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.