Just down 5 a bit will get you to Fat Of the Land in Santa Ana. Great bistro tapas wine bar place. You’ll need a reservation on the weekend.
Whenever I’m in the area, I go to Portillo’s in Buena Park for an Italian Beef sandwich, with hot giardiniera and sweet peppers. Not fancy, but the best Italian Beef I’ve eaten outside of Chicago.
1 Like
https://www.4thstreetmarket.com/ in Santa Ana
A few Asian vendors, plus Hawaiian, El Salvadoran, and a full bar
1 Like
The bar is gone and the venders are so-so these days. Plenty of better choices in the area if you are looking to actually dine and enjoy some atmosphere. Lola Gaspar for nouveau Mex and cocktails and Sonder for atmosphere, cocktails and someone spinning vinyl. But Fat of the Land is really tops for dining right now in downtown SA.
Another option is Old Towne Orange. Plenty of restaurants and gustatory choices these days there. Plus the strolling is always great if more crowded now. OSea is good wine centered restaurant to check out.
1 Like
Not food (sorry), but you’re very close to Green Cheek brewery, and they’re excellent.
EDIT: well, crap — I just ran into your “not a beer drinker” post, so nevermind. I will keep my suggestion in my post, however, for posterity.
Wow … ok, so that looks amazing! Thank you very much for posting the pics, as I’ve previously looked at the menu and wasn’t moved. Now I want to go. 
Big mistake! I haven’t been since they recently went to prix fix, but the a la carte menu was fantastic. IMHO, one of the best restaurants in LA due to it’s unique take on the food and prep. The room is super comfortable. Service is top notch. Corkage used to be $25/btl but is now $40 I think. Just go.
1 Like
Has anyone on the thread been to Holy Basil or the 88 Club recently?
88 club is closing.
holy basil is awesome. Atwater is the best location
Dang. They just were mentioned in a Food and Wine article i think? Holy Basil’s instagram looks great
Also, check out Mayden market. HB has a stall there, but it’s different than the sit down restaurant. Couple of other good choices there too.
2 Likes
it’s now fried chicken! which is also good
Has anyone successfully been to Wilde’s? It sounds great, and they suggest just walking in at 5, but I’m intimidated by how hard reservations are to get.
Never been, but this is down the street from my house. Next time I get a chance I’ll do some market research!
1 Like
half the restaurant is held for walkins
I’ve been, but it was early on. I had a resv. Haven’t returned. Plenty of area drink options while you wait.
2 Likes
Mirate on Vermont probably has some of the best cocktails in LA. Tried pretty much their whole drink menu. All winners. Was also just added to the top 50 best bars in North America #28
2 Likes
Went to Holy Basil in SM, and it was great
2 Likes
Really dug Wilde’s. Nice-looking room, completely packed at 5:45 pm. I think the 4 of us ordered most of the menu and the phrase “elevated pub food” fits exactly what they accomplished. The battered skate was spectacular, as was pretty much everything else (the crab was just okay in comparison to the rest). They were out of the meat pie, but the chicken lardon was a great substitute. The wine list is all natural.
Been wanting to try RVR but not open to lunch so went to our standby, Gjelina. Great as always, hamachi crudo, hamachi collar, dandelion salad, roast artichokes, gem salad.
1 Like