Rerouting to Tijuanazo

 Tijuanazo Birrieria

676 South State College Boulevard #101

Anaheim, CA 92806

Truth be told, we had not anticipated eating at Tijuanazo. We had planned on going to Tacos Los Cholos down the street before heading to an early-season Angels game. Tacos Los Cholos has been on my list forever. After so many false attempts, we were determined to finally experience what many consider one of the best taco spots around these parts. 

It was not to be, though. We cruised into the parking lot to see an extensive line of people around the building waiting to get their tacos. The open-air grill expelled an aroma that told people far and near that the tacos at Los Cholos might be worthy of the hype. I would have to wait to find out, as we had to pivot to find somewhere else to eat, as the mediocre food at Anaheim Stadium would not suffice. A quick Yelp search brought us to Tijuanazo Birrieria. 

They are not to be confused with the famous Tijuana taco stand, which recently opened two locations in the US, one in LA and the other in San Diego. Tijuanazo Birrieria has four locations, all in the Inland Empire, except for this one. Their first foray into OC opened last year. In that time, they have garnered a 4.8-star rating but with only 45 reviews. It's not a big enough sample size, but we were intrigued enough to try them.  

Tijuanazo is strictly a birria restaurant. Want carne asada or pastor? You're going to have to find another spot. They serve birria in many forms; burritos, tacos, nachos, tortas, party packs, and even ramen. Regular birria tacos cost $4, while the quesabirria taco will cost you a dollar more. The rest of the menu is modestly priced, with nothing over $14. They also have Taco Tuesday and other specials throughout the week. We ordered at the counter and sat in the spacious dining room while waiting for our food to be prepared. Let's see if Tijuanazo is a good stand-in for where we were initially going to eat.  

I got two Quesabirria Tacos ($4.75 each) and one standard Birria Taco ($3.99). Pay the extra 76 cents to get the quesabirria tacos. The regular taco was fine, and once I dressed it up with onions, cilantro, and their extra spicy hot sauce, it was just as good as any birria taco I've had. The cheese mixed with the moist birria brings these to the next level. The consome here is one of the best I've had, and when you dip the tacos in it, it is like a flavor bomb going off. I did not have a bad bite while here.   

When we first had Birria Ramen ($13.50), I thought it was just some gimmick to be shown on social media. Then we tasted it, and now we are converts. We can never go back to regular Cup Noodles ever again. The birria and the consome make this more comforting than hot chocolate on a chilly evening. Katie found it hard to share with me, but luckily, this was good sized, so I got a few bites after she got her fill. 

Even though we had not planned on eating at Tijuanazo, our flexibility paid off. These were some of the best birria items we have had to date, and as a bonus, they were not as pricey as other places we have visited. The restaurant was clean, the employees were friendly, and the food will have us returning soon, probably during Duck's hockey season. 

Out of five salads (because the Caesar salad was invented in Tijuana 100 years ago), five being best to zero being worst, Tijanazo gets 3.5 Caesar salads. 

For more information about Tijuanazo Birrieria, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.birrieriaeltijuanazoca.com/

A Bird’s Eyed View of Shorebird in Newport Beach

 Shorebird

2220 Newport Boulevard

Newport Beach, CA 92663

Before our Sundays are dominated by football, we try some breakfast/brunch spots on my restaurant wishlist. Because once that calendar flips to September, the last day of the week is dedicated to watching my usually horrible Jaguars. Then, once it's apparent that they will lose, the rest of the day is spent watching other games of interest and finally wrapping up the day with the Sunday night game. It might seem like a wasted day to some, and I feel that way sometimes, but it's how Katie and I relax and gear up for the upcoming workweek. Before the first snap of the ball happened, we headed to Shorebird to experience their Sunday brunch. 

Shorebird came across my radar when I was reading Orange Coast Magazine. Their excellent restaurant critic, Gretchen Kurz, gave them a favorable review. Most of her review was about her dinner experience, but she dedicated a paragraph to what she enjoyed during her brunch visit. A few months later, Orange Coast came out with its brunch issue, which featured more about Shorebird's early weekend menu, and that's when I decided that we needed to try them.  

