Riviera at the Fireside

This was my fave restaurant! I miss everything about this place! :(

I am sad that this place closed, was there in September and it was packed and had the steak tartare, there is nothing left in the OC like this.
Too bad all the great places are gone.

I was very disappointed to learn today that this Orange County institution had closed, as of October 23, 2011. It was really old school, with big leather booths, many dishes prepared table side and waiters who had been there forever. You have expected Dean Martin or Frank Sinatra to walk into the room. The food was not modern by any stretch, it was classic continental cuisine. Maybe that’s what did them in. My mother loved going there. You were started with a complimentary relish tray that included pâté. I thought their steak tartare was terrific. I haven’t been for a number of months, but always hit this place 2 – 3 times a year. I will miss it and am sorry it is closed.

One of the last of the great dining experiences is being scuttled. I used to come here with my dad when I was 8,9,10 years old, this was his bar. A hidden treasure, it’s like walking back in time as you enter the dark environs. If I were to have a drink with the guy from The Rockford Files, this is the place I would pick, in a heartbeat. The food, service, and vibe is like nothing else and now sadly, is no more. I’d trade my iPhone for another week of business at the Fireside.

The Riviera is closing!!!
Just called to make a reservation and was told their last day was Oct. 23. Heartbroken. One of the last of it’s kind. So sad.

I came back for dinner after having had an amazing lunch a few months ago at this retro restaurant. Dinner was equally amazing.
Our waiter recommended a perfect bottle of wine. The complimentary old-​school bread basket and appetizer tray (containing olives, cottage cheese, pâté and stewed vegetables) was delicious as was my main course: a perfectly cooked ribeye steak with green beans, carrots, and potatoes.
Our waiter was superb, full of great recommendations and one-​liners and knew when we needed service and when to leave us alone. What an enjoyable evening!

This is the place where I would choose my last meal on earth. I had the steak diane and it was to die for. I ordered the potatoes and they cook them right in front of you and the steak too. They make the homemade sauce to smoother your steak in. I also ordered the caeser salad and they make that in front of you too. They even pull out the table for you when you sit down so you don’t have to slide around the booth. They have a relish dish with olives, bread and liver pâté on the table. It is dark and there is a dress code. The crêpe riviera is so good for dessert. I have been going there for years. You got to try it.

I adore this place. It takes me back to dinner with my grandparents. Their chopped salad is superb. I’ve never had a bad meal here! We’ve done our company Christmas luncheon here several times and they are always so accommodating and attentive. Their Bananas Foster — prepared table side, is my FAVORITE dessert of all time!!!

This restaurant is truly a hidden gem! My boyfriend took me here for our anniversary and they specialize in flambé-​ing your entrees in front of you. I’ve never seen any restaurant like it. The prices are kind of steep, but I think it’s worth it for the service and quality you get.
The décor is really old school and swanky. We had an adorable waiter, Alvin, who was very friendly and gave excellent recommendations. They give a complimentary appetizer platter with pâté and other good eats. We ordered oysters that tasted VERY fresh, flavorful, juicy, and delicious. Additionally we got the spinach bacon salad that they flambé in front of you. Very flavorful – the bacon fat tastes heavenly with the wilted spinach.
For my entrée I ordered the orange duck dish which was flambé’d as well. It had a really tasty and tangy orange sauce that complimented the perfectly cooked duck with crispy skin (yum!). My bf got filet mignon medium rare but they overcooked his a little which kind of disappointed him because all the food and service we had gotten so far was excellent.
For dessert we asked our server for a recommendation and he sent out a special berry dessert for lovers with a sweet liquor. I will be sure to come back here to try more of their menu!

Errr… Not quite my cup of tea. The waiter we had took almost 30 minutes to give us menus and was quite the creeper.
My veal tortellini was very good, but a tad too expensive IMO.
I can see why people would rate this place 5 stars, but for me, no thanks. Definitely won’t be coming back.

