Costa Mesa creates its first restaurant week

COSTA MESA — Although a relatively small city, local restaurateurs have the taste and variety to place the city on the map as a culinary destination, a Costa Mesa Conference and Visitor Bureau spokeswoman said Monday.

Hoping to capitalize on travelers' stomachs as a way to their hearts, the first Costa Mesa Restaurant Week is scheduled to run Aug. 19 to 26.

The event, sponsored by the Conference and Visitor Bureau, is seen as a way to attract the weekend traveler, said eMedia Manager Kim Glen.

"Why does a city like Newport Beach have a huge [restaurant week] and other cities around [Costa Mesa have] one and we don't?" Glen said.

Restaurant Week is planned to be annual, with about 30 participating restaurants.

"We deserve this," Glen said. "We absolutely have comparable restaurants, and we want to [the] get community involved and engaged and get people to come visit Costa Mesa as a culinary destination."

Celebrity chef Charlie Palmer will kick off the week-long event with a private party at the Charlie Palmer restaurant at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza.

Other participating restaurants include Ecco, Antonello Ristorante, Mastro's Steakhouse, Savoy Restaurant and Lounge, Hamamori, The Capital Grille, Nello Cucina, Mi Casa Mexican Restaurant and Bar, Old Vine Café, Seasons 52 and Skosh Monahan's.

If You Go

What: Costa Mesa Restaurant Week

When: Aug. 19 to 26

Cost: $10.11 to $40.11

Information: http://www.costamesarestaurantweek.org