Even with the Newport Boulevard address, Shorebird is hidden from view from the street. The best way to find them is to look for the iconic Crab Cooker restaurant, turn down the small street, and park in the underground parking lot for the Vue Newport, a mixed-use development. Remember your parking ticket, as Shorebird validates for up to two hours. This good-sized restaurant has excellent marina views that will have you reaching for your phone to snap way more pictures than you will ever need. 

Shorebird is part of the Wild Thyme Restaurant Group. Eight different concepts are currently operating or will soon be operating. Most of their locations are in Sedona, Arizona, or Southern California. I've had only one encounter with one of their restaurants, which could have been better. Last year, we visited Stagecoach, a barbecue spot right across the street from Main Place Mall. The food was subpar. I still have nightmares about their mac and cheese and potato skins. They closed down for good before I could even write my review. I had much higher hopes for Shorebird. 

We arrived at 11 a.m., and the Sunday Funday festivities started slowly. However, the tables around us quickly filled up with large groups, and there was only a smattering of two-person parties eating there. Predictably, the tables closer to the water were more desirable. Still, the openness of the wraparound patio and the sleek vibe of the interior of the dining room ensure that most people will enjoy any seat in the house. 

The brunch menu starts at 10 a.m. on weekends, but I'm unsure of a cutoff time. It is divided into sections: starters, soups and salads, brunch specialties, sandwiches, taco platters, and sides. Entrees hover around the mid-$20 price point, while most starters will set you back less than $20. This is good for this area, where $40 to $80 entrees are commonplace. We quickly made our selections and took in the place's view and upbeat energy while waiting for our food. 

Some good-sounding starters were available here, such as A5 wagyu meatballs, buffalo onion rings, and crispy cauliflower, but we finally decided on the Avocado Fries ($15). These might be misnamed because I expected the avocado to be sliced into thin strips. Fried avocado nuggets might be a better name for these. The avocado wedges were fried in a tempura batter until golden brown. Then, they were placed on top of a green goddess dressing. I enjoyed the contrast between the crunchy outer coating and the creamy avocado. The dressing missed the mark, as I would have preferred ranch dressing instead. A good starter, especially if you are a fan of avocado. 

Katie is predictable when eating brunch. She gets a breakfast burrito almost eighty percent of the time. At Shorebird, she'd have the Knife and Fork Burrito ($20). This hefty burrito has scrambled eggs, bacon, potatoes, cheddar cheese, sour cream inside, and pico de gallo, salsa, and guacamole on the top. If this had been my burrito, I would have liked everything included inside the burrito or on the side so I could combine all the items topping this. Katie called this burrito fine, but there was nothing that wowed her about this. She would get something else on a future visit. 

I've written it before, but taking a bad picture of a benedict is almost impossible. There's just something so eye-popping about how the yellow on the poached egg catches the eye. It's magical. Of course, they are good to eat as well. This Maryland Crab Eggs Benedict ($29) was no exception. Instead of the tired English muffin, Shorebird built this benedict with a slice of sourdough bread as its base, then placed a crab cake on top of that, along with a perfectly poached egg, Hollandaise sauce, and then finished it off with some herbs and asparagus on top. The egg and hollandaise were nicely done here, and I loved the use of sourdough, which is easier to cut through than a typical English muffin. The crab cake was well made with chunks of crab instead of being all filler. I was also a fan of the crispy potatoes, as they were fork-tender, and each bite had a ton of flavor, which was made even better with the provided lemon aioli that came with this plate. Nicely done. 

Shorebird is a welcome addition to Newport Beach's brunch scene. It offers a gorgeous view, a lively atmosphere, and food that merits return visits. The menu is varied enough, with twenty-nine items, so you won't be bored eating through it. We experienced professional service during our stay and had no issues at Shorebird. Some might be put off by the almost party feel of the place, but I rather enjoyed it as it helped distinguish it from our recent Sunday routine. We're looking forward to a return to Shorebird after the football season ends. 

Out of five frequent flyer miles (because the bar-tailed godwit, a shorebird, has the longest migration route of 8000 miles non-stop from Alaska to Australia and back every year), five being best to zero being worst, Shorebird gets 3.5 frequent flyer miles. 

