WHERE Orange County Spring 2016

38 AM

SPRING 2016 WHEREOC.COM

Orange County

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CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF TRAVEL Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella in Costa Mesa Hilbert Museum in Orange Mummies of the World in Santa Ana Dining with Gratitude in Newport Beach

Sea Is for Shopping THREE NEW COASTAL RETAIL CENTERS WITH SWEEPING PACIFIC VIEWS

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HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indiciaindicia are ©are &™ Warner HARRY POTTER characters, names and related ©& ™ Warner Bros. Bros.

Entertainment Inc. Harry PotterPotter Publishing RightsRights © JKR. Entertainment Inc. Harry Publishing © (s16) JKR. (s16) ©2016 Universal Studios.

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ANAHEIM’S MOST DELICIOUS DESTINATION

Just Steps from the Disneyland ® Resort and Anaheim Convention Center Anaheim GardenWalk An amazing collection of nationally acclaimed restaurants, exciting night life, shopping, an upscale bowling lounge and live entertainment venues.

Bowlmor Lanes Billy Beez McCormick & Schmick’s Grille The Cheesecake Factory Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Roy’s Restaurant McFadden’s Restaurant and Saloon Fire + Ice Grill + Bar California Pizza Kitchen P.F. Chang’s Johnny Rockets Heat Ultra Lounge

OPENING IN 2016: House of Blues Anaheim Grasslands Churrasco Market Rumba Room Live Mission Escape Games Sockerbit Sweet + Swedish

D I N I N G . E N T E R TA I N M E N T. S H O P P I N G .

Facebook.com/TheGardenWalk

400 West Disney Way, Anaheim

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Twitter.com/TheGardenWalk

714.635.7410

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where orange county

spring 2016

CONTENTS

departments

the guide

4 Editor’s Note

32 DINING Restaurants by cuisine

Mark Where’s 80th year with 80 minutes at the Lab and the Camp.

50 ENTERTAINMENT Special events, performing arts and sports

6 Hot Dates Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella in Costa Mesa

52 ATTRACTIONS + MUSEUMS Theme parks, cultural venues and exhibitions

64 30 Things We Love

56 SHOPPING The county’s major retail destinations

where now 8 Dining

57 GOLF The most beautiful and most interesting courses

Vegan spot Gratitude opens in Newport Beach, Vaca— from Top Chef contender Amar Santana—in Costa Mesa.

58 ACTIVE OUTDOORS Fun on the ground, on the water and in the sky.

10 The Arts Musco Center for the Performing Arts and Hilbert Museum open in Orange; Marilyn Minter exhibition in Newport Beach.

58 NIGHTLIFE Hottest clubs, lounges, bars and wine bars 59 TOURS + TRANSPORT Getting out, and getting from here to there

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ON THE COVER Lido Marina Village’s prime waterfront location attracts tenants that will include renowned sushi spot Nobu. See page 12.

features

CITY TOURS Metro Cities The Coast South Coast North County

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16 Flour + Eggs + Love Two ingredients, give or take. Some mix flour with water, others prefer flour with egg. But everyone’s end goal is the magic that is fresh pasta. BY MINERVA THAI

Brea Downtown

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MAPS 5

Bella Terra

CONNECT WITH US ONLINE

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A trio of new retail centers—in Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and San Clemente—open on prime real estate featuring unobstructed Pacific views. BY ROGER GRODY

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The Marketplace

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Segerstrom Center for the Arts

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Explore the county north to south and A to Z PAGE 61 133

The Triangle

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Copyright © 2015

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Crystal Cove Shopping Center

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COURTESY PELICAN HILL. COVER COURTESY LIDO MARINA VILLAGE

Spaghetti at Andrea in Newport Coast

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T H E U LT I M AT E S H O P P I N G E X P E R I E N C E

SOUTH COAST PLAZA

250 BOUTIQUES, 30 RESTAURANTS AND SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS Apple Store · Bally · Barbara Bui · Bottega Veneta · Burberry · Canali · Cartier · Céline Chanel · Chopard · Coach · Dior · Dolce & Gabbana · Ermenegildo Zegna · Fendi · Gucci Hermès · Intermix · J.Crew · Jimmy Choo · John Varvatos · Lanvin · Louis Vuitton · Max Mara Michael Kors · Piaget · Prada · Ralph Lauren · Roger Vivier · Rolex · Salvatore Ferragamo Sephora · Stuart Weitzman · Tiffany & Co. · Tod’s · Tory Burch · Vacheron Constantin · Valentino AnQi by House of An · The Capital Grille · Din Tai Fung · Marché Moderne · Seasons 52 Saks Fifth Avenue · Bloomingdale’s · Nordstrom · Macy’s partial listing

San Diego FWY (405) at Bristol St., Costa Mesa, CA

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SOUTHCOASTPLAZA.COM 800.782.8888

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visit

WYLAND GALLERIES l ag u n a

welcome

A note from the editor

ONE MINUTE PER YEAR

b e ac h

flagship gallery of california’s most beloved nature artist.

ONLY IN LAGUNA BEACH.

To mark Where magazine’s 80th anniversary, I thought I’d let you know how I’d spend 80 minutes at a favored destination. Since our cover feature is coastal (see page 12), I chose one that’s landlocked—or should I say two: the Lab and the Camp, opposite each other in Costa Mesa (p. 56-57). Valet park at the Camp; it’s free. And now, the disclaimer: I could spend all 80 of those minutes at Old Vine Café ( p. 34). Goatshoulder omelet? Check. Romantic pasta dinner? Check. I never finish a meal there without wondering when I can come back. But for a better sense of these quirky sibling centers, start with an espresso at Vitaly (5 minutes, p. 41). Browse SEED People’s Market, offering everything from tiny buttons and Christian Lacroix iPhone cases to hardcore outdoor gear and a 6-foot-6-inch skateboard (15 min.). Pass an Airstream trailer filled with air plants, then cross Bristol Street at Randolph Street to the Lab (5 min.). Check out tomes such as Dress of the Year and Nordic Tattooing at postage-stamp-sized As Issued bookstore, then chill with the hipsters on the Lab’s courtyard swing chairs (5 min.). Admire vintage-inspired trinkets and furniture at Heirlooms & Hardware, vintage vinyl recordings inside another Airstream, and vintageinspired portable record players and Rapper’s Delight Cookbook amid

Dali Portal, original oil painting by Wyland and Dick Zimmerman ©

the apparel at Urban Outfitters (15 min.). Recross Bristol Street

Wyland Galleries

(5 min.). Take in the Camp’s

509 South Coast Highway Laguna Beach, CA 92651 800-WYLAND-1 OPEN DAILY 9 AM TO 9 PM

aphorism-bedecked staircase on your way to bánh mì and PB&J tacos at Taco Asylum (20 min., p.

42). Enjoy a gelato sandwich from Old Vine, amid piped-in sounds of a burbling brook and chirping

Follow Wyland

birds (10 min.). Happy 80th from

Get a tour of the gallery and receive a free Wyland print, limit one per family.

Where! —BENJAMIN EPSTEIN

VLADIMIR PERLOVICH

Vitaly on the hammock outside

www.wyland.com

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where MAGAZINE

PUBLISHER EDITOR

Jeff Levy

Benjamin Epstein

ART DIRECTOR

Carol Wakano

PRODUCTION ARTIST

Diana Gonzalez

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER

Heidi Schwindt

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Joseph Elliott, Roger Grody, Zoe Lorenzo, Minerva Thai CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dale Berman, Dhrumil Desai, Idris Erba, Sarah Hadley, Vladimir Perlovich, Edwin Santiago, Anne Watson, Ian White ACCOUNT MANAGERS

Heather Heintz, Heather Price, Richard Blankley, Kerry Brewer, Julie Hoffman, Jessica Levin Poff BUSINESS MANAGER

Leanne Killian Riggar

CIRCULATION MANAGER Laura Okey PRODUCTION MANAGER Dawn Kiko Cheng WEB MANAGER Christina Xenos MARKETING MANAGER Anna Ciric ADMINISTRATION

Amina Karwa, Danielle Riffenburgh VICE PRESIDENT OF NATIONAL SALES Rick Mollineaux 202.463.4550 WEST COAST NATIONAL SALES

Tiffany Reinhold 714.813.6600 HONORARY PRESIDENT

Ted Levy

where Orange County

3158 Redhill Ave., Suite 140 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 Phone: 714.825.1700 Fax: 714.825.1710

EMAIL Advertising JLevy@WhereOC.com Editorial Benjamin.Epstein@WhereOC.com Art Art@WhereOC.com Production Ads@WhereOC.com Website Christina.Xenos@WhereOC.com Circulation Laura.Okey@WhereOC.com Plan ahead for your next visit to Orange County.

Subscribe to where: Single copy $4, 4 issues $16.

Contact: Laura Okey 714.825.1700 © 2016 Southern California Media Group. All Rights reserved Published by Southern California Media Group. Printed in the United States. where makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information it publishes but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from errors or omissions. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part strictly prohibited. where is a registered trademark of Morris Visitor Publications.

Printed in the United States.

Circulation audited by Alliance for Audited Media

In Orange County, where magazine is pleased to be a member of Visit Anaheim, CalTIA, Newport Beach Conference and Visitors Bureau, Orange County Concierge Association, and Orange County Visitors Association.

On the Web: WhereOC.com SPRING 2016 WHERE ORANGE COUNTY 5

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WHERE CALENDAR SPRING 2016 Search the full calendar at whereoc.com

HOT DATES

Top Stops HOGWARTS IN HOLLYWOOD, DIAMONDS IN ANAHEIM

THE WIZARDING WORLD Explore Hogwarts castle (below), visit the shops of Hogsmeade, sample fare from the wizarding world's best-known establishments, find magical spells, magical creatures, dark villains, daring heroes and pulse-pounding rides and attractions at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, opening April 7 at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Visitors don Quidditchinspired 3-D goggles for the fight-simulating ride Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. p. 55

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of The King and I and South Pacific, offers a contemporary, comedic and romantic take on the classic tale in a lush production at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa featuring a live orchestra and amazing stage transformations. Songs include “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago.” The show began life as a 1957 made-for-television musical starring Julie Andrews. p. 50

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GREAT THINGS NOT TO BE MISSED

1 MUSINK > MARCH 4-6 Travis Barker presents music festival—acts include Snoop Dogg, Deftones and Circa Survive—and tattoo convention. O.C. Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.1500, musink.org

HERE FOR THE WEEKEND? Check out our Weekend Roundup at WhereOC.com for the up-to-the-minute lowdown on the coolest concerts, sporting events, festivals, art exhibits and restaurants.

2 L.A. ANGELS OF ANAHEIM > APRIL 4 Center fielder Mike Trout, left, and the Halos face off against the Chicago Cubs on opening day at Angel Stadium. 2000 E. Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, 714.940.2000, losangeles.angels.mlb.com 3 ANAHEIM DUCKS > APRIL 5 Final home game of the regular National Hockey League season pits the Ducks against the Winnipeg Jets. 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2500, hondacenter.com

4 NEWPORT BEACH FILM FEST > APRIL 21-28 Some 350 feature films, documentaries, shorts and animation as well as sessions with directors and parties; locations TBD. Newport Beach, 949.253.2880, newportbeachfilmfest.com 5 NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC > MAY 3 Alan Gilbert leads the famed orchestra in works by Schumann—with cellist Carter Brey—and Brahms.

Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787, scfta.org 6 NEWSIES > MAY 17-29 Tony Award-winning musical direct from Broadway. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787, scfta.org 7 DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL > MAY 21-22 Blues, rock and R&B on three stages. Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.360.7800, dohenybluesfestival

CINDERELLA COURTESY CAROL ROSEGG. HOGWARTS COURTESY WARNER BROS., JKR . AND UNIVERSAL STUDIOS

APRIL 19-MAY 1 IF THE SHOE FITS

DISNEY'S 60TH Marking 60 years of magic, the Disneyland Resort’s Diamond Celebration adds diamond decor at Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland and Carthay Circle Theatre in Disney California Adventure and three nighttime spectaculars.

In Disneyland, find the “Paint the Night” parade along Main Street, U.S.A., and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks show; in California Adventure, the spectacular new “World of Color” show tells the story of Walt Disney and the Happiest place on Earth. p. 54

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Cole Haan Nautica Calvin Klein Nike Factory Store Tommy Hilfiger H&M Under Armour Levi’s® Outlet Store Vans Tillys Guess Factory Store

DEEP BLUE DISCOUNTS Up to 70% off at more than 40 stores now open on the coast

Columbia Sportswear White House | Black Market New Balance Factory Store Zales Outlet Starbucks

A Beautiful Way to Save

I-5 at Avenida Vista Hermosa ShopOSC.com | #ShopOSC

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where now orange county

The best in entertainment, attractions, shopping and dining

dining

We Are ...

Grateful Born in the Bay Area and raised in Los Angeles, Café Gratitude now unveils Gratitude, an upscale version of its vegan eateries, at Westcliff Plaza in Newport Beach. Core philosophies remain the same; dishes, for instance, are named for affirmations such as “Whole,” “Welcoming” and “Fearless,” encouraging diners to view their lives from a perspective of gratitude. But chef Dreux Ellis has crafted a dining experience with a Mediterranean bent distinct from its sibling locations.

“Abundant” is an elaborate Calabrian antipasto plate featuring spicy pickled vegetables with cilantro/basil/ green-onion chop; macadamia truffle “brie”; salad of fennel, radicchio, pistachio and orange; sweet peppers stuffed with eggplant citrus “meat,” red pepper harissa and cashew “mozzarella”; and Brazil-nut “Parmesan.” p. 41

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Ahi Hot Stone at Saint Marc

NOW SERVING New restaurants are opening in Orange County at a fever pitch. Perhaps most anticipated, Vaca, from Top Chef contender Amar Santana, brings cuisines of Spain to Costa Mesa’s Town Center, offering tapas, paellas, bocadillos, housemade charcuterie, dry-aged beef as diverse as Argentine grass-fed and Japanese Kobe, and truly superior cocktails (p. 43).

Lighthouse Bayview Café, from the founder of the Ruby’s chain, serves fare as diverse as bánh-mì buns, bouillabaisse and burgers in a lighthouse-shaped harbor-view restaurant in Balboa Peninsula’s Marina Park (p. 34). Saint Marc Pub-Cafe, Bakery and Cheese Affinage, at Pacific City in Huntington Beach, offers 32 draft wines—sold by the ounce— and 32 canned beers at a bar with a retractable roof; inside, find the cheese, baked goods and ... bacon bar! (p. 36)

HATCH, 100EATS.COM; GRATITUDE, JIRO SCHNEIDER

Buns ‘n’ Cocktails Burgers and beers are a classic pairing; American Dream, coming to Pacific City in Huntington Beach, takes it to the next level, with 60 IPAs on tap. Red wine works fine, too. But now, several acclaimed burger destinations take things even further: burgers and cocktails. Umami Burger in Anaheim introduces Umami 101,

a nine-course menu that pairs each of its burgers with excellent cocktails (p. 47). Holsteins Shakes and Buns at Costa Mesa’s South Coast Plaza offers a whole list of alcoholic Bamboozled shakes, among them Fat Boy and A-Chocolypse Now, to go with its top-notch burgers (p. 32). Hopdoddy

Burger Bar, new at Fashion Island in Newport Beach and at the Market Place in Irvine, adds liquor to any of its shakes on request—and gets requests often (p. 32).

And Hatch, opening at Union Market in Tustin, gets still more specialized, marrying sliders and tiki drinks (p. 46).

The Walker at Hatch in Tustin

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county

Emil Kosa Jr., Near Modesto (1940) at the Hilbert Museum

CULTURE

SEE/HEAR The Marybelle and Sebastian P. Musco Center for the Arts opens March 19 at Chapman University in Orange with a celebration featuring opera greats Plácido Domingo, Deborah Voigt and Milena Kitic, plus orchestra and 150-voice chorus. Designed by Pfeiffer Partners, with acoustics by renowned Yasuhisa Toyota, the center

boasts seating for 1,044 on three levels and a stage suitable for both spectacle and symphonic sound.

Vadym Kholodenko, winner of the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, appears April 26 (p. 50).

The school’s new Hilbert Museum of California Art is nearby, across from Ruby’s and the train station.

Named for founders Mark

and Janet Hilbert, it offers works by 20th-century California artists: oil paintings, watercolors, sketches and lithographs of California urban and industrial scenes, the coast, farms and ranches and landscapes. Those featured in the inaugural exhibition include Emil Kosa Jr., Lee Blair, Mary Blair, Millard Sheets and Milford Zornes (p. 55).

Pretty/Dirty For four decades, Marilyn Minter has produced lush paintings, photographs and videos that vividly manifest our culture’s complex and contradictory emotions about the female body and beauty. Whether of makeup-laden lips and eyes or of soiled designer shoes, Minter’s paintings bring into sharp focus the power of desire. Minter makes seductive, attention-demanding visual statements while never shirking her roles as provocateur, critic and humorist. Marilyn Minter: Pretty/Dirty, opening April 2 at the Orange County Museum of Art in Newport Beach, features some 25 paintings plus video works and photographs. p. 56 Marilyn Minter, Black Orchid (2012)

MUMMY’S THE WORD Mummies of the World, opening March 19 at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, presents the largest collection of human and animal mummies and related artifacts ever assembled. The mummies date back as far as 4,500 years. Among them: an Egyptian falcon and baby crocodile; the Vac Mummies, a family from Hungary; Baron Von Holz; a German nobleman found in a 14th-century crypt still wearing his best leather boots; Nes-Hor, left, a priest from the ancient city of Khent-Min; and the first-ever replication of Egyptian mummification from North America. p. 55

MINTER COURTESY THE ARTIST, SALON 94 NY, REGEN PROJECTS LA

WHERE NOW / orange

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Sea Is for Shopping Almost everything in life is better with a coastal view, homes and meals being prime examples. Three new retail developments indicate that shopping is no exception. By ROGER GRODY

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The jewel-box-like boutiques of Prada and Christian Louboutin are tucked into Costa Mesa’s indoor South Coast Plaza. Although Fashion Island lies less than a mile from the surf in Newport Beach, it affords limited peeks of the Pacific. It wasn’t until Crystal Cove Shopping Center opened in Newport Coast that Orange County consumers got a bona fide dose of ocean-view shopping. Now, several new options offer sweeping vistas of the Pacific.

MARIN HOWARTH

Surf City Sensation Before it was called Huntington Beach or Surf City USA, the coastal community was called Pacific City. To San Jose-based DJM Capital Partners, the nostalgic name seemed ideal for a 31-acre mixed-used ocean-view development south of the Huntington Beach Pier. The new Pacific City includes nearly 200,000 square feet of shopping and dining to be joined later this year by a luxury hotel and spa— Paséa, a sister property to Balboa Bay Resort—and 516 apartment homes that will bring more than a hint of elegance to the area.

The open-air shopping center maximizes coastal views and ocean breezes. The 11 million people who visit the area annually come primarily for its oceanfront; now they don’t have to go far—just across Pacific Coast Highway—for an upscale shopping excursion.

The project’s architect, L.A.-based Jerde Partnership, which has conceived lifestyle centers all over the world, has unveiled a whimsical shopping destination that’s equal parts Hollywood and Surf City.

“We never designed the project as a mall but as a place, integral to Huntington Beach and its location,” says Tammy McKerrow, a senior design principal at Jerde, citing a Jerde signature. “We wanted to bring the connectivity of indoor and outdoor living, which we typically provide in smaller residential projects, into a commercial setting.”

The architects created plazas, decks and patios that accommodate outdoor dining, lounging or simply lingering by a fire pit. Comfortable patio furniture and generous native landscaping keep people oriented outdoors; pop-up events, music and even movies projected

onto an outdoor screen enhance that natural orientation. Pacific City is cool enough for hipsters but also exudes family-friendliness.

Despite a comfortable median household income, the community has struggled to shake perceptions of taco shacks and surf shops.

Nonetheless, some of the city’s beachy essence is retained in Jerde’s design, which incorporates influences from California Craftsman and bungalow traditions and even the agricultural sheds that are part of the community’s history. Generous use of reclaimed wood, including Douglas fir salvaged from razed structures, adds a softer, less commercial feel. “We wanted to be sure to honor the DNA of Surf City USA,” says DJM president Lindsay Parton.

Beyond Pacific City’s location and design, the diversity of tenants makes a visit particularly enjoyable. The mix includes branches of Swedish retailer H&M and Barnabas Clothing Co. and the inaugural location of Chico’s Hats. The center has also lured Molly Brown’s Swimwear, trendy Australian swimwear leader Seafolly, Sunglass Resort, iconic island-lifestyle brand Tommy Bahama, chic L.A.-based boutique Kin, and the Nook for jewelry.

Pacific City offers a particularly strong culinary lineup. As the name suggests, Saint Marc Pub-Cafe, Bakery & Cheese Affinage is essentially four establishments in one. The 6,500-square-foot restaurant takes full advantage of the setting, with retractable walls that blur the borders between indoors and out. Choices are multiplied at Saint Marc, which offers 32 draft wines and 100-plus cheeses, both sold by the ounce, and 11 kinds of bacon—design your own BLT!

(Above) Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach and (opposite) dining room furniture available at Village tenant Serena & Lily.

(Left) Pacific City in Huntington Beach.

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(Above, from left) Jewelry at the Nook and display at Saavy Naturals at new Pacific City in Huntington Beach.

(Left) Bailey44 at Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach.

Other eateries include Old Crow Smokehouse, Ways & Means Oyster House and Ola Mexican Kitchen. Options at food hall Lot 579 will include Burnt Crumbs for slow-roasted meats, American Dream for burgers and IPAs, Pie-Not for savory Australian pies, Bear Flag Fish Co. for poke, and PopBar for fanciful gelato conclusions.

Hugo Saavedra, c o-owner of Saavy Naturals with his wife, Debra, says Pacific City is ideal for their store, which sells handcrafted soaps, scrubs and coconut-oil candles, suggesting that the omnipresent ocean suits the tropically inspired product line. “At Pacific City, we’re speaking to our demographics: upscale people who understand our philosophy of bringing joy and abundance to people’s lives,” he says.

Marina Makeover Developers have taken full advantage of most waterfront real estate in Newport Beach, absorbing almost every square inch for high-end residences and resorts. It seems inconceivable that any marinaadjacent property has been neglected, but parts of the Balboa Peninsula still hearken back to the less sophisticated Newport Beach of the 1950s. Now, revitalization of Lido Marina Village, another venture of DJM, is injecting new energy into the area.

