Greer's OC

Pita Jungle, the newest restaurant in Newport Beach dedicated to the art of eating healthy specializes in made from scratch Mediterranean dishes with a twist. The Arizona based award-winning eatery is already a local favorite for those looking for a sit-down health conscious restaurant with fair prices, and a full bar.  We’re loving the artistic hip interior, from the glazed concrete flooring, exposed white ceiling, repurposed table stands, to the second-hand chairs and stunning resin art panel. (It’s hard to believe this once housed a Blockbuster Video store.)

The extensive menu covers special diets like vegan and vegetarian options, and be sure to try the chicken tikka masala in coconut masala served over brown rice with fresh pea sprouts; cilantro jalapeno hummus with pita; wood-fired fresh salmon with garlic mashed potatoes and wilted spinach; and our favorite pizzas: the chipotle chicken lavosh pizza; and roasted garlic and portabella pizza with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, feta cheese, basil, herbs, Kalamata olives, and parmigiano regianno cheese.  Other choices include hot and cold pita sandwiches, composed salads, healthy burgers, combination plates, wood-fired pizza, pita wraps, and specials.

Daily happy hour from 3 to 6 p.m. offers specials on tapas and drinks. Open from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

1200 Bison Ave in Newport Beach. 949.706.7711.

Lunch with Chef Mario Batali!

This exciting foodie news just came in! Famed Chef Mario Batali will be taking the kitchen at Coast Beach Café & Bar, one of the restaurants at Shutters on the Beach, for lunch on Saturday, Jan. 28. Batali will be preparing a special lunch menu from his new cookbook, “Malto Batali” while interacting with the guests. Tickets for the three-course lunch from just $65 per person – (wine pairings included), and premium seating looking into Mario’s kitchen (limited to 9 seats at two seatings) cost $75 per person. It’s an amazing menu, great wines, and a great experience with Batali at Shutters!

The three course menu will start with a reception including passed hors d’oeuvres and glasses of Flor Prosecco Rosé at 11:30 a.m., and again at 2 p.m., with courses paired with selections from Batali’s winery, La Mozza, and Bastiniach Winery, from Batali partners Joe and Lidia Bastianich.

The menu includes rabe, potato and ricotta ravioli – paired with Bastianic Fruiliano braised chicken with sweet onions and parmigiano, spaghetti squash with soft herbs and robiola – paired with La Mozza Perazzi & Bastianich Vespa Bianco; and orange-scented cannoli paired with Flor Prosecco Rosé.

For committed Batali fans, premium bar seating will be available for a total of 9 guests at each seating, with a full view of the open kitchen and Chef Batali, as he guides the kitchen and showcases a few tips and tricks from the meal’s preparation. Premium seats are available for $75 per person, while tickets for standard seating for the three-course luncheon are available for $65 per person. For reservations, call 310.587.1707, or, reserve space via www.opentable.com/coast.

All paired wines are available to guests of Coast on the regular wine list, served by the glass, carafe or bottle.  And Batali’s braised chicken with sweet onions and parmigiano, spaghetti squash with soft herbs and robiola will be available for dinner at Coast Beach Café & Bar on Saturday, Jan.  28.

Shutters on the Beach is at 1 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica.