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/

No Web of Deceit Going on at Webb’s Grainworks

 Webb's Grainworks

7 Journey

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

One of the benefits of Restaurant Week is that it alerts me to restaurants that may have escaped my attention. I try to stay current with the latest and greatest restaurant openings, but some inevitably slip through the cracks. It was incredibly embarrassing when I failed to know about a place four miles from where I live. I'll blame moving twice in the last year and my audiobook obsession. 

It was day three of restaurant week, and I was headed to Webb's Grainworks in Aliso Viejo. The only research I had done before walking in was looking at their restaurant week menu. They were offering a two-course $20 lunch with the choice of one of four entrees. I gathered my good friend Cynthia from work, and we headed to Webb's for a much-needed respite from our annoying coworkers and demanding boss. 

Webb's is next to the Aliso Viejo Ice Palace and a few doors from the City Hall. It's not a spot that would get a lot of foot traffic. You almost have to know it's here, as it's removed from the much busier Pacific Park. Many people must know this place is here, as there's sometimes a 2-hour wait for dinner on weekends and a month after I visited, they were named Best New Restaurant of the Year by Orange Coast Magazine. Good for a restaurant that is practically hidden in plain sight. 

As with many restaurants, Webb's has a great backstory. I got this story from our server, so it might be paraphrased. This space was home to Lew Webb's Event and Classic Car Center until 2013. Lew Webb and his grandson, Jeremy, always discussed opening a restaurant, distillery, and brewery at this location. In 2017, the elder Webb passed away, and Jeremy honored his father by making their dream a reality. Almost all the cars were sold off, and the doors opened to the public in September last year. 

The menu at Webb's is divided into sections by North, South, East, and, you guessed it, West. This is a little odd, as the East and West sections both have burgers listed. The South section includes what I'd describe as Southern staples, but then they go even further south with four tacos listed. Except for two items, everything on their menu is priced modestly under $20. They have also started a $17 special lunch menu with an entree and a side. Cynthia and I were here for the Restaurant Week menu, priced at $20 and included a starter, entree, and a side. Let's see how it all turned out for us. 

Webb's starts every table with their House-Cured Pickles, like chips and salsa in a Mexican restaurant or a bread basket at a steakhouse. I'm always up for pickles, but I do not generally like them in my sandwiches or burgers. They overpower most of the time. These dill spears from Webb's were nicely mellow with an addictive crunch when bitten into. They were not shy about refilling these either. 

Since we both had the Restaurant Week menu, Cynthia and I purposely got different items to try each other's food. We selected the Smoky Corn Ribs ($13) and the Sonoma Goat Cheese Wontons ($14) for our starters. The corn is quartered and seasoned with sea salt and comes with a yuzu kosho mayo sauce. It was a little messy because I added extra sauce to each rib, but it was worth it. The corn was sweet, and the salt and mayo balanced this out nicely. The wontons are something other than what I'd typically order, but there were only two choices on the Restaurant Week menu. These little fried pockets were filled with goat cheese and served with a raspberry sweet and sour sauce and a mustard-based sauce drizzled on the plate. They resembled a cream cheese wonton but without the tanginess that cream cheese can bring. I would have liked to have had the sauce on the side, which would have been easier for dipping. Still, they are solid starters, though.  

Webb's offered four entrees, so Cynthia chose the Straight to the Point Burger ($18), which included a choice of side. The burger was rightly named, as this Smashburger came with two smashed patties, gruyere cheese, mayo, and caramelized onions. The burger was a little bigger than a slider, which was okay with Cynthia, as she doesn't like eating a big lunch and then returning to work. The burger was clean-tasting, and the house bun was soft and pillowy. If I had ordered this, I would have asked for an extra side of mayo. For her side, she got the Cinncinati Chili, which I grew up with but have never seen on a menu in OC. For those unaware, Cincinnati chili has hints of cinnamon and other spices traditionally served over spaghetti with cheese, beans, and onions. This version got the flavor right, but there was no spaghetti, as it came in a mug with green onions, sour cream, and cheese. It cured my Cincinnati chili cravings until I could make it at home. 

