Great Taste Magazine

Hilton Waterfront Beach Resort
21100 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
714-845-8444
On Sundays, Shades has one of the best brunches in OC. Shades is a modern hotel restaurant with a cozy main dining room and an umbrella-filled outdoor patio with striking ocean views. Chef Jeff Littlefield, who gets most of his ingredients from his forays to the Santa Monica farmers market, has reinvented his menu with more classic European and Mediterranean influences.

Los Rios Historic District
31752 Los Rios St.
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
949-443-1342
Located in San Juan Capistrano's quaint Los Rios Historic District, Ramos House Café serves up breakfast, lunch and weekend brunch. The house is actually occupied by proprietor John Q. Humphries, so don’t be surprised if he greets you in his pajama pants with coffee cup in hand. Also be mindful that this charming cottage has all-outdoor dining, with tables placed under a shady 100-year-old mulberry tree (heaters and blankets provided). Chef Mitch Gillan helms the tiny kitchen and makes the most of humble seasonal ingredients. For those who need to relax, try the eye-opening Bloody Mary with spicy Scotch quail eggs dipped in hot mustard. Some come early for the strong coffee and soft yet crisp apple-cinnamon beignets. The egg scramble dishes are tasty, with ingredients like smoked bacon, sweet onions, crab hash and cured salmon. For lunch, we suggest the spiced-just-right pulled pork sandwich with its crunchy sweet potato fries and refreshing apple slaw. At meal’s end, try any of the delectable desserts or the churned-by-hand ice creams.

The Island Hotel Newport Beach
690 Newport Center Dr.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-760-4920
Palm Terrace exudes an over-the-top tropical oasis vibe with a lush look and plenty of foliage patterned on the seats, walls and drapery. Executive chef Bill Bracken, aided by chef de cuisine Robert Hernandez, brings his tasty twist on Modern American cuisine to this restaurant in The Island Hotel Newport Beach.

St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach
1 Monarch Beach Resort
Dana Point, CA 92629
949-234-3200
Motif is an upscale resort-casual restaurant located inside the St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach. The modern décor is influenced by Mediterranean sensibilities and the restaurant offers a Euro-Californian breakfast and lunch and a more formal dinner. The menu is overseen by the resort's executive chef, Frederic Castan. The food is rather good, but perhaps the most impressive part of this restaurant is the soaring views of the blue Pacific, especially on Motif's romantic terrace. The menu leans heavily on French and Italian flavors with classic American dishes on hand like burgers and steaks. The wine list is somewhat eclectic, so ask the sommelier to pick out the best red or white to go with your meal. Sunday brunch is one of OC's best (and most pricey) with limitless premium Champagne and what seems like oceans of cheeses, charcuterie, salads, sushi, pancakes, carved meats and hot dishes.

361 Cliff Dr.
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
949-497-5434
Sitting on a picturesque cliff overlooking the pretty crescent-shaped cove of Main Beach, Las Brisas is a Laguna Beach landmark and a historic register building. The menu focuses on Mexican seafood specialties with California flair. The drinks are strong, refreshing and made with freshly-squeezed juices and premium liquors. Start dinner with ceviche, lightly-fried calamari or a Mexican shrimp cocktail with lobster and tequila cocktail sauce. You’ll find some elevated tacos and enchiladas, but your best bets are the fresh seafood dishes. Try the huachinango Veracruzana, a lightly-breaded red snapper filet filled with shrimp in a spicy Veracruz tomato sauce and Mexican-style rice. Some pass up the restaurant altogether for the sunny outdoor patio, which serves up its own lighter menu and strong margaritas. If you’re an early riser, don’t miss the breakfast buffet. Sunday brunch is affordable and includes a four-course brunch with free-flowing Champagne. Always end a meal with a stop to smell the roses in the adjacent garden and then climb the small hill to a cliff-side gazebo with scenic shoreline views.

Fashion Island
951 Newport Ctr. Dr.
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-640-2875
Located on the outskirts of Newport Beach’s upscale Fashion Island mall, the Southwestern-Mexican food at El Torito Grill elevates the cuisine’s usual offerings by several notches. First, start with a strong margarita, cold beer or hand-shaken signature cocktail. Handmade tortillas come warm to your table with traditional accompaniments. The more traditional Mexican fare menu is augmented by a selection of chef specialties that changes every few months. During one visit, you might feast on Oaxacan regional delights such as mole or gazpacho, while your next visit might find more contemporary chipotle barbecue ribs. The steaming hot fajitas come in gargantuan portions as do the entrée salads. On Sundays, El Torito Grill’s all-you-can-eat-and-drink brunch is one of the most reasonable in town with hot and cold dishes as well as salads, waffles and a dessert station.

