Dining
MESA’S Shining Starr
09.24.14
Easily one of the chicest, lounge-like restaurants--the retractable open air ceiling, nightly entertainment and ambience is incredible--in Orange County, MESA at the Camp in Costa Mesa, is also a great dining spot with a new Executive Chef Niki Starr Weyler who has worked in some of the best kitchens in OC, including French 75, Charlie Palmer’s and Broadway by Amar Santana.
Chef Niki is slowly incorporating at taste of Niki to the menu, while keeping the die hard favorites that MESA regulars love, such as the tempura green beans served with eel and green goddess dipping sauce, margherita pizza, house burger with bacon, flash fried calamari and shishito peppers to name just a few.
Some of Chef Niki’s seasonal favorites on the menu that we highly recommend are the roasted beet salad with Humboldt fog cheese, oranges, lemon poppy seed vinaigrette and pistachios; and the grilled Kurobuta pork chop with smoked blackberry jus, sweet potato puree, and flash fried Brussels sprouts, and the secret menu (just ask) Chef’s Spanish style mussels, black pei mussels, with Bilbao chorizo, Spanish smoked paprika, green onion, white wine and grilled bread.
For dessert, there’s a perfect carrot cake with cream cheese shmear, candied orange and parsnip ice cream.
Starting Oct. 1, Chef Niki will add her fave holiday sliders, that are the best wintery comfort food sliders we’ve had: duck confit, cranberry orange compote, pomme puree on a potato bun, served with gravy dipping sauce.
Chef Niki works closely alongside the super-talented mixologist Eliott Montero, who can perfectly pair handcrafted cocktails with each course. Current favorites include the Manhattan Holiday with 77 New York Wheat Whiskey, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, Amaro Ciociaro, orange oil and nutmeg and a Spanish G&T, with Leopold’s small batch Gin, Fever Tree Mediterranean, tonic water, fresh rosemary, grapefruit oil, lime and a splash of St. Germain.
Unlike most OC kitchens, MESA stays open until 1 a.m. which means you can enjoy all of these great dishes into the wee hours of the night.
For a list of nightly entertainment, visit here.
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m.
725 Baker Street in Costa Mesa. 714.557.6700.
Urban Seoul 2.0 at Irvine Spectrum Center
09.04.14
Urban Seoul, a popular Korean fusion restaurant just opened its second location in Orange County, at Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine. Its original location opened two years ago at Diamond Jamboree in Irvine.
Local restaurateurs Bronnie Lee and Chef Kacy Jun’s are inspired by SoCal’s culinary melting pot at Urban Seoul 2.0 with popular dishes blending flavors of Asia and Mexico, and a nod to the street food scene. All dishes cost $10 or less which considering the ingredients, amazing dishes, and modern ambience, is a great deal.
Some of our favorite dishes include the chorizo fried rice; Wagyu Loco Moco Skillet with marinated Wagyu beef patty, mushroom gravy, pickled red onions, fried onions, green onions, sunny side egg, over crispy fried rice; quesadilla, made with a spicy kimchi pancake and stuffed with grilled chicken, melted cheese and a kimchi sour cream dipping sauce; and the Korean pork belly tacos, topped with scallions.
New to the Urban Seoul 2.0 menu includes a make-your-won Korean lettuce wraps called ssam. You can choose from a variety of grilled meats, including grilled marinated short ribs, grilled salmon, spicy pork, or vegetarian-friendly tofu and mushrooms, along with caramelizes onions, kimchi, Korean chili paste and japchae (Korean glass noodles).
You also need to try the only shaved snow available at Irvine Spectrum, with ribbons of strawberry or green tea ice cream topped with condensed milk, lychees and fresh strawberries.
Open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Thursday; open for dinner 5 to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday; Open 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Urban Seoul 2.0 is 414 Spectrum Center Drive in Irvine. 949.727.1900
Open for lunch 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday; open for dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; 5 to 11 p.m. for dinner and Friday and Saturday; and open noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.
The original Urban Seoul is at Diamond Jamboree at 2750 Alton Parkway, Ste 131 Irvine. 949.553.0188.
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