Dinner Review: Red O (Newport Beach)
For the last couple of months we've been dying to try Red O a new restaurant at Fashion Island that opened up right where the old Coco's used to be. Sort of crazy to think that Coco's was ever there, but that's a story for a different day. We had been waiting for a good reason to go and this week seemed like a good one since I got a raise and my annual bonus this week, it was time to celebrate.
Red O is upscale Mexican food, which I'd directly compare to Javier's. So figure around $25 a plate, plus sides and drinks. With those sorts of prices you expect this to be some top notch Mexican food which thankfully it was. The restaurant was built from the ground up (after demolishing Coco's) and is gorgeous inside. We got their around 6PM and the place had wall to wall people and we were lucky enough to get a table out on the patio. It was a gorgeous spring evening.
We started with chips and salsa (on the house) and drinks. Jenn got a glass of a 2012 Summerland Pinot Noir which was out of this world. It was so good I started searching online for where we might be able to pick up a bottle or two. I had their margarita on the rocks which is not something I usually get but felt good for the warm evening.
For our main courses Jenn got the Mahi Mahi and I had the Shrimp and Crab Enchiladas. For a side we got the Mexican Corn which might have been the highlight of the meal. I have no idea what they did to this corn but it was pretty great. Jenn's Mahi Mahi was perfectly cooked and had a great spicy sauce. My enchilada was stuffed with crab and shrimp and was great.
Red O turned out to be a pleasant surprise and one of the better meals we've had so far in 2014. When we left at around 8:30 the place was even busier and now the late night crowd was just starting to come in. Along with the great food we also enjoyed the people watching, as you get to see all sorts of interesting OC stereotypes all in one room.
