Orange County Register

South Coast Plaza, Fashion Island cook up big restaurant deals

September 29th, 2009, 3:25 pm · 11 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer

Updated 9/30 & 10/5

Fashion Island and South Coast Plaza are adding two new restaurant concepts that are sure to excite local foodies.

Here’s the lowdown:

Fashion Island

Rendering courtesy of Fashion Island

Fashion Island, which is undergoing a multi-million dollar makeover, will replace Francoli Gourmet with another Italian bistro. Strange, you say? Not when you consider the man behind the new restaurant: Los Angeles restaurateur Celestino Drago.

The acclaimed Italian chef is planning to open Osteria Drago, his first Orange County restaurant. The deal is considered a coup for Fashion Island, which is enhancing its restaurant offerings as part of a major remodel. (Stay tuned for more details).

The menu: Drago’s new restaurant will offer Naples-style wood burning pizza and an assortment of dishes meant to be shared family-style by the entire table.

Opening: Fashion Island said the restaurant will debut when Nordstrom opens next year.

South Coast Plaza

Florida-based Seasons 52 will take over part of the space occupied by The Clubhouse, which will close in December. The fresh grill and wine bar is expected to open in fall 2010, making it the first location to open west of the Mississippi.

The sleek restaurant is known for serving fresh seasonal foods with eclectic wines. (Yelp reviews) Owned by mega-restaurant company Darden, Seasons 52’s menu changes four times a year. Meals claim to be lower in calories compared to rivals.

Debra Gunn Downing, South Coast Plaza’s executive director of marketing, called Seasons 52 a “cutting-edge” concept that emphasizes “superb quality and market-inspired fare.”

Oct. 5 update: Darden later announced plans for a second SCP restaurant: Capital Grille steakhouse will occupy a 9,500-square foot space at  the mall. It is known for its dry aged, hand-carved steaks, fresh seafood and award-winning wine list.

Tell us: What do you think of these new concepts coming to two of Orange County’s most popular malls?

More restaurant openings:

Share this post:

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Posted in: Fast food news • Restaurant openings • Celestino Drago • Fashion Island • Seasons 52 • South Coast Plaza
 

ADVERTISEMENT

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

 11 Comments

• Steve says:

  September 29, 2009 at 1:46 pm

  The Irvine Company’s decision at Fashion Island makes the news about Francoli’s move to Orange sound not so exciting. Is Orange now a place where old restaurants go to retire?

  Post Reply
• BPCA says:

  September 29, 2009 at 6:06 pm

  Seasons 52 is AWESOME. The food is fantastic- it’s hard to believe everything is so low in calories. I’m really excvited to see it close to home!

  Post Reply
• JohnB says:

  September 29, 2009 at 6:10 pm

  Looking at the Drago menu, it’s a’la cart where a nice meal for two can easily run $150 after tip and tax not including wine.

  That feels WAY out of the price range of that area. Remember, this is right around the corner from Cheesecake Factory, and other mid priced chains. It’s a MALL!

  Post Reply
  • cuong says:

    September 29, 2009 at 6:51 pm

    Well, this is Newport Beach Fascist Island, where the rich come in their Ferraris and Lambos to dine at Fleming’s, Roy’s, and Tommy Bahama’s too. Also the home of Needless Markup, so I think Drago should fit right in.

    Post Reply
• Nikki says:

  September 29, 2009 at 6:14 pm

  I liked Francoli! It wasn’t noisy and they did not serve you a meal where you have to take home 3/4 of it. Who want’s to smell my dinner when I walk into Bloomies. Francoli was cozy, great for people watching, and one time the owner (Ibelieve) came out and played his violin. Love!

  Post Reply
• Love to Eat says:

  September 29, 2009 at 6:48 pm

  Cannaletto has great food and is nice dining experience. Their service is impeccable. This seems more like a Mastro’s price point…in a mall…during a recession…good luck with that Mr. Bren. Oh, and bring back the water popping fountain and keep the carousel.

  Post Reply
  • Nancy Luna, Staff Writer says:

    September 29, 2009 at 7:46 pm

    Love to Eat: You bring up a good point. I was thinking if Osteria Drago would compete directly with Canaletto, which opened last year on the other side of the mall.

    Post Reply
    • christopher says:

      September 29, 2009 at 8:09 pm

      agreed. both restaurants will served fresh wood burning oven pizzas. redundancy here is not good. one will go under.

      Post Reply
• jimmydee says:

  September 29, 2009 at 8:52 pm

  Didn’t Fashion Island just undergo a major expansion/remodel about 10 years ago?

  Post Reply
• Phillip Signey says:

  September 30, 2009 at 9:03 am

  Very disappointed in Seasons 52 when I dined there in Florida earlier this year. Dishes all seemed to lack something, like a sauce, in the attempt to meet the calorie goal. The deserts were served in shot glasses and you were encouraged to order a flight. Menu changes every quarter, hence the Seasons part of the name.

  Post Reply
• skippy says:

  October 4, 2009 at 1:31 pm

  Pretty exciting stuff… there really is not enough Italian out there. I mean, wood burning pizza oven? I don’t think that’s ever been done before.

  Post Reply