I'm always apprehensive about ordering barbecue items outside a barbecue restaurant, but the buzz I read online about the Simple and Saucy BBQ Brisket Sandwich ($19) was too overwhelmingly positive to ignore. The menu states that they smoked their brisket for 12 hours, which tastes like it. The meat is very tender and has a lovely flavor. They added just the right amount of barbecue sauce to the sandwich so it was not too obtrusive to the meat. The house bread did a great job of containing the sandwich's contents, minimizing the spillage I was expecting. This was a sandwich I could not help but boast about for the next few weeks after having it. For my side item, I got the Island Mac Salad. This was another gem. The noodles were nicely coated with the mayo-based dressing and had a subtle flavor. It's one of my better versions of this outside of a Hawaiian joint. 

Webb's was everything I had expected when I walked in. It's easy to see why the funky location will not deter people from visiting and why solid food keeps bringing them back. This is the kind of restaurant that Aliso Viejo has been needing for years now, and from the crowds that descend on it most nights, the people agree. I look forward to trying the Pastrami Sandwich, the Smothered Latkis, and their Chicken Sandwich on return visits. We experienced quick and friendly service, even though we were in no rush to return to work to finish our day. I'm just happy that OC Restaurant Week helped steer me here. 

Out of five paper coffee filters (because I'm not sure what year the Model T is that hangs from the ceiling of this restaurant, but the first year of that iconic car was 1908, the same year as the coffee filter was invented), five being best to zero being worst, Webb's Grainworks gets 4 paper coffee filters. 

For more information about Webb's Grainworks, head to their website by clicking here: https://webbsgrainworks.com/

Squeezing in a Trip to Citrus Fresh Grill for Restaurant Week

 

Citrus Fresh Grill

50 Enterprise 

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

It was day two of OC Restaurant week, and since Mondays are traditionally one of the tougher days at my real job, I did not want to venture too far from home after what I thought would be a rough workday. So, my criteria for picking a spot was based on geography and a place I had never been to before. That's how I ended up at Citrus Fresh Grill. 

Citrus Fresh Grill, not to be confused with Citrus City Grille in Orange, is tucked inside the Renaissance Club Sports Resort in Aliso Viejo. It's part hotel, with 169 rooms on-site, and part fitness club, with amenities like pickleball, a swimming pool, yoga, and other fitness classes, and a gym full of equipment I'd need to learn how to use. I'm sure you are not shocked, but I'm no gym rat. I was probably the only one here whose sole purpose was to eat. 

Compared to the other restaurants participating in Restaurant Week, Citrus Fresh Grill had plenty of menu options available for diners. They had a $15 breakfast, $15 lunch, and a $15, $20, and $25 dinner to pick from. I arrived just after 3pm and found convenient parking in their structure, just steps away from the hotel entrance. The restaurant is right in the middle of their lobby. I opted to sit on their patio, which was populated by just me during my entire visit. 

From what I could glean online about Citrus Fresh Grill, it opened in 2009 and primarily served healthy food with nothing over 485 calories. I'm unsure when that changed, but their lunch menu now features buffalo wings, fish and chips, and pasta dishes, which are uncommon at gym restaurants. Maybe they made their menu less restrictive to attract guests staying at the hotel instead of the people pumping iron. 

The $15 restaurant week menu at Citrus Fresh Grill offered three options: fish tacos, flatbread, or a burger. I predictably chose the ClubSport Burger ($17, not during restaurant week) as my after-work meal. The ClubSport burger came with two strips of bacon, red onion, a charming Vermont cheddar cheese, arugula, tomato, and a smoked pepper cream sauce. The burger patty was underseasoned, but the smokiness of the bacon, the gooey melted cheese, and the pepper cream sauce made up for that. The pepper cream sauce was more like a burger sauce, as I did not detect too much pepper used in it. I liked that they added enough of it to my burger. Most burger spots are afraid to overdo it with condiments, but I want a heavier hand where condiments are concerned. The bun was toasted and did its job of keeping everything together. A satisfying and juicy burger. 

