Diners' Choice: American restaurants in Orange County

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall American cuisine in Orange County? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Nick's - San Clemente

4.9

4.9 (3031)

$30 and under

American

San Clemente

About the restaurant

Classic American comfort food, crave-able bar snacks, plus unique cocktails & an extensive wine list in an upscale yet casual environment. Our intimate restaurant features a chic island bar, walls of glass and a spacious covered patio, perfect for people watching. Our exhibition kitchen highlights the talents of our passionate culinary team.

Nick’s is dedicated to perfecting the dining experience through continuous innovation, offering the highest quality food and beverage, and executing impeccable standards of hospitality. The deeply instilled Nick’s culture is personified by its Ladies and Gentlemen – professionals who share a single focus and are inspired and committed to offering great service and creating positive memorable experiences.

Top review

John

Dined 3 days ago

Great food and service. Always a winner. Enjoyed it immensely.

Eat Chow - Newport Beach

5.0

5 (17)

$30 and under

American

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Eat Chow is your go-to destination for all things comfort. Come stop by at one of our locations for a phenomenal dining experience with your loved ones. On the weekends you can find us slinging brunch and pouring you Mimosas to help ward of those Sunday Scaries. On weekday days and nights expect to sit among locals who have made us a neighborhood favorite!

Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Daily.

Established in 2012.
We started in December of 2008 in a little spot in Costa Mesa.. We are locally owned and operated and have become a local's favorite! Located in the heart on Newport Shores!

Top review

Tricia

Dined on Sep 30, 2024

The 4 of us enjoyed our breakfasts very much, great food, and service was excellent. Thank you!

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4.8

4.8 (2132)

$30 and under

American

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Welcome to Olea, Cellar. Craft. Cook located in Newport Beach. OLEA, named for a genus of trees that flourish in warm and tropical regions throughout the Mediterranean region.
Our menu features seasonal ingredients of the highest quality that are prepared daily from scratch. Menu selections include exceptional meats, flavorful seafood, handpicked produce from our garden, and diverse beverage selections. We have over 25 wines by the glass, 10 craft beers, and a full bar featuring a wide variety of craft cocktails. We use the best possible ingredients and techniques to ensure that every drink served is an experience. Only fresh fruit and hand-squeezed citrus juices are used every day. We use premium spirits and pour all of our sodas and mixers from bottles. At Olea we take great pride in the Art of the Cocktail. Cheers!

Top review

ConnieVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Perfect as usual - the hostesses so friendly and assisted us immediately. Sten stopped by to say hi which is always very special. Lauren did a great job with our orders and water was refilled as needed. Of course the food was hot and delicious.

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Popular dish

Warm Artisan Rosemary Focaccia Bread

Popular dish

Revier Ranch Filet Mignon

Vine Restaurant & Bar

4.9

4.9 (3034)

$30 and under

American

San Clemente

About the restaurant

Welcome to Vine Restaurant and Bar located in San Clemente. Our menu features seasonal ingredients of the highest quality and are prepared daily from scratch. Menu selections include exceptional meats, flavorful seafood, handpicked produce from our garden, and diverse beverage selections. We have over 25 wines by the glass, 10 craft beers, and a full bar featuring a wide variety of craft cocktails.

Top review

David

Dined 3 days ago

Very professional, experienced attentive waiter, fantastic food, delicious desserts

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Popular dish

Braised Prime Beef Short Rib Stroganoff

Wine Gallery

4.9

4.9 (599)

$30 and under

American

Laguna Beach

About the restaurant

The Laguna Beach Wine Gallery is known for an impressive selection of wine, craft beers and wood fired kitchen. Menu options center around our wood fired pizzas, salads, fresh seafood, steaks, small plates and more. We focus on seasonal, sustainable, fresh ingredients with weekly specials based on what's fresh.

With a casual yet cozy ambiance, Wine Gallery will make you feel right at home with our inviting and friendly restaurant staff. Craft Cocktails coming soon.

Top review

AlonaVIP

Dined 7 days ago

This was our second time at Wine Gallery (the first was two years ago). We came to have a special Friday dinner in celebration of a personal accomplishment, and we're so glad we came back. The food was just as incredible as we remembered - I can't believe there's a place that has mastered both making amazing oven-baked pizza and serving the best (and freshest) seafood I've ever tasted. The wine selection was impressive, but we prefer European style wines and therefore brought our own wine. The ambiance was great and the service was impeccable. We will definitely be back.

