THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Fig & Olive

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Fig & Olive Restaurant Review:

The scene’s the thing at this incarnation of the New York City-based restaurant, located in the outer circle of Newport Beach’s Fashion Island. The massive space uses bright floors and white hues to capture the vibe put forth by the northwestern Mediterranean menu, while the massive bar/lounge area positioned at the front captures the attention of professionals and the requisite good-looking Newport types. Local ingredients are used to create interpretations of dishes culled from the coastal regions of Spain, France and Italy. Begin your meal with a trio of crostini or the light, clean hamachi crudo, then move on to mushroom croquettes or prime beef carpaccio with truffle oil. The Mediterranean inspiration is also evident among the entrées, as fish options abound, including whole fish like the tableside-prepared branzino for two. Those who wish to stick to land can order the rosemary garlic lamb chops served with cipollini onions and eggplant licorice purée. Desserts are highlighted by the caramelized cheesecake with olive oil crisp and caramelized peaches. There's a scaled down lunch menu and a weekend plated brunch, too. The wine list focuses on varietals from the south of France, Italy and Spain.