What I miss most about living in West LA and SF is the variety of restaurants and eating experiences. In the O.C., we are bombarded by franchises and family-oriented eateries that get old after a while. Well, in hopes of finding some “hidden treasures”, Jes and I tried a couple of restaurants that seemed promising.
…
Our first stop was
Opah in Tustin. The restaurant was really pretty with a very zen look. The restaurant featured seafood with a Pan-Asian flare. First we tried the Spiced Ahi Tuna Tartar that was fresh and paired nicely with the crab underneath it. We also tried the Sugarcane Tenderloin that had a subtle sweetness from the sugarcane and tartness from the cucumber/papaya relish. For our entrees, I ordered the Pan Seared Dayboat Scallops and Jes had the Hazelnut Crusted Halibut. Both were very good but somewhat overwhelming due to the very large portion size. When I usually dine at a fine restaurant, I expect a small piece of meat nicely plated with some veggies or potatoes. Instead, I got 6 large scallops with three servings of risotto underneath and Jes got 2 huge pieces of fish over another three servings of potatoes. I can’t really complain but there’s something not as appetizing when it’s served to you in Hungryman portions. For dessert, we tried their half-baked souffle, which was burnt and not very good. I think we should have ordered the crossaint bread pudding per the recommendation of our server. Oh well. Overall, it was a fun dining experience with acceptable food and a cool bar that is perfect for the afterwork happy hour crowd. I would go to this place again but it wouldn’t be my first choice.
…
A few days later, we went to
Chat Noir in Costa Mesa. The decor was fun and very French. They had an interesting champagne and martini menu and since the appetizers looked so good, Jes and I decided to order 4 starters and share an entree. We had the shrimp cocktail (fresh and good cocktail sauce), seared foie gras (melty with a nice blackberry sauce), frisee salad (satisfyingly warm and crisp at the same time), and lobster bisque (not as creamy as I’m used to but very tasty). They were all very good and made well. For the main course, we had Cog a Vin, a very traditional French chicken dish, which was very flavorful and the chicken was very tender. Dessert was a souffle made just the way it’s supposed to…a good follow-up to the disappointing souffle at Opah. I would definitely dine at Chat Noir again. With a live jazz band at the bar, it looks like a fun place for happy hour or a group dinner too.
…
So there you go…that was my first attempt at exploring the world that is behind the “Orange Curtain”. …to be continued…
Jes and I have a membership to the Long Beach Aquarium and every month they have a “members night” where you can see the exhibits after hours. Well, last night it was “Adults Only Night” and what a difference that makes to the place! Don’t get me wrong…kids are cool and the aquarium is a neat place to bring kids. Unfortunately, it also takes away from some of the exhibits. Last night we walked into the room with jellyfish in it and discovered that there was ambient/trancy music playing in the background. I’ve been in that room numerous times and never noticed the music due to the abundance of “ooos and ahhs” that usually fill the room. The room was dark, quiet, and calm while the jellyfish did their mesmerizing floaty thing. It was pretty cool.
Recent Comments