Discover the Best of Fine Dining in Orange, CA

Los Angeles’ acclaimed Michelin-starred restaurants, such as Hayato and Melisse, might grab all the headlines, but there are several excellent dining establishments right here in Orange, California. Don’t bother taking the I-5 South for your next special meal — these esteemed eateries serve the very best food much closer to home.

The Hobbit

It’s not quite Middle Earth, but The Hobbit will transport you to another world with its multi-course prix-fixe menu. Several tastemakers, including OpenTable, Wine Spectator, and Zagat, have recognized this local gem. Browse the menu while enjoying a glass of champagne and some hors d’oeuvres. Select one of the more than 1,000 wines from the cellar before settling in for the chef-selected contemporary menu. Savor the seafood, fowl, or light meat dish, followed by a palate-cleansing sorbet before the main entrée. A decadent dessert caps off the night. The Hobbit has an elegant casual dress code and reservations are essential.

Location: 2932 E. Chapman Ave.
Hours: 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

Orange Hill Restaurant & Events

With one of Orange’s best locations and some of its best food, a meal at Orange Hill Restaurant & Events is always memorable. Admire the majestic views of Catalina Island and downtown Los Angeles as you savor the exquisite cuisine. Butcher-cut steaks served with roasted garlic confit and rich sauces are the restaurant’s signature meal during dinner service. However, the seafood, pasta, chicken, and vegetarian dishes are also exceptional. Whatever you choose from the à la carte menu, you’re going to feel satisfied. On weekends, the restaurant serves a delicious à la carte brunch with bottomless mimosas.

Location: 6410 E. Chapman Ave.
Hours: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily, plus 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Citrus City Grille

Citrus City Grille serves modern American cuisine with a dash of Mediterranean flair that helps set it apart. It boasts a crowd-pleasing menu, with options including decadent wild-caught Chilean seabass, prime filet mignon, and veal osso buco but also classic pizzas and pasta dishes. There’s even a separate kids’ menu designed with diners under 12 in mind. As a family-owned and -operated business, Citrus City Grille aims to treat its patrons like their own loved ones. Its philosophy seems to be working, as Citrus City Grille has been a part of the Orange community for more than 25 years.

Location: 122 N. Glassell St.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

O SEA

O SEA celebrates the ocean’s treasures with its creative, seafood-focused menu. The innovative dishes include oysters with a Thai red curry cocktail sauce, the wild Fijian albacore tuna poke bowl, and the super Tuscan plate with your choice of protein. Seasonal dishes change throughout the year, so there’s always an excuse for return visits. The friendly waitstaff is always on hand to offer advice about the food and wine menus. While leading publications such as Modern Luxury Riviera Orange County and Bon Appetit celebrate the food, this establishment has a more relaxed vibe than most fine-dining restaurants.

Location: 109 S. Glassell St.
Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar

Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar is another restaurant challenging our preconceptions of what fine dining is. The menu features elegant dishes, such as wagyu carpaccio, pork belly with fennel pollen honey and dandelion greens, dry-aged ribeye with black garlic beef jus, and grilled Spanish octopus with eggplant caponata. We might expect meals like this from a Michelin-starred restaurant but rarely a bar. And certainly not in a place that also proudly serves fries and burgers. Haven Craft Kitchen + Bar has shaken up the fine-dining scene, and the city of Orange is better for it.

Location: 190 S. Glassell St.
Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen

Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen also breaks the mold, elevating a cuisine many people consider fast food to fine dining. Helmed by Chef Gabbi Patrick, this restaurant gives classic Mexican dishes some gastronomic flair. There are tacos, but additions such as Portuguese sausage, roasted butternut squash, and fried kale make them unlike any you’ve ever tasted. The carnitas norteñas with braised Berkshire pork and camarones en mole verde with grilled shrimp and confit potatoes are also really special. Enjoy your meal in the main dining room or book the underground cellar for a special occasion.

Location: 141 S. Glassell St.
Hours: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Francoli Gourmet

Francoli Gourmet brings authentic dishes from Northern Italy to Orange. That means there are no pizzas, but we promise that you won’t miss them. There are delicious regional pasta dishes if you’re craving carbs. You’ll also enjoy the sophisticated entrees showcasing chicken, seafood, and hearty meats. Consider the weekly specials, which make use of the freshest seasonal produce. Francoli Gourmet is also a Northern Italian specialty store, allowing you to purchase the pantry ingredients you need to recreate these sensational dishes at home. The store also sells wine and Italian liquors and vodkas you won’t find anywhere else.

Location: 100 S. Glassell St.
Hours: 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

For your next date night, celebration, or just because you want to, the Mazda of Orange team recommends trying one of these local fine-dining restaurants. Just remember to book early, as it can be tough to get a table at the best spots in town. While the meal will impress, why not arrive in style with a new set of wheels from our dealership? If your old ride has seen better days, come visit us and take one of Mazda’s latest vehicles for a spin.

Escargot, Orange Hill restaurant, CA by OBiTRAN is licensed with CC BY 2.0