For more information about Shorebird, head to their website by clicking here: https://shorebirdrestaurant.com/

Doing a Blooming Business in San Juan Capistrano

 Bloom Restaurant and Bar

31760 Old Mission Road

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

I owe the guys from RJB Restaurant Group an apology. No, I never dissed one of their seven restaurants in one of my reviews. To this day, I've always had nothing but great experiences at all of their eateries. Russ and his partners probably do not know I'm still writing this blog. But, in 2013, when blogging was in its heyday, I was invited to their media day at their first restaurant, Vine, in San Clemente. It was excellent, and I became a fan. 

I then ate at their next few spots, Ironwood, Olea, and Sapphire, and was kind of bummed that they were almost all the same. Still good, but I expected them to branch out a bit. All their locations had more than half the same or similar menu items. I figured that they all had different names, so I was surprised they were more or less copies of each other. I felt gypped. I guessed they came upon a winning formula and did not feel the need to change it. That was until Bloom Restaurant and Bar came along. 

Bloom opened late in 2022, across the street from Mission San Juan Capistrano. The building dates from the 30's and was once a city hall, fire station, and pharmacy. The red brick building features large arched windows, a ten-seat bar that runs alongside the right-hand side of the space, comfy booths that occupy the dining room, and a glass-enclosed kitchen that allows spying on the inner workings of the preparers of the food. 

We were meeting our dear friends Michelle and Rudy for a long overdue meetup. It had been ages since we had seen each other, and true to form, Michelle was late. That at least allowed us to catch up with her much better half, Rudy, who would have difficulty getting a word in once his blushing bride showed up. It also allowed us to peruse the menu, which differed significantly from their other restaurants. I was proud of them and excited at the same time. 

Chef Jared Cook put together a menu that is approachable and unique at the same time. It's divided into starters, salads, entrees, and desserts. Entrees start at $24 for their sandwiches and burgers and then go up to $62 for a 45-day age bone-in ribeye. I had my eye on about three different items, but you'll have to read ahead to see everything the four of us had this evening. 

Before Michelle made her grand appearance, we started with some Warm Artisan Rosemary Focaccia Bread ($8). It's good she was late, as there were three pieces, one for each of us. The bread was grilled and came with a lovely whipped honey butter. The bread could have been taken off the grill a minute earlier, as it was nearly burnt. Luckily, only the ends got charred. The rosemary tinge was present, and I liked the honey butter, but I wish we had been given more of it. 

The bread was fine, but this Skillet Mac and Cheese ($14 plus $4 with bacon added) was spectacular. I thought about this mac and cheese for weeks after I had it. I don't even know the best part of this was; the five-cheese blend coating the macaroni, the crispy chicken skin topping, or the generous amount of bacon that topped this scalding skillet. Add everything together, and you have the best mac and cheese I have had in a decade. This is a must-get when visiting Bloom, or we might not be friends anymore.  

It's entree time, and we might as well start with our latecomer, Michelle. She's very special to everyone who knows her, so it was no surprise that she got the seafood special offered this evening. I'm pretty sure this was the Shrimp Scampi ($39). It was served over pasta with a really delicious sauce. The shrimp were good-sized and cooked perfectly. Michelle really enjoyed this meal. 

I usually avoid ordering chicken, but looking at Rudy's plate from across the table has me reconsidering that. The Jidori Half Chicken Picatta ($29) had my mouth watering. The golden chicken was topped with a Meyer lemon and caper butter sauce and was plated with fingerling potatoes, bacon braised kale underneath the good-sized chicken, and cippolini onions. I tried a bite of the chicken, which was as tender and juicy as the picture makes it look. Very well done. 

Katie also went the chicken route and picked the Crispy Chicken Sandwich ($24). This upscale chicken sandwich came with garlic dill aioli, dill pickles, and tangy coleslaw, all on a challah roll. The roll did a masterful job of staying together, and the chicken's breading was crunchy but lighter than she thought it would be. I thought all the dill would overpower, but it was mellower than I imagined. This also came with their hand-cut herb fries, which are addictive. I was excited when Katie threw in the towel but left a third of her fries for me to pilfer. 

