I did not realize until I started researching for this mini-tome that we had so many restaurants that have endured for at least 25 years in Orange County. I’d been to some of these in the reasonable past, but not all, so I was a busy gal catching up on the status of the others.
There are a few oldies that are still going strong and that are part of a chain. I did not include those, choosing instead to research the individual restaurants that continue to be successful without corporate dollars or structure.
At the end of the list is a separate little note with the names and phone numbers of a few other oldies. I have written about these restaurants recently, so I didn’t redo them here. I also must say that there are several other restaurants in OC that have been around for years but are not covered here, because space limits the number of restaurants I can include.
The main thing to note is that all of these restaurants are still doing fine because they continue to deliver a good experience and are consistent with their food, ambiance and service. In a veritable sea of restaurants that now call Orange County home, diners need to keep these comforting places on their bucket list.
These restaurants, like the newer dining spots, offer modern cocktails and a good selection of wines to match their food. Most of all, they offer a respite from the trend of hard-surfaced, loud and less-than-romantic places that abound. Quiet relaxation with good conversations is a joy that I find in the restaurants on this list.
I wish you memorable dining at them.
Anaheim White House (1987)
Lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch
887 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Anaheim
(714) 772-1381
This restaurant is internationally famous, as is its owner, Bruno Serato. Foodwise, it’s a mecca of Northern Italian cuisine, and that fame comes from the ultra-artistic food presentations and authentic tastes.
Bruno’s celebrity grew to international status when he formed Caterina’s Club—named after his mother, who inspired it—several years ago to feed the local children whose families are forced to live in motel rooms and who often go without dinner. The program now feeds 1,600 children each evening, and his example is being copied in several major American cities.
Bruno was a CNN Hero finalist, has twice been highlighted on a national evening news broadcast, was featured in People magazine, knighted by the Italian government, recognized by our own government for humanitarian work, and has just spoken in five Italian cities and at a UN seminar on humanitarianism. And that’s only some of his accolades. I can’t even list all of the awards the restaurant has acquired over the years for its design and cuisine.
It is so personally rewarding to know that by dining here, you are giving to children in need. I guarantee you will relish the pristinely fresh seafood, meats, pastas, risottos and beloved specialty Italian food that has been the underpinning of success for decades.
Antonello Ristorante (1979)
Lunch and dinner
3800 S. Plaza Drive
Santa Ana
(714) 751-7153
When Antonio Cagnolo opened this beauty of a restaurant so many years ago, it called to the palates of serious eaters in Orange County who regularly drove to Los Angeles for a gourmet meal. OC, after all, was not a hotbed of good restaurants and progressive restaurateurs back then. The surroundings that transported us to a beautiful village square in Italy also hit the jackpot with the movers, shakers and dealmakers, who finally had a dining venue as sophisticated as the situations and transactions they were parlaying.
The menu began, and remains to this day, a representation of dining as the Italians enjoy it in their homeland. The atmosphere has only gotten better with the patina imparted over the years, an aura of beautiful and friendly gentleness. Excellent service and a wine list that’s seriously in tune with the food support the concept.
Think of exceptionally fresh fish, pristine produce, top-quality meats and pasta made fresh every day. Antonello has garnered an extensive list of awards and international accolades and is one of our very favorite places for Italian authenticity in food and high-end surroundings.
Bistango (1987)
Lunch and dinner
19100 Von Karman Ave.
Irvine
(949) 752-5222
No restaurant has bridged almost three decades with more artistic and culinary class than Bistango. A dream for the public unfolded when owner John Ghoukassian first opened the restaurant.
A stunning French cafe aura was studded with fine artwork on the walls and inspiring sculptures. The curated art collection is still changed regularly to keep us intellectually enticed, and the much-admired food claims power brokers and casual diners alike as customers. The atmosphere has changed a bit from the cafe feel and now emanates a sleek, sophisticated and elegant cosmopolitan flare. The food is as imaginative and delicious as the artwork.
As the seasonal temperatures rise, Bistango Gardens—much more than a mere patio—is debuting Spanish Wednesdays. Each week from 5 to 9 p.m., the restaurant serves up Pequeña Paella for $12 and Sangria for $7 as flamenco music/Spanish guitar fills the night air.
The chef, who comes from years of working with Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse, presents a diverse menu of contemporary California cuisine.
