Ambrosia Awarded Best Restaurant in Orange County

The 5-star Ambrosia Restaurant is pleased to announce that OC Weekly readers have voted Ambrosia as the best restaurant in Orange County for 2007. This is the second award Ambrosia has received in the past month from votes of Orange County residents.

The Ambrosia Restaurant is an Orange County legend that first opened in 1972 and relocated to Santa Ana inside the OC Pavilion performing arts center in 2006. The main dining room is adorned with custom leather booths, dim lighting and décor that invokes a feeling of Parisian romance. Guests experience award winning jazz nightly while dining to the sounds of the Chris Williams Trio.

Executive Chef Michael Rossi leads the kitchen where a contemporary French menu celebrates the Seasonal Marketplace. The freshest fruits, vegetables, and entrees are combined to create a dynamic balance between food and the finest wines that embraces the bounty of each season.

A large part of the draw of Ambrosia goes beyond the main dining room. Guests looking for a more intimate setting can reserve one of five themed private dining suites for a true dining experience. The Boardroom: seats parties up to twelve and features a hand-painted ceiling, 1877 Steinway piano and large comfortable seats. The Wine Cellar: seats parties up to twenty and offers the experience of elegant European dining with a faux brick ceiling, temperature controlled air, and room to store more than 3,400 bottles of wine. The Lodge: seats parties up to fourteen with nine humidors, dark natural wood, and a rumored secret door leading to a Birdseye view of the theatre’s main stage. El Presidente: seats parties up to eight and celebrates the world’s finest tequilas with a tribute art piece to Pancho Villa and a dark tequila-hued painted ceiling adorned with a rustic iron chandelier. Dome of the Sea: seats parties up to eight offering the world's finest champagnes highlighted with an imported chandelier with 3,400 Swarovski crystals and soothing art reflecting the beauty of the sea.

“’Dining experience is a phrase that’s a little overused these days, but that is exactly what the new Ambrosia is all about. If you’re looking for a place that is elegant and hip, but always comfortable, a place with fine dining and an overachieving wine list, stop looking,” said food critic Peter Buffa.

The world class Ambrosia Restaurant is housed in the OC Pavilion performing arts center. The OC Pavilion theatre features varied acts on the main stage including musical concerts, comedy shows, theatre, dance, and more. Downstairs is the Vault VIP Lounge, formerly a bank vault that has been transformed into Orange County’s newest jazz venue. The Vault VIP Lounge currently features a Friday night jazz series along with live jazz before and after the main stage entertainment.

The award of Best Restaurant in Orange County was chosen solely by OC Weekly readers. Readers were solicited to submit their votes online or by mail.

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About Ambrosia
The award winning Ambrosia Restaurant provides a celebration of the Seasonal Marketplace. The menu features a pairing of fine wines with the freshest fruits, vegetables and entrees of the season. The restaurant features Chris Williams, award winning jazz vocalist, to serenade diners during dinner. A brick-domed Wine Cellar offers rare vintages of fine wines from around the world in a temperature controlled European-designed private dining room. Ambrosia Restaurant was awarded 2007 Best Restaurant in Orange County by OC Weekly readers and 2007 Best Neighborhood Restaurant/Chef by Orange County Register readers. Ambrosia is open for lunch Tuesday – Friday, 11:30am – 2:30pm and dinner Tuesday – Saturday & Every Show Night, 5:00pm – 10:00pm. Reservations can be made online at www.ocpavilion.com or by calling 714-550-0811.