RESTAURANT ROUNDUP:

Planning that graduation party or rehearsal dinner, but haven’t quite found where to host it? You might want to consider Maggiano’s Little Italy at South Coast Plaza. The restaurant has opened up two private banquet rooms and has two more due to open in April, in time for the busy spring and summer wedding season.

Maggiano’s, 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, just opened up the new Barolo and Café rooms. The Barolo has room for 40 guests and the Cafe Room has space for 50. The Bella and San Remo rooms are scheduled to open in April. That will offer room for 100 more customers.

To make a reservation or to get more information, call Maggiano’s at (714) 546-9550 or go to maggianos.com.

Taste Orange County during week

Don’t forget — start making reservations for the inaugural Orange County Restaurant Week, which includes many Newport-Mesa restaurants. What a treat coming on the heels of Newport Beach’s restaurant week. If you didn’t get your prix-fixe then you surely will now. But wait, there’s more. Newport Beach will have another restaurant week this fall. And so will the county. It’s a foodie’s fantasy.

Starting Sunday, you can sample some of the fine fare at fixed prices at dozens of eateries throughout the county. For a list or to make a reservation go to orangecountyrestaurantweek.com.

Also, next week you can check out live cooking demonstrations from 13 chefs participating in Orange County Restaurant Week. The food will be flying at Bloomingdale’s Home Store at South Coast Plaza. For details, go to orangecountyrestaurantweek.com/cooking_with_the_experts.html.

— Paul Anderson