in the area than downtown disney and most of them are more reasonable price wise for what you get.

[jkd]

Thanks all for your suggestions~
Fontucky - I think I may know the place - is it called Maria's?

I'm actually familiar with DD's fare - been there a lot, as I have kids. I actually like the food at Naples. I noticed the block opened too.

Again, really appreciate the ideas.

[InkFoundry]

Hi,

Roy's just opened in Anaheim, CA. It's delicious! Great seafood, awesome drinks - try the Hawaiian Martini, the best chocolate cake on the planet...oh great, now I'M hungry. Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine. (714) 776-7697, 321 West Katella Ave. Suite #105, Anaheim CA 92802

[missionhome]

For traditional steak, an upscale Morton's Steak House opened adjacent to the Sheraton Park and Hilton Hotels near the convention center. There is a Ruth Chris in Anaheim also.
Mr. Stox Restaurant is very good as well, serving traditional American cuisine.

All three are very good, but pretty expensive.

McCormick & Schmick's is also good, serving seafood and steak, but usually under or around $30 per person so is a little less $$.

[hsw]

Grub in OC (or SD or SiliconValley) generally sucks....

As a business traveler, would subsist on In-N-Out (when in LA/SD region) until could reach BevHills or SF or LV to get edible grub....or would head to Montage in Laguna for quite good grub....

Steakhouses are generally the desperate choices when one is stuck for extended periods in suburbia anywhere....or in cities like Minneapolis, Cleveland, Miami, etc that lack any decent restaurants....hard to screw up a good cut of beef and a decent bottle of Bordeaux