Some choose to look upon choosing between two options as difficult. But when those options are OC Restaurant Week and Taste of Newport, the choosing gets much more delightful.
And you could, if you had itineraries and maps and fortitude, do both.
On now through Saturday, September 19th: OC Restaurant Week. Like Restaurant Week here, the OC version has rounded up a page of eateries that are offering prix fixe menus at special prices. Watermarc in Laguna Beach is doing a $15 lunch with Himachi Tacos as an option, while Royal Khyber of Santa Ana has a $20 and $30 menu (the Spicy Chicken Vindaloo and the Eggplant Bharta tempt).
There are many restaurants. Did we say a page of eateries? We weren't embellishing. It's probably more like a page and a half. Two.
If you make a reservation for dinner in Costa Mesa or Irvine, but long to just tool around the beaches beforehand, best stop by the 21st annual Taste of Newport for your midday snackage. The annual food festival has the grills fired from September 18th-20th. There is a lot of walking, talking to chefs, and eating. A lot. Plus OC boys Sugar Ray are playing the party, as is Train and "AI" guy David Cook.
Hello, Black Sesame Brulee from Newport's own Kitayama. Or a tapas sampler from Tapas Restaurant. Dessert first.
