Birthday Dinner at 1886 Brewing Company

 1886 Brewing Company

114 North Glassell St. 

Orange, CA 92866

I got ripped off with my birthday dinners this year. Usually, Katie and I celebrate dinner by ourselves, then my parents take me out, and I finish it with another dinner from Katie's parents. Since it has been far too long since my and Katie's parents have seen each other this year, we combined our meals with them. This shorted me out of a birthday dinner, but it was worth it to get them together for a long-overdue meetup. The hard part was finding a spot they would all like. After much research, I decided on the 1886 Brewing Company.  

Opened for business for three years now, 1886 Brewing Company is located right next door to Citrus City Grille and on the same side of the street as Smoqued BBQ, O'Hara's Pub, and Pandor Bakery and Cafe. Speaking of Smoqued BBQ, this restaurant is run by the same owners of that restaurant. They named this restaurant after the year this building was constructed. In those 137 years, this spot has been many businesses, but most recently, it was an antique store about five years ago. There are not too many restaurants in OC that can claim to be housed in a 137-year-old building. 

Beer is brewed on the premises, and as recently as this year, they have won awards for it. You can see the large, shining tanks proudly standing behind the bar when you enter the restaurant. The six of us were ushered to the back patio, which was covered to prevent the sun from baking us. It was quieter out there, which I'm sure our parents were thankful for. 

Like most bars/restaurants, the menu here is varied and offers plenty of choices that even the most picky of eaters can find something they will like. There are 11 appetizers to pick from, along with salads, sandwiches and burgers, and most substantial entrees. The price point for most items hovers around $17, with only a couple of things exceeding $20. Happy hour is offered on weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m., Taco Tuesday is celebrated all day with $3 tacos, and brunch is highlighted by either a $29 prix fixe option or they get a lot of love for their brunch charcuterie board, which features lots of breakfast staples. We were here at 5 p.m., so dinner was what we were after. Let's see if this was a good pick for the six of us. 

If I had left it up to Katie, she would have gotten the hummus or the Bavarian pretzel as an appetizer, but it was my birthday, so I would not submit to her (at least not today). I was intrigued by the nachos and chori-queso, but I went the safe route here and picked the Crispy Brussels Sprouts ($10) and the Chile Verde Poutine ($16). The better of the two was the poutine. The fries were topped with chile verde shredded pork, pickled red onion, and cheese curds. The fries were done nicely and stayed crisp the whole time we were chowing down on this. I liked the contrast between the pickled onions and the rich pork. This could have been made even better if more pork had been added and it was layered better. Near the end, we just had fries left. The sprouts were crispy but not conducive to sharing between six people. They were topped with bacon and a sweet and sour sherry gastrique that was a nice deviation from the usual balsamic that most places use. 

My mom will start the entree portion of our meal with these Boneless Wings ($12). These five pieces of chicken were crispy and plump. They usually come with buffalo sauce, but my mom wanted them naked with a side of ranch. She ate three tenders, making me think my light-eating mother was a big fan of them. The chicken strip I tried was tender and juicy and went perfectly with the provided ranch dressing. 

Katie seemed to need help picking what she wanted at 1886, and she finally settled on the T-Bird Sandwich ($16 plus a $2 upcharge for fries). The toasted sourdough housed a good amount of sliced roasted turkey, two slices of provolone, tomato, red onion, pepperoncini, and shredded lettuce tossed in a red wine vinaigrette. This sandwich exceeded her expectations. She liked the sliced turkey and the crunch of the toasted bread and found the tanginess of the pepperoncini and the lettuce with the vinaigrette to keep her interested while she was eating this. The fries were nice and crispy and were an excellent accompaniment to the sandwich. 

I've wanted a good patty melt for some time now and hoped that this Meatloaf Patty Melt ($17 plus a $2 upcharge for a side Caesar) would satisfy my craving. It actually did. Again, toasted sourdough was the bread of choice for this sandwich and included a slice of bacon meatloaf, grilled onion, provolone, and American cheeses. The sandwich was delicious, even though the bacon could have been slightly more pronounced. A very well-built patty melt. My only tweak for next time will be to jettison the lackluster tomato jam that came with this and get their much better house sauce that was way better for dipping the sandwich in. The Caesar was okay, but I could have used more dressing and parmesan cheese. 

