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

La Vida Cantina Does Brunch Right

By Greer Wylder

June 17, 2015

Looking for new relaxing al fresco brunch ideas this summer? La Vida Cantina has expanded its popular Sunday brunch to Saturdays. The Costa Mesa restaurant now serves its brunch menu, complete with bottomless Mimosas and Bloody Marys, on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For Father’s Day on Sunday, the special is steak, egg, chile relleno and a beer for $18.95. The brunch menu features a range of items including Izzy’s French Toast, baguette-style French toast topped with a warm berry mix and served with three crispy jalapeno bacon strips; Pan…

ADYA Turns One

By Greer Wylder

June 15, 2015

ADYA at the Anaheim Packing District is unlike any other Indian restaurant in Orange County. It’s fast casual, modern and features eclectic menu items like Indian-style Sloppy Joe’s, and merchi grilled cheese sandwiches with tamarind chile chutney. ADYA’s Chef Shachi Mehra is hands-on and goes out of her way to introduce Orange County to fresh, contemporary Indian street foods. You can stop by for a light bhel puri puffed rice salad; a vibrant thali (a meal plates) with a variety of dishes including tikka masala, the curry of the day, fresh naan, raita, and basmati Rice; kebabs; or griddled kaathi…

El Granjenal Tacos Por Favor

By Greer Wylder

May 21, 2015

We’re going to go out on a limb and say the best tacos in Costa Mesa, and easily among the best in Orange County are at the little known Taqueria El Granjenal on West 19th Street. Granted, El Granjenal is not fancy, you will feel like you’re in the non-touristy parts of Mexico, but its food is tasty, fresh and affordable. The owners are hardworking and sweet as can be. Part of its charm is the TV that’s interminably stuck on a Mexican soap opera with bad audio and reception, the bright red and green tables, and open air ambience.…

Tasty Persian Cuisine

By Greer Wylder

May 20, 2015

It was a big win for Costa Mesa, when Darbari Persian Grill opened late last year in the former BC Broiler spot across from the Triangle on Newport Boulevard. Now, with the help of its eager to please owner, Mehdi and gracious staff, Darbari is a go to lunch and dinner spot for fresh Mediterranean specialties such as falafel, hummus, dolmeh, borani and beef koobideh served with fluffy basmati rice and charbroiled tomatoes, chicken shish kabobs with tender boneless chicken skewered and charbroiled with onions and green peppers, and our favorite ghormeh sabzi with beef, parsley, cilantro, chives, kidney beans…

Kettlebar Steam Cooking

By Greer Wylder

May 07, 2015

Kettlebar, the Southern-infused steam kettle cooking eatery just opened at Union Market at The District in Tustin. This is the place to find traditional Southern specialties such as seafood pan roasts, bouillabaisse, jambalaya, gumbo, clams and oysters on the half shell, etouffee and po’boys. The concept, first took off at the Oyster Bar inside Palace Station in Las Vegas and now it’s enticing diners in Orange County. Kettlebar is already a hit at the Anaheim Packing House with its display of stainless steel steam kettles connected by steam filled pipes pumped in unison so that the food cooks rapidly and…