Where can you find $5 bottomless mimosa flights, brunch and the sounds of Ole’ Blue Eyes on a Sunday? Try Chapter One: the modern local. They recently introduced Sinatra Sunday’s occurring every week from 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

For the Sunday morning crowd, Chapter One: the modern local opens its doors an hour earlier than usual, at 10 a.m. They offer $5 bottomless mimosa flights, which includes four different seasonal juices for guests to mix their bubbly with. Their ingredient-driven brunch menu boasts seasonal, farm-to-table fare with dishes such as: Special K French Toast, Smoked Salmon Omelette, Southwest Etoufee Benedict, Apple Pancakes and Fresh Veggie Omelettes.

Once the clock strikes 3 p.m., Sinatra is turned off in favor of live music courtesy of Rabbi Blue. A musician who unites Yiddish and traditional jazz to create his unique sound, Blue, as he is known, will play live every Sunday until 7 p.m. Throughout his career Blue has performed as a bassist, flautist, pianist and conductor, with the industry’s best such as the legendary Lou Rawls.

227 N. Broadway

Santa Ana, Ca

714.352.2225

• On Sunday, May 15, 2011 Bayside will host their monthly Parrot Head Sunday Brunch from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• This special brunch features entertainment by Mark Wood and the Parrot Head Duet Band, a Jimmy Buffet tribute band.
• Bayside will be offering their famous free-flowing Champagne Brunch, a three-course brunch for only $29.95.
• Drink specials will also be available during the Parrot Head Brunch, including Landshark Beer, Sailor Jerry Mai Tai’s and the Ultimate Seacoast Bloody Mary.
• Parrot Head Sunday Brunch takes place once a month throughout Summer. Dates include June 12, 2011; July 24, 2011; and August 21, 2011.

Tommy Bahama in Laguna Beach is now serving breakfast on Saturday and Sunday starting at 8:00 am. The breakfast menu includes culinary innovations on breakfast classics, perfectly suitable for a casual, yet sophisticated plate.

Check out the new menu!

Tommy Bahama Laguna Beach

400 South Coast Highway

Laguna Beach, Ca 92651

949-376-6881

Posted By Kristin 6/13/2011

The Balboa Bay Club & Resort is pleased to announce their Brunch menus for Father’s Day here at the Resort.
The First Cabin Restaurant will be serving a 3-course ala carte menu with a number of popular menu selections.
Brunch from 10:00am to 2:30pm.The dining room features large picture windows with views of the bay,
and sailboats passing by. It is an elegant dining room and fit for a King! The BBC Classic Car Show will also be in full swing, with over 75
cars on display. Come view the cars and vote for your favorite. The Car Show will be on the south side
of the Resort from 11:00am to 3:00pm. The morning will begin with a glass of Mimosa or fresh Orange Juice. Guests will enjoy a Three-Course Brunch—including a selection of four appetizers, seven entrees, and two desserts. The appetizer choices include: BBC Classic Maine Lobster Bisque, Seafood Melange, Duet of Classic Caesar Salad and Beef Carpaccio, or Tossed Belgium Endive with roasted pecans, cranberries and Maytag blue cheese dressing. The Entrée choices include: Petit Rack of Lamb, Shrimp & Scallops Omelet, a Trio of Poached Egg Benedict/Cheese Blintz/Chicken Apple Sausage, Ultimate French Toast, Crab Crusted Atlantic Salmon or Local Seabass, or Seared Petit Filet Mignon. The two dessert choices are: Baked Grand Marnier Bread Pudding “a la Mode”, or Chilled Martini of Mango and Raspberry Sorbet with California berries.
Price: $49.00* for adults and for children 4-12 years $24.50* (*Note: Prices do not include Tax and Gratuity.)

Reservations call (949) 630-4145 or restaurantreservations@balboabayclub.com

www.hulapie.com

Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 2:00pm
Saturday & Sunday, 7:00am – 3:00pm

500 Pacific Coast Highway
Huntington Beach, CA 92648
(714) 861-4470
www.shorebreakhotel.com

Eggs, Pancakes, Seafood Crepes and More!
Only available at Newport and Redondo locations
Prices range from $5-$14.95
www.bluewatergrill.com