Greer's OC

Ever since Cucina Alessa brought its Italian cuisine goodness to Laguna Beach, when it opened its third location in November, we feel that the coast has been well fed thanks to Chef Alessandro Pirozzi who owns the original Cucina Alessa in West Newport Beach and in Huntington Beach.

The Laguna Beach restaurant boasts a prosciutto-and-mozzarella bar (like its Newport Beach location) and serves nearly the same menu—minus a few dishes and no breakfast.

Expect the same delicious homemade pastas that Alessa is famous for (even whole wheat upon request), reasonable prices and big helpings. Allessandro divides his time between the three restaurants, but while he’s in he always takes the time to greet each table.

The calamari here is perfectly crisp and light with a zesty arrabbiata sauce ($9.75); and we adore the antipasti, three meatballs in ragú topped with burrata served with focacetta ($15.99); and the simple, yet perfect pappardelle Bolognese with homemade ribbon-shaped pasta is wonderful ($12).

The pizza here is also worth noting—the crusts are thin and crisp all the way through. And you won’t be disappointed by the main dishes, salmon capperi and poloo al limone are two favorites, but unless you have an Italian grandmother at home making fresh pasta, you’d be foolish to pass up on Alessa’s pasta.

Happy hour is offered at Alessa’s Huntington Beach location only, which Edwin Goei at OC Weekly says is one of the best happy hours in the county!

Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. 234 Forest Ave. in Laguna Beach. 949.497.8222.

Open Sunday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Breakfast is served on weekends at 8 a.m. 6700 W. Coast Highway in Newport Beach. 949.645.2148.

520 Main St. in Huntington Beach. 714.969.2148.

There's still time!

There’s still a chance to experience an exclusive and rare performance of opera superstar Renée Fleming singing operatic versions of indie rock songs at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa  Fleming will be in town for one night only next Tuesday at 8 p.m. performing classical selections and operatic rock. Some covers will include Death Cab for Cutie, Muse, Arcade Fire, and Mars Volta.

You can also purchase tickets in prime box circle seats and attend a reception with Fleming. Tickets are available at the Philharmonic Society box office at 949.553.2422, online and at the Center box office at 714.556.2787.

The Segerstrom Center for the Arts is at 615 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa.

Want to learn more about the amazing Renée Fleming? Check out Greer's 20 Questions with the soprano.