Scott’s closing Costa Mesa seafood restaurant

Scott’s Restaurant & Bar announced Thursday that it will be closing after 26 years in Costa Mesa’s South Coast Metro district.

Simon Snellgrove, co-founder of the seafood restaurant at 3300 Bristol St., across from South Coast Plaza, said he decided not to renew the lease.

“I am highly proud of what we accomplished at Scott’s,” Snellgrove said in a statement. “It has been a tremendous honor to have served our patrons over the last 26 years. We will cherish the many memories that were created here with generations of families, and we are lucky to have been part of a very special time when the area grew up around us.”

Scott’s will close in January and be replaced by Water Grill, which is slated to take over the lease Feb. 1 and open in August.

Water Grill is owned by Costa Mesa-based King’s Seafood Co. It will be the fourth restaurant in the chain, following others in downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica and San Diego.

Scott’s opened in 1989 as Scott’s Seafood. Founded in San Francisco, Scott’s opened its Costa Mesa restaurant at the request of Henry Segerstrom, co-founder of South Coast Plaza.

In August, it was recognized by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences with an International Star Diamond Award. Scott’s also won a best seafood award at the 2015 Golden Foodies.

In a statement, Scott’s General Manager Robert Redaelli credited executive chef Michael Doctulero and the restaurant’s team.

“It is with a heavy heart that we are ending our time here at South Coast Plaza,” Redaelli said. “Our success is simply a result of the excellence and creativity our team exudes and has maintained consistently for years.”