In the 1970s, Lido Marina Village was a glamorous neighborhood, but while virtually all of Newport Beach subsequently prospered, it foundered. “We watched this former gem of the local waterfront languish for decades,” notes DJM’s Parton, who was convinced of its considerable untapped potential. Citing Lido Marina Village’s envi-

able location, inviting boardwalk and terrific harbor views, he says, “It has an innate charm ... ready for burnishing and enhancement.”

The area’s brick streets and harbor frontage appeal to high-end consumers, a demographic increasingly eschewing megamalls and gravitating to more intimate shopping environments. The feel of the revitalized Lido Marina Village is upmarket and sophisticated— exactly what one expects from Newport Beach—but also welcoming and residential, combining the elements of an exclusive yacht club with the vibe of a Hamptons resort.

The developers have maximized water views and made public spaces particularly inviting. The Village’s waterfront Main Deck, where communal picnic tables and festive lighting create an air of intimacy, accommodates alfresco dining or gathering by an outdoor fireplace. Kids too young to appreciate the latest designer outfits or consume uni shooters at trendy sushi bars can pilot miniature vessels at a boat pond, a feature that reinforces a family-friendly attitude without compromising the center’s appeal to hip adults.

Whether in Malibu or Moscow, few tenants validate a development’s trendiness as does Nobu, the sushi restaurant from celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa. Even with more than 30 restaurants worldwide, Nobu carries the cachet that gives Lido Marina Village instant culinary credibility. This Nobu, in a section of the project with a modernist’s touch, will have a sweeping staircase that ascends to a harbor-view terrace.

The complex earns fashion cred with boutiques from L.A.-based Jenni Kayne, a favorite of Jessica Alba and Reese Witherspoon, and handbag specialist Clare Vivier, whose stores are branded Clare V. Alchemy Works—an innovative, socially responsible retailer that sells everything from key chains to rare sports cars—also saw Lido Marina Village as the ideal opportunity for expansion into the county.

Though the complex is not as edgy as downtown L.A.’s Arts District, where his retail, gallery and events space originated, Alchemy Works co-founder Raan Parton views it as a refreshing departure from more formula-driven, controlled retail environments and appreciates its rich history. “The area was the essence of California cool in the 1960s. This project has an opportunity to create a real community around that nostalgia,” Parton says.

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Bailey44—a popular women’s clothing line manufactured in Southern California, sold in boutiques as well as Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s—opens its first retail store at Lido Marina Village.

“Our customers are fashion-forward but real people, and Orange County offers a big following of women that meet that profile,” notes CEO Chris Tate.

After considering other developments, Tate was among the first to sign a lease at Lido Marina Village; he was drawn by its intimate quality. “People need to have a reason not to shop online,” he says.

NOBU, HENRY HARGREAVES. OPPOSITE: WEARHOUSE AND SAAVY, MICHELLE LARSON

Ocean-View Outlets One would expect a prime coastal site in the south county to be reserved for a glamorous use; a 52-acre site between Avenida Vista Hermosa and Avenida Pico in San Clemente was, in fact, considered both for the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and for a Ritz-Carlton.

But the Craig Realty Group envisioned it as the Outlets at San Clemente, and, after 18 years of planning and permitting, the first 40-plus stores recently opened. By completion of the first phase, some 70 iconic retailers will be represented.

“Its location was an obvious pull for us,” says managing partner Steve Craig. “The site has great topography and outstanding views, along with incredible accessibility from the I-5 freeway.” Showing his respect for the delicate coastal environment, the developer provided 280,000 square feet of landscaping, including a thousand trees, and built a 420-foot-long bridge over a coastal chaparral-lined canyon to the adjacent luxury neighborhood.

Due to the site’s environmental sensivity, the regulatory process proved exceptionally rigorous: According to Craig, the company participated in more than 125 public meetings and California Coastal Commission hearings. “Getting all of the governmental agencies on board was the biggest challenge,” reports Craig. “Dealing with the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy”—which triggered the country’s recession—“added another seven years to the equation. We persevered despite the setbacks.”

Santa Barbara-based architect Louis Troiani embraced a Spanish Colonial Revival design inspired by an Andalusian village and capitalized on the spectacular ocean views.

The resulting shopping environment features broad promenades, two dozen graceful towers and 350 view-enhancing archways; valet parking, complimentary bag check and a VIP lounge make shopping here a bit like visiting an oceanfront resort. Surprisingly resort-like are the public restrooms, complete with soaring ceilings, ornate Spanishinspired tile, artwork, and plush lounge areas for nursing moms.

According to Melissa Decker, marketing manager for Bass Factory Outlet, her company was drawn by the center’s efficient layout and magnificent ocean views, features that appeal both to locals and visitors. “The San Clemente location is second to none,” she enthuses.

VF, a conglomerate whose diverse brands include Splendid and the North Face, viewed the San Clemente center as an ideal site for a new prototype Vans Outlet store. Rob Groscup, VF’s vice president of retail real estate and construction, appreciates how its design reflects the O.C. lifestyle, noting that Vans, which recently announced its relocation from Cypress to Costa Mesa, has been headquartered in Southern California for 50 years. “San Clemente is in Vans’ backyard and ties in to our long Southern California heritage,” he says.

Other brands already open at the Outlets include Tommy Hilfiger, Swarovski, Under Armour, Eddie Bauer and Nike Factory Store.

(Above, from left) At Lido Marina Village in Newport Beach: the look at Jenni Kayne boutique, and Salmon Sashimi New Style, a signature dish at Nobu, coming soon.

(Left) The view from the Outlets at San Clemente.

Shopping the Coast Lido Marina Village 3420 Via Oporto, Newport Beach, lidomarinavillage.com • Outlets at San Clemente 101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente, outletsatsanclemente.com • Pacific City 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, gopacificcity.com

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FLOUR + EGGS + LOVE Two ingredients, give or take. Some mix flour with water, others prefer flour with egg.

But everyone’s end goal is the magic that is fresh pasta.

By MINERVA THAI

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Pasta fresca.... Images of flour-flecked arms determinedly kneading yolk-yellow dough, of nonnas wiping their brows with worked forearms, and of clouds of steam rising from vats of boiling water flit across your mind with those words. You salivate, thinking about the pleasure that fresh pasta brings; the feeling you get when you bite through a homemade noodle rolled just minutes before cannot be put into words. Each strand clings to your fork tines as if to a friend, then pulls away with a playful bounce. Not every restaurant can sate the craving for the Italian staple; the ones that do pay heed to its cultural traditions.

Squash-blossom ravioli at Brunos.

Opposite: Julia Holland, pastaia at Andrea

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Brunos Italian Kitchen in Brea is similarly guided by family traditions, these from the heart of Venice. Chef Peter Serantoni presents a dining experience amid exposed brick, dark wood and paintings of gondolas, to which is added knowledgeable service.

Both the food and beverage menus benefit from his dedication to authenticity.

To open the palate—and to do as Italians do—begin with an apertivo. At Brunos, that means a Classic Venetian Spritz, made with pinot grigio, Aperol, orange and olives. All of the cocktails are based on Italian classics.

The Milano Manhattan is enhanced by amarena cherries, the Lambosco Martini by blackberries. Among bubblies, opt for the

865 Spritz if you’re fond of ginger or the Amalfi Spritz if you prefer basil and citrus.

Pasta made in-house daily, the restaurant’s centerpiece, uses the finest of flours—additive-free, natural Caputo “00”— and the freshness makes all the difference.

The popular Pappardelle Bruno finds perfectly braised short ribs and savory roasted mushrooms hugging silky, wide noodles. Each forkful of the entrée seems to conjure feelings of familial warmth—it’s what you’d imagine an Italian grandmother might make to comfort you on a bad day.

Lasagna al Forno features delicate pasta layers bathed in housemade Bolognese and béchamel. The heartier Bucatini di Cinghiale features wild-boar sausage.

Round out the evening with the Budino, a dreamy pudding layered with chocolate ganache and crushed hazelnuts. Prefer a digestivo? Don’t miss the housemade limoncello, which offers notes of Tahitian vanilla bean and toasted fennel in every sip.

Not many restaurants can boast a full-time pastaia (pasta chef) on the premises, but that is just one of the distinctive features of Andrea Ristorante at the sumptuous Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast.

The other remarkable show of dedication to fresh pasta daily? A 9-by-9-foot dedicated pasta room, equipped with a pasta roller/extruder imported from Rome, where Julia Holland hand-makes more than two dozen types of pasta daily.

Chef Marco Criscuolo insists that his pasta be made in-house. Growing up in Italy, he was surrounded by his mother’s and grandmother’s fresh, seasonal cooking and homemade pastas, and he hopes that some of the warmth and love he felt in their kitchen will be transmitted to his diners here.

Though the dishes the chef serves here are based on traditional recipes, they are enhanced by his culinary experiences working around the world and the inspiration he derives from the Michelin-starred chefs invited to cook at the restaurant during the property’s annual autumnal festivities.

Criscuolo’s exquisite Egg Yolk Ravioli San Domenico features oversized ravioli stuffed with a brilliant orange yolk, served amid spinach ricotta and drizzled with brown butter. Shaved white truffle is optional when in season. The sheets of pasta that envelop the molten-gold filling are as luxurious as the setting.

Another draw is Holland’s handmade

gnocchi, each little dumpling smooth and delicate and presented with a sublime Bolognese sauce and luscious burrata.

Pair these or any of the other specialties —such as creamy risotto mixed tableside in a wheel of Parmigiano-Reggiano—with one of the 2,000-plus, mostly Italian wines.

Tack on a breathtaking Pacific Ocean view for an unforgettable experience.

Old Vine Café owner/chef Mark McDonald, who studied and trained in Italy, has been making fresh pasta daily since the restaurant opened, far preferring the sleek texture of fresh pasta to the al dente consistency of dried pasta. Classics such as pappardelle, tagliatelle, gnocchi, orecchiette and cavatelli offer a range of shapes and surfaces that affect his choice of sauce and ingredients.

Old Vine Café makes its pasta with egg yolks rather than with water, producing richer and heftier pasta, which he then

ANTONELLO, MINERVA THAI

T

WO POUNDS OF flour plus three dozen humanely farmproduced egg yolks make up the recipe for fresh pasta at Antonello Ristorante. The iconic Italian mainstay, at South Coast Village in Santa Ana, has been serving madefrom-scratch Italian fare in a welcoming and romantic atmosphere since 1979.

The rooms are adorned with photographs of owner Antonio Cagnolo’s life in Italy; among them, a family vineyard triptych graces its enoteca’s walls.

Though the menu spans the various cuisines of Italy’s 21 regions, what ties them together at Antonello is the commitment to fresh pasta and ingredients.

Native to Cagnolo’s hometown and named for its technique, Ravioli del Plin pays tribute to his childhood in Piedmont.

Pushing one’s thumb into each raviolo makes an impression that is then filled with a mix of roasted veal, Swiss chard, Parmesan and eggs. The savory morsels that result are both delicate and comforting. Mamma Pina is Cagnolo’s mother’s specialty, short-rib-stuffed miniature ravioli in a Bolognese sauce. The restaurant’s gnocchi are unbelievably soft and light, made from ricotta and served with shallots, sweet basil, Fontina cheese and San Marzano tomatoes.

Made daily, the pasta is integral to the restaurant’s sense of authenticity. But there are other regional specialties that also should not be missed, among them branzino; risotto prepared tableside in a wheel of pecorino; and some 20 desserts made in-house—try the spumoni!

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Tagliatelle al pomodoro at Old Vine Café.

Opposite: Making ravioli at Il Garage, top, and gnocchi at Antonello.

complements with regional ingredients.

If a dish derives from southern Italy, for instance, McDonald adds only cheeses and produce native to the region.

The beef tenderloin Stroganoff is not a traditional Italian dish but can be considered northern Italian, as beef is raised in the north. Served over housemade tagliatelle and drizzled with a creamed demi glace, the entrée is both hearty and tender and, above all, comforting. Copious amounts of fresh shiitake mushrooms contribute an umami component that also primes the palate for the restaurant’s distinctive wines.

The lighter tagliatelle al pomodoro is tossed in a tangy, sweet pomodoro sauce and heavily snowed with aged pecorino Romano. The texture of each gently springy tagliatelle noodle shows why many seek out fresh pasta.

Another staple appeals to fans of more rustic pasta dishes: handmade pappardelle resting in a pork sausage pomodoro ragu

and topped with fresh English peas and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Thick, wide noodles of pappardelle stand up to the weight of the ragu and the savory sausage; the peas lend a welcome pop and textural variance.

Every beautiful pasta deserves a beautiful wine; every staff member at Old Vine is well-versed in pairing.

If the idea of Italy and Italian food suggests an air of romance for you, you’ll appreciate Il Garage in Stanton. That it’s in a small garage seems only to add to the ambiance; the garage is open, so it feels alfresco. Open for dinner by reservation only, it overlooks an immaculate garden whose daily harvests drive the ever-changing menu. Red-andwhite checkered tablecloths over just a handful of wooden tables lend an air of intimacy, luring guests hoping for a charming evening to themselves.

More than 20 types of pastas are made

here to accompany the various vegetables plucked from the garden beds, though depending on the recipe, chef David Slay might determine that a dry pasta is more appropriate. And though most dishes derive from the seasonal bounty, there are popular mainstays.

Lasagna al Forno finds nine layers of thin, fresh noodles stacked with beef Bolognese, Grana Padano and béchamel, baked for six to seven hours and served piping hot. The dish retains the meatiness that lasagna lovers seek, but the housemade noodles help make the typically heavy dish somewhat lighter.

Il Garage’s rigatoni primavera is highly dependent on what the garden produces; the harvest is tossed with a light pesto sauce and those very locally grown ingredients for a particularly healthful and farm-fresh-delicious dish.

You’ll find Il Garage hidden behind its highly acclaimed sibling, ParkAve.

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SUR F CITY N IGHTS DOWN TOWN

W W W. S U R F C I T Y U S A . C O M

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LAIDBA CK LU XU RY IN H UN TINGTON BE A CH Mixed with the salty sea breeze, an air of laidback luxury flows through Huntington Beach, from its popular Downtown Main Street and beloved neighborhood gems, to its new restaurant and retail communal hub, Pacific City.

Just a short walk south of the pier lands visitors in a coastal cool, carefully curated world of outdoor hang-out spaces, upscale dining, modern boutique shops, and LOT 579, a California culinary experience and artisan marketplace. The best part: It all awaits opposite 10 miles of uninterrupted coastline.

“In our opinion, Pacific City has the best location of any shopping, dining and entertainment destination in the world—Huntington Beach,” says Stenn Parton, Director of Leasing for DJM Capital Partners, the developers of Pacific City.

Retreat to your home away from home at a serene oceanfront suite at the Shorebreak Hotel, Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort, Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa, or brand new Paséa Hotel & Spa. Soak in the pool, move to live music, and pick your spa package.

Whether you’re zipped up in a wetsuit or wrapped in a light jacket, the choices for shopping, food, and fun are endless—just like our summer.

P E TA LS & P OP

T HE BU N G A LOW | TA N KFAR M WAYS & MEA N S OYST ER HOUS E BEAR F LA G F I SH CO . | P O P B AR BUR N T CRU MBS | SA I N T M AR C HA N S H O MEMA D E I CE C R E AM PIE-N OT | W EST OF CAM DE N SEA FOLLY | SA AVY N AT UR AL S PETA LS & P OP | LEMO NADE H E I R LO O M S & H A R D WA R E COM ING S O O N TO PAC I F I C C I TY

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EXPLORING

Metro Cities

COSTA MESA, A RETAIL, CULTURAL AND BUSINESS CENTER, ADJOINS IRVINE AND SANTA ANA, THE COUNTY SEAT.

➺Where is the heart of Orange County? Irvine, home of the historic Irvine Ranch, is O.C.’s financial Costa Mesa

On one side of Bristol Street is South Coast Plaza, whose annual sales, nearly $2 billion, are highest among the nation’s shopping destinations. On the other is the county’s center of culture—two concert halls and its largest repertory theater—and business high-rises.

The late Henry Segerstrom and his family founded South Coast Plaza in 1967 on a lima bean field where as a youth he’d driven a tractor. Today, South Coast Plaza and its Bear Street wing, connected by the Bridge of Gardens, offer hundreds of stores, boutiques and restaurants. The state-designated tourist attraction has the nation’s highest concentration of elite retailers. Charlotte Olympia, Céline and Dolce & Gabbana are new. Excellent dining options include Marché Moderne and Din Tai Fung.

It’s an easy walk to the “arts campus,” the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Repertory and, in the future, Orange County Museum of Art. The Segerstrom Center for the Arts, built in 1986 mainly with Segerstrom money on Segerstrom land, includes 3,000-seat Segerstrom Hall, presenting a range of genres including dance and Broadway musicals, and the newer Renée and Henry Segerstrom Hall, a 2,000seat facility designed by Cesar Pelli that hosts events as diverse as tributes to Mahler and Paul McCartney. There are two intimate

venues within the venues, Founders Hall and Samueli Theater, respectively.

Renowned South Coast Repertory, with three stages inside its David Emmes and Martin Benson Theatre Center, opened at its present location in 1978, also with Segerstrom family donations. Among Town Center’s professional buildings is one of the nation’s premier collections of outdoor art. Start, or end, at the 1.6-acre California Scenario (near Anton Boulevard) by sculptor Isamu Noguchi.

Metro Pointe and South Coast Plaza Village—whose movie theater offers top foreign films—are a crosswalk away. All three centers are accessible from North or South County hotels by dedicated taxi and motor coach service, and Amtrak’s Pacific Surfliner delivers visitors to the Santa Ana train station.

To the west is the South Coast Collection of design showrooms such as Design Within Reach and Pirch. Of note to foodies are Surfas Culinary District, Arc restaurant and the farmers market on Saturdays. The hip OC Mix features 30 vendors including Alexander Gray eyewear, the Mixing Glass for cocktail ware and Taco María for sophisticated chicano fare.

South on Bristol are The Lab and The Camp. The Lab has the kinds of shops you’d likely find on L.A.’s hip Melrose Avenue, among them Heirlooms and Hardware and the Celect boutique. Opposite is the Camp,

set amid woods, aluminum and piped-in sounds of crickets. Dining options include Old Vine Café, Vitaly for Italian sandwiches and gelato and Taco Asylum for unusual tacos.

Dine-and-play center The Triangle offers bowling at Costa Mesa 55 Tavern + Bowl and dining at Black Knight Gastro Lounge, Saddle Ranch Chop House and La Vida Cantina.

The O.C. Fair & Event Center hosts events year-round, the county fair and concerts at the Pacific Amphitheatre in summer.

Santa Ana

Arts-minded downtown Santa Ana offers the Artists Village, Santora Arts Complex and Grand Central Art Center. Places such as Playground and Little Sparrow make the dining scene an exciting one. Find more than a dozen innovative fast-casual dining concepts at 4th Street Market. The bar scene— we favor Lola Gaspar—is burgeoning, too.

A centerpiece of the East End along historic Fourth Street is the Yost Theater, now a concert venue. Historical highlights include the Queen Anne-style home of Dr. Willella Howe-Waffle, and the Old County Courthouse, a setting for numerous movies.

Bowers Museum, founded in 1936, offers blockbuster exhibitions mounted with the world’s major museums. Visitors can also view pre-Columbian artifacts, Pacific Island art and a permanent exhibit of local history.

DISCOVERY CUBE, DHRUMIL DESAIW; OC MIX, VLADIMIR PERLOVICH; IRVINE SPECTRUM, EDWIN SANTIAGO

hub. Santa Ana is the county seat. Tustin’s massive twin hangars are near the county’s geographic center.

But Costa Mesa residents would say their city is hands-down the county’s heart and its cultural soul.

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Giant Wheel at Irvine Spectrum Center.

(Opposite from left) Discovery Cube science Center in Santa Ana, OC Mix at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa.

Discovery Cube science center has been spectacularly expanded; its namesake tilting cube is perched seemingly inches off Interstate 5. MainPlace houses Macy’s, Nordstrom and 200 shops; a 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport, with rooftop basketball court and open-air swimming pool, and Lucille’s Smokehouse BBQ are new. Intimate Santa Ana Zoo is in Prentice Park; highlights include a primate exhibit and children’s zoo.

Irvine

Its Giant Wheel can be seen for miles along the 5, 405 and 133 freeways. But it’s the Irvine Spectrum Center’s 150 shops, many of them entertainment-related, restaurants such as Cucina Enoteca for Cal-Ital and Capital Seafood for Chinese, and the nation’s most visited movie complex that together draw more visitors annually than Disneyland.

Irvine Barclay Theatre, at UC Irvine— which recently marked its 50th anniversary— presents an impressive roster of music, dance and dramatic events; there’s not a bad seat in the house. Nearby is the UCI Arboretum (Jamboree Road and Campus Drive, 949.824.5833). San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary (949.261.7963) offers 10 miles of trails through coastal freshwater marshlands. The Irvine Museum houses Joan Irvine Smith’s collection of California Impressionist art on the ground floor of an office building.

The one developed corner of the Orange County Great Park offers a farmers market, an arts complex and a carousel; you can ride 400 feet up in the iconic tethered orange balloon. The restored blacksmith shop and general store of Old Town Irvine (Sand Canyon Avenue and Burt Road, 949.660.9112) now house a hotel and restaurants.

Irvine offers a relatively problem-free world carved from the Irvine Co.’s land holdings. The vibe extends to John Wayne Airport, whose pleasant ambience and ease of departure and arrival make it vastly superior to LAX.

Tustin

Forbes magazine recently listed Tustin in its Top 25 places “to live well.” The city has preserved many of its 1870s buildings along Main Street and El Camino Real.

The District at Tustin Legacy, at Jamboree Road and Barranca Parkway, is a sprawling shopping center. Draws include The Winery and Bluewater Grill restaurants, sip-and-paint

G R E AT F I N D

venue Pinot’s Palette, a cineplex, and bowling at Bowlmor. New Union Market offers an eclectic collection of dining concepts and retailers. The nearby iconic twin hangars are 1,000 feet long and 17 stories tall.

The Market Place (714.730.4124), on Jamboree Road off Interstate 5, is older and even more sprawling. Though often called Tustin Market Place, part of it is actually in Irvine. Taps Fish House & Brewery is new.

The Marconi Automotive Museum (714.258.3001) displays 80 vehicles, notably Ferraris and historic open-wheel race cars.

For bold items, see the where guide listings.

For neighborhood maps, see page 63.

/ braintastic

➺The new Gray Matter Museum of Art, described as a nonprofit “nouvelle boutique

museum,” functions as a gallery for local artists—showing works such as vintage-fruitgum pop art by Charlene Landry, left—as well as arts-education outreach for local schools and beautiful event space. Changing exhibits include sculpture, pottery, glassblowing, performance art, music, virtual arts, photography, drawings, painting, graphic design and fashion. The motto: “Triggering the gray matter within us all.” Open W-Sa 11 am4 pm. 485 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.870.5910, gmmaca.org

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EXPLORING

The Coast

­­ THE COUNTY’S PRIME BEACH COMMUNITIES INCLUDE NEWPORT BEACH, BALBOA, CORONA DEL MAR AND HUNTINGTON BEACH.