The wine list was originally one of the best in the county and is still noted for its depth and serious matching potential with the food. And if you enjoy music and dancing, the nightly live entertainment in the highly attractive lounge is an extra draw.
Dizz’s As Is (1979)
Dinner only
2794 S. Coast Highway
Laguna Beach
(949) 494-5250
The warmth of an actual home and lovely gardens still appeal at this restaurant, whose background includes plenty of celebrity dining—as in movie and TV stars—and food that links us to the best of the culinary classics.
We continue to relish the small rooms where intimacy and decorating sensibilities from earlier years remain. The time when the “stars” regularly came to OC as the definitive getaway destination no longer exists; we’ve overtaken them with our own star crowd of famous names who yield global power and pizzazz, mainly on the business scene. There’s always some buzz about which local of note was dining here lately.
The wine list has grown from only a few bottles at the beginning to a well-structured selection that takes into consideration every preference, from small boutique finds to very serious big-label names.
Dinner menus partially change nightly. Menu entrees to consider: Filet Rossini with truffle-perfumed Burgundy wine sauce; Sea Bass Grenobloise; Veal (Piccatta or Marsala); Chicken Cordon Bleu; Rack of Lamb; Cioppino; and Swordfish Madagascar. It’s important to note that all dinners include vermouth, pate de maison and soup du jour or house salad and sourdough bread. The bargain prices for complete dinners range from $20.95 to $45.95.
El Matador (1966)
Lunch and dinner
1768 Newport Blvd.
Costa Mesa
(949) 645-0324
El Matador was a Mexican dining sensation when it opened half a century ago. We didn’t have the plethora of Latin-influenced restaurants so prevalent today. Over the years, it has aged gracefully, kept its food edge, and been updated with a balance of dining scenes—one room is still the nostalgic throwback, and one is a modern, clean-lined space. We still can’t decide which room we like best, so we alternate where we sit at each visit. Of importance is the large, friendly bar in the modern room that boasts more than 170 tequilas. It adds a splash of come-hither personality.
There are lots of food choices, and the food is taken quite seriously. It’s all made from old family recipes originating in Mexico. Ten kinds of tacos, 14 versions of the burrito, 28 combo plates, 10 enchilada offerings, 13 specialty Mexican plates, and dozens of other items delight the palate. We remind ourselves to order something different each time because it will take a long time to taste the full essence of this menu.
El Matador has kept us interested for so many years. How about you?
Felix Continental Café (1978)
Weekend breakfast, daily lunch and dinner
36 Plaza Square
Orange
(714) 633-5842
This gem is still making its mark and has the distinction of being the first to introduce us to the charms of Cuban and Spanish food. Paella appeared on our tables. I had my first Medianoche sandwich in OC here, a traditional Cuban sandwich of roasted pork, ham, pickles and cheese.
It serves breakfast on Saturdays and Sundays. An omelet with pork and plantains is a favorite morning item for me. Several versions of stuffed breakfast tortillas also engage my taste buds, especially one with imported Spanish sausage. A vast array of traditional morning items also are offered.
Lunch and dinner are loaded with tasty possibilities. Appetizers to think about: Cuban Empanadas (meat pie); Croquetas (ham and chicken croquettes); and Tamal Cubano, which unlike the Mexican-style tamales most people here are used to, has the pork and corn mixed into the masa, which is then spread onto corn husks, wrapped tamale-style, and steamed.
Entrees are filling affairs—38 at dinner—hovering at $11.50 at lunch, $12.95 to $17.95 at dinner. Considerations: Boliche Machado (round of beef stuffed with imported chorizo), Pierna de Puerco (braised leg of pork), Fajitas de Carne (grilled beef or chicken), Arroz con Pollo (chicken and saffron rice), Camarones al Ajo (jumbo shrimp in a white wine and herb sauce), Chuletas de Cordero (Cuban-style lamb chops), and Ropa Vieja (braised beef Cuban stew).
Five Crowns (1965)
Dinner, Sunday brunch
3801 E. Coast Highway
Corona del Mar
(949) 760-0331
Five Crowns is the last restaurant that the legendary Hans Prager opened for the Lawry’s corporation before darting out on his own. It has recently undergone a big renovation with updated interior and exterior decor but has kept the essence of its English pub aura.