My dad selected the Fish and Chips ($18) this evening. The three pieces of cod are beer battered and came with hand-cut fries and a ravigote sauce, which is something I've never heard of and had to look up what it was. It's a mustard-based French sauce freshened with shallots, capers, or herbs. This one looked like a creamy Thousand Island, as it did not have any noticeable mustard hints. My dad thought it was a tarter sauce, as he didn't bat an eye while dipping his fish into it. He ate these three pieces rather quickly.  

Katie's dad Dennis never met a shepard's pie that he could resist. This one at 1886 is called the "Loated" Shepard's Pie ($18) because it utilizes their popular Loated stout as a braising agent with the beef under the mashed potato topping. Joining the meat is plenty of carrots, onions, and peas. The top of the mashed potatoes had a nice crunch as they were crisped underneath the broiler. The inside filling had an excellent depth of flavor, which was rich and hearty. Nicely done. 

Last but not least was this Rosemary Chicken that Katie's mom ordered. It was served with a bordelaise sauce, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, and mixed vegetables. Lynn was on the other side of the table from me, so I did not get the chance to try any of this, but she seemed to have liked it, even though she took a good amount home. 

1886 Brewing Company was an excellent choice for my birthday dinner with our parents. Their menu is varied enough that everyone can find something to order from it. No, the food will not be up for a James Beard award anytime soon, but if you are looking for better-than-average bar food at reasonable prices, give 1886 a try. We experienced reliable service during this visit, with no complaints about our server or any of the other employees we encountered. Even though I got swindled out of an extra birthday dinner, it was worth it to have our parents get to see each other, and even better, we all seemed to enjoy our time at 1886 Brewing Company. 

Out of five railroad cars (because 1886 is the year that the first trainload of oranges left Los Angeles via the transcontinental railroad), five being best to zero being worst, 1886 Brewing Company gets 3 railroad cars. 

For more information about 1886 Brewing Company, head to their website by clicking here: https://1886brewingco.com/

Does Super Antojitos Live Up to Its Name?

 Super Antojitos

642 West Chapman Ave. 

Orange, CA 92886

I've become quite obsessed with restaurant review videos on Instagram. I love watching them and find that they are an excellent resource for a restaurant that has not caught my attention. These videos have inspired me to consider doing two-minute restaurant reviews on my social media channels. I'm seriously thinking about it, but I am taking my time to ensure I know what I'm doing before jumping in. 

Super Antojitos came across my radar when I watched Grub With Greg visit a few months ago. He enjoyed his time here and called this one of his top ten restaurants in Southern California. He was also very enthusiastic about the burrito he consumed here, calling it the best he had in his life. Very high praise for someone who has eaten at tons of places. The food looked great, and I wondered if this was just hyperbole on his part. I decided to find out for myself. 

I met my friend Jeff at Super Antojitos on Thursday just before noon. This popular spot is located near the intersection of Chapman and Parker, just a couple blocks west of the historic Orange Plaza. Parking might be challenging around peak meal times, as I counted only 11 parking stalls. Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood, but be prepared to walk a bit. 

Like many Mexican restaurants, this one is family-run. The Rodriguez family came to the US in 1968, and after hard work and determination, they transitioned into the restaurant business by first waiting tables at the Arches in Newport Beach. 1985, their dream was realized when they opened their first Super Antojitos restaurant in Santa Ana. It's not there anymore, but three other restaurants appear on Yelp with the Super Antojitos name. This Orange location has the most positive reviews and has only been open for close to two years. 

Their dining area is small but bright and colorful, thanks to the tablecloths and art hanging on the walls. The menu features all-day breakfast options, combo meals, appetizers, fajitas, molcajetes, burritos, enchiladas, and specialty plates. Only some seafood selections exceed the $20 mark, with most other items hanging out in the $15 neighborhood. Let's see if we were as excited as Greg was about Super Antijitos food. 

When we sat down, even before we ordered, we were presented with chips, salsa, and a bowl of refried beans. Getting bean dip always feels like a bonus, which usually adds to an upcoming great experience. The chips here were fresh and went well with the refried beans. The salsa was spicy, even for me, but I would have liked a little more chunk to it. It would definitely be a welcome addition to any taco or burrito. 

