Cocktails

Rose Canyon Margarita at Rose Canyon Cantina, Our Drink of the Week!

The Rose Canyon Cantina, tucked away behind the last gasps of all-look-same inland South County in its own oak-lined dell, is the least likely place in the county to find a real, honest-to-God, Jalisco-style margarita. Most of the patrons are drinking tequila-tinged swill with bottled margarita mix ... More >>

Pie Society Bar Opens Behind Pitfire Pizza in Costa Mesa

Somehow, after many, many months of successfully dodging media events and previews and other assorted occasions where I actually have to behave myself in front of my esteemed colleagues, I ended up at four events in a week. The one I was looking most forward to, because I have this dream of being a ... More >>

Bartenders Tell All: What Your Drink Says About You

Someone on Reddit posed a question to bartenders: "What do drink orders say about people?" The responses that followed are enlightening and pretty hilarious. Redditor pres82 wrote this definitive guide. (Note to self: No White Russians ever.)

On the Line: Ali H. Zadeh of Port Restaurant, Part One

We met chef Ali H. Zadeh during Newport Beach Restaurant Week. Port Restaurant isn't your typical beach-city dining establishment. Then again, Zadeh isn't your typical proprietor. How do you define global cuisine? It is essentially international cuisine, or cuisines of the world. Cuisine is a style ... More >>

Bar Crawl In Progress: Little Sparrow Cafe Opens in Santa Ana

Remember two weeks ago, when I mentioned that we were just a bar or two short of a real honest-to-God bar crawl in downtown Santa Ana, one that only requires taxis at the start and end? Well, chalk up another craft cocktail bar and restaurant: Little Sparrow Café will be opening in what was former ... More >>

Pitfire Pizza To Open Pie Society, A Secret Late-Night Speakeasy

It never fails. The word "secret" always sends off a jolt of immediacy. Secret? What secret? WE NEED TO KNOW!   What we discovered is this: Pitfire Pizza in Costa Mesa is opening a hidden speakeasy in the back of the restaurant at the end of May. It's called Pie Society and it'll have its ... More >>

Bloody Mary at Back Bay Tavern at Whole Foods Market Newport Beach, Our Drink of the Week!

Earlier this week, I attended a special dinner by Clay Oven Irvine executive chef-owner Geeta Bansal at Whole Foods Market's Newport Beach location. It's a snug space that's encyclopedic in its offerings but not as intimidating as the cavernous Tustin location. But what I didn't expect was its Back ... More >>

An Open Letter to the Mad Men-Obsessed, Or How to Make a Damn Old Fashioned

Lately, I've had to resort to picky douchebaggery when ordering Old Fashioneds in bars, just as when I order a martini. It's all the fault of the writers and producers of Mad Men, who wouldn't know a good Old Fashioned if it got spilled on their nuts.We're not going to get into the martini thing a ... More >>

Drink of the Week: Moscow Mule on Tap at Broadway by Amar Santana

"What's that copper cup on the tap?" "Moscow Mules on tap." "You're insane. Nobody puts cocktails on tap." "We do."Insane or not, Gabrielle Dion, Ricky Yarnall and David Valiante at Laguna Beach's Broadway by Amar Santana have indeed been creating enormous batches of cocktails, carbonating them ... More >>

PigOut 1.0

Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort

Hillbilly Spritzer at the Catch, Our Drink of the Week!

You know what restaurant is underrated? The Catch in Anaheim. Oh, it's not lacking in attention, from the crowds that flood the place come Angels and Ducks time to the media obsession over their Brobdingnagian four-pound OMG burger. But lost in all the hubbub is that the Catch makes great food: migh ... More >>

Tomorrow: Rob Floyd, Lead Bartender at The Bazaar, To Mix Vintage Cocktails At South Coast Plaza (Plus: A Special Recipe!)

Devout cocktail enthusiasts not only know how to mix vintage libations, but can tell you the stories behind them. For instance, the Sidecar was first created during World War I in Paris when an American soldier ordered the drink and it was served aboard the sidecar of his motorcycle. The Singapore S ... More >>

Eso Es Todo Amigo at Matador Cantina, Our Drink of the Week!