The menu was changed up a bit a few years ago, and the dining public weighed in quickly about concerns that some old menu classics disappeared.
A new day and a new balance have made us happy again. The classics for which it has always been known are all back again, and a few contemporary items also satisfy our desires to try something new.
It’s still a dinner-only venue. The prime rib continues as a full meal. Some steaks and several fresh seafood items beckon, including the famous Potato-Horseradish Crusted Salmon. Anyone for classic Steak Neptune adorned with asparagus, crab and a proper béarnaise sauce?
I am pleased with a lot of the new appetizers and share plates, such as Glazed Pork Belly, Chile-Marinated Octopus, Ahi Poke, a side dish of Brussels Sprouts with bagna cauda essence, Spanish Mussels in sweet paprika broth, and Frito Misto of shrimp and vegetables.
So many memories for so many people were made here. We’ll continue our visits.
The Hobbit (1972)
Dinner only
2932 E. Chapman Ave.
Orange
(714) 997-1972
The Hobbit has been providing a unique dinner experience since we were food novices. This extra interesting place is in a former private home. Various spaces were turned into intimate dining rooms, the lower level was dubbed The Cellar, and a commercial kitchen and serious wine list made it a phenomenon in 1970s OC dining.
The restaurant has grown into a sleeker experience, but the concept is the same, and it remains popular with customers seriously tuned into fine dining. We still begin in the wine cellar for appetizers and champagne. If desired, one also picks the wine—over 1,000 labels strong—to accompany dinner. Ultimately, we go upstairs for a genteel dinner at our own table in a romantically lit room dressed in linens and lovely table settings.
Menus change weekly at an $86 set price. Holiday and special wine dinners are priced slightly higher. From the appetizers in the cellar, the dinner begins with fish or shellfish, followed by a fowl or light meat course and a salad. A short hiatus allows us to visit the kitchen or take a walk around the property.
Dinner continues at a reset table with a palate-cleansing sorbet and the main course, complete with all accompaniments, and finally dessert.
Definitely put this one on your bucket list.
La Cave Steakhouse (1962)
Dinner only
1695 Irvine Ave.
Costa Mesa
(949) 646-7944
Here’s another place that has often found us comfortably seated in a booth, enjoying a good meal with nice live music on certain evenings. It’s a total experience that we have loved to share with friends over the years. We don’t go here for a wildly creative menu. Steaks, lobster, fresh fish and crab have always been mainstays, and they call to us today.
There’s live music most nights, but we’re fans of Mondays, when old standards from the Rat Pack era bring back the best of yesteryear, and it’s also a quieter sound conducive to conversation. Everyone seems to appreciate the cool atmosphere, the good service and the straightforward food.
I appreciate that all entrees are served as complete meals. Are you a fan of shrimp cocktail? Classic and delicious here and a good beginning. Italian-style Shrimp Scampi is also a savory starter.
You might be leaning toward a seafood entree, in which case the appetizer of NY Steak Bites would give you a nice surf-and-turf ride. Serious steaks are always hard to overlook; I’ve been stuck on them over the years.
My appreciation continues in the trio of traditional desserts: Cheesecake, Chocolate Fudge Cake and Carrot Cake. Can’t beat the simplicity of the good old days.
Muldoon’s Irish Pub (1974)
Lunch, dinner, Sunday brunch
202 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach
(949) 640-4110
Before anyone thought much about Irish pubs, there was Muldoon’s. What started out as a lovely, rather small space has expanded over the years to include the Dublin Pub, the main dining room, and the Celtic Bar, a perfect place for private parties. It all sits beside an accommodating courtyard. The attractive spaces throughout ooze friendliness.
At dinner, we are inclined to eat in the dining room and segue to the pub for music and after-dinner drinks. Make a note that it also serves lunch on Saturdays and that this is a fine choice for midday business meals.
Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings add terrific live music from solo artists and groups ranging from classic rock ‘n’ roll to indie, folk and a lot more. On Sundays, look for a couple of hours of live entertainment from 2 p.m.
Proper Irish classics include Irish Stew, Corned Beef and Cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, Sirloin Tips and Peas, Dublin Dip Sandwich made with New York steak, Fish and Chips, and Bangers and Mash—mashed potatoes with sausages. And Muldoon’s does a fine job of keeping the food real.
