Travel guide: great restaurants of orange county

Las Brisas - Laguna Beach

The temperate climate of Orange County lends itself to active lifestyles and dining al fresco. The sunny patio of Las Brisas, perched on top of a cliff overlooking the Pacific, is one of the best places to meld the two. After a day at Main Beach in Laguna, wend your way up the hill through the fragrant gardens to Las Brisas to enjoy the restaurant's coastal Mexican cuisine. Casual dining and drinks are available on the patio or sit inside where most of the tables have stunning beach and ocean views. Renowned worldwide for its flair with fresh seafood and fruity cocktails since it was redesigned in 1979, Las Brisas is a great place for an event, a romantic evening or Sunday brunch with friends.

361 Cliff Drive

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

The Melting Pot - Irvine

For an evening of great food that is truly filled with sophisticated fun, try The Melting Pot in Irvine. Tucked into an unassuming shopping center, the somewhat pricy restaurant is elegant within and is nestled with comfortable booths. As the name suggests, the restaurant specializes in fondue. Start with one of the creamy cheese fondues and move to steak, chicken, seafood or vegetarian specialties cooked fondue style and served with vegetables and a number of delicious dipping sauces. Of course, no Melting Pot meal is complete without a dessert fondue. Choose from one of the chocolate fondue specialties with flavorings or liqueurs or make your own special combination. Dip fruit, pound cake, brownies, cheesecake and marshmallows in the scrumptious concoction before you stagger home.

2646 Dupont Dr. Ste. C70

Irvine, CA 92612

Aubergine - Newport Beach

For fans of innovative French cuisine, a trip to Aubergine on Balboa Island in Newport is a must-try dining experience. A sumptuous prix fixe tasting menu changes daily but is always amazing. The wine list is as good as the food and the ambience inside the tiny refurbished cottage is plush and romantic. For a really special meal, ask for the chef's table, with the windowed view into the kitchen.

508 29th St.

Newport Beach, CA

Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant - Costa Mesa

For a casual meeting place with excellent beer brewed right on the premises, try the Karl Strauss Brewery Restaurant. As brewpub menus go, Strauss is upscale but includes classics like burgers and buffalo wings. A full selection of seafood, salads, steaks and chops makes this a dinner place as well as an after-work beer stop.

901 South Coast Drive

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Walt's Wharf - Seal Beach

At the North-most point of Coastal Orange County, Seal Beach is the gateway between LA and the OC. Downtown Seal Beach is a great walking spot for families and couples alike and offers several excellent casual restaurants. For the best seafood in Seal Beach, try Walt's Wharf. Their award winning entrees are prepared over an open oak fire and are served in generous portions with plenty of sides. Menu changes daily to accommodate the fresh catches and the wine list is always superb.

201 Main Street

Seal Beach, CA 90740

The Hobbit - Orange

The Hobbit may be the most in-aptly named restaurant in Orange County, but that is no reason to skip this gem. This restaurant has only one seating per night with a French-inspired prix fixe menu. The evening starts in the wine cellar of this 1920s house with champagne and an assortment of delicious appetizers as guests are invited to mingle. Once cocktail hour is over, guests are shown to their individual tables upstairs to enjoy course after course of flavorful delights. An intermission before the entrée allows everyone to stretch, use the facilities and even tour the kitchen as the finishing touches are being put on the course. Owner and Executive Chef Mike Philippi circulates to make sure everything is to guests' liking and answer obscure questions about the food and wine.

2932 Chapman Ave

Orange 92869