➺Newport Beach offers the county’s most pleasant shopping destination, countless fine restaurants and Newport Beach

Newport Beach and its environs have been called California’s Riviera. Sandy beaches and bougainvillea are a backdrop to yachts and dream homes, from cottages to some of the nation’s most expensive real estate.

Its retail center is Newport Center, near Jamboree Road, Coast Highway and MacArthur Boulevard. Neiman Marcus and Bloomingdale’s are anchors at elegant and relaxed shopping destination Fashion Island.

Yogasmoga, Sushi Roku and Hopdoddy Burger Bar are new. Island Cinema offers leather seats and wine service.

The Orange County Museum of Art, also in Newport Center, focuses on 20th century California artists, offers thought-provoking shows and throws hip fetes.

Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve, aka the Back Bay, boasts some 160 species of birds. Hike, bike or jog along 10 miles of trails. Rowing and kayaking are popular; rent equipment from Newport Aquatic Center (949.646.7725). At Newport Dunes, Moe B’s Watersports (949.729.1150) rents kayaks, pedal boats and electric boats.

Newport Beach boasts the world’s largest small-boat harbor. Mariner’s Mile, along Coast Highway, is lined with dining destinations—notably The Winery restaurant and wine bar and Pizzeria Mozza—as well as luxury-car showrooms and yacht clubs.

Private charters and narrated harbor cruises, aboard vessels including luxury dining cruisers and ro­mantic gondolas, depart from Mariner’s Mile as well as from Balboa Pavilion (see Balboa, below), and pass huge luxury abodes. All manner of boat rentals are possible, from canoes and kayaks to sailboats, motorboats and surrey-fringed electric boats.

The “beach” in Newport Beach includes two piers, Balboa and Newport, great sandy expanses and one of the cleanest and most colorful bike paths and boardwalks anywhere.

New Lido Marina Village revitalizes a pedestrian-friendly, harborside shopping village with tenants including Clare V. and Jenni Kayne boutiques, Alchemy Works gallery and Nobu restaurant, opening presently.

The action never stops around Newport Pier, off Newport Boulevard on McFadden Square. Historic Stag Bar (1908) just added a kitchen. The Dory Fishing Fleet (1889) leaves soon after the bars close in the wee hours of the morn; you can visit the open-air fish market after the sun comes up. Have breakfast or a sandwich at the Dory Deli (2015).

Balboa

To reach the Balboa Pier, continue southeast on Newport Boulevard (its name changes to Balboa Boulevard at 22nd Street), turn right on Palm Street and park in the metered lot.

The Wedge, where the peninsula meets

the harbor jetty, is one of the world’s most famous bodysurfing and bodyboarding spots.

Currents and riptides can be dangerous, so don’t go in the water unless you really know what you’re doing. Watching is fun enough.

On the harbor side of Balboa Peninsula are the Balboa Pavilion. Take advantage of the Balboa Bay Front Webcam at Harbour House coffee shop; find a sunny seat outside, call friends in snowbound or humid states, have them log on to talesofbalboa.com and gloat!

The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum has transformed itself into ExplorOcean.

Balboa Pavilion, a 1905 gabled, cupolatopped structure, is the de­pot for boat excursions: harbor tours, whale-watching trips and Santa Catalina cruises. As classic pop-song lyrics attest, Catalina, known for its beaches, buffalo and glass-bottom boats, is “26 miles across the sea.” The city of Avalon is 75 minutes away via the catamaran Catalina Flyer.

The Balboa Island Ferry is a three-car shuttle between docks on the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island, a tightknit community featuring charming cottages, shops, galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Marine Avenue is its only nonresidential street. Try a customdipped Balboa Bar or frozen banana.

Corona del Mar

Heading south along Coast Highway takes you past Corona del Mar Plaza, where

BALBOA, ASHOK SINHA; PIER, BENJAMIN GINSBERG; BUNNIES, EDWIN SANTIAGO

gorgeous golf, not to mention its most coveted real estate. Along the coast, you’ll find wide sandy beaches, the world’s largest pleasure-boat harbor, renowned piers and Surf City USA.

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upscale destinations include Sienna Brown, Diane’s for swimwear and Savory Spice Shop as well as Sprinkles Ice Cream.

Corona del Mar, whose streets are named for flowers, has expansive beaches and some of the country’s most expensive real estate.

On East Coast Highway, just south of MacArthur Boulevard, is Sherman Library & Gardens, offering 2,000 plant species on two landscaped acres. Consider a repast at Café Jardin or the Tea Garden Crêperie. Coast Highway is lined with elegant design showrooms, rug dealers and boutiques.

To find Corona del Mar State Beach, head south on Marguerite from Coast Highway, turn right on Ocean Boulevard, then follow signs to the parking lot below. You’ll find bodysurfing, volleyball, fire pits and facilities.

Picturesque Little Corona Beach is just south.

South of Corona del Mar is Newport Coast. Crystal Cove Shopping Center offers boutiques such as At Ease for Men and new Atelier 7918 and Babette’s, Bluefin and Mastro’s Ocean Club restaurants.

Nearby are Crystal Cove State Park, with miles of sandy coves and miles of trails, and gorgeous Pelican Hill Golf Club.

Huntington Beach

Surf City USA is more sophisticated of late.

Though Huntington Beach retains some of its sand-in-the-cracks identity, shops along Main Street, fine-dining options and luxury hotels have made for a dramatic transformation.

Main Street is a promenade with lots of surf-wear and beachwear shops, a Surfing Walk of Fame and Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum. New Pacific City brings acres of retail, including H&M and Seafolly and eateries such as Saint Marc

Newport Beach Civic Center.

(Opposite from left) Balboa Bar on Balboa Island; Huntington Beach Pier.

Pub-Cafe. The Strand, a development at Pacific Coast Highway and Fifth Street, offers Rip Curl surf wear and Bruxie waffles. Next to Huntington Beach Pier Plaza are Duke’s and Sandy’s HB restaurants; the plaza hosts art shows, live music and farmers markets.

The area’s three beaches—Huntington City Beach, Huntington State Beach and Bolsa Chica State Beach—are popular for surfing and volleyball and for their fire rings. Bolsa Chica State Ecological Reserve (714.840.1575) offers 200 species of migratory birds in a salt-marsh setting with a 1.5-mile loop trail.

Inland, at Talbert Avenue and Goldenwest Street, is 350-acre Huntington Central

G R E AT F I N D

Park; the park encompasses Shipley Nature Center (714.842.4772), an equestrian center, two “lakes” and the city’s Central Library (714.842.4481)—which has the largest children’s library in the state.

Tenants at 5 Points Plaza include Loft, Vans and Cloudmover Day Spa; the dog-friendly center even has a barking lot! Draws at Tuscan-themed Bella Terra shopping destination include outdoor-sports specialist REI and Solita for excellent tacos and margaritas. Nearby is Old World Village, hub for all things German, notably dachshund races.

For bold items, see the where guide listings.

For neighborhood maps, see pages 62-63.

/ curated collection

➺

Get ready to play in the atelier: Atelier 7918, new at Crystal Cove Shopping Center, offers a highly edited collection of ready-to-wear and conceptual apparel and accessories— most of it from independent designers—and beauty products. The minimalist environment juxtaposes luxe and raw materials. On the roster: Mary Katrantzou, Peter Pilotto, Thierry Mugler, Cushnie et Ochs, Olympia Le-Tan, Laurence Dacade, M2Malletier, Malone Souliers, Jennie Kwon, Ruifier, Kiyoko, Clark’s Botanicals and Kelly Wearstler. 7918 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.0899, atelier7918.com

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EXPLORING

South Coast

COLORFUL CITIES ON OR NEAR THE COAST INCLUDE LAGUNA BEACH, SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AND DANA POINT.

➺Four of the county’s most historic cities are nestled into its southern corner: Laguna Beach, Dana Laguna Beach

It’s fitting that you pass Laguna College of Art + Design as you enter the county’s original art colony along Laguna Canyon Road. Admire the sculptures! In fact, it is easy to spend a day along the thoroughfare before ever entering the city proper, especially during the summer, when it hosts three art festivals— Festival of Arts, Art-A-Fair and the Sawdust Art Festival—and the renowned “living tableaux” presentation, Pageant of the Masters.

Acclaimed Laguna Playhouse offers both comedic and profound fare year-round.

Laguna Canyon Road becomes Broadway, then comes to a T at Main Beach and Coast Highway. Turn left toward downtown or right toward Laguna Art Museum and you’ll find galleries, boutiques and restaurants.

Laguna Art Museum presents modern and contemporary art, mostly by California painters; often explores pop culture; and displays art from Laguna’s past, including lots of seascapes. Steps away are coastal vistas at Heisler Park and a stretch of Coast Highway called North Gallery Row, where you’ll find Hobrecht Sports Gallery (350 N. Coast Hwy., 949.945.3283) and Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry (352 N. Coast Hwy., 949.715.0953).

Historical cottages dot the neighborhoods above. On a steep hillside is the Hortense Miller Garden (open by appointment, 22511 Allview Terrace, 949.497.3311, Ext. 426).

Main Beach gets action year-round.

There are volleyball and basketball courts, a playground and a boardwalk popular with walkers and joggers, and one more major attraction: The beach is just across the street from scores of the shops and galleries that give the city its distinctive aura.

Must-sees in the downtown heart of Laguna, aka the Village, include the sculpture garden at Dawson Cole Fine Art Gallery (326 Glenneyre St., 888.972.5543). South along Coast Highway are dining options including hockey great Teemu Selänne’s Selanne Steak Tavern, K’ya Bistro Bar at historic La Casa del Camino and posh Studio at the Montage.

Dana Point

Richard Henry Dana, the seaman who wrote 1840’s Two Years Before the Mast, described the area now named for him as “the only romantic spot” on the California coast, noting its “grandeur” and “solemnity.” The grandeur is still there, but you won’t find much solemnity along Harbor Drive, now bustling with boaters, diners, shoppers and those headed to see the tall clipper ships in port.

In addition to its sand and shore, Doheny State Beach offers five acres of lawn. Families picnic, couples rent bicycles. An interpretive center focuses on the underwater Doheny State Marine Life Refuge. The beach hosts a

blues festival in May and in summer, Lobsterfest, a surf competition and outrigger racing.

Busiest day of the year? Fourth of July, with fireworks launched from a barge.

Make your way along Harbor Drive to the tide pools at the end of the harbor’s rocky ledge. Public benches are a stone’s throw from seals basking on sea-logged boulders; take in both the quiet beauty of the harbor and the roar of the surf against the rocks.

Dana Point Harbor offers 2,500 slips for vessels of all sizes, three yacht clubs, a fishing pier and Dana Wharf Sportfishing, which also offers whale-watching trips.

The Ocean Institute displays the Pilgrim, a full-sized replica of the brig on which Dana sailed, docked next to the fishing pier. Wharf highlights include the White Pelican for Native American jewelry (34475 Golden Lantern St., 949.240.1991) and the Harbor Grill seafooder.

North of town are luxury hotels featuring superior dining—Stonehill Tavern at the St. Regis, and Raya at the Ritz-Carlton—and pristine Salt Creek Beach Park.

San Juan Capistrano

There’s no beach in this burg, but there’s plenty of history, style and charm. And there is no passing up a visit to Mission San Juan Capistrano, often credited with being the birthplace of Orange County. It was founded

MISSION, EDWIN SANTIAGO; GALLERY, ASHOK SINHA; BEACH, BENJAMIN GINSBERG

Point and San Clemente along Coast Highway, and nearby San Juan Capistrano. Whether for shopping, dining, history or just tantalizing poetic beauty, these small burgs have spectacular offerings.

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by Father Junipero Serra in 1776, the same year America was born. It took nine years to build its Great Stone Church, completed in 1806; it took just a minute for an earthquake to destroy it six years later, killing 40 people.

The priests left the ruins, a dramatic benchmark of the struggle to build California.

The dome atop the nearby rail station was made with stones from the ruins. Priests still celebrate Mass in the Serra Chapel; the original adobe walls shelter a magnificent Baroque altarpiece decorated with 52 carved gold-leaf angels. The 10-acre site is filled with walkways, gardens, fountains and exhibits. Mission events include the renowned Swallows’ Day Parade in March.

Just across the train tracks is the Los Rios Historic District. A stroll along Los Rios Street is a most pleasant experience; 31 homes, the earliest dating to 1794, look as they did in centuries past. Near the train station is the O’Neill Museum (31831 Los Rios St., 949.493.8444), home to the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society. The Ramos House Café, in an 1881 board-and-batten house, offers an unforgettable breakfast.

Camino Capistrano is lined with shops and restaurants. One of South County’s most popular taverns is the colorful Swallow’s Inn (31786 Camino Capistrano, 949.493.3188).

For a different kind of nightlife, consider the nearby Camino Real Playhouse (31776 El Camino Real, 949.489.8082). San Juan Capistrano Regional Library (31495 El Camino Real, 949.493.1752) is a postmodern masterpiece by architect Michael Graves.

San Juan Capistrano is the county’s equestrian center; luxurious residences, many with their own stables, surround the city. Eight miles east is Ronald W. Caspers

Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point.

(Opposite from left) Mission San Juan Capistrano; Laguna Beach gallery.

Wilderness Park (33401 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.923.2210).

San Clemente

La Casa Pacifica, President Richard Nixon’s “Western White House,” has long since been broken up into million-dollar homes by a private developer. But one historic home you can still see is Casa Romantica (415 Avenida Granada, 949.498.2139), once the residence of the city’s founder, oil entrepreneur Ole Hanson. On a hillside overlooking San Clemente Pier, it’s now the Cultural Center and Gardens, with galleries and a popular veranda.

From the pier, the sun sets across the blue

G R E AT F I N D

➺

water between Catalina Island and the Dana Point bluffs—just look past the constant stream of surfers. Metrolink and Amtrak trains run alongside the beach and stop at the pier. Find shopping and dining on Avenida del Mar, lined with antique stores and galleries, and El Camino Real, and at the new Outlets at San Clemente, whose tenants include H&M, Calvin Klein, Vans and Nike.

Talega Golf Club (949.369.6226), above the city, was designed with help from Masters champion Fred Couples. Sundried Tomato is among draws at Talega Village Center.

For bold items, see listing in the where guide.

For a map of these neighborhoods, see page 63

/ east west images

The new Ning Zhou Gallery in Laguna Beach is owned by and devoted to the works of acclaimed Chinese photographer Ning Zhou. The collection focuses primarily on outdoor images such as Dream on the Charles River (2009), left. Ning Zhou founded China’s first photography college and in 2007 was named outstanding contemporary photographer by the country’s national photographers association; he also serves as president of the East West Culture and Arts Foundation. The gallery is open daily. 357 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 714.726.1763, ningzhougallery.com

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EXPLORING

North County

ANAHEIM, BUENA PARK, ORANGE AND FULLERTON OFFER THEME PARKS AND OTHER ATTRACTIONS.

➺Long before orange groves and Walt Disney shaped the landscape of Anaheim, and before Napa Valley

became a household name, German immigrants made the area California’s first wine country. It still fuels high times and joyful memories with world-class attractions that make it the gateway to endless fun.

Making millions of dreams come true every year, Disneyland, now marking its 60th anniversary with a diamond celebration, is beloved by children of every age. Since Walt Disney opened the main gate in 1955, families have made the pilgrimage, starting on Main Street, U.S.A., and exploring eight lands from Frontierland to Toontown.

Captured in countless vacation photographs, landmarks such as the Matterhorn, Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and the Haunted Mansion— all recently enhanced—beckon even as new attractions such as the “Paint the Night” parade, which uses projected mapping technology unprecedented for Disney, debut.

Sister park Disney California Adventure launched Cars Land, adding attractions— notably Radiator Springs Racers—inspired by the Disney-Pixar film Cars. Guests enter along Buena Vista Street, evoking the era when Walt Disney arrived in Los Angeles; Carthay Circle Theatre houses an elegant restaurant.

A new World of Color shows wows nightly with choreographed fountains, lights, lasers, music, film and animation that tell the story of Walt Disney. The thrills never end at California Screamin’, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Soarin’ Over California, a simulation of gliding above the Golden State.

There’s no admission at adjacent Downtown Disney, but it takes restraint to

avoid splurging in the lively promenade’s shops, cafés and entertainment venues such as House of Blues, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen and ESPN Zone. Eateries range from fast to fancy, but none outclasses Napa Rose in the dazzling Grand Californian Hotel.

Shop, eat and play some more at Anaheim GardenWalk, a collection of shopping and dining options in an outdoor setting. For indoor entertainment, consider the new Billy Beez jungle-themed arena for kids, bowling at Bowlmor or dancing at Heat Ultra Lounge. Nearby is The Ranch, among the county’s best restaurants, and its adjacent super-fun saloon, which is modeled on the late Crazy Horse.

Boldface names and sports action are the lure at Honda Center, home for the Anaheim Ducks ice hockey team and L.A. KISS football team, host to touring acts such as Janet Jackson.

Nearby is the region’s new transportation hub, the architecturally stunning Anaheim Regional Transportation Intermodal Center (ARTIC). At Angel Stadium, “the Big A,” major-league baseball rules when the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim play; arena rock acts such as U2 invade when the team’s on tour. Anaheim Convention Center now has a grand Grand Plaza.

The Anaheim Packing District includes hip shops and restaurants on Center Street

Promenade. The historic Anaheim Packing House offers foodie vendors of all kinds, and it’s a smash—try several! Our favorites include Adya for Cal-Indian, Georgia’s for Southern and Hammer Bar & Tool Shed for cocktails. Muzeo is a small museum nearby.

Anaheim Ice, training facility for the Anaheim Ducks, is open for public skating.

Buena Park

Roller coaster, Old West and boysenberry jam enthusiasts flock to Knott’s Berry Farm, a theme park with roots back to 1934, when farmers Walter and Cordelia Knott opened a roadside stand selling berries and a diner dishing fried chicken. Diners still feast on drumsticks and berry pie at Knott’s Chicken Dinner restaurant, and shoppers wander through the California Marketplace; both enjoy the Independence Hall replica (1966).

Inside the park, a daunting collection of roller coasters separates the bold from the bashful. Xcelerator rockets to 82 mph in 2.3 seconds. Silver Bullet turns riders upside down six times. GhostRider, currently under renovation, is one of the world’s longest and tallest wooden coasters. Less hair-raising are the kiddie rides at Camp Snoopy. The interactive Voyage to the Iron Reef is new.

Explore bygone eras without leaving Beach Boulevard. Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament revisits an 11th century castle.

OLD TOWNE, VLADIMIR PERLOVICH; DISNEY, IDRIS ERBA; ARTIC, DHRUMIL DESAI

Anaheim

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New ARTIC in Anaheim.

(Opposite from left) Antique shop in Old Towne Orange; café at Disney California Adventure’s Cars Land.

Audiences cheer jousting knights and pageantry starring Pure Spanish stallions while serfs and wenches serve a four-course feast. A banquet at Pirate’s Dinner Adventure fortifies guests for skirmishes aboard a replicated 18th century Spanish galleon in an indoor lagoon.

Teatro Martini dinner cabaret recently opened at the same location.

Orange

Old Towne Orange is often used for movies and commercials, thanks to its diligently preserved pre-1940 homes and buildings.

Anchored by a picturesque traffic circle—oval, actually—at Chapman Avenue and Glassell Street, the district is on the National Register of Historic Places. It includes antique shops and restaurants such as Haven Gastropub and Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen. The Orange Chamber of Commerce (439 E. Chapman Ave.) offers a map of historic sights.

Chapman University is one of the state’s oldest private universities. New are Musco Center for the Arts and, nearby, the Hilbert Museum of California Art. To the east is Irvine Park; its petite Orange County Zoo and narrow-gauge train are ideal for wee ones.

Big kids go for The Outlets at Orange, where draws include high-end discount retailers Neiman Marcus Last Call and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th. Families fall like pins for hip bowling alley Lucky Strike Lanes and flock to Vans Skatepark.

Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove— formerly known as Crystal Cathedral—is a must-tour for architecture buffs.

Fullerton

Most visitors to Fullerton, home of sprawling Cal State Fullerton, gravitate to the historic

core along Harbor Boulevard, with its endless supply of boutiques and watering holes. Near Commonwealth Avenue, a short stroll from the historic train station, are night spots and restaurants such as Matador Cantina and Twisted Vine.

Significant sights nearby include the Fullerton Museum Center, offering dynamic exhibits including a gallery devoted to Leo Fender, native son and pioneer of the electric guitar. The museum offers maps pinpointing fine examples of architecture styles within walking distance. A short drive away, the stately Muckenthaler Cultural Center hosts varied design and art events and exhibits.

G R E AT F I N D

The Fullerton Arboretum at CSUF is a garden of delights, with streams, trails and a restored Victorian cottage. East in Yorba Linda is the birthplace of Richard Nixon.

The tiny home and impressive rose garden are on the grounds of the Nixon Presidential Library & Museum, marking its 25th anniversary but currently closed for renovations.

Birch Street Promenade in neighboring Brea offers retailers, dining destinations such as Brunos Italian Kitchen and stand-up comedy. Lillie’s Q for acclaimed barbecue fare is nearby. Brea Mall is huge.

For bold items, see listings in the where guide.

For a map of these neighborhoods, see page 61.

/ a new leaf

➺ Bodhi Leaf Coffee Traders offers “the journey to the perfect bean, directly sourced.” The

company supplies more than 100 types of beans from all over the world—from Bali Paradise Washed and Brazil Volcano Junqueira Estate Lot #09f to Sulawesi White Eagle and Sumatra Rainforest Alliance Mandheling Gr. 1—to commercial roasters as well as home roasters with a passion for coffee in all its expressions. The website includes details on each. Interested in only a cup? A dozen varieties are already roasted, ready to brew and served at the Bodhi Leaf Coffee Bar. 428 W. Katella Ave., Orange, 714.633.2326, bodhileafcoffee.com

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where

the guide SPRING 2016

LIBATIONS

Cocktails for Life Babette’s at Crystal Cove Shopping Center in Newport Coast introduces a menu of cold-pressed-juice cocktails.

