The dining scene west of Newport Boulevard in Costa Mesa is so on the move—like Santa Ana a few years ago, before it became the hot dining destination.
The chef at new Social, Jeffrey Boullt, was sous chef at Santa Ana’s Playground. His mussels in lemongrass-ginger-coconut broth, and akaushi skirt steak with red-fresno-chili chimichurri—not to mention his grilled bread with bone-marrow butter and bloody mary cocktail, right—made for an impressive first visit. Star at brunch is a benedict with pork three ways and Creole-mustard hollandaise. 512 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, 949.642.2525. socialcostamesa.com
Matthieu Royer, chef at hidden and unconventional Boathouse Collective, comes from L.A.’s Hinoki & the Bird. Royer presents hamachi sashimi on a shiso leaf with natto and heirloom tomatoes, his braised pork belly with puffed mochi. Start with a Verbena Drop cocktail; end with butterscotch panna cotta. Surfboards hang from the cavernous ceiling; owner Clayton Peterson, an artist, made most of the furnishings. 1640 Pomona Ave., Costa Mesa, 949.646.3176. boathousecollective.com