This is a unique place that’s part of Orange County History. One of Orange County’s finest five star restaurants, since 1967, Riviera at the Fireside serves continental cuisine specializing in flambé dishes prepared table side. (I learned at dinner last night that they haven’t been in this location since 1967, but used to be at South Coast Plaza, and moved sometime in the early 80s?).
Want a flambéed salad? They have two. Flambeed Steak Diane? Pepper Steak Flambé?, Duckling A L’Orange?, Check, Check, and Check. Cherries Jubilee, Bananas Foster, and Strawberries flambee are their desserts also served flaming at your table.
And if you like your coffee on fire, they have a unique coffee and contrieau drink flambeed and poured through a flaming orange rind.
SOME IMPORTANT RULES
(1) Leave your hair spray at home. In fact, going easy on the hair products in general is recommended.
(2) You don’t need to wear fireproof attire, but long scarves, capes, feather or flowing lace anything are not recommended.
(3) This is a restaurant to dress up for.
(4) Bring plenty of cash. The only thing not retro are the prices. Yes, this restaurant is a little bit on the pricey side, but it’s an experience.
(5) Be sure to tip the 80 year old waiters generously.
(6) Do not tell a guy «he’s flaming» unless he is actually on fire.
This place is as close as you can get to going back in time without Doc, Marty, and a Delorean.
Flambé there or be square, I always say!

This has got to be the most amazing dining you will ever experience. My husband & I go here once a year for our Anniversary dinner. We cant afford this place for everyday or even every month. When we tell our friends this place is in Westminster, we always get suspicious confusion. But Yes, it is this nice.
You are treated like royalty the minute you walk in. Its the feel of old hollywood ambiance, with big leather booths, dimmed lighting and an old fashioned bar. You really feel like you are dining 50 years ago. What truly sets them apart though, has got to be the service.
Really, how many places can you go where impeccably dressed gentlemen with old school charm and fantastic European accents glide across the room because you, yes you– are the most important people in the world? I will never forget the year our waiter (an older man who had to be approaching 80) kissed my hand and asked what would Madam like for dinner? Fabulous –people, I tell you, Fabulous.
The night starts off with their amazing relish tray of diced cucumber, cold ratouille, pâté and olives and hot bread.(complimentary)
The pâté’ is to die for, the bread is hot & melts in you mouth. Next they ask, what would the lady like to drink? (Old school manners that are so missed) And yes, the bartender will make the martini of your (my) dreams. My husband asked for a Manhatten with Rye whiskey and he got his perfect drink with a remark by the waiter of how distinguished a drink for a young man. The relish tray and drink could go on for an hour before you even order — that is how much you are enjoying yourself.
I can’t say enough how fabulous the spinache flambé is… I mean, they put bacon in it and set it on fire at your table! I get giddy every time. (check out how much «Flambé» is on the menu, its exciting)
Don’t even think of going here without being dressed up… by that I mean suit & tie guys. Girls– dress like ladies. You know how. If you don’t dress up you will be dying that you didn’t.
This is a hidden gem in Westminster and we hope it will stay exactly as we remember it. The day anything changes will be a sad, sad day.

Do you like spinach salad? How about if it is loaded with bacon? How about if they do a cognac flambé at the table before serving it? What if, it tastes fantastic? Yes, very tasty.
Had the shrimp starter. Nice presentation but they were a little limp.
The avocado and prosciutto starter was fantastic. Simple but wonderful.
Peach Melba was good but not many peach pieces.
Did not have dinner, just salad and starters. With drinks and tip a little over $ 100. But they let us take our time and did not rush us. A nice evening. Like a trip back in time because it is so «old school.» Try it.

Stop #2 on my Monte Cristo quest. These guys have the best MC around! I love the vibe of this place. The food and drinks are top-​notch and they do all the old classics — tableside ceasar, flambé desserts, etc.
Back to the MC. The sandwich is deep fried (the way it should be) but stays light and not greasy. Please order one to share and you will feel like you went to heaven.

