Whether you’re craving a heaping plate of pasta or a cooked-to-perfection steak, Orange County’s newest restaurants offer exquisite tastes for all.
Try the Call Me Spritz—Aperol, prosecco, soda and fresh garden herbs—at Parlor Woodfire Kitchen & Cocktails. PHOTO BY KYLE ORTIZ
Fans of San Clemente’s Vine, San Juan Capistrano’s Bloom, Laguna Beach’s Sapphire, Newport Beach’s Olea and Laguna Hills’ Ironwood already know and love restaurateur Russ Bendel’s thoughtful dining concepts. In July, he unveiled Parlor Woodfire Kitchen & Cocktails across the street from Vine in San Clemente. “Our goal is to create the best possible take on a modern American pizza parlor,” says chef Jared Cook. “My vision of the perfect pizza is sourdough crust, big puff bubbles from cold fermentation, and a crispy, chewy outside with soft tender interior.” In addition to eight different pizzas, Parlor features prime beef and pork meatballs, a crisp chopped salad, and porchetta, shrimp and manila clam bucatini. Beers from San Clemente breweries and cocktails inspired by the area—including the tequila-tinged El Camino Real—round out the delicious menu.
Weekend brunch arrives at Ospi this fall. PHOTO COURTESY OF MEMENTO MORI HOSPITALITY
After honing his skills at myriad Michel-instarred restaurants and competing on season 19 of Top Chef, Jackson Kalb continues to build his restaurant empire with the opening of Ospi in Costa Mesa. Known for Los Angeles concepts Jame, Jemma and Ospi, Kalb’s entry into Orange County marks the first local restaurant location for Memento Mori Hospitality. The second location of Ospi, tucked within Paseo 17 on East 17th Street, will celebrate Italian flavors with housemade pasta, thin Roman-style pizzas, country bread toasts and plenty of wine and cocktails. Enjoy lunch, dinner and weekend brunch at Ospi this fall.
The dining room at Warehouse 72 Modern Bar + Bistro; PHOTO BY JOHN DOLE
Opened in mid-August at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, Warehouse 72 Modern Bistro + Bar is the brainchild of O.C. native Doug Pak, who offers elevated cuisine in an art-driven setting. Step inside the 6,200-square-foot indoor-outdoor dining room to discover a stunning 30-foot LED installation featuring a rotating selection of three-dimensional art. The eye-catching setting is only matched by executive chef Jaime Salazar’s curated menu, which utilizes organic and non-GMO ingredients in dishes featuring free-range, grass-fed meats and sustainable seafood. Breakfast and lunch favorites include the ube pancakes and the chicken curry naan wrap, while dinner shines with black truffle arancini, miso-glazed wild-caught seabass and Australian lamb chops. Stop by for all-day dining daily.
The bar at Westwood Coast; PHOTO COURTESY OF OUTSHINE PR
Kick up your boots in Costa Mesa’s Triangle Square, where Westwood Coast brings live entertainment and seasonally-driven cuisine together in a country-themed setting. The 8,500-square-foot space is highlighted by a 14-seat private dining room, a 20-seat bar—offering more than 100 types of whiskey—and Louis, the mechanical bull. On Thursdays, guests can enjoy instructor-led line dancing and live country music on Fridays and Saturdays. Try executive chef Jayro Martinez’s premium charbroiled steaks—including a 40-ounce bone-in Australian wagyu ribeye—smoked duck wings, and corn ribs served with tangy lime aioli and salsa macha powder. Brunch, offered Friday through Sunday, promises a good time with a truffle hollandaise-topped Dungeness crab Benedict and the Cowgirl Croque.
Photography by:
