Holy Smokes Another Barbecue Spot (Plus My Updated Top Ten OC BBQ Restaurants)

 Hole Smokes BBQ

1500 Adams Ave. #100B

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Barbecue places are suddenly springing up at a pretty good clip. I struggled to create a top-ten list of barbecue restaurants when I started this blog. There just weren't that many good choices in OC. That all began to change at the start of this decade when Heritage BBQ, The SmoKing Rib, and Evan's Smokehouse hit the scene. These people are artisans and showed the good people of this county that there was ho-hum barbecue and then elevated barbecue that they crafted. 

We all know that the restaurant business takes work to succeed at. I'd argue that barbecue restaurants are the hardest to keep afloat. Not only is the food a time-consuming effort to make, but it's also not food the average consumer could eat daily. Proof in point, I created my top ten list of barbecue restaurants in OC a little over 3 years ago, and four of those ten spots have closed up shop. So, it's time for me to create another list of the top ten barbecue spots, which you can see below this review of a restaurant that might just be included on the new list.  

Hole Smokes has been open for almost three years, but it only came across my radar when I saw that they participated in this year's OC Restaurant Week. The men behind this Texas-style barbecue spot are Ian Bason and Chef Dan Ramon. Bason also runs his family's Mexican restaurant, Hole Mole, which has seven locations, including one in this shopping plaza. Chef Dan is a San Antonio native who brings his love of Texas barbecue to the people of OC. 

This was day 6 of my participation in OC Restaurant Week. I attempted to eat at seven different spots in seven days. Hole Smokes offered a $45 dinner, including a starter, three types of meat, and two sides. I figured Katie and I could share this, as I've eaten my fair share of food this week. Our good friends Scott and Cynthia joined us this evening and also took advantage of this great deal. Let's see if Hole Smokes would be added to my top ten barbecue list of OC. 

First up were the starters, and we chose the Fried Pickles ($6.95), and Cynthia and Scott picked the Chips and Queso ($7.95). I'm not a big pickle fiend, but my favorite way to eat them is fried. These were some delicious fried pickles. The batter was light and puffy, not greasy, and the outside of each pickle was lightly salted. I believe they were dill, but I did not get confirmation. The provided ranch dressing made these even better. 

The chips and queso were straight and to the point. The chips were your regular Mexican restaurant chips, but the queso was kind of addicting. This is not surprising since the chef is from Texas, and people from that state definitely know how to make a good queso. 

Let's start with the most essential thing in a barbecue restaurant: the meat. Katie and I got what I consider the holy trinity of Texas barbecue: Smoked Brisket, St. Louis Ribs, and a Hot Link. I was excited about all the meats we tried at Hole Smokes. The brisket had everything you look for when eating brisket: a fantastic outside bark and the meat was tender and juicy. It's not the best brisket in OC, but it's way better than most. The hotlink had a snappy casing, and the meat inside was solid. I would have liked some spiciness to have been included, though.  The pork ribs we got were noticeably smaller than the ones that came with Scott and Cythia's plate. The pork was good, but there was not enough of it. The only meat I was not so excited by was the tri-tip, which was a little too dry and not as flavorful as the others. As if we needed more food, Katie also got the Pulled Pork Sandwich ($14.95). The sandwich came with pulled pork, barbecue sauce, and coleslaw on a nice and glossy brioche bun. Katie felt this sandwich was good, but the coleslaw and barbecue sauce overshadowed the pork. 

Sides are also essential to the barbecue experience, and we tried five of the six sides offered. Sorry, we will have to try the fries next time. My favorite was the Brussels Sprouts ($6), followed by the Mac and Cheese ($6). Brussels sprouts are not something you usually see on a barbecue restaurant menu, but they were nice and crispy, had some bits of pork added, and a hint of smokiness in each bite. They kept it simple, not going too crazy, with a sweet sauce covering the sprouts. The mac and cheese was pretty straightforward as well. It won't overwhelm you with a big flavor, but the cheese was present and clung to the macaroni well. I enjoyed their Big Daddy Sweet Beans ($6), which came with little pieces of brisket, but the liquid-to-bean ratio was way off. The Coleslaw ($6) needed some work. It was really just shredded cabbage, and the dressing was applied with what seemed like an eye dropper. The Potato Salad ($6) had a good texture, and the sprinkled paprika was a welcome touch. I'm not the biggest Cornbread ($6) fan, but everyone liked this version. I found it a little too dry and wished it to be sweeter. A little extra butter would have been nice, too. 

Dessert time, and we finished things off with Banana Pudding ($8) and Fried Ice Cream ($8). We devoured both, but I liked the banana pudding the best. It had a very light feel to it, but the banana flavor came through, and they added some Nilla Wafer pieces for some texture. The type of dessert that you want after a heavy meal in a barbecue restaurant. The fried ice cream was executed well and was not a sloppy mess when we finished it. The ice cream stayed cold while we chipped away at it with our spoons. 

So, what are Hole Smokes's positives and negatives? Most of the meats we had were very well done. The brisket is the show's star, with the sausage a close second. The prices are not as outrageous as other barbecue restaurants in OC. You and two of your friends can get in and out of here for less than $100, which is not easy to do at most restaurants these days.  There's also a good amount of variety on the Hole Smokes menu. They not only offer barbecue, but they also have tacos, burgers, sandwiches, and wings. On the negative side, I'd say the sides are the weak link here. None, besides the brussels sprouts, really stood out to me. Side items are a significant part of any barbecue experience, so it's a bummer when they are not up to the standards of the proteins. The meats alone are enough to get them into my updated top ten OC BBQ list, but you'll have to scroll down to see where they ended up. 

Out of five goats (because before the urbanization of Costa Mesa, the city's unofficial nickname was Goat Hill), five being best to zero being worst, Hole Smokes gets 3 goats. 

For more information about Hole Smokes, head to their website by clicking here: https://holesmokes.com/

Here's my updated list of OC's top ten BBQ restaurants so far, with links to my reviews.  

#10 Blake's Place - Anaheim

#9  Brew Hawg - Orange

#8  Hole Smokes - Costa Mesa

#7  Ribbro BBQ - Newport Beach

#6  Sauced BBQ and Spirits - Orange

#5  The SmoKING Ribs - Garden Grove

#4  JW Hayes (review not written yet) - Newport Beach

#3  Craft by Smoke and Fire - Anaheim

#2  Evan's Smokehouse - Yorba Linda

#1  Heritage BBQ - San Juan Capistrano

Mixing It up With a $30 Lunch at South Coast Plaza

 Terrace by Mix Mix

3333 Bear Street #316

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

I can not remember the last time I had been to a mall. Shopping is not really my thing. When I need something, I ask Katie for it, and she goes on Amazon, and I usually have it the very next day. If online shopping was an Olympic sport, Katie would easily win the gold medal. It's her superpower, and all the packages on our porch daily are the proof. I only visit a mall when I eat at a restaurant. That was the case on a rare weekday off that Katie and I had together. I decided to check off a spot that has languished on my restaurant wishlist for way too long, Terrace by Mix Mix.  

Terrace by Mix Mix is brought to us by Ross Pangilinan, a chef who always holds a special place in my memory, even though he does not remember me or even know who I am. When I started this blog, I never imagined being invited to any restaurant events, and back in 2010, I was asked to my first restaurant tasting at Leatherby's Cafe Rouge at the Performing Arts Center. In this restaurant, he was Executive Chef. He was the first big-time chef I had ever met, and I can admit it now, I was a little awe-struck. 

In those 14 years since that media tasting, I'm still awkward, but he's gone on to some pretty big things. He has a mini restaurant empire with four restaurants in operation; Bar Becky in Long Beach, Verdant at the Orange County Museum of Art, Populaire, and Terrace at Mix Mix Mix, both of which reside at South Coast Plaza. Chef Ross closed his award-laden Mix Mix in Santa Ana almost two years ago, but luckily, the food is served at Terrace by Mix Mix. 

Terrace is situated at the end of the pedestrian bridge on what was formerly known as the Crystal Court side of South Coast Plaza. This restaurant focuses on small plates that are moderately priced and draw from classic French and Italian techniques, with a nod to Chef Ross's Filipino roots. The compact, one-page menu is served all day and is divided into snacks, salads and small plates, pizzas and pasta dishes, mains, and desserts. We were here for their $30 Express Lunch (available weekdays from 11am to 3pm), where you get a first course, main course, and dessert. A good deal, especially in this high-rent district. Let's closely examine what's happening here at Terrace by Mix Mix. 

The first course was predictably up first, and we coordinated to pick different items to get a better overview of the Terrace menu. I selected my favorite Filipino item of all time, the Shrimp Lumpia. These four lumpia were fried lightly, lacked greasiness, and featured plenty of shrimp. The amazing jalapeno lime aioli elevated this lumpia to even greater heights. I only wish there was more of it on the plate. 

Katie picked the Albacore Tostada for her first course. This riff on a ceviche included thinly sliced albacore, Sriracha aioli, cilantro, a dollop of avocado, and Japanese dressing atop the tostada. Even though it was sliced thinly, the tuna was the star of this plate. It was seasoned well and was complimented by the rest of the ingredients used here. I thought this might be difficult to eat, but the tostada was sturdy and kept its structure until the last bite. 

It's not part of our Express lunch, but we have been on a sprout spree lately. The Spicy Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($12) was a nice change from the usual balsamic glaze we've encountered in many restaurants lately. At Terrace, they use a combination of peanuts, citrus, and Gochujang, a Korean red chili paste that is savory and sweet. Again, this was not applied too much, so you could still taste the crispy sprouts. I also enjoyed the peanuts, which added a very nice textural element.   

When this Filipino Brunch was placed in front of Katie, it immediately brought to mind a similar dish I had long ago at the beloved Break of Dawn in Laguna Hills. Like that brunch from long ago, this included longanisa sausage, garlic rice, and fried egg, but it also came with one of the best pork cheek adobos we have ever had and some chicharron placed on top. Everything on the plate was well prepared, and I had to have some great restraint to not immediately order the pork adobo small plate off the regular menu. I'll definitely do that next time, though, maybe even two.  

The 6 Ounce New York Strip Steak was a $5 upcharge, which still seemed like a good deal because how often do you get steak for lunch? The steak was served simply with some chimichurri and peppercorn sauce, which could have been applied with a heavier hand. It was cooked nicely to my desired medium, rare temperature request. The sides that came with this were roasted potatoes and butternut squash with an agrodolce sauce. The potatoes could have been roasted more, but the butternut squash with the sweet and sour balanced sauce was delightful. Not an overly heavy plate, but one that kept me satisfied until dinner. 

Dessert would be our last hurrah at Terrace, and the options this afternoon were sorbet or ice cream, so we went with one of each. I'm a lousy food writer because I forgot to write down in my notes what these flavors were. One of the sorbet flavors was mango. I noted that I liked the ice cream more than the sorbet, but that's not unusual for me. I'll always gravitate towards ice cream because no one makes a hot fudge sundae with sorbet. The sorbet was light and had an excellent icy texture to it. The ice cream was less sweet than I usually like, but it appeared to be made here using natural ingredients. 

I really enjoyed our experience at Terrace by Mix Mix. The express lunch is a great way to try various menu options without feeling like your wallet is being drained. $30 is a steal for a meal of this quality and presentation. The food here exudes a lightness you don't find in many other places. We felt full after leaving but not sluggish, which is good because Katie ditched online shopping for the day and visited the fine stores of South Coast Plaza for a change. What a throwback. 

