Greer's OC

There are six days left to navigate through Orange County’s favorite week for dining out, and we’ve mapped out our top 10 choices for a dining itinerary from OC Restaurant Week’s prix-fixe lunches and dinners. You can choose from 140 top restaurants offering amazing three-course lunch and dinners through Saturday, March 12.

At Fig & Olive at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, we’re loving the French Riviera-inspired $20 prix-fixe lunch and $50 dinner, or make it a “luxe” menu with wine pairings at $80. The dinner appetizer is a choice of a Burrata and Asparagus; a Crab Salad; or Truffle Mushroom Croquette with cremini mushrooms, parmesan, scallions, parsley, and white truffle olive oil. The main course choices are Chilean Sea Bass; Truffle Risotto; a Tajine with Moroccan spiced chicken, prunes, olives, carrots, cherry tomatoes, celery root, artichokes, and chickpeas over a bed of couscous, cilantro, couscous, and harissa; Rosemary Lamb Chops; or Filet Mignon. The dessert is a Clementine Vacherin, or Chocolate Pot de Crème, with crunchy praline financiers and vanilla cream. Fig & Olive’s lunch and dinner menu can be found here. 151 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach. 949.877.3005.

Kutsi Cocina Bar and Lounge in Downtown Santa Ana could be offering the best deal of all at OC Restaurant Week. Executive chef Chris Tzorin has prepared an incredible $20 dinner that starts with fresh and warm house made chips and salsa and fresh house made sangria. The Starter choices include Tarasca with Ancho Chile, tomatoes, avocado, epazote, oregano, sour cream, Pico de Gallo, cotija cheese and fried tortilla; or Chorizo Clams with sautéed Manilla Clams, Chorizo Crema, toasted points; or Beet Salad with Baby arugula, fresh raspberries, oregano goat cheese snow, candied walnuts, raspberry vinaigrette; or Mexican Sweet Corn with Grilled elote, sriracha mayo, queso seco, avocado salsa. Entrée choices include a Seafood Relleno with fresh Pasilla pepper stuffed with fresh scallops, shrimp, crab, el diablo sauce, sour cream, served with rice; or Steak Mole, a pistachio crusted flat iron, jalapeno whipped potatoes, chimichurri and mole; or Tacos Callejeros (your choice of: Beef, Chicken, Shrimp, Fish, Carnitas) with shredded lettuce, cotija cheese, papaya relish, Kutsi house salsa. Served with rice and beans. Enchiladas (Chicken, Beef, or Shrimp) with choice of red, green, mole, or suiza sauce. Served with rice and beans. Desserts choices include Chocolate Tres Leches with Chocolate Cake soaked in chocolate Anglaise, crème Chantilly, whipped cream and seasonal berries; and Maria Bonita Pastel, a layered pastry, lime zest and raspberry sauce. 201 N. Broadway in Santa Ana. 714.564.1616.

Five Crowns’ special prix-fixe menu gives you the best of its classic dinner at an amazing price of just $50. For the starter course, select from a Tuscan Caesar Salad with fennel pollen, parmigiano; or Lobster Bisque with crème fraîche and chives; or Shrimp Cocktail. The main course choices include Rock Salt Roasted Prime Ribs of Beef with a choice of two: creamed corn, creamed spinach or mashed potatoes; or Grilled Mahi Mahi with broccoli di cicco, asparagus, madras curry and basmati rice; or Braised Beef Short Rib with maitake mushrooms, pasilla chile, fingerling potatoes. The dessert course choices are a Lemon Steam Cake with Champagne berries; or Flourless Chocolate Cake with vanilla bean ice cream. 3801 E. Coast Highway in Corona del Mar. 949.760.0331.

Selanne Steak Tavern’s "luxe" dinner menu is an OC Restaurant Week favorite. For $80, you’ll get a three-course prix-fixe specialty menu. Starter choices include a Caesar with baby gem, crispy prosciutto, boquerones, parker loaf crouton; or Scarlet Beet "Ravioli" with artisanal goat cheese, hazelnut, and warm golden beet vinaigrette; or the Wedge with baby iceberg, heirloom tomato, bacon foam, Point Reyes blue with Wine Pairing – 2013 The Calling Dutton Ranch Vineyard Chardonnay – 3 oz pour. The entrée choices include Mary's Chicken with Boudin Blanc, foie gras pain perdu and truffle jus; Skuna Bay Salmon that’s apple wood smoked with faro and celeriac; or Flat Iron 8oz MB3; Brandt Beef Short Ribs with white polenta, parsnip, blue cheese, and maitake; or New York Strip 12oz. The side choices include Heirloom Carrots with blossom honey; Butternut Squash with noble tonic # 1; Yukon Gold Mashed Potato with Phoenician olive oil; wine pairing is a 2013 Justin Cabernet (3 oz. pour). The dessert choices include Chocolate Trio Bars with dulcey & milk chocolate creamy, dark chocolate mousse, chocolate ice cream and raspberry coulis; or Chocolate Dome with milk chocolate mousse dome, salted caramel sauce, caramel swirl ice cream; or the pastry chef's seasonal creations. 1464 S Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. 949.715.9881.

This is Sushi Roku’s first year participating in OC Restaurant Week and both its $20 lunch and $40 dinner is a must. We highly recommend the dinner that starts with a choice of San Ten Mori, a Trio of Appetizers from the Sea, a seared albacore sashimi with fried onions & garlic ponzu tuna sashimi carpaccio & sesame soy, salmon carpaccio with soy truffle oil; or San Ten Mori, a Trio of Appetizers from the Farm with lamb chops with truffle chimichurri beef rib eye-wrapped asparagus & soy mirin sauce japanese fried chicken “tatsuta-age.” For the second course, choose from the 5 Piece Roku’s Signature Style Sushi (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, sea bream & king crab); Grilled Salmon with BBQ Teriyaki, miso soup and steamed rice; “Ji-Dori” Free Range Chicken
choice of ginger relish or teriyaki sauce. All entrees are served with miso soup and steamed rice. The third course is dessert and you can choose from a Mini Chocolate Volcano with vanilla ice cream; or Sorbet and fresh fruit. At Fashion Island in Newport Beach. 949.706.3622.

