63199 Mon Sep 20 23:02:15 -0700 2004 12 2 Los Angeles Area 0 338369 Hi there- We'll be there on business, and know little about the area... Can you fellow hounders recommend places (dinner/drinks)we shouldn't overlook(cabbing distance)? I'd say $20-50/per person, unusual tasting menus(bonus), nothing pretentious, just good food/service. I also like to browse farmer's markets, any recommends? Appreciate any advice! THANKS! Mon Sep 20 23:02:15 -0700 2004 0 g 1 338380 I think a Newport Beach must-try is the original Crab Cooker. Nothing fancy or pretentious; just good, fresh seafood grilled over mesquite charcoal. The sides are tasty, and now they even serve dessert! No two chairs in the place match and you eat off paper plates with plastic forks. Everyone lines up together while waiting for a table. Get a beer and a bowl of chowder or a seafood cocktail to nosh on while you wait. Crab Cooker lore says the place was a favorite of Dick and Pat Nixon who wanted to eat there once when they visited the Western White House. A staffer called for reservations and was told they wouldn't even take a reservation for the President. So they sent a Secret Service agent down to stand in line! The Crab Cooker (949) 673-0100 2200 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663 Mon Sep 20 23:54:44 -0700 2004 338369 0 Dorothy 2 338384 Definitely a red checkered table cloth place that has earned it place as one of the few unique and tasty restaurants of "Old Newport". Tue Sep 21 00:03:44 -0700 2004 338380 0 deglazer 2 338452 In addition to the fresh fish there in the 70's, one of the reasons Pat and Dick Nixon liked The Crab Cooker is because of the proximity just down the street from his relatives home in Newport > and the price. His sister-in-law's family built one of the first homes ever built on the Newport Penninsula. Even though he was in San Clemente (the "Western White House"), he would visit his brother in Newport and eat at The Crab Cooker. And, they ate at The Crab Cooker more than once, sometimes got it to-go. In his regular life, he was not all that gourmet like Jackie Kennedy liked to be. That's cool about the secret service incident. Business as usual for The Crab Cooker. Tue Sep 21 14:13:02 -0700 2004 338380 0 kc girl 2 338544 Also, after some good crab and clam chowder at The Crab Cooker (http://www.crabcooker.com/ ), enjoy a drink and entertainment in the bar at 21 Oceanfront across the street at the Newport Beach Pier (http://www.21oceanfront.com/). Great upscale old local watering hole and restaurant. Maybe order a creme brulee for dessert. Donnie Singer plays keyboard and sings 70's, 80's, showtunes, Sinatra, Billy Joel, requests, etc. most nights (except Thurs) He is very personable. Tell him KC said hi. Tue Sep 21 20:36:19 -0700 2004 338380 0 kc girl 1 338397 Sabatinos. Couldnt really find a web site but the address is; (949) 723-0645 251 Shipyard Way Newport Beach, CA 92663 Interesting location you may also want to try the Cannery and bluewater grill nearby. Tue Sep 21 02:08:52 -0700 2004 338369 0 Stuartmm 2 338562 Having been born & bred in New England, IMHO definitely Bluewater over Crab Cooker. Tue Sep 21 23:08:24 -0700 2004 338397 0 bernardo 1 338469 Pick a place in Fashion Island (see link below for more info and restaurant website links.) Visit their indoor market of fresh produce and fine wines, some retail gourmet food stores in Atrium Court. Try one of the sandwiches at Philadelphia Grill. Other food places are okay, but not great-it's a to-go crowd mentality. Or go to (also in Fashion Island): Cafe R&D - new place recommended by chowhound Russkar for French Dip. Casual cafe. Daily Grill - Good, up front, American food, often unadorned and quality fresh. Casual dining or lunch. Wahoo's Fish Tacos - surfer boys Baja fish tacos, black beans and rice - very casual dining or to-go (next to McDonald's and the Edwards Theater). Roy's - Incredible Asian/Hawaiian fusion seafood, fine dining, maybe a little more than $30-$50 per person, but worth it. I like the mahi mahi and the salmon. And they have a $30 prix fixe dinner. See, http://www.roysrestaurant.com/docs/index.html and, Four Seasons Gardens Cafe and Bar - A large, yet cozy and rather quite bar (and TV) with a piano player M-F 6-9 or 10 and trio/band on Fri and Sat 9-11 or 12. Couch seating or soft low chairs with small cocktail table or four person casual dining tables with great casual menu. I like the Ahi Burger, spring rolls or an off menu item of spinach and warm pasta salad with pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, light vinegarette, add chicken. Very