RESTAURANT ROUNDUP:

Memorial Day will mark the opening of Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale’s South Coast Plaza. The restaurant, featuring a main dining room on the ground floor of Bloomingdale’s, along with a bar-lounge and private dining room, will serve Palmer’s signature “New American” cuisine.

Palmer’s menu features entrées such as “crisp black sea bass” and red wine-poached beef tenderloin, accessorized by dishes including truffle potato gnocchi, or coriander-scented basmati rice.

The restaurant’s affiliated store, Next Vintage Wine Shop, is also on the ground floor of Bloomingdale’s. The wine shop features selections from Palmer’s trademark, award-winning restaurant wine list. Next Vintage is staffed by sommeliers from the restaurant. For dinner reservations, call (714) 352-2525.

Seafood a fresh option for holiday weekend

Looking for something fresh this Memorial Day weekend? Blue Coral Restaurant in Fashion Island features a three-course “Sunday Fins Menu” beginning 5 p.m. on Sundays.

Dinners begin with clam chowder or Caesar salad. Entrées include Scottish salmon, pacific wild swordfish or filet mignon Oscar. Guests can select one side dish from choices including spinach, Yukon gold mashed potatoes or wild mushroom risotto. Dessert is chocolate caramel bread pudding with creme anglaise. Cost is $30 per person. For reservations, call (949) 856-2583.

— Sue Thoensen