Brio Tuscan Grill at Irvine Spectrum is one of the best Italian restaurants in Orange County that turns out delicious dishes that make you feel as if you are in Italy. Their $20 prix-fixe lunch showcases some of their top hits. And seriously, their $30 dinner could easily make the Top 10 dinner list.  For the starter, choose a chopped salad with chopped greens with tomatoes, olives, onions, cucumber, Feta and red wine vinaigrette; and a Caesar Salad with toasted Brioche croutons. The entrée choices are a Chicken Milanese with crispy Romano chicken with herb pasta, fresh Mozzarella and housemade Pomodoro sauce; Pasta Vodka with ricotta filled pasta, spicy tomato Parmesan cream sauce, crispy pancetta, garlic, basil; or Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno, with housemade Bolognese meat sauce, Ricotta, Parmesan & Mozzarella cheeses and Pomodoro and Alfredo sauces. The dessert choices are choice of one Dolchino. BRIO Irvine Spectrum is at 774 Spectrum Center Drive in Irvine. 949.341.0380. 

The Top 10 Lunches and Dinners

Provenance in Newport Beach is offering a $20 lunch and $40 dinner; both are outstanding thanks to chef Cathy Pavlos’ culinary talents and use of the freshest produce—even from the restaurant’s garden. Starters for lunch include all natural Chicken Tortilla Soup with cilantro, crispy tortilla, and avocado; or Freshly Clipped Garden Lettuces with cherry heirloom tomatoes, edamame beans, carrots, artichoke hearts, shaved fennel, garden herbs and Napa White Verjus Vinaigrette. Main course choices include Provenance Ancient Grains Super Chop with 12 Super Veggies and Herbs, quinoa, farro, assorted seeds, ricotta salata cheese sherry vinaigrette and your choice of either an all natural grilled chicken breast or half of a California avocado; or two fish tacos with sriracha grilled wild mahi mahi, jalapeno-cabbage slaw, cilantro, mango pico de gallo, garden radishes, avocado, lemon aioli and limes; or Two Fisted Fried Chicken Breast (or you can get it grilled instead!) with fresh burrata cheese, tomatoes, house sweet pickles, butter lettuces, chipotle aioli on a soft brioche bun; or the Provenance Burger, a handcut proprietary blend of 4 premium beefs, caramelized onions, chard, gruyere, or tomato jam add handcut fries and housemade ketchup 5; or Spiced Squash, Pumpkin, Butternut and Crispy Artichoke Platter with applewood smoked bacon, fried cage free egg, roasted shallots, arugula, torched rosemary, pine nuts chipotle-maple oil. The dessert choices include Old Fashioned Carrot Cake with lemon mascarpone cream cheese, walnuts; or Apple Pie on the Beach with caramelized apples, crispy crust, rum raisin sauce, caramel, cinnamon sand; or Brownie Decadence Rocky Road with caramel, toasted marshmallows and walnuts. 2531 Eastbluff Drive in Newport Beach. 949.718.0477.

Ways & Means Oyster House at Pacific City in Huntington Beach is offering a delicious $15 lunch and a $30 dinner with a glass of wine. Their $30 lunch is a great introduction to Ways and Means, you can choose from an Oyster Trio Champagne Mignonette; or Lobster Bisque with Lobster Mousse Crostini; or Caesar Salad Baby Romaine, Garlic Croutons, Shaved Parmesan. The second course choices include Citrus Soba Noodles with tofu; or Fish & Chips with French fries, creamy coleslaw, tartar sauce; and Jerk Seared Salmon with jerk glaze, coconut rice and papaya salsa. The dessert is Cookies n Cream. 21022 Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach. 714.960.4300.

Social Costa Mesa is offering a delicious four-course dinner for $40 that shows off the talents of chef Jeffrey Boullt.  For the first course, you can choose from a Beets and Burrata Salad with shaved fennel, pepitas, market citrus and honey thyme vinaigrette; or Brussels Sprouts with honey, sweet potato, house tasso ham and hazelnuts. The second course choices are English Pea and Prosciutto Toast with whipped burrata, Italian salsa verde, pain de capagna; or Beef Tartare with smoked mussel aioli, salt and vinegar chips, poppy seeds, sunflower and capers. The third course choice is choice of Spanish Octopus with Pamplona Chorizo, fingerling potatoes, gremolata, chicharrones, and smoked romesco; or Wagyu Tri Tip with shrimp & tasso maque choux, crispy shallot, smoked tomato, jalapeño and radish. The fourth course choices are Butterscotch Budino or Profiteroles with vanilla bean ice cream and hot fudge. Social Costa Mesa is at 512 W. 19th St. in Costa Mesa. 949.642.2425.

Spaghettini in Seal Beach is a treasure in Orange County and really one of the best places for jazz brunch. They’re offering a $20 lunch and $40 dinner and both are outstanding. We love the 3-course prix-fixe lunch that starts with a Caesar Salad Romaine hearts, parmigiano reggiano, White anchovy, crostini; or Soup of the Day. The entrée choices include Margherita Pizza with mozzarella, tomato, basil; or Spaghetti & Meatballs with six-hour berkshire pork meatballs, and San Marzano marinara and basil. The dessert choices are Crème Brûlée or Butter Cake with vanilla ice cream. 3005 Old Ranch Pkwy, Seal Beach. 562. 596.2199.