cdmedici's Profile
Pizzeria Mozza, Newport Beach - has anyone been?
I been twice now. Once for the pre-opening and then again on Sat night. Everything was totally on par with my many trips to the LA location.
In fact the crust actually seemed lighter and crisper. I preferred it. I also had many of the same antipasti and all were wonderful. I had the corn al forno for the first time on Sat night. Wow...I never have had such a great corn on the cob.
Requesting a Report on Cochon 555
I went and it was pretty awesome. Pig galore. I gotta say that the food did not flow as readily as I had hoped. All in all...a very cool experience.
Party of 20 in Hollywood!
You should definitely consider the newly opened Public Kitchen and Bar in the Roosevelt Hotel. I had a stellar dinner there and if I remember correctly there was a private room towards the back.
Here is my review.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/767958
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Public Kitchen and Bar
7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA 90028
Pizzeria Mozza Newport Beach Opening?
I pass by the construction everyday and it looks to be progressing pretty quick. I would guess completion by Fall. FYI...Pizza e Vino will be opening a Newport Beach location in the Fall.
Fresh Churros in Costa Mesa/Santa Ana
We are having a Mexican themed party this Friday and want to serve fresh churros. Does anyone know were there available in Costa Mesa ideally. I am willing to head down to Santa Ana if need be.
ORANGE COUNTY FOUR RESTAURANTS NEEDED
I read that Pizza e Vino is opening a location in Newport Beach. Does anyone now the address?
Public Kitchen & Bar….my perfect restaurant
I honestly don't remember what my final tab was, but most of the entrees were in the $8-$12 range I think. There was some large entree items like steak that were more expensive, but as you can see...I like the small plate experience.
Public Kitchen & Bar….my perfect restaurant
I haven’t posted in a while on Chowhound. Mostly because some of my favorite experiences I have had at LA/OC restaurants in the past 6 months have already been described better by other chowhounds.
I do feel compelled to talk about my experience at the recently opened restaurant and the reason that I described it as “my perfect restaurant”.
While I loved my meals at Bazaar, it is more a “show” or dinner theatre than a place to grab a delicious meal often and on a whim. I also had a great meal at Animal and devoured every gut busting fat laden protein on my plate, while my wife sat across the table less than impressed by the décor & noise level and even more annoyed by that lack of food choices for her….no doubt we will not be having any date nights there in the near future. The Lazy Ox was also as terrific experience for me, except that it easily accessible for lunch but with an extremely limited menu. At dinner this tiny tavern is a madhouse. Not to mention that some of the dishes were brilliant while others left something to be desired. Then I had a great meal at Marche Moderne. Almost everything was executed very well but…I am just so over the super formality of places like this.
Why can’t I find a restaurant that serves the type of food I love eat, with a warm and casual service and a stylish ambiance? A place that I can go to on a weekly basis and not get bored, a place that prepares dishes I have enjoyed a million times but takes them to a higher level? Sort of an American Brasserie and not the overplayed Gastro Pub. In other words… what would it be like to be invited to an extraordinary chefs house for dinner instead of eating at their fancy pants restaurant?
My chowhound friends…I have found that place. Now I am not going to assume that all of you like the same food as me, so I will simply say that I was fortunate enough to go to the pre-opening on Sat night and seriously found myself in a culinary food paradise. I felt like I was in a “No Reservations” episode where Anthony Bordain said “bring it on” to the server and kept ordering tons of amazing food and then as he put each bite in his mouth you could see the look of food porn ecstasy in his face.
Public Kitchen & Bar is the new restaurant by Tim & Liza Goodell. It took the same space at Dakota in the Roosevelt Hotel and based on my experience last weekend it is a winner!
I snagged a menu so I can describe what I ate and because I am one of those geeks that takes pics of my food I was able to reference what I ordered.
Chicken Liver Terrine served w/ kumquat preserves
Cheese Fritters, Chicharrones with Chili & Lime
Cured & Smoked Steelhead Trout w/ the Fingerling Potato Salad
Potato Tart with Caramelized Onions & Pancetta
Gnudi with Brown Butter & Bacon
Diver Scallops with Zucchini Risotto & Mint Mascarpone
Neapolitan Meatballs with Sugo, Pine Nuts & Currants
Crab Feuilles Des Brik w/ Espelette Aioli (this can only be described as the best crab cake ever and I don’t even like crab cake. It is 100% Dungeness Crab wrapped in a crispy type crepe)
Sweet Garlic Soup w/ Little Neck Clams, Potatoes & Bacon
Crispy Oxtail Galette with Poached Farm Egg
Beef Brisket Pot Roast, Red Wine & Wild Mushroom Sausage w/ Crispy Potato Cake & Black Truffle Sauce
Fried Oyster Po Boy (instead of a French roll it I think they used Brioche…so good)
Tourtiere Quebec Meat Pie.
