A Week of the Best Restaurants in North Orange County

You won’t have any trouble spotting The Olde Ship on busy Harbor Boulevard in downtown Fullerton. It looks just like an English pub, complete with cutout of an Admiral Nelson look-alike on the sidewalk. Entering the restaurant is truly like stepping into a little piece of Britain. If the low beamed ceilings and servers with authentic British accents don’t convince you, the menu certainly should: Scottish Bridie, Bangers and Mash, Roast Beef and Yorkshire Pudding, Fish & Chips, Curries. Oh, and Bread and Butter Pudding for dessert. You’re always welcome at the Olde Ship but leave Dr. Atkins’ on the curb! Last time I was there, I had a lovely Smoked Salmon Burger for lunch. Sit in cozy booths, tiny tables or at the well stocked bar. Nothing to talk about? Gaze around at the English collectables, the artwork focusing on British vessels or pick up an English paper over by the bar. Evenings can get a little crazy so either go early or expect to queue up!
Average per person $12.00

Tuesday Bari Bari JAPANESE
19677 Yorba Linda Blvd.
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
714-695-0030
The sign for this place, between a Home Goods and a drug store, reads “Japanese Steak” but don’t let that fool you. You can also find fine seafood and chicken on their menu as well, along with California Rolls and Soy Bean appetizers. And it may look like a hole-in-the-wall on the outside, but the inside is filled with culinary dexterity a la Benihana’s. You pick your ingredients and they do their magic right at the table. Dinner and entertainment all in one! Besides the excellent entrees, they also have a selection of beer and wine and your choice of Green Tea or Red Bean ice cream for dessert (yeah, doesn’t sound appetizing but it’s actually sweet).
Lunch $9-14
Dinner $15-25 (more for Lobster�)

Wednesday Graziano’s ITALIAN
17487 Imperial Hwy
Yorba Linda, CA 92686
714-524-2770
I’ve put the Italian restaurant on Hump Day because I’m from back East, where Wednesday is Prince Spaghetti Day. And there are a lot of Italian restaurants to pick from but I chose Graziano’s because they have such a Back East flavor – red check table cloths, the feel of a neighborhood place. Call me Traditional but I usually get their Spaghetti and Meatballs, which are excellent. They also serve pizza, calzone, pizza rolls, other pasta dinners and veal dishes. Somebody in your group not in the mood for Italian? They’ve got a whole page of sandwiches and burgers. To top it all off, Tiramisu, cannoli or spumoni. Now, that’s Italian!
Meals $6-10
Pizza $4.90 8″, $26.95 16×16″ (!)

Thursday Rutabegorz NATURAL/HEALTHFUL
211 North Pomona
Fullerton, CA 92832
714.738.9339
www.rutabegorz.com
Healthy never tasted so good! A great variety of soups, salads, sandwiches made with Squaw, Sourdough or Pita bread, Smoothies, Pastas, plus wonderful desserts. What you won’t find here is red meat or anything fried or pre-processed. You will find white meats but there isn’t any tofu or soy milk. Just wonderfully prepared, simple meals. Personally, I love their chili on a cold, overcast day (yes, we get them in CA) with a huge hunk of their warm bread. Their salads are usually served in a bowl big enough to wash a baby in. And the Fullerton location is in an old house with beautiful Egyptian murals and the coolest architectural details and dÃ?©cor. This is the perfect place to hang out after a day of antiquing in downtown Fullerton.
Soups $2.95
Entrees avg. $8.50

Friday California Fish Grill OCEANIC
5675 E. La Palma Avenue
Anaheim Hills, California 92807
714-777-5710
www.Cafishgrill.com

A great fish restaurant without the formality and having grown up Catholic I had to give it Friday. Place your order at the counter, draw your drink of choice and take your number to your table, grabbing some tartar or cocktail sauce on the way. I’m a shrimp girl (yeah, I’m short but I meant the seafood) so that’s my favorite, with fries and coleslaw. I’ve gone here with several friends who usually get fish and I’ve never heard a bad review. They also feature tacos, burritos, salads and chowder. This place is across the parking lot from the theatre that used to be Cinemopolis, so you’ve got a ready made date – Dinner and a Movie!
Tacos $1.95-2.59
Meals $7-10.50

Saturday The Whole Enchilada MEXICAN
106 E. Yorba Linda Blvd. (at Bradford)
Placentia, CA 92870
714-961-9123
www.wholenchilada.com

This is a wonderful family restaurant with very traditionally prepared Hispanic food, including Fajitas, Burritos, Tacos, Enchiladas, Chimichangas and Taquitos, many with chicken, beef or seafood choices. They also have a selection of wine, beer and Mexican drinks, like Horchata. My favorite meal is the Mexicali Skillet with chicken, pineapple and sweet and sour sauce (yeah, I’m a GringaâÂ?¦) All the food is excellent (also salads and vegetarian dishes) and I usually go with a terrific second generation Mexican friend who knows good Hispanic food when she eats it! But what I really like here is the atmosphere. There’s something very homey and comfortable about it. Or maybe I just like the huge aquarium by the cash registerâÂ?¦
Meals $8.50-14

Sunday Ruby’sALL AMERICAN
1301 S. Harbor Blvd.
Fullerton, CA 92832
714-871-RUBY
www.Heyruby.com

OK, enough exotica. Now you’re ready for a good, old fashioned American menu. The Fullerton Ruby’s sends you back in time to the 50’s Diner, complete with cherry red bumper car, red vinyl booths and waitresses in red striped uniforms. In this fun, bright atmosphere, you can get a hamburger almost the size of your head with fries and a thick shake that comes with both the glass and the frosty aluminum shaker half filled with more shake! When I’m being good, I get their Chinese Chicken Salad, with the sesame dressing on the side. When I’m ignoring the scale, I get the Fish and Chips (never greasy) or the Roast Turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce – Thanksgiving on a bun! My husband is a burger guy but when he’s being good, he gets a turkey burger. He’s never been this good but they also offer a veggie burger. Ruby’s menu includes great soups, entrees, Frings (an order of half fries and half onion rings), truly evil Chicken Fingers (must be 2000 calories in each) and luscious desserts like apple pie with ice cream. Oh, and my favorite reason for going to Ruby’s – Chocolate Diet Coke! They make ’em fresh, along with Lemon, Cherry and Vanilla!
Average per person $10.00