This also came with some Beer Battered Fries, which were fried to perfection. They had a nice crunchy outer layer and a pillowy soft inside. I enjoyed that they were not uniformly cut, so you got some that were crunchier than others. These fries went well with the ranch and ketchup provided. 

Considering that most fast-food combo meals these days cost almost $15, this Restaurant Week meal from Citrus Fresh Grill was a good deal. The burger and fries are better than anything you can get at your local fast-food spot and well worth a visit if you are in the area. My server was friendly and cordial and kept tabs on me during my brief visit. It has got to be tough for hotel restaurants to attract locals inside to try their food. Hopefully, by Citrus Fresh Grill participating in Restaurant Week, maybe they got some locals to try them. 

Out of five dumbbells (not because that was my nickname in high school, but because I'm sure many people use them at the gym here), five being best to zero being worst, Citrus Fresh Grill gets 3 dumbbells. 

For more information about Citrus Fresh Grill, head to their website by clicking here: https://clubsports.com/citrus-fresh-grill-and-market-restaurant/

A Perfectly Pacifying Breakfast at Chuponcito

 Chuponcito Mexican Cocina

23411 Aliso Viejo Parkway

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

As much as I try to eat something other than fast food during my lunch hour, there are few options for me to get to and from work and eat at a sit-down restaurant, all in a 60-minute time frame. I have been at my place of business for 24 years, and predictably, I have gotten tired of all the sit-down restaurants near my work. So, when I checked Yelp and saw a new place had opened nearby, I made a beeline for it. That brought me and my coworker, Oz, to Chuponcito in Aliso Viejo. 

Chuponcito opened for business in April of last year and has received glowing reviews from Yelp users. With over 400 reviews posted, it has a perfect five-star rating. They are open daily, serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, but they close early on Mondays and Tuesdays at 2 p.m. Otherwise, they are open until 8 p.m. I visited twice for breakfast, which they serve until 11 a.m. on weekdays and an hour later on weekends. 

Located at the corner of Aliso Creek and Viejo Parkway, Chuponcito is in the same small shopping plaza as Starbucks, Subway, and the Mobil gas station. This area is off by itself, but the isolation of this strip mall has not deterred people from seeking it out. That might be due to owner Alix Wiesen-Todd's gracious and welcoming attitude, which greets everyone who walks through the door. She's worked in the hospitality business for years, most notably at the high-volume Nick's and North Italia. When COVID-19 ravaged the restaurant industry, she and her family prepared home-cooked meals for people in need in her community. Once again, proving that restaurant people are some of the best people you will ever meet. 

At Chuponcito, you order at the counter, and the food is brought to you. The dining space has a nice and relaxing feel. If the entire ten-seat communal table smack dab in the middle of the restaurant is filled, there will be room for close to 30 guests. There are also a couple of tables out in front. 

The Chuponcito menu is short and compact. The breakfast includes nine entree options, coffee, beverages, and pastry offerings. The pastries are made in-house. I have yet to have lunch or dinner here, but I plan to soon. The lunch/dinner menu features four starters, nine entrees, and three salads. Prices for breakfast hover around the $15 mark, while dinner entrees are a few dollars more. Oz and I made our selections rather quickly since we had to reluctantly go back to work to finish out our shifts. Here's what we had. 

When eating the day's first meal, I try to always pair savory with sweet. That meant I had to try one of their pastries, and the one available this morning was the Coffee Cake ($4). The top of this reminded me of the old Hostess Coffee Cakes I had as a kid, with those cinnamon pellets perched on top. This did the trick, but I would have liked more of the icing on top of this and the fruit (maybe blueberry?) to be more involved here. Pretty impressive that they make their own pastries at Chuponcito. 

I'm a big fan of Chilaquiles ($15), but Oz selected this before I could call dibs. At Chuponcito, you do not have a choice of red or green sauce, but Oz seemed okay with that. The fried tortilla chips came with two fried eggs, sour cream, diced onions, avocado slices, and a sprinkling of cotija cheese. Oz's mom is a former restaurant owner, and he's always partial to her cooking, but he found these to be pretty solid. He liked the slight tinge of spice from the red sauce, and the chips stayed crisp throughout his meal. No complaints from Oz about his breakfast. 

