There were no fanfares, no spotlights – and certainly no advance advertising. The Five Crowns opened quietly on the night of Apwithout any pomp and circumstance. Dining at Avila’s is like being a part of their family. The Avilas credit the longevity of their family restaurant to the love and unity of their family, Mama’s authentic recipes, their pledge to serving fresh food made from scratch and a decision to have a member of the Avila family oversee each restaurant. The Newport Beach location opened in 1975 and another in Corona del Mar 20 years ago in 1996. Three generations later, Avila’s El Ranchito remains an icon in the region’s culinary. This year, A Restaurant celebrates 90 incredible years and is the oldest operating restaurant in Orange County.Ĭelebrating its 50th anniversary this year, Avila’s El Ranchito’s owners Salvador and Margarita Avila opened their first location in Huntington Park with a modest $2,000 investment, and a collection of Mama Avila’s recipes. His regularly changing menu consists of sophisticated dishes of land and sea that pair perfectly with A’s cozy, romantic and lively atmosphere. With its seasonally-inspired, contemporary new American menu, Chef Jonathan Blackford and his team showcase the restaurant’s relationships with many local farms and purveyors. The Arches became A Restaurant in 2008, and while its appearance and function have changed over time, its commitment to customer and community has not. The restaurant and its menu flourished together, and was touted for its French food by the early 1970s. The Arches began as a basic roadside diner, featuring steak, seafood and celebrities in the 40s, 50s and 60s. The distinct Mediterranean style of the original buildings, with arches and red tile roofs, quickly made it a recognizable staple of Newport Beach as it helped shape and inspire the town in its early stages. Originally built as a restaurant and service station by John Vilelle and James Sturgeon, it was named by 10-year-old Victor Chatten in a contest advertised in the Balboa Times. In 1925, Coast Highway opened from Huntington Beach to Newport Beach, that same year, construction on The Arches began.