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Experience

A Very Happy Hour

Eat Chow - Costa Mesa

4.9

4.9 (24)

$30 and under

American

Costa Mesa

About the restaurant

Eat Chow is your go-to destination for all things comfort. Come stop by at one of our locations for a phenomenal dining experience with your loved ones. On the weekends you can find us slinging brunch and pouring you Mimosas to help ward of those Sunday Scaries. On weekday days and nights expect to sit among locals who have made us a neighborhood favorite!

Serving Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Daily.

Established in 2008.
We started in December of 2008 in a little spot in Costa Mesa.. We are locally owned and operated and have become a local's favorite! We have a second location in Newport Beach (2012) off a PCH in the Newport Shores neighborhood.

Top review

Kent

Dined on Dec 10, 2024

Our waitress was so nice, came in on Tuesday morning for a breakfast meeting and it was great.

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4.8

4.8 (4880)

$30 and under

American

Dana Point / Monarch Beach

About the restaurant

Christina and Mike Grant, the owners of Coastal Kitchen, have created an experience that will delight and satisfy the most discerning guest. Fueled by their passion for food and a love of hospitality, the Grants have established Coastal Kitchen as the go-to spot in Dana Point. The menu is clean and fresh consisting of fish and steaks cut in house, great salads, freshly ground burgers and more. Coastal Kitchen has a full bar, patio with fire pits, and fresh coastal design.

Our mission is to deliver a quality dining experience in a comfortable, friendly atmosphere with a consistency that will bring guests back again and again. We look forward to serving you.

Top review

Daniel

Dined 4 days ago

Great food. Wonderful atmosphere. Our waiter Nick was terrific. Poor acoustics

608 Dahlia

4.8

4.8 (2034)

$31 to $50

American

Corona del Mar

About the restaurant

Executive Chef Jessica Roy brings her fresh interpretation and style to Garden and Farm-to-Table cuisine right inside the botanical oasis that is Sherman Library and Gardens. Daily pickings from the Gardens and local farms populate the ever changing seasonal menu that highlights the best and most flavorful ingredients of the season. Look for ingredients at their peak, stunning edible blooms and herbs right from the Sherman grounds, and cuisine that is nothing short of inspired and delicious. .

Please note: we are located within the Sherman Library and Gardens, to which there is a $5.00 per person admission fee. Each admission supports the Sherman Gardens (a non-profit organization), who maintain the sweeping panoramic views that our diners get to enjoy! Come for the food and stay for the views (and insta-worthy pics).

Top review

Robin

Dined 3 days ago

The ambiance of sitting in the seasonally decorated garden was spectacular. The presentation of the food was elegantly beautiful. The chef is an artist. Everything was fresh and excellent. Great service.

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4.9

4.9 (304)

$30 and under

American

Newport Beach

About the restaurant

Serving fine pub cuisine for over 25 years The Alley Restaurant & Bar in Newport Beach is where locals love dining and lounging. Lovingly dubbed by our Alleycats as the "Best Pour by the Shore" for that last drink, The Alley has a late night reputation that is one of legend. See Less

Top review

ReneVIP

Dined on Dec 10, 2024

Monday night rib special is the best. So yummy! Reservations are a must.

Seasons 52 - Costa Mesa

4.8

4.8 (9043)

$31 to $50

American

Costa Mesa

About the restaurant

Seasons 52 is a Fresh Grill and Wine Bar offering a seasonal menu that is naturally lighter and always flavorful. Our seasonal menus feature ingredients at their peak of freshness, oak-fire grilled or brick oven roasted (without a fryer in sight) to be naturally lighter and more flavorful. We also offer an extensive list of wines by the glass and bottle. Here, you'll always feel free to enjoy every bite, every sip, every moment. Lunch and dinner daily with happy hour Monday-Thursday from 3-6PM.

Top review

LouisVIP

Dined 2 days ago

S52 is our go to place for some pre-show dinner. The Crab cake, Ponzu broth - poached Butterfish, and grilled Sea Scallops were really delicious 😋, and the wine pairing of the Tasmanian Jansz Brut Rose with the Crab Cake, as well as the La Crema Chard from Monterey with the Scallops and the Paul Hobbs Chard-Crossbarn from the Sonoma Coast with the Butterfist were excellent! A delicious meal and highly recommend. Eric our server was awesome taking us through the expansive seasonal menu, and attentive service. Cheers to the folks at S52 for another great experience. We really miss the lounge piano player S52 used to have in the lounge. See you again next month! :0)

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Popular dish

Cedar Plank-Roasted Salmon

Popular dish

Half Flatbread

Popular dish

Wood-Grilled Filet Mignon

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