With Oz picking my beloved chilaquiles, I was relegated to my second choice, the Carnitas Benedict ($17). This visually stunning plate included a mound of carnitas perched on top of the split English muffin with verdolagas and an eye-catching cilantro hollandaise sauce. I had no idea what verdolagas was, so I looked it up. It's a green vegetable used in other areas, notably Latin America, which I thought resembled spinach. The poached egg was cooked perfectly, and when pricked with my fork, it released the glorious yolk, which helped bind everything together. The English muffin was a little hard to cut through, which made it difficult to eat. It was hard to get a bite with all the elements, but this is true of most benedicts. The hashbrowns were good, with a nice crunchy top layer, but maybe some added seasoning would have helped the potato underneath. 

My second visit to Chuponcito was with my friend George. He's a very plain eater, as he got the same Chilaquiles ($15) that Oz got, but without onions, and after I was done taking my pictures, he plucked his avocado and sour cream off his plate and gave it to me. I guess there are some fringe benefits to eating with picky eaters. These chilaquiles appeared less saucy than the one Oz had, but George did not seem to mind. He liked this plate and polished it off rather quickly. 

I have steered clear of chorizo omelets since I had a bad one at Broken Yolk many years ago. I should have known it would be bad at that mediocre breakfast restaurant, but I decided it was time to get back on the horse, and I had a feeling Chuponcito would make a better one than Broken Yolk. I was right about that.  This Omlete ($15) has three eggs and chorizo, Oaxaca and jack cheeses, and chayote inside. I should have taken a picture of the inside, but I immensely enjoyed it. The egg was light and fluffy, and the inside was not overly filled, so you could taste it. The chorizo used here was better quality than at the Broken Yolk. This was made even better with the avocado and sour cream George gifted me. Thanks, big guy. 

Again, pairing sweet with savory for breakfast is a good idea. Chuponcito was out of all the pastries I wanted on this visit, so we improvised by getting these Churros ($9) off their dessert menu. The churros were nicely fried and not greasy at all. They were evenly dusted with cinnamon and sugar and tasted fine on their own. The sugar-water sauce that came out with these was fine, but we used it sparingly. Chocolate sauce would have been a better alternative.  

Chuponcito was like a breath of fresh air during our lunchtime. It broke the monotony of going to the same four or five restaurants week after week. It will definitely be in my rotation of restaurants to visit. I'm incredibly excited to try their lunch menu on my return trips. All the food was fresh and light, which I look for when I have to return to work to finish my day. Both times I have been here, Alix has taken my order and been very welcoming. The food arrived promptly, and we returned to work on time. Not that I ever care about that. The longer the lunch, the better. Sorry, boss. 

Out of five pacifiers (because the name of this restaurant translates to a pacifier), five being best to zero being worst, Chuponcito gets 3.5 pacifiers. 

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

Lucy in the Sky With Pizza

 Sgt. Pepperoni's Pizza

26601 Aliso Creek Road, Suite D

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

Whether you know it or not, we are living through OC's pizza renaissance right now. People used to lament that no excellent pizzas were available in Orange County. That has changed with the additions of some of my favorite spots to get a slice. Gibroni's, Terra Mia, Folk's, Truly Pizza, Tony's Little Italy, and Brooklyn City, to name a few off the top of my head. 

I feel I had let Sgt. Pepperoni's slip by me. They have been in business since the mid-70s, and I had never visited until they recently reached out to me via Instagram and invited us to see what they were all about. Their original location on Bristol in Newport is still operating, but now they have added two other locations in Irvine and Aliso Viejo to spread their pizza vibes to a broader audience of OC pizza fanatics. 

Sgt. Pepperoni's was started by childhood friends nearly fifty years ago. Like many pizza places, they are very involved in the communities they serve. Supporting youth sports teams, donating and participating in community events, and raising funds for local charities. Their passion project is Julian's Lego Corner fundraiser every September. They urge their customers to donate Lego sets to the children of Choc Hospital, and they also donate a portion of the sales of the pizza of the month to this worthy cause. This proves once again just how generous the restaurant industry is with not only nurturing us through food but also making others' lives better. 

