Greer's OC

It’s no secret that Lucca Café in Irvine is one of our favorite restaurants in Orange County. Chef and co-owner Cathy Pavlos and husband/sommelier Elliott Pavlos bring us an unexpected Euro bistro and wine bar serving lunch, dinner and weekend brunch that’s focused on the season’s best ingredients (free-range, hormone-free meats and locally grown organic produce).

Whether you are stopping in for an artisan cheese plate, handmade charcuterie an antipasto feast, or a tasty summer salad with yellow beets, heirloom tomatoes, burrata, fresh basil, basil pesto and Champagne vinaigrette (pictured above), you will be treated to a culinary experience featuring small plates inspired by the south of France, Italy and Greece.

At Lucca, Chef Cathy is following the trend of upscale New York restaurants that bundle “lunches” so that guests can order an efficient and delicious trio of small plates (a smaller version of its European dinner menu).

Weekly business bundles are available 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday though Friday. The options can change, but currently its featuring wild baby arugula, roasted beets, shaved fennel, goat cheese, caramelized onions and vanilla bean vinaigrette, with all natural grilled chicken salad sandwich on croissant with a tarragon, shallot, celery, cherries, almonds, butter lettuce, market tomatoes, and avocados; and to finish, a red velvet-white chocolate cake pop!

Cost is $17.95

Open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday; open for dinner 5 to 9 p.m. nightly; and open for brunch 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Lucca is also taking orders for Fourth of July platters. Choose from fresh fruits, grilled vegetables, desserts and more. Catering menus can be found online here.

Lucca Cafe is at 6507 Quail Hill Parkway in Irvine at the Quail Hill Village Center. 949.725.1773.

Summer Seasons 52

Celebrate summer’s freshest flavors and in-season ingredients with Seasons 52’s tempting new menu featuring highlights like grilled pacific wild halibut, grilled lemongrass salmon salad, blueberry cheesecake mini indulgences and a strawberry coconut skinny martini, made with strawberry infused prairie vodka, coconut water and agave nectar (less calories than coconut cream).

The South Coast Plaza restaurant's fresh grill and wine selection allows you to savor a healthy lifestyle by enjoying delicious appetizers, signature flatbreads, small and entrée salads and other market specialties knowing that nothing on the menu is more than 475 calories.

Other summer-friendly foods and weekly specials include classic parmesan crisp bread loaded with fresh summer basil; BBQ chicken from Fieldale Farms  served with Yukon gold garlic mashed potatoes and fresh roasted corn salad; organic tomato tapenade – three-color organic tomatoes roasted with green and black olive tapenade topped with shaved Parmesan; grilled red snapper piperade, marinated in achiote, served over jicama piperade and braised black beans.

Master sommelier George Miliotes suggest the Lioco Rosé, completely natural without  yeast, sulfites or even filtration. He just put this wine on his “drink these before they become famous” list and has added two new wines by the glass.

Open daily for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday; open until 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Seasons 52 is at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa. 714.437.5252.