I was torn between getting the burger or the Applewood Bacon Wrapped Meatloaf ($29), and from the pictures above, you can tell which way I went. I was one happy camper with this plate. The meatloaf at Bloom is a blend of beef, pork, and chicken wrapped in bacon, then topped with wild mushrooms and a sherry reduction. How can that not be good? The meatloaf was dense and flavorful, and I enjoyed the bacon's smokiness. The savory meatloaf paired wonderfully with my new best friend, their mac and cheese, this time with truffle. This was just as good, but I'll have to give a slight nod to the skillet mac and cheese with bacon. The cheese and truffle combo made this very decadent and rich. I used some of the bacon from the meatloaf to cut the richness a bit. 

It was a week after Michelle's birthday, so we mentioned that while our server was around, and they surprised us with this free dessert. It was a large scoop of vanilla ice cream with cake crumbs and a drizzle of caramel sauce. It was very nice of them and a sweet way to end our meal at Bloom. 

I left Bloom Restaurant and Bar feeling good about the meal we had just eaten there. Not a clunker plate was on the menu. This is proof that the boys from RJB Restaurant Group can do more than excellent wine country food; they can also do comfort food classics just as well. Months later, I still dream of their skillet mac and cheese, hand-cut french fries, and droll over pictures of their burgers on Instagram. I'll be returning for them soon. As with all of their restaurants, service was top-notch, and we had no issues. Another hit restaurant for San Juan Capistrano, which has quietly become one the top cities in OC for foodies. 

Out of five emus (because the only petting zoo in South OC is in SJC, and one of the star attractions is Angel the Emu), five being best to zero being worst, Bloom Restaurant and Bar gets 4 emus. 

For more information about Bloom Restaurant and Bar, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.bloomsanjuancapistrano.com/

Old School Offerings in Orange at the Tartan Room

 Tartan Room Restaurant

2652 North Tustin Street

Orange, CA 92865

I don't want to get too personal here, but recently, I've been making more of an effort to see my parents. Time is racing by at an alarming rate, and I don't want to have regrets later on down the line. When we visit, I ask them about their childhoods, relatives, family traditions, and general thoughts on life. I've learned a lot, and of course, we usually hold these conversations at a restaurant that I have wanted to try. On this particular Wednesday afternoon, that restaurant was the Tartan Room in Orange. 

In a city with many beloved places, the Tartan Room is definitely among them in Orange. People here really love this place. I posted about my visit on Instagram and got many comments from my followers sharing their fandom for this restaurant. It shocked me because this place is indeed hidden, and you really have to look for it to find it. 

The Tartan Room has existed for 65 years, which is eons in the restaurant business. They were initially located near where Main Place Mall stands now, and I am unsure when they moved to their present location in the Nohl Plaza, which is anchored by Vons on the corner of Lincoln and Tustin. Finding them might be easier if you look for Villa Ford, as they are neighbors separated by a fence. 

If you visit here on a sunny afternoon like we did, be prepared that this restaurant is dark and will take a few minutes for your eyes to adjust. As you enter, the bar will be to your right. When we visited, the bartender also played the role of hostess, as she was the one who sat us in the dining room. The booths here are very comfortable and bring to mind the old-school steakhouses you used to be able to find in Las Vegas. 

The Tartan Room serves lunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, while dinner starts at 5 p.m. seven days a week. While the dinner menu features hefty entree options, the lunch menu is a little more diverse, with plenty of sandwiches, burgers, and melts available. They offer eight more substantial plates for people like me who like a bigger midday meal with soup or salad and a side item. Only the bigger plates exceed the $20 mark, with the most pricey of them, the shrimp and filet, setting you back $26. Now that our eyes were adjusted to the darkness of the Tartan Room, we made our selections and waited for our food to appear, which did not take too long.  

Online reviews for the Fried Zucchini ($14) were glowing, so I had to try it. Good fried zucchini has become a lost art lately, but the Tartan Room makes a very good one. The breading is not overpowering but flavorful and allows the zucchini to shine. The slight dusting of parmesan is a nice touch, and the provided ranch dressing coats each piece wonderfully. I'm usually partial to round zucchini pieces, but these were uniformly cut and easy to manage. 

