thejab wrote:
COSTA MESA
La Cave - subterranean steakhouse I've yet to try - 1695 Irvine Ave.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-646-7944
WESTMINSTER
Riviera at the Fireside - I have not been yet but it's high on my list - 13950 Springdale Street, Westminster, CA 92683 714-897-0477
Jab!
About La Cave: I have dined her for years (I grew up in Costa Mesa), and the food is great! I always go for the Filet & Lobster, which I highly recommend! The mood of La Cave has always set patrons in the mood for Martini's and you will be quite pleased with the selection of entertainers that perform there if you plan to stay after 10pm.
About The Riviera (now Riviera at the Fireside): This restaurant, originally in South Coast Plaza for decades, is now located in the old Fireside Restaurant, both of which have been considered fine dining experiences (although The Riviera has always been my favorite), thus with its relocation is now called "Riviera at the Fireside".
This restaurant will always be my favorite for 2 reasons:
First, this is my first "fine dining experience" shown to me by my mother when I was 15 years old (just before I got my drivers license, and of course, ready to take a date in a car all on my own). She also brushed me up on my proper dining etiquette, how to properly "approve" your wine selection before its served (cork check, wine sniff & taste...yes, yes, at 15 years old!) Also, this is where she gave me my "pep talk" on being a gentleman to the ladies from picking up my date(NO HONKING AT THE CURB!) to dropping her off (and properly escorting her safely to the door.) This is also where I experienced my first Flambé'ed dish, Diane Flambé (aka Steak Diane). Our waiter "David" was also very helpful and saw what my mother was doing and took the liberty of teaching me the reasons & uses for the multitude of forks, spoons & knives used during a fine dining experience. He is a fantastic waiter! Ok, so this first reason had more info than you really needed to know, here's reason number two...
Second, to this day this is probably the only restaurant where I have tried every single dish on the menu, which hasn't changed much since my first dining experience there with my mother 26 years ago, and there has never been a disappointing moment from the initial cocktail being served to the dessert & coffee at the end of a fine meal.
As you may guess, I highly recommend this restaurant. Also, when you make your reservations, ask for "David's Table", who is still there! In the 26 years I have gone, I have only missed one dining experience there without him.
If you want to impress your date (wife or girlfriend/boyfriend...and yes, you can still have a "date" with your wife), this is what I recommend for both fantastic palate sensations & visual presentation:
- Gulf Shrimp on Ice
- Spinach Salad "Flambé" (For Two)
- Filet Diane "Flambé", or Duckling a' L' Orange ("Flambé" with Cointreau) or Pepper Steak "Flambé" Au Cognac
- Banana (or Strawberries) "Flambé"
- Cafe Diablo (with COGNAC, GRAND MARNIER & RUM), and yes it is presented "Flambé"!
No matter what you choose, you must order the Cafe Diablo just to see the presentation, although having a complete "Flambé" night is something you always remember!
Just my 2 Flambé coconuts worth!