The concoctions—delicious and at least somewhat healthful!—include the Green Machine, with kale, celery, lime, cucumber and vodka; the Pineapple Express, with pineapple, cilantro, lime and rum; and Just Beet It, with beet, lime, serrano pepper, tequila and mezcal. Though the restaurant’s raw juices are available for dine-in or takeout, it’s best to enjoy these versions in the lovely courtyard. p. 32

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Dining SPOTLIGHT

American

Guidelines Map locators at the end of each listing (Map A3; Map

A RESTAURANT Stylish, nostalgic spot with redleather booths. Beef Stroganoff, pot roast and scallops get an of-the-moment treatment. Café/market adjacent. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 3334 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.650.6505 $$$ Map N13

H10, etc.) refer to maps on pages 61-63. Compendium includes editors’ recommendations and advertisers.

ANDREI’S CONSCIOUS CUISINE & COCKTAILS Nature Conservancy’s “favorite green restaurant” offers sophisticated fare and distinctive cocktails amid contemporary decor; the citrus-and-herb garden terrace features fire “tornadoes.” L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 2607 Main St., Irvine, 949.387.8887 $$ Map D4 ARC Chef Noah Blom’s “flame, flavor, finesse” cuisine (e.g., pig with black beans, maple and herbs) amid rusticapothecary decor. The Butcher’s Love for four is arguably O.C.’s best steak; superb cocktails use housemade everything. L, D (daily). South Coast Collection, 3321 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.500.5561 $$ Map J12

Cheese Queens Dawn Provence and Sherrie Jordan opened The Cellar—a cheese shop, wine bar with live music and restaurant serving spectacular burrata and mac ’n’ cheese plates— eight years ago in San Clemente (p. 32). Their cheese empire has since spread, as it were. The pair also own The Cheese Shop @ the Mix in Costa Mesa (949.284.0558) and Center Street Cheese Shop in Anaheim (714.520.0225), both focusing on artisanal cheeses, most of them domestic farmhouse but also select European varieties.

Their Black Sheep GCB is a not-to-be-missed grilledcheese bar featuring unusual combinations (e.g., goat cheese and pesto, raclette and cornichons) at Anaheim Packing House (p. 46).

BABETTE’S Stylish outpost of East Hampton eatery with lovely courtyard. Organic farm-to-table fare, vegan-vegetarian options, juice bar, artisan and coldpressed-juice cocktails. B, L, D (daily). Crystal Cove Shopping Center, 7962 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.9915 $$$ Map M17 BACK BAY BISTRO Snazzy spot overlooking Back Bay at the Dunes with retractable roof. Cancun-style shrimp cocktail, Kobe beef sliders, New York steak au poivre. L, D (W-Sa), Br (Sa-Su). Newport Dunes, 1131 Back Bay Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.1144 $$ Map M14 BAD TO THE BONE BBQ Real pit barbecue slow cooked in wood burning pits over hickory. Standouts include tri-tip and pulled pork paired with homemade mashed potatoes. L, D (daily). 31738 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.218.0227 $$ Map M1 BANDERA Perennially popular. Iron-skillet cornbread; wood-fired rotisserie chicken or wood-grilled prime tri-tip; and banana cream pie. D (nightly). 3201 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.673.3524 $$ Map M1 BAYSIDE New American fare at stylish, newly redone spot. Sprawling bar and patio host exec lunches, romantic dinners, lazy brunches. Live jazz. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.1222 $$$ Map M1 THE BEACHCOMBER Spot in a historic cottage right on the sand at Crystal Cove State Park beach. Roasted French feta; Prime flat iron steak with wild-mushroomand-truffle mac; Gimme S’mores! dessert. Outdoor Bootlegger Bar. Shuttle from Los Trancos lot. B, L, D (daily). 15 Crystal Cove, Newport Beach, 949.376.6900 $$ Map E4 BENJIE’S Old-school N.Y.-style deli—O.C.’s oldest at 49.

Cabbage rolls; tongue, chopped liver and pastrami sandwiches. Plus newly redone bar. B, L, D (daily). 1828 N. Tustin Ave., Santa Ana, 714.541.6263 $ Map G14 BISTANGO Beautifully presented contemporary cuisine, extensive wine list, impressively redone bar, jazz nightly.

L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 19100 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.752.5222 $$$ Map K14 THE BLIND PIG Creative fare (bone marrow with octopus, fennel, black garlic; coulotte steak with springpea puree, watermelon radish) and top cocktails lakeside.

L, D (Tu-Su). 31431 Santa Margarita Parkway, Rancho Santa Margarita, 949.888.0072 $$ Map east of D6 BOATHOUSE COLLECTIVE Sprawling yet hidden venue in industrial area. Asian-inflected New American fare. Surfboards hang from the ceiling. D (Tu-Sa). 1640 Pomona Ave, Costa Mesa, 949.646.3176 $$ Map H15

Index American................................. 32 Brewpubs/Gastropubs.......36 California.................................36 Chinese.................................... 37 Continental............................. 37 Eclectic.....................................38 Food Halls................................46 French.......................................38 Indian........................................38 International...........................39

Italian........................................39 Japanese...................................41 Mediterranean........................41 Mexican/Latin........................41 Quick Bites..............................46 Seafood....................................43 Steak..........................................44 Thai............................................45 Vietnamese.............................45

BROADWAY BY AMAR SANTANA Original restaurant of Top Chef contender Santana, who recently opened Vaca in Costa Mesa. Here, he offers creative “cuisine of the Americas”: beer-battered Florida frog legs; chocolate cavatelli pasta with spicy pork ragout. And great cocktails.

L (Sa-Su), D (nightly). 328 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, 949.715.8234 $$$ Map H15 THE CELLAR Cheese shop—a fantastic selection—wine bar and excellent restaurant with live music and dogfriendly patio. D (T-Su). 158 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, 949.492.3663 $$ Map south of F6 CHAPTER ONE: THE MODERN LOCAL Librarythemed spot is always a page-turner; and “culinary cocktails” add intriguing plot twists. L, D (daily). 227 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 714.352.2225 $$ Map H13 DRIFTWOOD KITCHEN & BAR Overlooks the sand.

Octopus “a la plancha” taco, shareable whole fried Texas redfish; bourbons and whiskeys in the Stateroom Bar. B, L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). Pacific Edge Hotel, 619 Sleepy Hollow Lane, Laguna Beach, 949.715.7700 $$ Map I15 EAT CHOW “Chowified” fare includes Southern, French, Mexican and Cuban favorites. B, L, D (daily). 1802 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.650.2469; 211 62nd St., Newport Beach, 949.423.7080 $$ Map K12, N12 GRITS FULLERTON No-rules, creative Southern California—as in Southern and California—breakfast and lunch. Pancake Balls; four-style pork belly; steak-and-crab “Benny”; lengua chilaquiles. B, L (daily). 133 W. Chapman Ave., Fullerton, 714.449.0939 $$ Map A3 HOLSTEINS SHAKES AND BUNS New. High-end burgers—Rising Sun, El Caliente, off-menu Billionaire with foie gras—and Bamboozled alcoholic milkshakes such as A-Chocolypse Now. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.352.2525 $$ Map J13 HOPDODDY New. One of “The Best Burgers in America,” says Food & Wine. More than a dozen versions include bison, Akaushi beef and tuna; we like the K-Town Belly. L, D (daily). Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.2337 $$ Map L15 JULIETTE KITCHEN + BAR New American fare.

Juliette Chung helms the restaurant, husband Jon Hughes the adjacent wine shop, daughter Erica Choir the pastries; Daniel Hyatt is chef. L (M-Sa), D (Tu-Sa). 1000 Bristol St., Newport Beach, 949.752.5854 $$$ Map J13 LEATHERBY’S CAFÉ ROUGE Chic and sleek affair at Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Cutting-edge cuisine and special menus themed to Broadway shows.

Ideal for pre- or post-performance. D (Tu-Su). 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.429.7640 $$$ Map J13

The county’s three Top Chef contenders: Amar Santana of Vaca (p. 43) and Broadway (p. 32) this season; Brian Huskey of Tackle Box (p. 47) and Shirley Chung of Twenty Eight (p. 37).

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Fresh Italian Cuisine ● Happy Hour ● Banquets ● Full-Service Catering ● Kid Friendly

South Coast Plaza Village

(714) 751-7153

3800 South Plaza Drive Santa Ana, CA 92704

www.antonello.com

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South Coast Plaza

(714) 754-0300

3333 Bristol St #1201 Costa Mesa, CA 92626

www.quattrocaffe.com

South Coast Plaza

(714) 557-5232

3333 Bear St. #2887 Costa Mesa, CA 92626

www.antonello.com

1/26/16 4:33 PM

Dining LIGHTHOUSE BAYVIEW CAFÉ New. Burgers, bánh-mì buns and bouillabaisse in a lighthouse-shaped harbor-view restaurant in Balboa Peninsula’s Marina Park.

B, L, D (daily). 1600 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.933.1001 $$ Map N14 LILLIE’S Q Outpost of Charlie McKenna’s Chicago eatery brings his ribs, which consistently win prestigious national barbecue competitions, plus other Southern fare and moonshine cocktails. L, D (daily). 240 S. Brea Blvd., Brea, 714.482.2001 $$$ Map A3

•

•

•

•

LITTLE SPARROW Improvisational bistro fare; charcuterie; cocktails. Recently featured on Bravo TV’s Best New Restaurant series. Look for the CAFE sign on the corner. L (W-Sa), D (W-Su), Br (Su). 300 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.265.7640 $$ Map G13 MAMA’S ON 39 Casual creative comfort fare.

Buttermilk-fried chicken and bacon waffles; Thrifty Ice Cream. B, L, D (daily). 21022 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, 714.374.1166 $$ Map L8 MEMPHIS Southern, Cajun-Creole and Southwest dishes in hip retro setting. Start with gumbo or the pulledpork sliders. B, L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 2920 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.432.7685 $$ Map J13 NICK’S Polished spin on classic American bar and grill fare; lively bar scene. New in San Clemente. L, D (daily). 440 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.8595; 213 Avenida del Mar, San Clemente, 949.481.2200 $$$ Map H15, south of F6 OLD VINE CAFÉ Regional and seasonal; a pleasure any time of day, be it for its caramel apple French toast, beeftongue panini or four-course tasting menus with wine pairings. B, L (daily), D (Tu-Sa). The Camp, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.545.1411 $$ Map J13

Costa Mesa

Newport Beach

633 Anton Blvd.

714.546.7405

8112 East Coast Highway 949.376.6990

ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS: 3 LOCATIONS IN SCOTTSDALE, AZ LAS VEGAS, NV BEVERLY HILLS, CA PALM DESERT, CA THOUSAND OAKS, CA CHICAGO, IL MALIBU, CA NEW YORK, NY WASHINGTON, D.C. • OPENING 2015 www.MastrosRestaurants.com •

MastrosRestaurants •

@MastrosOfficial

PARK AVE Owner-chef David Slay’s creative renditions of classic American fare feature housemade and homegrown specialties. Most produce meticulously grown on premises; visit the garden! Architecture is Googie, decor midcentury retro. L (Tu-F), D (Tu-Su). 11200 Beach Blvd., Stanton, 714.901.4400 $$ Map I8 PAUL MARTIN’S AMERICAN GRILL Restaurateur Paul Fleming (P.F. Chang’s, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse) serves mesquite-grilled items amid dark woods and balsa-wood chandeliers, . L, D (daily). Irvine Spectrum Center, 31 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.453.1144 $$ Map D5

Mexican Inspired Prime Steak & Seafood

PELICAN GRILL Coastal cuisine, mostly California wines and spectacular coastal views overlooking Pelican Hill Golf Course. L, D (daily). 22800 Pelican Hill Road S., Newport Coast, 800.820.6800 $$$ Map L17 PLAYGROUND Owner/chef Jason Quinn, whose Lime Truck won Food Network’s Great Food Truck Race, offers New American small plates: cauliflower nachos; Uncle Lou’s fried chicken; wagyu tri-tip. D (daily). 220 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana, 714.560.4444 $$ Map H13 PLUMS Casual but very fine dining in a strip mall popular for Pacific Northwest-inspired breakfasts—and Dutch Baby deep-dish pancakes B, L (daily); Br (Sa–Su). 369 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.722.7586 $$ Map M13 THE QUIET WOMAN Cozy, very pricey local fixture serves sophisticated comfort food such as center-loin swordfish and baseball-cut steaks. The busy bar is open from lunch to close. 3224 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.640.7440 $$$$ Map M16 R+D KITCHEN Sleek and friendly spot; try the Reubenesque sandwich or the spinach-and-chicken Waldorf salad. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). Fashion Island, 555 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.219.0555 $$ Map L15 RAINFOREST CAFE Creative decor, animatronics and special effects bring the rain forest indoors; dine

Wine Spectator Award of Excellence San Diego

Fashion Island - 143 Newport Center Drive 949.718.0300 NEW LOCATION IN

redorestaurant.com

OPENING SOON!

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Dining SEASONS 52 Lower calorie. Lots of flavor. Fab piano bar, stylish decor, eclectic seasonal menu, Mini Indulgences desserts, superior wine list. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, 714.437.5252 $$ Map J13 SKYLOFT New. Scenic rooftop dining atop the historic Heisler building. Smokehouse barbecue fare includes wings, tri-tip salad and grilled salmon. Local breweries, live music. L, D (daily). 422 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.1550 $$ Map I16 SMOQUED California barbecue in Old Towne Orange.

Avocado fries with sriracha ranch dip; pulled-pork sandwich; St. Louis ribs; pecan pie. L, D (daily); Br (Su). 128 N. Glassell St., Orange, 714.633.7427 $$ Map C4

Build-your-own burger at Stacked

among lush vegetation, lightning storms and wild animals. Expansive menu; kids’ menu. B, L, D (daily).

Downtown Disney, 1515 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.772.0413 $$ Map I10 RALPH BRENNAN’S JAZZ KITCHEN Creole cuisine and New Orleans jazz (beaded piano!) at spot inspired by New Orleans’ French Quarter. Pasta jambalaya, Gumbo Ya-Ya, bananas Foster. Beignets at Jazz Kitchen Express; romantic dining upstairs; casual meals downstairs. B, L, D (daily). Downtown Disney, 1590 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.776.5200 $$ Map I10

SOCIAL Jeffrey Boullt delivers knockout cuisine and cocktails near the Triangle. Wood-fired oysters; fried cauliflower; Akaushi-beef Drive Thru Burger; wagyu tri-tip. Ashley Guzman (North Left) is the new pastry chef. D (Tu-Su), Br (Sa-Su). 512 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, 949.642.2425 $$ Map K12 STACKED New. Build-your-own burgers—with add-ons such as ghost-pepper cheese and roasted-shallot mayonnaise—plus pizzas, salads and mac ‘n’ cheese.

B, L, D (daily). 7490 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, 657.845.2100 $$ Map C2 STONEHILL TAVERN Michael Mina’s urbane ode to New American dining in shimmering room at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort. New chef. D (Tu-Su).

1 Monarch Beach Resort Drive, Dana Point, 949.234.3318 $$$ Map J17

RAMOS HOUSE CAFÉ One of the county’s best restaurants serves O.C.’s best breakfast on the covered patio of an 1881 house next to the train tracks in the historic Los Rios district. B, L (Tu-Su). 31752 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.1342 $$ Map I17

SUMMER HOUSE Cheery flower-bedecked charmer on Coast Highway offers contemporary American comfort fare with Hawaiian and Asian accents. L, D (daily). 2744 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.612.7700 $$ Map M16

THE RANCH Sophisticated restaurant and super-fun saloon. Chef Michael Rossi offers escargot with hazelnut spaetzle, fried Petaluma quail, glorious bone-in cowboy rib-eye; try brother David Rossi’s pecan pie. Most produce picked daily on the Ranch’s own farm. D (nightly). 1025 E. Ball Road, Anaheim, 714.817.4200 $$$ Map I11

THREE SEVENTY COMMON Chef Ryan Adams offers winning fare such as halibut with peas, mint, onion and preserved lemon. Apple fried pies. Family-style Sunday Night Social dinners. D (nightly). 370 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, 949.494.8686 $$ Map H15

ROSCOE’S CHICKEN AND WAFFLES Chicken and waffles in every configuration. B, L, D (daily). 2110 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.823.4130 $ Map I10 RUBY’S DINER Vintage-inspired family-magnets serve burgers, fries and shakes. Three of 17 locations are at the end of piers. B, L, D (daily). Balboa Pier, 949.675.RUBY; Huntington Beach Pier, 714.969.RUBY; Seal Beach Pier, 562.431.RUBY $ Map N15, N9 and west of N7 SADDLE RANCH CHOP HOUSE Rock-western experience with mechanical bull; look for the stagecoach on the roof! Extensive American menu, south-of-the-border accents. B, L, D (daily). The Triangle, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.287.4652; Outlets at Orange, 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, 657.221.3136 $$ Map K12 and J11 SAINT MARC CAFE-PUB, BAKERY AND CHEESE AFFINAGE New. Indoor-outdoor bar. Bacon bar features 11 varieties of bacon such as Apple Pie Bacon and Tender Belly Habanero. 32 barrel wines sold by the ounce. B, L, D (daily). Pacific City, 21058 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington beach, 949.629.2591 $$ Map N9

320 MAIN Chef Jaime Carrano offers elevated fare such as citrus-cured salmon bite, roasted bone marrow with braised oxtail marmalade; owners Jason and Rebecca Schiffer fashion cutting-edge cocktails. D (nightly). 320 Main St., Seal Beach, 949.494.8686 $$ Map C1 TOMMY BAHAMA Grill shares the boutique’s island mind-set. L, D (daily). Corona del Mar Plaza, 854 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach, 949.760.8686; 400 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.6886 $$ Map L15, H15 TULSA RIB CO. Local mainstay. Tempura artichoke hearts, Cajun or Caribbean baby-back ribs, Tulsa potatoes, profiteroles. The patio is ideal for people-watching over a glass of Chianti. L (M-F); dinner (nightly). 220 E. Katella Ave., Orange, 714.633.3760 $$ Map B4 25 DEGREES Foodie-friendly design-your-own-burger and wine bar with speakeasy decor. Burger options include artisan cheeses, extras such as Hatch green chili, sauces including gallego. L, D (daily). 412 Walnut Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.960.2525 $$ Map N9

SALT CREEK GRILLE Craftsman-inspired design; mesquite-grilled chops, ribs, seafood; lively night scene.

L (F–Su); D (nightly); Br (Su). 32802 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.661.7799 $$ Map I16

WATERTABLE Chef Manfred Lassahn pulls out the stops at restaurant and “gastro bar” in inspired “living rooms” and on redone ocean-view patio. Shareable Bar Jars; honey-lavender Berkshire pork entrée. B, L, D (daily). Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort, 21500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.698.1234 $$ Map N9

SANDY’S HB SoCal vibe, vibrant setting steps from the sand at Huntington Beach Pier. Regionally inspired cuisine and huge patio. B (Sa-Su); L, D (daily). 315 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.374.7273 $$ Map N9

WOOD RANCH Barbecue and grill in handsome quarters at Irvine Spectrum Center. Shredded onions; wood-roasted tri-tip; pulled-pork platter; peanut coleslaw; plus burgers, steaks and seafood. L, D (daily). 57 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.337.4850 $$ Map D5

ZIMZALA Surfer-chic spot at hip Shorebreak Hotel offers “American/beach comfort” cuisine—and Cal-Med. B, L (M-F); D (nightly); Br (Sa-Su). 500 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.960.5050 $$ Map N9

Brewpubs and Gastropubs HAVEN GASTROPUB Adventurous fare and palateprovoking handcrafted beers on tap. Vadouvan-crusted lamb belly with spiced rutabaga and house harissa; superlative burgers. B (Sa-Su); L, D (daily). 190 S. Glassell St., Orange, 714.221.0680 $$ Map C4 JT SCHMID’S RESTAURANT AND BREWERY Beers brewed on-site and brewpub cuisine: wood-fired pizzas, Prime steaks, burgers, jambalaya and sashimi! L, D (daily). 2610 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.634.9200; 2415 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.0333 $$ Map I11, D4 MRK PUBLIC New. Three chefs—two of them from the late Tabu Grill in Laguna Beach—offer elevated pub favorites, notably Tuscan Toast, Vietnamese Sticky Wings and fried chicken sandwich, and craft beers (all $5). It’s a winner! L, D (Tu-Su). 1402 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.441.7621 $$ Map south of F6 SIDE DOOR Superb spot shares replica of England’s oldest inn with the landmark Five Crowns. Artisanal cheese, charcuterie, seasonal plates and world-class brews—plus elevated British pub fare. D (nightly), Br (Su). 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.717.4322, $$ Map M16 SLATER’S 50/50 Burgers! Design your own—or try Peanut Butter & Jellousy or Fritos Crunch. Superior brew list. L, D (daily). 8082 Adams Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.594.5730; 6362 E. Santa Ana Canyon Road, Anaheim Hills, 714.685.1103 $$ Map L9, B5

California Cuisine K’YA BISTRO BAR Chef Craig Connole has created more than 50 small plates for lively spot inside historic La Casa Del Camino Hotel; sharing is encouraged. D (nightly). La Casa del Camino, 1289 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.9718 $$ Map I16 MARIPOSA Cheery room at Neiman Marcus. Some go just for the pre-meal popovers; Maine lobster club sandwich. L (daily). Fashion Island, 601 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.467.3350 $$ Map L15 NAPA ROSE Wine country at Disney Resort is a celebration of beauty in the bottle and the bounty of nature; chef Andrew Sutton offers sophisticated seasonal fare; staff includes dozens of sommeliers. D (nightly). Grand Californian Hotel, 1600 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.635.2300 $$$ Map I10 OAK GRILL Chef Marc Johnson delivers from start (seared Maine diver scallops with heirloom beans and capers) to finish (Rocky Road Bar). Fifty wines by the glass; superb cocktails. Shares huge patio with Aqua Lounge. B, L, D (daily). Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.760.4920 $$$$ Map L15 ONOTRIA WINE COUNTRY CUISINE Ristorante honors wine with Cal-Ital dishes concocted to flatter fine varietals. Dishes are seasonal, and game is a specialty.

The wine list runs 40 pages. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 2831 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.641.5952 $$ Map J1 PROVENANCE Cathy Pavlos’ wine-country-farmhousethemed spot has raised-bed patio garden; produce is the star. Dessert: S’more in a Jar, or the Earl Grey cream soda cocktail with cinnamon bourbon. Fantastic brunch. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 531 Eastbluff Drive, Newport Beach, 949.718.0477 $$ Map L14 SEALEGS WINE BAR Seasonal California share plates—e.g., Pig and Fig Flatbread, Stinky Fries, bananas

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Dining Foster French toast—plus limited-production wines and craft beers amid Hamptons-style nautical decor. D (nightly), Br (Su). 21022 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, 714.536.5700 $$ Map M9 SHADES Casual elegance, deft Cal-Continental menu and ocean views make this a popular steak (boutique ranch meats) and seafood destination. Lavish brunch (unlimited crab legs!) on poolside patio. B, L, D (daily); Br (Su). Waterfront Hilton, 21100 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.845.8444 $$ Map N9 SPLASHES RESTAURANT AND BAR Indoors by the fireplace or on the patio steps from the sand, the water’s-edge Pacific view provides a dramatic backdrop for meals meant to be gorgeous memories. B, L, D (daily); Br (Su). Surf & Sand Hotel, 1555 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.497.4477, ext. 550 $$$ Map H15 STUDIO Airy bluff-top Arts and Crafts-style bungalow with stunning azure and endless Pacific view oozes an offhand luxury befitting its premium resort setting.