Lunch entrees here come with your choice of soup or salad, and as it was a warmer day when we visited, I selected the House Salad. This is a traditional steak house salad with sliced beet, lettuce blend, two red onion rings, and croutons. The blue cheese dressing was challenged in the blue cheese department, but it clung to everything well. The provided fresh ground pepper woke up this salad a bit. 

When most people think of the Tartan Room, Mexican food is probably not front and center in their minds. On Wednesdays during lunch, however, they feature a Mexican plate inspired by their chef's whim. On the Wednesday we were here, the special was a Cheese Enchilada and Hard-Shelled Taco Plate ($15). My mom is a very light eater and really just wanted the cheese enchilada, but we urged her to get the meal as it came and take the taco home for lunch the next day. She finally saw this advantage and immediately boxed up the taco, so I guess I won't be reviewing that, I thought to myself. She enjoyed the rather sizeable cheesy enchilada but left most of the rice and beans untouched. I tried a bite of each and thought they were pretty good, considering this is not a Mexican restaurant.  

If you see a Monte Cristo ($16) on a restaurant menu, that restaurant is geared towards an older clientele, or they want to convey the vibe that they have been around forever. This is not the case with the Tartan Room, which has been around for 65 years. For the younger people who are unaware, the Monte Cristo is a ham and cheese sandwich that is battered and fried, then dusted with powdered sugar and served with strawberry preserves. Think of it as French toast with ham and cheese in the middle. This hefty and rich sandwich instantly calls for a nap after consuming one. My dad has lost weight lately but took this down quickly and allowed me a bite. It was terrific, with a good ham and cheese-to-bread ratio. The onion rings might not look like much, but they had a crunchy outer portion and stayed with the onion inside. If you have been looking for this cult classic sandwich, head to the Tartan Room to get your Monte Cristo fix. 

Prime Rib ($22) was my go-to steak as a kid. I liked to order it when we went out for my birthday or when my aunt was paying for dinner. It made me feel grown and fancy, like JR Ewing on Dallas, eating at the Cattleman's Club while working on a backstabbing deal. Okay, I'm definitely showing my age, but my point is that I've kind of grown out of prime rib since my early days. This one at the Tartan room was cooked to my desired medium rare, but except for the outer edge of this, it lacked any real flavor. Truthfully, though, I can count on one hand all the memorable prime ribs I've had in the last 40 years. The creamed horseradish and au jus helped out a bit to bring this eight-ounce slab of beef to life. I got the Twice Baked Potato for my side item, which was a little on the small side but was fine. 

Like many restaurants in Orange, they get their cakes from Rockwell's Bakery, located in nearby Villa Park. They had three cake options, but I zeroed in on the Carrot Cake ($10). This was a very dense cake with a sturdy cream cheese frosting. It came to the table very cold, making it seem slightly less fresh than if it had been served at room temperature. 

The Tartan Room was a good choice for lunch with my parents. They appreciated the varied selections on the lunch menu and the relatively modest prices. Everything we had here was okay but not mind-blowing. I'd like to revisit again for dinner to get the whole Tartan Room experience—a crooner in the corner belting out some Sinatra, a New York steak, and maybe even a martini. That's the Tartan Room I can envision people flocking to. We experienced very professional service this afternoon and would not hesitate to return for more of the old-time vibes this joint offers. 

Out of five kilts (because most of these knee-length skirts feature a tartan pattern, some representing the wearer's family), five being best to zero being worst, the Tartan Room gets 3 kilts. 

For more information about the Tartan Room, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.thetartanroom.com/

Turning the Balboa Fun Zone Into the Burger Zone

 Irv's Burgers

600 East Bay Avenue

Newport Beach, CA 92661

I love burgers, but finding delicious ones is getting harder and harder. Yes, I could go to a steak house, and I'm sure they will have a good burger, but who wants to get all dressed up for a burger. About ten years ago, I could throw a rock in any direction and hit a restaurant that serves a great burger. We had Slater's 50/50, Burger Parlor, Crow Burger Kitchen, G Burger, Mick's Karma Bar, and Vaka Burger, all serving great burgers, but they have all shuttered. They probably were all replaced with a hot chicken restaurant, or at least it feels that way. 

