Please Visit our Partner Sites, GriffinEatsOC.com for Orange County Restaurant Reviews and DiningOutInOC.com for info on OC restaurant openings and special culinary related events.

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

"Kitchen Nightmares" seeks LA and OC area restaurants to be on the show!!!


FOX's hit show "KITCHEN NIGHTMARES" wants to hear from ORANGE COUNTY!



Are you trying to make some green, but still running in the red?

Is your food not the best it should be?

Or maybe you have a great location, but it doesn’t seem to bring in many customers?


Call or Email for Information:

Toll Free: 866-226-2226
kitchennightmaresLA@yahoo.com

Download application or apply online at:
www.theconlincompany.com


Additionally, we're accepting nominations for restaurants from the general eating populace. Here's a blurb about the nomination process:


"Gordon Ramsay needs your help finding his next Kitchen Nightmare!

Has your favorite restaurant gone bad? Have you tried a new eatery only to discover it doesn't cut the mustard? If so, we need your nomination! FOX's hit show, Kitchen Nightmares is currently searching for new restaurants to be featured in the upcoming season. If you know of a restaurant that desperately needs expert guidance, we want to know about it! Send us the restaurant's name, location and a brief description why you think Gordon Ramsay should take over.

e-mail us at: kitchennightmaresLA@yahoo.com or call the hotline with info 1-866-226-2226."

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Melting Pot Hosts "Sassy Sundresses and Sangria"

SASSY SUNDRESSES, HOT RODS AND SANGRIA HEAT UP THE SUMMER EVENING AT THE MELTING POT

ORANGE COUNTY, CA—The Melting Pot is pleased to host “Sassy Sundresses and Sangria” as part of its popular Girls’ Night Out event, held on the last Tuesday of each month at all three locations: Brea, Irvine and San Clemente. “Sassy Sundresses and Sangria” will feature four courses of savory and sweet fondue for $28 per person. Ladies are encouraged to doll up with their girlfriends to enjoy a summer evening out. The evening’s cocktail specials include $6 red or white sangria by the glass and $6 X-Rated Fusion Liqueur martinis. The evening will also feature a classic hot rod car display at each location and a $1 raffle, featuring Sangria Gift Basket, Beach-Ready Goody Tote, Martini Gift Basket, and grand prize of a hair and makeup photoshoot with Pussycat Pinup Photography Studio www.pussycatpinups.com/live/. Guests may purchase a raffle ticket for $1 or receive a free raffle ticket with every feature drink purchase. The Melting Pot San Clemente is located at 647 Camino de Los Mares, Ste. 126, San Clemente, CA 92673 and reservations can be made by calling (949) 661-1966 and in Brea at 375 w. Birch St. Brea, CA 92821 and reservations can be made by calling (714) 671-6000.

Girls’ Night Out is $28 per person (not including tax and gratuity) and features a four- course menu that includes your choice of savory cheese fondue; festive salads; and entrées such as filet mignon, chicken breast, fresh seasonal fish, tiger shrimp and teriyaki sirloin. Afterward, guests can indulge in their favorite milk-, dark- or white-chocolate fondue.

“Summer is the perfect time for ladies to get together and create new memories,” explained Dana Robertson, Director of Operations. “If you’re looking for a reason to ‘glam up’ and enjoy a dining experience that includes a fun and exciting atmosphere and great food then you’ve come to the right place!”

The Girls’ Night Out special is not valid with any other discount. Price is per person and cannot be split/shared.

The Melting Pot is an award-winning fondue eatery that has catered to guests who like to “dip into something different” for nearly five years. The restaurant combines state-of-the art cooking with ambrosial cheeses and a variety of savory seasoned bouillon broths for dipping a wide array of entrées such as fresh beef, lobster, shrimp, pork, poultry, tofu and gourmet vegetables. Guests with a sweet tooth will most certainly enjoy The Melting Pot’s delicious selection of specialty chocolate fondues. Round out the evening with a glass of wine from their award-winning wine list or try one of their popular creative martinis. Separate dining areas are available for large parties. The Melting Pot offers three locations in Orange County: Irvine, San Clemente and Brea. The Melting Pot San Clemente is located at 647 Camino de los Mares, (949) 661-1966, The Melting Pot Irvine is located at 2646 Dupont Dr., (949) 955-3242 and The Melting Pot Brea is located at 375 W. Birch St. (714) 671-6000. Reservations are not required, but recommended. Visit our website at www.meltingpot.com/(desired location).

