In Santa Ana, Public Steak has taken over the space vacated by 8 Steers at Harbor near Sunflower. 8 Steers closed sometime last year. Public Steak opened a few weeks ago. Matthew Briggs is the chef and owner. He used to work at Mastro’s and Cameron Mitchell’s Ocean Prime. His specialties are steaks and chops, of course, ranging from an 8 ounce beef filet to a 40 ounce Tomahawk rib eye, all finished with a demi glace and an arugula salad. Other items include a chili made from the steak trimmings he calls “Beef Scrap Chili”, foie gras creme brûlée, and “Sticky Pigtails”, which are slow-braised pigtails in a sweet and spicy chili sauce.
3751 S Harbor Blvd. Ste C., Santa Ana, CA 92704, (714) 557-2987; publicsteak.com
Imola had its official grand opening last Friday. The Italian restaurant occupies the spot of the former Luggati’s and The Refinery. Mains include a crispy Mediterranean sea bass and cioppino. There are pizzas including one topped with Alfredo sauce and soft polenta with wild mushroom ragu and fried raviolis as bar snacks.
210 5th St, Huntington Beach, CA 92648, (714) 536-5001; www.imolahb.info
Xanadu Cafe has opened at Newport Beach’s brand new Mariner’s Pointe development at West Coast Highway and Dover Drive. Xanadu Cafe moved here from Santa Barbara, where it was established more than 30 years ago. Expect coffee, morning pastries, waffles, and egg breakfasts. For lunch, there’s salmon burgers, chicken paninis, and Philly cheese steak.
100 W. Coast Hwy., Unit R-104, Newport Beach, (949) 419-5562.
In Long Beach, the space formerly occupied by Peppercorner restaurant is now being developed into Independent Cider House. When it opens any day now, it will offer about 20 ciders on draft and more in bottles. Some dishes they’re going to offer include parchment-steamed fish and farro-cauliflower “Mac & Cheese”.
601 E. Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802; www.indieciderhouse.com
Fountain Valley has a new ramen restaurant opened by Kazuo Ikeda, who owns Ikeda in Huntington Beach. Fukusuke Japanese Ramen Dining features a soup made from a chicken and pork base. It comes in the usual trinity of flavors: shio (salt), shoyu (soy sauce) and miso (miso). Extra topping options include spicy green chili and jalapeños.
18687 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley, CA 92708, (714) 274-9763; fukusukeusa.com
Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.