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Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen: Mexican Cuisine From a Star Chef

May 16, 2012 By

Chef Gabbi Patrick is one of Orange County’s most inventive chefs, and her love of Mexican cuisine shines through in every dish served at this local favorite. Raised in the industry, by the time she was seventeen she was already managing two restaurants. After stepping out on her own, she found great success with Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen, opened in 2006. The restaurant offers classic Mexican dishes prepared with top of the line ingredients. Waiters are informed and talkative, so don’t be afraid to ask what’s good that day. Regulars rave about the ceviche, served perfectly toothsome with a citrus kick, as well as the tacos served in Gabbi’s house-made tortillas. For dessert, you must try the churros—the restaurant’s take on the classic rod-shaped donut is absolutely transcendent.

Gabbi’s Mexican Kitchen
141 S. Glassell Street
Orange, CA 92866
(714) 633-3038
www.gabbipatrick.com

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Carolina’s Italian Restaurant: Quality Italian, Minutes From Everywhere

May 8, 2012 By

Nestled in the heart of Garden Grove, mere minutes from Disneyland and the Anaheim Convention Center, Carolina’s has been serving up delicious, fairly-priced mom & pop Italian food since 1978. Carolina’s delivers on their promise of hearty, filling Italian specialties. Regulars rave about the fresh pasta dishes and the consistent, considerate service, and the size of the portions is one thing that every visitor praises. However, reviews are extremely polarized on much of the menu—for every local who loves it, there’s another who isn’t sold, claiming that the dishes are poorly flavored and too salty. The salads especially receive ire, with multiple complaints against the wilty lettuce and watery dressing. One of the restaurant’s biggest selling point is the massive numbers of microbrews and craft beers they have on offer—over two hundred and fifty. Beer and Italian food are great friends, even if the Italian isn’t the best.

Carolina’s Italian Restaurant
12045 Chapman Ave
Garden Grove, CA 92840
(714) 971-5551
www.carolinasitalianrestaurant.com

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Mimi’s Cafe: A Local Favorite

April 17, 2012 By

Known for dependable meals at great prices, Mimi’s Café is the place to go for your everyday comfort food—soups, salads, sandwiches, hearty entrees (meatloaf, pot roast, etc.) and more. Founded in 1978, this local chain is known by their custom-constructed buildings, which resemble French country cottages, as well as their excellent hospitality. Starting out in Anaheim, California, there are now Mimi’s in 28 states. Regulars all rave about the carrot raisin bread, served in the free breadbasket that starts your meal. You can ask for nothing but that in the basket and they’ll gladly give it to you. The food is competent if not extraordinary, with the usual mix of breakfast, lunch, and dinner favorites. The service is also polite and respectful, making Mimi’s one of the few restaurants in town that doesn’t seem like they’re trying to rush you through your meal.

Mimi’s Café
7955 Garden Grove Boulevard
Garden Grove, CA 92841
(714) 898-5042
www.mimiscafe.com

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Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar: A Fine Pairing

April 10, 2012 By

Eating options inside Disneyland are significantly more varied than your standard amusement park food, and gourmands with more particular palates have been flocking to Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar for years. Chef Joachim Spital helms this world-class Mediterranean restaurant located within the park, and his dishes are raved about by Disney regulars and foodies alike. Roasted duck breast with fresh corn polenta is lush, decadent and perfectly balanced, and the paella—which comes in a cunning single-serving size—is cooked to perfection. For dessert, Catal makes a spectacular panna cotta that will satisfy any sweet tooth. A children’s menu is also available with the usual classics to keep the little ones busy. The attached Uva Bar is a great place to unwind, with a well-curated cellar offering 40 bottles by the glass. If you’ve had enough Disney magic and need a grown-up break, this is the best place in the park to do it.

Catal Restaurant & Uva Bar
1580 South Disneyland Dr. # 106
Anaheim, CA 92802
(714) 774-4442
www.patinagroup.com

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Seafood World: The Best for Chinese Dim Sum

March 27, 2012 By

If you’re looking for a truly spectacular Chinese dim sum experience, stop in at Seafood World and let them blow your socks off. For those not familiar, dim sum is sort of the Asian equivalent of tapas—waiters push a number of carts through the dining room, each laden with delicious small plates. You point to what you want, they put it on your table, and you eat it. It’s a great and reasonably inexpensive way to sample a number of delicious tastes. Regulars at Westminster’s Seafood World recommend the siu mai dumplings, the deep fried anchovies, and the chicken legs. You can also order from their remarkably extensive menu, which unsurprisingly focuses on seafood specialties—locals point in the direction of the salted fish fried rice and the honey walnut shrimp. A common complaint is that service can be uneven, with many staff members not having a serviceable grasp of English, so be prepared to mime things out.

