Napolitano Gives Randall’s Restaurant and Club an Italian Accent

Randell’s, the dramatic new restaurant and nightclub overlooking the lake at Hutton Centre in Santa Ana, accents Italian fare, with a chef from Napoli, Michelangelo Bergini. General Manager Domenico Grillo, formerly with Carmelo’s in Corona del Mar, describes Randell’s as “very European, intimate, romantic.” The regional Italian cuisine emphasizes large portions, with entrees (including soup or salad) priced from $13.50 to $19.95. Selections include angel hair pasta with large prawns, scallops, olive oil, garlic and white wine, and charbroiled tournedos of beef with mushrooms and roasted bell peppers. Pastas are made fresh, as is the gelato. Different jazz groups entertain each night of the week with Randell’s owner, guitarist Randell Young, performing on Fridays. Randell’s is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Monday through Friday and from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. The entertainment is presented from 8 p.m. to midnight, Monday through Saturday, 7 to 11 p.m. Sunday. There is no cover and no minimum. Reservations: (714) 556-7700.

Thought asparagus was a green veggie, did you? At Restaurant Antoine in Le Meridien Hotel in Newport Beach, asparagus comes in white and purple as well, as part of a special menu available all this month. The meal opens with green asparagus flan with red and yellow bell peppers and a lobster salad garnished with imported white asparagus and fennel Pernod dressing. The main courses are mosaic of scallops gratineed, with mashed potatoes in olive oil and imported purple asparagus butter, and tournedos of duck with tagliatelle of three-colored asparagus and a carrot broth. To top it all off: a basket of asparagus ice cream. The cost is $48 per person, plus tax and tip. Information and reservations: (714) 476-2001, Ext. 2158. The address: 4500 MacArthur Blvd.

Gustaf Anders and winemaker Craig Williams will present wines from Joseph Phelps vineyards at a dinner on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Six wines will be served with such courses as broiled Atlantic salmon on black truffled spinach, garlic roasted pork tenderloin on summer vegetables au gratin, and lemon tart with summer berries. It’s $59, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations: (714) 668-1737. The address: 1651 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, in the South Coast Plaza Village.

The wines of Cantine Duca d’Asti, from the Piedmont region of Italy, will be showcased Wednesday at Prego Ristorante. Winery owner Michele Chiarlo will introduce the wines, which will compliment such courses as risotto with baby artichoke hearts, sausage and parmesan, and veal chop with oysters and porcini mushroom sauce. Light appetizers will be served at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7. $58 per person. 18420 Von Karman Ave., Irvine. (714) 533-1333.

Starting today, South Coast Repertory and El Torito Grill in Costa Mesa are teaming up for a Latin Combo package. For $59 ($69 on Fridays and Saturdays), you will get two tickets to a performance by the comedy troupe Latins Anonymous at SCR and a three-course dinner for two at the Grill. Prices include tax and tip. Dinner begins with salad or soup; then moves to an entree of shrimp or steak fajitas, mesquite-grilled fresh fish or a grilled chicken breast with roasted tomato-herb sauce. The finale is your selection from the dessert tray. The package is available through July 5 through either SCR at (714)-957-4033 or El Torito Grill at (714) 662-2672. El Torito Grill is at 633 Anton Blvd.