Swinging by for Some Carolina Vibes - CLOSED

Porch and Swing

2010 Main Street Suite #170

Irvine, CA 92614

When I first met Katie's family back in 2009, I have to admit I was not in love with their restaurant choices. They'd head to Mimi's Cafe, Cedar Creek, El Ranchito, and Coco's on a reasonably consistent rotation when Papa was in town —not exactly top-notch spots. I always found things to eat at these restaurants, but I knew there was better out there. 

I might have been the one to gently push them to expand their culinary horizons, but the real catalyst for better restaurant experiences was Katie's mom, Lynn. She became enamored with food and restaurant programs on TV. As Netflix became more popular in the later years of the last decade, she became entranced by immersing herself in Chef's Table, The Great British Baking Show, Salt Fat Acid Heat, Ugly Delicious, and others. 

Seeing these shows and the creativity that the chefs possessed got her to expand her restaurant repertoire by trying new places she read about in magazines, newspapers, and, of course, her son-in-law's fantastic restaurant blog. When I mentioned Porch and Swing as a possible dining option for a long-overdue meet-up with her and her cantankerous husband, Dennis, she could not say yes quickly enough. 

It was a slam dunk, especially after I mentioned Chef Justin Werner's impressive resume. He won Chopped on Food Network, worked at Noma, the Copenhagen spot called the best restaurant in the world, spent significant time at high-end restaurants in New York, and then moved to OC to work for Jason Quinn at Playground DTSA for the last four years.  

Venturing out on his own now, Porch and Swing is his tribute to the cuisine of Charleston, South Carolina. This city borders the Atlantic, so it's a mixture of seafood and soul food. Chef Justin highlights this cuisine with the highest-quality ingredients, a seasonal menu that changes quite often, and a relaxed and cozy atmosphere at his restaurant. 

Burger lovers will remember this space as the old Mick's Karma Bar at the Irvine Concourse Office Towers. It has been expanded a bit, with a lovely patio for al fresco dining, which is about 300 days per year in OC when the weather permits. 

The inside has been very open since they were serving hamburgers here. The ceiling has been raised, the walls painted white, and a 12-seat bar in the corner conveys a very open and airy space. The one-page menu is divided into four parts: a bread section, then salads and starters, an eight-pack of entrees to select from, and a trio of sides to finish things. Instead of writing about the menu, let's look at what we had this evening. 

Since I was eating with three people in keto life, I was surprised when Lynn suggested we start with this Skillet Cornbread ($10). This skillet came out scalding hot, with a dollop of spiked honey butter melting rapidly atop the cornbread. I'm not positive what it was spiked with, but it added just the right amount of muted sweetness to each bite of the cornbread. My first bite was okay, but as I ate this, I warmed to it. It's not a sweet cornbread, but I liked the dense texture of it. 

Lynn called the shots this evening as she jumped to try these Suncoast Farm Figs ($16). The fresh figs included creamy goat cheese, pistachio pieces, and a gastrique. I'll admit I'm not much into figs or goat cheese, but I found myself coming back for my fair share of forkfuls. The figs were fine, but what made this for me was how the other ingredients enhanced them. You get the earthy feel from the pistachio, the creaminess of the goat cheese, and the sweet and savory from the gastrique. It became a winning combination. 

Katie will lead us in the first of our four entrees this evening. Even though she requested that the Imperial Farms Wagyu Flank Steak ($36) be cooked well, it was actually edible, which is not always the case in some restaurants. Maybe someday she will venture into having her proteins cooked in the medium range. The steak had a good crust on the outside, while the inside was juicy, even though it was well done. It made me think that if they could make this well-done piece of meat taste this good, their medium rare flank steak has to be out of this world. This came paired with some crispy kale with shallots strewn on top. This kale was much to Katie's liking.  

It's always a crapshoot about what Dennis will have for dinner when we go out. His tastes run the gamut from soup for dinner to a big entree. He again surprised me this evening by going for the Seared Scallops ($27). These three scallops were perched above a very tasty corn puree. The scallops were done perfectly, with a wonderful tenderness to them. The whole plate did not last long, as Dennis enjoyed it very much. 

The Braised and Glazed Short Rib ($26) is what made an appearance in front of Lynn. As is the case with everything we had from the entree portion of the menu, it was plated in a sauce, puree, or, as you will see in my upcoming meal, grits. The puree was composed of sweet potato and brown butter for the short rib. It featured a tinge of sweetness, which helped counteract the slight savoriness of the fork-tender short rib. I liked the give and take of the bite that Lynn allowed me to have. The flavors were vying for my attention. A very well-crafted plate. 

