Greer's OC

Orange County’s first BRIO Tuscan Grille, an upscale, yet affordable restaurant specializing in northern Italian cuisine, will open at Irvine Spectrum Center on Thursday at 11 a.m. In celebration, we are offering gift cards to two lucky readers, valued at $25. Just like our Facebook page and make a comment to enter to win. We’ll announce the winner on Friday.

The chef-driven, neighborhood eatery features a wide variety of award-winning dishes prepared by Executive Chef Andre Lane, and his culinary team, including grilled and oven-roasted steaks, fresh seafood, made-to-order pastas, bruschettas and flatbreads.

The menu features classically-prepared traditional recipes such as  Pasta Alla Vodka - handmade ricotta-filled pasta with crispy pancetta, garlic, basil, and a spicy tomato Parmesan cream sauce; Compart Farms Duroc Pork Porterhouse with bone-in and marinated, seasonal vegetables, arugula, mashed potatoes; Fennel sausage & roasted tomato trecce pasta with Rustic artisan-style pasta, chili flake, broccoli, rosemary, Parmigiano-Reggiano, sourdough bread crumbs;  Sweet Potato & Chicken Risotto - roasted chicken, sweet potatoes, pancetta, asparagus, Parmigiano-Reggiano, thyme and pine nuts; and Grilled Salmon Fresca with Grilled asparagus, sweet potatoes, spinach, roasted peppers, pesto vinaigrette, Feta, diced tomatoes and balsamic glaze.

Lunch entrées are priced from $10 and dinner entrées start at $12. The menu also includes a gluten-free items as well as the “The Lighter Side of Tuscany” menu featuring selections with 595 calories or less. Brio offers weekend brunch done better with over-the-top omelets, benedicts and stuffed French toast.

The Irvine Spectrum Center location will also include special bar features like the Bar BRIOSO Happy Hour Menu offered weekdays from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m., $5 Martini Night Wednesdays and $5 Wine Thursdays.

Open daily 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to midnight. 

BRIO Tuscan Grille is at the Irvine Spectrum Center at 618 Fortune Drive in Irvine. 949.341.0380.

Open Mic Night at Blue Beet

Join Open Mic night with Tim Carr, founder of Villa Real Estate and Friends at the Blue Beet in Newport Beach on Thursday from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. It’s a fundraiser for Be The Match, a national bone marrow registry working to save lives from blood cancer through transplant. The Blue Beet, is a longtime locals favorite restaurant and bar offering local entertainment ranging from rock to dance.

It’s at 107 21^st Place in Newport Beach. 949.675.2338