Best Orange County Online Web Guide, News, & Social Network Real Estate

Back Bay Cafe Patrons arrive at casual spot on bay by boat, car or bicycle. Huge Bloody Marys, excellent seafood chowder. Breakfast, lunch daily; dinner Thurs.– Sun. (All major cards) Newport Dunes, 1131 Backbay Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.1144 $$

Bandera Popular spot offers grilled fare: iron skillet corn bread; rotisserie chicken; wood-fired leg of lamb. Dinner nightly. (All major cards) 3201 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar, 949.673.3524 $

Cafe R&D Sleek, super-friendly new spot; try the Reubenesque sandwich or beet, avocado and walnut salad. Lunch, dinner daily. (AE, MC, V) Fashion Island, 555 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.219.0555 $

Canyon Lodge Grilled fare by candelight; golf-view terrace. Montage Resort bought Aliso Creek Inn, where the restaurant is situated. Lunch, dinner daily. (All major cards) 31106 S. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.499.2663 $$

Cedar Creek Inn Salads, pecan chicken, prime rib; great patios. Lunch, dinner daily. (AE, MC, V) 26860 Ortega Hwy., San Juan Capistrano, 949.240.2229. 384 Forest Ave., Laguna Beach, 949.497.8696. 20 Point Drive, Brea, 714.255.5600 $$

Cheesecake Factory Hugely popular, huge helpings. Lunch, dinner daily. (All major cards) Fashion Island, 1141 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.720.8333. Irvine Spectrum Center, 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.788.9998 $

The Club Grill & Bar Supper club atmosphere with live jazz and blues. Hearty meats and seafood. Dinner Thurs.–Sun. (All major cards) Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, 1 Ritz-Carlton Drive, Dana Point, 949.240.2000 $$$

The Cottage Landmark cottage with Oriental roof lines, garden, hugely popular for breakfast (Sunrise Scramble: three eggs, chorizo, cilantro, red bell peppers, onions, tomatoes with cottage fries). All meals daily. (All major cards) 308 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.494.3023 $

59th & Lex Chic cafe and popular patio at Bloomingdale’s, the perfect shopping respite. Lunch daily. (AE, MC, V) Fashion Island, 701 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach, 949.729.6709 $

FOX Sports Grill Two-story state-of-the-art sports viewing environment. 50 tap beers; three bars, 63 plasma TVs, three pool tables, putting green, cigar patio. Lunch, dinner daily. (All major cards) Irvine Spectrum Center, 31 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.753.1369 $

Goofy’s Kitchen Goofy and friends make appearances at breakfast and dinner buffets. (All major cards) Disneyland Hotel, 1150 W. Magic Way, Anaheim, 714.956.6755 $

Harbor House Cafe Omelets (30 kinds), shakes, coffee shop fare served 24/7; movie poster décor. (All major cards) 34157 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.496.9270 $

Hook’s Pointe & Wine Cellar Mesquite-grilled dishes, Neverland setting; wines by taste, half-glass, glass, bottle. All meals daily. (All major cards) Disneyland Hotel, 1150 W. Magic Way, Anaheim, 714.956.6755 $

Iva Lee’s Savory interpretations of Southern classics: spicy andouille, crawfish and chicken gumbo; bourbon pecan pie. Dinner nightly; Sun. brunch with live jazz. (All major cards) 555 N. El Camino Real, San Clemente, 949.361.2855 $$

Longboard Restaurant & Pub “Sport and surf pub” in Surf City’s oldest building. Two patios, 20 TVs. Fresh fish, shellfish, Jamaican jerk specialties, burgers. Lunch, dinner daily; brunch weekends. (AE, MC, V) 217 Main St., Huntington Beach, 714.960.1896 $

Madison Square & Garden Cafe Order at kitchen window, eat in garden. For breakfast, try ricotta pancakes with lemon and ginger, berry butter, maple syrup, bacon. Breakfast, lunch Wed.–Mon. (AE, MC, V) 320 N. Coast Hwy., Laguna Beach, 949.494.0137 $

