Spring Flavors at Little Sparrow

The award-winning Little Sparrow in downtown Santa Ana that was just featured on featured on Bravo TV Network's culinary competition series, "Best New Restaurant," hosted by acclaimed Chef Tom Colicchio and produced by Gordon Ramsay is bringing the best flavors of spring with new seasonal dishes for dinner and Sunday brunch. Executive Chef Eric Samaniego’s eclectic menu is inspired by both classic and non-traditional, seasonal ingredients using French and Californian cooking styles, complemented with influences of Japan, Mexico and the Mediterranean. 

Spring dinner menu highlights include: Grilled Prawns: Cilantro, carrots, and salsa verde; and Farro Salad: 5:10 egg and mushrooms; X.O. Mussels: Mussels, ginger, shallots, and xo sauce; Pici with Braised Lamb Neck: Handmade pici, braised lamb neck, black kale, and Calabrian chili; and Roasted Pacific Cod: Tomato jam, mustard greens, and saffron broth 

Spring brunch menu highlights include: Kimchee Fried Rice: Gochujang grilled pork belly, Napa cabbage, carrots, haricot vert, and eggs; and Avocado Toast: Grilled bread, chicken liver, yuzu kosho, and white soy; and Banana Foster Pancakes: Served with fresh whipped cream and maple syrup (pictured above).

Little Sparrow offers late-night happy hour  ($8 craft cocktails, all other drinks 25% off) after 10 p.m. and half-off all bottles of wine every Wednesday. 

Open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to late. Open Sunday brunch 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

300 Main St. in Santa Ana. 714.265.7640.

Meat-Free Fridays

Whether you’re one of the 1.2 million Catholics living in Orange County who observes Lent now through Thursday, April 2, or a non-Catholic who is giving up something you love as a personal challenge, many local restaurants are offering new seafood or vegetarian options. 

True Food Kitchen at Fashion Island recently debuted seasonal meatless dishes such as Roasted Vegetable Ingredient Salad with brussels sprouts, cauliflower, squash, mulberry, white bean, pomegranate and horseradish vinaigrette; and Sustainable Seared Scallops with freekeh, mushroom, carrot and spicy mole.  

Slapfish, a modern seafood shack in Newport Beach, Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach serves delicious sustainable seafood options such as Chef Gruel’s Slapfish signature dishes, including Clobster grilled cheese rolls, a half-crab, half-lobster with tomato and awesome sauce; giant fish tacos served either grilled or crispy with corn tortilla, cabbage, avocado puree and pickled onion.

Del Taco is now offering its golden shrimp in its new Crispy Shrimp Epic Burrito, as well as fan favorite Crispy Shrimp Tacos. Additionally, for a limited time, guests can purchase two Crispy Shrimp Tacos for $4.50, as well as two original Beer Battered Fish Tacos or two new Guacamole Fish Tacos for $4

The 100 percent plant-based Veggie Grill offers delicious vegetarian food year-round such as burgers, salads, bowls, home-style plates. It’s a great choice for those observing Lent or taking on a personal challenge.