Shout out to the boys over at OC Blog (ocblog.typepad.com), four libertarian-leaning guys who post on everything from the machinations of the OCTA Board of Trustees to whether Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido is really Dorian Gray. In honor of OC Blog's pithy slice of Internet, we now review the websites of other Orange County restaurants, from the good to the Koi Restaurant.
DINNER FOR TWO:
¢ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Less than $10!
$ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $10-$20
$$ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20-$40
$$$ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ¡Eres muy rico!
ASIAN DELI
Asian Deli operated for years from a hectic Orange strip mall, a spotless Indonesian dive where patrons happily munched on vast rice dishes that resembled hail flurries along with satay skewers of sweet, spicy and smoky savors. Now based in Diamond Bar, it still saunters through the Indonesian cookbook—one of the world's most deliciously anarchic due to the country's archipelagic nature and position between various trade routes—as if bankrolled by President Megawati Sukarnoputri. Website grade: B-. Although their website contains the entire menu and links to Indonesian culture, most of the graphics seem lifted from the MS-DOS days. 23545 Palomino Dr., Ste. F, Diamond Bar, (909) 861-1427; www.asian-deli.com. $
CAFÉ MOZART
Café Mozart brews an impressive array of beers that ease its German-Austrian menu well down one's gullet. Bavarian bread dumplings—made of three different kinds of bread and flecked with bacon—come two per order, sit in a brown pool of wild mushrooms and exhibit the same luscious levity of Eine Kleine Nachtmusik. Website grade: C-. Menu, chef bio, same four pictures on each page—meh. And website goes down without notice. 31952 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, (949) 496-0212; www.cafemozart.net. $$$
CAPITAL SEAFOOD
The clam-and-ginger soup at Capital Seafood is amazing. Small, chewy clams in their shells combined with a delicious, spicy, clear ginger broth make one of the most interesting and flavorful seafood soups out there. Website grade: B. Cool pictures of lobsters and fish in water tanks awaiting their boiling sentence. 8851 Westminster Blvd., Garden Grove, (714) 892-4182; www.capitalseafoodrestaurant.com. $$
CORTINA'S ITALIAN MARKET AND PIZZERIA
Only the Italians remain from Anaheim's Old Europe guard, and they're the ones who keep the business bustling at Cortina's Italian Market, a cozy landmark that's been baking and slicing since 1963. The emporium consists of three rooms: a bazaar stocked with Italian produce (imitation Alka-Selzter!), a side deli slapping together some of the heftiest subs outside Little Italy, and a dining room to enjoy said goods and grub. Website grade: A. Vivid photos and comprehensive list of groceries and entrées. 2175 W. Orange Ave., Anaheim, (714) 535-1748;www.cortinasitalianfood.com. ¢-$$
GLOBE EUROPEAN DELICATESSEN
Sausage is but one appetizing aspect of Globe European Delicatessen, which has been hawking German, Dutch and other European produce from the same address for more than three decades. There are beer, jams, chocolates, even wafers that taste like fruit. Load up on these and other goods—if you're a sucker for pickled herring, the fine liberal German weekly Der Spiegelor cheese wheels large enough to fire from mortars, Globe European Delicatessen is your lollipop. Website grade: A+. Just like Cortina's, except you can order online. 1928 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa, (949) 642-3784;www.europeanfoods.com.¢-$$
KOI RESTAURANT
Koi's menu is uncomplicated, authentic and relatively easy on the wallet. For a starter, I adore their famous crunchy rolls made from shrimp tempura, a Japanese root called gobo and smelt egg. I know sea bass is politically incorrect these days, but what can you do? If you're an environmentalist, avoid it. If not, dig in! Website grade: D. To access the menu, you must have Adobe Acrobat. Want a computer crash along with your wasabi? 600 E. Pacific Coast Hwy, Seal Beach, (562) 431-1186; www.koisushi.com. $$
PICANTERÍA ARIQUEPEÑA EL MISTI
Little more than a long dining hall adorned with WPA-style farmer murals, El Misti prepares the diet of Arequipa, a city of about 750,000 acclaimed for its desiccated, hearty dishes and thunderously flavored drinks. El Misti offers Peruvian standards also for the unadventurous: coconut milk-based chupe soups, the buttery stir-fried chow meins known as tallarines and savory pollo a brasa. All good versions, really—but why would you eat anything else on the planet when the prospect of pig knuckles is but a request away? Website grade: B+. Unremarkable, save for the stately waltz that plays on its homepage. 3070 W. Lincoln Ave., Anaheim, (714) 995-5944; www.elmisticuisine.com. $
PURA VIDA COSTA RICAN CUISINE
One of two county restaurants specializing in Costa Rican cuisine, a dazzlingly jumbled diet with Caribbean, Mesoamerican, even Chinese influences: fried rice, chow mein and tamales. Pura Vida's ultimate appeal, however, lies in its meat preparation. Whether it's chicken, pork or beef, whether they butterfly slabs or chop up gorgeous chunks, all the meat dishes are lean, succulent and come served with veggies. Website grade: A-. Sharp graphics, detailed descriptions on Costa Rican cuisine. No prices on the menu, though. 6731 Westminster Blvd., Ste. 113, Westminster, (714) 893-3611; www.puravidacostarican.com. $$
ROYAL CAPITAL
There are scallops, and then there is what Royal Capital serves. If they're offered on the fresh-fish menu at this funky, authentic Chinese spot, by all means order them. Served on a half-shell, these large, meaty scallops—three to four times the size of regular scallops—are cooked in a wonderful Thai-style mint and chile sauce laced with minced garlic. Tasty sauce aside, the scallops are perfectly firm with a rich, intense flavor. Website grade: B. We like that the page switches to Khmer script upon request. 10911 Westminster Blvd., Garden Grove, (714) 638-8331; www.royalcapitalseafood.com. $
SALT CREEK GRILLE
A cozy yet elegant, wood-accentuated restaurant that would fit just perfectly at Whistler Blackcomb or some other upscale ski resort. Recommended are the margarita chicken (grilled chicken breast marinated in tequila and lime juice) and seared rare ahi (drizzled with ginger soy wasabi sauce). The bar area is a popular pickup joint for middle-aged folks. Website grade: C+. Starts off with a pull quote from Merrill Schindler and maintains his middling ways afterward. 32802 Pacific Coast Hwy., Dana Point, (949) 661-7799; www.saltcreekgrille.com. $$
SHELLY'S COURTHOUSE BISTRO
Shelly's might qualify as a mini-food court with dishes from so many different regions, including Asia, Italy, Hawaii, New Orleans, elsewhere in America—and Mexico, too, if you count the chips and salsa. The chicken margaritas are pretty damn good, and the gumbo is a real lunch-time bargain. Website grade: D. Again with the .pdf files for menus anda link to the Ronald Reagan Federal Courthouse. Shudder. 400 W. Fourth St., Santa Ana, (714) 543-9821; www.shellysrestaurant.com. $$
YI DYNASTY KOREAN BBQ
With a barbecue joint promising such exotica as honey-corn tripe, black pork bellies, barbecued bone marrow, wild boar and stingray, Yi Dynasty is sure to placate even the most demanding gourmand. Korean cooking protocol—panchan, DIY meat cooking, feuding tastes in your mouth—is in effect at all times. Website grade: A. Bold red background, pictures of many dishes, and explanation of said dishes along with their Korean names. 1701 Corinthian Way, Ste. E, Newport Beach, (949) 797-9292; www.yi-dynasty.com. $$$
View our complete dining guide at www.ocweekly.com/food.