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Brea Restaurants Team Up To Host VIP Dinner For Symphony On Birch Street


ORANGE COUNTY, CA) – Enjoy the summer nights with festive music, savory food, and sultry wine at Symphony on Birch Street, this month in Brea Downtown. The restaurants located on Birch Street have teamed up with Brea Downtown restaurants for this free summer family event. Participating restaurants such as Cha Cha’s, Entourage, The Melting Pot and Sam’s Place, will offer three courses of savory cuisine, wine, and VIP section tickets to view performances by The Orange County Symphony. The Orange County Symphony, under the direction of Music Director/Conductor Anthony Parnther, will perform from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. July 27 through July 29th, 2010.

The Melting Pot’s VIP ticket package will include aromatic cheese fondue, zesty salad and choice of entrée with a half bottle of wine and VIP section tickets for $60 per couple.
“All of the restaurants in Downtown Brea wanted to host a memorable evening for friends and family during Symphony on Birch Street,” says Dana Robertson, Operations Manager of The Melting Pot. “We have some great VIP packages for diners so they can enjoy a wonderful meal at four excellent, local restaurants, all while enjoying live music under the summer night’s sky.”

Cha Cha’s dining package includes an appetizer, two entrees and a pitcher of sangria and VIP tickets for $19.95 per person. Sam’s Place dining package includes a three-course meal, a glass of wine and a VIP ticket for $21 per guest. Entourage will offer two entrees, two side salads, dessert, flight of beer or wine and two VIP seating for $50 per couple or $25 per person. Reservations for this special offer are recommended at each restaurant and can be made by contacting a desired Birch Street restaurant.

Symphony on Birch Street is free to the public and includes free parking. For more information on additional participating restaurants, or for more information about the event, please visit www.breadowntown.com or call (877) BREA-FUN.

Monday, July 12, 2010

Bayside Restaurant Introduces New Happy Hour and New Outdoor Lounge


BAYSIDE RESTAURANT NOW FEATURING A NEW HAPPY HOUR TAPAS MENU AND NEW OUTDOOR LOUNGE

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., July 12, 2010 – Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach, already known for their outside patio with its stunning bay views, will now cater to the happy hour crowd with their new outdoor lounge and new Happy Hour Tapas menu as well! Fittingly named the “Best Happy Hour in Orange County” the new tapas menu and drink specials will be available daily, from 5:00 p.m. to close.

Bayside’s happy hour is available in the bar area, as well as the new lounge. The lounge features comfortable outdoor couches and tables where guests can enjoy happy hour in style while enjoying the bay views. The new expanded happy hour menu features a large variety of tapas items to choose from and starts at only $5.95 each. In addition to the new tapas menu, there are drink specials as well starting at only $6 each!

The new tapas menu is a great way to sample some of Bayside’s delicious cuisine at an affordable price. Examples of menu items include happy hour staples like, the Beef Slider with cheddar cheese and secret sauce, or the Crab Cakes with soft herb cabbage slaw and chipotle aioli. If you want to be a little more daring on your visit to Bayside, you can try the Lobster Salad Sliders with Haas avocado, or the Cast Iron Seared Quail with scallion pancake and Asian BBQ glaze.

Since happy hour just wouldn’t be complete without drink specials, Bayside has incorporated some great drink deals into the menu as well. Sip on a specialty martini for only $6 each. With five flavors to choose from including Apple, Cosmopolitan, Peach, Watermelon or Island Punch, one is sure to catch your eye and your taste buds. If you would rather have a glass of wine to compliment your tapas menu choice and bayside views, try a glass of Kenwood ‘Yulupa’ Chardonnay or Avalon Cabernet for only $6.

Since it opened in 1999, Bayside Restaurant has provided the latest innovation in contemporary American cuisine. Along with changing its menu to reflect the season, the restaurant also features a rotating for-sale art collection with work from some of the country’s leading artists.

Bayside is open for lunch and dinner every day of the week except for Saturday when only dinner is served. A free-flowing champagne brunch is also available on Sundays. The restaurant also features nightly entertainment, wine tasting on Thursday evenings and full-service event planning and catering through the Dining As Art Catering Company.

