52 LIVEMAGS.NET JUNE>>09

ULTIMATELIVE Magazine’s

estaurants uideR GNew

Zimzala at the Shorebreak Hotel500 Pacifi c Coast Highway Huntington Beach, CA 92648

Style: Upscale CasualCuisine: MediterraneanAverage Ticket: $25Hours: Dinner: Sun-Thu 6 to 10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 6 to 11 p.m.; ounge Sun-Thu 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Fri-Sat 11:30 a.m. to 12 a.m. Offers: Beer, Full Bar, Good for Groups, Good for Kids, Late Night, Lounge, Outdoor Dining, Parking Garage, Private Room, WinePhone: (714) 861-4470Website: www.shorebreakhotel.com

Zimzala is located in the brand-spanking-new Shorebreak Ho-tel in downtown Huntington Beach, a luxury boutique hotel with a decidedly laid-back feel. Zimzala offers small plates and other goodies in a modern space with a long patio and a hip vibe. The tastes at Zimzala are culled from all of the 22 countries that line the Mediterranean, from Israel to Mo-rocco to Greece to Spain, resulting in a symphony of fl avors that beckon a diner back again and again. Try handcrafted cocktails at the sleek bar, or its adjacent “living room” lounge space, perfect for kicking back on a weekend, which serves the bar menu all day when it’s open. From the main dining room, patrons have a view of the semi-exhibition kitchen. Fam-ily-style sharing is encouraged and the private dining room features a stone fi replace and adjacent outdoor patio. Patrons are welcome to bring their own wine for a corkage fee. This summer, to celebrate its opening, Zimzala is offering a $100 dinner and wine pairing to those in the know.

Andrea at Pelican Hill22701 Pelican Hill Road S.Newport Coast, CA 92657

Style: Luxury DiningCuisine: ItalianAverage Ticket: $50Hours: Lunch Mon-Sun 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Dinner Mon-Sun 6 to 10 p.m.Offers: Beer, Full Bar, Good for Groups, Good for Kids, Outside Dining, Private Lot, Private Room, WinePhone: (949) 467-6800Website: www.pelicanhill.com

There’s no better place to take a dinner date, anniversary sharer or business merger meeting than Andrea, the spectacular new restau-rant at the brand new, incomparable Resort at Pelican Hill in New-port Beach. For the best and most authentic rustic Italian fare, look no further than the classical grand dining room at Andrea, where an ever-changing assortment of wait staff will guide you through your entire meal. Your table will feature luxury tablecloths and nap-kins, fi ne bone china and beautiful booth seating. The ceiling and windows, themselves an architectural dream, almost gild the lily of the perfect scene outside: the culmination of one of Pelican Hill’s Fazio-designed golf courses, with the ocean lapping in the back-ground. With a name like Gianluca Re Fraschini at the helm, guests are assured that the rustic food is as authentic as if they stepped into a rural Italian town, yet with all the best ingredients. Each meal begins with an amuse-bouche of burrata, an Italian cheese, and pesto. From there, it’s straight into heaven.

Wokcano199 The Promenade NorthLong Beach, CA 90802

Style: Casual Upscale Cuisine: FusionAverage Dinner Ticket: $20 Hours: Lunch 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily; Dinner Sun-Thu 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.; Fri-Sat 3 p.m. to 4 a.m. Offers: Beer, Full Bar, Good for Groups, Late Night, Outdoor Dining, Private Parking Lot, Private Room, Takeout, Wine Phone: (562) 951-9652Website: www.wokcanocafe.com

This massive and hot Asian fusion restaurant is the latest in a string of lo-cations throughout the Los Angeles area, with rock walls, multiple patios and karaoke. Wokcano features Asian favorites in a fun atmosphere, with appetizers like crab wontons, baked green mussels, edamame and shrimp tempura, and oyster shooters, hamachi. Other selections include: several soups, salads like cucumber sunomono, a seaweed salad and a huge variety of sushi and sashimi, from fl ying fi sh roe to crab stick to red snapper, along with all the standard offerings. Wokcano’s signature rolls include the Crazy Roll, with salmon, tuna, yellowtail and crab meat, and the Spicy Crabmeat Tempura Roll. Great roll names are de rigeur here, with titles like The Black Pearl, the Late Night Party and the Golden Triangle. There is also a full range of heated entrees, like orange chicken, black pepper beef mignon and spicy garlic shrimp, as well as noodle dishes. Prices are reasonable, and the scene is great for a large group. Happy hour features big deals on beer and sushi.

Kavikas Grill & Bar95 Aquarium WayLong Beach, CA 90802

Style: Casual Upscale Cuisine: FusionAverage Dinner Ticket: $20 Hours: Mon-Thu 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Fri-Sat 10 a.m. to 12 a.m.; Sun 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Offers: Beer, Full Bar, Good for Groups, Late Night, Private Parking Lot, Private Room, Wine Phone: (562) 432-8700Website: www.kavikas.com

Kavikas, the newest kid on the block at the Pike at Rainbow Harbor, opened earlier this year to raves from attendees of the Long Beach Grand Prix. Founded by a worldly chef, the large restaurant and bar has a contemporary, upscale vibe, with a real fi re-wall, many plasma fl at-screen TVs and a private room. The California-Asian, healthy fu-sion menu is huge, as is the beautiful lighted onyx bar, complete with icy taps. The bar has top-shelf liquor and many drink and happy hour $5 appetizer and drink specials. A gigantic kitchen features a wood-fi red grill next to a wok. Try the signature North Shore Nachos made from wonton crisps, with grilled chicken, three cheeses and tropical salsa; the amazing kalua pork pizza; USDA Prime paniolo ribeye; and the milk and cookies dessert, just like Mom used to make. Of note is the eponymous Kavikas salad, with mixed greens, tomatoes, mango, mandarin oranges, fresh pineapple, avocado and passion fruit-ginger vinaigrette, with wonton crisps.

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