Orange County’s dining scene is on fire this summer thanks to some sizzling additions, from a sprawling Rare Society steakhouse in San Clemente to breezy beachside seafood haunt Laguna Fish Company.
Rare Society’s pillowy Parker House rolls are slathered in truffle butter and dusted with herbs. PHOTO: BY MATT FURMAN
RARE SOCIETY
In 2019, Brad Wise of San Diego-based TRUST Restaurant Group revived the spirit of retro Vegas steakhouses with Rare Society. Joining locations in University Heights, Solana Beach, Santa Barbara and Mill Creek this summer is a s prawling 5,500-square-foot San Clemente restaurant. “This will be our largest Rare Society to date,” says Wise of the brand’s new flagship location on Avenida Del Mar. “It’s two stories and nearly double the size of our space in Solana Beach.” Enjoy the modern steakhouse’s cuts of dry-aged ribeye, Australian wagyu and classic filet mignon—plus wood-grilled lobster, a seafood tower and decadent desserts—in a sleek space with brass materials, tin tiles and Spanish-style architecture. “Since we have an epic ocean view, we’ll be open for lunch, a first for any of our Rare Society locations,” says Wise. The venue will also boast the brand’s first private dining room and a community feel. “When I look to g row this brand, I look to places that are neighborhood-focused, places that people love to live and spend their time in,” he says. “San Clemente embodies this feeling we’re after.” 226 Avenida Del Mar, San Clemente, raresociety.com
Laguna Fish Company offers fresh oysters daily. PHOTO: COURTESY OF BRAND
LAGUNA FISH COMPANY
When Laguna Fish Company opened in December below Skyloft in the renowned Heisler building—steps from popular Main Beach Park—executive chef Angel Velazquez hoped it would fill a hole in the market. “The concept was to have something fast and casual, with a unique experience that we don’t have in Laguna Beach,” Velazquez says. “We bring in local seafood, which enhances our menu, and the locals love it. They have been waiting for a restaurant like this for a long time.” Locals have already been flocking to the hot spot for fresh fish, oysters and clams, the Laguna Tacos, and customizable options, such as build-your-own plates, tacos, burritos and bowls. “We cook from scratch; all of our food is made-to-order and always fresh,” notes owner Ivan Spiers. Enjoy a drink at the full-service bar, or order at the counter for a fast-casual experience. Stay tuned for regular and late-night happy hours coming this summer. 400 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949.715.1002, lagunafishco.com
SUGARFISH and its beloved chutoro nigiri will arrive in Corona del Mar by the end of 2023. PHOTO BY EDDIE SANCHEZ, HUNGRY IN LA
SUGARFISH
“We are very excited to finally bring SUGARFISH to Orange County,” says SUGARFISH co-founder Lele Massimini of the beloved sushi brand opening in Corona del Mar at the end of 2023. “Our guests have been asking us since almost the beginning, and we have wanted to bring our food here for the past decade.” Four decades aft er bringing traditional Japanese sushi to America with Sushi Nozawa in L.A.’s Studio City, chef Kazunori Nozawa and the Sushi Nozawa Group created SUGARFISH to make the high-quality, omakase-style sushi dining experience more accessible. The fresh, precise sushi, sashimi, hand rolls and Trust Me menus quickly acquired a cult following, and SUGARFISH now boasts 11 L.A. locations and four New York ones. However, it took just the right spot for the brand to expand to CdM. Hints Massimini, “We found what we think is the perfect location, and our guests can expect the same quality, detailed-focused, melt-in-your-mouth sushi they are used to—without the L.A. traffic.” 2600 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar, sugarfishsushi.com
Eureka!’s classic American cheeseburger PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
EUREKA!
The Eureka! Restaurant Group—which owns 29 restaurants throughout California, Idaho, Nevada, Texas and Washington—is bringing local craft beers, small-batch whiskeys and classic American fare to Aliso Viejo. “We’ve been looking for the right place for eight years in the area, and we were lucky enough to find this perfect location in the center of Aliso Viejo,” says founder Paul Frederick of the third O.C. location. The 4,900-square-foot space channels a contemporary farmhouse with an old sycamore tree mural by artist Nichole Blackburn, a lively central bar, and a patio with a water and fire feature. Pair the 17 craft beers on tap from top local breweries with the bison burger or the wings with sauce options ranging from orange chile glaze to beer barbecue sauce. Says Frederick, “Guests can discover their new favorite burger or unique small-batch whiskey while supporting the local community through our beverage program featuring the best local breweries, distilleries and wineries in California.” 26541 Aliso Creek Road, Ste. F, Aliso Viejo, 949.323.8650, eurekarestaurantgroup.com
Cocktails, including the Raspberry Smash, await at Finney’s at The White House in Laguna Beach. PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDS
FINNEY’S AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Since Greg Finefrock founded the brand synonymous with scratch kitchens and craft bars in 2016, Finney’s Craft house has expanded to multiple locations throughout Southern California. Joining outposts of “the American tavern built for good times” is a brand-new Laguna Beach location. “We are thrilled and honored to open our newest Finney’s Craft house in the historic White House restaurant space, Orange County’s oldest restaurant, founded in 1918,” says Finefrock of the historic grounds. The beachside venue, boasting brick walls and antique accents, will serve all of Finney’s favorites—shareable apps, specialty tacos, flatbread pizzas, hot wings, sandwiches and signature burgers—along with 30 draft brews, California wines and hand-craft ed cocktails. 340 S. Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, 949.484.8140, finneyscrafthouse.com
Photography by:
