16. Lucca Café
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 725-1773
Address: 6507 Quail Hill Parkway
Description: Part deli, part wine bar, Lucca Café is a hip urban eatery trapped in a suburban location. The menu is a mix of gourmet sandwiches, pasta, and salads for lunch with an artisan cheese plate, honey-grilled salmon, and a generous crab salad, plus a long list of other specialties including grilled meat and fowl. The wine list is lengthy with many selections offered by the glass. There is a children’s menu, too.
17. Chakra Indian Cuisine
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 854-0009
Address: 4143 Campus Dr.
Description: Bucking tradition and opting for a hipper, somewhat seductive ambiance, Chakra takes the flavors of India and adds a contemporary twist. The setting is like eye candy for the epicurean—sexy dining room, stylish bar, and a pair of outdoor patios for supping under the stars. The soft glow of candles, coupled with original murals and rich fabrics, adds a sensual touch. The menu is a mix of complex tastes and traditional flavors with the aroma of curry wafting through the air. The calicut crab biscuit and tandoori salmon are must-trys, and the outdoor fire pit is an ideal place to gather around to do a little grazing while enjoying a signature chakratini.
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 619 Sleepy Hollow Lane
19. Splashes
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 497-4477
Address: 1555 South Coast Hwy.
Description: Located just above sea level on the ground floor of the remarkable Surf and Sand Hotel is the intimate Splashes restaurant. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, each table is positioned to make the most of the ocean views with an outdoor terrace completing the picture. For breakfast it’s a variety of egg dishes and smoked salmon. Lunch features a medley of salads and artisan sandwiches. As for dinner, expect a cheese plate or dayboat scallops for starters, followed by a selection of fresh seafood, beef, or poultry. A full bar and delightful wine list round out the dining experience, or you could just stop in for a dessert of a warm flourless chocolate pyramid and a cordial.
20. 230 Forest Avenue
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 494-2545
Address: 230 Forest Ave.
Description: Named for its location in the heart of Laguna Beach’s enchanting village, 230 Forest Avenue is equal parts art gallery, bistro, and lounge. The intimate space, just a block from the beach, features exposed brick walls, a rotating collection of local art, and a few sidewalk tables. The menu highlights a selection of entrees with produce provided by local purveyors. There are fresh seafood and dry aged steaks, plus some lighter fare including salads, sandwiches, and pasta. Stop in for a full meal or nothing more than drinks and appetizers. The restaurant also sees its share of celebrities in town for a weekend getaway.
21. Five Feet
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 497-4955
Address: 328 Glenneyre St.
Description: Owner/Chef Michael Kang pioneered Asian fusion when he opened his signature restaurant 25 years ago. It’s an explosion of flavor when east meets west behind the kitchen door. Szechaun spices are combined with delicate French sauces resulting in innovative flavors and innovative dishes, such as fresh Maryland soft-shell crab topped with mango ginger coulis and tropical salsa. The hoisin barbecue beef short ribs are also popular and are accompanied by garlic mashed potatoes and Maui onion rings. Five Feet also offers a chef’s tasting menu, a decent wine list, innovative presentations, and a great Laguna Beach location.
22. The Loft
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 715-6000
Address: 30801 South Coast Hwy.
Description: The Montage Resort & Spa is home to two critically acclaimed restaurants, one of which is the Loft, located on the hotel’s fourth floor with sweeping ocean views. The menu is a mix of seasonal American fare with items ranging from breakfast favorites to gourmet sandwiches and savory soups for lunch. Dinner is an added treat with fresh seafood and prime cuts of beef. The Loft also has a bistro menu and a very reasonably priced children’s menu. The décor is inviting with an airy feel coupled with a bistro-style bar, six-foot wood-burning rotisserie, and an interactive cheese gallery.
23. Café Zinc & Market
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 494-6302
Address: 350 Ocean Ave.
