Greer's OC

Summer may be winding down, but there is still plenty of fun to be had at The Triangle in the heart of Costa Mesa. From al fresco dining with family as we continue to enjoy our sunny OC weather, or spending time with friends bowling, catching a new movie, or dancing, The Triangle offers plenty of restaurants and entertainment for an endless summer.

Tavern + Bowl recently opened a new patio, adjacent to the restaurant on Newport Boulevard. If you haven’t been to Tavern + Bowl, you’re missing out on some of the best casual yet contemporary American food in Orange County.

Tavern + Bowl features a wide array of salads, flatbreads, sandwiches and burgers, including the new favorite, the Bacon Jam Burger, with fresh-ground angus chuck patty with bacon jam, a fried egg, arugula, tomato, and garlic aioli. Other entrees include filet mignon steak tacos, beer battered fish & chips, Tavern baby back ribs, BBQ pork sliders and more. Everything is made fresh in-house daily and the menu also offers a few items that are vegetarian and vegan, as well as Nora’s Paleo Burger, a fresh-ground, grass-fed beef patty with bacon, grilled red onions, avocado relish, lettuce, and tomato served on smashed, fried plantains, and served with a side salad.

A boutique bowling alley as well as a restaurant, Tavern + Bowl is the perfect afternoon escape from the dog days of summer, with 10 state-of-the-art bowling lanes and 26 large screen TVs to watch videos and your favorite sports teams. Located on the lower level of The Triangle, Tavern + Bowl opens daily at 11 a.m. For reservations or more information, call 949.438.2320.

La Vida Cantina is known for its fresh Mexican food, popular Happy Hour and Taco Tuesday. The restaurant has an expansive palapa-covered patio that makes guests feel as if they are on vacation along coastal Mexico. When the sun sets, multiple fire pits give off a welcoming glow and keep diners warm if the temperatures cool.

Open for lunch, dinner and weekend brunch, La Vida Cantina also has multiple promotions throughout the week, including Kids Eat Free on Mondays. Guests can receive one free kid’s meal for children 12 and under, with the purchase of one regular entrée. La Vida Cantina is on the upper level of The Triangle. For reservations or more information, call 949.612.2349.

What feels more like summer than making s’mores over a campfire? Guests at Saddle Ranch Chop House can do just that, at the restaurant’s stone campfires on their patio. Always a favorite with groups and big parties, Saddle Ranch is popular for its menu of American classics and its signature cotton candy tower. This western-meets-rock n roll restaurant also has a mechanical bull for the more adventurous guests.

If you missed any of this summer’s hits, from Jason Bourne to Bad Moms to The Secret Life of Pets, head to Starlight Cinemas, where they offer Family Discount Days on Tuesdays and Wednesdays with admission only $5. Discounts for military, fire and police personnel with ID, as well as seniors and children, are also honored daily. For current movies and show times, call 949.650.4300.

Although the kids are headed back to school soon, our warm weather still calls for frozen treats at Creamistry. The made-to-order liquid nitrogen ice cream shop offers an array of flavors, sundaes and affogatos to satisfy anyone’s sweet tooth.

The Triangle is conveniently located at the end of the 55 Freeway, where Newport Blvd., Harbor Blvd. and 19^th Street intersect. The center offers seven levels of free parking, as well as a convenient valet on the first level near Tavern + Bowl. The center also has a VIP Program offering discounts to various restaurants. Sign up for free online at go2triangle.com, and follow The Triangle’s social media accounts at @Go2Triangle.