Not every day do you see Roasted Pork Jowl ($26) on a menu. Hopefully, that will change after this stellar plate. The pork was juicy and tender, with all the bites resembling the moistest bite of carnitas you've ever encountered. The richness was broken up by adding a surprisingly spicy pepper jam. The grits were one of the best I've had in OC and paired nicely with the pork. Definitely, a meal that will keep you comfy on these colder winter evenings. 

Our last hurrah at Porch and Swing for the night was the Rice Pudding Cloud ($12). This simple dessert was created using one of the lightest rice puddings I have ever had, a sliced banana, and a salted caramel drizzle on top. The pudding was light and fluffy but not crazy sweet. The banana and the salted caramel provided the sweetness for this dessert. 

Porch and Swing impressed me and lived up to Chef Justin's impressive resume. The food was well executed, great ingredients were used, and the subtle ways he infused flavors into each plate were nicely done. The portion sizes will not overwhelm you at Porch and Swing, but the superior level of the meals and technique will make anyone who appreciates fine food happy that they came here for lunch or dinner. Service was first-rate, and they have a good-sized patio for people who are more at ease sitting outdoors. We had a wonderful conversation with Chef Justin at the end of our meal, where we got to talk about food and the restaurant industry. Also, we got a quick tutorial on all the microgreens he uses at the restaurant and how he uses them to infuse flavor into his dishes. Most importantly, we had the chance to witness my mother-in-law show her inner fangirl for chefs, as she was practically swooning by the end of our evening at Porch and Swing. 

Out of five birdies (because the first golf club in the United States was established in Charleston in 1787, the same year my father-in-law got his first and only birdie on a golf course), five being best to zero being worst, Porch and Swing get 4 birdies.  

For more information about Porch and Swing, head to their website here: https://www.porchandswing.com/ 

Another Hit for the Dynamic Duo?

Tavern House Kitchen and Bar

333 Bayside Dr. 

Newport Beach, CA 92660

In recent years I've made it a point to try new restaurants. Unfortunately, this was not always the case. So when I started this restaurant review site, I made it my policy to wait a year or so to try a place to ensure a restaurant had some staying power. I didn't want a long list of closed restaurants cluttering my blog. Then it dawned on me that you all might want to know if a newer place is worth spending your hard-earned money at. 

That's when I started paying closer attention to notable restaurant openings featured in the Orange County Register, OC Weekly, and especially Orange Coast magazine. In recent years I've tried to hit up as many of their best new restaurants as I've been able to. Last year I think I made it to six out of ten. With all the craziness of this year, this is my first visit to a restaurant on this year's list. 

Tavern House took over the long-time spot of 3-Thirty-3 Waterfront, which sits adjacent to Sol Cocina on PCH. They opened their doors in July last year and are brought to us by a pair of well-respected restauranteurs in OC, Gregg Soloman, and David Wilhelm. Between them, they are the creators of some of  OC's most iconic restaurants;  Bistro 201, Sorrento Grille, Kachina, French 75, and Jimmy's Famous American Tavern, to name a few. 

I had never been to 3-Thirty-3 before, but the renovation into Tavern House took only two weeks to complete, so I imagine this was more or less what the restaurant looked like. We had made reservations and requested to be sat near a window overlooking the tranquil waters of Newport Bay. The view was very comforting, as the bay's gentle waves lapped easily against the sides of the big yachts as the sun slid from view on the horizon. 

The inside vibe of Tavern House was a little more raucous as we arrived, just as the Sunday Funday crowd was shuffling out, but the Dodger game was just starting up. The game was being played on numerous TVs surrounding the bar, which is centrally located in the center of the restaurant. The dark woods are reminiscent of Jimmy's Famous Tavern, but with a much better view and lightened up a bit. 

The menu features many starters and share plates, with many featuring different seafood offerings. There are eight soup and salad selections, with most running in the $12 to $20 range. In addition, there are 13 of what I'd call big entree plates and five burger and sandwich options. Fans of Soloman's and Wilhelm's past restaurant ventures will see some of their old favorites on this menu. Let's see if we can add Tavern House to this dynamic duo's long list of hit restaurants. 