Chef Craig Strong reaches far beyond the predictably posh with an ambitious menu of creative Cal-French cuisine. D (Tu-Su). Montage Resort & Spa, 30801 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 866.271.6953 $$$$ Map I16 URTH CAFFÉ New. Organic heirloom coffee destination serves wide array of items plus pastries, cakes, juices and boba drinks in landmark restored nearly century-old cottage. B, L, D (daily). 308 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 213.797.4527 $ Map H15 THE WINERY Chef/partner Yvon Goetz offers superior contemporary cuisine—the freshest seafood, wild game, USDA Prime steaks plus cigar patios and extensive wine cellars—at two striking locations. Tustin: L (M-F), D (nightly); Newport: D (nightly). District at Tustin Legacy, 2647 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.7600; 3131 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.999.6622 $$$ Map D4, N13

voted best seafood orange county i

in

Chinese DIN TAI FUNG Taiwan icon known for xiao long bao— Shanghai-style soup dumplings—now has venue at South Coast Plaza. New York Times included the original in its world’s top 10; the L.A. Times’ Jonathan Gold pegged the Glendale location in his top 101. L, D (daily). 3333 Bristol St. Costa Mesa, 714.549.3388 $$ Map J13 MANDARIN KING Family-owned spot offers extensive menu of favorites and three-course family dinners. Pupu platter for two; lemon chicken; spicy peppered fish; pork with hot garlic sauce. L (M-Sa), D (daily). 1223 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.494.8992 $$ Map H15 TWENTY EIGHT Top Chef finalist Shirley Chung—former executive chef at China Poblano by José Andrés—offers modern Chinese in stylish digs. Singapore-style chili lobster; slow-braised oxtail. L, D (daily). 19530 Jamboree Road, Irvine, 949.852.2828 $$ Map K14

Continental

newport beach harbor

Classic and Contemporary Sustainable Seafood Lunch · Dinner · Brunch · Happy Hour · Kids Livewell Menu Full Bar · Patio · Pet Friendly · Ample Free Parking NEWPORT BEACH · REDONDO BEACH · DISTRICT @ TUSTIN · PHOENIX CATALINA ISLAND · CORONADO · TEMECULA · CARLSBAD COMING SOON

FIVE CROWNS Venerated Lawry’s spot in English inn replica celebrates 50th anniversary with dramatically expanded menu—nearly triple the items—and new bar.

Prime rib and other favorites stay. Superb SideDoor Gastropub is adjacent. D (nightly), Br (Su). 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.760.0331 $$$ Map M16 THE HOBBIT Transporting dinners at homey hacienda revered for special occasions. Multicourse prix-fixe affair: cocktails upstairs, elaborate appetizers in the wine cellar, new Continental classics in elegant dining rooms. Menu changes weekly. Reservations essential. D (W-Su). 2932 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.997.1972 $$$$ Map J11 ORANGE HILL Hilltop hideaway with endless city-light views; traditional and updated fare includes seafood, prime rib, lobster. Orange Bar has retro orange theme

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Dining and orange piano. D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 6410 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.997.2910 $$ Map C5 SUMMIT HOUSE Fine Cal-Continental at hilltop faux English manor with blazing stone fireplace. L (Tu–F), D (nightly). 2000 E. Bastanchury Road, Fullerton, 714.671.4111 $$ Map A3 21 OCEANFRONT Romantic restaurant with sunset views, cozy bars, servers in black tie. Abalone, crab legs, steaks and osso buco. Live entertainment in the lounge.

D (nightly). 2100 W. Oceanfront (Newport Pier), Newport Beach, 949.673.2100 $$$ Map N13

Eclectic GOLDEN TRUFFLE Fans of chef/owner Alan Greeley overlook his bistro’s strip-mall digs in favor of his maverick approach. Wine list is loaded with labels you won’t easily find elsewhere. L (Tu-F), D (Th-Sa). 1767 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.645.9858 $$$ Map L12 MIX Restaurant and lounge at the Hilton Anaheim’s atrium lobby gets striking new redo and chef’s table. Hotel executive chef Frederic Castan, late of the St. Regis, oversees the globally influenced menu. B, L, D (daily). 777 Convention Way, Anaheim, 714.740.4412 $$ Map I10 SAPPHIRE LAGUNA Chef Azmin Ghahreman offers globally inspired dishes at stylish restaurant. Gourmet pantry for picnic and takeout. The popular patio has a partial ocean view. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 1200 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9888 $$$ Map I15 TRUE FOOD KITCHEN Healthful globally inspired fare in cheery room and on inviting patio with linear fire pit.

More healthful cocktails; biodynamic wines. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). Fashion Island, 451 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.644.2400 $$$ Map L15

French BISTRO PAPILLOTE New. Laurent Brazier of La Cuisine Culinary Arts cooking school launches Parisian café offering the classics in former Seventh Tea Bar space at OC Mix. B, L (daily). South Coast Collection, 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.641.2005 $$ Map J12 MARCHÉ MODERNE Chef Florent Marneau and pastry chef wife Amelia raise the bistro to delicious heights with their unstuffy but oh-so-French effort. He revels in what’s seasonal. Dessert? Exquisite cheeses or Amelia’s transcendent desserts. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.434.7900 $$$ Map J13 MOULIN Cheery bistro-epicerie-café offers rotisserie chicken, baguette sandwiches, pastries, charcuterie, cheeses, wine and beer—all French amid French logo decor. B, L (daily); prix-fixe D (Tu). 1000 N. Bristol St., Newport Beach, 949.474.0920 $$ Map K13 PASCAL Venerated chef Pascal Olhats offers the Pascal Experience menu—plus bakery and epicerie items, salads, sandwiches, panini, desserts, and picnics to go. B, L, D (daily). 103 Rancho Viejo Road, San Juan Capistrano, 949.488.0031 $$ Map I17 VIE DE FRANCE Classic onion soup, breads (excellent croissants!) and pastries baked fresh daily, sandwiches made to order, desserts homemade at charming bistro and bakery. B, L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.1734 $ Map J13

Indian CLAY OVEN Regional and creative Indian fare.

Habanero shrimp vindaloo; goat curry; tandoori venison.

Owner/chef Geeta Bansal recently cooked at New York’s prestigious James Beard House. L, D (daily). 15435 Jeffrey Road, Irvine, 949.552.2851 $$ Map D5

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Dining ROYAL KHYBER Spot often cited as O.C.’s best Indian marks 30 years. Warm eggplant salad; lobster masala; signature Khyber’s Nectar, lamb shanks simmered 14 hours. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza Village, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.5679 $$$ Map J13

International DARYA Top-notch traditional Persian cuisine and service in an elegant atmosphere at South Coast Plaza Village.

Specialty stews, rices and kebabs; combination platters; live music on weekends. L, D (daily). 3800 S. Plaza Drive, Santa Ana, 614.557.6600 $$$ Map J13

The perfect Newport Beach destination for delicious food and spectacular bay, mountain and city views.

Specializing in fresh seafood and flavorful, seasonal dishes.

Breakfast • Lunch • Dinner

MARRAKESH Moroccan multicourse prix-fixe feasts including b’stilla (phyllo-chicken pie), sans silverware.

Great value. Belly dancing (W-Su). D (nightly). 1976 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.645.8384 $$ Map L13 MOZAMBIQUE African fortress gone hip and stylish offers Cal-Portuguese-South African cuisine such as piri piri prawns. Veranda rooftop dining. Casual spinoff in Newport Beach. 1740 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.7777; the Bluffs, 1332 Bison Ave., Newport Beach, 949.718.0956 $$ Map I16, K14 OLD WORLD GERMAN RESTAURANT Authentic German and Austrian cuisine such as schnitzel and bratwurst. L, D (Tu-Su). 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.895.8020 $ Map C2

Italian ANAHEIM WHITE HOUSE Italian steakhouse in 1909 manor; refined cuisine elaborately presented amid fresco recreations. Consider white-chocolate salmon, peppered hanger steak and game dishes. L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Su). 887 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.772.1381 $$$ Map I10 ANDREA Elegant but unstuffy. Spectacular views of elysian vistas and the ocean. Superb northern Italian cuisine. Pasta and gelato made in dedicated rooms. L, D (daily). Resort at Pelican Hill, 22701 Pelican Hill Road S., Newport Coast, 949.467.6800 $$$$ Map L17 ANTONELLO RISTORANTE Top-notch, romantic northern Italian restaurant in faux villa; don’t miss the osso buco with risotto milanese, or the ricotta gnocchi. Enoteca Lounge and bar menu. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). South Coast Plaza Village, 3800 Plaza Drive, Santa Ana, 714.751.7153 $$$ Map J13 BRUNOS ITALIAN KITCHEN Contemporary spot offers memorable dishes such as hamachi with sweet-and-sour shallots, wild-boar-sausage bucatini, caramel-chocolate budino, and housemade limoncello liqueur. D (nightly). 210 W. Birch St., Brea, 714.257.1000 $$$ Map A3 CANALETTO Venetian-style restaurant offers salumeria, antipasti, wood-fired pizzas, specialty meat and seafood dishes (e.g., vermicelli Cassopipa with seafood ragu). L, D (daily). Fashion Island, 545 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.0900 $$$ Map M16

1600 West Balboa Boulevard, Newport Beach At the new Marina Park Phone ahead (949) 933- 1001 or Make a reservation online at www.LighthouseNB.com Catering and to go orders for boaters, too.

CUCINA ENOTECA Cal-Ital plus wine shop amid fun decor. Vasi (filled jars), lobster gnocchi neri, guanciale bucatini, house-infused liquors. L, D (daily), Br (Su). Fashion Island, 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.2000; Irvine Spectrum Center, 31 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.861.2222 $$ Map L15, D5 ECCO Hip spot at the Camp serves up sophisticated wood-fired pizzas, ricotta gnocchi with grilled prawns, sautéed broccoli rabe with garlic and chilies. New at Anaheim Packing House. L, D (daily). The Camp, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.444.ECCO; 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, eccopizza.com $$ Map J13, H10 FRANCOLI GOURMET Convivial, handsome northern Italian destination takes a quantum leap in quality, both

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Dining in style (e.g., ornate orange-glass chandelier) and cuisine since its move to Old Towne Orange. B, L, D (daily).

100 S. Glassell St., Orange, 714.288.1077 $$ Map C4 IL BARONE RISTORANTE Acclaimed chef Franco Barone and wife Donatella offer sophisticated fare at stylish spot hidden near John Wayne Airport. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 4251 Martingale Way, Newport Beach, 949.955.2755 $$ Map K14 IL DOLCE PIZZERIA Artisanal Naples-style pizzas and pastas in modest spot at busy intersection. The simple pepperoni pizza may be the county’s best; the pistachio pizza, with Parmesan, red onions, rosemary and Gruyère, is a more unusual delight. L, D (daily). 1902 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.200.9107 $$ Map K12 IL FORNAIO Upscale casual trattoria and bakery features housemade and imported pastas, wood-fired pizzas and roasted meats in a romantic atmosphere.

Bocce ball courts, too! L (M-Sa); D (nightly). 18051 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.261.1444 $$$ Map J14 IL GARAGE Beguiling spot from David Slay, in a garage hidden behind his acclaimed ParkAve, amid a 1924 tractor and red-checkered tablecloths; it overlooks the garden that inspires and supplies the menu. D (Tu-Sa). 11200 Beach Blvd., Stanton, 714.901.4400 $$ Map I8

LUNCH, DINNER, and SUNDAY BRUNCH Live Music Nightly!

MAMA D’S Neighborhood spot on the peninsula has a loyal following, thanks to large portions and very personable wait staff. Extensive menu; pasta, chicken and hero sandwiches at lunch. L (M-F), D (nightly). 3012 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.675.6262 $$ Map N13 NELLO CUCINA Italian steakhouse plus thin-crust pizzas and innovative pastas in South Coast Plaza’s Bear Street wing; sibling to Antonello Ristorante. L, D (daily). 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, 714.540.3365 $$ Map J13

714.776.5200

Downtown Disney® District • www.rbjazzkitchen.com

and Jazz Kitchen EXPRESS! A Taste of New Orleans TO GO

BEIGNETS • PO-BOYS • GUMBO • SNO-BALLS

NORTH ITALIA New. Owners of True Food Kitchen launch spot serving handmade pasta (strozzapreti with Bloomsdale spinach; squid-ink mafaldine) and pizzas (bacon and egg). L (M-F), D (daily), Br (Sa-Su). 2957 Michelson Drive, Irvine, 949.629.7060 $$ Map D4 PIROZZI Alessándro Pirozzi’s super-convivial spot offers olive fritte; speck-wrapped, wild-boar-stuffed quail; limoncello-infused taglierini; and heart-shaped Nutella pizza for two. D (daily). 2929 E. Coast Hwy, Corona del Mar, 949.675.2932 $$$ Map M16 PIZZA E VINO Among O.C.’s most authentic Naplesstyle pizza, steps from a lake; the misto-salumi version is a flavor explosion. L, D (daily). 31441 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Rancho Santa Margarita, 949.713.1500 $$ Map east of E6 PIZZERIA MOZZA Culinary stars Mario Batali, Nancy Silverton and Joseph Bastianich replicate their acclaimed L.A. and Singapore spots. Pizzas use distinctive dough.

Start with bone marrow al forno; finish with caramel copetta with marshmallow sauce. L, D (daily). 800 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.945.1126 $$ Map M13 PIZZERIA ORTICA Spot owned by L.A. chef David Myers (Comme Ça) offers refined authentic Neapolitan fare using intriguing ingredients beneath soaring arched ceilings and frescoes. L (M-F), D (nightly). 650 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.445.4900 $$ Map J13

MEMORIES TO LAST A LIFETIME Offering breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, Las Brisas is proud to serve the freshest seafood, exclusive offerings of wine & margaritas and authentic cuisine of the Mexican Riviera.

QUATTRO CAFFÉ Antonio Cagnolo of nearby, much-lauded Antonello Ristorante rejuvenates shoppers with stylish fare. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.754.0300 $$ Map J13 SAPORI RISTORANTE Charming spot near Balboa Island; O.C. Register’s restaurant of the year. Penne otero, polenta e porcini, scalloppine Gorgonzola. Adjacent pizzeria. L (M-F), D (nightly). 1080 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, 949.644.4220 $$$ Map N14

361 Cliff Drive • Laguna Beach • 949.497.5434 lasbrisaslagunabeach.com

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Dining VITALY Bolognese owners offer croissants, piadine and tigelle sandwiches, espresso, beer, wine, gelato and gelato flights in tiny cones. B, L, D (daily). The Camp, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.662.5500 $$ Map J13

Japanese BENIHANA The original exhibition kitchen—at your table! Fun dining experience, fun date. L (M-F), D (nightly). 4250 Birch St., Newport Beach, 949.955.0822; 2100 E. Ball Road, Anaheim, 714.774.4940 $$ Map K13, I10 BLUEFIN Master sushi chef Takashi Abe offers exquisite sushi and hot entrées. L, D (daily). Crystal Cove Promenade, 7952 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.7373 $$$ Map M17 HAMAMORI Sparkling environment with undulating curves overlooks Bear Street. Rice-cracker-coated jumbo asparagus with yuzu sea salt; tamari-marinated black cod. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bear St., Costa Mesa, 714.850.0880 $$$ Map J13 NANA SAN Chef Goro Sakurai attracts a considerable and predominantly Asian clientele; there’s generally a wait by 5:15 pm, but you’ll get a call or text when your seats are ready. L (M-F), D (M-Sa). 3601 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, 949.474.7373 $$ Map D SUSHI ROKU New. Cal-Japanese sushi pioneer opens gorgeous spot at Fashion Island. Fluke kumquat sashimi; premium tofu three ways; blue-crab tartare; robata skewers; Prime rib-eye steak Japonais; spectacular s’mores dessert. L, D (daily). 327 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.706.3622 $$ Map L15

Mediterranean CATAL RESTAURANT AND UVA BAR The Uva outdoor pavilion offers 40 California wines by the glass and tapas; upstairs is Catal for fine dining. L, D (daily). Downtown Disney, 1580 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.774.4442 $$$ Map I10

NEW PORT BEACH

FIG & OLIVE Pascal Lorange’s cuisine is an ode to olive oil and what’s on the plate—from crostini and crudo starters to crème-brûlée cheesecake—is sophisticated.

The olive tree-studded setting is stunning. L, D (daily), Br (Sa-Su). 151 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.877.3005 $$$ Map L15 GRATITUDE New. Upscale vegan spot from Café Gratitude chain. Elaborate, organic, plant-based dishes get affirming names such as “Gifted,” “Welcoming” and “Authentic.” B, L, D (daily). Westcliff Plaza, 1617 Westcliff Drive, Newport Beach, 949.386.8103 $$$ Map L14 LUCCA CAFE & MARKET Euro-chic bistro, deli and wine bar features artisanal and organic local ingredients.

L (M-F), D (nightly), Br (Sa-Su). 6507 Quail Hill Parkway, Irvine, 949.725.1773 $$ Map D5 MESA Young chef Niki Starr Weyler oversees stylish spot. Hip scene, retractable glass roof, unisex restrooms.

Ahi-tuna “tacos,” cast-iron-skillet mussels, wine-braised short ribs; superb cocktails. D (Tu-Sa). The Camp, 725 Baker St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.6700 $$ Map J13

T H E FL AVO RS O F T H E FR E NC H RIVI E R A FASHION ISLAND, NEWPORT BEACH 151 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, CA 92660 949 877 3005 | figandolive.com

ZOV’S Zov Karamardian’s passion propels her spots; Louie Jocson is the executive chef. Acclaimed Med cuisine; bakery-café in Tustin. L, D (M-Sa). Enderle Center, 17440 E. 17th St., Tustin, 714.838.8855; 1801 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.280.9687; 3915 Portola Parkway, Irvine, 714.734.9687; 21123 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast, 949.760.9687 $$$ Map C5, I11, C4, L17

Mexican/Latin ANEPALCO’S Chef Daniel Godinez applies French technique to traditional Mexican ingredients, with

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Dining sophisticated, artfully presented results. Tilapia with serrano chili-infused beurre blanc; cuitlacoche-topped burger. Innovative cocktails. L, D (daily). 3737 Chapman Ave., Orange, 14.456.9642 $$ Map B4 CHA CHA’S TACOS & TEQUILA Contemporary spot on pedestrian-friendly promenade. Prickly pear margarita; rotisserie meats and wood-fired dishes; tres-leches cake with toasted coconut and raspberrykiwi salsa. L (W–F), D (Tu–Su), Br (Sa-Su). 110 W. Birch St., Brea, 714.255.1040 $$ Map A3 EL ADOBE State historical landmark serving traditional Mexican fare is housed in a 1797 adobe and 1812 jail.

L (M-Sa), D (nightly), Br (Su). 31891 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1163 $$ Map I17 GABBI’S MEXICAN KITCHEN Old Towne daytrippers and tequila connoisseurs duck into this rustically stylish haven for spirited takes on regional Mexican fare far beyond tacos and burritos. L, D (daily). 141 S. Glassell St., Orange, 714.633.3038 $$ Map C4 HABANA Hip setting, hip clientele, nuevo Latino by candlelight. Signature dishes include paella and ropa vieja (shredded pot roast). Great patio. L, D (daily). The Lab, 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.556.0176 $$ Map J13 KUTSI New. Regional dishes served amid impressive Mexican tile work and light fixtures in the former Memphis at the Santoro space. Historic building; patio on pedestrian promenade. D (Tu-Sa); Br (Su). 201 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 714.564.1616 $$ Map G13 LAS BRISAS Window-lined, elegant cliff-top spot with renowned guacamole and superb coastal views.

Snapper Veracruzana; Yucatán chicken. The patio is packed. B, L (M-Sa); D (nightly); Br (Su). 361 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, 949.497.5434 $$$ Map H15 POUR VIDA Jimmy Martinez (former chef at L.A.’s Boa Steakhouse) offers creative tacos such as pineapple skirt steak, tempura oyster and heirloom cauliflower.

L, D (daily). 185 W. Center Street Promenade, Anaheim, 657.208.3889 $$ Map H10 PUEBLO Acclaimed yearling spot offers traditional and contemporary Spanish tapas—seared spot prawns with green olives and garlic; pork belly with sea scallops and cauliflower crema—amid folclórico-style decor. L, D (daily). South Coast Collection, 3321 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.340.5775 $$ Map J12 RAYA Sophisticated global cuisine from chef Richard Sandoval, spectacular ocean views. Sweet-corn soup with cuitlacoche puree, roasted halibut with truffled boniato and crispy jalapeños; the churros are a must! B, L, D (daily). Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel, 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000 $$$ Map J16

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RED O Sexy design with Moroccan accents, menu by Mexican cuisine guru Rick Bayless. Ceviches, guacamole tasting, lamb chops mole negro. Extensive tequila list; Topolo margarita. L, D (daily). 143 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.718.0300 $$$ Map L15 SOL COCINA Stylish spot overlooking harbor canals offers vibrant Baja-inspired dishes by Deborah Schneider (Amor y Tacos, Salsas and Moles). Chorizo and mushrooms con queso; Hot & Raw tropical ceviche; taco Vampiro; grilled Kobe skirt steak. L, D (daily). 251 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.675.9800 $$ Map M14 SOLITA Sol Cocina spinoff offers tacos (e.g., chorizo, bacon and sweet potatoes; chili tofu; wood-grilled carne asada) and margaritas. Start with queso al forno. L, D (daily). Bella Terra, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.894.2792 $ Map C2 TACO ASYLUM Spot serving unusual tacos, excellent brews and small-batch soda. Bánh mì taco, corn off the cob, dessert nachos. L, D (daily). The Camp, 2937 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.922.6010 $ Map J13

The Outlets at Orange

Huntington Beach

20111 Brookhurst Street 20 City Boulevard (Behind Nordstrom Rack) (Brookhurst & Adams) 714-769-3474 714-963-7796

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OCEANFRONT DINING AT THE PIER

Dining TACO MARÍA Carlos Salgado serves up meticulous and always fascinating “Chicano cuisine” at OC Mix, e.g., piloncillo pork belly with pencil-cob grits, cherry and dandelion. Memorable, truly distinctive tacos at lunch; dinner is four-course prix-fixe. L (Tu-Sa), D (W-Sa). South Coast Collection, 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.538.8444 $$$ Map J12 TORTILLA REPUBLIC Stylish spot offers duck-confit tacos with sour-cherry salsita; 100 blue-agave spirits at the onyx-cap bar. Even the chefs have ocean views.