comfortable hang around forever place. I don't think its pretentious at all, but some might. And, prices are lower if not comparable to other fine dining in Fashion Island. And, just near (not in) Fashion Island is Gulfstream. It's a chain, but worth it for the crab cakes. Casual, but rather pricey seafood. Also, a good place for modern, fresh, lite, yet somewhat classical Mexican is Taco Rosa in Newport Beach. Good fish tacos ($3 each), Chili Rellanos ($9), specials. (sometimes an inconsistency in quality, but not often) There is no other Mexican eatery anything like it except for their super casual to-go place called Taco Mesa in Costa Mesa. See http://www.irvinecompany.com/aboutus/xqs-asp-type_news-archive_-release_644-category_17-cid_-xqe-News.htm for more detail. Taco Rosa (949) 720-0980 Newport Hills Shopping Center, located at San Miguel Dr. and Prairie Road in Newport Beach. The center is anchored by Pavilions and Ace Hardware. Taco Rosa is casual upscale for lunch or dinner. Happy employees. Also, I like Jimmy-Z in Irvine. It's on the Newport Beach side of Irvine - just five miles from Fashion Island. See, http://www.jimmyzgrill.com/ There's more. Link: http://www.shopfashionisland.com/RegQuickSearchResults.asp?id=2&center=2&category=37&storename=&restaurant= Tue Sep 21 14:58:17 -0700 2004 338369 0 kc girl 1 338519 Where are you staying? I assume 4 SSNS, Hyatt or Marriott by Fashion Island? In Fashion Island. Basilic on Balboa Island is always highly rated here. I would also recommend Bungalow or Bandera in Corona del Mar - about 2 mins down the street. Bandera does not take resvs, tho. Bamboo Terrace in CdM for Thai/Vietnamese. Sage Restaurant gets mixed reviews, but I think one of the best we have in the Eastbluff Shopping Center up Jamboree. They just opened a sister restaurant in Crystal Cove that I'm going to try & check out this weekend. As someone else mentioned, Blue Water Grill for excellent seafood on the water. For a real blow out, you might consider driving up to Anaheim & having dinner at Napa Rose - really a wonderful experience! Tue Sep 21 18:21:01 -0700 2004 338369 0 torta basilica 2 338532 The Viet place in Corona del Mar is named Bamboo Bistro. The Bamboo Terrace is in Costa Mesa and is Chinese. See, http://www.digitalcity.com/orangecounty/entertainment/venue.adp?vid=180465 Tue Sep 21 19:55:31 -0700 2004 338519 0 kc girl 1 338539 Re: Farmer's Markets There are a few near Newport Beach (all 9am-1pm). Corona del Mar on Saturday morning is the nearest, but it is often small and lots of flowers. (1) Thursday in COSTA MESA (Huge! at the Fairgrounds on Newport Blvd. - about 7 miles from Fashion Island) (2) Saturday in (a) CORONA DEL MAR (by Banderas), (b) IRVINE (University Center across from UCI at Campus and Bridge-about 5-6 miles from Fashion Island via Bonita Canyon Road to Campus Dr.) (largest FM on Sat.) (link say "Irvine Marketplace", but address is okay and ocrrect name is University Center, and (c) LAGUNA BEACH (Lumberyard Mall) See, http://www.cafarmersmarkets.com/findMarkets Re: Restaurants Also, two casual places that are good. ("Casual" as in small tables and wooden chairs - and a counter/bar - to-go orders not uncommon, but a full service restaurant.) Both are about not more than 5 miles from Fashion Island. (1) Din Din at the BambooTerrace in Costa Mesa (Newport Blvd at 18th Street) (full bar) Open only for dinner and after 5 PM on Tues to Sat. See, http://www.bambooterrace.com/ and (2) Ho Sum Bistro in Newport Beach (Newport Blvd at 32nd Street) Healhty Californioriental (variety of good beers and good wines). Open 7 days a week for lunch and dinner-11am to 10 or 11pm. See, http://www.myoc.com/entertainment/dining/stories/012001/hosum_review.shtml (except two erros I sae - it's in Newport, not Costa Mesa. And, the dressing on the HoSum Chicken Salad is a red ginger dressing. Tue Sep 21 20:25:36 -0700 2004 338369 0 kc girl 1 338564 After you've exhausted the NB chow scene, head to Laguna Beach for a bit of funk & fun. At the top of the hill on PCH stop at the shack for a date shake, but careful not to get too full. Once in Laguna, Javier's Mex on PCH offers fun chow plus exceptional people watching, Ti Amo on PCH in So Laguna has tasty Italian in a funky old house, Zinc & Zoolu in town are funky casual with cute patios (but check for early closing hours), & Las Brisas' patio off PCH is worth a drink for the views (landscape & people) but skip the chow. Tue Sep 21 23:22:45 -0700 2004 338369 0 bernardo 1 338691 Thanks for the suggests, folks! Got some great ideas here! Wed Sep 22 18:24:04 -0700 2004 338369 0 g