We started our culinary adventure at Tavern House with their BBQ Buffalo Style Meatballs ($17). Unfortunately, these ping-pong-sized orbs of meat were bathed in a way too sweet to be called buffalo-style sauce. The provided garlic ranch helped cut the sweetness, but I was expecting these to be a bit spicy, which they were not. Also, at $3.40 per meatball, I thought they should have at least been a little more tender.  

Our good friends Cynthis and Scott were joining us this evening, and Cynthia gave the New England Style Clam Chowder ($8) a try. This creamy chowder came with plenty of clams, potatoes, and a good amount of bacon which lent a smokiness to each bite. She was very excited by this version, as she considers herself an expert in all things clam chowder. 

Not only one of the most photogenic soups you will ever see but one of the tastiest you will have as well. As good as the clam chowder was, I could not see myself visiting Tavern House without getting their classic French 75 French Onion Soup ($12). This just exuded comfort food with each spoonful. The tangy, sweetened onions complimented the savory broth wonderfully, but the gruyere cheese blanketing the top layer of this was, of course, the show's star. Each bite was a pleasure, a little crispy on the edges and bubbly and creamy in the middle. It's hard for me to get too excited about soup, but this is one to shout about. 

Cynthia is pretty special to all of us, especially to her beaming husband, so it was very appropriate that she picked the fresh fish special this evening. This Sea Bass Special ($34)  came with a good-sized piece of sea bass in a butter sauce with sliced almonds and capers. The fish was cooked perfectly, with good flakiness to it. Rounding out the meal were some vegetables, most of which were french-cut green beans and mashed potatoes. 

Scott is a man of simpler tastes, as he quickly zeroed in on this Cowboy Burger ($21). This burger was heavy on condiments and toppings, including barbecue sauce, cheddar cheese, green chile, strips of bacon, and fried onion strings. A definite upgrade to his usual Western Bacon Cheeseburger from Carl's Jr.  Scotty is a man of few words when it comes to anything but poker. Still, he called this burger above average, which translates to him being impressed with his meal selection. 

Katie has been doing the keto thing for the last five months, and I have to say that I'm very proud of her. She's cut her insulin intake to a quarter of what it was, and she's been feeling great. I was a little worried that she would be unable to find meals at the restaurants we visit, but that has not been the case. At Tavern House, she partook in the Chopped Salad with Chicken ($19). This bowl contained romaine lettuce, bacon, heirloom tomatoes, red onion, and a delicious blue cheese dressing. The six-dollar upcharge for the chicken was softened a bit with the amount of poultry she got and how it added some protein to her meal. She also got a side of Green Beans ($8). Unfortunately, these were kind of lackluster. The menu proclaims that they come with bacon and shallots, but their was so little bacon and no trace of a shallot anywhere on the plate, so this was a bit of a letdown. The beans were okay but could have been better.  

I decided to get something a little out of character this evening at Tavern House and went with the Pork Schnitzel ($28). This breaded pork tenderloin was topped with a buttery caper sauce. I would have liked a little more sauce, as this was fine, but it did not wow me. The breading on the pork had a good crunch, but the pork itself needed to be a bit more tender. This was served with a scoop of buttery mashed potatoes and an interesting cabbage braised with apples and bacon. I ended up liking both sides better than the pork.  

The grand finale for our foursome this evening was Trissa's Peanut Butter Pie ($9). This came highly recommended by our server. It featured an Oreo cookie crust, peanut butter mousse, a layer of chocolate, lots of caramel, and a dollop of whipped cream. The peanut butter mousse was spot on, light, and flavorful, but this needed a bit more chocolate for my tastes. I believe it would have been even better if they had used a chocolate drizzle instead of caramel.  

Tavern House had its ups and downs for me on this visit, but it was still a very solid spot for dinner. Their menu is diverse enough to satisfy even the pickiest of your friends. I really enjoyed the view and the ambiance, and as is the case with restaurants with lovely views, prices tend to be a bit on the higher side. The food was all a bit above average, except the french onion soup, which is a must-get. Our server, Lenora, who told us she had been with David Wilhelm for almost all of his restaurants, was warm and efficient in her duties, keeping our evening moving along and ensuring we were well taken care of. It feels like these two veteran restauranteurs have another hit on their hands. 