We arrived at the Aliso Viejo location of Sgt. Pepperoni's at 6pm on a recent Sunday. We were met with a bustling restaurant. I was immediately drawn to the glass pizza case near the register. It featured a dozen varieties of pizza by the slice and their famous pinwheels, pizza dough, which is filled with toppings and sliced to resemble the child's toy of the same name. I could barely stop myself from drooling on the glass as we headed to the register to order. 

The menu here is, of course, pizza, pizza-focused. By my count, they offer 14 custom pizza options and build-your-own, gluten-free, and vegan pizzas. They also provide the unique option of having your favorite two specialty pizzas on each half of your pizza, which is great for the indecisive, which we were. Apps, sandwiches, salads, family meals, and desserts round out the rest of the menu. We quickly grabbed a table and waited for our food. 

I've been trying to eat more salads as of late, and Katie was inspired by my produce-eating habits, so she opted to get one of her own as well. She selected the House Salad ($12.50) to start off with. This salad featured mixed greens with tomatoes, mozzarella, pepperoni, cucumbers, pepperoncini, and croutons with ranch dressing. This was a good-sized salad that could have easily fed two people. She felt 

I went with my old reliable when it comes to salads, the Caesar ($12.50). This was about as straightforward of a version of a Caesar as you could make. Chopped romaine, shredded parmesan cheese, and croutons were all there was to this salad. It was still good, especially with the freshness of the romaine and the delicious Caesar dressing. They could have added more parmesan to this, though.   

If Garlic Knots ($8.50) are on the menu, Katie must try them when eating out. This pizza dough is rolled into a ball, coated with garlic and butter, and then baked. I liked these but was partial to the bigger ones, as they were a little more doughy on the inside. The garlic and butter really came through, but I would have liked some of their excellent ranch dressing for dipping these. I'll ask for that next time we get these. 

As I mentioned before, Sgt. Pepperoni's allows you to have two supreme pizzas on each half of your pizza. Perfect for us, who like different things on our pizza. On our 18-inch Pizza ($34.50), we got half with the works and the other half with all the meats. The works included pepperoni, meatballs, sausage, bell pepper, onions, olives, mushrooms, and garlic. This was Katie's side, as I'm averse to olives of any kind. I had a piece that was not covered in olives, which was good. I liked that the crust was manageable and held up structurally when lifted. The onions and garlic added a nice flavor boost as well. Katie was happy with her pick. 

I was happy with my meat side as well. Bacon, pepperoni, sausage, and meatballs covered much of the surface area. Every bite I took included some meat, which is only sometimes the case for other pizza places. The pepperoni crisped up around the edges, and the sausage was nicely spiced. I was also surprised that this was less greasy than expected due to the meat quality they use here. Next time, I'd spend the extra $1.50 and opt for extra cheese to help balance the toppings-to-cheese ratio. My additional two pieces heated up nicely for lunch the next day, 

It's no wonder that Sgt. Pepperoni's has been in business for close to 50 years. They offer some solid pizzas, perfect for youth sports teams, whether winning or losing, celebrating birthdays or any other occasion, and even a night in just watching movies and making memories at home. There's no time that pizza is not a good choice for any meal, especially nowadays, when pizza is having its moment in the sun. 

For more information about Sgt. Pepperoni's, head to their website by clicking here: https://sgtpepps.com/ 

** We were provided this meal for free in exchange for an honest review of their service/food. No other compensation was received. 

Shooting for the Moon at Luna Grill

Luna Grill

26921 Aliso Creek Road

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

I think that it's safe to say that Mediterranean cuisine has hit the mainstream. It used to be that if you wanted some hummus, kabobs, or falafel you would have to seek out a sit-down restaurant a few cities over. Now it seems that Mediterranean options abound, and almost every shopping center has at least one option where you can partake of skewered proteins, delicious basmati rice, and fresh pita bread. One quick service restaurant that is leading the charge to bring this food to the masses is Luna Grill.

