Just in time for Valentine's Day, I got an unsolicited e-mail from a PR person working for South Coast Plaza's restaurants. This time, there's finally some information I'd want to share with you: the special Valentine's menus for just about every eatery at SCP.
So if you were thinking of one of SCP's many establishments for treating your honey, there's no need to go and do your own research.
JUST READ IT ALL HERE, after the jump.
But before you do, be aware that these specials aren't exactly optimized for the times that we're in.
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Charlie Palmer at
Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza
714-352-2525
Dining room
hours: 5 PM- 10:30 PM, lounge until 1 AM
Eight Course
Valentine'sTasting Menu
$105 per person ($150
with wine pairings)
Charlie Palmer brings
New York City sophistication and modern dNcor to its romantic main dining room
and lounge. The eight course tasting menu, paired with wines, is laden with
culinary aphrodisiacs, lovingly created by executive chef Amar Santana. Start
with an amuse of tuna tartare and avocado; followed by chilled Kumamoto
oysters; seared Hudson Valley foie gras; Alaska halibut; succulent sea
scallops; and tender braised veal cheeks. The dinner concludes with
Harry's strawberry gelee with anise-buttermilk sorbet and molten chocolate
cake, dark chocolate mousse, hazelnut praline gelato
MarchN Moderne
714-434-7900
Dining room
hours: 5:30 PM – 9:30 PM
La Saint-Valentin 2009
$75 per person
Chef Florent Marneau's
award-winning bistro has classic romantic Euro dNcor with its close quarters,
white tablecloths, wood plank floors, stone walls and golden silk banquettes.
Some of the starter dishes on this four-course dinner are teriyaki-roasted pork
belly, asparagus risotto, foie gras terrine, Maui hearts of palm salad and
oysters on the half shell. For mains, choose from the roasted Liberty Farm duck
breast, braised boneless short ribs and prime filet or the grilled Tasmanian
ocean salmon. Pastry chef Amelia Marneau's heavenly desserts feature some of
her favorites such as almond macaroon, lemon cream, fresh raspberry, yogurt and
Chambord gelato and a “Napoleon” of chocolate and praline and mocha gelato.
Vegetarian options available.
Morton's The Steakhouse
714-444-4834
Dining room hours:
5 PM – 11 PM
Dinner for Two
$109
Morton's has a swanky
main dining room where couples can enjoy an intimate three-course dinner for
two. Start with Caesar or Morton's salad. For mains, guests can choose from
three entrees: broiled sea scallops, colossal shrimp Alexander or jumbo lump
crab cake with one signature potato or fresh vegetable to share. The
legendary Morton's hot chocolate cake or Key Lime pie adds more sweetness to
the meal's end. Pair your dinner with a bottle of 2007 Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc,
Sonoma County or 2006 “A” by Acacia Pinot Noir, California, for an
additional $39.
Pinot Provence
714-444-5900
Dining room
hours: 5 PM – 9 PM
Valentine's Day Dinner
Four courses: $75 per
person
Three courses: $65
Pinot Provence is one
of OC's most romantic restaurants with its Provencal-style wood beams,
banquette seating, floral prints and darling patio. Celebrate love's special
day supping on a four-course dinner, starting with an amuse of veal consumNe
and then choose two appetizers such as crispy pork belly, Hudson Valley foie
gras torchon, sashimi of Kona Kampachi, classic escargot, winter vegetables,
shaved prosciutto with fingerling potatoes or prime beef carrpaccio. The
entrNes include braised veal cheeks, seared Maple Leaf duck breast, Maine
lobster tail, pan-roasted California sea bass, seared filet mignon or sautNed
razor clams. Chef's dessert.
Royal Khyber Fine
Indian Cuisine
714-436-1010
Dining Room
hours: 5:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Valentine's Day Dinner
$33 per person
Take your love to
exotic India for Valentine's Day at Royal Khyber where you will first lift a
glass of Champagne to your partnership. Next, the chef here cooks up a
three-course “sweetheart” dinner, beginning with either daal soup or samosa
salad. Then, choose from leg of lamb cooked in the Imoghlai tradition, butter
chicken or salmon Malabar. Dessert offerings include pistachio ice cream, gulab
janan and rice pudding.
The Clubhouse
714-708-2582
Dining Room hours:
4 PM – 9:30 PM
Four-courses for Two
$95 for Two
The American-style
clubby atmosphere of The Clubhouse offers a Valentine's feast of great value.
The four-course dinner here starts with choice of two soups, two salads,
two entrNes (like the 8 oz. filet mignon or a 10 oz. prime rib paired with
crab-stuffed shrimp or firecracker crab cake). For dessert, indulge your taste
buds in the molten chocolate cake, Key Lime tart or the crème brulNe. You may
also order the restaurant's signature dishes from the regular menu.