So when I hear about a new burger place opening up, it piques my interest. When I heard that the new burger place had been around for 78 years, I immediately moved it up in my restaurant queue. What got me moving even faster is that the new burger restaurant is located at one of my favorite places in all of OC, the Balboa Fun Zone. A spot that instantly transforms me into an eight-year-old kid playing skeeball in the arcades, riding the Ferris wheel that I swear used to be taller, and eating as many Balboa Bars as humanly possible. 

Irv's Burgers is the new burger spot in Balboa. They opened their first OC outpost in March of this year. They opened in 1946 as Queen's Burgers alongside Route 66 in West Hollywood. In 1970, a man named Irv bought the place and changed its name. He sold the business to the Hong family in 2005, and they operated it until they had some troubles in 2018 and were forced to close. Food entrepreneur Lawrence Longo entered the picture four years later and, after a rebrand, breathed new life into Irv's. They now have seven locations, including ours at the Balboa Fun Zone. 

I visited Irv's before the busy tourist season in Newport. Although they had been open only a month, they already had a steady stream of customers. They are a mere few feet from the Balboa Ferry and the Ferris Wheel I mentioned before. This used to be a pizza place, but I had never been there, always preferring the Ruby's at the end of the pier or the Orange Julius that used to be on the corner of Balboa Boulevard. The seating at Irv's is limited to six swiveling barstools, and I did not see any seating outside on my visit. Plan ahead and bring a blanket and eat on the sand or in the nearby park. 

The menu at Irv's fits right in with the Fun Zone vibe. They offer burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, fries, milkshakes, and floats. Burgers go from anywhere between $4.50 to $11, hot dogs are $5 to $8 for a chili cheese dog, and the most expensive thing on their menu is the pastrami sandwich, which will set you back $15. Combo meals are available. This location also serves breakfast sandwiches and burritos until 11am. I was here, of course, to try their burgers, so let's see how my first visit to Irv's went. 

I was lucky enough to snag one of the six sets at the bar, with a window looking out towards the busy boardwalk. It was excellent for people-watching, but once my food tray arrived, I only had eyes for what was on it. Let's start with the burger. When a burger proclaims itself the best, I need to order it, so I got the Best Burger on the Menu ($10.95) on my maiden voyage to Irv's. This double burger comes with American cheese, grilled onions, and Irv's sauce, all on a toasted sesame seed bun. Who needs lettuce and tomato on a burger? Not me. This is no salad bar. I enjoyed this burger but will tweak it on my next visit. The outer edge of the patties had a slight crispness to them, like a smash burger, but to a lesser degree. The patties inside were juicy and more hefty than you get with a smash burger. The gooey cheese provided a nice blanket around each patty. I will ask for extra Irv's sauce next time, as I can not even describe it because they put so little on this burger. I assume it's like a thousand island sauce, but I'll have to make a return visit to confirm that. The bun was loaded with sesame seeds and was nicely toasted. Delicious burger, check. ✅

Hot dogs must be a tough sell. Every time I find an excellent hot dog restaurant, it closes. I guess there are not too many hot dog fans out there. Maybe trying this Chili Cheese Dog ($8) from Irv's might change their minds. Irv's uses Hebrew National all-beef hot dogs and then covers it with chili and shredded cheddar cheese. I loved the meatiness of the hot dog, the flavorful chili, and the fact that they use grated cheddar cheese instead of a cheese sauce. The bun was unique here, reminding me of what they use when making lobster rolls. It was toasted and did a great job keeping everything inside the bun. Delicious chili dog. Check. ✅ 

Since I had gotten chili on my hot dog, I decided against getting the chili fries and just went with Plain Fries ($4). These fries came out of the fryer very hot and were salted nicely. They were a good fast food fry, but nothing that would elevate them more than that. French Fries. 🆗

