Orange County friends... Need a little help :)

[persian54]

So I have noticed I've been going to the OC (Irvine, Lake Forest, Costa Mesa, Garden Grove, Anaheim.... etc) quite a bit recently (once a week?) and I don't know too much about the area, always relying on my friend(s) to pick spots.

I was thinking I'd pick some spots for once! As that is usually the case whenever someone comes to LA or the Valley.

Curious to hear everyone's recommendations for:
- Sushi (not AYCE) [Don't kill the pocket...but be fresh and good)
- Lounge (relaxed, chill, not crazy loud music... think like the W Hotel up here, maybe even The Edison? Not like J Lounge as it is a bit too loud and club like).
- Nice spot for dinner (maybe with a view? good food, good staff... Think Yamashiro, Odyssey, Castaway, Providence even, Il Forno Caldo, nothing that's really a big chain)
A tapas bar would be tight

- Seafood!
- Nice drives? (Like Angeles Forest, Malibu Canyon, Stunt Road..)

If you're not from LA... sorry if my references don't make sense).


I got a couple ideas for each through yelp and friends, but I'd love more!!

Thank you

[sensi09]

For sushi, try masa or shibucho. Can be pricey, but usually get something basic like a chirashi and say a hand roll or something so I don't spend too much. Been meaning to try bluefin.

For a lounge, maybe mesa.

You could try orange hill for a view. White house in anaheim is nice too and fits your description, but lacks a view. It gets crowded, but anjin is good but unlike the others in terms of ambiance.

Slim pickings for drives. There's ortega, but a bit out of the way.

[persian54]

Originally Posted by sensi09

For sushi, try masa or shibucho. Can be pricey, but usually get something basic like a chirashi and say a hand roll or something so I don't spend too much. Been meaning to try bluefin.

For a lounge, maybe mesa.

You could try orange hill for a view. White house in anaheim is nice too and fits your description, but lacks a view. It gets crowded, but anjin is good but unlike the others in terms of ambiance.

Slim pickings for drives. There's ortega, but a bit out of the way.

Dude you're awesome, thank you!

I bookmarked a bunch of them.

Mesa lounge seemed perfect, anything else like that?

[M3PO]

Definitely Ortega highway.

[e92nsx]

Sushi-Murasaki, Ikko, and Uoko

Nice view and eat by the beach- The Beachcomber

Lounge- Mesa, Commonwealth lounge

[Malek@MRF]

Ortega Highway. Cooks Corner. Modjeska Canyon Road.

Beachcomber, Javiers Crystal Cove, Mastro's Ocean Club, Coyote Grill Laguna Beach, Las Brisas Laguna Beach.

Plenty to do.

[aus]

That's a big area you're talking about.
And y a pretty wide price range if you're including Providence!!! Which was $$$ and I was still hungry afterwards.

I'm a sushi snob, so it's not going to be cheap.
In Crystal Cove in Newport, there's Bluefin, which is really good sushi IMO. Javiers and Mastro's Ocean Club are both nice down there in the same complex. Javiers is a trendy and good Mexican place with some hot chics all the time and a lot of hot MILFS. Mastros is like the steakhouse in Costa Mesa, but with more sea food.

In Orange, there's Oshima, which is a small place and it's better to make reservations (only from 5-5:30) each night or go after 8:30 when it thins out.

Someone mentioned Ikko, which is also really good, but you have to have a reservation. It's also tiny.

In Seal Beach, Koi is really popular and good, but really busy. I like the other places more. Walt's Warf is right around the corner on Main St and is pretty legendary for seafood locally. There's also The Fish Company in Los Alamitos that's really popular for sea food.

There's a nice lounge at Charlie Palmer's in front of Bloomingdales at South Coast. Anqui next door is worth trying for fusion Vietnamese food.

The Morton's at South Coast/Santa Ana is better than the Beverly Hills one by a huge margin IMO. There's a good Persian place in the same shopping Center.

We also have Slater's 50:50 for burgers at few locations. Bruxie Waffles in Orange by Chapman college, which is just a stand with outside seating.

The Playground in Santa Ana is good. He's one of the original owners of The Lime truck. Not the greatest area, but a cool room and there's parking behind them.

That's a start off the top of my head.

.

[sensi09]

I've had better meals at the costa mesa mortons too over the BHs location. Still prefer good old Ruth's Chris to both mortons and mastros though. Mastros is a bit overpriced IMO

[Aquariu///M]

Sushi on fire @ Huntington Beach

[persian54]

Thank you!

[Supercar Ace]

This is a good resource for us LA guys..I'm def paying a lot of attention tot his thread!

[kwike92]

i guess it depends on what your looking for. Mastros oceans club is a great place, but imo a bit overpriced for what it is. Javiers is great times as well.



there a couple cool places in South Coast plaza area like Mortons, Mastros costa mesa, Scotts on Thursdays.

so much to do in OC.

-mastros
-javiers
-333 lounge on PCH in newport
-woodys warf in newport
-scotts in costa mesa
-sutra lounge in newport (alot of people have their own opinions on this place, but i think its a good time every once in a while. lol )

i personally like going to more bars, dive bar or not i just like the scene. lol

hope this helps? lol cheers!

[Brucewonder]

In Orange, there's Oshima, which is a small place and it's better to make reservations (only from 5-5:30) each night or go after 8:30 when it thins out.

YES YES YES to this....a lil pricy but hella good

[Brucewonder]

Originally Posted by aus

That's a big area you're talking about.
And y a pretty wide price range if you're including Providence!!! Which was $$$ and I was still hungry afterwards.

.

I always wanted to try Providence...would you say its worth it?

[persian54]

Originally Posted by Brucewonder

I always wanted to try Providence...would you say its worth it?

Yes, it is worth it

I cannot wait until I can afford to dine there weekly.

[aus]

Originally Posted by Brucewonder

I always wanted to try Providence...would you say its worth it?

It's worth it in you get to see the difference between a Michilin 2 star and 1 star place. There is a difference. The food is amazing, BUT you are literally still hungry when you leave. At least that's the way it was with the tasting menu two times I went. I'm talking, I could have had a double double after. Maybe the entree's are larger, or do a small tasting and add a full appetizer or entree.
I want try Melisse next. Just went to Bazaar last week and the food is very similar to Jaleo at the Cosmopolitan in Vegas- ie VERY good tapas. Bazaar is a pretty cool room though.

.

[persian54]

Originally Posted by aus

you are literally still hungry when you leave. At least that's the way it was with the tasting menu two times I went.

.

Strange

I was quite satisfied afterwards

We did the tasting menu and also got prawns.

No joke the best prawns I've ever had.

Maybe I did a different tasting menu?

I'm a big guy who usually eats quite a bit..

[positiveions]

i vote for las brisas in Laguna.