Fleming's Steakhouse - Newport, CA

you go to a steakhouse for steak. its not really brain surgery. but a lot of people would look right past the appetizers and maybe even the sides and just enjoy their meat on a plate. flemings is one of my favorite steakhouses (whether im in oc or at la live before a laker game) and to me some of the gems on the menu come from the often overlooked appetizers and sides.

lobster tempura. frying usually makes regular things better. frying lobster? game over for all other fried things. its not exactly low in cholesterol, but who cares - light, crispy, flavorful and delicious. served with a sweet soy ginger sauce to give it a sweet and salty contrast or a little jalapeno pepper for some heat, somewhat expensive, but always worth it.

beef carpaccio. the first time i went to flemings the server was trying to push me on this app. i decided to not get it, but the server bought it for me and my friend anyways and ive been hooked since. thinly sliced beef tenderloin with capers, cheese, a creole mustard aioli and basil. served with manna aka cheesebread from heaven - eat them like soft tacos - roll one up homie.

onion rings. its hard to label something as "best" or favorite but i do think flemings has the best onions rings ive ever had. have you ever bit into an onion ring and the onion slides right out and your left with a ring of batter? well i was told that when they prep their onion rings that they remove the membrane from both ends of each sliced onion so when you bite into it, it breaks and wont slide - and this makes the onion rings at flemings the most time consuming prepped item on the menu. in short, no membrane = no slide = best ever.

bone-in ribeye med-rare. any questions?

if you dont feel like spending a fortune or just going lighter - flemings has a pretty awesome happy hour - 5 different apps/drinks/wines for $6 until 7. the beef carpaccio is one of the apps and its definitely a solid deal. if you go before a laker game or event at staples or la live go early, this place gets packed.

Matsui - Torrance, CA

owned by the famous hideki 'godzilla' matsui, this place serves the best tempura in the south bay area.

i know it's a very bold claim...but it is the best.

and they serve godzilla-size portions.

Marche Modern - Costa Mesa, CA

if you ask a girl out and she only gives you a lunch date (bad) but you still think you have a shot and want to impress her - you should take her to marche modern. its one of the few fine dining places open for lunch in oc, and its awesome. and its located at south coast plaza so you can go shopping after you win her over...and spend more money.

kobe beef carpaccio & lump crab

theres really nothing fancy about this combination. thinly sliced raw kobe beef, lump crab, arugula, olive oil. i love dishes that are simple, delicate, and fresh. attention to detail and execution are key and thats what makes dishes like this amazing. or its because crab and beef are delicious. you pick.

beef short ribs

if there was a fantasy draft for fine dining and comfort foods - beef short ribs would be my first round pick. theres something about the complexity of flavors that comes from slow cooking as well as the pot-roast-like-now-i-need-to-nap-because-of-comfort-food that short ribs give you. melt in your mouth, eat them with a spoon - theres a reason why a bunch of restaurants have short ribs and theres a reason why they always cook them on the top chef finale - they're impossible to cook bad.

get in my pork belly

one of my favorite ingredients. if youre unfamiliar with pork belly, its as if someone gave you bacon and forgot to slice it, leaving you with a slab full of bacon. whats better than bacon? more bacon. just ask the guys from epic meal time. slow cooked, marinated in a sweet sauce like misoyaki and it essentially becomes bacon candy. if all candy was like this and not like candy corn, halloween would be my number one holiday.

seriously though, this is a nice little place on the third floor of south coast so theres not a whole lot of foot traffic. it has the "outdoor" feel even though youre inside a mall. the food is solid, theres a good wine list, and the menu changes time to time. make a reservation though, the place isnt that big.