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EXECUTIVE DINING
Welcome to the third Fifi's Best special report of the year.
We've gathered Business Journal restaurant columnist Fifi Chao's major reviews of the past 12 months. You'll see Fifi has ventured from Stanton to San Clemente, Newport Beach to Anaheim, to dig up and report on some of Orange County's top eateries.
Inside this report you'll find eateries specializing in the cuisine of Italy, Thailand, China, Belgium, the U.S. and numerous other countries.
The reviews have been edited for space and appear in order of when they first were published in the Business Journal. If you 'd like to read the full reviews, please contact the Business Journal's circulation department-the original publication date is given with each restaurant entry.
Enjoy!
THE CLUBHOUSE
South Coast Plaza
Address: 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa
Phone:(714)708-2582
Published Oct. 25, 2004
I've been watching closely to what's happening at The Clubhouse in South Coast Plaza since it was taken over by a new group in 2001.
The restaurant's partnership has tapped into the hometown restaurant feeling that I love. The same combination of chic casualness downstairs and gorgeous sink-in looks and comfort upstairs prevails. Originally from New Jersey, managing partner Jim Hall brings a heavy-duty restaurant resume to this establishment.
Martinis? Try 70 kinds here, including one of my favorites, the Citadel. The menu is based on traditional American favorites tinged with Jim's own California flair.
Who can argue with a list that takes us through several kinds of fresh fish, a separate category of steaks, chops and ribs, some signature dishes indigenous to this kitchen, even sandwiches and a big variety of salads that are available at lunch and dinner?
There are about 100 selections of wine, with 30 served by the glass. It's a nicely honed list, with mostly American selections and a few French and Italian wines.
There's a great variety of appetizers. Panseared lump crab cakes come crispy and golden with roasted corn and jalapeño sauce. Calamari with sweet chile ginger glaze is a fine flavor profile with either my first glass of wine or a martini.
Entrees include the meat loaf with mashed potatoes, wild mushroom bordelaise and succotash of vegetables-very popular. The potpie is a large baked casse-role dish in which...