L (Tu-Su), D (nightly). 480 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.393.4888 $$$ Map I16 VACA New. Amar Santana, Top Chef contender this season and owner/chef at acclaimed Broadway in Laguna Beach, and partner Ahmed Labbate open Spanish spot serving tapas, paellas, bocadillos, housemade charcuterie and sangrias. Superb cocktails. L, D (daily). 695 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 619.806.0553 $$$ Map J13 WHO SONG AND LARRY’S Eclectic Cal-Mex cantina with Asian accents near Honda Center: crunchy crabchicharrón-chipotle sushi; lobster mac-and-cheese enchiladas; avocado split dessert; shareable Larry y Yo cocktail. L, D (daily). 1535 W. Katella Ave., Orange, 714.639.9550 $$ Map I11

Seafood AMELIA’S SEAFOOD & ITALIAN RESTAURANT Charming local favorite for almost half a century offers scampi Caesar salad, linguine with fresh bay scallops and baby calamari in marinara sauce, and cioppino. The intimate patio table is coveted. D (nightly), Br (F-Su). 311 Marine Ave., Balboa Island, 949.673.6580 $$ Map M15

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BLUEWATER GRILL Fresh seafood selection at handsome spots changes daily. Grilled Australian barramundi, Costa Rican mahimahi, farm-raised Mississippi catfish.

L, D (daily); Br (Su). The District at Tustin Legacy, 2409 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.FISH; 630 Lido Park Drive, Newport Beach, 949.675.FISH $$ Map D4, N13 BUBBA GUMP SHRIMP CO. Fun spot inspired by the film Forrest Gump. Start with the peel-and-eat Shrimper’s Net Catch. L, D (daily). Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.635.4867 $$ Map I10 THE CANNERY The spot is historic—a cannery in 1921, a fine seafooder for 40 years; what’s been coming out of the kitchen is better than ever. Jellyfish Lounge features sushi; great happy hour. L, D (daily); Br (Su). 3010 Lafayette Road, Newport Beach, 949.566.0060 $$ Map N13 THE CATCH Sleek spot popular with sports fans as well as concertgoers—it’s near Angel Stadium and Honda Center. 5-pound OMG burger feeds 10; hot chocolate sundae flamed tableside. L, D (Tu-Su). 2100 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.935.0101 $$ Map I11 DUKE’S Hawaiian-inspired seafood, Prime steaks and infectious beach-house ambiance. Next to the pier; Barefoot Bar; endless ocean views. L (Tu-Sa), D (nightly). 317 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.374.6446 $$ Map N9 HARBOR GRILL Excellent mesquite-grilled seafood, pastas, gumbos, bouillabaisse at Dana Point Harbor; consider the rosebud martini and the sustainably farmed oysters. L, D (daily); Br (Su). 34499 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, 949.240.1416 $$$ Map J16 MARKET BROILER Mix ’n’ match fresh fish ‘n’ sauce.

Mesquite-grilled seafood and steaks, sushi, on-site fresh fish market. L, D (daily). The Outlets at Orange, 20 City Blvd., Orange, 714.769.FISH; 20111 Brookhurst St., Huntington Beach, 714.771.6655 $$ Map J11, L10

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Dining majestic proportions; and the don’t-miss signature warm butter cake. Glass-topped grand piano in the O Bar. D (nightly). Crystal Cove Shopping Center, 8112 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.376.6990 $$$$ Map M17 MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S Citified fish house offers simply prepared fresh seafood. Old-school cocktails, legendary happy hour; microbrews on tap at Irvine’s Pilsner Room. L (M-F), D (nightly). 2000 S. Main St., Irvine, 949.756.0505; Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.535.9000 $$$ Map J14, I10 RITTER’S STEAM KETTLE COOKING New Orleansinspired spots offer Creole pan roasts and fried-oyster po’boy sandwiches. L, D (daily). 1421 W. MacArthur Blvd., Santa Ana, 714.850.1380; 180 Fifth St., Huntington Beach, 714.536.7733 $$ Map J13, N9 THE RITZ PRIME SEAFOOD New. The Ritz, a Newport Beach institution, gets new life in a breathtakingly updated incarnation on the water. Lobster and squid-ink pasta with uni butter; whole branzino; coconut cake. D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 880 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.720.1800 $$$ Map N13 SHUCK Oyster bar offers meticulously shucked selections. Superb grilled cheese sandwich, seafood stew. Bubblies and brews. L, D (daily). OC Mix, 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.420.0478 $$ Map J12 TAPS FISH HOUSE AND BREWERY New in Irvine.

Excellent seafood and steaks, oyster bar, gold-medalwinning brews, spectacular brunch. L, D (daily); Br (Su). Birch Street Promenade, 101 E. Imperial Hwy., Brea, 714.257.0101; the Market Place, 13390 Jamboree Road, Irvine, 714.619.0404. $$$ Map A3, C5 WATERLINE “Water to table” fresh local seafood experience overlooks harbor. Crab eggs Benedict at breakfast; halibut BLT at lunch; scallops “Peas & Carrots” at dinner.

B, L, D (daily). Balboa Bay Resort, 1221 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 888.894.2788 $$$ Map M13 WATERMARC GRILL A third winner from gifted chef Marc Cohen (230 Forest, Opah). L, D (daily). Peppertree Lane, 448 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.376.6272 $$ Map H15 WOODY’S WHARF Seafood and steaks since 1965.

Cary Grant and Mickey Mantle were guests. Chuck Norris once owned it; doormen included Jean-Claude Van Damme! L (M-Sa), D (daily); Br (Sa-Su). 2318 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.675.0474 $$ Map N13

Steak AGORA CHURRASCARIA Choice cuts at Brazilian steakhouse cooked over fire pit, seasoned with rock salt.

Gaucho-garbed waiters offer 16 sumptuous cuts, from picanha (a sirloin specialty) to coração (delicate chicken hearts). Elaborate hot and cold bar. L (M-F), D (nightly).

1830 Main St., Irvine, 949.222.9910 $$$ Map J13 BLK EARTH SEA SPIRITS New. Akaushi Kobe-style Prime steaks and burgers (and one Japanese Kobe) plus seafood amid whimsical and sophisticated industrial-chic decor and on O.C.’s largest ocean-view patio. L, D (daily).

300 Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 202, Huntington Beach, 714.960.0096 $$$ Map N9

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THE CAPITAL GRILLE Elegant steakhouse offers dry-aged beef amid portraits of local historic figures. Panfried calamari with cherry peppers; bone-in kona-crusted dry-aged sirloin; ethereal cheesecake. 5,000 wines; classic cocktails. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.432.1140 $$$$ Map J13 FLEMING’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE & WINE BAR Sleek venue; prime everything. Classy feel extends to bustling bar with 100 wines by the glass and in flights. Prime rib on Sundays. Br (Su), D (nightly). 455 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.720.9633 $$$ Map L15

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MASTRO’S STEAKHOUSE Swanky spot offers largerthan-life portions and white-jacket service. Wet-aged hand-cut bone-in filet; off-the-menu crab gnocchi; and— oooh—warm butter cake. Bar offers generous cocktails, fine live music. D (nightly). 633 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa, 714.546.7405 $$$$ Map J13 MORTON’S, THE STEAKHOUSE Classy bastions of beef get slick new redesign. Service-plus, colossal portions. Double filet, Cajun rib-eye, retro filets Oscar and Diane. Show-and-tell menu recitation. Bar 1221.

Anaheim, D (nightly); Santa Ana, L (M-F), D (nightly).

1895 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.621.0101; South Coast Plaza Village, 1641 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, 714.444.4834 $$$$ Map I10, J13 RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE Bone-in cowboy ribeye; caramelized banana cream pie. Soaring ceilings, modern sculpture, colorful glass at Anaheim location.

Anaheim, D (nightly); Irvine L (F), D (daily). 2041 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.750.5466; 2961 Michelson Drive, Irvine, 949.252.8848 $$$$ Map I10, K14 SELANNE STEAK TAVERN Ice hockey legend Teemu Selänne’s upscale spot with several settings in historic cottage. Pacific diver scallops; scarlet beet ravioli; Lord Stanley Cut (bone-in rib-eye) wagyu steak for two; Bloomsdale spinach side; monkey bread dessert. D (Tu-Su). 1464 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.715.9881 $$$ Map I16

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ROYAL THAI CUISINE Casually elegant familyowned spots on the coast for more than 30 years.

Honey duck; Lady Thai prawns. L, D (daily). 4001 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.645.8424; 1750 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.494.8424 $$ Map N13, I16 THAI NAKORN Local fixture, long considered one of the county’s best Thai spots. Specialties include fried fish with mango salad, clam in chili paste and basil. 11951 Beach Blvd., Stanton, 714.799.2031; 12532 Garden Grove Blvd., Garden Grove, 714.583.8938 $$ Map I8, K10

Vietnamese ANQI Innovative small plates in sexy setting with backlit bar and glass catwalk over running stream. Mango-chili shrimp; galbi hanger steak with crispy kimchee polenta; amazing garlic noodles. Secret-recipe garlic crab on Tuesdays. L, D (daily). South Coast Plaza, 3333 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.557.5679 $$$ Map J13 AU LAC Traditional dishes revisited using plant-based ingredients make for amazing vegan dishes, many centered on “shrimp” (salt-and-pepper shrimp), “chicken” (kung pao chicken) or “beef” (beef watercress) L, D (Tu-Su). 16563 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, 714.418.0658 $$ Map C3 BAMBOO BISTRO Contemporary Vietnamese and Thai fare from Chau Dang Haller, whose mother owns Brodard Chateau (below). Crepes, Thai soups, pho, vermicelli and curries. L, D (daily). 2600 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.720.1289 $$ Map M16 BREAK OF DAWN Iconic but off-the-beaten-path spot in a strip mall is known for generous portions of chef Dee Nguyen’s superb Vietnamese-inflected American breakfast fare. Cauliflower veloute; duck-fat omelet; beef brisket. B, L (W-Su). 24351 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills, 949.587.9418 $$ Map G17 BRODARD CHATEAU Elegant two-story venue serves the regional specialty dishes of Hanoi, Hue and Saigon.

Baked clams; Phuket-style pho; seafood bird’s nest. Lots of vegetarian options. L, D (daily). 9100 Trask Ave., Garden Grove, 714.899.8273 $$$ Map K8

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Dining LANTERN CAFE Bustling spot offers spring rolls, hot pots, clay pots, oxtail pho, entrées including lemongrass calamari with curry and pepper and flame-broiled pork with shredded pork skin. L, D (daily). 103 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.515.9090 $$ Map M13

Food Halls ANAHEIM PACKING HOUSE Historic citrus hub— the Sunkist building—now hosts two dozen foodie vendors including new Urbana for Mexican; Adya for Cal-Indian; Rolling Boil for Asian hot pots; Georgia’s for Southern fare; Hammer Bar & Tool Shed for cocktails; Black Sheep for distinctive grilled cheese sandwiches; Ecco Pizza; the Iron Press for savory waffles; Popbar for gelato on a stick; and Dark 180 for sophisticated hot chocolate. L, D (daily). 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.635.1350 $$ Map H10 4TH STREET MARKET Fifteen foodie tenants in the East End, among them Electric City Butcher, Touch S’more Co., MAR, Stockyard Sandwich, KTCHN DTSA, Portola Coffee Lab, Chunk-N-Chip, Radical Botanicals and Recess Libations for cocktails on tap. L, D (daily). 201 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana, 714.486.0700 $$ Map H13 UNION MARKET Restaurants joining hip retail tenants include new Hatch for sliders and tiki drinks; Kettlebar Steam Cooking for seafood stews, notably pan roasts; and the Kroft for market-inspired sandwiches and poutine. L, D (daily). The District, 2493 Park Ave., Tustin, unionmarkettustin.com $$ Map D4

Quick Bites BRUXIE O.C.’s original waffle sandwiches. Hot tickets: Pastrami Bruxie, Creamsicle float. B, L, D (daily). The Strand, 180 Fifth St., Huntington Beach, 657.215.3559; 292 N. Glassell St., Orange, 714.633.3900; 215 W. Birch St., Brea, 714.255.1188 $ Map N8, C4, A3 C4 DELI: THE CURE FOR THE COMMON Localcentric kitchen with wine-and-craft-beer bar and even more distinctive craft sodas; ciabatta-roll sandwiches include the standout porchetta. B, L, D (daily). 200 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 714.263.1555 $$ Map H1

Home Sweet Home .

THE COUNTER Hip and lively spots offer more than 300,000 burger combinations you customize on a clipboard order form. L, D (daily). Westcliff Plaza, 108 Irvine Ave., Newport Beach, 949.642.0700; 2981 Michelson Drive, Irvine, 949.596.7227 $$ Map L13, J14 CROW BURGER KITCHEN Casual sibling to the Crow Bar + Kitchen in Corona del Mar offers Angus and Prime beef burgers in intriguing configurations.

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L, D (daily). 3107 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.673.2747 $ Map N12 DORY DELI Deli food with a contemporary spin and a beach-side setting. Sandwiches, burgers, and beerbattered fish and chips using the historic Dory Fleet’s catch of the day. B, L, D (daily). 2108 W. Oceanfront, Newport Beach, 949.220.7886 $ Map N13 EARL OF SANDWICH Extensive menu at popular spot at Downtown Disney includes hot sandwiches, wraps, salads and artisan soups. B, L, D (daily). 1565 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.817.7476 $$ Map I10 LEMONADE New in Huntington Beach. Huge array of distinctive salads, sandwiches, stews—and lemonades!— in a fast-casual cafeteria setting. L, D (daily). 2967 Michelson Drive, Irvine, 949.396.1560; Fashion Island, 987 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.717.7525; Pacific City, 21016 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.604.1072 $ Map J14, L15, N9 LINX Artisanal sausages in Old Towne: “Haute LinX” plus 15 condiments and 15 sauces; apple strudel ice cream

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Dining sandwich with salted caramel sauce. L, D (daily). 238 W. Chapman Ave., Orange, 714.744.3647 $ Map B4 MCDONALD’S By the numbers it’s America’s favorite hamburger restaurant; this one’s near the Disney theme parks. B, L, D (daily). 1500 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.491.0563 plus 70 other county locations. $ Map I10 MENDOCINO FARMS Winning spot with bluecow theme offers newfangled sandwiches—Drunk’n Goat on Highway 128, Spicy Lemongrass Steak Bánh Mì—and salads. L, D (daily). 4187 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949.783.2900; 450 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.548.2500 $$ Map D4, M13 PIE-NOT Aussie-style bakery offers meat, veggie, glutenfree pies. Mary’s pie with rosemary, garlic and lamb; Slice of Heaven dessert. B, L, D (daily). 270 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.650.7437 $ Map H13 PIZZA PRESS Roaring ’20s newspaper theme, decor and pizzas. Patio dining, wine and beer, plus grab-and-go. B, L, D (daily). 1534 S. Harbor Blvd., Anaheim, 714.323.7134; 155 N. Glassell St., Orange, 714.888.5941 $ Map C4 PORTILLO’S Chicago hot-dog mecca offers amazing value near Knott’s Berry Farm. The dogs are just one reason it’s got so many fans. L, D (daily). 8390 La Palma Ave., Buena Park, 714.220.6400 $ Map G8 PROVISIONS MARKET Specialty market and bottle shop offers new take on classic deli foods. Smoked-marlin starter; CB&J—roasted cashew butter, stout-apricotbacon jam and banana chips. L, D (daily). 143 N. Glassell St., Orange, 714.997.2337 $$ Map C4 SESSIONS WEST COAST DELI Creative sandwiches— Gangnam Korean meatball, El Cubano, Molly vegan— and tasty salads. B, L, D (daily). 414 Pacific Coast Hwy, Huntington Beach, 714.594.3899; 2823 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.220.9001 $ Map N9, N13 SLAPFISH New in Brea. Boat-to-table cuisine: Lobster grilled cheese, lobster sandwich, lobster dog and “clobster cake” (half crab, half lobster). L, D (daily). 3405 E. Imperial Hwy., Brea, 657.444.2291; 2727 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.723.0034; 19696 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, 714.963.3900; $$ Map M13, H15, A3 TACKLE BOX Top Chef alumnus Brian Huskey opens unlikely “local grub shack”—only a whole lot better than grub, of course—at sand’s edge on Corona del Mar State Beach. Menu headers: Sunrise, Grub + Snacks, Rolls, and Sides. W-Su 9 am-sunset; Tu 11 am-3 pm. 3029 E. Shore Ave., Newport Beach, 949.723.0502 $$ Map M16 THE TROUGH SANDWICH KITCHEN Blind Pig team offers eclectic menu including chashu-pork sandwich, spaghetti sandwich and chili cheese tots. B, L, D (daily). 31431 Santa Margarita Pkwy, Rancho Santa Margarita, 949.709.5545; 75 E. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach, 949.673.1029 $ Map east of D6, N13 UMAMI BURGER Deservedly much lauded burgers; off-menu “tater tots.” New nine-course cocktail-pairing tasting menu Umami 101 at the Anaheim location.

L, D (daily). Irvine Spectrum Center. 31 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.396.1830; 338 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.991.8626; The Camp, 2981 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.957.8626 $ Map G15, I10, J13 VEGGIE GRILL Yummy plant-based “chickin’ ” and “steak” sandwiches. L, D (daily). 81 Fortune Drive, 949.727.9900; University Center, 4213 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949.509.0003 $ Map D5, K14

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OCDINING ANDREI’S CONSCIOUS CUISINE & COCKTAILS Andrei’s, the Nature Conservancy’s “favorite green restaurant,” thinks responsibly in its sourcing and commitment to sustainability. Enjoy grass-fed buffalo sliders, panko-crusted portobello mushroom fries or famous chop salad in the contemporary dining room or on the citrus-and-herb garden terrace. Andrei’s is known for craft cocktails such as their oak barrel-aged Manhattan. Silver Oak Saturdays offer the vineyard’s bottles at less than half price: Alexander Valley Cabernet for $55, Napa Valley Cabernet for $89. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. 3-7 pm, Sat. 5-7 pm. Events and private dining available. L (M-F), D (M-Sa).

2607 Main St., Irvine 949.387.8887 • andreisrestaurant.com

JT SCHMID’S JT Schmid’s Restaurant and Brewery, Orange County’s preferred brewhouse, steakhouse and clubhouse, has two locations, in Anaheim opposite the Honda Center and in Tustin at The District. Enjoy handcrafted microbrews and contemporary California cuisine including Angus steaks, burgers, salads, sandwiches, wood-fired pizza, pastas and seafood. Numerous wide-screen televisions mean you’ll never miss the big game.

Banquet and meeting facilities for 20 to 250 people. Enjoy the new outdoor patio in Anaheim or the full bar and premium cigars at both locations. Happy hour Mon.-Fri. throughout the restaurant. L, D (daily).

2610 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim • 714.634.9200 2415 Park Ave., Tustin • 714.258.0333 jtschmids.com

ROYAL THAI CUISINE Exquisite Thai dining in casually elegant surroundings is offered at this family-owned establishment, which has presented the tranquility of Thai cuisine and culture for more than 30 years. Dishes such as honey duck and enormous Lady Thai prawns from the Chao Praya River reflect the beguiling flavors of Thailand. The proprietors have served Thailand’s Royal Family and they roll out the red carpet for yours. The Sunset Dinner—four courses for $15.95—is offered from 5 to 7 pm; full-service bar. L, D (daily); Br (Sa-Su).

4001 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach 949.645.8424 • royalthaicuisine.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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OCDINING ZOV’S Established in 1987 by Chef Zov Karamardian, a James Beard award winner, Zov’s has earned the respect of local, regional and national food critics as well as the dining public. Zov’s offers American favorites with a Mediterranean influence: salads, sandwiches, steaks and seafood. Signature dishes include tahini chicken tacos and nachos, kebab two ways, burgers, “pitza” pies, and sumac-dusted sea bass with shaved Brussels sprouts and caper-citrus sauce. Dining at Zov’s-in Anaheim, Newport Coast, Irvine or Tustin-is a must-do when visiting Orange County.

Happy hour daily 3-6 pm; banquet and meeting facilities with full-service catering for groups of 10 or more.

1801 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim • 714.280.9687 21123 Newport Coast Drive, Newport Coast • 949.760.9687 17440 E. 17th St., Tustin • 714.838.8855 zovs.com

THE HARBOR GRILL Since 1984, proprietors John, Wanda and Keegan Hicks have taken pride in the sincere friendly attitude of the staff and the quality of food. Serving lunch, dinner and Sunday breakfast, the Harbor Grill offers a delicious array of fresh seafood cooked in a variety of styles including Southwestern, Pacific Rim, Caribbean, Cajun and Mediterranean. With its reasonably priced menu, premium cocktails and extensive wine list, the Harbor Grill has become a favorite with locals and a popular destination for visitors who are made to feel like “regulars.” Whether they’re enjoying the cozy dining room or the colorful terrace, the view of the harbor sails encourages a leisurely meal while a pianist adds the perfect background music each evening.

34499 Golden Lantern, Dana Point 949.240.1416 • harborgrill.com

21 OCEANFRONT Looking out onto the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island, 21 Oceanfront offers breathtaking sunset views from three beautifully appointed dining rooms. 21 Oceanfront is known for its baseball-cut swordfish, tender California red abalone, Alaskan king crab legs, fresh cuts of beef and its extensive wine list. Perfect for a romantic dinner for two as well as for corporate gatherings, the local favorite has been consistently recognized as one of O.C.’s best and most romantic restaurants. Complimentary transportation for groups of eight or more. Live entertainment and happy hour in the Oceanfront Bar and Lounge. D (nightly).

2100 W. Oceanfront, Newport Beach 949.673.2100 • 21oceanfront.com

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Entertainment Special Events

Guidelines Map locators at the end of each listing (Map A3; Map

FESTIVAL OF WHALES Mar. 5-6, 12-13. 45th annual festival celebrates the migration of the California gray whale. Parade, street fairs, concerts, crafts and marinemammal cruises. Call for hours. Free. Dana Point Harbor, 949.496.1045, festivalofwhales.com Map J16

H10, etc.) refer to maps on pp. 61-63. Compendium includes editors’ recommendations and advertisers.