I left Irv's very satisfied with my food. I included the ala carte menu prices for the things I had here, but I did get the burger, fries, and a drink as a combo meal, which cost me $16.45. The burger and chili dog from Irv's are superb and among OC's best ones. I look forward to revisiting again soon to try their patty melt, pastrami sandwich, and chili cheese fries. Even though this was a counter-service restaurant, I must mention the guy working the register and handing out food on this particular day. I believe his name was Rico, and he was awesome. He not only kept the line moving and delivered the food as soon as it was ready, but he also memorized everyone's name and, on their way out, asked them how their food was. Very impressive, significantly since the lunch rush was ramping up, and they were getting busier by the minute. Hopefully, the arrival of Irv's Burgers will catalyze a new burger renaissance in OC. 

Out of five lost lids (because 1946 is not only the year that Irv's opened for business, but it's also the year that Tupperware was invented, and many people have lost the lids of these plastic containers over those decades), five being best to zero being worst, Irv's Burgers gets 3.5 lost lids. 

For more information about Irv's Burgers, head to their website by clicking here: https://irvsburgers.com/

Authentic Italian in Aliso Viejo?

 Trattoria Trullo 

26611 Aliso Creek Road Suite C 

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Traditional Italian food is a challenging sell in the US. I have never been to Italy, but I've watched enough TV shows about restaurants and talked to many people who have been there. From what I've seen on television and from people who have visited the boot-shaped nation, Italian food differs from what we have on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. 

Most of us grew up eating Italian food with heavy red sauce, lots of cheese, and heaping portions on our plates. This is not the case with authentic Italian food. I don't want to debate authentic versus US Italian cuisine; there's room for both, and I enjoy both. Traditional Italian is lighter than its American counterpart, made with higher-quality ingredients, and serving sizes are noticeably smaller. 

The days of Olive Garden and The Old Spaghetti Factory, which were the only games in town, are over. OC is now home to many authentic Italian restaurants: Bello by Sandro Nardone, Il Fornaio, Ciao Pasta, and my favorite, Oliver's Osteria, in Laguna Beach. Keep reading to see if we can add another to the list, Trattoria Trullo in Aliso Viejo. 

More than ten years ago, Aliso Viejo was a restaurant wasteland, with mediocre restaurants and overpriced chain restaurants dotting almost every shopping plaza. The restaurant landscape has slowly changed in recent years with the additions of Webb's Grainworks, Tacos de Birria Estilo Guadalajara, Chuponcito, and Trattoria Trullo, which opened in January in the always-hopping Aliso Viejo Town Center. 

Trattoria Trullo comes to us from Chef and Owner Marco Criscuolo. If his name sounds familiar, you must have been a regular at Andrea Restaurant or other eateries at the Pelican Hill Resort, where he worked for six years. A native of Puglia, Italy, Chef Marco started culinary school at the age of fifteen and, five years later, was working for the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. After a stint on the East Coast, he returned to OC and found a home for his first restaurant in Aliso Viejo. 

Don't expect to see chicken parmesan, fettuccine alfredo, spaghetti with meatballs, or carbonara on the menu at Trattoria Trullo. This is real-deal Italian food. Their online menu lists ten starters, six pasta dishes, and four more substantial entrees. Starters range between $8 and $28, pasta dishes go for $22 to $42, and the four entree selections range between $32 and $44. They also have a scaled-down lunch menu that features three sandwiches and other options. They are open for lunch every day except Mondays. Let's see our experience with real-deal Italian food from Trattoria Trullo. 

At first glance, this Focaccia Pugliese ($9) reminded me of the bread at Macaroni Grill, but after my first taste, I realized that this was way better than what passes for focaccia at that popular chain spot. The outside had a crunch, and the inside was pillowy and airy. It was a light-tasting bread that did not need the oil and vinegar flowing so freely at Macaroni Grill. However, we got the optional Burrata ($9) and the Basil Ricotta with Crushed Pistachio ($5). The burrata was the real deal; it was rich and milky, but I was more fond of the basil ricotta. I liked the flavor of the basil mingling with the ricotta and the texture of the crushed pistachios. Very well done, and it is hard to limit yourself to just one loaf.

