» BEST
DATE-NIGHT RESTAURANT
1. Summit House Restaurant 2000 E. Bastanchury Road, Fullerton, 714-671 3092; summithouse.com The decor and vibe are all English manor and gentry, the menu is Chicago steakhouse, the grounds are immaculate, the view is impressive. And the combination is irresistible, as Summit House takes the top spot for a date-night restaurant. Not surprisingly, the romantic site also doubles as a much-sought wedding venue. Proprietor Gary Parkinson had the English Inn concept in mind in creating the restaurant when he wrote “In front of a crackling fire one can partake of good hearty fare — the tankard is always full — the spit hung with roasting beefs — and a table heaped with sweets and such.” It is the image Summit House seeks to engender in guests. Maybe that’s why the bottom of the menu reads “Your special occasion place.” The menu is straightforward, centering on beef: prime rib, rib eye
LEONARD ORTIZ, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Summit House, established in 1989, has been voted the Best Date-Night Restaurant” in the Orange County Register’s “Best of Orange County” readers poll. and filet mignon. There is also chicken, fish and a mushroom dish. A Michelin Guide review reads, “Prime rib — cut into a choice of three sizes — is the go-to entrée here. Their rendition is homey, well-
executed and comforting with sides of creamed spinach, Yorkshire pudding and jus poured tableside.” The bar features a variety of specialty cocktails, wines, draft beers, whiskey and scotch selections.
The dining room is bright and open with floor to ceiling windows. Grab a window table if you can to take in the panoramic views of the grounds, parklands and mountains.
— Greg Mellen
2. The Cellar Restaurant
3. Hibachi Steakhouse
Descending beneath the historic Villa del Sol building into a restaurant that is equal parts Disney and legit old-style, the effect can be either a little much or just right. However, there is much more to the popular restaurant than the dim lighting and decor from the designers of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland. “A two-hour dinner is not uncommon for a party of two,” the owners write. The menu is often described as on the light
If you want a testimonial for a date-night restaurant, how about this one from Rob W., who wrote: “Before we were married, I took my wife here on one of our first dates and have been going here regularly since. We are celebrating 24 years of marriage this year.” The Hibachi Steakhouse, tucked between a Mediterranean kitchen and bank, may lack some of the exterior accoutrements of other “date” restaurants. But once inside when you begin to enjoy the service and at-the-table
305 N. Harbor Blvd.; Fullerton; 714-525-5682; cellardining.com side of classical French. The chateaubriand is a signature dish: 18 ounces and carved tableside. There are also other steaks, fish, duck, venison, pork and pheasant dishes to choose from. Or stuffed leek on the vegan side. The Cellar has an impressive wine list and mixologists known to create new cocktails daily. For those who want the full intimate experience, request the Grotto, where it’s said Richard Burton proposed to Elizabeth Taylor — well, at least once.
108 S Fairmont Blvd, Anaheim; 714-998-4110; thehibachisteakhouse.com Japanese hibachi cooking, it’s easy enough to get into the mood. The menu features chicken, steak and seafood such as shrimp, scallops and calamari in an array of combinations or as single entrees. The chefs perform an array of teppanyaki skills, tricks and showmanship from the fried egg heart to the volcano onion. So sit back, enjoy and engage. There is also an extensive menu of beverages, including hot and cold sake.
SEPTEMBER 2021 THE BEST OF ORANGE COUNTY
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