With all due respect to the Hilton, Marriott, and the fine folks at the Anaheim Convention Center, there’s something to be said for expanding one’s scope beyond the block-and-a-half radius around W. Convention Way when looking for food or entertainment while in California this January. With that in mind, MMR reached out to some of our good friends in MI retail and supply to get the inside scoop on where to go and why. While some chose to play it cagey (Mike Matthews, I’m looking at you!), most were willing to share some hard-earned insights into the restaurants, bars, and hotspots in the area that might make your visit to the O.C. a little more enjoyable in 2014. Read on and start planning…
“If we don’t want to eat too heavy or get rushed we pile up in one or two cars and go to Koisan, a Japanese restaurant about five miles from the Convention Center. They have excellent sushi and very good cooked food, plus a great choice of beers and sake. If we’re feeling a little grander and don’t want to fight the car parkers, we go to Morton’s. Yes, it is a chain, but a chain on the top of the ‘food chain.’ I love Morton’s and go to one in most cities, but [Anaheim’s] might be the best of them all.”
– Sammy Ash, Sam Ash
“The Citrus City Grille in Old Town Orange is only a short cab ride away from the Convention Center, but it has a different feel from Anaheim. It’s lively and can be a bit loud, but the food is creative and has ‘correct’ portion sizes. It’s a good off-the-beaten-path choice for a business dinner.”
– Craigie Zildjian, The Avedis Zildjian Company, Inc.
“Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney is one of the local restaurants I like to go to when working the NAMM Show. My favorite dishes include the red beans and rice, popcorn calamari, beef medallions, salmon, pasta jambalaya, and beignets. Ralph Brennan’s also has live music every day and dueling pianos every Thursday.”
– Andrew Surmani, Alfred Music
“There are so many great places to go, especially near the beach. If you do not want to make that trek and want a more quiet meal, go north up Harbor Blvd. to downtown Fullerton and visit The Cellar – French and a bit pricy, but the quiet might be worth it! Think of your favorite wine on the way and they will most likely have it. Going a bit further inland (east) on Katella to State College Blvd., go north to Bastanchury Rd. to The Summit House – English atmosphere, cool little bar with a piano player, and a larger dining room. Make sure to get the creamed corn and Yorkshire pudding. The prime rib is pretty good if you are a beefer.”
– Rick Young, Yamaha Corporation
“For my business partner and me, the NAMM Show is never complete without at least one meal at the ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney. It gets crowded around Show time, so it’s best to sneak in a night or two before if you can, or Sunday this year, since that’s the dead week between NFL Conference Champs and the Super Bowl. Can’t beat the draft beer selection and anything they grill.”
– Ted Eschliman, Dietze Music
“For business dinners, we like the Orange Hill Restaurant. It’s a 15-minute cab ride from the Convention Center and offers exquisite views of the valley, along with good service and a decent wine list. There are also quite a few outside fire-pits.”
– David Jahnke, Hal Leonard
“For those with a car, [I recommend] Yves Bistro in Anaheim Hills, about 30 to 40 minutes away in good traffic. It is a civilized oasis of good food, live music, and conversation. They have a great wine and beer list, and delicious continental menu. Not inexpensive, but not too expensive, either. Attentive service and a welcoming attitude. Your convention-wear will suffice in almost all cases (you know who you are, the rest of you!). I have made this road trip with friends for the last four or five years and we always look forward to it.”
– Madeleine Crouch, Madeleine Crouch & Co., Inc.
“Being from the Midwest, we don’t have In-N-Out burger anywhere close to us. My annual trek to NAMM requires a visit to In-N-Out, which is simply the best burger and fries you will ever have. The one I visit is on Brookhurst and Orange, about a 10-minute drive northwest of the convention center. It simply cannot be beat! By rule, I don’t eat many burger/fries at all. This is the one place where my rules get broken.
Also: A’Roma Ristorante in La Palma – fantastic Italian in a small, quiet place. Great service, fantastic food, and a very good wine list. It’s a great place to catch a quiet dinner after a loud day on the show floor. About 15 minutes from convention center, but worth the drive. Just east off of 91 on Orangethorpe Ave.”
– Tim Kletti, Music Go Round
“Saturday, we close down 10 minutes early so we can rush down to our favorite Thai restaurant before it gets crowded. Sorry, I can’t tell you which it is!”
– Mike Matthews, Electro-Harmonix
“Scott’s Restaurant & Bar in Costa Mesa is one of my favorite spots. It is quiet, has a great bar, and is a good getaway from the hustle and bustle of the NAMM crowd.”
– Joe Castronovo, KORG
“Every year La Casa Garcia is a Mexican food must-have. Ten years ago it was a close-by hole-in-the-wall secret known by few and now it’s remodeled all fancy-like and word is out packing the place each night. But I still have to have some of Frank’s carnitas!
– Scott Wunschel, EMG Pickups
“King’s Fish House at 2401 W. Katella is a great traditional fish house where you can relax away from the hustle of the convention center with a pretty nice selection of seafood. JT Schmid’s at 2610 E. Katella is a sports bar with a great food from burgers to seafood.
Rufino’s Italian Restaurant at 938 S. Euclid St. is a small Italian restaurant off the beaten path with traditional Italian food at affordable prices. It’s a small place that’s quiet if you just want to sit back and have a relaxing meal. Bowlmor Lanes [formerly 300 Anaheim] bowling alley is also very cool. It’s underneath the McCormick & Schmick in the Anaheim GardenWalk at 321 Katella.
– Peter Sides, Robert M. Sides Family
Music Centers
“During load-in early in the week the staff does a bowling night at Bowlmor Lanes at Anaheim GardenWalk – great food and drinks and an important bonding experience for the people who gather from around the country to help us produce the show. Lae Casa Garcia on 531 West Chapman and Harbor is a great Mexican restaurant. It’s close to hotels and has great food.
There are many places to park around the convention center but if you have to quickly get to a post-show event I always tell people to park at Garden Walk to avoid traffic at close of Show – it’s a five-minute walk.
Since we have an international audience, I also recommend catching a hockey game. Most people don’t realize Anaheim has a hockey team: the Anaheim Ducks, who play nearby at the Honda Center. Our favorite restaurant is The Ranch. It’s a great place for dinner or events at 1025 East Ball Road. And attached is the Ranch Saloon, with authentic two-step line dancing. You don’t see much of that in LA…
– The NAMM Trade Show team
“Every year for around 20 years, I’ve eaten at Luigi’s D’Italia on State College. I look forward to it every year. The calamari is awesome and we always have a great time there.”
– Kenny Stanton, Stanton Music