The menu includes superb salads, a lot of interesting appetizers and steak, seafood, clever sandwiches and even a smattering of American cuisine. It’s no surprise that Muldoon’s is still going strong.
Orange Hill Restaurant (1972)
Dinner, weekend brunch
6410 E. Chapman Ave.
Orange
(714) 997-2910
I can’t believe the number of people who tell me they have never been to this restaurant. It dazzled us from the outset with the views from its perch atop the hills of Orange. It still allows us vistas that can stretch to Catalina Island and that fan out over a canvas of city lights after sunset. You are greeted by cascading waterfalls, koi ponds and a patio dressed up in twinkling lights.
The made-to-order new American cuisine relies on produce that’s farm fresh with sidekicks of quality meats and fresh seafood. You might want to have predinner cocktails and appetizers at the attractive O Bar and Lounge and move to a dining table for the rest of the meal. I like sitting on the patio on soft California evenings, all the better to enjoy the carpet of lights stretched out below.
Flatbread, crab cakes, oysters and prime rib tacos are a few treats on the appetizer menu.
A salad of roasted beets, baby lettuce and California citrus sprinkled with truffled pecorino cheese and beet vinaigrette is a winner.
Steaks, prime rib and lamb chops command the menu’s entree section. It also serves a classic Chateaubriand. Miso-marinated Sea Bass is a flavorful seafood preparation. Sweet scallops are quickly seared and served with shrimp corn cakes. Bouillabaisse is a traditional preparation.
You will have to discover why this restaurant is called the most romantic in Orange County.
Rothschild’s (1977)
Lunch and dinner
2407 E. Coast Highway
Corona del Mar
(949) 673-3750
Old-world charm meets modern sensibilities in this good-looking restaurant. It immediately embraces you in an aura of relaxation and friendliness tinged with just the right amount of sophistication. Nice paintings from local artisans adorn the walls and add personality.
The quality of the food is consistent, and the dedication to traditional Italian cuisine endures. When your choices arrive at the table, the aromas, attractive presentations, and the tastes of the made-from-scratch food tell a good story. I spent the first 20 years of my life amidst Italian and French immigrants. This food takes me back to the homemade foods I knew in that era.
Leave the mental images of modern, creative cooking behind and think instead of Crispy Spinach and Chicken Ravioli, tender Lobster Ravioli, Tournedos Rossini, Shrimp Scampi, and Cannelloni—homemade pasta filled with chicken, beef and vegetables. Freshly made pasta takes on a variety of traditional sauces. I happen to be very fond of the Paglia e Fieno, which is a toothsome combination of egg and spinach fettuccine with sauteed shrimp, crab meat, chopped clams, fresh mushrooms, onions and tomatoes in a white wine sauce.
Seafood World (1992)
Dim Sum, traditional lunch, dinner
15351 Brookhurst St.
Westminster
(714) 775-8828
Little Saigon is loaded with good restaurants, a few of them serving both Vietnamese and Chinese cuisines. One of the best in that genre is Seafood World, a large, good-looking, modern space famous for its flavors and presentations, plus good service.
First timers are surprised at the sufficiently stylish decor and more surprised to see huge platters of lobster, and at dim sum time—9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily—all of the delicacies in bamboo and steel steamer baskets on the tables.
The tastes of the dim sum and a la carte dishes are truly memorable. We have been smitten for the past two decades and have introduced so many to this indie place. Of course, many times it is a dim sum meal. Tiny pork ribs are succulent morsels. A plate of gailan (Chinese broccoli) is a fantastic green vegetable. Little dumplings in pasta-like or rice flour wrappers are filled with savory chicken, pork and seafood, and steamed. Must-haves are Siu Mai (open topped pork-and-shrimp-mix dumplings), cloudlike Crispy Crab Dumplings, Har Gow (clear wrappers stuffed with shrimp), Steamed BBQ Pork Buns and Dan Tan (little custard tarts).
A la carte, lunch or dinner, there’s a vast menu of Chinese and Vietnamese dishes, many incorporating the freshest fish and shellfish.
Have stir-fried lobster or crab with ginger-scallion sauce, or a whole Crispy Rock Cod. Well known stir-fry dishes with chicken, pork and beef are all available.
