Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails Awards

Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails Restaurant Review:

Andrei's Conscious Cuisine & Cocktails is a labor of love for OC socialite and entrepreneur Natalia Olenicoff, who opened this organic two-story restaurant in memory of her late brother. The venue’s green philosophy works in concert with a smart sense of sophistication. Marble accents, recycled wood floors, a centralized bar, subdued shades and a floor-to-ceiling lobby waterfall help create a lively vibe that is decidedly metropolitan in nature. Executive chef Porfirio Gomez governs a well-executed menu of California-kissed contemporary fare that's approachable, yet leaves enough room for intriguing touches. Start with a refreshing cocktail paired with such small plates as the New Zealand lamb lollipops with cumin and coriander yogurt and sweet onion jam or the calamari served in a white wine-lemon reduction. There are plenty of steaks and chops on the menu, but we recommend allowing Gomez to showcase his seafood skills through mains like the pan-seared scallops with Meyer lemon sauce and the grilled Pacific swordfish with black truffle-chive cream. Desserts are highlighted by the chocolate truffle cake with toasted California pistachios. The wine list has a nice number of by-the-glass offerings, and there are several of California's heavy hitters in the bottle section.