For the entree portion of our meal, my cousin Jenny's selection is the Branzino ($35). This grilled Mediterranean sea bass won rave reviews from Jenny and me after she graciously shared a bite with me. The grill marks were aesthetically pleasing, and the crispy skin complemented the light and flaky fish underneath. It had a very mild flavor, which allowed the caramelized lemon to be the predominant flavor profile. This was paired with an artichoke ragout, which I did not get to try. This will be the next thing I try on my next visit to Trattoria Trullo. 

I'm not sure who ordered this Orecchettie alla Cime de Rapa ($26), but its vibrant green hue from across the table was visually stunning. The ear-shaped pasta was coated with a rarely-seen broccoli rabe sauce and accompanied by sausage, pecorino cheese, and breadcrumbs. A very comforting yet light dish, this is another that will soon find itself sitting in front of me at Trattoria Trullo. 

Dish number three was the Paccheri Mari E Monti ($30), which is not on their online menu now, and there are no pictures of it on their Yelp page either. They may rotate items depending on what's available. This sea and mountains dish consists of shrimp (sea), mushrooms (mountains), large tube pasta, pancetta, and provola cheese. 

Katie is always drawn to any bolognese on a menu, so she would consume the Rigatoni alla Bolognese ($24) this evening. All of their pasta is made in-house in their pasta lab daily. The fresh pasta has a very pleasing, chewy feel to it. The bolognese comprises the holy trinity of meats; beef, pork, and veal. The sauce portion was not as heavy as others, so you could taste the meat more clearly. As you can see from the picture, Katie loves parmesan cheese and had more than her fair share. Save some for the rest of us, Katie.

The most recognizable dish on this menu, which most people are familiar with, is their Lasagna Classica ($24). It's made with the same bolognese sauce that Katie had, but they also incorporate bechamel into the mix. I'm always a big fan of bechamel, as it's one of my favorite sauces. This lasagna did not use too much cheese, and I liked that the outer edges of the lasagna noodles got crispy. It's a very refined version of a quintessential Italian dish.  

My aunt Hiroko is a big seafood fan and seemed very happy with this Linguine alle Vongole ($24). The fresh clams paired nicely with a simple white wine sauce and linguine. It is very traditional in its preparation. 

Last but not least, I ordered last and had several items to try on my wishlist at Trattoria Trullo, so I picked something that nobody else had gotten: the Veal Osso Buco ($48). This ten-ounce braised veal shank was tender and comforting as I ate it. It was very tender and one of the best I have had in OC. An added bonus was the bone, with the bone marrow still inside. Deliciously decadent. The polenta was well done, but the baby spinach got lost with the overabundance of the Barolo sauce. This is easily the most substantial plate here. 

We were going across the way for some ice cream after dinner, but they were kind enough to bring out this Torta Pasticiotto ($12) for us to share. Coming from the Puglia region of Italy, I'd describe this as a very light chocolate pie. The double crust was light and flaky, and the chocolate inside was creamy but not as rich as it looked in the photo above. 

After our visit to Trattoria Trullo, I worried about this restaurant. It's not because the food was awful; it was terrific and definitely in my top three authentic OC Italian restaurants. It wasn't because the service was terrible either, as our server, Jordan, was fantastic, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. My worry for Trattoria Trullo is that people of OC might not get authentic Italian cuisine, where the portion sizes are smaller, the items on the menu might not be as recognizable to them, and they may perceive the price point as being too high, even though they are serving food with high-quality ingredients. Even though I'd consider this travel-worthy Italian, I feel it would be a challenge to get people from, let's say, Newport to drive down to Aliso Viejo for dinner.  I hope I'm wrong and they have great success for years to come. Hopefully, Reading this review will urge you to make the short trip to Aliso Viejo. 

Out of five beach umbrellas (because Chef Marco is from the Puglia region of Italy, which boasts the most coastline of any mainland Italian region, hence the need for plenty of beach umbrellas), five being best to zero being worst, Trattoria Trullo gets 3.5 beach umbrellas.  

For more information about Trattoria Trullo, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.trattoriatrullo.com/