From the outside, the new Marriott Irvine Spectrum resembles ... [more]
Food & Drink
Heirloom Farmhouse Kitchen at the New Marriott Irvine Spectrum Is Aimed at Millennials, Connoisseurs of Good Food
From the outside, the new Marriott Irvine Spectrum resembles another one of Irvine’s yawn-inducing office towers. Built with equal portions of glass, steel and concrete, it’s a square-shaped skyscraper that’s neither tall nor architecturally distinctive. The inside, however, is a different story. Marriott invested its $120 million budget in making it, in its own words, […]
Eat This Now: Trio Thursday at Brunos Italian Kitchen
You come to Brunos Italian Kitchen for two things: well-executed Italian fare (all the pasta is made in-house) and the lounge. The downtown Brea eatery offers daily specials and hosts happy hour every night—ideal for getting your evening started or a post-theater bite. But what you want to head here for is Trio Thursday. The […]
South County’s Sol Agave Expands to Mission Viejo!
From gourmet truck to stand alone restaurant to second location, the team at Sol Agave is embracing their restaurant’s growth and extending their reach to not only include San Juan Capistrano, but Mission Viejo’s Union Market. I sat down for dinner with Jessie Galvez (one of the business partners) to learn more about their thriving […]
The C-Words(s): Too Many Chefs in the Kitchen
Twice a month, legendary bartender/chef/restaurant insider Dave Mau pops by Stick A Fork In It to chime in about a random OC food or drink musing of his choice. Enjoy!! “Esse Quam Videri” – To be rather than appear. A couple occurrences gave rise to this week’s post – a serendipitous confluence of events. The […]
Pennywiser Session IPA by Lost Coast Brewing: Our Beer of the Week!
Last weekend’s Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival left (11,500) attendees with the difficult decision of choosing between 150 local craft beers to taste and leaving room for tacos. But thanks to the influx of activities and entertainment – a music line-up that included high energy Ska from Los Kung Fu Monkeys and classic punk […]
Now Open: A New Breakfast Joint in Laguna Hills, and MORE!
Mark your calendars to join us for #Easter #BREAKFAST, #BRUNCH or #LUNCH! #TMinus3Days . 📸: @hellomeridian! . #LePeep #butfirstLePeep #food #foodpic #foodpics #foodie #foodphoto #foodpicture #foods #foodlover #foodpost #foodbaby #foodcoma #delish #delicious #nomnomnom #eat #eats #seriouseats #easter #eastersunday #easter2018 A post shared by Le Peep Restaurants (Homepage) (@le_peep) on Mar 29, 2018 at 2:53pm PDT […]
OC Spring Menu Coverage, Part One
Not too hot, not too cold: Spring is just right in our book. It’s also the time of year when restaurants flaunt seasonal menus. Grab a fork and join us! Montage, Laguna Beach In a recent partnership with nutrition expert and best-selling author Kelly LeVeque, Montage dining outlets the Loft and Mosaic Bar & Grille […]
Isomerizer IPA from Karl Strauss Brewing Company: What the Ale!
In 1989, when friends Matt Rattner and Chris Cramer decided to bring local craft beer to San Diego, they had little idea they would be pioneers of the scene that has taken over Southern California. Cramer’s cousin Karl Strauss—yes, THE Karl Strauss—was originally from Germany, but after fleeing the Nazi regime, he became a […]
Your Coachella Food Guide
Coachella continues to up its game each year. So it’s no surprise that 2018’s food lineup is just as good as the musical one. Here’s our list of must-eat bites for this (and next) weekend’s fest. PIZZANISTA The thin-crust, New York-style pies have earned Pizzanista a ’za seal of approval from just about everyone. Since […]
OC Grub Guide 4/12-4/18: Sanrio, Serato and Sidecar
We spy with our roving eye so many reasons to get out of the house and dine. Brunch, beer dinner, doughnuts and even a festival are in our lineup! Go alone or with a friend; either way, it’ll be good eats. Casa Barilla Carbonara Special – Costa Mesa Happening now through May 6, satisfy […]
Ditch the Utensils and Eat With Your Hands at Bawarchi Biryanis in Lake Forest
After several hours and multiple hand washings, my fingers still bear the aroma of the leftover biryani I ate. It’s because, for the first time, I used my bare hands to consume the entire plate. I was copying the two Indian gents at Bawarchi Biryanis. When I saw how they ate, I was mesmerized. In […]
LB Vegan Is Bringing More Animal-Free Pop-Ups to Long Beach
When German Rivera first went vegan 15 years ago, there were surprisingly few restaurants in L.A. where someone could eat a hearty plant-based meal. The animal lover and graphic designer, who came from a food-obsessed family in Mexico, got excited over simple discoveries: the new Native Foods in Westwood, a secretly all-vegan Thai restaurant in […]
Eat This Now: Character Cones at Eiswelt Gelato
“AWWWW! HOW CUTE!” Servers working behind the counter at Eiswelt Gelato in Westminster probably hear as many gushy greetings as baby animals at a petting zoo. That’s because the desserts they hand over are artfully crafted to resemble the most adorable critters in the pen. And if the routine has gotten old since the shop […]
Now Open: More Paris Baguettes, Another Panini Kabob Grill, and MORE!
