Kang’s Five Feet Too to Become Just Another Statistic

Michael Kang’s Five Feet Too restaurant at Fashion Island is closing, but details are sketchy.

Kang, who could not be reached for comment, said via a press release that he will be opening another eatery in Newport Center, the office/commercial complex that rings Fashion Island. No dates on the closing or opening were released.

The closing was mutually agreed to, according to the release from Kang and the Irvine Co., which owns Fashion Island. The Cheesecake Factory and California Pizza Kitchen have reportedly expressed interest in taking over the space.

Kang also owns the Five Feet restaurant in Laguna Beach and August Moon in Long Beach.

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Prego Ristorante will be kicking off a summer’s ritual Tuesday evening with live Calypso music, Italian wines and appetizers on its open-air patio. The series will continue every Tuesday evening through August, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Wines are $3.75 a glass and appetizers are $3 a plate.

18420 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. (714) 553-1333.

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The Single Gourmet, a dining club for single people, will hold its next dinner at Marrakesh, a Moroccan restaurant, on Wednesday. The cost, including tax and tip, is $29 for members, $39 for guests.

Dinner includes soup, salad, an appetizer of b’stila (phyllo dough, chicken, almond, egg and cinnamon), an entree of lemon chicken or lamb couscous, baklava and tea.

The club gathers at 6:30 p.m. for socializing, and diners are seated at 7:15, in groups of six to 10. Reservations are required.

For more information, call the Single Gourmet at (714) 854-6552.

Marrakesh, 1100 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach. (714) 645-8384.

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Il Fornaio Cucina Expressa will convert from self-service to table service as of Monday. The company said its cafeteria-style service was not as successful as had been hoped, and that the area seemed to demand more formality. The restaurant is near the Orange County Performing Arts Center.

As of Monday, the restaurant will be renamed Il Fornaio Rosticceria. It will add rotisserie meats to its Italian menu, including rack of beef with rosemary, leg of lamb with fresh thyme and pork loin with Italian bacon and sage.

A bar will replace the cafeteria line. And the restaurant’s hours have been expanded: Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 7 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 8 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Owner Larry Mindel also owns Il Fornaio Cucina Italiana in Irvine.

650 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa. (714) 668-0880.

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