Best Waterfront Dining

1. Duke’s Huntington Beach

317 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; 714-374-6446, dukeshuntington.com

It was a red light on a drive up PCH that brought Duke’s to Huntington Beach and the luck couldn’t have been better.

“We thought it would be a great place to open a restaurant where we can surf and play,” says Managing Partner Brett Barnes. While the concept for the restaurant named in honor of Olympic champion swimmer and surf icon Duke Kahanamoku originated in Hawaii, it’s been at home in Huntington Beach for 23 years.

“Having Duke’s in Huntington Beach is a privilege, actually, because the community understands the importance of surf history and, especially, Duke Kahanamoku, who was the ambassador of aloha,” says Barnes. “We try to spread that aloha spirit throughout our crew that works at Duke’s and the community. I think we’ve done a pretty good job of that.”

Duke’s is known for making mai tais with “PPOG,” or fresh pineapple, passion fruit, orange and guava juices and serving fresh fish that’s delivered to the restaurant daily.

Fresh fish is part of the Taco Tuesday menu as well, but for those who aren’t craving a fish taco, there are carne asada, kalua pork and fried avocado ones available as well.

For those in the mood for steak and lobster, or steak and crab, Duke’s has Surf & Turf Thursdays. Whether you’re heading out for a weekend brunch or tacos and drinks on a Tuesday, you should call in advance for reservations.

Activity at Duke’s has been high since California fully reopened.

JEFF GRITCHEN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Duke’s in Huntington Beach on Friday was voted the top waterfront dining area in Orange County in the Orange County Register’s Best of Orange County readers’ choice poll.

— Liz Ohanesian

2. Las Brisas

361 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach; 949-497-5434, lasbrisaslagunabeach.com

“We’ve been an icon here for over 40 years,” says Howard Gardner, general manager of Las Brisas. There’s a good reason for that. The Laguna Beach restaurant with Pacific views is in an ideal location. “It’s a bit of a destination restaurant,” he says, particularly when the weather brings throngs of people to Laguna Beach.

Describing its menu as “coastal California,” Las Brisas offers an ample selection of seafood dishes. Shrimp tampiqueños are popular here, as are scallops, halibut and salmon. But, the favorite might be the whole lobster dinner for two. Margaritas are the go-to drink, with the house, Cadillac and spicy varieties drawing customers to the bar, but Las Brisas also has an extensive wine list. The restaurant also pours original cocktails like the Dante, named for a server who has been with the restaurant for 26 years, which includes Casa Noble Crystal organic tequila, pomegranate and lime.

Las Brisas offers brunch on Saturdays and Sundays between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.

3. Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar

611 Avenida Victoria, San Clemente; 949-498-6390, thefishermansrestaurantsanclemente.com

It’s all about the seafood at The Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar in San Clemente.

The restaurant works with multiple vendors, sometimes sourcing from local fishermen, other times driving up to Los Angeles for the catch, but there is fresh fish at the restaurant.

“We go wherever we need to go to get the freshest fish that we can,” says Manager Valarie Daugherty.

Ahi dishes — like cajun ahi, ahi dinners, ahi sandwich and poke — are big sellers here.

Cottons, a concoction of Myers rum, triple sec, pineapple and orange juice with 151 rum on top, is the most popular cocktail here, but customers also clamor for The Fisherman’s Bloody Marys, which you can have made with your choice of vodka or tequila.

The Fisherman’s Restaurant and Bar opens at 8 a.m. and, on weekends, you can expect to see crowds all days.

Happy Hour is Monday through Friday from 4 to 7 p.m.