Bayside is located 900 Bayside Drive in Newport Beach, California. For more information about Bayside Restaurant, please visit www.baysiderestaurant.com.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

SOL CELEBRATES ITS FIRST YEAR WITH ANNIVERSARY FIESTA! JULY 11-15


Newport Beach’s SOL Cocina Hosts 5-Day Bash

$5 Margaritas & Baja Favorites JULY 11-14

Anniversary Bash: Lobster Tacos, FREE Partida Margaritas, Live Music JULY 15

NEWPORT BEACH, JULY 2010 – In less than one year on the Orange County dining scene, SOL Cocina in Newport Beach has managed to gain a loyal clientele, earn rave reviews from critics, release its very first cookbook sold nationwide and launch a catering operation – and that’s cause for celebration! Beginning Sunday, July 11 through Thursday, July 15, SOL offers its most popular margaritas and Baja culinary favorites at $5 for fun-loving local foodies and margarita connoisseurs who are looking for a lively party with style.

The $5 specials – all SOL’s best-sellers – will be offered during lunch and dinner hours (beginning at 11:30 a.m.) for four days (see menu below), culminating on July 15 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. with an Anniversary Bash with a FREE Partida Margarita with every order of Chef Deborah Schneider’s Tres Lobster Tacos entrée (only $15, till we run out of lobster!). To add to the evening’s fiesta, SOL will feature live music by Mike Vitale, a local singer/songwriter with a flair for indie-pop melodies and upbeat lyrical ballads.

SOL Anniversary $5 Specials

Sunday, July 11 – $5 Coconut Calamari ~~ $5 Correlejo Margarita

Monday, July 12 – $5 Ceviche ~~ $5 Casa Noble Organic Slim Margarita

Tuesday, July 13 – $5 Carnitas Street Tacos ~~ $5 Corzo Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita

Wednesday, July 14 – $5 Guacamole SOL ~~ $5 Herradura Margarita

Thursday, July 15 – Anniversary Bash: Tres Lobster Tacos Entrée $15
with a complimentary Partida Margarita with every purchase

9 p.m. – Birthday Cake for ALL!

“In honor of our first anniversary, we wanted to say THANK YOU to those who have supported us – without a loyal clientele, we wouldn’t have been able to establish our brand as we have done in such a short time,” said Matt Baumayr, Managing Partner of SOL Cocina. “We felt that one day was just not enough, so we compiled a list of all of our best-selling food items and margaritas and decided to feature them for a low price of $5 each, with our final day featuring three of Chef Deb’s delicious Lobster Tacos as an entrée with a complimentary Partida Margarita, for only $15!”

The restaurant, located waterside at the Balboa Marina, the perfect ambiance to spend a relaxing, sunny afternoon, will continue to offer its Weekend Brunch on Sunday, July 11 (10 a.m. – 3 p.m.) and Happy Hour (3 p.m. – 6 p.m. daily). The $5 specials will be offered during normal lunch and dinner hours, and continue throughout the evening alongside Executive Chef Deborah Schneider’s eclectic menu of traditional Baja cuisine with a “twist,” as well as its many cocktails and beers. Also available for sale will be the restaurant’s first SOL-inspired cookbook, Amor y Tacos.

Full menus can be found online at http://www.solcocina.com/menu.html.

ABOUT SOL COCINA
SOL Cocina is a unique restaurant and bar celebrating traditional Baja cuisine with a fresh, modern interpretation. Designed to echo the expansive sea, sky, and desert of the Baja peninsula, SOL features old world charm juxtaposed with an urban comfort, including an open exhibition kitchen with counter seating for guests who like to see the bustling kitchen that mimics the Baja taco bar. SOL offers a decadent menu of the freshest seasonal ingredients and authentic Mexican flavors, along with a vibrant bar that honors the flavors of the Baja region with artisan tequilas and mezcals.

Located at 251 E. Coast Highway at the Balboa Marina, SOL is open daily for Lunch (11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.), Dinner (Mon-Wed 4:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.; Thurs-Sun 4:30 p.m. – 11 p.m.), Happy Hour (3 p.m. – 6 p.m. daily; bar open till 2 a.m. daily), Late-Night Dining (11 p.m. – 1 a.m. Thurs-Sat), and Weekend Brunch (10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Saturday & Sunday). Private Room available.

For more information, call 949.675.9800 or visit http://www.solcocina.com/.

Friday, July 2, 2010

Free Chicken from El Pollo Loco


July 6th is National Fried Chicken Day…

Give your Arteries a Break & Celebrate with the Citrus-Marinated, Flame-Grilled Taste of

El Pollo Loco!

July 5th – July 7th El Pollo Loco will be offering a coupon valid for a

FREE Flame-Grilled Chicken Leg with any purchase!

Coupon can be found at:

http://www.elpolloloco.com/fried_chicken_day

So this July 6th, choose REAL FLAME-GRILLED Chicken at EL POLLO LOCO!!!

