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The Best Of Dine Newport Beach Restaurant Week 2016

Tamarind of London
(credit: Tamarind of London)

It's back! One of the year's most highly-anticipated culinary events has landed in Orange County, as Newport Beach gears up for this year's Restaurant Week. With over 60 of the area's best eateries participating in a ten day culinary extravaganza that will span over a two weekend period, Newport Beach residents are in for a big treat. Restaurants have planned very special multi-course prix-fixe gourmet menus at a fraction of the regular cost. This is without a doubt an incredible opportunity for the dining community to try out new dining establishments and dishes by some of the best chefs in Newport Beach.
 
Below are a few of the star menus being featured during Restaurant Week. For a listing of all the participating restaurants and menus, visit: www.newportbeachdining.com
 
Dates
January 18 - 31st, 2016

bluefin
(credit: Bluefin by Abe)

Bluefin
7952 E. Coast Hwy
Newport Coast, CA 92657
(949) 715-7373
www.bluefinbyabe.com

Bluefin in Newport Coast is serving special menus for both lunch ($25/per person) and dinner ($50/per person). For lunch, diners have a choice of tuna tartar & caviar with quail egg and wasabi soy and grilled Cajun scallop and for the second course, choice of Chef's Omakase Sushi, or baked spinach wrapped halibut with brown rice and miso bechamel. The dinner menu is even more exciting with tofu milk potage soup, mixed sashimi salad, beef tataki and a choice of Chef's sushi selection; followed by a choice of Chilean sea bass miso-yaki; veal chop with grilled vegetables and raspberry sauce; and finally green tea creme tiramisu.

figolive
(credit: FIG & OLIVE)

FIG & OLIVE Newport Beach
401 Newport Center Dr.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(212) 924-1200
www.figandolive.com

Dining at FIG & OLIVE is all about indulging on delicious flavors inspired from the South of France, which are perfect for the California Riviera. Known simply around the seaside town as "Fashion Island's olive oil oasis" guests will sample the likes of butternut squash & chestnut soup, a Fig & Olive salad, and the incredible truffle mushroom croquette with cremini mushrooms for starters. The superstar of the lunchtime menu is without a doubt the paella del mar with black tiger shrimp, calamari, mussel, and saffron rice; while the stand-out of dinner is the Mediterranean branzino glazed with fig & 18 year old balsamic vinegar. $25 lunch / $50 dinner.

mariposa
(credit: Shelley H./Yelp)

Mariposa at Neiman Marcus
601 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 467-3350
www.neimanmarcus.com

If you happen to be visiting Fashion Island, take a rest from those heaving shopping bags and stop by Mariposa located inside Neiman Marcus for a very special lunch menu ($25/per person.) At Mariposa, guests will decide between delicious menu options like fettuccine pasta with bolognese sauce, chile flakes, parsley and a touch of cream with parmigiano-reggiano cheese, and a sweet white corn risotto with pancetta wrap, Mexican prawns, chives and white balsamic vinaigrette. The star of the lunch? Without a doubt, it's the signature pineapple upside-down cake with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream.

pelicanhill
(credit: The Resort at Pelican Hill)

Pelican Grill at The Resort at Pelican Hill
Pelican Grill at The Resort at Pelican Hill
22701 Pelican Hill Road South
Newport Coast, CA 92657
(949) 467-6800
www.pelicanhill.com

Pelican Grill at The Resort at Pelican Hill is offering an attractive selection of menu items for both their 2-course lunch ($25/per person) and 3-course dinner ($50/per person) menus. For lunch, choice of appetizers are butternut squash soup or a warm Alegria Farms seven kale and Brussels salad with crumbled blue cheese, smoked almonds, bacon. Other options include a marinated jidori chicken breast with winter squash puree, leeks, wilted Tuscan kale, roasted cauliflower, and kumquat agroldolce. Diners in for a big treat with ahi tuna tartar for starters and Loch Duart Scottish pan-roasted salmon with turmeric parsnip puree, and cauliflower. Hold onto your seats because no one does Snickers like Pelican Grill with their peanut butter mousse, milk chocolate gelato and peanut crumble goodness.

provenance
(credit: Provenance)

Provenance
2531 Eastbluff Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 718-0477
www.provenanceoc.com

The selections being served during lunch and dinner during Newport Beach Restaurant Week at Provenance truthfully deserve a special mention. Words like seasonal, organic, fresh, flavorful, well-balanced, sustainable, (and did we mention delicious?) immediately, come to mind with their menu items. The eatery is "Starting a new tradition of farming excellence in Newport Beach," and succeeding in leaps and bounds. While everything is a "must-try" on the menu, there are a few stand-outs that really can't be beat, including the Chef's warm yogurt biscuits with honey butter made from scratch daily, and the signature red clip all natural boneless beef red mole braised short rib street tacos. Yum! Complete with horseradish cream, cilantro, pico de gallo, ricotta salata cheese and garden radishes, it's something you won't want to miss out on. For dessert, try the brownie decadence Rocky Road, complete with housemade toasted marshmallows and walnuts. $15 lunch / $40 dinner.