Luna Grill was founded by Sean and Maria Pourteymour back in 2004. They started this business because they were looking for a quick and healthy option to provide for their daughter. Back then the options would have been a Happy Meal or maybe some fried chicken from a supermarket. Not the case anymore thanks to their Luna Grill, which has now expanded to 49 locations in California and Texas.

Luna Grill serves a fusion of Mediterranian and Middle Eastern cuisines, which not only tastes good but is way more healthier than a lot of the other options out there. Sean and Maria are doing things the right way here, as they provide food that is sourced with a focus on sustainability, quality, and animal welfare. They also support locally harvested produce on their plates, which means a fresher and better meal for you and your family.

I had never visited Luna Grill before we were invited in to experience what they have to offer. Katie was traveling for work, so I grabbed my good friend Oz, who was a Luna Grill veteran to come with me and show me the ropes here. We arrived at the Aliso Viejo location right after 6 on a recent Wednesday evening. The restaurant was pretty packed, with plenty of people happily eating in their deceptively spacious dining room, and out on the patio to the right of the restaurant. Oz and I quickly made our selections at the register and found a nice table near the window, which was ideal for people watching while we vented about work. After a short time, our food was brought out to our table.

We started things off with one of the newest items on the Luna Gill menu, this Dip Trio ($7.75). Can't decide between your favorite Mediterranean dips and sauces?  This is the starter for you. You get your choice of spicy or regular hummus, garlic sauce, and spicy feta. It's also served with sliced carrots and celery, along with soft and fresh pita. One of my favorite things about eating Mediterranean food is the sauces and this was a great option to go along with our meal. The spicy hummus had a nice kick to it, which kept me coming back for more. I liked the garlic sauce with my chicken entree which you will see coming up. I was not in love with the spicy feta, but I'm not normally a feta fan, but Oz seemed to enjoy all right.

Both Oz and I got the same thing, which benefits you as it's less of my awful writing that you have to endure. The Flat Cut Chicken Kabob Plate ($12.75) would be our meal this evening. This very balanced meal came with thinly sliced chicken, a house salad, a big mound of basmati rice, sliced pita, a grilled tomato garnish, and plenty of cucumber yogurt sauce. I'm always a little leery about getting chicken in restaurants because a lot of time its overcooked and comes out dry. That was not the case here at Luna Grill. The chicken was tender and moist and got a good char on it from the grill. It was made even better when I alternated eating it with the garlic sauce from the dip trio and the addictive cucumber yogurt sauce. The serving size of the rice was more than adequate for me, and the salad featured a butter lettuce and romaine duo with red onion, cucumber, and a tangy house vinaigrette. I'd probably forgo the vinaigrette next time in favor of the cucumber yogurt sauce, which I would imagine would be an excellent dressing for my salad.

I left Luna Grill full and satisfied but did not have that sluggish feeling that I usually get when exiting a restaurant. I felt pretty good eating this healthier and lighter meal than I am used to. My body seemed to be thanking me for taking care of it. I'm not going to shy away from burgers, burritos, and pizzas anytime soon, but I probably will find the time to come back to Luna Grill rather frequently. The food made me feel good, they got it out quickly, and the staff here were very welcoming. We saw them checking on their guests in their dining room numerous times during our stay. I'm eyeing the lamb or the filet on my next visit. Glad Mediterranean cuisine is more readily available these days.

For your nearest location or for more information about Luna Grill, head to their website here: https://lunagrill.com/

Another Fast Casual Fish Option in Aliso Viejo - CLOSED

Fish District

26541 Aliso Creek Road

Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

It used to be that you had to get all dressed up, get a sitter for the kids, and fork over half of your life savings to have a seafood dinner. Not so anymore. Almost every large strip mall has a casual fish restaurant occupying it. There's California Fish Grill, Spike's Fish House, Baja Fish Tacos, Rubio's, Wahoo's, about a hundred poke places, with many more on the way, and my favorite fast casual seafood-centric restaurant of all time, Slapfish. My uncle talked up one of his favorite fish spots, so we joined him at Fish District in Aliso Viejo.