I remember downtown Fullerton when it was abandoned buildings awaiting the wrecking ball. I remember downtown Fullerton when antique shops brought in nothing but coffin dodgers, and the only cool place for young adults was Black Hole Records, the Hub, and the Reagan Years. I remember downtown Fuller ... More >>

Don Darox and the Melody Joy Bakers

Pike Bar

Drunk After Work: Hamamori

The Place: Hamamori Restaurant & Sushi Bar, 3333 Bear St., Suite 320, Costa Mesa; 714-850-1549; www.hamamorisushi.com.The Hours: Every day, 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m.The Deal: Signature cocktails and sushi rolls for $7; assorted appetizers up to $9; house wine and sake for $5.

The Stinger at Memphis at the Santora, Our Drink of the Week!

​I basically live at Memphis at the Santora, the grand dame of downtown SanTana's food scene, swimming through a sea of Manhattans and climbing mountains of bread pudding every week, if not night. We named them Best Bar last year, an honor well-deserved and one that they're not resting on at all. ... More >>

Matthew Robold, OC Bartender. In Finals to Be Official Tommy Bahama "Rumologist"

​Matthew Robold of Orange, better known as Rumdood, has advanced to the top ten of the nationwide search for the official "Rumologist" position with Tommy Bahama. Given the videos chosen for the top ten, it would appear that the requirements for the position are resistance to cirrhosis, a penchant ... More >>

Brunch a Bunch Across OC!

OC's best brunches: The ethnic, the gorgeous views and the bottomless booze!

Pawnshop Kings

Commonwealth Lounge & Grill

Drink of the Week: DonQ Cristal Rum

Disregard Confederate Calvin, por favor...​Mexicans drink tequila, mezcal, sotol, pulque, beer, brandy, whiskey, more beer . . . you get the picture. But rum? Maybe in the Gulf of Mexico region, but the only sugarcane-based alcohol the wabs I know like are charanda (all those damn michoacanos) and ... More >>

Cherry Thyme Martini at Haven Gastropub, Our Drink of the Week

Sorry, folks: I was too busy engrossed in a Harper's article to remember to take a picture of the booze. But pick up our dead-tree edition this Thursday for a peek! In the meanwhile, drool over this burger...​You'd think Haven Gastropub would be a bit easier to get into now that Chapman University ... More >>

320 Main Makes Jonathan Gold's List of LA's 55 Best Cocktails!

Seal Beach: Not LA, but who cares?​LA Weekly's Pulitzer Prize-winning food critic Jonathan Gold's list of Los Angeles' 55 best cocktails is essential reading, not so much for the drunk aspect but to hear him drop history bits after history bits on cocktails, restaurants, and so much more. But noth ... More >>

Red Chair Martini at Red Chair Lounge, Our Drink of the Week

Jessica Ford​There are three reasons to go to a swanky hotel bar: well-crafted cocktails, no crowds and stiff pours. The Red Chair Lounge, inside the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach, may be walking distance from Main Street but it's clear you will arrive to a completely different crowd. The Red ... More >>

Drunk After Work: AVIA Lounge

​The Place: AVIA Lounge at the AVIA Hotel, 285 Bay St., Long Beach, (562) 436-1047; www.aviahotels.com.The Hours: Sun.-Thurs., 4-7 p.m.The Deal: Sunday S.I.N nights (Sunday Industry Nights) with $3 beers, $4 libations, $5 glass of wine, $8 Martini Mondays, $8 Tequila Tuesdays, $5 Wine Wednesdays ( ... More >>

Instant Weekend: The Easiest Tequila Drink Ever

Tequila, Jarritos and $4 for tacos later on. It's the weekend in Anaheim, man.​It's almost the weekend. It's almost a long weekend for many people. Time to bust out the liquor and celebrate!No, damn it, don't make another margarita. Time to learn to drink tequila mixed drinks the Mexican way.Not t ... More >>

Drink of the Week: Halle Berry at The Cellar

​Since Fullerton's the Cellar is one of OC's finest dining establishments, well-known for its extensive wine list, its staff could theoretically get a pass were they not able to make top-rate cocktails. But that's not how the Cellar rolls. 

