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Home » Holidays » So you forgot to make Valentine’s Day Restaurant Reservations?
So you forgot to make Valentine’s Day Restaurant Reservations?

So you forgot to make Valentine’s Day Restaurant Reservations?

So you forgot to make Valentine’s Day Restaurant Reservations? again…

Last minute Valentine’s Day Restaurant Ideas in Orange County

So you forgot to make Valentine's Day reservations

So you forgot to make Valentine’s Day reservations

 

Sorry Gentlemen if you find yourself reading this article right now,  that means you forgot to make Valentine’s Day dinner reservations. I admittedly made a similar mistake and waited until Monday. Many of Orange County’s best restaurants and prime time seating times were booked a month in advance.

 

Below is a list of restaurants that still have prime time (5:00-9:30 pm) seating according to OpenTable.com. This availability is fluid, so verify yourself with this link on the restaurant’s name. If you find a restaurant with a reasonable opening, I suggest you take the reservations and then ask questions later.  

If you fail to act, I suggest you make a visit to Tiffany’s instead and surprise her with a blue box. Otherwise you will be making dinner at home, which is never a bad idea. If you cook at home, I suggest you use my Top 10 aphrodisiac foods for your Valentine’s Day Dinner. ;)

I will update this list again tonight and tomorrow morning. Good luck Gentlemen!

Restaurants with Valentine’s Day Dinner Openings

Updated: 2/13  9:00 pm

207 Chophouse

San Clemente | Steakhouse
   $$
  • 5:30
  • 5:45
  • 8:30
  • 8:45
6ix Park Grill

Irvine | Californian
   $$
  • 5:30
  • 9:30
Ahi Ahi Sushi Bar & Grill

Lake Forest | Japanese
   $$
  • 6:15
  • 6:30
  • 8:15
  • 8:30
Alley Restaurant & Bar

Newport Beach | American
   $$
  • 4:30
  • 4:45
  • 9:30
American Tavern Eatery & Drink

Anaheim | Gastro Pub
   $$
  • 6:00
  • 6:30
  • 7:00
  • 7:30
  • 8:00
Back Bay Bistro

Newport Beach | Californian
   $$
  •  5:15
bambu Restaurant – Newport Beach Fairmont

Newport Beach | Californian
   $$$
  • 5:30
  • 9:30
Beachcomber Cafe – Crystal Cove

Newport Beach | Californian
   $$
  •  4:45
BeachFire Bar and Grill – San Clemente

San Clemente | Californian
   $$
  • 5:15
  • 5:30
  • 8:30
  • 8:45
Black Angus Steakhouse – Buena Park

Buena Park | Steakhouse
   $$
  • 5:30
  • 5:15
  • 7:45
  • 9:15
Black Angus Steakhouse – Fountain Valley

Fountain Valley | Steakhouse
   $$
  • 5:15
  • 5:45
  • 8:45
  • 9:00
Black Bull Chop House

Huntington Beach / Seal Beach / Fountain Valley | Steak
   $$
  • 6:00
  • 6:15
  • 8:30
  • 8:45
  $$
  •  9:30
Bru Grill and Market

Lake Forest | American
   $$
  • 5:00
  • 5:15
  • 9:30
Brunos Trattoria

Brea | Italian
   $$
  • 4:30
  • 4:45
Brussels Bistro

Laguna Beach | Belgian
   $$
  • 4:45
  • 5:00
  • 9:15
  • 9:30
Buca di Beppo – Anaheim

Anaheim | Italian
   $$
  • 5:00
  • 5:15
Buca di Beppo – Brea

Brea | Italian
   $$
  • 4:45
  • 5:00
Buca di Beppo – Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach / Seal Beach / Fountain Valley | Italian
   $$
  • 5:00
  • 5:30
  • 9:30
Cafe Tu Tu Tango – Orange

Orange | Tapas / Small Plates
   $$
  • 6:00
  • 6:30
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
The Cannery

Newport Beach | Seafood
   $$$
  •  5:30
  $$
  • 5:45
  • 6:00
  • 8:00
  • 8:15
  $$
  • 5:45
  • 6:00
  • 7:30
  • 7:45
The Catch

Anaheim | Seafood
   $$$
  •  5:30
Cedar Creek Inn – San Juan Capistrano

San Juan Capistrano | American
   $$
  • 9:15
  • 9:30
  $$
  • 4:45
  • 5:00
Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s

Costa Mesa | American
   $$$
  •  6:15
Citrus Cafe

Tustin | American
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
  $$
  • 5:30
  • 6:00
  • 6:30
  • 7:00
  • 7:30
  • 8:30
CP Restaurant and Lounge

