Catch This: Partners Open Summit House for the Hill of It

The view sometimes extends all the way to Catalina from the new Summit House, high on a hill in Fullerton. This massive English-style restaurant, with fireplaces in all dining rooms, specializes in prime rib, rack of lamb, roast duckling, smoked pork chops, fresh John Dory and salmon Wellington. Entree prices range from $11.95 to $19.95, including rice and vegetables. The restaurant is a joint effort of Gary Parkinson and the Lloyd McDonald family, also partners in the Catch in Anaheim. The Summit House serves dinner from 5 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday and plans to open for lunch next month. Reservations: (714) 571-4111. 2000 E. Bastanchury Road at State College Boulevard.

Mr. Stox in Anaheim will present an evening with chef Jonathan Waxman on Sunday. Waxman, recently called “America’s most famous chef without a restaurant” by The Times, will soon have one--Table 29, in Napa. French-trained, this California native earned international acclaim at Chez Panisse in Berkley, Michael’s in Santa Monica, and Jams in New York and London. He’ll work with Mr. Stox chef Scott Raczek to create a variety of menu choices. All menus will be price-fixed, ranging from $35 to $60, plus tax, gratuity and any alcoholic beverages. Reservations may be made from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Call (714) 634-2994. The restaurant is at 1105 E. Katella Ave.

Pascal Olhats and his wife, Mimi, are off to France to “eat, buy tablecloths, find refreshment.” So their restaurant, Pascal in Newport Beach, will be closed until Oct. 2. Meanwhile, you can read about Pascal in the current issue of Gourmet magazine.

Oysters, crayfish, crab--you can have them all at Gustaf Anders’ “Shellfish Extravaganza” on Monday at 7 p.m. The meal begins with five different varieties of oysters (including Hama Hama and New Zealand Rock) served on the half-shell, with Guinness stout or Lansona Brut black label. Then comes a crayfish soup, followed by freshly cooked Dungeness crab served warm with dill mustard sauce and mayonnaise. The entree will be Arctic char, a cousin of the trout, with golden caviar in a sorrel sauce. Wines will be served with each course and a dessert buffet tops it off. The tab: $55, plus tax and tip. Reservations: (714) 668-1737. The restaurant is in South Coast Plaza Village.

If you’d like to brunch in peace without leaving the kids behind, Camp Hyatt at the Hyatt Regency Alicante in Anaheim may be your answer. While adults sample a buffet brunch with unlimited champagne or Chardonnay and live jazz, the hotel treats kids ages 3 to 15 to supervised activities (such as games and drawing) and a buffet prepared just for them. It’s $18.95 for adults, $9.95 for ages 8 to 12. Kids under age 8 are free. Brunch is served from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Harbor Boulevard and Chapman Avenue. Reservations: (714) 971-3000.

The vendemmia, or grape harvest, is a time of reunion in Italy, when family and friends gather in the countryside to pick grapes--and enjoy food and wine together. Tutto Mare will celebrate the vendemmia on Sept. 30 with foods prepared by chef Corrado Gianotti and wines offered by Toni Poli. The six courses will include Belgian endive wrapped with Parma prosciutto and aromatic goat cheese; panissa alla Vercellese (arborio rice, cannellini beans and cotechino sausage with Nebbiolo wine sauce), and tenderloin of venison with wild berry sauce. The price is $58, exclusive of tax and gratuity, and festivities begin at 7 p.m. Reservations: (714) 640-6333. Tutto Mare is at 545 Newport Center Drive in Fashion Island.