Message: | Do you mean Bayou St. John in Seal Beach? Can't recommend it, ate there twice. The first time the food was merely inconsistent and average. The second time, my companion's lamb, ordered rare, came well done and was sent back. After some delay, the original plate was returned as-was with the explanation that it was late, they'd turned the stove off so he'd have to eat the well-done one. Additionally, we took two bottles of wine, one to drink and another sample half bottle to decide if this was a wine we both wanted to buy more of. We were charged full corkage on BOTH bottles, even though we didn't drink per se the second bottle, nor did it's presence deprive them of another wine sale. When we demanded that the corkage charge be removed from the bill, our waitress explained that she couldn't because only the manager could adjust a bill and said manager had apparently fled the premesis when the stove got turned off. If that were the last restaurant in town, then I'd get KFC. Unfortunately I think there are very few good rstuarants in North Orange County, but would recommend the Golden Truffle in Newport and Il Farro, an incredibly authentic little Italian place that's like being in some small trattoria in Italy, located most the most unlikely spot of the old Newport pier on the Balboa Peninsula. I live in Huntington Beach, and there is only one good restaurant in this town--Trimarca on Goldenwest, between Edinger and Bolsa. The chef, who was trained in the kitchens of the Vatican since age 12, and his highly entertaining wife Heidi (she's like 30 years older than him, it's a hoot!) do all the work themselves. Small, intimate, and lots of heart there. It's a slow meal, though, don't go if you're in a hurry. They're very wine friendly, too, btw, and don't charge corkage. |