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Haven Gastropub Introduces Happy Hour



Haven Gastropub Tops Off Independence Day Weekend with Launch of Happy Hour Menu


Orange, CA (July 2010) – On the heels of launching a summer menu, Haven Gastropub introduces a new all-food Happy Hour menu. In honor of the Fourth of July holiday weekend, the Happy Hour menu will be offered from 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Monday, July 5 (Haven will be closed on July 4 in observance of Independence Day). After its launch, the Haven Happy Hour menu will be available Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. and nightly from 11 p.m. – 1 a.m. The Happy Hour menu stays true to the concept of serving quality “gourmet comfort food,” including a variety of options for those looking for a snack or a more substantial item, such as the acclaimed Haven Burger. Executive Chef/Partner, Greg Daniels, selected some of the restaurant’s most popular items to feature on the menu.

HAVEN HAPPY HOUR MENU
(full lunch, dinner & late-night menus at http://www.havengastropub.com/eat.html)

o Chile Relleno – chorizo, rice, pepper jack cheese, pecan crema, roasted corn salad - $6

o Mac n’ Cheese – black truffles, gruyere, fontina, parmesan - $6 (PHOTO ATTACHED)

o Margherita Flatbread – roma tomatoes, basil, mozzarella - $8

o The Haven Burger – picked red onions, roasted red bell peppers, wild arugula, st. agur cheese, served with pommes frites - $8 (PHOTO ATTACHED)

o Pulled Pork Sandwich – bbq-infused roll, chipotle aïoli, warm apple-cabbage slaw, served with pommes frites - $8

As with all menu items at Haven Gastropub, each Happy Hour menu item can be paired with one of the 14 beers always present on draft or one of more than 60 bottled craft beers. Managing Partner/Beverage Director, Wil Dee, adds that many of the items offered pair nicely with Haven’s selection of unique spirits and worldly wine list, with nearly 50 wines by the glass.

Haven Gastropub’s food and beverage menus can be found online at http://www.havengastropub.com.

ABOUT HAVEN GASTROPUB
Located in the heart of Historic Old Towne Orange, Haven Gastropub is a unique concept where “pub meets gourmet grub.” Recently named “Best New Gastropub” by Draft Magazine, which touted it as one of three new restaurants across the country that have “breathed new life into the old gastropub concept.” Gastropub, a British term blending gastronomy and pub, sprouted in the 1990s and has seen a revival as the idea behind the concept was to provide a place where friends and family could gather in a warm comfortable setting and enjoy good conversation with quality food and spirited libations. Haven boasts 14 beers on draft and more than 60 bottled craft beers. In addition, Haven serves more than 50 specialty single-malt whiskeys, scotches and bourbons; and a worldly wine list, with nearly 50 wines by the glass. Almost every dish on the menu has a beer or wine pairing suggestion.

The menu, created by Le Cordon Bleu-trained Executive Chef/Partner Greg Daniels, offers a blend of old world European fare with a modern American twist. Under the tutelage of Pascal Olhats of Tradition by Pascal, and then on to Napa Rose with Andrew Sutton, Chef Daniels learned what it means to feed people great food. The result is a refreshing combination of treasured dishes from across the pond fused with familiar stateside staples from the Pulled-Pork Sandwich served on a barbeque sauce-infused roll and pan-seared Hangar Steak with herbed compound butter, to Mac n’ Cheese with black truffles and hearty Chicken n’ Waffles served with housemade hot sauce and bärenjäger maple syrup.

Each menu item is made using farm-to-table fresh ingredients with dishes prepared entirely from scratch, including the award-winning Haven Burger, piled high with roasted red bell peppers, wild arugula, pickled red onions and St. Agur blue cheese; and housemade Salt & Vinegar Chips of red wine vinegar and sea salt and truffle fries served with garlic aïoli dipping sauce or housemade ketchup, also Haven’s own. The affordably priced menu ($5-$20), will also entice with a full selection of delectable desserts, including noteworthy ice creams flavors, including candied bacon, salted caramel and tobacco-infused.

Paired to elevate and complement the overall dining experience, handcrafted microbrews including Belgian varieties are offered alongside a distinct selection of boutique wines, scotches, whiskeys and bourbons. No less than fourteen handcrafted beers flow on regularly rotating taps, including offerings from such breweries as Mikkeller, Brewdog, Stone, Russian River, and The Bruery.

Haven Gastropub is located at 190 South Glassell Street in Old Towne Orange. Hours of operation are 11 a.m. – 2 a.m. daily. Walk-ins welcome. For more information or to make reservations, call 714.221.0680 or visit http://www.havengastropub.com (on Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/HavenGastropub).