Yen Ching (1979)
Lunch and dinner
574 S. Glassell St.
Orange
(714) 997-3300
It was the most talked about Chinese restaurant in Orange County when it opened and certainly the most important restaurant in the city of Orange at the time. Yen Ching was then, and remains, an unbelievably strong restaurant for looks, service and authentic Chinese food.
The staff prides itself in remembering customers and delivering professional service. This, of course, trickles down from the convivial owners since the beginning, Ben and Ruby Tzou.
In a recent update, the couple took on a partner, Charlie Zhang, the founder of the Pick Up Stix restaurants, and together they completely renovated the restaurant, resulting in a better than ever modern decor. You now find stacked marble facades on divider walls, a soft color palette, contemporary elements throughout and comfortable, modern seating.
This restaurant is always such a positive in taste sensations and terrific presentations. Way above what is expected.
Sighs emerge as your camera-ready orders appear. Enticing flavors unfold in items like Mu Shu Wraps (choice of meats, seafood or vegetarian ingredients, or a combo of all in thin crepes); Black Mushrooms with Beef; Orange Chicken—arguably the best of its genre in the county; Flaming Pineapple Chicken, which will impress your friends a lot; Shrimp with Cashews; and Crispy Duck. There’s a great balance of spicy and gently flavored Mandarin and Szechuan dishes throughout the menu.
This is a must visit.
Walt’s Wharf (1970)
Lunch, dinner
201 Main St.
Seal Beach
(562) 598-4433
The mantra here is that, “If the fish is fresher, it’s still swimming.”
There’s a wonderful story that goes with this restaurant. Seal Beach dentist Walt Babcock had a boat and loved to fish. But back in the ’70s, he had to go to Newport Beach or San Pedro to find a fresh fish restaurant. So he and wife, Mona, decided to open this restaurant and let their own customers enjoy fresh daily catches, mostly those a crew caught from his own boat.
After a few years, they purchased 110 acres near Lompoc, and the highly regarded Babcock Vineyards was born. I’m sure my readers know of Babcock wines and that their son, Bryan Babcock, who is the winemaker, has racked up a lot of wine awards over the years.
The cuisine here is rustic, yet with a generous dollop of refinement. The Babcocks admit to being obsessed with quality and freshness in the kitchen, thus local, seasonal ingredients take on equal importance with the fresh seafood, and the diners are the well-fed recipients.
Shellfish join so many kinds of fish on the current menu, and it all sings of the brininess of the seas. No need for me to make a long list of dishes here. A few steaks, some poultry and some pastas are other choices. Such good food and the friendliest atmosphere.
Wilma’s Patio (1975)
Breakfast, lunch and dinner
203 Marine Ave.
Balboa Island, Newport Beach
(949) 675-5542
They call it the home of casual family dining. It’s much more than that. Wilma’s Patio is a veritable sense of community and comfort, a place where the staff knows and relishes their customers and where the food is good and covers a large swath of territory.
We love our times at Wilma’s over yet another coffee refill, an order of Eggs Benedict (I get mine with bacon rather than ham), Huevos Rancheros or a generously stuffed omelet for breakfast. Lunch might catch us ordering a salad with a Mexican or Asian riff, and perhaps a generously stacked sandwich, such as a pulled beef or pork affair adrift in a Southernesqe barbecue sauce. Lots of flavor profiles are available in 10 salads and 21 sandwiches, plus half a dozen burger variations.
A good portion of the menu is the same at lunch and dinner. Midday or later, we also like the Fish and Chips and the very good Mexican combo plates. Honey Fried Chicken, Meatloaf from an old family recipe, half a dozen likeable pasta variations, seafood dishes, a few steaks and chicken entrees are available after 5 p.m.
Wilma’s is the epitome of the hometown family restaurant, only it’s done better than most.
Here are a few extra restaurants that have been around for a very long time and have kept it real for customers:
Rosine’s Mediterranean in Anaheim Hills—(714) 283-5141—is a nice-looking restaurant that has been serving delicious Middle Eastern food—it’s famous for its Rotisserie Chicken—for 21 years. The same family at Roma d’Italia in Tustin—(714) 544 0273—has been serving hardy Sicilian fare for 55 years, and you don’t stay in business that long if you’re not good. Thai Kitchen in Irvine—(949) 857-1788—is almost 30 years old, still lovely, still so good. It has the best Coconut Chicken soup I’ve found since my trip to Thailand.