Memphis Hip Southern, Cajun-Creole, Southwest, upper Midwest cuisine. Lunch, dinner daily. (AE, DS, MC, V) 2920 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, 714.432.7685. Lunch weekdays; dinner Wed.–Sat.; Sun. brunch. 201 N. Broadway, Santa Ana, 714.564.1064 $

Newport Rib Co. Plates so huge they’re scary! Onion brick; baby back, “mountain” ribs, beef ribs; prime rib. Dinner nightly, takeout from 10 a.m. (All major cards) 2196 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, 949.631.2110 $

PJ’s Abbey Semi-eclectic fare, live jazz in 19th-century Gothic-style, Victorian Baptist church. Lunch weekdays; dinner nightly; brunch weekends. (All major cards) 182 S. Orange St., Orange, 714.771.9858 $

Plums Casual but very fine dining in strip mall. Breakfast, lunch daily. (AE, MC, V) 369 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa, 949.722.7586 $

Portillo’s Chicago hot dog mecca opens first digs outside Illinois near Knott’s Berry Farm. Lunch, dinner daily. (MC, V) 8390 La Palma Ave., Buena Park, 714.220.6400 $

Ramos House Café County’s best breakfast. 1881 board-and-batten house in historic Los Rios district. Sweet stuff soars: green apple beignets; blueberry pain perdu. Breakfast, lunch Tues.-Sun. (All major cards) 31752 Los Rios St., San Juan Capistrano, 949.443.1342 $

Sage Creative regional bistro at upscale neighborhood shopping plaza. More formal Sage on the Coast at lovely Crystal Cove Promenade. Lunch Mon.–Sat.; dinner nightly; Sun. brunch. (AE, DC, M, V) Eastbluff Village Center, 2531 Eastbluff Drive, Newport Beach, 949.718.9650. Crystal Cove Promenade, 7862 E. Coast Hwy., Newport Coast, 949.715.7243 $–$$
Salt Creek Grille Craftsman-inspired design; mesquite-grilled chops, ribs, seafood in large portions; lively night scene. Dinner nightly; Sat. lunch; Sun. brunch. (AE, DS, MC, V) 32802 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, 949.661.7799 $$

Sol Restaurant A fusion of rattans, golds and greens, menu items from sticky bun french toast to salmon rubbed with cumin, star anise and tomatillo escabèche. All meals daily; Sun. brunch. (All major cards) Hyatt Regency Newport Beach, 1107 Jamboree Road, Newport Beach, 949.729.1234 $

Sorrento Grille and Martini Bar Boisterous American bistro and wine country style from David Wilhelm (French 75, Chat Noir). Dinner nightly. 370 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, 949.494.8686 $$

Stonehill Tavern San Francisco–based chef Michael Mina trumps his own Aqua with aggressively creative contemporary American fare at the St. Regis Monarch Beach Resort. First-course tasting trios are sensational. So is Tasmanian ocean trout with cauliflower purée, peeled muscat grapes and caper relish. Dinner Wed.–Sun. (All major cards) 1 Monarch Beach Resort Drive, Dana Point, 949.234.3318 $$$

330 North County hang offers Chinese chicken chop salad, King Kana Laya Hawaiian burger. Martini lounge, plasma TVs, billiards. All meals daily. (All major cards) 330 W. Birch St., Brea, 714.256.9986 $

3-Thirty-3 Sleek bar overlooks harbor canal. Truffle chips starters; Chinese chicken sliders; Kobe beef Gorgonzola burger; Gnocchi & Escargot. Lunch, dinner daily. (All major cards) 333 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, 949.673.8464 $$

Yard House World’s second largest selection of draft beer—200 tap handles at Irvine location—in upscale surroundings. (Original Yard House in Long Beach has 250.) Creative Amer-Euro-Asian menu. Dinner nightly. (AE, DC, MC, V) Irvine Spectrum Center, 71 Fortune Drive, Irvine, 949.753.9373. Triangle Square, 1875 Newport Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.642.0090. 160 S. Brea Blvd., Brea, 714.529.9273 $