Newport Beach | Chinese
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
the crow bar and kitchen

Corona del Mar | Gastro Pub
   $$
  • 4:45
  • 6:00
Darya Restaurant

Santa Ana | Persian
   $$$
  • 5:45
  • 6:00
  • 6:15
  •  8:30
  • 8:45
  • 9:00
Don the Beachcomber

Huntington Beach / Seal Beach / Fountain Valley | Hawaiian
   $$
  •  4:30
  •  8:00
  • 9:30
Ecco

Costa Mesa | Italian
   $$
  •  5:00
  • 9:30
El Cholo

Anaheim Hills | Mexican
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
El Corazon

Costa Mesa | Mexican
   $$
  • 6:00
  • 6:30
  • 7:00
  • 7:30
  • 8:00
El Torito Grill – Irvine

Irvine | Latin / Spanish
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Embarcadero

Rancho Santa Margarita | Californian
   $$
  • 5:15
  • 5:30
  • 9:00
Farrell’s Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo | American
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Fig & Olive – Newport Beach

Newport Beach | Mediterranean
   $$$
  •  4:30
Florentine’s Grill

Fullerton | American
   $$
  •  4:30
Golden Nights

Anaheim | Mediterranean
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
The Golden Truffle

Costa Mesa | French
   $$
  • 9:30
Great Maple

Newport Beach | Californian
   $$
  • 4:30
  • 4:45
  $$$
  • 6:15
Harbor Grill

Dana Point | Seafood
   $$
  • 5:30
  $$
  •  4:30
  • 9:00
  • 9:15
Harvey’s Steakhouse

Huntington Beach / Seal Beach / Fountain Valley | Steakhouse
   $$$
  • 6:15
  • 6:30
  • 8:15
  • 8:30
House of BIG FISH and Ice Cold Beer

Laguna Beach | Seafood
   $$
  • 9:30
Il Fornaio – Irvine

Irvine | Italian
   $$
  • 4:30
  • 4:45
  • 9:30
Iva Lee’s

San Clemente | Creole / Cajun
   $$
  • 6:30
Jack’s Restaurant/Bar

Dana Point | Italian
   $$
  •  
  • 9:15
  • 9:30
JT Schmid’s

Anaheim | Californian
   $$
  • 5:00
  • 5:45
  • 7:30
  • 7:45
  • 8:00
  $$
  • 6:00
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
  • 8:30
  $$$$
  • 5:15
  • 5:45
Little Sparrow (my top recommendation)

Santa Ana | Contemporary American
   $$
  • 5:30
  • 5:45
  • 9:00
  • 9:15
  $$
  • 9:30
  $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Mamounia Restaurant

Anaheim | Moroccan
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Mare Culinary Lounge

Laguna Beach | Italian
   $$
  • 6:00
Mario’s A Taste of Italy

Newport Beach | Italian
   $$
  • 6:15
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:45
Memphis Cafe

Costa Mesa | American
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 9:30
Mi Casa

Rancho Santa Margarita | Mexican
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Mitsuyoshi Restaurant

Anaheim | Japanese
   $$
  • 6:00
  • 6:30
  • 7:30
  • 8:00
MIX Restaurant & Lounge

Anaheim | Californian
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
       
Modo Mio – Newport Coast

Newport Beach | Italian
   $$
  • 7:15
Muldoon’s Irish Pub

Newport Beach | Irish
   $$
  • 9:15
  • 9:30
Newport Rib Company

Costa Mesa | Barbecue
   $$
  • 6:00
  • 6:15
  • 7:30
  • 7:45
  $$$
  • 5:15
  • 5:30
  • 9:30
       
Onotria Wine Country Cuisine

Costa Mesa | Italian
   $$
  • 9:30
Pete’s Sunset Grille

Huntington Beach / Seal Beach / Fountain Valley | American
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
  $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
  $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Piccolino Ristorante

Mission Viejo | Italian
   $$
  • 4:45
  • 5:00
  • 8:45
  • 9:00
Pinot Provence

Costa Mesa | French
   $$$
  •  5:00
  • 9:30
Port Restaurant & Bar

Corona del Mar | Continental
   $$$
  • 9:30
Prego Ristorante – Irvine

Irvine | Italian
   $$
  • 5:15
  • 5:30
  •  8:30
  $$
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Rocco’s Restaurant

San Clemente | Italian
   $$
  • 5:00
  • 5:15
  • 9:30
ROCK’N FISH – Laguna Beach

Laguna Beach | Seafood
   $$
  • 4:30
  • 4:45
  •  
RokPrime

San Juan Capistrano | Steakhouse
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
Royal Khyber – OC

