Fig & Olive’s Weekend Riviera Brunch

June 29, 2015

With Fig & Olive’s seasonal Mediterranean cuisine, a passion for the best olive oils and a relaxing upscale atmosphere, it’s the perfect place to also enjoy weekend brunch. And it just rolled out a new Weekend Riviera Brunch ($24*) buffet available on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Fig & Olive’s culinary team celebrates Mougins’ “Cuisine of the Sun” with menus showcasing seasonal ingredients such as spring peas, figs, and asparagus selected from local farms like Kenter Canyon Farm, Weiser Family Farm, and Babe Farm. The buffet-style brunch offers a selection of signature dishes from Salmon Crudo…

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La Vida Cantina Does Brunch Right

June 17, 2015

Looking for new relaxing al fresco brunch ideas this summer? La Vida Cantina has expanded its popular Sunday brunch to Saturdays. The Costa Mesa restaurant now serves its brunch menu, complete with bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys, on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For Father’s Day on Sunday, the special is steak, egg, chile relleno and a beer for $18.95. The brunch menu features a range of items including Izzy’s French Toast, baguette-style French toast topped with a warm berry mix and served with three crispy jalapeno bacon strips; Pan…

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ADYA Turns One

June 15, 2015

ADYA at the Anaheim Packing District is unlike any other Indian restaurant in Orange County. It’s fast casual, modern and features eclectic menu items like Indian-style Sloppy Joe’s, and merchi grilled cheese sandwiches with tamarind chile chutney. ADYA’s Chef Shachi Mehra is hands-on and goes out of her way to introduce Orange County to fresh, contemporary Indian street foods. You can stop by for a light bhel puri puffed rice salad; a vibrant thali (a meal plates) with a variety of dishes including tikka masala, the curry of the day, fresh naan, raita, and basmati Rice; kebabs; or griddled kaathi…

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El Granjenal Tacos Por Favor

May 21, 2015

We’re going to go out on a limb and say the best tacos in Costa Mesa, and easily among the best in Orange County are at the little known Taqueria El Granjenal on West 19th Street. Granted, El Granjenal is not fancy, you will feel like you’re in the non-touristy parts of Mexico, but its food is tasty, fresh and affordable. The owners are hardworking and sweet as can be. Part of its charm is the TV that’s interminably stuck on a Mexican soap opera with bad audio and reception, the bright red and green tables, and open air ambience.…

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Tasty Persian Cuisine

May 20, 2015

It was a big win for Costa Mesa, when Darbari Persian Grill opened late last year in the former BC Broiler spot across from the Triangle on Newport Boulevard. Now, with the help of its eager to please owner, Mehdi and gracious staff, Darbari is a go to lunch and dinner spot for fresh Mediterranean specialties such as falafel, hummus, dolmeh, borani and beef koobideh served with fluffy basmati rice and charbroiled tomatoes, chicken shish kabobs with tender boneless chicken skewered and charbroiled with onions and green peppers, and our favorite ghormeh sabzi with beef, parsley, cilantro, chives, kidney beans…

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