CODE, O.C.’s Newest Concept Celebrates its Grand Opening

Looking for an upscale ambience with the hottest lounge in fine dining and a night club to hob nob amongst the most influential and elite fashionista? Welcome to CODE, visionary restaurateur, Moe Ghazi’s latest nightlife installation in Newport Beach.

Mr. Ghazi is no foreigner in creating successful venues; his newest concept is CODE. The restaurant is open to the public; however CODE membership is either by invitation or matching criteria. The establishment keeps information of your frequency, appearance, spending habits, food preferences, and detail of all your visits. The goal is to receive personalized service in the restaurant as a VIP. Your dirty martini and rare steak will be prepared exactly to your liking because it’s all in your personal data. Even a minute detail as your choice of black over white napkin will be noted. After your 4 month trial period review, if you and your friend’s activities qualify the desired profile, your temporary copper card becomes the permanent platinum with your very own code number. Membership benefits include complimentary valet parking, highest priority restaurant seating, best table bottle service, invitations to CODE themed events, food and wine tasting, and more to come. The most attractive advantage is access to the hard-to-get-in venues in L.A. and Vegas. Want four tickets to that high profile boxing fight followed by clubbing at Pure in Vegas? No worry, as a CODE member, you have guaranteed seating to that match and someone will personally escort you to the club with no wait. “We encourage you to give your “CODE” to people for access of a like profile but do not give your “CODE” to a person that you would not rub elbows with.” Mr. Ghazi tries to evoke an environment where a certain caliber of clientele would habituate. According to him, it is not how much you spend but more importantly your frequent visits looking absolutely fabulous in hopes of giving the place a classy and cool vibe.

At the grand opening party, the scene looked like a snapshot from L.A. with eager guests waiting in the long line with anticipation of experiencing the newest buzz. Meanwhile, valet parked exotic cars for VIP and outsiders pleaded for a glimpse of the good life. With the approving eyes of the burly bouncer and handsome security with earpiece and walkie talkie in hand, you turn around the corner and walk some distance to finally arrive at the final destination: CODE.

Inside is earth and water, Ken Ussenko’s Zen vision for the establishment. As you enter, a path way symbolizing the Silk Road directly leads you to the focal point, the bar, which represents water. Shelves of bottles flank a shadow box where a sultry dancer grooves for your visual pleasure as you admire her sexy silhouette. The interior designer hopes to blend nature and texture in a relaxing upscale setting with each unique element custom designed. The dining area is the lounge itself with the incorporation of comfortable leather and suede couch seating throughout.

The lively venue was packed as over 700 people enjoyed hors d’oeuvres of shrimp cocktail, sushi rolls, salad and other bite-size goodies. Cocktails were served by beautiful waitresses dressed in brown as they effortlessly blended with the decor. For the fashionably late VIP, the restaurant lounge continued to serve its full dinner menu until 2 AM and the chilled bottle of Cristal patiently waited on its prime table as excited clubbers gyrated to the DJ's music on the dance floor.

CODE’s motto is “In Life There Are People That Have A Code…And Those That Do Not.”

www.NewportBeachMagazine.com January 2009 Issue