Where to Eat in OC Next Month?

[atdleft]

I'll be flying back on 12/16 to visit the family for the holidays, then returning to Vegasland on 12/28...

So what should I eat while there? I'm thinking of doing at least one fine dining spot, with the rest being those lovely holes in the wall that SoCal is known for. And since my dad's house is near South Coast Plaza, Central OC spots are definitely welcome, though it isn't too big of a deal to drive south, especially if there's a great stretch of coastline involved!

[terramassu]

Marche Moderne- Fine Dining
Pupuseria San Sivar- Pupusas
Mil Jugos- Arepas
Santouka- Ramen

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San Sivar Restaurant
1940 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Marche Moderne
3333 Bristol St 3001, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Santouka
3760 S Centinela Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90066

Mil Jugos
318 W 5th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

[atdleft]

Sounds good. San Sivar and Mil Jugos aren't far from my dad's house, so it's good to know I'll have plenty of things to try nearby.

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San Sivar Restaurant
1940 Harbor Blvd, Costa Mesa, CA 92627

Mil Jugos
318 W 5th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

[OCAnn]

As I mentioned in another post Charlie Palmer's is one that I'd highly recommend for lunch. Old Vine Cafe @ the Camp also has a great 3-course lunch for $20 (their buratta caprese is a must-have); I like their dinner menu as well. I'm presently addicted to those two locations...for b'fast I'd head to Laguna Hills for Break of Dawn. For great pastries, head to Old Town Tustin's Cream Pan; I love their boxed sandwiches while most others love their strawberry croissants.

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Break of Dawn
24351 Avenida De La Carlota Ste N6, Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Cream Pan
602 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780

Old Vine Cafe
2937 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[atdleft]

Thanks, OCAnn!

Actually, I was considering Charlie Palmer. I LOVE Aureole here in Vegas, so hopefully the OC location is just as great.

And I haven't done Old Vine in a while. So they also have lunch specials now?

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Old Vine Cafe
2937 Bristol St, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

[OCAnn]

OVC's lunch menu: http://www.oldvinecafe.com/lunch.php