Coming soon!
Here’s a list of restaurants that will open in O.C. later this year.

Charlie Palmer's, South Coast Plaza
Fleur de L’age, Laguna Canyon
Rustic Vine, Irvine Spectrum
Oysters, Laguna Beach
Black and Blue, Santa Ana
Canaletto Ristorante Veneto, Fashion Island
Slidebar Rock-n-Roll Café, Huntington Beach
Cucina Alessa, Newport Beach
 

Not listed but recently opened
OK, so they didn’t make our printed list, but these restaurants are also new to the county.

Smokey's House of BBQ, Dana Point
Café Maiz, Mission Viejo  
Manhattan Supper Club, Orange 
Black Bull Chop House, Huntington Beach  
Irezumi, Costa Mesa 
Bluewater Grill, Tustin 
Blanca, Newport Beach
Roy's, Anaheim Garden Walk 



Dozens of restaurants have opened in Orange County during the last 12 months. Some are additions to an existing chain, others are new concepts altogether. Which ones are destined to become culinary classics? It’s hard to say, but if you believe the buzz, here’s a short list of those most likely to succeed.

118 Degrees
The name comes from the fact that no menu items are cooked above 118 degrees, but don’t let that odd fact stop you from enjoying the organic concoctions at 118 Degrees at The Camp in Costa Mesa. Tamales, pasta, enchiladas and crepes are just a few of the familiar yet exotic creations at 118 Degrees, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. shop118degrees.com

A Restaurant
Tim and Liza Goodell, formerly the owners of O.C. favorites Aubergine and Troquet, have partnered with producer and director McG (whose full name is Joseph McGinty Nichol) and singer Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray) to open new a dining venture named A Restaurant, in the former Arches building on West Coast Highway in Newport Beach. The group is keeping to tradition and paying homage to history by maintaining the Old World flair of what was once Orange County’s oldest restaurant. The menu is a collection of Chef Vartan Abgaryan’s “signature” entrées, along with Tim’s progressive approach to fine dining. The Goodells have also created a list of  100 wines for under $100. arestaurantnb.com

Hashigo Sushi
This newly minted Japanese restaurant in Huntington Beach is run by owner Jimmy Suh, and Chef Koji Hirano runs the kitchen. Hirano garnered a loyal following when he ran a restaurant on the outskirts of Yorba Linda. Now, Suh and Hirano are making magic at this sushi palace in Huntington Beach. Hirano creates such delicacies as a citrus salmon roll, a refreshing repast that hints at other menu delights. hashigorestaurants.com

Izakaya Zero
Bluefin Fine Japanese cuisine in Newport Beach helped make Takashi Abe one of the region’s most celebrated sushi chefs, and now he’s making magic with his newest restaurant, Izakaya Zero, in Huntington Beach’s downtown area. The restaurant serves its creative inspirations in the traditional Japanese tavern-style format amid modern, über cool surroundings. This is not your typical sushi restaurant – Abe puts a unique, fresh spin to every dish. izakayazero.com

Javier’s Cantina & Grill
Javier’s in Laguna Beach was a longtime staple in the O.C. restaurant scene – until it closed and re-imagined itself as Javier’s Cantina & Grill at Crystal Cove Promenade on Newport Coast. Now, the restaurant is more popular than ever, and it’s easy to see the instant allure. Boasting a spectacular ocean view, Javier’s encompasses 7,500 square feet of culinary bliss with a Mexican flair. The menu offers the same favorite dishes as the old Laguna location, along with a variety of new dishes, including spare ribs, osso bucco, and Cabo Azul, a large seafood entrée. And let’s not forget the hand-shaken, made-to-order margaritas and top-of-the-line tequilas. Olé! javiers-cantina.com

Kimera
If you like Bayside and Bistango restaurants, you’re going to love the latest Dining as Art entry, Kimera Restaurant and Lounge on Jamboree Road in Irvine. Opened nearly a year ago, Kimera’s menu features international influences mixed with fresh local ingredients. This global fusion cuisine is reflected in the modern, urban design. The bamboo-covered dining areas are casual yet classy, but it’s the lounge where hipsters hang out to enjoy an all-night happy hour (try the $4 gourmet pizzas served on wood planks) that keeps ’em coming back to Kimera. bistango.com/kimera.shtml

Marché Moderne
Florent Marneau made a name for himself at Costa Mesa’s upscale Pinot Provence restaurant, but after eight years, the culinary magician and his wife, Amelia, left the Patina Group and opened their own restaurant, Marché Moderne, in South Coast Plaza at the site of the old Troquet restaurant. Their French bistro dishes are guaranteed to please palates during both lunch and dinner (lunch offers a reasonably calm atmosphere, while diners pack the place for dinner). The open kitchen offers glimpses of the pleasures to come, and the service is formal yet pleasant. It’s the perfect excuse to take a break from shopping mania. marchemoderne.net  