My boyfriend and I have driven by this restaurant countless of times but never really considered dining here until yesterday when we were at a loss on where to eat (a daily dilemma) and decided to drop by on a whim.
Stepping in to this restaurant was like stepping in to a time warp. This restaurant looks like it was a sleek and hip spot… several decades ago when patrons named Mel and Ruby would come by. The overall look can easily be updated with changes to the lighting and the carpet but there is some kind of odd charm in the current décor. I suppose it brings a sense of nostalgia for some and flashbacks to 70’s era movie scenes for others (i.e., me).
There wasn’t a hostess present when we first arrived so we stood a bit awkwardly waiting to be greeted. One of the servers came by to seat us at a booth by the bar where there were several patrons eating and enjoying some banter with the bartender.
We were brought a basket of warm bread accompanied by a tray of pâté, cucumber salad, olives and some stewed carrots… or at least that’s what I interpreted them to be. The wait staff was pleasant.
For an appetizer, we ordered Blue Point oysters on the half shell. They were quite flavorful and fresh. Off to a good start.
Our entrees were another story. My boyfriend ordered the ribeye with green beans, steamed carrots and potatoes. It turned out to be quite bland which was a disappointment. It was also served with bearnaise sauce on the side which didn’t do much to improve the dish overall… and if you need sauce to go with your steak, something is a bit off. I opted to go with the Canneloni Nicoise which was described as a crêpe stuffed with veal, spinach and tomato sauce. Sounded good on the menu but it was much, much too salty. I think I enjoyed the steamed carrots that accompanied my dish the most.
Although our entrees were a miss, we decided to end the night with a banana flambé. The server flambes your dessert or any other meal directly at your table. It was a neat sight to see but what made it even better was that the banana flambé was quite delicious… and I’m not normally a fan of any dessert that involves bananas. It was sweet and savory but not too rich.
Overall, the Riviera at the Fireside wouldn’t be my first choice in dining spots but it is a decent place to go for oysters and dessert. Not so much the entrees. I’d give it a higher rating if the dress code was completely casual so I could ride my beach cruiser there on a random summer day.
Price per person: $ 30 — 40.

They genuinely do not make restaurants like this anymore. And while one might be tempted to opine that would be because we know an awful lot more about the impact of butter and transfats on the body, when you can settle into a cushy black leather banquette and watch someone flambé your meal, it’s hard not to be charmed by the nostalgia (while enjoying some pretty good food, too.)
I would never have known about or thought to come here, but a friend had always wanted to try it and had heard that their holiday decorations were first rate. So… it seemed like a good place to kick off the holiday season. With a 7:30 reservation we put on our Sunday best and made the trek to Westminster. Their holiday decorations are, indeed, first rate. This dining room reminded me of a 1980s country club, heavy dark wood, tuxedoed wait staff, and a clubby feel — cozy without being either too refined or casual.
Waited just a bit for our table in the bar, where bourbon cocktails were definitely the way to go (I made mine a Manhattan and didn’t regret it), and were served with a small milk bottle full of peanuts and a bowl of cheddar goldfish. We were able to observe the dining room and quickly ascertained that we were the youngest party in the place by a few decades, but that everyone seemed to be having a great time. In what seemed like no time at all, our table was ready (first row behind the bar, yeah, we did not make the cut for the main room!) and we settled in for the epic meal that was to follow — and by epic I mean 3 hours of food.
Relish tray first — holy cow, how long has it been since you have seen one of those?! — with warm rolls and bread, pâté, cucumber salad, olives, and another salad that was similar to a ratatouille. We were able to enjoy those for a while, which was good, because I think between the cocktails and the relish tray we didn’t actually order any food for at least an hour. But when we started to order, watch out…
Keeping in mind that this was a hungry party of four, and we wanted to try a little bit of everything, we shared…
Appetizers: Oysters, Shrimp on Ice, and Tartare Steak
Salads: Spinach Salad Flambé (flambeed bacon? Um, yes please)
Soup: French Onion
Entrees: Filet Mignon with Bearnaise, Duck L’Orange, Pepper Steak Flambé, and Halibut
Desserts: Peach Melba, Crêpe Riviera, and Chocolate/​Raspberry Cake
Of everything we had, I’d probably skip the oysters next time — they were very small and not very flavorful, but the shrimp and the steak tartare were great. I could eat that steak everyday. The french onion soup and the salad were delicious.
Of the entrees (and this should probably come as no surprise) the flambeed selections were best — the pepper steak and the duck l’orange would be «order again» choices. The halibut, although it came highly recommended, first came out so overcooked that it crumbled when touched with a fork, and while the second piece was cooked perfectly, it just wasn’t seasoned so it tasted bland. The filet mignon was similar. Neither were bad, but we both were just kind of like, «Meh…it’s OK.» Although… both the filet and the halibut were served with heavy sauces on the side, so one could argue that they were bland by design to serve as a backdrop for those… not sure.
Desserts were good — sent by the house. Not great, just good. I’d like to come back for one of the flambeed desserts, and I think they’d probably be the best — although the Peach Melba was definitely a crowd pleaser, and the rum-​soaked crêpe wasn’t too bad either.
Wine list was small but decent, and decently priced, and the cocktails were all well mixed. All in all was it a good value for the money? Probably not if you just look at the food — but the atmosphere, the service, and, yeah, I’m going to say it, a little bit of the camp factor all come into play and if you want a leisurely paced meal where you’re well taken care of, and you have a group of friends who are all good sports, this is a great option.