Scott's Seafood
714-997-2400
Dining room hours:
4 PM- 10:30 PM
Valentine's Day Prix
Fixe Menu
$60 per person
Scott's has a laid back
romantic plantation vibe, yet this top notch seafood eatery also has a
sophisticated tastes with intimate booths, giant palms, high ceilings and brass
accents. Enjoy a decadent three course prix-fixe menu
created by executive chef Michael Doctulero. Or, you can also order from the
traditional à la carte menu. For the first course, choose from such classics as
Maine lobster bisque, Scott's famed sautNed calamari, Asian pear salad or
roasted beet salad for the first course. For mains, try the Chilean seabass
Kasuzuke, 8 oz. lobster tail and 8 oz. filet mignon. Dessert features dark
chocolate brick with roasted banana sauce, vanilla bean crème brulNe or
cheesecake stuffed beignets served with fresh strawberries.
Z'Tejas
714-979-7469
Dining room hours: 4 PM
– 10 PM
Valentine's Day Dinner
$24.99
Z'Tejas has a festive
and fun atmosphere for Valentine's Day as well as some of the best margaritas
in OC and a reasonably-priced menu of flavorful dishes. Chef
Daniel Stevens has created a blissful three-course menu, beginning with the
choice of appetizer: an artichoke heart beignet or blue tortilla and feta cheese salad. For mains, choose between the pecan-crusted chicken Oscar,
chili seared scallops or pistachio-crusted beef tenderloin. Chef's choice of
dessert.
Quattro CaffN
714-754-0300
Dining room hours: 11 AM
– 8 PM
Valentine's Day Dinner
$55 per person
Cozy up to your
Valentine at this lively, yet intimate Euro bistro filled with charm. The
four-course lunch and dinner starts with a flute of Perrier Jouet Grand Brut
while enjoying “Duetto di Zuppa,” a
combo of tomato purNe and cream of potato leek. The second course features scampi pomodora. Then, choose either a
petite filet, pan seared sea bass or vegetarian lasagna. Chocolate mousse,
served with a side of raspberry purNe, gives a lovely finishing touch.
Hamamori
714-850-0880
Dining room hours: 5
PM – 10 PM
Valentine's Day Dinner
for Two
$160 per couple
Modern sensibilities are
heightened in Hamamori's minimalist, yet stunning main dining room. A delightful seven-item menu for couples who adore Japanese food
starts with the tamari-marinated scallop and moves on to the lobster with Yuzu
miso sauce to rock shrimp and the chef's choice of four pieces of executive
sushi. For mains, choose from the miso-marinated lamb chops or the
Kurobuta pork belly Kakuni or the tamari-marinated black cod dish. Chef's dessert.
Darya Fine Persian
Cuisine
714-557-6600
South Coast Plaza
Village
Dining room hours: 5
PM – 10:30 PM
Valentine's Day Dinner
$59.95 per person
(plus 18% gratuity + tax)
Darya is always a
romantic spot with its Persian flair for the dramatic of marble columns, ornate
artwork, picture windows, exotic cuisine as well as fast and friendly service.
A three-course dinner is offered and live music adds spice to the evening.
Start with a choice of savory appetizers or Persian salad; select
from one of six entrees, ranging from shish kebab (choice filet mignon),
chicken or shrimp kebab or charbroiled Lake Superior white fish, all served
with charbroiled tomato and basmati rice. Indulge with a French pastry dessert.
Pizzeria Ortica
714-445-4900
650 Anton Blvd., Costa
Mesa
Dining room hours:
5:30 PM – 11 PM
Valentine's Prix Fixe
Dinner of four courses for $50 per person,
optional wine pairing
for an additional $25
This newly-opened
space has lots of European charm with its tile floors, soaring Palladian
arches, picture windows and exhibition kitchen. Start with antipasti for
two, followed by a choice of pastas (Hand-rolled squid ink garganelli, shrimp,
arugula, yellow tomato or baked fazzoletto, ricotta, ortica). Next is
swordfish involtini, salmoriglio, Sicilian cous cous or braised veal cheeks,
gremolata, saffron risotto. Dolce is your selection of babà al rhum or bombo di
cioccolato, orange cream, salted hazelnut. Menu subject to change based on
ingredient availability.
Pacific Whey CafN
714-641-9911
$24.95 per person
Dine-in on a three
course special menu from February 12 through the 15th or also
available for take-away, packaged ready to heat at home. Start with their
Pacific Coast salad, a choice of entrees like sautNed shrimp, pan seared filet
medallions, or grilled salmon, all served with Parmesan mashed potatoes and
vegetable medley. Finish with a signature red velvet cupcake.
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.