Out of five lima beans (because where South Coast Plaza stands now used to be lima bean fields until the mid-60s.), five being best to zero being worst, Terrace by Mix Mix gets 3 lima beans. 

For more information about Terrace by Mix Mix, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.terracebymixmix.com/

Flying into Another Hockey Season at Green Cheek Beer Co.

 Green Cheek Beer Co.

2957 Randolph Ave. Unit B

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

It's that time again, the time of year when we pick our Ducks tickets. We split the 41 home games with my parents and our good friend Steve. Usually, the upcoming hockey season is a time for optimism, but our beloved Ducks have been in rebuilding mode for the last five years and have failed to make the playoffs all of those years. They have good young players, but it's still anyone's guess whether they will meld well together and transform into a Stanley Cup-caliber team. Time will tell, but I was less hopeful than I have been. 

When we pick our tickets, I like to choose a place in the middle of where we all live. That puts us in the Huntington Beach or Costa Mesa area. I also want to pick a place where I have never been, and they must serve beer because Steve and I like to imbibe with a few drinks as we choose the games we want to see and catch up with each other's lives over the preceding year. This year, I picked Green Cheek Beer Co. as the meeting place for our ticket swap. 

I had not heard of Green Cheek until my Yelp search led me to its existence. My craft beer game is less strong than my restaurant game, as I usually like to eat my calories rather than drink them. Green Cheek must be doing something right, as they now have four locations (Orange, Sunset Beach, Oceanside, and this one in Costa Mesa) in just seven years of existence. They produce beers, lagers, stouts, and seltzers and have won numerous awards here and abroad. All of their locations have a rating of four stars and above on Yelp, so I was excited to experience what they were all about. 

We arrived at Green Cheek on a Sunday just before 3pm. The place was packed, but there was ample seating in the room adjacent to where you order both food and drinks from the people behind the bar. The weather was perfect for outside dining, so we grabbed a picnic table on their partially covered patio in the back of their space. The crowd was friendly and relaxed, enjoying the last few minutes of their Sunday Funday activities before the realities of the looming workweek invaded their minds. 

The menu at Green Cheek is small, but the staple items are here; a trio of starters, burgers, and chicken sandwiches. They also have about a third of their menu dedicated to plant-based items. Nothing on their food menu is priced above $18, which is a nice change of pace when considering that a typical combo meal at your favorite fast food spot is going for just a dollar or two less. Before picking the Ducks games we would suffer through this year, we ordered food and waited for our buzzer to spring to life. Here's how it all came out for us. 

I've been on a real tater-tot kick lately. Wherever I've eaten lately, I've ordered these tiny little barrels of fried potato. At Green Cheek, we started with their Cheeky Style Tots ($10). This is also available with fries, but I like the crunch of the tot a lot better. Tots are also a lot easier to eat with a group of people. This is their version of animal-style fries, but it's way better than what you can get at In-N-Out. For one thing, bacon is added here, and the grilled onions are in bigger chunks, so they are more pronounced. I'm not usually a fan of cheese sauces, but this one was unobtrusive and went well with the other items on the tray. The tater tots held their crunch way longer than any french fry would have. 

Katie is usually a casual bystander while picking our hockey tickets, only occasionally reminding me that I shouldn't choose a particular game because we have a previous commitment that would conflict with going to a hockey game. My little social coordinator selected the Grilled Chicken Club ($16) for her meal. From where I was sitting, this was a good-looking chicken sandwich. It came with herby lemon mayo, thick-cut bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Swiss cheese on a brioche bun. She also added avocado for an additional charge, but I did not note how much extra it was. Katie liked the freshness of everything involved here but thought the sandwich was missing something. The chicken itself was moist and seasoned well. The avocado and bacon were on point, but the lemon mayo did not shine here. It was too mellow and did not stand out. The fries were nicely done, with a light and crunchy breading. They went well with the provided ranch dressing. 

