From time to time we will post notices about OC restaurants willing to treat wine collectors with some respect.
At the moment we have a very short list. If you can recommend other restaurants please feel free to add to our list. E-mail me with your suggestions.
Let's hope restaurateurs realize charging 3x wholesale or $20+/bottle corkage hurts their sales and bottom line. Let's also hope they get with the wines by the glass program serving drinkable wines at affordable prices. If they don't we should go elsewhere.
In the meantime these are my favorite wine friendly restaurants.
Andreis - Located just 3 blocks from the Wine Cellar Club Andreis is a gem. Their Winter Menu celebrates the beginning of a new year, with inspired items like Slowly Braised Octopus Salad with Crispy Chorizo and Fresh Herbs, Duck Confit Flatbread with Swiss Chard and White Truffle Oil, and Pan-Roasted Mahi Mahi with Mascarpone Cheese and Sweet Onion Risotto. Chef Yves Fournier’s philosophy of using seasonal, local ingredients ensures only the freshest and finest food at Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails. Andreis is also offering Free Corkage Tuesday Nights, so bring in your favorite bottle and they will gladly open for you to enjoy with their fantastic Winter Menu. Let Kurt the gregarious bartender know you are a member of the Wine Cellar Club.
Marche Modern - Located in So Coast Plaza, ths is as good as it gets in OC. Outstanding contemporary French bistro. Let them know you are a Wine Cellar Club member. Especially fun at lunch on their beautiful outdoor/covered patio. Explore their wine list, they have many wines by the glass. Corkage $15/bottle for 1 bottle, then $25/bottle. The nicest people you'll ever meet!
Pescadou French Bistro - Balboa Peninsula. Authentic French bistro cuisine at affordable prices. Tell Jacques or Olga you are a member of the Wine Cellar Club and tell them I sent you. Regular corkage $15/bottle. As a Wine Cellar Club member you are entitled to free corkage Tuesday - Thursday and $5/bottle corkage Friday - Sunday. Limited to 1 bottle /person.
China Garden - Irvine's most well known Dim Sum and HK seafood. Bring wine and your own glassware. Long wait for Dim Sum on weekends but one of the best this side of SF. My favorite wines to bring here are dry German Riesling, French white Burgundy ,or Sancerre. Corkage is usually $8/bottle but they often charge a flat $8 for anything we bring. Sometimes they charge nothing.
Capital Seafood - Fantastic Dim Sum and everything else. Ask James, restaurant manager to waive your corkage as a member of the Wine Cellar Club. Located just a block away from the Wine Cellar Club.
The Village - San Clemente's local small cafe. This is THE place for tagine. Tell Nour I sent you. He's an avid skier, loves wine, food, and the good life in America. Short walk to the ocean/SC pier.
Houstons /Bandera /Gulf Stream - American food, busy bar, great service, zero corkage fee. Reliable! High energy. Best burger in Irvine.