Thursday, November 10, 2011
New airport restaurants coming in December
By NANCY LUNA
THE ORANGE COUNTY (CA) REGISTER
On Wednesday, John Wayne Airport officials hosted a media tour of Terminal C, which officially opens to the public Monday. The new terminal is part of a multi-million airport project that includes major food changes in all three terminals.
Come Monday, travelers will get to see a few new food options as construction delays have stalled the debut of several new restaurants, including Zov's, Jerry's Wood-Fired Dogs and Pinkberry.
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Two McDonald's restaurants at John Wayne Airport will undergo expansion early next year. One will close, while the other remains open during the construction.
New to the airport, and now open:
- Zov's has a "grab and go" concept open in the pre-security area of Terminal A. The chef-owner of Zov's Bistro in Tustin will have two takeout stands at the airport. (More details on Zov's two airport food stands)
- La Tapenade Mediterranean Café is open in Terminal B, pre-security. It offers grab-and-go sandwiches and salads.
- Ciao Gourmet Market and Starbucks are the only food choices open in Terminal C. Sandwiches at both places range in price from $8 to $10.
- California Pizza Kitchen opened in Terminal A Tuesday (Nov. 8). The takeout restaurant is the snazziest new restaurant we saw on the tour. It is decorated with contemporary pendant lighting and mustard tile on the walls. Sandwiches, pizzas and salads range from $12 to $13 — a few dollars more than similar takeout fare spotted during our tour.
- Vino Volo, a wine bar, was the first of several new food vendors to debut at John Wayne Airport. It opened earlier this summer. Travelers can order food dishes to go, drink wine at the bar, or ship wine bottles to specified destinations. You can also buy wine, and take it on the plane.
Still not open, but coming soon or in 2012:
- Anaheim Ducks Breakaway Bar & Grillis opening in Terminal C in mid-December. The restaurant still had a barricade up during our tour. The 2,280-square foot eatery will seat 94. It will offer an upscale bar and restaurant menu in a setting that pays homage to Orange County's hockey team. (CLICK HERE to see renderings.)
- Locally-based brands like Zov's, Jerry's Wood-Fired Dogs and Javi's (tied to Javier's Cantina) won't likely open until mid-December. The new restaurants are part of a new food court called Marketplace, which is located between Terminals B and C. Other regional brands slated for the Markeplace include Pei Wei and Pinkberry.
- Four Starbucks cafes are now operating at the airport, but that won't last very long. The Starbucks at the Oasis Grill & Sky Lounge area, between Terminal A and B, will close permanently after the new year. That area will eventually be home to a Ruby's Diner and Fresh Market by Laguna Culinary Arts.
- Ruby's Diner and Fresh Market by Laguna Culinary Arts are expected to open in April 2012. The latter will offer paninis and made-to-order sandwiches using seasonal produce, and natural meats. Ruby's will have a bar.
- Javi's will offer a condensed version of the menu favorites found at Javier's Cantina in Newport Beach and Irvine. The restaurant, slated to open in the Marketplace food court near Terminal C, could open by Dec. 14.
- Hobie Sand Bar, named after local surfing icon Hobie Alter, is a surf-themed beach bar that will offer cocktails and food with a healthy twist. No opening date was given, but it will likely open in a few weeks. Mark Christy, president of Hobie Surf Shop, said the restaurant will make travelers feel like they've been invited to one of "Hobie's legendary" house parties. The Hobie eatery could be the first of many more bar and grill concepts. Others could go inside Hobie's surf shops – similar to the way Tommy Bahama has restaurants inside its retail stores, Christy said.
