Andrei's

If you're looking for the Orange County version of Chez Panisse, look no further than Andrei's in Irvine. This restaurant's m.o. is conscious cuisine and that manifests in features like organic, local-grown butter; biodegrable plastics for the to-go containers; and fresh, tasty ingredients, like honey grown in Laguna Beach. The local produce is delivered by a farmer from Oxnard three days a week. Andrei's is celebrating its one-year anniversary in July. Executive Chef Yves Fournier changes the menu four times a year, mostly with the seasons. Fournier used to work at 6 Park Grille at the Hyatt across the street.


The restaurant, which is on the second floor of the building, is spacious and decorated in a contemporary style with a lot of earth tones. There's a nice size bar in the central part of the restaurant.

What we ate: DungenessCrab Cakes with Aioli Sauce appetizer. These were hearty size crab cakes oozing with lots of juicy meat. The sauce is smooth, creamy and tangy. $11

Sausage & Mushroom Flatbread appetizer. This contains lamb merguez sausage with mixed Spring mushrooms, Laura Chenel goat cheese, parmesan & wild baby arugula. An exquisite combination that isn't usually juxtaposed. The goat cheese is the glue that binds the flavors together. The flat bread has a nice crunch and isn't as hard as sandpaper, as you find in some places. $11

Goat Cheese & Basil Ravioli. This ravioli dish is acompanied by Spring asparagus, zucchini, bell pepper, watercress crème, parmesan cheese, micro arugula & lemon-infused oil. The slow-cooked ravioli - it's cooked in broth overnight and then the watercress is added the next day -is breathtakingly delicious. One of the most unique ravioli dishes I have ever encountered. $18

Andrei’s Cheeseburger. This burger on steroids contains a half pound of natural ground beef, white cheddar, butter lettuce, red onion preserves & tomato, and comes on a sophisticated bun - a brioche, with herb aioli & Kennebec potato pommes frites . The pomme frites claim to fame? They were voted the best in O.C., deservedly so as they have all the taste without the typical grease. $12

For more info: http://andreisrestaurant.com/

-- D.N. and S.B.

Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove

This restaurant is in one of the most unique settings in Orange County - in one of the cottages in Crystal Cove, which was inhabited by private residents for decades. The restaurant is operated by the Ruby's restaurant chain, which also took over the Shake Shack, a nearby roadside stand.

The Beachcomber lives up to its name - the ocean practically licks your toes while you're eating. The restaurant has indoor seating, which is intimate and cozy, as well as outdoor seating, which luckily has heat lamps in the evenings when the ocean breezes can get quite chilly. In the evenings, before the more crowded summer season, it's as if you're dining on a private beach and it makes you wonder what it must have been like to mosey on over to your neighbor's cottage for a night of good food and camaraderie.

To enhance the ambiance and honor the tradition of when the cottages were privately inhabited, Reveille is played every day at 5 pm and at sunset with the raising of a martini flag on the patio - all of which signals - it's time to drink.

Because the restaurant is so small - it only holds 85 inside - only 30% of it is reserved for reservations. The remaining 70% is open to whoever arrives, so long waits, especially during summer, can be expected.

What we ate:
Seafood Pot Pie. This ginormous meal comes wrapped in a humongous croissant and contains ample amounts of lobster, swordfish, shrimp, scallops and vegetables cooked in a brandied lobster sauce. Bring your appetite. The medley of seafood and veggies is superb.

Agave Roasted Chicken. This is a semi-boneless chicken basted with Agave nectar, surrounded by soft pillows of tubetti pasta, Andouille sausage, sweet bell peppers and a creamy Vermont white Cheddar sauce. The Agave nectar is a distinct touch. The chicken was tender and juicy and the sauce complemented it perfectly. One of the most flavorful chicken dishes I have ever tasted.

For more info: http://www.thebeachcombercafe.com/_crystalcove/index.aspx

-- D.N. and S.B.