Despite a swath of closures so far this year, Orange County has also seen its dining map continue to expand, with, most recently, a Mammoth-native distillery landing near the coast, a Santa Ana wine bar expanding into Irvine and an affordable Venice-born burger joint plotting its first address in the 714.
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Here are three new and upcoming restaurant arrival you should know.
Shelter Distilling (Dana Point)
The Mammoth Lakes-born distillery, brewery and restaurant has officially made its way down the mountain and into Dana Point. The new coastal outpost, now open in the former StillWater Spirits & Sounds space, brings Shelter’s in-house spirits, craft beer, cocktails and full food menu to Del Prado.
The inaugural menu includes pork tenderloin crostini, grilled octopus, crispy artichoke hearts, tacos, salads, four burgers, fish and chips, steak, churros and more. As its name suggests, spirits are big here, with Shelter using its own whiskey, beer, bourbon, gin, agave and vodka in its cocktails.
Guests can sit at the tables of wall-lined booth seating or at one of two bars, with seating available inside or on the expansive patio. Après-ski this is not, but for Dana Point, where drinking in the sun remains a civic duty, Shelter will fit right in with the booming Lantern Village neighborhood.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. until 11 p.m. Friday and Sunday.
Find it: 24701 Del Prado Ave, Dana Point
Fat of the Land (Irvine)
Following its ascension onto the Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat list in January, Fat of the Land, the cozy Santa Ana restaurant and wine bar by Robert Paetz — known for its Spanish tapas, European wines and low-lit, date-night charm — is heading to Irvine.
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The restaurant’s second location is expected to open July 7 at Centerview West, the dining-and-office hub just off the 405, bringing with it a larger footprint, a tapas-heavy menu and a few Irvine-only plates to boot. The original Fat of the Land (at 700 N. Main St. in Santa Ana) has built a loyal following with its intimate bar feel, shareable plates, tinned fish, charcuterie, cheeses and wine-friendly dishes.
Fat of the Land takes over the former Maldon’s Brasserie space.
Find it: 2010 Main, suite 170, Irvine
The Win-Dow (Orange)
While still in its very early stages of planning, The Win-Dow, a popular walk-up, Venice-born spot for smashburgers and fried chicken sandwiches, is set to open its first Orange County location in Old Towne, according to There’s No Place Like Orange County. It’s slated to open at 237 W. Chapman Ave., according to a permit posted outside the lot, where a onetime radiator shop used to be.
The Win-Dow was “birthed in 2019 in a parking lot” in Venice, as Longbeachize reported in 2024, before expanding to Long Beach, Hollywood, The Grove, Santa Barbara, Santa Monica and Silverlake. In addition to the Orange space, another location is slated for West Adams.
Besides the aforementioned burger and chicken sandwich, menu items at its other locations include an $8 grain bowl, shaved kale salad, fries, shakes and dipped cones. The Win-Dow is part of American Gonzo Food Corp., whose portfolio of eateries includes American Beauty, Pitfire Pizza and Superba.
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No word yet as to exactly when the Orange County Win-Dow will open.