Sophisticated Sips at SeaLegs Wine BarSleek, sophisticated SeaLegs Wine Bar in Huntington Beach is the product of a $600,000 effort by interior designer Kenneth Ussenko. The new establishment is a venture of Alicia Whitney and Lisa Nonemaker, who wanted to create a fashion-forward wine bar in which women would feel comfortable (e.g., a go-to spot for bridal showers) while still being inviting to men. The design features a prominent white quartz illuminated by contemporary crystal chandeliers; seating options range from communal tables—ideal for exchanging tasting notes with old friends or friendly strangers—to cushy lounge furniture. “It’s something you’d find in Napa Valley, routed through the Hamptons and dropped into Huntington Beach,” says Whitney. Local residents were apparently hungry for something beyond fish tacos and coronas, because SeaLegs has proved to be an immediate Surf City hit. The menu, executed by Chef Alexander Dale, specializes in contemporary riffs on familiar comfort foods. For culinary nostalgia, the kitchen offers an artisan grilled cheese sandwich with carrot-ginger bisque—standing in for traditional tomato soup—and upscale mac ‘n’ cheese that pairs well with a pinot gris. Heartier fare includes sausage sliders with tomato sauce and provolone that deserve a full-bodied cabernet sauvignon. 21022 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, 714.536.5700. sealegswinebar.com