For some time now, I've been searching for my favorite Choriqueso ($13.99) in OC. So far, my favorite is from El Maguey, located in San Juan Capistrano. This one at Super Antijitos was good, but it could not topple the one from down at El Maguey. I really enjoyed that they put this under the broiler to get the cheese a bit crispy and bubbly. It was scorching when it came to our table, and it was torture waiting for it to cool down so I could try it. We were given three tortillas to eat with this, but we could have used more. The cheese was on point, very stringy, and delicious. This could have had more chorizo, as it got pushed to the side by all the cheese and did not really stand out. This was still a good start to our meal. 

You can never say I'm not a gracious person. I came into Super Antojitos thinking I would get the Chapman Burrito ($17.99), but my good friend Jeff wanted to try it instead. This was the burrito that Greg had said was the best burrito of his life. This burrito comprises carne asada and chorizo mixed with refried beans, rice, and pico de Gallo, all simmered in a spicy roasted tomatillo salsa. It's then wrapped in a large flour tortilla with melted cheese and avocado on top of a hot, sizzling plate. Jeff was not as enthusiastic about this burrito as Greg was. However, he liked it much more when he took the other half home and had it the next day. He claimed it came out so hot that he could not enjoy it while he was here, and it burned his mouth. I tried it once it cooled down and felt it was a solid burrito. I liked the inclusion of both the chorizo and carne asada, which you rarely see on many menus around OC. The avocado helped balance out the richness, and I feel that if Jeff had gotten the sour cream that usually comes with this, it also would have helped elevate this burrito. It's not the best burrito of my life, but it is worth trying. 

Since I did not get the chance to have the Chapman burrito, I went with my second choice here, the Chapman Chilaquiles with Carne Asada ($18.99). I'm a chilaquiles fiend and liked this version. This also was served on a sizzling skillet and came out red hot. This seemed to be a trend for us here. These chilaquiles came not in a red or green sauce but a spicy cream salsa, which was a nice little twist. It was mildly spicy but did not overpower the rest of the meal. The beef was cut into strips and was a little overcooked. I liked that the cheese got crispy on the edges because it was served on a hot skillet. The chips were a little limp, which is understandable because there was the meat, queso fresco, a fried egg, and sour cream layered on top of them. This also came with a side of refried beans. 

Was this the best burrito of my life? Is Super Antojitos in my top ten restaurants in all of Southern California? Unfortunately, the answer to both questions is no. It is, however, worth a visit if you are in the area, and I can see us eating here before Ducks games this upcoming season. The menu is varied and large enough to warrant return visits. I'm curious about their carnitas, combo plates, and the deluxe burrito, which measures a whole foot. Challenge accepted. We experienced excellent service while we were here. Our food was out promptly, and everyone was amicable and made us feel welcome. Even though Greg and I don't see eye to eye on this place, I still see myself turning to his excellent videos for restaurant tips. Someday, I will follow in his footsteps. 

Out of five law books (because this restaurant has a lot of items named after the street it's located on, and Chapman Avenue is named after Alfred Chapman, one of the founders of the city of Orange, who was also a lawyer), five being best to zero being worst, Super Antojitos gets 3 law books. 

For more information about Super Antojitos, head to their website by clicking here: https://superantojitosmexicanfood.com/

Easy Breezy Breakfast in San Juan Capistrano

 Breezy

31761 Camino Capistrano Suite 4

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

Football season is rapidly approaching, and if it's anything like the last few years, Katie and I will be sitting in front of the TV every Sunday until January from 10am til 8pm. For the first time in years, we have legitimate hope that our football team, the Jacksonville Jaguars, will be relevant this year. In the last 20 years, they have only had a winning season five times, and last year, they showed signs that they were ready to have another winning season this year. Time will tell, but as our Sundays will soon be filled with nothing but football, we needed to get out and try a brunch spot that has gotten quite a lot of buzz in the last year. That's what has brought us to Breezy in San Juan Capistrano. 

Breezy has been open for 11 months, and their Yelp rating is a respectable four and a half stars with close to 300 reviews. They have had write-ups in the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Times. They were also mentioned as having one of the best breakfast burritos in OC by Eater LA, and the throngs of people waiting for a table on weekends are a testament to their apparent popularity. 

