RETAILING
Compiled by Mary Ann Galante, Times staff writer
The eating must be good in Orange County.
Local restaurants recently swept a total of 191 awards at the 1988 World of Dining Banquet.
The banquet, sponsored by the Southern California Restaurant Writers Assn., honors restaurants that are judged over a 12-month period on food, wines, service, ambiance and value.
Two local Italian restaurants--Antonello Ristorante in Santa Ana and Rex Restaurant in Newport Beach--took two of the most prestigious awards. Antonello won the association’s Golden Sceptre Award and the award of distinction for maitre d’ of the year. Rex’s owner, Rex Chandler, won restaurateur of the year.