Then onto dessert..
Warm Berlineres filled with marmalade and served with vanilla sauce
Cheese Blintzes w/ Mountian Huckleberries,
Chocolate & Butterscotch Pudding
Valrhona Chocolate Souffle
All in all this one was on the most memorable dining experiences I have had. Perhaps in the next few days I can come up with some criticisms but as on now I can only think of how great everything was.
é by José Andrés
We ate their last night and it was unbelievable. One of the best experiences I have ever had. BTW...Kevin, I got the rezzies using the email you provided. Thank you very much!!
In search of a "seafood" restaurant for dinner in Costa Mesa/Huntington Beach/Newport Beach area
FYI...Oysters is closed. It is now El Ranchito.
Best Pizza in Orange County?
I've been to ECCO and Ortica but my consistent fav is Il Dolce in Costa Mesa.
Inexpensive lunch in Costa Mesa (close to South Coast Plaza)
Rooster Cafe makes a pretty impressive house cured pastrami sandwich. Great prices cool vibe.
http://eatatrooster.com/
Sushi in Newport coast area
Its in West Newport, but Fuji Yama is a great all around sushi/japanese restaurant. It is nice inside, but very casual. You can feel very comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt. The sushi is solid and the prices are great.
4511 W. Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Tel: 949-548-7200
Where can I find an Australian style hamburger in O.C.?
Problem solved. My favorite burger in OC hands down is at 25 Degrees in Huntington Beach (there is also one in LA in the Roosevelt Hotel). While beet is not one of the toppings on the menu, they do have a beet salad. I am sure if you ask they would do it for you.
I know for sure they offer a fried egg for the burgers because that is how I get it done there.
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25 Degrees
412 Walnut Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92648
ISO Beach restaurant in OC for party of 50
I can't way I was overwhelmed with the food, but the new Sandy at the Beach in Huntington Beach might be a great option. The patio is literally steps away from the sand and should be able to hold 50 no problem. This is the restaurant that was formerly Chimayo right underneath Dukes.
I went to a birthday party there about 2 months ago and everyone seemed to enjoy the vibe.
Kimera Restaurant - New and improved!!!! (aka..there's a new chef in town)
Tracicat...
I don't now about the wine dinners. I will have to check that out. How often do they have them?
New Trial...
The chef told me so and I just looked online to see. It appears that they have a new lunch menu and a separate bar menu. I see some of the old favorites, but lots of new stuff like House Made Corned Beef Sandwich, Open Faced Short Rib Sandwich, Hanger Steak & Frites, Fish and Chips and nice looking sliders.
The pizzas have remained...those I remember being very good.
I think I will pop in for lunch today or tomorrow and report back. I put links to the menus.
http://www.diningasart.com/pdf/KimeraCharcuterie.pdf
http://www.diningasart.com/pdf/KimeraDinnerMenu.pdf
http://www.diningasart.com/pdf/KimeraLunchMenu.pdf
http://www.diningasart.com/pdf/KimeraBarMenu.pdf
Trying to eat organic/seasonal in OC: is it hopeless?
I just reviewed Kimera. The new chef is going the seasonal high quality ingredient route with a modern american classic food spin. I had a great meal there last weekend.
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/717286?tag=main_body;topic-717286
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Kimera Restaurant
19530 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, CA 92612
Kimera Restaurant - New and improved!!!! (aka..there's a new chef in town)
I went to Kimera a few times when it first opened and I really enjoyed the "Global Fusion" menu. I'm not sure what happened, but soon after things changed... not for the better. (Perhaps the original chef left?) All I know is that the menu became pretty conventional. I still went on occasion for lunch as I have clients in the area, but it always seemed like the bar area would be full but the dining area stayed pretty quiet. What a shame because the restaurant is very beautiful.
Needless to say I went for dinner the other night because I heard they had a new chef. My family was in town and I wanted to take them somewhere that has a very different ambiance from what they are used to in a small town…. and I have been pretty burnt out with all of the Laguna, Corona Del Mar & Newport Beach restaurants where we frequently dine. To be honest, I am guilty of never wanting to drive to Irvine for dinner... unless it is for Chinese food.
I was not only impressed, but totally blown away from what I was expecting.
The whole menu has changed and they also had some specials that night that my whole family tried. The new chef seems totally committed to using only top quality seasonal ingredients. I haven't seen some of these ingredients since dining in Seattle where many restaurants are only use locally sourced organic product.