Fish District has been open in this spot, sandwiched between Panera Bread and T-Mobile, since February. Thankfully, this part of the large Town Center shopping complex is a little less hectic than the rest of the center, so parking and getting around this area are a breeze. From what I can gather, this is Fish District's fifth location, with three of them located in San Diego County, and the only other OC outpost is in Irvine.

As you would expect, the menu is seafood-driven, with options including tacos, bowls, plates, wraps, sandwiches, and more. Ordering is done at the counter, and the food is brought to you. The menu board type above the register is a little on the small side, so I grabbed a paper menu and made my selections from that. The restaurant itself is spacious, with plenty of tables, which are nicely spaced apart. It's a bright dining area with white tiled walls, light wood flooring, and plenty of overhead lighting. Enough of the atmosphere; let's see how the food treats us.

My aunt Hiroko got the East Hampton Clam Chowder ($3.50). From my vantage point across the table, it looked like a runny version of a clam chowder. It did not appear to have too much chunk to it, but my aunt did not complain about this.

Here is a little riff on one of my favorite items at Slapfish: Fish District's version of Chowder Bacon Fries ($6). This, unfortunately, was not as good as the one at Slapfish. As I had seen from across the table, the chowder here could be better, but it needs thickening. Positive points for the fries staying crisp under the weight of the toppings and plenty of bacon included here, but that was about all I could say about this starter. It's not awful, but when compared to others, it could have been better.

My aunt and uncle are not big eaters, so it was no surprise that they split this Two-Piece Fish and Chips ($9). Again, I did not try this, but it looked pretty good from across the table. It had a good-looking batter around it and lacked the usual greasiness that sometimes accompanies fish and chips at other places. Again, they had no complaints about this plate.

Much like at a barbecue or Mexican restaurant, I almost always get a combo meal to try as much of the menu as possible during one visit. There were no combo plates here at Fish District, but I selected three different tacos to try; the Traditional Fish of the Day Taco ($4), the Battered Fish Taco ($3), and the Marinated Skirt Steak Taco ($4). It's not good news for a seafood restaurant, but the steak taco was the best of the bunch. The steak was tender and came with plenty of greens, tomato, and sauce, which the menu said was Sriracha, but I know it wasn't. Whatever it was, it boosted the flavor here, making this an above-average steak taco. The battered Fish Taco ($3) was my next favorite. The outer casing had a nice crunch, while the inside was moist and flaky. The taco could have been made better with extra sauce and fewer greens. The weak link here was the Catch of the Day Taco ($4). I did not note what this fish was, but it tasted plain, and the sauce and greens did not save this. The tortillas on all of these kept everything together, but not much else in the way of taste. I'm definitely asking for more sauce on future visits.

Closing out our entrees, Katie selected the Fish of the Day Plate ($15). This comes with two sides, grilled fish, and your choice of sauce. Mahi Mahi was the chosen fish on this particular day, and Katie could not have been happier with this plate. She loved this grilled fish, which was flaky and fresh and made even better with the lemon tartar sauce provided with this. She completed her meal with quinoa and asparagus as her side items. Both got glowing reviews from her, and she loved the healthy aspect of this meal, which eliminated any guilt that she usually feels when she eats out. She's excited to return to Fish District to repeat this meal. 

My uncle Jerry raved about the dessert at Fish Camp, so we tried their one and only offering, the Bread Pudding ($5). This bread pudding came out scalding hot and was topped with nuts and a whiskey sauce. I liked this, but I wish that the sauce had a little more sweetness to it.

Fish District was fine for what it is, but it will not replace Slapfish or any of my other go-to spots when I crave seafood. I'm excited that there's another seafood casual restaurant around, but I thought the food here was average. There was not really anything here that popped except the steak taco. Everyone we encountered at  Fish District was friendly and made us feel welcome. This is another seafood restaurant option that won't break the bank.

Out of five drumsticks (because my favorite fictional fish of all time is Jabberjaw, and in that 70's cartoon, he played drums in his band, The Neptune's), five being best to zero being worst, Fish District gets 2.5 drumsticks.

For more information about Fish District, head to their website here: http://www.fishdistrict.com/