Smash burgers are all the rage right now, even appearing at fast food joints, but Green Cheek was doing them when they opened 7 years ago. Trendsetters apparently. I've mentioned many times on this blog how my parents are not big eaters, and that was evident again at Green Cheek when they split the Burger For the Kiddos ($9). This single three-ounce beef patty came with just American cheese on a potato bun and a small serving of fries. My parents were quiet this early evening, so I only really got their reaction to this burger and fries when I asked them a week later. My dad claimed he liked the burger but had to get some ketchup packets at the condiment stand set up outside to put on the burger. I bit my tongue so I wouldn't say that's probably why you shouldn't order a kid's burger, but I held it in. 

I, of course, went for an adult burger. The Classic Double Smash Burger ($14) comes with six ounces of beef, sliced American cheese, grilled onions, and burger sauce. I liked this burger, but it did have a few flaws. The bun was squished and did not hold its form very well while I ate my burger. The inside of the bigger was enjoyable but would have been better with more of their burger sauce, which they applied sparingly. The beef, cheese, and bacon ratio were excellent. Asking for an extra side of the burger sauce will be my priority the next time I'm here. 

Ultimately, Green Cheek Beer Co. was a great place for us to meet. The atmosphere was nice and relaxed, the food was good, and getting together with my parents and Steve was also excellent. They were very affordable, which you can only say about a few spots these days. On my next visit, I'd like to return and try their wings or the buffalo chicken sandwich. I hope the Duck's season goes better than I imagined, but since I'm writing this well into hockey season, I know it will be challenging for our local hockey team. 

Out of five soccer balls (because green cheek parakeets are found in the wild in Bolivia, Argentina, Paraguay, and Brazil, all of these countries are rabid about soccer), five being best to zero being worst, Green Cheek Beer Co. gets 3 soccer balls. 

For more information about Green Cheek Beer Co., head to their website by clicking here: https://greencheekbeer.com/#home

Refueling at Dick Church’s on Race Day

 Dick Church's

2698 Newport Blvd. 

Costa Mesa, CA 92627

We were fresh off our second 5k of the year and needed some nourishment after we had probably burned ten calories by leisurely walking 3 miles at the OC Fairgrounds. My sister, brother-in-law, and one of my nieces joined us for this race. After we collected our participation medals and gulped down some water, they left it up to me to find a place to get breakfast. I suggested the nearby Dick Church's

This was my first time ever at Dick Church's, which is incredible since I lived nearby for over ten years and because this place has been open for business since 1972. Even before that, this location has been a couple of different restaurants since 1948, which makes it one of the oldest continuously operating restaurant locations in OC. 

Dick Church's sits at the corner of Fair Drive and Newport Boulevard, across the freeway from the OC Fairgrounds. It could best be described as a diner with vintage decor, which attracts a wide range of clientele. The wood paneling, orange upholstered furniture, and brightly colored walls bring to mind what I always wanted for my game room while growing up. 

The breakfast and lunch menus at Dick's are pretty straightforward. Egg dishes, griddle items, and breakfast faves are available for people who enjoy the day's first meal. The lunch portion of the menu features sandwiches, salads, burgers, and small plates. Nothing on these menus is over $20, with most items hovering around the $15 mark. The dinner menu is a bit more extensive, with salmon, bacon-wrapped meatloaf, and steak available at just over $20. 

When we arrived at Dick Church's at half past nine, we were met with about a ten-minute wait for a table, which was not too bad. We were seated in the roomy booth at the front of the restaurant, with a window looking out onto their makeshift front patio. Our server was friendly, taking our drink order and coming back promptly to see what we wanted for our meals. So let's see if Dick's was a good choice for our post-race meal. 

