Locals Rate With Zagat

Ten Orange County restaurants received top food ratings in the new Zagat Los Angeles-Southern California Restaurant Survey for 1992. The Zagat guide is based on responses from restaurant diners to specific questions. With a possible top rating of 30, Pascal of Newport Beach and Antoine in the Le Meridien Hotel in Newport Beach received scores of 27. A 26 went to Five Feet in Laguna Beach. Scoring 25 were Kachina in Laguna Beach, JW’s in the Anaheim Marriott, the Ritz in Newport Beach, Cafe Piemonte in Orange, Bistro 201 in Irvine, Zov’s Bistro in Tustin and The Cellar in Fullerton.

Zagat also awards honors for top decor, using the same ratings scale. The Ritz-Carlton in Dana Point received a 27; Antoine, the Ritz and the Towers in Laguna Beach each got 26; and a 25 rating went to JW’s, the late Rex in Newport Beach, Chanteclair in Irvine, the Wine Cellar in the Hyatt Newporter and Pavilion in the Four Seasons Hotel in Newport Beach.

A Caffe Classico recently opened in Brea. (Baskin Robbins is the new owner of the Classico chain--which began as Gelato Classico.)

According to marketing manager Dave Teasdale, the broad menu begins with specialty coffees, pastries and breakfast calzones.

Noon brings a selection of eight sandwiches (average price, $3.89), six salads and two daily soups.

Desserts focus on the Italian-style gelato which was the foundation of the company. (There’s also a light version, 94% fat free.)

The Brea Caffe Classico is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and till 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, next to the Brea Mall at 910 E. Birch St. (714) 256-8939. Other Orange County locations include San Juan Capistrano (31882 Del Obispo St., (714) 248-7271) and Irvine (Alton Parkway and Jeffrey Road, (714) 733-1919). There’s also a Gelato Classico at 2756 E. Coast Highway, Corona del Mar. (714) 720-1628.

Alfredo’s in the Westin South Coast Plaza is closed. The space eventually will be transformed into another (non-Italian) restaurant, according to a spokesman.

Also closed is Caribe in Huntington Beach.

And Dewi, the Indonesian restaurant in Huntington Beach, has closed but will relocate soon.