Photo by Anne Marie Panoringan Restaurateur Piero Selvaggio of Santa Monica’s Valentino, which closed after 47 years, has made good on his plan to open a new restaurant in Orange County. That restaurant is Louie’s by the Bay in Newport Beach, which
Piero Selvaggio flits from table to table at Louie’s by the Bay, two bottles of wine clutched in his left hand, wine glasses dangling from the fingers of his right. He gestures with his arms when he talks, even as both are weighted down like this
, the dart would most likely hit Beverly Hills. The kitchen crew came straight from Valentino, yet Louie’s by the Bay is very different. Whereas the old restaurant was hushed and glamorous, Louie’s is casual and boisterous. Instead of slowing down
past three years—was preparing to open a new place with partner Ron Salisbury of El Cholo. I’d never been to Valentino, but reading up on its storied history and, in turn, learning more about Selvaggio, I realized his bringing Louie’s By the Bay to
everything I had, I was grateful to see his remarkable story continue here. Louie’s By the Bay, 2801 W. Coast Hwy., Newport Beach, (949) 720-1800; louiesnewport.com. Open Sun.-Thurs., 5-9 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 5-11 p.m. Entrées, $23-$104. Full bar.
Mar in Newport Beach on Tuesday, March 5, 2019. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG) 2. Louie’s by the Bay It’s not often that two restaurateurs of the stature of Ron Salisbury (El Cholo, The Cannery, The Cat and Custard Cup) and Piero
for Italian wine in OC. Close your eyes and pick a wine, something red. Then order the veal Milanese. 2801 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, 949-720-1800, louiesnewport.com The Colorado double lamb chops in red wine-mint sauce at Louie’s by the Bay in
, cannerynewport.com Rainbow trout in brodo with sausage, gnocchi sardi and beans at The Cannery in Newport Beach (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG) 5. Bistecca alla Fiorentina at Louie’s by the Bay Piero Selvaggio came to town and disrupted not
, louiesnewport.com Bistecca alla Fiorentina at Louie’s by the Bay in Newport Beach (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG) 4. Louis XV cake at Knife Pleat Every single one of pastry chef Germain Biotteau’s desserts at Knife Pleat is extraordinary but
House Hotel and the stunning resurrection of Lido Marina Village, along with the arrival of Louie’s by the Bay, Arc Butcher & Baker and Fable & Spirit, coastal Newport Beach is having a moment. The area around Newport Harbor has one of the densest
Steakhouse — A Restaurant The ultimate indulgence for big fat steaks and ice-cold martinis amid red leather booths and candlelight. 3334 W. Coast Highway, 949-650-6505, arestaurantnb.com Best Luxury Italian — Louie’s by the Bay The swankiest restaurant on the
Westminster is a stripped-down offshoot of the legendary Pho 79 in Garden Grove. (Photo by Brad A. Johnson, Orange County Register/SCNG) 25. Louie’s by the Bay (New for 2019) After closing his legendary Valentino restaurant in Santa Monica, restaurateur Piero
, louiesnewport.com Ron Salisbury and Piero Selvaggio’s newly-opened Louie’s By The Bay includes a fireplace added in the remodel of the location, previously the site of the Ritz Prime Seafood restaurant in Newport Beach on Tuesday, January 22, 2019. (Photo by Paul
(3441 Via Lido, Newport Beach, 949-409-9913, fableandspirit.com), Louie’s by the Bay (2801 W. Coast Highway, Newport Beach, 949-720-1800, louiesnewport.com) and, particularly if you like pinot noir, Broadway (328 Glenneyre St., Laguna Beach, 949-715-8234