Mahe Restaurant - Dana Point Restaurants

This weekend, our California travels took us to Dana Point, one of my favorite little beach communities in Orange County.

Not only is Dana Point home to the annual Tall Ships festival, but it also has the Ocean Institute — an amazing ocean education center that also sponsors workshops, sails and whale watching tours throughout the year.

If you're ever in the area, a Dana Point restaurant you must try is Mahé — a great little sushi bar, bistro and teppan grill near Dana Point Harbor.

Celebrating its 2nd year, Mahé Dana Point joins Mahé Seal Beach as the second restaurant location for owner Toby Reece, specializing in fresh seafood, steaks and sushi.

We grabbed a table in the outdoor patio, which is framed by a wall of flames with plenty of outdoor heating lamps. Our server was very attentive and friendly, starting us out with a round of refreshing iced green tea, scented with jasmine and tropical fruits. It was a delightful departure from the standard tropical Paradise iced teas you get at most restaurants, and I'd never tasted anything like it. (If only I could buy some of it to prepare at home!)

Having skipped breakfast, we were prepared with a hearty appetite. First, we dove into an appetizer of Cody's Nachos ($12) — a huge platter of freshly-fried wonton crisps topped with sauteed shrimp, scallops and a fiery Asian pepper sauce. Even the kids were fighting over the last few bites.

Another standout was the "Trust Me" sushi, an elegant tangle of raw scallops and asparagus in a neatly wrapped and cut roll. There's plenty more sashimi and sushi rolls on the Mahe menu, from the Ahi Tataki Wraps ($15) stuffed with seared tuna, avocado, sprouts and dynamite crab & shrimp; to the Mahé, Cabo and Jackie Chan maki sushi rolls. The Cabo Roll ($14) is filled with filet mignon on the inside, and tomato, onion, cilantro and avocado on the outside. The restaurant also has a nice fresh oyster bar, prepared by the dozen either raw or Rockefeller style.

Since it was still chilly (thanks to a gloomy California summer), I started with their New England Clam Chowder ($7), a creamy soup stuffed with perfectly cooked potatoes, generous chunks of fresh clam and bacon, and a sprinkling of chopped fresh parsley. The Mahe clam chowder recipe, originally created by The Glider Inn's chef in Seal Beach, was probably one of the best clam chowders I've had in California, San Francisco included! In fact, I'm dying to get the recipe so I can prepare it back at home.

My friend, Julie, ordered the Mahé Crab Cakes appetizer ($15) as a main course, and there was more than plenty. Julie offered me a bite, and I eagerly accepted. The crab cakes were simply amazing — moist and succulent, fried with a panko crust and a side of honey-wasabi sauce.

The Mahe kids menu includes fish sticks, chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese or teriyaki, and our kids certainly enjoyed their meals. Our 9-year-old splurged on the Orange Peel Shrimp, a delicious mix of stir-fried shrimp, snow peas and cashews with a side of amazing creamy and cheesy polenta.

Rounding out our Mahe lunch menu was an order of Kobe Beef Sliders (topped with melted cheese and grilled onions) and the Mahi Mahi Sliders — served between three Hawaiian sweet bread rolls. Both were delicious and filling, and we'd certainly order it again.

The dessert menu — which included a Tahitian Vanilla Cheesecake — looked incredible, but sadly we were too stuffed to eat another bite. Ah well, there's always next time.


IF YOU GO
Mahe restaurant locations are in Seal Beach and Dana Point. Mahe Seal Beach is open for dinner only at 1400 Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Beach. (562) 431-3022. Mahe Seal Beach happy hour is held weekdays between

Mahe Dana Point is open for both lunch (Friday-Sunday only) and dinner ( 5 p.m. nightly) at 24961 Dana Point Harbor Drive, Dana Point. (949) 240-6243.

Visit them online at http://www.eatatmahe.com

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