Good eats found in these parts

Alex Coolman

The people have spoken. And most of what they’ve spoken about is in

Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

The recently released edition of the Zagat Survey of restaurants, a guide

that reports diners’ opinions about various eateries, has rave reviews

for Newport-Mesa restaurants.

Of the 15 venues listed in the Orange County section of the guide, seven

are in Newport Beach or Costa Mesa. Newport restaurant Pascal and Costa

Mesa bistro Troquet captured the No. 1 and No. 2 rankings, respectively.

Also making the pages of the guide were Aubergine, Five Crowns, Pavilion,

Pinot Provence and The Ritz.

Liza Goodell, proprietor of Aubergine and Troquet, said the Newport-Mesa

scene has grown more respectable in recent years.

“I’m not sure why that is,” she said. “There was a need for good

restaurants here. We had the classical restaurants like The Ritz, but

nothing new.”

Pascal Olhats of Pascal echoed Goodell’s sentiments about the evolution

of area dining and had a few theories of his own to explain the

development.

“The main thing is, we are working with very sophisticated -- and getting

more sophisticated every year -- travelers and business customers,”

Olhats said. “Where they used to go to New York and San Francisco and

Paris, now they are looking for the same kind of experience in this

area.”

In addition to a more sophisticated clientele, Olhats said, there are

some restaurateurs that had made important contributions to the area.

One, in particular, came easily to mind.

“It’s because of me,” he said.