Port Restaurant & Bar

Tucked behind the historic Port Theater in Corona del Mar, you'll find a hidden treasure that won't be a secret for long. Port Restaurant and Bar is an intimate, elegant and comfortable place to duck into after strolling the nearby shops and galleries. Whether you pop in for a pomegranate martini on the sleek patio - decked out with fireplace, flat screen TV, fountain and plum colored sofas - or you opt to relax in the dining room, you'll find a well-trained wait staff, a palate-pleasing menu and an impressive wine list that boasts 40 wines by the glass. Port's dinner menu is a presentation of all-natural beef, fresh fish, free-range chicken and lamb, prepared by Chef Austin, whose roots are right here in Corona del Mar (he's a graduate of CDM High School). He prepares every dish with only market-fresh ingredients and presents them with flair. The Filet Mignon and Braised Short Ribs are melt-in-your-mouth tender and pair wonderfully with the Silverado Vineyards merlot (Napa). Owner Ali Zadeh has the recipe for success: "The food by itself; the atmosphere by itself is not going to bring people back. The whole experience, that's what will bring them back." Who's the chef: Austin C. George, a Corona del Mar native and San Francisco culinary school grad who's worked at Aubergine and as the chef on Quiksilver's private yacht. Details: The former site of short-lived Svelte, and the beloved Trees way before that, is now Port, offering a sophisticated, modern vibe, a short but sweet menu of beautifully executed Cali-Mediterranean-French dishes, and a nice wine list. Zadeh, who lives in the area, bought the property last June and started from scratch to create a "comfortable place for people to come and enjoy good food and wine and get to know about different cultures and tastes."