Restaurant Review:

The few times I had been to the Quiet Woman prior to a recent lunch, I thought I was going to be crushed by all the people packed in there.

After a night of sushi and sake, my friend and I thought it would be smart to get a nightcap at the Corona del Mar hot spot.

We learned that ownership spent about $100,000 on renovations, and it was money well spent.

The dining room is lighter and brighter, helped by rich tones on the walls, some etched glass dividing the rows of booths and stained glass replaced with clear panes.

It opened the room up, and I was amazed at how much bigger the room appeared.

Lunch also got an overhaul. A new menu, which is a couple of months old, reflects a change in philosophy and complements the physical changes to the restaurant.

The first thing I noticed were the prices. The cost of the food is reasonable, and the most expensive item is the $18 charcuterie, which includes foie gras mousse, salami, prosciutto, pear chutney, Camembert and country mustard.

Most of the entrees were in the $10 to $14 range, and the second thing I noticed was the creative diversity of the food.

There are four regular fish dishes, including caramelized sea scallops drizzled with a roasted red pepper garlic butter.

My meal began with a seafood bisque, which was the best $4 soup I’ve ever had.

The rich tomato base with heavy cream was filled with chunks of halibut, snapper and swordfish.

Usually these items are a way to clear out the fish that is close to expiration, but the pieces I tasted were pretty fresh.

My entrée was the grilled Reuben panini, which had lean corned beef with a slice of black forest ham.

The requisite piece of Swiss cheese was there, and they added pickles to the sauerkraut. The additions to the traditional ingredients worked well, and I liked the panini style of preparation.

The side salad that came with it was a bulgur wheat couscous that was fantastic.

It had mint, dried cranberries, almonds and parsley with a lemon vinaigrette.

This could be one of the best side orders I have ever had.

There are about eight other menu items that I am curious to try.

The relaxing atmosphere of lunch made the visit pleasant, and I could see myself and others forming a new generation of afternoon regulars.

Quiet Woman Restaurant and Bar

Address: 3224 E Coast Hwy, Corona del Mar

Phone: (949) 640-7440

Website: www.quietwoman.com

Cuisine: American

Specialty dish: Rosemary pork loin

Alcohol served: Full bar

Entrée price range: $10 to $18

Family friendly: Yes, seven-item children’s menu

Credit cards accepted: American Express, MasterCard and Visa

Rating: *** 1/2

JOHN REGER reviews local restaurants and may be contacted at [email protected] or P.O. Box 2984, Seal Beach, CA 90740.