Taking over the former Ramen Shack space in the Capistrano Plaza, which is mere steps away from the famous San Juan Capistrano Mission and the always bustling train station, Breezy was brought to life by commercial real estate developer Jasmin Gonzales and a collaboration between the guys from Shootz Hawaiian and butcher shop Primal Cuts, both tenants at Rodeo 39 Public Market in Stanton. Jasmin wanted to bring a brunch concept that featured Filipino-inspired breakfast items to the people of South OC. 

The one-page food menu is broken up into pancakes and French toasts, benedicts, avocado toasts, acai bowls, and specialties of the house. Most items hover around the $16 price point, with only the Ribeye Steak and Eggs and the Crab Cake Benedict over the $25 threshold. We were met with about a half-hour wait on a recent Sunday morning at half past 10. During less busy times, you wait to be seated, and during peak times, like when we visited, you sign in through the Yelp stand at the front of the restaurant and wait for your party to be called. 

The restaurant is very comforting, with its pink-hued walls, flower-shaped lighting fixtures, and ivy-covered wall proclaiming to everyone to " keep it breezy."  The decor here appeals to the Instagram set, but not in an annoying way. We waited about fifteen minutes for our food, which was good considering how packed they were. Let's see if all the love this trendy brunch spot gets is warranted. 

Up first for us was the S'Mores French Toast ($16.99). For their French toast, they utilize milk bread and top this version with a Nutella drizzle, toasted marshmallows, mixed berries, graham cracker crumbs, and an ube whipped cream. This had a muted sweetness on its own, but I added some of the maple syrup available on each table to make this a tad sweeter for my tastes. I would have also liked this better if it featured more of a s'mores taste. There was just a dusting of graham crackers, and this needed a bit more Nutella to represent the s'mores feel they were going for. It was still good, but I decided to try the more popular Ube French Toast on my next visit.   

Katie's a creature of habit when it comes to eating breakfast out. About ninety percent of the time, she'll opt to get a breakfast burrito, and at Breezy, that meant she'd be having this Adobo Breakfast Burrito ($14.99). Shredded adobo pork is not included in most breakfast burritos that we've come across, but it was here. Joining the pork here were some scrambled eggs, garlic rice, avocado, sour cream, cotija cheese, salsa verde, and pickled red onions. Katie has been daydreaming about this burrito since she had it. She loved the tender pork and the fluffy scrambled eggs in this, but most of all, she loved the garlic rice that added even more flavor to each bite. 

I shouldn't harp on Katie about always getting the same thing at breakfast restaurants because I'm pretty predictable when I spy chilaquiles on a menu. I had initially entered Breezy thinking I would be having the Loco Moco, but I reverted to my tried and true love, the Adobo Chilaquiles ($15.99). Two sunny-side-up eggs topping a mound of fried tortilla chips, shredded adobo pork, sour cream, radishes, pickled red onion, a sprinkling of cotija cheese, and just enough salsa verde made up this very filling plate. I really enjoyed the uniqueness of these chilaquiles. The adobo pork was tender and had just enough tang to it without being too much. The tortilla chips stood up well to the toppings and stayed relatively crispy throughout the meal. The eggs added a lovely richness that helped balance this a bit. I will try the loco moco next time, but I will find it hard to skip this.  

I've always said that it's hard for breakfast restaurants to set themselves apart from each other. Most menus are basically the same, with a few minor tweaks. Breezy is one brunch spot that has carved out its niche with its nod to Filipino flavors and ingredients. Filipino food has been primed for its breakout in OC for years, and Breezy is just another step in that direction. The love this restaurant has garnered from the people of SJC in its first year might prove my point. Even if you're unfamiliar with Filopino flavors, I think you should visit Breezy. The waitstaff worked as a team, which worked perfectly on this particular morning. We never waited for refills, and plates were cleared promptly. Breezy will find its way into our breakfast rotation with some regularity, even during football season.  

Out of five silver salmon (because Cold Bay, Alaska is the breeziest/windiest city in the US, and they hold the Silver Salmon Fishing Derby every year), five being best to zero being worst, Breezy gets 3.5 silver salmon. 

For more information about Breezy, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.experiencebreezy.com/