Mesa
A haven for smokers and diners alike, Mesa in Costa Mesa features a retractable roof that allows nicotine fans to light up. But don’t worry, the contemporary California-Mediterranean cuisine has a way of making you forget that you’re indoors, yet outdoors. The casual, patio-style ambiance is perfect for the seen-and-be-seen younger set who frequent this hot-spot-in-the-making restaurant. A heads-up: If you want to find out more about this restaurant, you either have to go there or call 714.557.6700, because at the time of publication at least, it had no web site.

Nirvana Grille
Chef Lindsay Smith-Rosales and her husband, Luis, opened Nirvana Grille in Mission Viejo several years ago to great acclaim. Now, the dynamic duo has opened a second location in Laguna Beach that has been packed from day one. The secret? Delicious California-style food. Casual, yet upscale ambiance. Terrific service. It’s a combination that’s hard to beat, particularly in fickle Laguna, which has seen its share of restaurants come and go (the Nirvana location has housed several different restaurants over the years). Based on its track record and creative culinary concoctions, Nirvana Grille is here to stay. nirvanagrille.com

Old Vine Café
This restaurant at The Camp in Costa Mesa may be small, but it exudes big flavors, thanks to brothers Mark and Brandon MacDonald, who create a variety of wonderful dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Wine takes center stage at dinner, where decadent dishes are created to complement a plethora of wines. oldvinecafe.com

Sapphire
It may look casual, but Sapphire Laguna (on the site of the old Pottery Shack on South Coast Highway) is a five-star bistro that offers a culinary trip around the world. Chef Azmin Ghahreman’s global market cuisine strikes a balance between comfort food and innovation that will make your taste buds stand up and take notice. Open for lunch, intermezzo, dinner and brunch (depending on the day), Sapphire has become a shiny jewel in Laguna Beach’s sparkling crown of restaurants. sapphirellc.com

Savannah Chop House
and Wilhelm’s Chop House
Famed O.C. restaurateur David Wilhelm had a good thing going with his French 75 chain of upscale restaurants and Chat Noir in Costa Mesa. However, Wilhelm discovered that diners considered those to be special occasion spots, so he changed the concept and renamed most of his French 75 restaurants, along with Chat Noir and Chimayo at the Huntington Beach Pier, to Savannah Chop House. The French 75 in Tustin is now called Wilhelm’s Chop House. The original French 75 in Laguna Beach remains untouched. “I wanted to open a more casual restaurant that features bold, spicy, flavorful foods – the kind you’d expect to find in rural roadhouses and urban gastropubs,” says Wilhelm. All we can say is thanks! culinaryadventures.com

The Winery
Why would anyone in his right mind want to leave a top position at legendary Morton’s steakhouse and start a new upscale restaurant in Orange County? Who cares – it happened, and the result is sheer culinary ecstasy. Former Morton’s General Manager J.C. Clow and sommelier William Lewis, along with partner and Executive Chef Yvon Goetz, launched The Winery at The District in Tustin last fall with the concept of blending superb wines with prime steaks and succulent seafood in a casual yet classy environment. The concept obviously worked, because The Winery has been packing people in for both lunch and dinner since day one. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that they also stole popular Morton’s bartender Irish, who can be found most evenings holding court while mixing drinks. The food is fantastic, the ambiance fun and unstuffy. Can you say instant classic? thewineryrestaurant.net

Zov’s
Zov’s Bistro has been a staple in Tustin for 20 years, offering Mediterranean food in a casual ambiance. A second location opened last year in Newport Coast. Now, Zov’s has a third location on Portola Parkway in Irvine. That there’s not a Zov’s on every corner is a crime, because owner Zov Karamardian is a genius in the kitchen, producing dishes that please both the eye and the palate. Check out Zov’s on Monday nights, when the legendary meatloaf is the dish of the day. zovs.com

And just for fun ... Pinkberry
OK, so it’s not really a restaurant, but Pinkberry is to frozen yogurt what Sprinkles is to cupcakes. The newest location at Fashion Island has lines out the door, and for good reason: This is really good frozen yogurt. Pinkberry Yogurt is nonfat and comes in plain, green tea and coffee flavors, with a variety of toppings available (add strawberries or raspberries for a particularly refreshing treat). pinkberry.com

Christopher Trela is a regular contributor to Churm Media.