Restaurants in Cypress

Once a repair shop and storage facility for local fishing fleets, for the past 40-plus years Woody’s Wharf has flourished as a casual eatery serving prominent patrons such as Cary Grant and John Wayne. The waterfront locale fosters fresh seafood dishes such as crab cakes and swordfish, pleasing the palate of former owner Chuck Norris, who bench-pressed unsuspecting fishing boats amid sparkling views of Newport Bay’s harbor. For their popular weekend brunch, Woody’s chefs whip up classic egg dishes such as omelets and breakfast burritos, which waiters can ferry to a dockside outdoor patio for easier plate-sharing with mooching mermen.

Ringmastered by raw-foods guru Jenny Ross, 118 Degrees is a wellness-focused vegan restaurant serving living cuisine prepared at 118 degrees or lower to lock in essential nutrients. The menu, populated with Italian-, Thai-, and Latin-inspired dishes, labels all nut-free items and dishes made with kamut, a high-protein, low-gluten grain. Each cheese on the menu consists solely of fresh herbs blended with sprouted nuts and seeds, allowing milk to be saved for donations to chocolate factories and preschool job fairs.

Hewing true to the principles espoused in Jenny's book The Art of Raw Living Food, the restaurant's premade, take-home meals are carefully calibrated to support clean organs, strong metabolisms, and likelihood of naming a child Kale. Already low in nut content, the oft-changing menu may be customized to accommodate food allergies.

Crepes are by definition light and delicate, a stark contrast to the heavy metal aesthetic of Rockin Crepes where chefs in black T-shirts name dishes after bands such as Motley Crue or White Zombie. Ingredients such as dark chocolate, strawberries, and marshmallow cream inspired diners to elect Rockin Crepes a finalist for CityVoter's Best Desserts in Orange County in 2011, but the menu also conquers savory territory. Fondue plates give diners the chance to dunk morsels of focaccia bread, marshmallows, or fruit into creamy melted cheeses and chocolates, and smoothies deliver blends of fresh fruit without any additional sugars, syrups, or cherry-shaped air fresheners. Rockin Crepes encourages their guest's inner children with vintage Atari games and brings out their inner fanatics with sport nights featuring NBA, NHL, and college football games on 15 televisions.

A warm breeze wafts over the iron chairs and benches gathered under palm trees. Lights glow on the airy porches of the buildings across the courtyard. Inside, guests clink wineglasses under a spiral of white string lights, surrounded by bistro tables topped with floral arrangements and tall wooden wine racks. CA WineRoom's outdoor and indoor seating immerses visitors in an intimate atmosphere inspired by the state's coastal and Spanish roots.

CA WineRoom's wine director, Noah Buffet, extends this local focus to his menu: he features only California wines and specializes in smaller batches from family wineries. The selection spans cabernets, chardonnays, and zinfandels from the coast of Mendocino County, Napa Valley, and the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas, and there's a handful of California craft beers on tap as well. Live music often complements drinking here: guest musicians, including pianists, monkeys with accordions, and folk bands, play each Thursday, and the lounge hosts live jazz every Saturday night.

Midnight Muncheez's delivery people zip late-night nourishment to residents of Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, and Huntington Beach until 3 a.m. on weeknights and 4 a.m. on weekends. Callers quell after-hours belly rumblings with carne-asada tacos and 14-inch Hawaiian pizzas. Beer and wine are also available for delivery.