Yves’ Goes Back for Seconds in Anaheim

The irrepressible Yves Masquefa has opened a second Yves’ Bistro in the Anaheim redevelopment area (the first is in Anaheim Hills). Like the original, it specializes in French-Italian cuisine, offering the same all-day menu on weekdays, with luncheon specials (such as a half-portion of pasta at half price) added from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. House specialties include nouille roulet (sweet Italian sausage, spinach, mozzarella and ricotta rolled in pasta and cut into wheels, served in a four-cheese sauce) at $9.25; angel hair pasta pomodora, $6.95; chicken breast in Calvados, $10.25; and duck with Grand Marnier, $13.75. The new restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. at 30 S. Anaheim Blvd. (714) 772-5393.

Prego in Irvine will repeat its popular dinner and opera combination this Wednesday and on March 6. The $75 package includes a four-course Italian feast and a ticket to Opera Pacific’s production of “Samson et Dalila” at the Performing Arts Center. Opera tickets alone, in the orchestra, first or second tier, usually sell for $65 each. Beginning at 6 p.m., diners will have a selection of appetizers, choice of pastas, an entree of fresh fish from the grill or free-range chicken from the rotisserie, and tiramisu for dessert. Reservations: (714) 553-1333. The restaurant is located at Von Karman Avenue and Michelson Drive.

Tutto Mare will introduce diners to the wines of Campania, a southern region of Italy, at a special dinner Monday at 7 p.m. Steven Ciavola will discuss the wines, produced by Mastroberardino, including Lacryma Christi and Taurasi Riserva. Six courses include chestnut and potato gnocchi with a sea scallop cream sauce, and filet of beef tenderloin stuffed with ham, eggs, minced veal and braised with a juniper berry sauce. The dinner is $58, not including tax and gratuity. Reservations: (714) 640-6333. At 545 Newport Center Drive in Fashion Island, Newport Beach.

The wines of Napa Valley’s Far Niente Winery will be showcased at a dinner at JW’s in the Anaheim Marriott tonight. Reservation times run from 6 and 10 p.m. The dinner will begin with a chartreuse of vegetables and escargot served with Far Niente’s 1989 Chardonnay. The entree will be roast rack of lamb with wild mushrooms, paired with a 1988 Far Niente Cabernet Savignon. The cost of wines, dinner and gratuity is $80 per person. Reservations: (714) 750-8000.

“Broadway, My Way,” a smorgasbord of musical theater, comedy, magic and specialty acts will premiere Friday at the Atrium Lounge of Newport Beach’s Le Meridien Hotel. Seating for the pre-show dinner, featuring an a la carte appetizer and entree menu ranging in price from $4.50 to $15.50, begins at 7 p.m. (For those who order dinner, the $3 cover charge will be waived for the 8 p.m. show, but there is a two-drink minimum at both the 8 and 9:45 p.m. performances.) The show continues Fridays through June 12. Information: (714) 476-2001, ext. 3106. The hotel is at 4500 MacArthur Blvd.

Rex Chandler, whose Rex restaurant in Fashion Island closed rather abruptly a few weeks back, has some interesting things to say in a recent mailing addressed to “partners and friends of the Rex.” In the letter, Chandler says that the Irvine Co. (landlord of the Rex) and its chairman Donald Bren “provided the utmost of support from the beginning through the end, including underwriting the construction (of the restaurant).” This contrasts with earlier published comments by Chandler’s wife, Susan, charging that the company had let the restaurant down financially. Chandler also says in the letter that he is attempting to keep key staff members together and promoting support “to either reopen the Rex Fashion Island or possibly establish our team at another location.”

Avgolemono soup, dolmathes, moussaka, souvlakia, spanakopeta, baklava--John Dominis goes Greek on Feb. 28. The traditional dinner, complete with Greek music and dancing, is $26.95 per person, and will be offered from 6 to 10:30 p.m. in addition to the regular menu. It will mark the first of a series of ethnic nights planned at the restaurant. Reservations: (714) 650-5112. 2901 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach.