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

Panini & more

By Greer Wylder

March 05, 2010

Italian panini sandwiches are normally pressed thin but not at Panini Cafe in Corona del Mar. Their version is a bit heftier compared to the dainty Italian sandwiches, and every bit delicious. There are 17 kinds of grilled panini on the menu at Panini Cafe, from the popular roasted salmon with brie and red onions to the prosciutto with fresh Buffalo mozzarella and tomato. Panini sandwiches are $10 and come with your choice of salad or soup. If you’re craving something even more substantial, you can’t go wrong with the Charbroiled Chicken Kabob. The large chunks of juicy chicken are…

Cozy BBQ

By Greer Wylder

March 05, 2010

There’s nothing like good ol’ BBQ to make you yearn for some carefree summer days. At Beach Bit BBQ in Costa Mesa, you can capture that feeling and eat it on a plate, too. The adorable eatery blends in almost perfectly with the picturesque homes around 17th Street. A quaint white picket fence surrounds the red cottage-like restaurant, with a screen door to boot. Our favorite at Beach Pit BBQ is the tri-tip steak sandwich: generous slices of tender tri-trip slathered with a tangy (but not too sweet) BBQ sauce all tucked in a fluffy potato bread bun. Must-order sides:…

Flavorful bet: Bangkok Thai

By Greer Wylder

February 22, 2010

For years, Bangkok Taste in Santa Ana has quietly been dishing up some of Orange County’s most solid and authentic Thai fare. The strong flavors shine through, from the lemongrass-infused broth of the Tom Yum (hot&sour) soups to the adequately intense heat of traditional offerings like larb, a delicious salad of minced chicken or beef doused in a dressing of fish sauce and lots of lime, accompanied by some cabbage wedges that make for perfect scooping utensils. Thankfully, there’s not much watering down of the flavors—so if you ask for an item to be spicy, it will be. The $5.95…

Innovative sushi at Ikko

By Greer Wylder

February 22, 2010

Ikko is for sushi lovers with an open mind. However, it’s not for anyone looking for sushi rolls or even soy sauce on the table. The tiny restaurant is known for its innovative delicacies at the hands of skilled sushi artist Ikko Kobayashi. Sit at the bar and ask for the omakase (chef’s choice), which starts at $60 for six courses and you might wind up with treats such as the steamed egg custard with sea urchin sauce and black truffles, oysters with ponzu mousse or foie gras tacos, and so on and so forth. Otherwise, tasty picks include the…

Southern comfort

By Greer Wylder

February 16, 2010

Old Vine Cafe has long been known for its fabulously approachable wine-paired dinners, but savvy fans already know that the Costa Mesa eatery serves up some serious brunch and breakfast fare as well. And now, Sunday brunch has gone southern: two eggs, fresh-baked biscuit with honey butter, house made scrapple and a panko-crusted fried green tomato—makes for some must-eat morning eats, no? For those who prefer something less breakfast-y, there’s also a new salad of seasonal greens, hearts of palm, artisan-cured ham with crispy-fried artichokes tossed in a creamy tarragon dressing and aged pecorino. You can also never go wrong…