Greer's OC | The latest in Orange County fashion, dining, and trends.

horizontalRuss_Bendel___PartnersCreekside%282%29

Russ Bendel and Partners Open Creekside in Rancho Mission Viejo

By Greer Wylder

October 14, 2026

Russ Bendel, the Orange County restaurateur who has launched one beloved concept after another, has opened his eighth restaurant. Creekside Restaurant & Bar in Rancho Mission Viejo is a relaxed neighborhood spot serving thoughtfully prepared American fare. The dinner-only restaurant opened Monday, Oct. 12.Located in Sendero Marketplace, the 3,000-square-foot space seats 120 between the dining room, bar and patio. The covered patio holds up to 60 for private events.Bendel and his partners drew up a long list of possible names, but none felt right. “We started observing the nature reserve that surrounds the center, which generated new ideas,” Bendel said.…

Foodie Heaven at The CAMP in Costa Mesa this Fall

By Greer Wylder

October 13, 2026

Costa Mesa’s signature community dining experience is back for a Fall Edition on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 6-9 p.m. Hosted by small local businesses at The CAMP, Community Dinner is an immersive foodie event where you can sit back and enjoy course after course of delicious food.Take your seat at the elegant farm tables and soak in the ambiance of The CAMP’s Courtyard, set to a special soundtrack curated by DJ Crisanto Santa Ana. With more than a decade of experience setting the tone, Crisanto knows exactly how to make you feel at home with your community.In the beautifully decorated…

Treehouse on PCH Casts A Halloween Spell

By Greer Wylder

October 12, 2026

For readers craving a little witchy wonder this October, Treehouse on PCH, the rooftop bar at Paséa Hotel & Spa in Huntington Beach, is embracing the season with a themed cocktail menu, a late-night happy hour and a Halloween party overlooking the Pacific. There are no tricks here, just treats (and tequila).Halloween Cocktail MenuAvailable through Oct. 31Wake the Dead: A haunting take on the classic espresso martini, made with Aspen Vodka from the nitro cold machine and garnished with cocoa dust.Black Magic Margarita: A spellbinding blackberry brew made with Flecha Azul Reposado and finished with a black salt rim.Cristalino Creeper:…

Where to Eat Around the Newport Beach Film Festival

By Greer Wylder

October 11, 2026

Film lovers, mark your calendars for Oct. 15-22, when the 27th annual Newport Beach Film Festival returns to Triangle Square in Costa Mesa. Starlight Triangle Cinemas will screen feature films, documentaries, animated shorts, action sports films and international entries throughout the festival.Round up your friends and book a brunch, lunch or dinner reservation at one of Triangle Square's popular restaurants before or after a screening. Options include elevated Southern comfort food at the recently opened LJ's Lounge, Tulum-inspired fare at Casa de Onda, traditional tapas at Cafe Sevilla and casual steakhouse favorites at Westwood Coast.Sushi fans can make a night…

Puesto Pours a Wellness-Minded Margarita With Cymbiotika

By Greer Wylder

September 28, 2026

At Puesto, good food has always been about how guests feel when they leave. So the restaurant asked a fair question: why shouldn't the margaritas do the same?Puesto has teamed up with Cymbiotika, the San Diego-based wellness brand known for its science-backed supplements, clean ingredients and liposomal delivery system, to bring that thinking to the bar. The result is a short lineup of margaritas built on premium ingredients, bold flavor and a few wellness-minded additions.It's a natural pairing. Both are Southern California brands that have made ingredient integrity and transparency part of the pitch, and Cymbiotika's products are now carried…