Seafood World
15351 Brookhurst St # 101
Westminster, CA 92683
(714) 775-8828
www.seafoodworldrestaurant.com

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Kean Coffee: It’s Peachy Kean

March 20, 2012 By

Guatemala-born coffee impresario Martin Diedrich has java in his blood—his family owned a small coffee farm, and he grew up watching beans planted and harvested. After exploring a career in archaeology, he moved to America to help his family with their roaster business. From there, it was a short step to opening his own café, and in 2005 he opened Kéan with his wife.

Dedicated to providing a cutting-edge, comfortable café experience for coffee aficionados, Kéan craft roasts a variety of sustainably sourced beans from around the world and serves up unique, delicious beverages. The flavored lattes get a big thumbs up from locals, who also rave about the atmosphere and the incredible attention to detail provided by the baristas—especially their gorgeous latte art. The company is also proud of their dedication to environmental responsibility and community engagement. Kéan is everything a local coffeehouse should aspire to be.

Kéan Coffee
13681 Newport Avenue # 14
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 838-5326
www.keancoffee.com

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The Lazy Dog Cafe: An Orange Spot for Eclectic Eats

March 13, 2012 By

If the hurly-burly of Orange County life is getting you down, a stop at the Lazy Dog Café will both lighten your spirits and fill your belly. Owner Chris Simms established this warm, comfortable restaurant to hearken back to family vacations in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and chef Gabriel Calendo fills the plates with some of the area’s most eclectic comfort food. Regulars rave about the sandwiches—the albacore tuna is a hit, especially when paired with the spicy Cajun fries or sweet potato tater tots. Grilled chicken on focaccia is also excellent. If you’re looking for something heartier, the pasta carbonara is a gut-busting specialty. For an interesting example of the range of cuisine available, order the togarashi edamame—soybeans stir-fried in a spectacular blend of spices. It’s a kick in the mouth, but in a good way. On nice days, make sure to eat out on the spacious, comfortable patio.

The Lazy Dog Café
1623 W Katella Ave # 212
Orange, CA 92867
(714) 769-7020
www.lazydogcafe.com

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S Vietnamese Fine Dining: A Sample Of Old Saigon

February 21, 2012 By

If you haven’t hopped aboard the Vietnamese food train yet, there’s no time like the present. The unique mélange of Indochinese and French influences have made it one of the fastest-growing cuisines in the United States, and with restaurants like Westmister’s S Vietnamese Fine Dining leading the charge, you’ll understand why. Step in the door and the first thing that you’ll notice is that this restaurant is absolutely beautiful—instead of the hole-in-the-wall aesthetic found in many Asian eateries, S Vietnamese has a classy, composed décor of illuminated bamboo panels. The menu is fairly extensive, with locals raving about the shaken beef, the pho (the traditional beef soup that has become the exemplar of Vietnamese food in America), and the seafood dishes. Prices are a little higher than some of the smaller places in town, but the quality of service and presentation is worth paying for. Desserts are also excellent, as the restaurant owns a nearby bakery.

S Vietnamese Fine Dining
545 Westminster Mall
Westminster, CA 92683
(714) 898-5092
www.sfinedining.com

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Dosa Place: South Indian Cusine At Its Best

February 14, 2012 By

If you’ve never had a dosa, you’re missing out on one of the best foods South Indian cuisine has to offer. Almost every culture in the world offers a dish that involves savory food wrapped in some kind of flatbread, and dosas are some of the best. A thin crepe made from rice and lentils, dosas are served wrapped around a variety of delicious food at Dosa Place, from a spicy chili with minced lamb to potato curry. The potato-stuffed masala dosa is a fan favorite. If you’re looking for something different, the menu has a wide variety of other South Indian specialties. Lunch offers a buffet-style meal that allows you to sample a variety of the offerings at a good price. From its humble beginnings in 2001 as a tiny fast food joint inside a grocery store, Dosa Place has grown into a full service Indian restaurant to be reckoned with.

Dosa Place
13812 Red Hill Ave
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 505-7777
www.dosaplace.com

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Mr. Stox: A Tradition for a Classic American Dining Experience

January 24, 2012 By

If all you want is a hearty American meal served in a luxurious atmosphere at a reasonable price,  Anaheim’s Mr. Stox is the restaurant of your dreams. Family owned and operated since 1977 and located conveniently near Disneyland and the Convention Center, this upscale eatery has long been a destination for locals. Regulars praise the incredibly well-cooked prime rib, which is seared to perfection and expertly juicy. The rest of the menu is just as promising, with a delicious lobster bisque perfectly capturing decadent chunks of shellfish meat in an amazing, creamy soup. Other dishes that have captured the attention of many a diner are astounding onion rings cooked in buttermilk and Parmesan cheese, the incredible crabcakes, and the oso bucco. This place definitely attracts an older crowd, so don’t go if you’re looking for a pick-up spot. However, Mr. Stox is a great choice for a low-key birthday or business meeting with a client you’re trying to impress.

Mr. Stox
1105 East Katella Avenue
Anaheim, CA 92805
(714) 634-2994
www.mrstox.com

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