Index Special Events.................. 50 Shopping Destinations...56

RECREATION & SENIOR SERVICES DEPT. presents

SWALLOWS DAY PARADE Mar. 12. Salutes storied annual bird visit from Argentina. Mission San Juan Capistrano, 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.493.1976, swallowsparade.com Map I17

Theater............................... 50 Golf Courses......................57

Family, group & Private

Music + Dance................. 50 Active Outdoors..............58

surf Lessons

SOCO UNCORKED Mar. 31. Wine and food festival features South Coast Collection restaurants and 35 wineries. $75-$120. 6-9 pm. 3313 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa, 657.232.0920, southcoastcollection.com Map J12

Museums...........................55 Tickets................................ 60

NEWPORT BEACH FILM FESTIVAL Apr. 21-28.

Event presents 350 films—features, shorts, documentaries and animation—as well as parties and sessions with directors and screenwriters. Schedule and locations at website. newportbeachfilmfest.com Map K16 NEWPORT TO ENSENADA RACE Apr. 22-24.

World’s largest yacht race; some 200 boats compete.

Best views from Corona del Mar coastal cliffs and Balboa Pier. 11 am start. newporttoensenada.com Map N12 DOHENY BLUES FESTIVAL May 21-22. Blues, rock and R&B on three stages. Microbrew tastings and wine lounge. Sa 11 am-9:30 pm; Su 11 am-8:30 pm. Doheny State Beach, 25300 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.360.7800, dohenybluesfestival.com Map H15 GARDEN GROVE STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL May 27-30. Parade, carnival rides, strawberry cake. F 1-10 pm; Sa-Su 10 am-10 pm; M 10 am-9 pm. Free. Rides from $1.

Village Green between Main and Euclid streets, Garden Grove, 714.638.0981, strawberryfestival.org Map J9

Theater LOUIS AND KEELY: LIVE AT THE SAHARA Mar. 1-27. Louis Prima and Keely Smith, Las Vegas lounge act pioneers. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787 Map G15 GOING TO A PLACE WHERE YOU ALREADY ARE Mar. 6-27. A family ponders the existence of an afterlife when the grandmother claims to have gone to heaven and back. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555 Map J13 THE BOOK OF MORMON Mar. 22-Apr. 3. Irreverent musical has become a cultural phenomenon. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787 Map J13 FUTURE THINKING Mar. 25-Apr. 24. A starlet’s stalker is detained by security; the starlet attempts to ditch her bodyguard. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555 Map J13 ZOMBIE IN LOVE: THE MUSICAL Apr. 8-17. Based on the picture book Zombie in Love, two teen zombies seek dates for Cupid’s Ball. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787 Map G15 OFFICE HOUR Apr. 10-May 1. Troubled student’s creative writing provokes his teacher to get to know him—at her own risk. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555 Map J13 RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN’S CINDERELLA Apr. 19-May 1. Tony Award-winning new take on the beloved tale. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787 Map J13

Sports...................................52 Nightlife...............................58 Attractions.........................52 Tours + Transport.............59

SEX AND EDUCATION Apr. 27-May 22. Sexually charged note jeopardizes basketball star’s scholarship.

Explicit language. Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road, Laguna Beach, 949.497.2787 Map G15 AMADEUS Opening May 6. Psychological mystery revolves around Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in Vienna circa 1781. South Coast Repertory, 655 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.708.5555 Map J13 NEWSIES May 17-29. Inspiring New York success story; ideal family fare. Segerstrom Center for the Arts, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787 Map J13

Music + Dance

L

NEWPORT SURF CAMP

HONDA CENTER May 22 The Who. 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2500, hondacenter.com Map I11

866-Surf-CAMP newportsurfcamp.com

HOUSE OF BLUES Mar. 3 Brian Young Band. Mar. 4 The Mavericks; Gone South. Mar. 5 Cherry Glazer; Johnny K. Mar. 9 Breaking Benjamin. Mar. 10 Gone South. Mar. 11 Mad About Blues. Mar. 17 Brian Young Band. Mar. 18 Bo & the Bluesdrivers. Mar. 19 Ben Rector; Johnny K. Mar. 24 Griff Hamlin. Mar. 26 Wild Child, Doors tribute. Mar. 30 Ciara-Jackie. Mar. 31 Brian Young Band. Apr. 1 1980s vs. ’90s. Apr. 2 Jessie James Decker. Apr. 11 Avantasia. Apr. 20-21 Julieta Venegas. Apr. 26 Boyce Avenue. Downtown Disney, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.778.2583, houseofblues.com Map I10

ENDLESS SUN SURF

IRVINE BARCLAY THEATRE Mar. 3 National Theater Live: Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Mar. 11 UCI Symphony.

Mar. 13 Meccore String Quartet. Mar. 15 Dance company Torobaka. Mar. 17 In My Life, Beatles tribute.

Mar. 19-20 Festival Ballet Theatre, Sleeping Beauty.

Mar. 24 Kahulanui-Hawaiian Kings of Swing. Apr. 1-2 MenAlive chorus. Apr. 3 Cellist Julie Albers and pianist Orion Weiss. Apr. 6 NTL: Shakespeare’s As You Like It. Apr. 7 Hutchins Consort. Apr. 8 Ukulele player Jake Shimabukuro. Apr. 10 Tallis Scholars. Apr. 16 Tango, Song and Dance. Apr. 17 Mozart Classical Orchestra. Apr. 23 Fiddlers the Quebe Sisters. Apr. 24 Eighth Blackbird.

Apr. 28 Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Apr. 29 Stunt Dog Experience. May 7 DakhaBrakha. May 8 Camera Lucida. May 14 Diavolo dance company. May 15 Jazz vocalists Grégoire Maret & Cécile McLorin Salvant.

May 21 UCI Symphony. May 27-28 UCI Drama, Evita (concert staging). UC Irvine, 4242 Campus Drive, Irvine, 949.854.4646, thebarclay.org Map K14 MUSCO CENTER FOR THE ARTS New. Apr. 2 Arts festival. Apr. 3 Pianist Steven Mayer, baritone William Sharp. Apr. 10 L.A. Percussion Quartet Apr. 15-16, 23 Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice. Apr. 22-24 Opera Chapman, Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica. Apr. 26 Van Cliburn Int’l Piano Competition winner Vadym Kholodenko. Apr. 27 Dance festival. Apr. 29 Chapman Wind Symphony. May 3 Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra.

May 7 Baritone Rod Gilfry. May 14 Scholarship Concert.

S c t

E

949-533-1022 endlesssunsurf.weebly.com

surf newport now 949-505-5500 surfnewportnow.com

For more information on surf lessons and to see the array of amazing camps, classes and programs the City of Newport Beach Recreation & Senior Services Department has to offer, visit the department website at

newportbeachca.gov/recreation

newportbeachca.gov 949-644-3151

M S A v A o c o a e r p L f

| fi S g o

l E P e

recreation@newportbeachca.gov

V

Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, founded in 1936, marks its 80th anniversary this year. Like Where magazine! p. 55

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shop + dine + explore

laguna beach

Bareti Jewelry Boutique

490 S. Coast Hwy. 949.715.3140 bareti.com Bareti presents celebrated international jewelry designers, using precious metals and precious stones to create unique pieces that offer day-today and special occasions glamour.

Laguna Beach

Southern California’s premier coastal destination, located in the heart of ‘The OC’.

Event Calendar March 19 & 20 | Artist Open Studios | 11:00am to 4:00pm | Admission: Free visitlagunabeach.com Artist Open Studios is a celebration of Laguna’s thriving visual arts community. It is not only a fantastic opportunity to see, buy or commission art, it is also an adventure and exploration of an iconic artist colony - a time to uncover new talent and rediscover established artists. Free parking is available at ACT V Parking Lot (1900 Laguna Canyon Road) with free trolley service to the artist studios.

Adam Neeley Fine Art Jewelry

352 N. Coast Hwy. 949.715.0953 adamneeley.com Acclaimed jeweler Adam Neeley brings art to fine jewelry. Offering distinctive, everyday styles, custom engagement rings, and one-of-a-kind couture jewelry.

Bubbles of Laguna Bath & Body Shop Located in the Hotel Laguna 445 S. Coast Hwy. 949.494.1417 bubblesoflaguna.com

Create your own perfume, bath salts, sachets, lotions, bubble bath and much more! Mention this ad for a free gift with your purchase.

April 7 | First Thursday’s Art Walk | 6:00pm to 9:00pm firstthursdaysartwalk.com Self-guided tour of more than 30 galleries held on the first Thursday of every month. Citywide.

May 6, 13, 20, 27 | Sunset Serenades lagunabeachcity.net Enjoy free live music at Heisler Park Amphitheatre every Friday evening in May.

VisitLagunaBeach.com

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CA Surf N’ Paddle 689 S. Coast Hwy. 949.497.1423 casurfnpaddle.com

Surf and paddle board rentals, lessons and sales.

Private, semi-private and group lessons available.

Located steps from the beach. Free parking.

Red Fox

1500 S. Coast Hwy. 949.371.3376 Red Fox “Good Clothes” is filled with contemporary styles for life’s “special moments” of all sorts: from everyday errands to a weekend getaway, a brunch with friends, a wedding or a night on the town.

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Attractions + Museums May 15 O.C. Youth Symphony. May 29 Mexican music festival. Chapman University, One University Drive, Orange, 844.626.8726, muscocenter.org Map B4 SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS Segerstrom Hall Through Mar. 6 Wicked. Mar. 8 Legend of Zelda Symphony. Mar. 12 Vocalist Kristin Chenoweth.

Mar. 20 Yanni. Apr. 6-10 Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Apr. 11 Rain, Beatles tribute. Apr. 12-17 Shen Yun Chinese dance troupe. May 14 Cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall Mar. 5 Folk-rocker David Crosby. Mar. 7 Violinist Joshua Bell. Mar. 10-12 Pacific Symphony. Mar. 13 Vocalist Loreena McKennitt Trio. Mar. 15 Baltic Philharmonic. Mar. 18-19 Pacific Symphony. Apr. 2 Vocalist Lea Salonga. Apr. 7-9 Pacific Symphony. Apr. 15-16 Pacific Symphony. Apr. 28-30 Pacific Symphony, violinist Midori. May 1 Silent film The Mark of Zorro, organist Dennis James. May 3 New York Philharmonic. May 10 Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra.

May 13-14 Trumpeter Chris Botti. May 19-21 Pacific Symphony May 26 Pianist Garrick Ohlsson. Samueli Theater Mar. 17 Dover Quartet. Apr. 8 Lawrence String Quartet. Apr. 16-17 Pacific Chorale. Apr. 23-24 Percussionists the Box Brothers. 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa, 714.556.2787, scfta.org Map J13 SOKA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER Mar. 4 Delfeayo and Ellis Marsalis Quartet. Mar. 6 Pianist Richard Goode. Mar. 12 Gomyo-Poltera-Pohjonen Trio. Mar. 25 Cuñao. Apr. 1 Vocalist Storm Large, pianist Kirill Gerstein.

Apr. 2 Luau. Apr. 3 Globalfest on the Road. Apr. 8 Tom Harrell tribute. Apr. 9 Brentano String Quartet Apr. 16 The Gitas and Prima Donna. Apr. 17 Pacific Symphony.

Apr. 24 Trio Céleste. May 1 Neil Diamond tribute May 3 Pianist Yuja Wang. May 7 Soka International Festival. Soka University of America, 1 University Drive, Aliso Viejo, 949.480.4278, soka.edu Map E6

Sports ANGEL STADIUM Apr. 4-5 Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim vs. Chicago Cubs. Apr. 7-10 Angels vs. Texas Rangers. Apr. 22-24. Angels vs. Seattle Mariners. Apr. 25-27 Angels vs. Kansas City Royals. May 6-8 Angels vs.

Tampa Bay Rays. May 10-12 Angels vs. St. Louis Cardinals.

May 18-19 Angels vs. Los Angeles Dodgers. May 20-22 Angels vs. Baltimore Orioles. May 27-29 Angels vs. Houston Astros. May 30-June 1 Angels vs. Detroit Tigers. 2000 E. Gene Autry Way, Anaheim, 714.940.2000 Map I9.

HONDA CENTER Mar. 2 Anaheim Ducks vs. Montreal Canadiens. Mar. 7 Ducks vs. Washington Capitals. Mar. 14 Ducks vs. New Jersey Devils. Mar. 16 Ducks vs. New York Rangers. Mar. 18 Ducks vs. Boston Bruins. Mar. 24, 26 NCAA’s Basketball West Regional. Mar. 30 Ducks vs.

Calgary Flames. Apr. 1 Ducks vs. Vancouver Canucks.

Apr. 2 LA Kiss vs. Jacksonville Sharks. Apr. 3 Ducks vs.

Dallas Stars. Apr. 5 Ducks vs. Winnipeg Jets. Apr. 9 Kiss vs. Arizona Rattlers. May 1 Kiss vs. Philadelphia Soul.

May 28 Kiss vs. Portland Thunder. 2695 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.704.2500, hondacenter.com Map I11

Come discover the beauty of Anaheim Hills Golf Course. We

welcome visitors to enjoy the incredible value of daily tee times and pristine course conditions – all nestled right in the heart of Orange County, located just minutes from Disneyland.

Escape today and take advantage of our FREE Rental Club Offer, New Nike VRS Series Rental Golf Clubs, for a savings of $30.00!

Play like the pros, or at least test drive the clubs they use. It’s on us!

To redeem offer, book your round through your hotel concierge. www.AnaheimHillsGC.com | Phone (714) 998-3041 Anaheim Hills Golf Course | 6501 Nohl Ranch Road | Anaheim, CA

We Cal t California Perfection Weekend Dinner and Champagne Brunch Cruises

Attractions AQUARIUM OF THE PACIFIC One of the largest aquariums in the U.S.; highlights include Shark Lagoon, Lorikeet Forest and ethereal sea jellies. Daily 9 am6 pm. $14.95-$28.95, under 3 free. 100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach, 562.590.3100 Map west of C1 BIG AIR TRAMPOLINE PARK Bounce off the walls: indoor jumping surfaces include trampoline dodgeball courts; plus rock-climbing wall and mechanical bull. Open daily; call for hours. 8320 On the Mall, Buena Park, 844.550.5867. 23251 Avenida de la Carlota, Laguna Hills, 949.305.9788 Map B2, G16 CHOCXO Bean-to-bar chocolatier and factory. Tours Tu-Sa (ages 6 and up) with samples of cocoa nibs, cocoa liquor and products; call for schedule. 9461 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine, 949.825.5781 Map D5

$5 OFF * ANY DINNER OR BRUNCH CRUISE

855-594-7226 HORNBLOWER.COM NEWPORT BEACH MARINA DEL REY LONG BEACH SAN DIEGO SAN FRANCISCO BERKELEY NEW YORK * Valid for up to 6 adults in Marina del Rey & Newport Beach. Terms and conditions apply. Not valid on holidays or special events.

Cannot be combined with other offers. Expires 6/30/2016. Use code WHR5D

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MOMENTS THAT

inspire

Enjoy a one-of-a-kind family experience at SeaWorldÂŽ San Diego, with awe inspiring animal encounters, thrilling rides, and amazing shows.

Plus, learn about the incredible rescues and groundbreaking research that make SeaWorld a world leader in animal care.

SeaWorldSanDiego.com Š 2016 SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Attractions + Museums CHRIST CATHEDRAL Architect Philip Johnson’s glass cathedral and other architectural must-sees

by Richard Neutra and Richard Meier. Tours M-Sa 10 am and 1 pm. Free. 13280 Chapman Ave., Garden Grove, 949.375.5763 Map J10 DISCOVERY CUBE Hands-on exhibits and live shows in science center and Julianne Argyros Showcase Theater.

Through May 8 Storyland: A Trip Through Childhood Favorites. Daily 10 am-5 pm. $12.95-$17.95, under 3 free. 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.542.2823 Map G13

Orange County’s Coastal-Chic Boutique

DISNEYLAND Mickey Mouse’s first theme park celebrates 60th anniversary with nighttime spectaculars including “Paint the Night” parade along Main Street, U.S.A., diamond decor for Sleeping Beauty Castle and “Disneyland Forever” fireworks show. Enhancements to Matterhorn, Peter Pan’s Flight and Haunted Mansion attractions, too. Call for hours.

Admission (includes all rides and attractions): $93$99, under 3 free. 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.4565 Map I10 DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE Park marks Disney’s diamond 60th anniversary. Soarin’ Over California; California Screamin’; Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. “World of Color—Celebrate!” water-and-light show tells Walt Disney’s story. Call for hours. Admission (includes all rides and attractions): $93-$99. 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.781.4565 Map I10 DOWNTOWN DISNEY Twenty-acre pedestrian promenade adjacent to Disney parks offers dining, shopping, cinema and nightlife, including House of Blues, Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen, Sanuk for casual shoes and ESPN Zone. Non-gated, free admission. 1580 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.300.7800 Map I10 FLIGHTDECK FLIGHT SIMULATION CENTER Aerial dogfights use very realistic F-16 fighter jet cockpit simulators. No experience necessary. Minimum age 11, height 4 feet 11. Starts at $59. Tu-Su 11:30 am-8:30 pm.

1650 S. Sinclair, Anaheim, 714.937.1511 Map I11 FULLERTON ARBORETUM O.C.’s largest botanical garden; 4,000 plant species set amid ponds and streams. Four main collections: Mediterranean, woodland, desert and cultivated. 8 am-4:30 pm. Free; $5 suggested donation. 1900 Associated Road, Fullerton, 657.278.3407 Map A3 K1 SPEED Indoor kart racing offers challenging track for speed enthusiasts. Call for hours. Arrangements for private parties or corporate events possible. $20. 17221 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.250.0242; 1000 N. Edward Court, Anaheim, 714.632.6999 Map J14, B4 KNOTT’S BERRY FARM More than 165 rides and attractions; Voyage to the Iron Reef is new. Premier collection of coasters includes Silver Bullet and Xcelerator. Camp Snoopy for younger children. Call for hours and prices; under 3 free. 8039 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.220.5200 Map G8

Newport Coast | Laguna Niguel Laguna Beach | Irvine | Brea www.shopblueeyedgirl.com VINCE • JOIE • FREE PEOPLE • HUDSON JEANS • BCBG • STEVE MADDEN • BAILEY44

MEDIEVAL TIMES Dinner theater show with jousting BlueEyeGirl_WOC_SP16v1.indd 1 knights, Pure Spanish stallions, swordsmanship and falconry, four-course feast. Plus Medieval Torture Museum. $36.95-$61.95. 7662 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 866.543.9637 Map G8

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OCEAN INSTITUTE Aboard tall ship Pilgrim in Dana Point Harbor. Tide-pool sessions; marine-mammal cruises; blue-whale safaris. Sa-Su 10 am-3 pm; tour Th-F 3:30 pm. $4.50-$6.50, under 3 free. 24200 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point, 949.496.2274 Map J16 ORANGE COUNTY GREAT PARK Huge in-progress park. Tethered-balloon ride, $5-$10, under 18 free with accompanying adult. Carousel, $2. Sand Canyon Avenue at Interstate 5, Irvine, 866.829.3829 Map D5 ORANGE COUNTY ZOO Rustic zoo; animals of the Southwest. Audio tours available. M-F 10 am-3:30

DanaWharf.com 888.224.0603

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Attractions + Museums The Hilbert Museum of California Art at Chapman University is one of Southern California’s newest and most intriguing art museums. Drawn from the remarkable collection of founders Mark and Janet Hilbert, the museum features oils, watercolors, sketches and lithographs of urban and industrial scenes, coastal views, and rural landscapes of the Golden State.

The Hilbert Museum is free and open to the public, Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For information and directions: HilbertMuseum.com.

pm; Sa-Su 10 am-4:30 pm. $2, under 3 free. Parking $3-$5. Irvine Regional Park, 1 Irvine Park Road, Orange, 714.973.6847 Map C5 PIRATE’S DINNER ADVENTURE Swordplay, pyrotechnics, comedy, romance aboard Spanish galleon replica. Call for hours. $36.95-$59.95, under 3 free.

7600 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 714.690.1497 Map G8 PRETEND CITY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM Interactive miniature city for children from infant to 8 years old.

Tu-Su 10 am-5 pm; M until 1 pm. $12.50. 29 Hubble, Irvine, 949.428.3900 Map D5 THE RIDE 7D New. Interactive motion-ride experiences combine roller coaster simulation and state-of-the-art laser-blasting game. Su-Th 11 am-9 pm; F-Sa 10 am11 pm. $9; three rides $20. Irvine Spectrum Center, 746 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, ​949.769.6772 Map D5 ROCKREATION Indoor climbing facility with instruction at all levels. M-Th noon-10 pm; F noon9 pm; Sa-Su 10 am-6 pm. $11-$16. 1300 Logan Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.556.7625 Map J12 SANTA ANA ZOO Modest, idyllic zoo. Attractions include the Crean Family Farm and Zoofari Express Train Ride. Daily, 10 am-4 pm. $7-$10, under 3 free. 1801 E. Chestnut Ave., Santa Ana, 714.836.4000 Map H14 SHERMAN LIBRARY & GARDENS Intimate botanical collection features 10 gardens. Library research center. Daily 10:30 am-4 pm. Library open M-F 10:30 am4 pm. $1-$3, under 12 free. Free on Mondays. 2647 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.673.2261 Map M16 TEATRO MARTINI Cabaret experience for couples and groups; comedy, acrobatics, magic, singing, dancing and dining. Th-F 8 pm, Sa 9 pm, Su 8 pm. $69.95. 7600 Beach Blvd., Buena Park, 844.249.7865 Map G8 THE TRIANGLE Dining and entertainment destination. Costa Mesa 55 Tavern + Bowl, nightclub Sutra, Starlight Triangle Cinemas plus La Vida Cantina, Saddle Ranch Chop House and Black Knight Gastro Lounge. 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.650.0732 Map K12 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOLLYWOOD Moviebased theme park. Rides include Despicable Me: Minion Mayhem; tram tour takes in King Kong 360 3-D. Opening April 7 The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, 800.864.8377 Map north of A1 VANS SKATEPARK Skateboard mecca has combi pool and open street course; Vans store is adjacent. Daily 10 am-10 pm. $12 weekdays; $15 weekends. 20 City Blvd.

West No. 2, Orange, 714.769.3800 Map J11

Museums BOWERS KIDSEUM Ethnic arts and culture for children near Bowers Museum. First Sunday celebrations. Sa-Su 10 am-4 pm. $6, under 2 free. 1802 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.480.1520 Map G13 BOWERS MUSEUM Dedicated to the preservation and exhibition of world cultural arts, with shows often mounted in partnership with venerated museums around the world, plus displays with a California focus.

