What You're Eating: Menu Specials On The Water In Orange County
It's summertime, and being close to the water is a selling point when it comes to eating out. If you're the kind of person who loves to see the waves nearby, here are a few casual dining restaurants that will not disappoint.
The Deck on Laguna Beach
627 Sleepy Hollow Lane
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
(949) 494-6700
www.deckonlaguna.com
The Deck on Laguna Beach recently updated its menu for the summer, offering their best "ocean-to-table" creations for the season. New dishes include Tuna Poke with scallions, ginger soy, daikon sprouts, and crushed wasabi peas, Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon Salad with hearts of palm, watercress, ricotta, and basil vinaigrette, Mary's Farm Chicken Breast with Yukon gold potato and cauliflower puree, portabella mushroom and caramelized shallot confit, and Jumbo Maine Scallops with saffron-corn pudding, heirloom baby carrots and grilled artichokes. The new menu is available every day for lunch and dinner. Grab a seat on the deck, and enjoy the waterfront view along with the food.
The Blind Pig
31431 Santa Margarita Parkway, Unit M
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688
(949) 888-0072
www.theblindpigoc.com
The Blind Pig's lakefront patio is just the place to enjoy the restaurant's speakeasy style and unique food. The June menu includes Gnocchi and Mussels with olive tapenade, basil aioli and fried anchovies, Beet Salad with grapefruit, candied pecans, beet greens, and blood orange vinaigrette, Culotte Steak with spring pea puree, watermelon radish, asparagus, prosciutto and espelette, and Filipino Sisig with pickled peppers and champagne sabayon. Don't forget the restaurant also offers happy hour Monday through Friday from 4-6p.
Sandy's
315 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 374-7273
www.sandyshb.com
Sandy's was recently awarded Open Table's Diner's Choice Awards for Best Scene View thanks to the proximity of the ocean, as well as the Huntington Beach Pier. The updated menu features a New York Steak with green garlic and chive potato cake, romesco butter and local vegetables and Buttermilk Fried Oysters with crab remoulade and salsa verde. The happy hour menu is also a steal with several food and drink specials in the bar all night on Monday and 3:30-6:30p Tuesday through Friday.
The Hangout
901 Ocean Avenue
Seal Beach, CA 90740
(562) 431-4888
www.thehangoutrestaurant.com
With panoramic views of the Seal Beach Pier and waterfront, The Hangout promises low key fun and comforting seafood dishes. The restaurant recently added Chicken and Waffles to its menu, so you can snag a bit of sweet and savory on one plate. Spice lovers, order If You Can't Stand the Heat Calamari tossed in habanero chili sauce, or, if you prefer land animals, there's the BBQ Pork Cheeseburger--a beef patty topped with pulled pork, cheddar and fried onions with bbq sauce. The Hangout has happy hour Monday through Friday from 3-6p, as well as daily lunch and dinner specials.
Chrystal Baker is a freelance food and events contributor for CBS
Los Angeles. She also maintains a recipe blog, The Duo Dishes, as well as a personal blog, Any and Everywhere. You can follow her trail on Instagram for more.