First of all they have a pretty impressive looking charcuterie bar with stools. I don’t remember this being there before. We ordered every meat and cheese they offered that evening. I believe they said the duck prosciutto was house cured. It also came with a wide assortment pickles, mustards, honeys and fruit compotes.
One of the specials was Anson Mills polenta, FRESH porcini mushrooms topped with poached and shaved black truffles. Ridiculously good. If you never heard of Anson Mills, they stone mill all of there grains to order and ship overnight. Its an amazing product for those who love to cook. We also had a very delicious veal saltimbocca stuffed w/ soppressato & smoked mozzarella piled again with fresh porcinis that was on special.
The menu items we had (I am referring to the menu for accuracy) were;
Chicken & Dumpling Soup w/ bloomsdale spinach.
Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit w/ chicory, Satsuma tangerines & citrus vinaigrette
Jumbo Dive Scallops w/ crispy green onion risotto, coriander oil, shaved fennel salad
Parmesan Crusted Blue Nose Sea Bass w/ chickpea & bloomsdale spinach ragout and sweet tomato
Pork Osso Buco w/ mustard grain potatoes and wilted greens.
Everything was well seasoned and executed with a beautiful presentation. I haven’t been this impressed with an Orange County restaurant in quite a while. It was also nice that the chef came out and introduced himself. His name is Jon and told us a bit about his background and his passion for food. I plan on going back soon. I really want to support this guy. Orange County needs more young chefs with his enthusiasm!
If I had any nit picks, it was that the wine list seemed a bit limited. Hopefully this will change. I was also not a fan of the rolls that started out our dinner. I think I am just spoiled by the breadbasket that Mastros offers. The bar & lunch menu is new as well and I plan on checking it out soon
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Kimera Restaurant
19530 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, CA 92612
Easter Sunday Lunch/Brunch in Newport Beach Area - ethnic meal ok
I haven't been before, but we are going to Bayside in Newport Beach this Easter. I have heard great things in the past about their regular Sunday brunch.
Great Chinese (that I can get take-out) in Orange or Tustin
I've heard good things about that place. I have only had Islamic Chinese at Jamillah Garden. I am actually coming up from Newport Beach so that might not give me enough time with peak traffic hours. I will put that on my go to list for sure.
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Jamillah Garden
2512 Walnut Ave Ste 1, Tustin, CA 92780
Great Chinese (that I can get take-out) in Orange or Tustin
I have never heard of Asian Bistro. I will check it out. I was considering Tri-Village, although part of my goal was to find a new place close to my parents house so they would have a new place. They are not the type to drive very far...I am talking about like 2-3 miles.
Great Chinese (that I can get take-out) in Orange or Tustin
I am seeing my parents who live in Orange tomorrow. They put me in charge of picking up Chinese food. I usually go to King Lobster on Tustin, but they told me the last couple of times they went it wasn't very good. They told me to find them a new place...Help!!
Newport Beach/Balboa Island lunch recommendations
If you want hidden local gem you should check out Sabatino's....if you can find it :-) It is a family run homestyle Italian restaurant in the Lido Shipyard.
It has some of the best homemade Italian sausage I have ever had.
Where did Goro and Judy from Angotei in Costa Mesa end up???
Their new place has been open for many months now. It is called Nana San. Give it a visit. I have been many times and it is wonderful.
3601 Jamboree St., Ste. 15B
Newport Beach CA 92660
Newport Beach Sat. night
How about Mastro's Ocean Club for great steak and seafood, Canaletto is a great Italian restaurant in Fashion Island. I haven't been to Andrea at the new Pelican Hill Resort but if you are looking for an fancy place that should fit the bill.
The Meat House in Costa Mesa
I have always thought of myself as a purest when it comes to steak. Salt & pepper and no sauce, but my mind has been changed since trying a couple of there marinated meats. I have some marinated chicken the other day and it turned out great.
I was also impressed with there cheese selection and the fact that they have my favorite dried pasta called Rustichelli d'Abruzzo. This is the most amazing pasta and I thought that Surfas was the only place to get it.
The Meat House in Costa Mesa
Has anyone else been to this place? I have been a few times and I love it!! Besides a ridiculous selection of meat they have a ton a great gourmet items.
Il Dolce Pizzeria- Costa Mesa....finally a real deal unpretentious artisanal pizzeria
Too answer both christoofat and Harry.
I have been there four times and have never seen it too busy. Sad really. It deserves to be.
I think they open at 11:30 and they are open continuously.
Il Dolce Pizzeria- Costa Mesa....finally a real deal unpretentious artisanal pizzeria
Touche Professor.
Some of my friends think I am nuts when I talk about really good pizza as they are quite content with Pizza Hut etc. Great pizza is a true art form.
