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

Halal Guys Arrive In Long Beach

By Greer Wylder

January 04, 2016

New York’s food cart with a cult following, Halal Guys recently opened its second West Coast fast casual location in Long Beach. It’s first location opened in Costa Mesa in October. It’s known for its gyro sandwiches, chicken-and-rice platters and delicious mystery white sauce. You can also order delicious French fries, hummus, tahini and pita, olives and baklava. The NYC-based concept signed a deal with Fransmart known for building other popular concepts such as Five Guys, to bring 50 franchised units to Southern California. The Halal Guys grew from a modest food cart on the streets of New York City…

Saint Marc Pub, Cafe, Bakery & Cheese Affinage Opens in Pacific City

By Greer Wylder

December 29, 2015

Quite possibly the best dining concept ever: part bacon bar, bakery, cheese shop and bar, is the new Saint Marc Pub - Café, Bakery & Cheese Affinage -- a flagship restaurant at Pacific City in Huntington Beach. Saint Marc has something for everyone. A well-curated selection of craft beer in a can, expertly handcrafted cocktails served in red SOLO cups and 32 wines on draft. The bacon bar features a wild variety of flavored cuts (including wild cherry, tender belly habanero and chocolate), while the cheese lovers can choose from more than 100 international selections. The café and bakery serves caffeinated drinks…

Ruby’s Diner Founder Opens Lighthouse Cafe

By Greer Wylder

December 18, 2015

Ruby’s Diner founder, Doug Cavanaugh, just opened The Lighthouse Café at Newport Beach’s new Marina Park on Balboa Boulevard, a 10 plus acre waterfront development. The Lighthouse Café is serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily focusing on fresh, light California coastal cuisine with lots of seafood options. It’s set in middle of the 24,000-square foot sailing and community center, complete with a park and picnic areas next to a 23-slip marina. Lighthouse Café’s menu is overseen by 25-year-old executive chef and Orange County local Ryan Sumner, formerly a sous chef at The Beachcomber in Crystal Cove. “Ryan represents a new…

Austin Born Hopdoody Burger Bar Arrives in OC

By Greer Wylder

November 16, 2015

Hopdoddy Burger Bar, an Austin-born burger joint just opened its first Orange County location at Fashion Island, near Nike and Tesla. Hopdoddy is known for its fresh, all-natural, hormone and antibiotic free Angus burgers always ground in-house and served on freshly baked buns. A Hopdoddy burger is not complete without its Kennebec hand cut fries and Handspun shakes such as fan favorites: the Red Velvet Cake and Nutella & Chocolate Pretzel. All shakes can be transformed into a boozy treat using local spirits. The name “Hopdoddy” comes from the perfect combination of burgers and beer: handcrafted beer (Hop) + (Doddy),…

FIG & OLIVE NEWPORT BEACH CELEBRATES FALL

By Greer Wylder

October 27, 2015

The best of fall’s seasonal offerings take center stage in Fig & Olive’s new lunch and dinner menus featuring three new signature Crostinis (Gorgonzola, Apple, Red Marmalade Crostini), as well as appetizers, salads and entrées including Fall Vegetables Linguini – traditional linguine flavored with artichokes, sautéed cremini mushrooms, radicchio, red onions, pine nuts, parmesan, lemon zest, and artichoke cremini mushroom purée and delicious Poached Pears in Spiced Orange Juice for dessert. All dishes are complemented by founder, Laurent Halasz’s hand-picked selection of Spanish, French, and Tuscan olive oils (available in the restaurant and online). You can also choose entrées such…