From new restaurants to updated menus, Orange County’s dining options are unbeatable. See for yourself this fall.
Beloved Orange County-based culinary brands 7 Leaves Café and Crema Bakery have united to create Artisan, a fast-casual dining experience in Fountain Valley. Its brunch-focused, innovative menu features options like Parisian eggs Benedict and a Mochiko chicken sandwich, all executed under the attentive eye of executive chef Chad Urata. Freshly baked goods include a variety of breads, cookies, macarons and the notable Artisan Croffle, a portmanteau of a croissant and waffle. 10065 Garfield Ave., Fountain Valley, 657.229.4349, artisan.7leavescafe.com
Artisan’s signature Croffle is teamed with vanilla cream, salted caramel and jam for dipping. COURTESY OF KNIFE & SPORK PR; BY MAX MILLA
Enjoy Blinking Owl Distillery’s expanded food menu, which incorporates its craft spirits. Try the Trois Choufleur—cauliflower three ways with garlic chimichurri and microherbs—the heirloom tomato goat cheese pie, or the Spirited Salad with daikon, Fuji apple and a vodka citrus ginger dressing. Sip on a 20/21 Vision cocktail with Aquavit, carrot syrup, lemon, aquafaba, dry vermouth and basil while you’re at it. 802 E. Washington Ave., Santa Ana, 714.852.3947, blinkingowldistillery.com
Blinking Owl Distillery’s Water Tower gin and tonic. PHOTO BY RON DE ANGELIS
Costa Mesa’s Fermentation Farm has launched its inaugural brunch menu, designed by culinary director and executive chef Amy Lebrun. Inspired by her love of fresh, hyperlocal and sustainable ingredients, its tasty offerings, available on Saturdays and Sundays only, include jammed French toast—Rye Goods sourdough brioche with strawberry jam, sprouted almond butter, maple syrup and basil—and shakshuka featuring tomatoes, squash blossoms, fermented harissa, black garlic sauce, raw cheese, two pastured eggs and two pieces of ghee toast. 1125 Victoria St., Ste. R, Costa Mesa, 949.650.0830, fermfarm.com
Fermentation Farm’s avocado toast. PHOTO BY RON DE ANGELIS
Chef Rainer Schwarz highlights the season’s freshest produce—much of which is sourced from local and regional farms—in Hendrix’s new ocean-to-table plates. Highlights from its summer menu include the mouthwatering barbecue octopus tacos topped with pineapple salsa, pickled fresno chiles and lemon creme fraiche; braised kurobuta pork short ribs; and ricotta gnocchi with San Marzano tomato sauce, fresh basil and burrata mozzarella. 32431 Golden Lantern, Laguna Niguel, 949.248.1912, hendrixoc.com
The former Charlie Palmer space, adjacent to Bloomingdale’s at South Coast Plaza, is now home to this Singapore brand’s first U.S. flagship. Indulge in its signature rainbow xiao long bao (soup dumplings), which are stuffed with lavish ingredients like black truffle and foie gras, or give the Szechuan crispy chicken, handpulled noodles and other regional Chinese dishes a try. 3333 Bristol St., Ste. A, Costa Mesa, 714.617.4630, paradisegp.com
Fresh noodles await at Paradise Dynasty. PHOTO COURTESY OF PARADISE DYNASTY
The new Westin Anaheim Resort welcomes Puesto’s fourth location, a 7,000-square-foot space where a first-of-its-kind projection wall by San Diego’s BASILE Studio wows. The family-owned restaurant is beloved for its award-winning Mexico City-style tacos, made with non-GMO, organic blue corn tortillas and sustainable meats. Don’t miss the craft bar program, focused on agave spirits, led by bar and spirits creative director Beau du Bois, an alum of Napa’s three Michelin-starred Restaurant at Meadowood. 1040 W. Katella Ave., Anaheim, 714.294.0362, eatpuesto.com
Designer Paul Basile of BASILE Studio gave Puesto’s new Anaheim location its good looks. PHOTO BY DUSTIN BAILEY
Puesto’s watermelon margarita is spiked with Del Maguey Vida mezcal. PHOTO BY ANNE WATSON
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