The Country Club, a new dining and drinking establishment in Costa Mesa, is set to open to the public on National Repeal Day, Dec. 5, 2017. The drink menu will showcase classic libations such as whiskey old-fashioneds, gin martinis, and moscow mules. The signature cocktail menu will rotate seasonally and feature fresh ingredients and house-made fusions. Among the opening seasonal menu cocktails are the Royal Melbourne with Toki Japanese Whiskey, pear, and almond, and the Cypress Point, with Stoli Vodka, blood orange, and honey. Photo credit: Basil Nabhan

The Country Club is a luxury restaurant and bar that celebrates traditional American cuisine and classic libations. Guests must be 21 or over to enter the “social club” establishment decorated with chandeliers, leather high-back banquettes and vintage sports memorabilia. Photo credit: Basil Nabhan

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The Country Club is under construction on 17th Street. The building’s owner saved the A-frame roofline. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register, SCNG)

The Country Club is a 21 and over drinking and dining establishment. Photo credit: Alan De Herrera

The Country Club, a new dining and drinking establishment in Costa Mesa, is set to open to the public on National Repeal Day, Dec. 5, 2017. The drink menu will showcase classic libations such as whiskey old-fashioneds, gin martinis, and moscow mules. The signature cocktail menu will rotate seasonally and feature fresh ingredients and house-made fusions. Among the opening seasonal menu cocktails are the Royal Melbourne with Toki Japanese Whiskey, pear, and almond, and the Cypress Point, with Stoli Vodka, blood orange, and honey. Photo credit: Alan De Herrera



Restaurateur Ryan Adams of Three Seventy Common Kitchen+Drink in Laguna Beach is opening Parallel Pizzeria in Dana Point in late December. He and his business partner James Nunn are combining New Haven-style pizza crust with West Coast ingredients at Parallel Pizzeria. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Country Club’s dinner menu includes options from flatbread and prime cut steaks to fresh seafood Photo credit: Basil Nabhan

Unlike trendy quick-serve pizza pies, Parallel Pizza will blend fine dining ingredients on pizza pies baked in a coal-fired oven. The New England-style pizza will be topped with seasonally-driven and organic ingredients as well as playful toppings. Think mashed potatoes, clams and chorizo pepperoni used as toppings. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ryan Adams’ new pizza joint will feature New Haven-style pizza and sandwiches. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Restaurateur Ryan Adams is opening Parallel Pizzeria in Dana Point in late December. He and his business partner James Nunn are combining New Haven-style pizza crust with West Coast ingredients at Parallel Pizzeria. To crisp up the center of the pizza, Adams places it on this slotted tray. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Restaurateur Ryan Adams is opening Parallel Pizzeria in Dana Point in late December. He and his business partner James Nunn are combining New Haven-style pizza crust with West Coast ingredients at Parallel Pizzeria. To crisp up the center of the pizza, Adams places it on this slotted tray. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Ruby’s Diner is celebrating its 35th birthday with dining deal on Dec. 7. Participating traditional restaurants within the chain can get a RubyBurger with French fries for $2.99 throughout the day. (Courtesy Ruby’s Diner)

Ruby’s Diner is celebrating its 35th birthday with dining deal on Dec. 7. Participating traditional restaurants within the chain can get a RubyBurger with French fries for $2.99 throughout the day. (Courtesy Ruby’s Diner)

Online eco-friendly clothing line Kestan has opened its first brick-and-mortar store at The OC Mix in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy Kestan)

Online eco-friendly clothing line Kestan has opened its first brick-and-mortar store at The OC Mix in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy Kestan)



Online eco-friendly clothing line Kestan has opened its first brick-and-mortar store at The OC Mix in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy Kestan)

Online eco-friendly clothing line Kestan has opened its first brick-and-mortar store at The OC Mix in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy Kestan)

Online eco-friendly clothing line Kestan has opened its first brick-and-mortar store at The OC Mix in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy Kestan)

Coast-to-coast pizza coming to Dana Point

Restaurateur Ryan Adams is joining the fray of fine dining chefs testing the waters of counter-service dining.

The chef and owner of Three Seventy Common Kitchen+Drink in Laguna Beach is opening Parallel Pizzeria in Dana Point in late December. He and his business partner James Nunn are combining New Haven-style pizza crust with West Coast ingredients.

Unlike trendy, quick-serve pizza pies, Adams said Parallel pizzas will blend fine dining ingredients on pizzas baked in a coal-fired oven. The New England-style pie will be topped with seasonally-driven and organic ingredients as well as playful toppings. Think mashed potatoes, clams and chorizo pepperoni used as toppings.

“It definitely going to be different,” Adams said of his latest venture.

Adams said he and Dunn want Parallel Pizzeria to be a food clash between East Coast flavors and West Coast lifestyles.