Out of five riverboats (because near this restaurant is where the famous Reuben E. Lee Riverboat Restaurant was located, which I never got a chance to eat at, but always wanted to), five being best to zero being worst, Tavern House receives a solid 3 riverboats. 

For more information about Tavern House, head to their website here: https://www.tavernhousekb.com/ 

Adding Moe's to Our Lunchtime Routine?

 Moe's Deli

23052 Lake Forest Drive

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Since I'm always talking about food, giving restaurant recommendations, and giving my opinion about what restaurants I like and ones that I don't, it's not surprising that I have become the food guy at work. When someone is going somewhere on vacation, it's my job to give restaurant recommendations. Someone needs a special occasion spot, it's me to the rescue. I don't really mind because it gives me a chance to talk about and research restaurants, something that I really enjoy doing, and it also gives me a chance to stop working, something that I'm not too fond of. 

My restaurant obsession has also made me the guy to pick a place for lunch. With nearly 260 workdays a year, our heavy rotation of places we eat at can make our midday reprieve from our work seem humdrum. So, I'm always on the lookout for something new to breathe new life into our dreary life as supermarket workers. That means checking out Yelp, which helped me find Moe's Deli. 

As with any place we try for lunch, I like to visit a restaurant solo for the first time, to see if it's any good. Moe's gets a perfect 5 stars on Yelp, with close to 300 reviews. Pretty impressive. A potential lunch spot also must have a good diversity to their menu for our usually hard to please 4 person lunch brigade, and most importantly, it must be close enough that we can get to it, eat, and get back before our hour is up and we have to get back to the rest of our glorious day, (yes, you are right to detect the sarcasm there). 

Moe's Deli had enough variety for all of us. They boast 24 sandwiches on their menu, an eight pack of salads to pick from, and a build your own sandwich section, just in case you are not feeling any of their regular sandwich offerings. All sandwiches come in either an 8-inch size or a footlong version. The extra four inches will cost you $2 more, which makes that choice pretty easy for me. 

Ordering could not have been easier. You could call in, but I'd suggest that you take advantage of their easy online ordering option. Their website was extremely easy to navigate, and a lot easier than ordering sandwiches over the phone with all of the options you can add and subtract on each sandwich. Yes, my friends at work are very picky. There was also a 10 percent discount for first-time customers. A very nice touch. Let's see if this dry run at Moe's Deli will make us want to add them to our rotation of places we frequent during the workweek. 

The most popular sandwich online at Moe's is their Hot Pastrami Sandwich ($10.25) and for good reason. This was a very good pastrami sandwich. They use navel black pastrami, which was lean and flavored well. The rest of the sandwich was made up of swiss cheese, sauteed onion, mustard, pickles, and a touch of mayo. I'm not the biggest fan of mayo and pastrami, but it worked on this one, maybe because they used it sparingly. The bread was pliable and had a good chew to it. I'd probably ask for double meat next time, but that's the only thing I'd change about this sandwich. 

Since I was doing a reconnaissance mission for my friends at work, I had to try another sandwich, so I went with one of my favorite sandwiches, the Philly Chz Steak ($10.50). Moe's Deli makes there's with a house cream cheese aioli, sauteed onions and peppers, and double provolone. This was a very mellow cheesesteak. The meat was fine, but this sandwich was missing something. The onions and peppers really didn't represent here. I'd maybe add jalapenos next time to liven things up. Not bad, but there's better cheesesteaks out there. 

I have a Broccoli Cheese Soup ($3.00) addiction, so when I saw that they offer it, I had to give it a try. How can I put this politely? It was not very good at all. Very watery, no substance to it, and I'm not even sure that there was any cheese present in this cup. It sure didn't taste like it. To be fair, I'm pretty sure that they are not making their 5 soups on the premises, but maybe they should think about switching soup vendors, and if they do make their soups in house, don't forget the cheese and broccoli next time. 

Even though the soup was a real bummer, the sandwiches at Moes Deli definitely warrant repeat visits. I'd like to try their meatball, Italian, and french dip on upcoming trips. I felt the prices here are more than fair, the ordering process was easy, and the sandwiches were ready at the time they were promised. Moe's Deli will definitely make it into our lunch rotation. 

Out of five bar stools, (because when I hear the name Moe, it always makes me think of Moe from the Simpson's, who runs Moe's Tavern), five being best to zero being worst, Moe's Deli gets 3 bar stools. 

For more information about Moe's Deli, head to their website by clicking here: https://moesdelioc.com/