Paris Baguette has opened another location. The one at Heritage Plaza in Irvine is its third in the city. The chain also opened a store in La Habra a few weeks ago. 14450 Culver Dr., Irvine, CA 92604. 1370 S. Beach Blvd., Ste. C/D, La Habra, CA 90631. The Kebab Shop, the “Mediterranean Comfort Food” […]
Shotgun Golf Kellerbier Style by Asylum Brewing: Our Beer of the Week!
A good craft beer bar will offer the latest brews from local and hard to get breweries, will usually stay open a little later, and some offer a menu full of delicious bites to pair with your pours. My go to craft beer bar is Mission Bar in Downtown Santa Ana, a small place with […]
Drink of the Week: Mezcal Flight at Lola’s Mexican Cuisine
Although Lola’s Mexican Cuisine in Long Beach has a well-deserved reputation for its unique craft cocktails, the restaurant also serves both tequila and mezcal flights that pair perfectly with a selection of happy-hour shareables such as the succulent tinga tostaditas, handmade sopes and queso fundido. My favorite is the mezcal flight, which transported me back […]
KLOS Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival: What the Ale!
If Instagram is the new Facebook, then April 7 is the new Cinco de Mayo, as that’s when the KLOS Sabroso Craft Beer, Taco & Music Festival returns to Doheny Beach in Dana Point. ¡Arriba! This will be my first time at Sabroso, and I’m looking forward to the beachside setting. I’m practicing my taco […]
Chef Jon Blackford Dishes On Upcoming CdM Restaurant
Shaken not stirred; photo courtesy A Restaurant Six years after we interviewed Chef Jon Blackford of A Restaurant, we found ourselves back in the plush dining room for a conversation with chef. And while we spent a good portion of our interview exchanging dining experiences, our main reason for meeting was to discuss his upcoming concept, […]
![Bento Box Combo at Panda Kitchen [Hole in the Wall]](https://www.ocweekly.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/HITW_Panda_Kitchen-348x180.jpg)
Bento Box Combo at Panda Kitchen [Hole in the Wall]
Aside from its less-than-subtle logo and name mimicking a familiar American-style Chinese chain, Panda Kitchen is your standard local takeout joint, equipped with friendly service, comfort and styrofoam boxes packed to their limits with food. Expect to see a steam table of Chinese fast-food staples: orange chicken, beef with broccoli, chow mein and fried rice. […]
Not Going to Coachella 2018? You Can Still See Some of Your Favorite Artists Perform
Part of the beauty of Coachella being so close to the bustling array of venues in the Southern (and Central and Northern) California music scenes means that you don’t have to shell out $1000+ bucks to see artists on the 2018 lineup! Didn’t manage to score that ticket to Coachella this year? Didn’t care about […]
Eat This Now: Firepig Tacos at Taco Asylum
I’ve been eating Taco Asylum’s Firepig tacos for years, since before they were even called by that name. When the Costa Mesa eatery opened at the Camp, its ghost chile tacos were somewhat larger and a tad spicier than today’s version and were served with crispy pork cracklins and chile threads as fine as hairs. […]