Opening Mar. 19 Mummies of the World. Through May 29 Popul Vuh: Watercolors of Diego Rivera. Ongoing Spirits and Headhunters: Art of the Pacific Islands; Ancient Arts of China; First Californians; California: The Golden Years.

Tu-Su 10 am-4 pm. $10-$15, under 12 free. Separate admission for some exhibits. 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana 714.567.3600, bowers.org Map G13

167 NORTH ATCHISON STREET | ORANGE, CA 92866 | HILBERTMUSEUM.COM

HILBERT MUSEUM New. Chapman University venue near the train station features art in many genres focusing on California history and culture by 20th-

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Shopping century California artists. 167 N. Atchison St., Orange, hilbertmuseum.org Map C4 HUNTINGTON BEACH INTERNATIONAL SURFING MUSEUM Board culture spotlights Duke Kahanamoku, classic surfboards, Endless Summer film.

New exhibit Famers. Su-M noon-5 pm; Tu until 9 pm; W-F until 7 pm; Sa 11 am-7 pm. Free. 411 Olive Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.960.3483 Map N8 IRVINE MUSEUM Superior California Impressionism collection is housed on the ground floor of an office building. Tu-Sa 11 am-5 pm. Free. 18881 Von Karman Ave., Irvine, 949.476.0294 Map J14 LAGUNA ART MUSEUM California Impressionism and contemporary cultural art. Through May 30 Helen Lundeberg: A Retrospective; Frederick Hammersley: Works on Paper From the Permanent Collection. M-Tu, F-Su 11 am-5 pm; Th 11 am-9 pm. $5-$7, under 12 free. 307 Cliff Drive, Laguna Beach, 949.494.8971 Map H15 LYON AIR MUSEUM Very rare operational 20th-century aircraft and other historical vehicles on airport perimeter. Daily 10 am-4 pm. $6-$12, under 5 free. 19300 Ike Jones Drive, Santa Ana, 714.210.4585 Map J13 MISSION SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO Exhibits at jewel of the California missions (1776). Swallows Walk and Talk Tour, daily 1 pm. Ongoing Legacy of Saint Sierra; Mission Treasures; Native American Museum; Plein Air Art Reproductions; South Wing of the Mission. Digital audio tour free with admission. Daily 9 am-5 pm. $6-$9, under 3 free. 26801 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.234.1300 Map I17 MUCKENTHALER CULTURAL CENTER Mansion on 8.5 acres is now an art and design museum. Through Apr. 3 National Watercolor Society Invitational Plein Air Painting Exhibition. Daily 12-4 pm. 1201 W. Malvern Ave., Fullerton, 714.738.6595 Map A3 MUZEO Intimate exhibition space on Center Street Promenade. Mar. 12-May 21 Master Craft: Contemporary Woodworking. Tu-Su 10 am-5 pm. $6-$10. 241 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, 714.956.8936 Map H10 ORANGE COUNTY MUSEUM OF ART California modern and contemporary art. Opening Apr. 2 Marilyn Minter: Pretty/Dirty. W-Su 11 am-5 pm; Th 11 am8 pm. $10-$12, under 12 free. 850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach, 949.759.1122 Map L15

Shopping Destinations ANAHEIM GARDENWALK Retail, entertainment and dining destination near Disneyland. Stores include Skechers, Harley-Davidson and Kensington Luggage.

321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.635.7410 Map I10

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SAVE $128 ADULT $140 CHILD 4 THEME PARKS BUY AT THESE ATTRACTIONS 3-Day Park Hopper® Ticket to Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park 1-Day admission to SeaWorld® San Diego 1-Day admission to LEGOLAND® California Program subject to change.

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BELLA TERRA Striking Italian-themed open-air center features Whole Foods Market, REI outdoor-sports specialist and 20-screen cinema. 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.897.2534 Map C2 THE CAMP Green-oriented enclave for outdoors enthusiasts includes eco department store SEED People’s Market and intriguing dining options including Taco Asylum, Ecco and Vitaly. 2937 S. Bristol St., Costa Mesa Map J13 CORONA DEL MAR PLAZA Boutiques include Gail Jewelers, Jack’s Surfboards and Diane’s swimwear.

Other draws: Savory Spice Shop, Sprinkles Ice Cream.

800-984 Avocado Ave., Newport Beach Map M15

Iconic Spots.

Significant Savings.

One Amazing Experience. citypass.com

CRYSTAL COVE SHOPPING CENTER Ocean views amid Tuscan setting. Upscale boutiques Coastal Cool and new Atelier 7918, fine dining including Bluefin, Babette’s and Mastro’s Ocean Club. 7845-8085 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast Map M17

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Golf THE DISTRICT AT TUSTIN LEGACY Sprawling destination (1 million square feet) offers lots of shopping (Denim Lab), dining (the Winery) and leisure activities (Pinot’s Palette—color me wine!). Jamboree Road and Barranca Parkway, Tustin, 714.259.9090 Map J14 DOWNTOWN DISNEY Twenty-acre complex includes House of Blues, Build-A-Bear, Studio Disney 365 and Ridemakerz. (See Attractions.) 1510-1590 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.300.7800 Map I10 FASHION ISLAND Elegant open-air center with anchors Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom; Yogasmoga and restaurants Sushi Roku and Hopdoddy are new. 401 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.721.2000 Map L15 5 POINTS PLAZA Neighborhood center offers Loft, Vans, Charming Charlie jewelry, Cloudmover Day Spa and Hashigo Sushi; barking lot for dogs! 18593 Main St., Huntington Beach, 5pointsplaza.com Map D2 IRVINE SPECTRUM CENTER Moorish-themed center includes nation’s most visited movie complex, Nordstrom and lots of restaurants. The Ride 7D is new.

Giant Ferris wheel visible from freeways. 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.753.5180 Map D5

GET TICKETS!

(855)-4TMZ-TOUR

OR

TMZTOUR.COM

LIDO MARINA VILLAGE New. Clare V. and Jenni Kayne boutiques, Alchemy Works gallery and Nobu restaurant are inaugural tenants at revitalized harborside pedestrian-friendly shopping village. 400 Via Oporto, Newport Beach, 949.675.8662 Map M15 MAINPLACE Indoor million-square-foot center offers Nordstrom, 190 shops and 24 Hour Fitness Super Sport with rooftop basketball and open-air swimming. 2800 N. Main St., Santa Ana, 714.547.7000 Map G13

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THE LAB Youth-skewed boutiques, hip environment.

Urban Outfitters, Eye Society and tiny As Issued books; dining includes Habana and Gypsy Den. 2930 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.966.6661 Map J13

THE OUTLETS AT ORANGE Includes DKNY, Levi’s, Tommy Hilfiger, Nordstrom Rack, Neiman Marcus Last Call and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5th. Vans Skatepark for indoor boarding. 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, 714.769.4001 Map J11 OUTLETS AT SAN CLEMENTE New. Beautiful Spanish-inspired center with ocean views. Stores include H&M, Calvin Klein, Vans, Guess and Nike.

101 W. Avenida Vista Hermosa, San Clemente, outletsatsanclemente.com Map south of F6 PACIFIC CITY New. Beautiful center on 30 acres with beach views from every plaza, deck and patio. H&M, the Wearhouse, West of Camden, Heirlooms & Hardware, Saavy Naturals, Saint Marc Pub-Cafe. 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach, 714.930.2345 Map N9 SOUTH COAST COLLECTION Highlights include Design Within Reach midcentury showroom and Surfas Culinary District. OC Mix features 30 vendors—quirky retail and unforgettable Taco María restaurant. 33033323 Hyland Ave., Costa Mesa Map J12 SOUTH COAST PLAZA “The Ultimate Shopping Experience” is a state tourist destination. Marquee retailers include Christian Louboutin and, in stunning new quarters, Chanel and Valentino. Macy’s Home Store and Crate & Barrel in Bear Street wing. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 800.782.8888 Map J13

Golf Courses WBStudioTour.com

ANAHEIM HILLS GOLF COURSE “The Hills.” Fine golf value, with 18 holes set amid vistas, valleys, streams, oaks and sycamores. M-Th $52, F $59, Sa-Su $70.

Includes cart and GPS. Twilight rates available. 6501 E. Nohl Ranch Road, Anaheim, 714.998.3041 Map B5

SPRING 2016 WHERE ORANGE COUNTY 57 098814.01_WB_2015_Q3_Print_MidwestCart_WhereMag_OneThirdPage_MECH ROUND #: MECH Trim: 4.625” x 4.875” Bleed: N/A Live:N/A Color Space: CMYK Fonts: Frutiger & ITC Avant Garde Gothic Pub: Where Magazine PM: LC AS: JW AD: VM ACD: VM/CD SA: JR Date: 07/09/15 Loaded Date: 07/10/15

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Nightlife DAD MILLER GOLF COURSE Tiger Woods’ home course during high school; for beginning to intermediate golfers. M-Th $29, F $36, Sa-Su $41. 430 N. Gilbert St., Anaheim, 714.765.3481 Map G8 MONARCH BEACH GOLF LINKS Ocean views abound at 18-hole course. M-Th $185, F-Su $210. Includes cart with GPS system. Twilight rates available. St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort, 50 Monarch Beach Resort Drive North, Dana Point, 949.240.8247 Map J16 OAK CREEK GOLF CLUB Tapered fairways, bull-nose carved bunkers and picturesque greens on Tom Fazio course. M-Th $130, F-Su $175. Includes cart. 1 Golf Club Drive, Irvine, 949.653.5300 Map D5 PELICAN HILL GOLF CLUB Two gorgeous courses reopened after a two-year renovation as part of the sumptuous Resort at Pelican Hill; there are spectacular coastal views from virtually every hole. $290 daily.

22701 Pelican Hill Road S., Newport Coast, 877.735.4226 Map L17 STRAWBERRY FARMS GOLF CLUB Eighteenhole course; rolling greens, picturesque canyon, wetland vistas, county’s longest hole. M-Th $110, F-Su $160. 11 Strawberry Farms Road, Irvine, 949.551.1811 Map D5 TUSTIN RANCH GOLF CLUB Resort-style course designed by Ted Robinson. Challenging greens, palm trees and lakes, remodeled clubhouse. Private caddie service. M-Th $115, F $135, Sa-Su $165.

Additional cart fee. 12442 Tustin Ranch Road, Tustin, 714.730.1611 Map C5

Active Outdoors

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CA SURF ‘N’ PADDLE Year-round surfing and stand-up-paddleboard lessons. Free parking. 689 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.497.1423 Map H15 CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH SURF LESSONS Schools include Endless Sun Surf, 949.533.1022; Newport Surf Camp, 866.787.3267; and Surf Newport Now, 949.505.5500 newportbeachca.gov Map D3 PEDEGO ELECTRIC BIKES Electric bike rentals $14 per hour with two-hour minimum or $50 per day. Tour three piers and Newport Harbor for $69. 301 Fifth St., Huntington Beach, 714.465.2782; 2515 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.612.7989; 4624 Barranca Parkway, Irvine, 949.274.7944 Map N9, M16, D5

Nightlife AQUA LOUNGE Waved ceiling, 360-degree bar, huge patio, street-food-inspired menu...and group cocktails!

DJs Th-Su. Island Hotel, 690 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.760.4920 Map L15 BARLEY FORGE BREWING CO. New. Costa Mesa’s first-ever commercial production brewery is bustling!

Five-taster flights; barbecue on weekends. 2957 Randolph Ave., Costa Mesa, 714.641.2084 Map J13 BLIND RABBIT Speakeasy with 1920s atmosphere hidden behind wall at Anaheim Packing House. Don’t like your drink? Your server will finish it! 440 S. Anaheim Blvd., Anaheim, theblindrabbit.com Map H10 BOWLMOR Hip, state-of-the-art, glow-in-the-dark bowling lounge with sports bar and global cuisine.

The District at Tustin Legacy, 2405 Park Ave., Tustin, 714.258.2695; Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.783.2810 Map D4, I10 CALAVINO WINE BAR Rotating fine wines and craft beers, and eclectic New American (spinach wontons, pork-belly burger, beignets) near Angel Stadium. 2410 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.939.7735 Map I11

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Tours +Transport COLONY WINE MERCHANT Tasting lounge and wine retailer celebrates Anaheim’s wine history. 280 S. Lemon St., Anaheim, 657.208.1860 Map H10 COSTA MESA 55 TAVERN + BOWL State-ofthe-art bowling alley, sports viewing. The Triangle, 1875 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.438.2320 Map K12 HEAT ULTRA LOUNGE Vegas-style club near Disneyland. Th-Sa. Anaheim GardenWalk, 321 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.776.4328 Map I10 HOUSE OF BLUES Touring bands, dancing, outsider art and soul food. Rafter-raising gospel brunch on alternate Sundays. Call for schedule. Downtown Disney, 1530 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, 714.778.2583 Map I10 IRVINE IMPROV Top comedy. Two-item minimum; Umami burgers. Irvine Spectrum Center, 572 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, 949.854.5455 Map D5 LOLA GASPAR Endearingly hip bar and kitchen. Open until 2 am M-Sa, Su until midnight. 211 W. Second St., Santa Ana, 714.972.1172 Map H13

There’s always something new to see and learn at the Aquarium of the Pacific. Touch sharks. Feed lorikeet birds. Watch penguins play. Over 11,000 animals await you. For a $7 off coupon, visit aquariumofpacific.org/whereoc or capture QR code.

AquAriumofpAcific.org 562.590.3100 100 AquArium WAy, Long BeAch, cA 90802

MULDOON’S DUBLIN PUB Cozy spot with courtyard; fun Irish-themed events in the Celtic Bar. 202 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.640.4110 Map L15 THE OBSERVATORY Live rock, alternative, jazz, blues and food. More acts in the Constellation Room. 3503 S. Harbor Blvd., Santa Ana, 714.957.0600 Map I15 ROOFTOP LOUNGE Hot spot for sunset cocktails on wraparound patio with panoramic coastal views atop La Casa del Camino hotel. 1289 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.497.2446 Map I15 THE SPEAKEASY Hidden on cobblestone street at Old World Village; beer, wine and small plates. 7561 Center Ave., Huntington Beach, 714.899.3279 Map C2 STAG BAR + KITCHEN Convivial bar established in 1908 opposite Newport Pier gets kitchen in 2016.

121 McFadden Place, Newport Beach, 949.673.4470 Map N13 SUTRA LOUNGE Club with cool decor, musical acts and big-name deejays. Open Th-Sa. The Triangle, 1870 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.722.7103 Map K12 WILD GOOSE Cocktails, seasonal beers, creative sausages and burgers amid hunt-lodge-saloon decor.

436 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.722.9453 Map N12 YOST THEATER Historical landmark now hosts popular musical acts and deejays. Open daily. 307 N. Spurgeon St., Santa Ana, 888.862.9573 Map H13

Tours + Transport AMTRAK Train service within Orange County and to destinations throughout California daily. There are stops in Anaheim, Fullerton, Irvine, Laguna Niguel, San Juan Capistrano and Santa Ana. 800.872.7245, amtrak.com ANAHEIM REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION INTERMODAL CENTER (ARTIC) New. Spectacular architectural achievement. Metrolink and Amtrak trains, OCTA buses, Anaheim Resort Transportation, shuttles, taxis and charter buses converge. 1750 S. Douglass Road, Anaheim, 877.99.ARTIC, articinfo.com ANAHEIM RESORT TRANSPORTATION (ART) Shuttles cover 19 routes, transfers to Disneyland, Anaheim GardenWalk and Anaheim Convention Center.

Purchase passes online, at Amtrak station and select hotels. 888.364.2787, rideart.org CATALINA EXPRESS Round trip to Catalina Island. Dana Wharf Sportfishing, 34675 Golden

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Tours +Transport Lantern, Dana Harbor; 320 Golden Shore, Long Beach, 800.481.3470 Map K16, northwest of C1 CATALINA FLYER Triple-decker catamaran is fastest boat to Catalina Island: 75 minutes. Call for schedule. $53-$70, $6 children 2 and under. Balboa Pavilion, 400 Main St., Newport Beach, 800.830.7744 Map N15 CITY PASS Includes discounted admission to Disney theme parks and admission to others in L.A., San Diego. $269-$306, under 3 free. 888.330.5008, citypass.com DANA WHARF WHALE-WATCHING AND SPORTFISHING Sportfishing, whale-watching expeditions and 82-foot schooner yacht for charters.

Corporate parties, private fishing and twilight wine cruises. Dana Point Harbor, 34675 Golden Lantern St., Dana Point, 800.979.3370, danawharf.com Map K16 DAVEY’S LOCKER Year-round whale-watching, deep-sea sportfishing, fishing charters and boat rentals at Balboa Pavilion. 400 Main St., Newport Beach, 949.673.1434, daveyslocker.com Map N15

Easy come, easier go.

We’re conveniently located right around the corner from your hotel. To make it even easier, we’ll pick you up.

To make a reservation, call (888)484-Hotel(4683) or visit enterprise.com/hotelguests2.

ENTERPRISE RENT-A-CAR Daily car rentals with some 25 locations throughout Orange County. Pickup service available. 888.484.4683, enterprise.com HORNBLOWER CRUISES Luxury party yachts.

F-Sa dinner-dance cruises, Sa-Su Champagne brunch.

Mariner’s Mile Marina, 2431 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, 949.646.0155 Map M13 JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT Gateway to O.C., vastly superior to LAX in ambiance and ease of arrival and departure. Art exhibits; dining in Terminal C. Free Wi-Fi. Ticket counters open at 5 am. 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana, 949.252.5200, ocair.com

Pick-up subject to geographic and other restrictions. ©2015 Enterprise Rent-A-Car F07585 07.15

LAGUNA BEACH TROLLEY Free service year-round along Coast Highway. F 4-11 pm, Sa 11 am-11 pm and Su 11 am-8 pm. visitlagunabeach.com Map H15 METROLINK Train system connects to San Diego, Los Angeles; stops in San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel/Mission Viejo, Irvine, Tustin, Santa Ana, Orange, Anaheim, Fullerton and Buena Park. $10 weekend day pass (Sa-Su) for Metrolink rails and SoCal public transportation. 800.371.5465, metrolinktrains.com OCTA Orange County Transportation Authority buses. $2; day pass $5, 75 cents for 60 and older, under 5 free.

Exact change. 714.560.6282, octa.net SUPERSHUTTLE Transportation to and from all SoCal airports around the clock. Groups and charters welcome.

310.222.5500; 800.258.3826, supershuttle.com TMZ HOLLYWOOD TOUR Celebrity haunts and scandal sites aboard state-of-the-arts bus. $53$63. Starline Tours, 6925 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, 855.486.9868

ne Buy o et g hour ond a sec ree! f r hou

Tickets 714 TICKETS Sporting events, shows and concerts, opposite Honda Center. Local delivery. 2620 E. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.842.5387, 714tickets.com Map I11 TITANIUM TICKETS Specializes in tickets for seats in the first 10 rows. 18685 Main St., No. 108, Huntington Beach, 714.848.1632 Map D2

where?

Log on anywhere.

WhereOC.com

The Next Generation of Trampoline Parks

Buena Park (844) 550-5867 Laguna Hills (949) 305-9788

Must show this ad to receive discount. Limit two jumpers per coupon. Discount valid for general admission first hour of jump only.

Valid thru 12/30/16. Offer valid weekdays Monday-Friday. Not valid with any other promotions or discounts. Prices and hours subject to change without notice.

Code: WHERE16

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The Eggywich at new Blackmarket on Broadway in Santa Ana. 714.571.0801 The diamond decor for the 60th anniversary of Disneyland in Anaheim. p. 54 The vermouth, housemade with 20 botanicals, at new Vaca in Costa Mesa. p. 43

Cabaret dinner show Teatro Martini in Buena Park. p. 55

Gigamon at The Ride 7D, new at Irvine Spectrum Center. p. 57

A round at Strawberry Farms Golf Club in Irvine. p. 58

Manicures at Lollipop Nail Studio at the Camp in Costa Mesa. 714.444.0330

The new Lighthouse Bayview Café on Balboa Peninsula. p. 34 Bowl of Heaven acai bowls in Huntington Beach. 714.842.5300

Jewelry at The Nook, new at Pacific City in Huntington Beach. p. 57

The Interactive Tea Zone at new American Tea Room at Fashion Island. 949.432.6006

Prohibition Punch at Saint Marc, new at Pacific City in Huntington Beach. p. 36

Treasure Island Beach, below the Montage in Laguna Beach. 949.497.3311

Dogfight training in the air at Air Combat USA in Fullerton. 800.522.7590

The Spicy Mezcalrita cocktail at Umami Burger in Anaheim. p. 47

Hippie-inspired clothing at Rock Etiquette in Laguna Beach. 949.715.1121

The Kolossal Kobe burger at The Krave in Newport Coast.

949.719.7770

Yogasmoga yoga pants at Fashion Island. 949.721.9642

Gifts at The Green Pear in Villa Park. 714.998.2090

where in the world

WHERE is an inter­national network of magazines first published in 1936 and distributed in 4,000 leading hotels in more than 50 places around the world. Look for us when you visit any of the following cities, or plan ahead for your next trip by visiting us online at wheretraveler.com United States Alaska, Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Georgia, Indianapolis, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Maui, Minneapolis/St. Paul,

Spray tans at Porcelain Hair Studio in Huntington Beach. 714.969.8722 The Stag Balls—venison meatballs—at Stag Bar + Kitchen in Newport Beach. p. 59 Wine tasting at Colony Wine Merchant in Anaheim. p. 59 Daisy Blue boutique in Huntington Beach. 714.960.8610 Modern Romance boutique at Fashion Island. 949.640.5477 Island Paddleboards on Balboa Island. 949.673.4280 Ice-cream-stuffed croissants at Churned Creamery, new at Tustin’s Union Market. p. 46

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Design-your-own hand rolls at new Temakira, at OC Mix in Costa Mesa, 949.229.8632, and in Irvine, 949.387.9444 Design-your-own poke—base, fish, sauce and toppings— at Fins Poke Fusion in Mission Viejo.

949.542.7466 Design-your-own doughnuts at new Poqet Donuts in Irvine. Lots of add-on toppings; vegan options, too.

949.932.0800

New Orleans, New York, Northern Virginia, Oahu, Orange County (CA), Orlando, Philadelphia, Phoenix/Scottsdale, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, South Florida, St. Louis, Washington, D.C. ASIA Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore AUStrALIA Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne Canada Calgary, Canadian Rockies, Edmonton, Halifax, Muskoka/Parry Sound, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Whistler, Winnipeg Europe Berlin, Budapest, London, Milan, Moscow, Paris, Rome, St. Petersburg

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