OC’s vibrant culinary scene is heating up this season with the recent opening of some exciting new restaurants. From a farm-to-table bistro to Creole-inspired steam kettle dishes to a menu inspired by classic California coastal seafood houses, OC’s new restaurants offer an array of delicious food and drink. So, foodies, prepare to indulge in some creative cuisine with a visit to these buzz-worthy new eateries.
Bluegold
Set to open this month at Pacific City in Huntington Beach, Bluegold is a new concept from Blackhouse Hospitality Group, the restaurant company behind Los Angeles area restaurants such as Wildcraft, Abigaile and Little Sister. With its steam kettle dishes, oyster bar and classic steak and seafood entrees, the menu and design of the 250-seat establishment are inspired by classic California seafood houses. The resto’s state-of-the-art kitchen features a hearth oven for pizzas and a wood and charcoal burning grill for cooking premium steaks. Serving a high-quality, farm-to-table menu, Bluegold will be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch.
LSXO
Within Bluegold, LSXO will be an exclusive second spot—a hidden restaurant tucked into a small room with stunning ocean views. Bluegold’s chef-partner Tin Vuong and partner Jed Sanford call it a “restaurant inside a restaurant.” A tribute to Blackhouse’s Little Sister restaurants in Manhattan Beach and Los Angeles, LSXO will feature a different menu—one that will focus on the cuisine of District 1 in Saigon, the hometown neighborhood of the family of chef Vuong. With no separate entrance and only an unmarked door adjacent to Bluegold’s wine room, the 25-seat restaurant will be open for dinner only. As for the moniker, the LS stands for Little Sister, while the XO refers to Vuong’s signature sauce.
Water Grill
Opposite South Coast Plaza in the former Scott’s space, King’s Seafood flagship has recently opened the fourth location of Water Grill, the renowned fine-dining seafood establishments in Los Angeles. Downtown LA’s art deco restaurant is revered for its Maryland blue-crab cakes and raw bar serving 10 types of oysters. At the sleek new location in Costa Mesa, Water Grill’s tantalizing menu includes wild Barents Sea red king crab, wild Tahitian bigeye tuna, and a 1-pound Prime rib-eye, among other options. For a sweet finish, don’t miss the mouthwatering desserts, including a banana chocolate sundae and caramel bread pudding.
Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens
Farmhouse Cafe, located on the grounds of Roger’s Gardens in Corona del Mar, has been drawing a crowd since its soft opening in late August. Open for lunch and dinner, the al fresco bistro is a return to form for Chef Rich Mead, a farm-to-table pioneer in Orange County and formerly of Newport Beach’s Sage and Sage on the Coast (both restaurants now shuttered). With his new, sustainable cafe’s farm-to-fork dining experience, Mead once again utilizes locally sourced and seasonal ingredients to create his healthful, flavorful dishes.
The Oyster Bar
At the ARTIC train and bus depot in Anaheim, The Oyster Bar—a full service, ultra-urban restaurant—recently opened on the second floor of the futuristic-style station. A new concept from dining entrepreneur Linh Nguyen (cofounder of Ritter’s Steam Kettle Cooking), The Oyster Bar features Cajun Creole-inspired steam kettle dishes and a rotating daily selection of 8 to 10 oysters at the 30-seat, “live action” raw bar, where oysters are shucked right in front of diners. Also, don’t miss The Oyster’s Bar’s popular happy hour from 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, which features oysters at $1 each.