Santa Ana | Indian
   $$
  •  5:30
  •  8:30
  • 8:45
S Vietnamese Fine Dining

Huntington Beach / Seal Beach / Fountain Valley | Vietnamese
   $$
  • 6:00
  • 6:30
  • 7:00
  • 7:30
  • 8:00
Sandy’s

Huntington Beach / Seal Beach / Fountain Valley
   $$
  • 4:30 
  $$
  • 6:00
  • 8:00
 
  $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Sol Cocina

Newport Beach | Mexican
   $$
  • 5:00
Taco Rosa – Irvine

Irvine | Mexican
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Tamarind of London

Newport Beach | Indian
   $$$
  • 6:15
  • 6:30
  • 7:00
  • 7:45
  • 8:00
  • 9:15
  • 9:30
Tangata

Santa Ana | Californian
   $$
  • 6:15
  • 6:30
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Tapas Restaurant Flavors of Spain

Newport Beach | Latin / Spanish
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Tastes of Greece

Laguna Niguel | Greek
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Ten Asian Bistro

Newport Beach | Sushi
   $$
  • 5:30
  • 5:45
  • 8:15
  • 8:30
Tequila’s Chophouse & Cantina

San Clemente | Mexican
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Irvine | Japanese
   $$
  • 5:45
  • 6:15
Torch

Buena Park | Indian
   $$
  • 6:30
  • 6:45
  • 7:00
  • 7:15
  • 7:30
Vine Restaurant & Bar

San Clemente | American
   $$$
  • 4:30
Wind & Sea Restaurant

Dana Point | Seafood
   $$
  • 9:00
  • 9:15
Tustin | Contemporary American
   $$$$
  •  9:30
Zov’s Bistro

Tustin | Mediterranean
   $$$
  • 8:00
  • 9:15
Z’Tejas South Coast

Costa Mesa | Mexican / Southwestern
   $$
  • 4:30
  • 4:45
  • 7:30
  • 7:45
  • 8:00
  • 8:15

 Just added based on Tom’s Foodie Blog’s Readers

Avilla’s El Ranchitto – Taking reservations and they have plenty of openings

  • http://www.avilaselranchito.com/
  • Locations in Newport Beach, Lake Forest, Corona Del Mar, Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Orange, Santa Ana, San Clemente

 

 

About Tom Holmberg

Tom grew up in a cultural diverse neighborhood and a culturally diverse family, so he has learned to appreciate all types of food. "I am not a Chef, nor do I play one on T.V., but I have learned to appreciate food from years of eating and cooking." Tom also spent 10 years in the restaurant industry in various roles, from Prep Cook to server.

11 comments

  1. Kungphoo
    February 13, 2014 at 8:49 pm

    You have provided a wonderful list! Hopefully not too many men forgot to make reservations, but if they did, they at least now have many great options to choose from!

    Reply
  2. Dov Shapira
    February 13, 2014 at 9:09 pm

    No I did not forget. I have no one to go out with .

    Reply
  3. Barbara Loraine
    February 13, 2014 at 10:25 pm

    Great, long, list of last minute reservation places. I do find it hard to imagine that YOU would have every forgotten to make your reservations in advance. Of course, you could always cook that wonderful dish you shared here before (was it Indian, Cajun, I only remember it sounded divine)!

    Reply
  4. David W. Murphy
    February 13, 2014 at 10:50 pm

    WOW, what a list! I’m sure you’ll save many a guys ‘back side’ with this info! Fortunately, my wife and I frequently go out for dinner, so, Valentine’s isn’t a big deal.

    Reply
  5. Meli
    February 14, 2014 at 3:21 am

    What a list! You saved a lot of guys from having a serious problem tomorrow!

    Reply
  6. Marielle Altenor
    February 14, 2014 at 4:34 am

    Great list! We may just end up staying home tomorrow!

    Reply
  7. luzivone
    February 14, 2014 at 5:31 am

    They must made the reservations by now, because we the lady deserve the best and Valentine’s Day is the time to show they really care!

    Reply
  8. Daniele Holmberg
    February 14, 2014 at 6:38 am

    It is so very cool you put together this list for people that are last minute Valentines Day Planners:)

    Reply
  9. Veronica
    February 14, 2014 at 2:24 pm

    Yep! Big mistake to not make reservations on Valentine’s Day! Better yet, celebrate the day before

    Reply
  10. Jim Striegel
    February 14, 2014 at 2:55 pm

    This is awesome that you took the time to put together this list! I will share it.

    Reply
  11. Richard Harer
    February 14, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    Woow!! now thats a log of walk through restaurant on valentines day. at my place most of the restaurants are fully booked..

    Reply

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