THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Gustaf Anders Restaurant & Back Pocket

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Gustaf Anders Restaurant & Back Pocket Restaurant Review:

Not only the finest Scandinavian restaurant in California since the demise of the Sunset Strip’s late-lamented Scandia, Gustaf Anders is one of the best in all of Orange County, regardless of cuisine. Because of that reputation, it has become something of an institution---but, thankfully, that has not made it stuffy or stodgy. Not resting on their laurels, the chefs always start with the Scandinavian basics, but also employ local fresh ingredients to vary the menus. Seafood is always especially good, and we love the endless array of appetizers that feature it. Gravlax and wild rice pancakes topped with smoked salmon, caviar and crème fraîche is outstanding. We’re also impressed with the filet of beef with Stilton cheese, red wine sauce and morels or the Asian-inspired miso-marinated Chilean sea bass with seaweed-shrimp salad. The wine list is eclectic and excellent. The rear dining room has been dubbed The Back Pocket, and it features a reasonably priced menu of everything from a herring buffet, a gravlax pizza from the wood-burning oven, Swedish meatballs with lingonberries (Swedish comfort food), to rotisserie-roasted chicken. Top things off with some aquavit and some of the best pastries in Orange County and you’ll see why the restaurant is so popular.