Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails is a Californian restaurant with a farm to table menu using only local, sustainable and naturally grown produces. Inspired by nature, you will be welcomed by a towering waterfall in the lobby, and then greeted by the elegant onyx and granite bar, while the dining room is cozy and inviting with its eco-friendly pecan wood floors. The creative menu, which is Californian cuisine with a blend of Mediterranean flavors, is designed for meat lovers, vegans and vegetarians and gluten free diners. Some of the menu highlights are the octopus salad, beef short rib, flatbreads, sweet potato fries and mahi mahi. The bar has a great selection of cocktails and a nice happy hour. Live entertainment is on three days of the week. A great place for foodies and special occasions.
Chapter One: The Modern Local is part of a larger revitalization of cities around the L.A. basin, where the emphasis is on energizing downtown businesses in core areas. In Santa Ana, this particular restaurant mixes innovation, ideals, community and history. Celebrating all things local, the farm-to-table, seasonal menu adheres to sustainability which makes the simple, yet flavorful ingredients stand on their own. The craft libations, from beer to cocktails are excellent, and if you arrive late, the kitchen stays open until midnight.
This restaurant was originally constructed as The Arches, a restaurant and service station, in 1925. Since then, the highly recognizable building has gone through many incarnations, with A Restaurant being the most recent. Lead singer of the band Sugar Ray, Mark McGrath, is a co-owner of this restaurant which regularly attracts celebrities as well as locals and tourists. The menu is a mixture of classic American dishes as well as more contemporary and internationally inspired dishes like chicken pot pie and beef Stroganoff, not to mention the prime steak selection. The bar offers its own selection of bites, as well as a great selection of original, signature cocktails.
Perched on the beautiful hilltop inside the uber cool Pelican Hill Golf Club, Pelican Grill offers you panoramic views of the golf greens and the wide blue Pacific ocean. A delicious farm to table menu highlighting the wood fire stove with specialties like wood-roasted chicken, New York steak and fries, salmon served with shiitake-ginger vinaigrette, and the scallop and shrimp duo. Or try the gourmet pizzas and the signature spicy tortilla soup with shredded chicken, cotija cheese and avocado puree. All these wonderful creations you can see being made in their open kitchen or just head to their chic lounge and catch the game on two huge screens. Pelican also offers an outstanding alfresco dining on their heated terrace with an ocean-view. Unwind with a glass of wine from their extensive wine list and groove to the live band music every Thursday through Saturday.
Sandy's Beach Grill in Huntington Beach offers expansive views of the ocean and offers Californian cuisine without breaking the bank. The lunch and dinner menus present seafood, steak, wood-fired pizza, sandwiches and appetizers like their fabulous Dungeness Crab Cake or delectable Gilroy Garlic Fried Green Beans. Their full bar has a good selection of cocktails, draft beers and California wines by the glass. Whether it is dining inside in their beach inspired dining room or their huge outdoor patio, Sandy's is always inviting, especially during sunset.
Enjoy dining on exquisite seafood and steaks from 230 Forest Avenue. This upscale eatery is the brainchild of Mark Cohen, who dishes out contemporary California cuisine with flair. In addition to mouthwatering dishes like Maui onion soup and short rib ravioli, the restaurant also has a famous martini bar that draws a huge crowd. The contemporary, bistro-style decor is accentuated by a rotating display of colorful local art, which gives the venue a cozy ambiance. You can also enjoy your meal on the outdoor patio and bar. Reservations are recommended, so call well in advance.