I’m at the Ranch in Anaheim, getting ready to order a steak when I look up and notice someone at a nearby table enjoying a huge chunk of prime rib.
Suddenly I’m in the mood for a prime rib instead of a steak. I have been to this restaurant several times and had no idea it served prime rib. I take another look at the menu, scanning it thoroughly from top to bottom. There is no mention of prime rib. I look up at the waiter.
“It’s off the menu,” he said, reading my thoughts. “It’s available almost every night, but we don’t advertise it because it sells out often. “
“Are you full tonight?” I ask.
“No. We have a lot of them,” he said. “How much do you want?”
I’ve never seen a bigger slice of prime rib for one person, and I’m not close to finishing it. There is enough left for two days of roast beef sandwiches.
And that’s not the only secret I’ve discovered lately. The staff at these restaurants will not come and talk to you about it unless you specifically request it. But now you know. Here are some of my favorite off-menu secrets from Orange County restaurants.
1. Rib of beef at the Ranch
It’s a massive serving of beef, perfectly roasted at medium rare with a salty / peppery crust and just the right amount of fat around the edges. Get there early before they sell out. Cost: $ 46. 1025 E. Ball Road, Anaheim; 714-817-4200, theranch.com
2. Mac ‘n’ cheeseburger with chili chorizo at American Dream
This burger, if you can still call it that, is the absolute pinnacle of stoner food. The kitchen combines chili chorizo with mac and cheese and stacks it on a burger. It’s so ridiculous it’s actually very good. Knife and fork required. Cost: $ 16. 21058 Pacific Coast Highway, Huntington Beach; 714-374-1330, theamericandreamhb.com
3. The veal porter at Piccolino
Veal T-bone is generally available but still in short supply. This is a superb piece of meat: cut gloriously thick, heavily charred around the edges, and rosy pink all over. You’ll want to order a good red Sicilian wine to go with it. Cost: $ 40. 28719, boulevard Los Alisos, Mission Viejo; 949-380-7261, piccolinomv.com
4. Whole Fish Ceviche at the Water Grill
This ceviche is amazing, but the kitchen only cooks a few each evening with whole sea bream or red snapper or something similar, taken apart and mixed with lime and Fresno peppers. It always sells before 8 p.m. The price depends on the size of the fish, but around $ 50. 3300 Bristol Street, Costa Mesa; 949-208-7060, watergrill.com
5. Duck breast over a wood fire at the Arc
Arc originally sold a strictly off-menu burger, but when the secret was revealed, they made it official and put it on the menu. The new “secret” to ask here is the duck breast, which is exquisite. Roasted in a wood-fired oven in a cast iron skillet, the duck is tender and juicy, with a nice sliver of smoky fat around the edges. Cost: $ 32. 3321 avenue Hyland, Costa Mesa; 949-500-5561, arcrestaurant.com
