Russ Bendel, the Orange County restaurateur who has launched one beloved concept after another, has opened his eighth restaurant. Creekside Restaurant & Bar in Rancho Mission Viejo is a relaxed neighborhood spot serving thoughtfully prepared American fare. The dinner-only restaurant opened Monday, Oct. 12. Located in Sendero Marketplace, the 3,000-square-foot space seats 120 between the dining room, bar and patio. The covered patio holds up to 60 for private events.

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Soft, delicious and popular at every location, the Monster Cookies at Wild Strawberry Cafe have earned local recognition, are trending on TikTok and sell out daily. Flavors include chocolate chip, strawberry matcha and gluten-free peanut butter. They are available at all three Newport Beach locations and the Laguna Beach location.

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RELISH is back for its second year, and this three-day celebration of food, wine and spirits at VEA Newport Beach, a Marriott Resort & Spa, runs Friday, Oct. 2, through Sunday, Oct. 4. The event was created by celebrity chef Jamie Gwen and celebrity event planner Nicole Hirsty of Cobalt Events.

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The dining lineup at Katella Commons just keeps getting better. OCVIBE, the 100-acre development wrapping around Honda Center, announced five new dining concepts joining the 50,000-square-foot market hall set to open in early 2027. This latest round brings a genuinely exciting mix of Mexican, Filipino, Chinese and Italian flavors, and several of the operators have deep roots right here in Orange County.

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