ANAHEIM. Sleek and casual, Anaheim's favorite beer hall serves hefty mugs of delicious India Pale, Extra Stout, Emil's Amber, and Hefeweizen house brews. Indoors, tile floors, brass accents, and brewpub observation windows set the stage; outside, the spacious patio is reminiscent of a German beer garden, but one with palm trees and warm California breezes. The menu features superb Californian fare: jambalaya pizza, lobster ravioli, swordfish Pacifica, and smoked salmon farfalle.

ANAHEIM. Set in an Arts and Crafts-style hotel, Napa Rose takes the best from California's vineyards, dairies, farms, and seacoast and submits it all to chef Andrew Sutton, who creates magical dishes with the bounty. The rose-themed restaurant does everything well and is the hotel's most expensive establishment, so you may want to save it for an adult occasion. The Californian wine list is extensive, and it's refreshing to be able to get a glass in the usually dry <i>Disneyland</i>® Resort.

ALISO VIEJO. A well-kept secret, this chic restaurant/bar is a favorite of local movers and shakers, who adore the contemporary Californian menu and the chance to posture under black lights. House specialties run the gamut, and entrees range from a N'awlins-style oyster po' boy to grilled Hawaiian opah and peppercorn-crusted NY steak. For international flair, check out Provençal rotisserie chicken or pan-fried udon served with Maine lobster. Save room for dessert ­ passing up vanilla bean crème brulée or sweet potato and pecan tart with bourbon vanilla sauce is never a good idea.

ANAHEIM. The upscale hotel that houses this restaurant is a frequent home base for well-to-do vacationers. The decor of the signature PCH Grill, seemingly inspired by a California beach party, springs to life with myriad colors, potted palms, and a slew of "beach" oddities. Innovative Pacific Rim-inspired fare is the calling card ­ dine on sake-marinated black sea bass, wood-fired pizzas, and panko shrimp in mango sauce. At breakfast (buffet or à la carte), the little ones can thrill to the presence of Disney characters.

LAGUNA BEACH. Young and hip in feel, this hotspot raises eyebrows with its Mediterranean menu, whose flavorful dishes bear Californian flair. Stucco walls, terra cotta tiles, wrought iron chandeliers, and dark wood accents recollect Tuscany, and wines embrace the motif as well, featuring an impressive number of Italian vintages to complement standard Californian labels. House specialties include fried calamari, peppered ahi on a risotto cake with spinach, and black-pepper crusted salmon with leeks and port-balsamic sauce.