Fellow Unilocaler Abel O said it perfect, «It’s like going back 20 years to the fanciest place you have ever been».
Big black leather half moon booths, white linen and table side items galore.
Our Server was fantastic. So charming and I just loved the stories he told and they were especially great because of his thick Greek accent.
They start you off with warm dinner rolls and crackers and a lovely crudités tray. I tried not to snack on that too much bc I wanted to flambé it up!
I started off with the French Onion Soup and Mom and Mark went for the Spinach Salad prepared table side of course with warn bacon mustard dressing. My soup was fantastic and their salad was divine.
I ordered the Crack Peppered Filet which was out of this world and cooked to a PERFECT med rare. I took a bite at one point and it was the most perfect bite of steak and sauce I just had to end my main course there bc I wanted to savor that bite.
The Birthday girl (Mom) went for the Chef’s Special of the Veal Chop. It must have been good bc she ooooed and ahhhed with every bite.
Mark went for the Steak Diane and his was so good he even closed his eyes while chewing.
All meals come with Green Beans, Carrots and Roasted Potatoes. All were cooked perfectly and the potatoes were especially yummy with the herb crusted yummyness.
For dessert they brought Mom out a Crêpe Riviera which was stuffed with Chocolate Mousse and had a Chocolate Rum Sauce. They did not go easy on the rum. If I ate that all to myself I probably would have had a little buzz.
We also ordered Cherries Jubileeeeeee! I just love this dessert. I get it from every «old time» style restaurant we go to. It is such a classic and so delicious.
All and all this was a fantastic meal. This place reminded me how good simple food can be. Everything was top notch and made for a memorable dining experience.

I had lunch here last week after finishing a three hour meeting and was a little disappointed when the bartender seemed like he was upset that we walked in (I think the lunch hour was over). However, there was a group that looked like the Sopranos in a booth in the corner (they had the whole place). The bartender’s attitude created an uncomfortable and unwanted atmosphere right out of the gate. We probably should have left … but we didn’t. We just wanted to eat.
I made it simple by ordering the French Onion Soup and Cobb Salad along with an Iced Tea. It was very good and the price was moderate. The service … well that’s another thing. it was slow (even though we were the only customers. except for the Sopranos). I am not sure if I would want to try this place for dinner and that is too bad because it looks like it has potential. Maybe this restaurant is in a bubble and is flourishing during this tough economy and doesn’t really need to establish customer relationships. I have always believed that if you don’t have anything good to say. don’t say anything at all. However, I am sure that this isn’t the first time that this has happened at this restaurant. It appeared so classy until the lights came on!

We had a gift certificate so otherwise would never have come here — but we were really glad we did! It’s the kind of old-​timey, leather booth place that you could spend 3 – 4 hours over a leisurely dinner and feel like you traveled back to the 50’s. They brought us drinks, an antipasto tray (with pâté!) and very nice breads before they even brought us the menus — that was the kind of nice, slow, un-​rushed pace that continued through the whole meal.
We loved the table side service like the Caesar salad (with anchovies!) and the Crepes Suzette. Our vegetarian friend enjoyed the (giant) Fettuccine Alfredo and had to take more than half of it home. I had an equally huge portion of veal tortellini with pesto sauce that was really delicious — I could totally overlook that it was veal! My leftovers were just as good reheated the next day. My husband had the Rib-​eye steak special and thought it was great.
Overall the customer service was attentive, with every need anticipated and answered. We felt really special. I would definitely come here again for a special occasion or to impress my in-​laws.
I think next time, I’m going to drink dirty martinis and get the escargot!

I love this place. It’s like going back 20 years to the fanciest place you have ever been. The menu is filled with flambé items. My friends took me to ‘birthday dinner’… it never disappoints. I had the Café Diablo for dessert. and I haven’t slept in a week.
Just as a warning: Make sure to check that your eyebrows are stilll in tact.