Drunk After Work: Agora

The Place: Agora, 1830 Main St., Irvine, (949) 222-9910; www.agorachurrascaria.com. The Hours: Daily 3-7 p.m.The Deal: $10-$12 caipirinhas, martinis and mojitos. $6-$10 wines by the glass. Only in the bar area: $9 for one trip to the hot food sides and salad bar. $4 for 3 small bites of churra ... More >>

Drunk After Work: Wildfish Seafood Grille

Edwin GoeiThe Place: Wildfish Seafood Grille, 1370 Bison Ave., Newport Beach, (949) 720-9925; eddiev.com. The Hours: Tues.-Sat., 4-7 p.m.; Sun.-Mon., 4-11 p.m.The Deal: $5-$8 appetizers. $6 wines by the glass. $6 Svedka Vodka martinis, mojitos, or margaritas.

Tech N9ne

The Grove

Big Fish Bowl at House of Big Fish

Jessica Ford​It's too obvious that the House of Big Fish & Ice Cold Beer sells . . . beer. When you read through the extensive beer list, don't overlook the cocktail menu. It contains a few treasures, and of course, it helps that many of the drinks are served in 21 oz. schooner glasses.

Five Real Mexican Drinks for Cinco de Mayo

Let's just get this straight right away, OK?Yes, Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday. It's a Mexican holiday the way Patriots' Day is an American holiday. Patriots' Day is only observed in two out of the 50 American states (Massachusetts and Maine, in case you were wondering); Cinco de Mayo is only o ... More >>

Drunk after Work: Lola Gaspar

Lola Gaspar seems to be one of Gustavo's least favorite restaurants, and his post on its opening is one of the most-commented posts ever to appear on Stick a Fork In It.It turns out they have a happy hour siesta hour, so it was time to see whether they'd found their groove, while sipping a cool marg ... More >>

Drink of the Week: Chocolate Candy Cane at Montage

Jessica Ford Chocolate Candy Cane​Montage in Laguna Beach is one of the swankiest hotels in the area, but you get your money's worth when it comes to drinks at the Lobby Lounge. After you valet park your BMW or Mercedes (whichever), pass through the initial entrance of the hotel and you ... More >>

Drink of the Week: Strawberry Mojito at Habana Restaurant

​ Nom. That's pretty much the best way to describe today's Drink of the Week. But for the sake of coherency, I'm going to elaborate further. If you know Costa Mesa's Habana Restaurant, you know its Mojitos. They're the most popular drink on the menu; listed in original mint, aged-rum, blackberry, ... More >>

Drink of the Week: Peach Soju Cocktail at Avalon Bar

Grace Le​Oh, Avalon Bar... home, sweet hole-in-the wall. Those of you familiar with this local dive already know at least two major details:1. Contrary to what the kitschy, light bulb-lined arrow pointing down at the bar's entrance may lead you to believe, this is place is no disco.2. This establi ... More >>

Drink of the Week: Mint Julep at Disneyland's Blue Bayou Restaurant

​Unless you're an ex-Mouseketeer, the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or the offspring of one or the other, you're probably not going to make it into Club 33 (Disneyland's hardly secret VIP lounge) for an afternoon highball with Mickey. So then what do you do if your throat's left a little parched f ... More >>

Paradiso Girls

Sutra Lounge

Drink of the Week: Sangria Blanca at Habana

​On the bar at Habana, the Costa Mesa Lab's best Cuban restaurant (ok, The Lab's only Cuban restaurant), there's a row of tall, thin glasses. In each one: some mint leaves, some limes and some liquid -- I presume sugar water -- at the bottom. The place is a mojito factory.But if you venture beyond ... More >>

OC Weekly's Cinco de Mayo Party

Big's

Cover Me Badd

Cover Me Badd

Cheap Easy Mondays

Paradise

[¡Ask a Mexican!®] Legal Mexicans Who Can Become American Citizens But Don't

Circle in the Sand

It's not quite what you expect to see at the beach. A circle of 25 big black boxes, each 8 feet by 8 feet, with impromptu "boardwalks" inside and outside the perimeter, though passers-by can certainly walk in the sand if they choose. Embedded in the boxes are photos depicting frozen moments in extre ... More >>

Laguna Beach

Shopping Bagged

Deck the malls with rounds of Stoli

Mint Juleps, Cornholinand Memphis

Our suet-y Southerner squeals like a pig for Memphis crab cakes

Bar Baseball

Taking one for the team

After-Dinner Tort?

Fine dining for the civic-center crowd at Shellys Courthouse Bistro

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