When it comes to dining and nightlife, groups meeting in Orange Country have a whole new menu of options just steps away from downtown hotels.
In particular, the area surrounding the Anaheim Convention Center is turning into a veritable Restaurant Row. This fall’s opening of the first phase of GardenWalk has brought a lineup of restaurants along Katella Avenue that includes Bubba Gump, California Pizza Kitchen, Cheesecake Factory, McCormick & Schmick Grill, P.F. Chang’s, and Roy’s of Hawaii. Shops, additional restaurants and nightspots such as Bar Louie and Heat Ultra-lounge are scheduled to follow in March.
Also a short walk from the convention center is a new branch of Morton’s, The Steakhouse, which offers The Boardroom, a luxurious private dining room accommodating up to 72 guests. The Boardroom is equipped with sophisticated technology that can deliver live satellite broadcasts to other Morton’s Boardrooms around North America.
Another nearby newcomer with plenty of sizzle is Ruth’s Chris Steak House, which offers private dining for groups of up to 40 people.
An established group favorite is the Anaheim White House, a newly restored Victorian mansion serving Northern Italian cuisine. Twelve private dining rooms, most of them named for U.S. presidents, accommodate from 20 to 175 guests.
Costa Mesa is another area where groups don’t have far to go for evening entertainment.
“We have a lot of great options within walking distance of our hotels, including 250 restaurants, the performing arts center and the South Coast Plaza for shopping,” says Tom Smalley, president of the Costa Mesa Conference & Visitors Bureau.
Among Costa Mesa’s many group-friendly dining choices is The Clubhouse Restaurant, which features American classic dishes, an extensive martini menu and six private dining rooms that accommodate up to 150 people. Another popular spot is Chat Noir Bistro & Jazz Lounge, a Parisian-style restaurant and entertainment venue where groups of up to 275 can be accommodated.
Huntington Beach offers the new Flight Bistro & Social Lounge, which combines a restaurant serving contemporary American cuisine with indoor and outdoor event spaces, including two patios and two private dining rooms. The main private dining room, which accommodates up to 65 guests, is equipped with a projection system that includes a six-foot viewing screen. The entire restaurant can handle receptions for up to 400 people.
