The Mastro family’s new restaurant is its most spectacular yet.

Chief executive chef Marc Lupino leads the culinary operations at Mastro family-owned steak and seafood restaurants from Beverly Hills to Chicago. James Beard-nominated restaurateurs Jeffrey and Michael Mastro and their father, Dennis, created their first restaurant group in 1999, sold it in 2007, and four years later launched another. Lupino opened the original Mastro’s 25 years ago and today oversees 10 locations. The most spectacular – with stylish light fixtures and huge spheres high above a reflecting pool in the main dining room — is new Ocean 48 at Fashion Island.

How would you compare Ocean 48 to the original Mastro’s restaurants?

Ocean 48 is so guest-forward — luxury, luxury service. Six different spaces, six different experiences. I can bring in every awesome seafood and meat product I want. We cut all of our own meat now. Nothing is prepackaged. Cutting your own meat is extremely difficult. But a lot of good comes from it, and the guest gets all that good.

What are some of the more intriguing dishes?

Lobster escargot! Soft-poached lobster tail and claw meat, a bit of butter, garlic, wine and lemon, presented in escargot dishes, topped with truffle mornay and caviar. And bone-in Iberico pork chops. They come from Spain. That’s the beauty of being owned by a family: not every item has to be a money-maker.

What would you order at Ocean 48?

Imperial caviar, the best of the best. That’s how I’m starting the night! For appetizers, clams out of the wood-burning oven and the Prime beef meatballs. The main: New York strip, medium rare. A New York is either incredible … or somebody’s skimping! So many great desserts. I’d probably go with the key lime pie; it’s got that tang.

What do you love most about your job?

The people. Mentoring people. Changing people’s lives. The look on people’s faces when they have a fantastic meal. I even love people when they have an issue — going out to the table, talking to them, figuring out how I can make it better.