red-o
(credit: Red O by Rick Bayless)

Red O Mexican Cuisine by Rick Bayless
143 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 718-0300
www.redorestaurant.com

My O, My. Red O has done it again. The special lunch menu created especially for NBRW is off-the-charts. Choice of appetizers include: Mary's Duck Taquitos with tomato-arbol chile sauce and wild baby arugula, or Red O's famous fresh corn & goat cheese tamales. In the other corner, we have the entree heavyweights duking it out with enchiladas suizas covered in a creamy tomatillo sauce, melted Monterey Jack and frisee; Pescado del Dia prepared with the Chef's daily selection of fresh fish, grilled and served with white rice and finished with guajillo chimichurri, or Carnitas in Red Chile Guajillo comprised of slow-cooked Salmon Creek Farms pork, orange-guajillo chile sauce, ayocote beans and a jicama-citrus salad. However, the prize fighter is Flan de Caramelo for dessert. $25 lunch / $50 dinner.

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine
(credit: Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine)

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine
453 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 640-7697
www.roysrestaurant.com

Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine in the heart of Newport Center has planned a delightful 3-course dinner menu for $40/per person with highlights including: tomo furikake tataki - a soba noodle salad with seared albacore, and sesame miso vinaigrette; masala spiced shrimp with Mediterranean cous cous, garbanzo beans and cucumber dill yogurt; and oven roasted salmon with tomato risotto, shiitakes and pepitas. But save room because desert is coming and you'l choose between sweet potato cheesecake or Roy's melting hot chocolate souffle which are both amazing. During Dine Newport, guests can add a bottle of Roy's Private Label Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon for $25 or enjoy a Roy's Signature Hawaiian Martini for $10.

SOL-cocina
(credit: SOL Cocina)

SOL Cocina
251 Pacific Coast Highway
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 675-9800
www.solcocina.com

Directly on the docks of Newport Harbor, SOL Cocina easily can be considered one of the very best Mexican restaurants in all of Orange County. Serving up traditional Baja dishes with genius modern twists, SOL Cocina uses only the freshest ingredients made available. So fresh, that every single item on the menu is made from scratch daily. Are you ready to step into a world that embraces everything that Baja is known for? Because you are about to enjoy a collection of rainbow salsas, slow-simmered meats, freshly caught fish and flavorful, yet simple sauces. It's no wonder SOL Cocina is an OC favorite. While everything on their menu is delicious, the sonora style grilled burrito they are serving up for Dine Newport Beach is award winning. Lunch $15 / Dinner $40

sushi-roku
(credit: Sushi Roku)

Sushi Roku
401 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 706-3622
www.sushiroku.com

Get ready to be delighted because Sushi Roku has created a three-course lunch menu in preparation for their very first Dine Newport Beach. At first glance, it will certainly be a challenge to choose just one dish from each course, but no matter what you decide on, you simply cannot go wrong. Depending on your appetite, begin with the seared albacore sashimi with fried onions and garlic ponzu; followed by the 6 piece sushi assortment & spicy tuna roll or the grilled salmon with Roku's BBQ sauce which is delicious. Whatever you decide, make sure to save room for the Mini Chocolate Volcano and you can thank me later. $25 per person lunch and $40 per person for dinner.

bungalow
(credit: The Bungalow)

The Bungalow
The Bungalow
2441 East Coast Highway
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625
(949) 673-6585
www.thebungalowrestaurant.com

There is something about The Bungalow in Corona del Mar that just feels like home. Perhaps it's the comfort of the charming Craftsman style restaurant, or the prime steaks and fresh seafood served up like dad used to make. Guest diners can opt for a pairing from their award-winning wine list consisting of 220 premium bottled wines from the wine cellar, or simply enjoy a glass or cocktail. Selections this year for food include a choice of a soup or salad, including a great corn chowder with fresh corn and applewood smoked bacon, or the Bungalow Salad featuring greens, hearts of palm, olives, feta, red onion, and a bay shrimp tarragon vinaigrette. The entrees presented for Dine Newport Beach are the Bungalow pan-roasted chicken, a miso marinated Chilean sea bass, prime bone-in rib eye and jumbo Northern Australian lobster tail. And finally, a beautiful Chocolate Souffle Cake with flourless chocolate cake and vanilla bean ice cream. $15 lunch / $40 dinner.

Nicole Standley a.k.a. JetSet Mom, is a social influencer + lifestylist covering luxury travel, fine-dining, fashion & pop culture for The JetSet Family. Follow her latest travels and escapades on Instagram, Google+ and Twitter.

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