One of our new favorite new escapes down the 405 Freeway South, is The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, in the often overlooked Huntington Beach area of Orange County. This oceanfront retreat will unveil a new fine-dining venue, Henry’s Restaurant, as the latest installment in the award-winning property’s mega-expansion. Set to open in mid-April, the restaurant will offer a premier culinary adventure through locally-inspired farm to table creations by Chef de Cuisine Kenny Seliger. Situated steps from the sand, and the pier, the new dining outlet will showcase innovative seasonal menus with a range of land and sea options, accompanied by an extensive California-centric wine selection.
As homage to his childhood in Germany where he spent summers cooking with his grandmother using ingredients from the family’s farm, Chef Seliger has always valued the earth’s natural resources and designed the new menus with that in mind. Patrons will be excited to experience Chef’s unique culinary skills and be delighted to know all his creations are made in-house, from dressing to dessert. Signature dishes will include Mussels on the Rocks with a Bok Choy Puree, Sustainable Kanpachi Bowl with Omega Blue Kanpachi Sashimi and House-made Kimchi, Burrata and Asparagus with Almond Pumpernickel Soil, New York Steak or Mangalitsa Pork Chop with Fresh Wasabi Root and Black Sea Salt, and Testaroli Pasta with a Cream of Kale Sauce. End the meal with decadent desserts such as Milk Chocolate Mousse with a Caramel Filling or Pomegranate Mousse with Chocolate Crumble.
Named after Henry Huntington, a railroad mogul who put Huntington Beach on the map in the early 1900’s by agreeing to bring his “Red Car Service” to the city with a stop next to the iconic Huntington Beach Pier, the new restaurant will celebrate Southern California culture with the freshest, high-quality ingredients from top purveyors throughout the state. Henry Huntington was known for attracting residents and visitors from Los Angeles to Orange County, and Henry’s Restaurant aims to follow suit.
“We are thrilled to open Henry’s Restaurant this spring and feature not only the best local ingredients, but really the culinary creativity we can showcase as a result of the tremendous bounty we have access to,” Chef Seliger said. “We are not afraid to be innovative with simple ingredients and prepare dishes that pair foods and spices that will entice your senses. While we can’t bring back Mr. Huntington or his Red Car railway service, we can celebrate all that he did for this city, starting with the native cuisine.”
Chef Seliger helmed the popular German eatery in Los Angeles, Wirshaus, for years before moving to New York City and working at some of the busiest kitchens in the city. Since returning to the West Coast, he has worked in luxury resort restaurants including The Loft at Montage Laguna Beach and The Waterfront Beach Resort’s new rooftop outlet, Offshore 9 Rooftop Lounge.
The Waterfront Beach Resort is currently offering a pop-up version of Henry’s Restaurant inside the hotel’s Boardwalk Restaurant, where guests can try new dishes from the Henry’s menu ahead of the opening date and provide feedback to the culinary team.
While you are there dining and unwinding at the ocean, be sure to save time for a trip to the new Driftwood spa for a facial or massage, and then watch the sunset from the rooftop cocktail deck.
For additional information, please visit: https://www.waterfrontresort.com/dining/henrys-restaurant