No soggy-in-the-middle Neapolitan-style pies or cracker-thin crusts. Pizzas will be cooked in an oven fired by hardwood charcoal, instead of traditional coal. Adams said the cook time will run between 5 to 7 minutes to ensure a slightly singed crust.

The “parallel coast to coast” experience inspired the restaurant’s name. The menu will also feature salads and hoagie sandwiches piled high with meat.

The restaurant, which is being designed by Hatch Design Group, is opening at The Row on Pacific Coast Highway in Dana Point. Address: 34255 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite 101-102.

Dining ‘social club’ opens on 17th

Orange County restaurateur Mario Marovic is opening another new bar and dining venue this week in Costa Mesa.

The Country Club is social club and drinking establishment opening in the A-framed building that housed Pierce Street Annex. After a top-to-bottom remodel, The Country Club emerges Dec. 5 in the hipster enclave along 17th Street in eastside Costa Mesa. The swanky restaurant and bar will feature traditional American cuisine, craft cocktails, premium spirits and 14 rotating beers on draught.

Despite its name, The Country Club is not a members-only restaurant with fees. The concept, instead, is a nod to the “Great Gatsby era.” It will be a venue where locals ages 21 and over can wine, dine and dance in an intimate setting.

Marovic and business partner Andrew Gabriel took ownership of the Annex building with the intention of creating a venue that would fit into a community of growing chef-driven concepts. They also own Wild Goose Tavern in the same neighborhood.

The spacious dining room features stylish leather banquettes, an island bar, bottle service, a VIP bar and a stage for live music. The classic menu includes entrees such as roasted Jidori chicken breast, a 42-ounce ribeye tomahawk steak and seared salmon. Some items on the happy hour menu include grilled hangar steak tacos, a dry-aged beef burger, short rib flatbread and Brussels sprouts.

Marovic’s Newport Beach-based Lounge Group operates a string of bars and restaurants in Orange County including The District Lounge in Orange, Matador Cantina and 2J’s Lounge, both in Fullerton, and Stag Bar, Dori Deli and Malarky’s Irish Pub, all in Newport Beach. Besides The Country Club and Wild Goose, Gabriel is a partner with Marovic on Dory Deli.

The club will be open noon to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday with cocktail hour from noon to 6 p.m. Dinner hours: 4:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. daily; weekend brunch is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Country Club is at 330 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa.

Irvine Co. retail news

Holistic pet supply store My Pet Market opened in mid-November at Los Olivos Marketplace. The store sells holistic and natural food for pets, as well as accessories. The store offers 5,000 items from 50 different brands for cat and dogs.

Tastea, a tea and smoothie bar, is opening this month at Crossroads. It replaces Hair Master.

Mag’s Donuts & Bakery also opened this month at University Park Center in Irvine.

CHA for Tea also opened this month at Woodbridge Village Center.

Ruby’s Diner turns 35

Ruby’s Diner is celebrating its 35th birthday with a dining deal Dec. 7.

Participating traditional restaurants chain can get a RubyBurger with fries for $2.99 all day. Ruby’s Shake Shack, casino and airport locations are not offering the deal.

A $1 for every meal sold will benefit The Ruby Dooby Foundation, which supports children in need of healthcare.

Ruby’s founder Doug Cavanaugh launched the first Ruby’s Diner on the Balboa Pier in 1982. He named the 1940s themed diner after his mother. Today, the Newport Beach-based chain has more than 34 locations across in California, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas and Arizona.

New clothing shop at SoCo

Online eco-friendly clothing line Kestan has opened its first brick-and-mortar store at The OC Mix in Costa Mesa.

The retail and food enclave is within the South Coast Collection shopping center, which is known for launching startup retail and food concepts like Kestan. Siblings Stephanie and Kevin Lin launched Kestan online in April 2016.

The brand describes itself as “effortless clothing for the spirited woman.” The company, based in Irvine, also believes in sustainable and ethical fashion practices. Clothes are made with organic cotton by employees who get a fair wage in a “sweatshop-free” environment, the company states on its website.

Kestan also uses regenerated fibers such as Tencel and Rayon in their collections. “We want to use fabrics that are not only good for the body but good for the planet as well,” the website states.

The shop opened in early November in a space across from Birdie Bowl.

Aldi to open 3 more SoCal stores

Aldi is on a roll. The East Coast chain is opening three more Southern California stores this week, including two in Orange County.

Markets in Westminster, Laguna Woods and Monrovia are opening Thursday, Dec. 7. The grand opening will feature giveaways and food samples.

On Nov. 30, Aldi opened stores in Santa Ana and Alhambra. The Orange County markets are at 13900 Goldenwest St., Westminster and 24270 El Toro Road, Laguna Woods.

Aldi has more than 1,600 stores in 35 states. Most of the groceries are store label products, sold at a deep discount compared to each product’s national brand equivalent.