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SAPORI RISTORANTE FOR AUTHENTIC ITALIAN

By Greer Wylder

February 09, 2011

Review by Sheryll Alexander Seeking a new favorite spot to enjoy authentic Italian? Sapori Ristorante in Newport Beach may have modern Euro décor, but the food is pure old world Italy. And that’s a very good thing. Located on Bayside Drive near Balboa Island, Sapori has been a bright spot in OC’s dining scene for 22 years. Chef and proprietor Salvatori “Sal” Maniaci, along with his top notch service staff, is an affable host and aims to please the palate as well as the spirit. Sal soothes the soul within this casual, yet sophisticated space with white tablecloths, French café…

ANDREI’S FOR A GREEN VALENTINE’S DAY

By Greer Wylder

February 08, 2011

By Sheryll Alexander Want to go green this Valentine’s Day? Andrei’s Conscious Cuisine in Irvine serves up organic and sustainable seafood and meats along with hand-crafted cocktails, award-winning wines and live music. Available from Friday, Feb. 11 through Monday, Feb. 14 (excluding Sunday), Andrei’s gives each female guest a long-stemmed red rose upon arrival. Chef Yves Fournier’s regular menu is available as well as special dishes such as crispy jumbo shrimp, Carlsbad clams, a lamb tasting, a signature surf-and-turf combo and a chocolat à deux dessert for two. Andrei’s also has a special “A List” of wines by the bottle…

BEACH PIT BBQ, CHEF JOE AND THE BACON SANDWICH

By Greer Wylder

February 04, 2011

Review By Sheryll Alexander What happens when you take an already good barbecue restaurant and let a fine dining chef tweak the menu? Pure country goodness, my friend. Yep, Beach Pit BBQ owner Tim DeCinces and former Savannah Chop House and Chat Noir Chef Joe Youkhan (who now has a mobile gourmet food truck in The Wooden Spoon OC) have teamed up to overhaul the menu from top to bottom and to create some new menu items for the Beach Pit’s six OC locations. First up on the new menu is the bacon sandwich. No, we are not talking BLT…

CLANCY’S CLUBHOUSE FOR TRUE COMFORT FOOD

By Greer Wylder

February 03, 2011

Review by Sheryll Alexander Sitting amongst a sea of corporate restaurants in Anaheim’s Disneyland Resort district, Clancy’s Clubhouse is a rare and beautiful thing. Owned by longtime OC resident Cheryl Clancy, this sports bar and restaurant offers a casual place to watch the game, to drink some brews, to play billiards and to eat real American comfort food at reasonable prices. Just opened this summer, Clancy’s Clubhouse was built to take advantage of the nearby Disney tourist and convention traffic, but is really out to please the locals. My beefy husband, who is a fan to most any sports bar,…

ROYAL HAWAIIAN TREAT!

By Greer Wylder

January 14, 2011

Review by Sheryll Alexander How is it that I’ve lived in OC all my life and have never heard of Royal Hawaiian? That seems rather impossible as this casual eatery and historic landmark has been at this same seaside location since 1947 and I’ve been eating around OC as a restaurant critic for many years now. So, it was fun for our family to find a rather reasonable restaurant for lunch or dinner in one of our favorite haunts – North Laguna Beach. Located just steps away from the Laguna Beach Art Museum and gorgeous Heisler Park, Royal Hawaiian sits…