Description: This popular eatery is best known for its healthy dishes and frothy cappuccinos, not to mention its loyal following that includes the likes of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Bette Midler, and Heather Locklear. Open for breakfast and lunch, the menu is a mix of omelets, quiche, and handcrafted soups. Grab and go items, such as savory scones and gourmet sandwiches, are also available and the market, with its shelves of delightful edibles, allows you to recreate the Café Zinc experience at home.
24. The Cottage Restaurant
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 494-3023
Address: 308 North Coast Hwy.
Description: Open daily for lunch and dinner, it’s the breakfast that garners the longest lines outside this vintage California bungalow. Morning meals are traditional plates of eggs and bacon, pancakes and waffles, omelettes and scrambles, and pots of fresh coffee. Lunch and dinner features a medley of home-style California cuisine. The cottage itself offers a cozy setting, but there is also a garden patio for taking meals. Beer and wine are the only alcohol served.
25. Dizz As Is
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 494-5250
Address: 2794 South Coast Hwy.
Description: Housed in a shingled abode with red awning accents, Dizz’s is filled with relics from the 1920s coupled with images of Marilyn Monroe and other starlets from decades past. Admittedly kitschy, this dimly lit eatery also offers an outdoor patio and fire pit for those who enjoy eating al fresco. Dizz’s serves an array of fish, marinated meats, chicken, and lamb. There are also pâté, salads, and soups. Feel free to stop in for just a drink, but note that the bar has only a handful of stools to offer. If you ask for a restaurant recommendation while in Laguna Beach, chances are Dizz as Is will be among the top ten—it’s simply a favorite even if the décor is a little dated. As for the kids, leave them at home as this is strictly geared toward adult palates.
26. Royal Thai Cuisine
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Address: 1750 South Pacific Coast Hwy.
Description: With two Orange County coastal locations, including Newport Beach, Royal Thai Cuisine has garnered a loyal following with its offerings of pad Thai, tom kah soup, and mee krob. The dishes are spicy, but the chefs will gladly increase the level to make it even spicier. For those with less than iron stomachs, the intensity can be toned down. For the culinary-inclined, Royal Thai Cuisine also offers cooking classes.
27. Katella Deli
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (562) 594-8611
Address: 4470 Katella Ave.
Description: Located across the street from the Los Alamitos Race Track, this is one of Orange County’s few Jewish delis, offering great blintzes, bagels and lox, mile-high sandwiches, and endless desserts. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, most of the menu items are traditional Jewish fare (but not kosher), such as the matzo soup, and the portions are very generous. This is also an extremely family-friendly place about 15 miles east of Disneyland and just a few miles inland from Seal Beach.
28. The Dock
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 673-9463
Address: 2816 Lafayette Ave.
Description: This location has been the home of several failed restaurants, but it seems that The Dock may have all the right ingredients for success. Located on the Rhine Channel in Newport Beach’s Cannery Village, The Dock is a casual but stylish dining destination with an eclectic menu of seafood, salads, beef, and weekends-only breakfast specialties. Equally appetizing is the view, which overlooks the water, and the wine list is incredibly long and includes an array of vintages by the glass.
29. Pascal Epicerie & Wine
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 263-9400 ext. 2
Address: 1000 North Bristol
Description: For the epicurean, Pascal’s is like paradise. Grab and go items, such as scones and paninis, offer convenience, but this lovely French market also has take-out dinners, complete picnic hampers for summer concerts, and a varied list of salads, sandwiches, quiche, side dishes, croissants, breads, and more. The wine cellar carries a variety of vintages to complement your edible acquisition. Continental breakfast is also available.
30. The Old Spaghetti Factory
City: Orange County, CA
Category: Restaurants
Telephone: (949) 675-8654
Address: 2110 Newport Blvd.
Description: This family-friendly restaurant has long waits, but if you can time it right you’ll be seated quickly. The dining room is filled with antiques including a street car outfitted with tables and chairs. The menu is mostly pasta coupled with your choice of sauces plus salads and a few other selections. This location has a full bar, too.