My sister is not the biggest fan of breakfast foods, or maybe she was just trying to be a trendy millennial by getting this Avocado Toast ($11). The toasted sourdough was smeared with plenty of avocados mixed with garlic and perched atop some arugula and pickled red onion on the side. She enjoyed this tremendously. I have never really gotten the fascination with avocado toast. Yes, it's okay, but it's not over-the-top fantastic, and its upcharge is unreal. Maybe 20 cents to half a dollar for the bread, avocados are going for $2 in the markets, and the rest is profit. No wonder almost all restaurants have this on their menus. They make a killing on it. 

Katie, of course, loves breakfast, and she selected the Westside Scramble ($15). Two scrambled eggs with bell peppers, bacon, ham, and sausage, then finished with a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. The plate was rounded out by some hash browns and her preferred choice of toast for breakfast, rye bread. She felt this was a very well-done classic breakfast plate. She liked the crispiness of the hashbrowns and the unique marbled rye bread option. 

People love a Monte Cristo ($14), and my brother-in-law Jarrod can be added to that list. This sandwich comprises two slices of french toast with ham, melted swiss cheese, and fresh preserves. The only problem was that they were out of their fresh preserves, so Jarrod had to settle for packets of Welch's strawberry jam. He enjoyed this sandwich nonetheless, as it had plenty of ham and cheese, and the french toast added to the richness of this sandwich. He splurged for the $1 upcharge to get sweet potato fries instead of regular fries. Monte Cristos are disappearing from menus across OC, so if you are a fan of this sandwich, bookmark this place as another spot where you can get this sandwich. 

My niece Kaylie is not the world's biggest eater, but maybe she needed to refuel after our race. She selected this French Toast Combo ($14) to do just that. Two slices of french toast dusted with powdered sugar, two scrambled eggs, and two strips of bacon made up this plate. She ate most of this, and I was strategically seated beside her to sample what she did not finish. I found the french toast to be pretty good but heavy. The bacon was nice and crisp. A well-deserved breakfast plate after walking three miles. 

When eating breakfast, I like to have a savory and sweet part to my first meal of the day. It's almost impossible to take a bad picture of Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs ($18). The beef was nicely breaded and topped with a slightly chunky and delicious sausage gravy. It was just tender enough and paired well with the breakfast potatoes. The Short Stack of Chocolate Chip Pancakes ($9) satisfied my sweetness requirement for breakfast. It might not look like it, but a good amount of chocolate chips were included here. I liked these pancakes better than the french toast, but I'm always more partial to pancakes over french toast. 

We all left here very satisfied. No, this is not a destination-worthy breakfast spot, but if you are in the area and craving breakfast, it's worth your consideration to visit  Dick Church's. The food was good, with the chicken fried steak and the Monte Cristo as highlights, and everything else was solid. However, what might have been even better than what we consumed here was the service we experienced. Our server was friendly and on top of things, even though she was pretty busy with numerous tables. I'm glad I finally made it to Dick Church's after all these years, and now it's off to our next race.  

Out of five Plinko chips (because the same year this restaurant opened up, 1972, was also the year that The Price is Right premiered, and probably the most popular game on that show is Plinko), five being best to zero being worst, Dick Church's gets 3 Plinko chips. 

For more information about Dick Church's, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.dickchurchs.com/

Another Hit for 17th Street?

 17th Street Deli

369 East 17th Street #18

Costa Mesa. CA 92627

This is another place I heard about on Instagram. About a year ago, 17th Street Deli started following me, and I returned the favor and followed them back. Their sandwiches looked so good that I quickly put them on my list of places to try. I would have tried them out sooner, but they are only open from 11 to 3 daily, and with my work schedule, that leaves me only two days to visit. I purposely cleared my schedule on a Thursday and made my first trip for what I hoped would be some killer sandwiches, 

17th Street Deli has been in business since 1989 under different names and ownership in the Westport Shopping Center, a shopping plaza that features the favorite breakfast spot, Plums, Massimo's Pizza, House of Yogurt, and a Jack in the Box. The current owner is Hanna, who left the restaurant business, was successful in real estate, and achieved her dream of owning a deli when she purchased this place at the start of this year. 

Their website proudly proclaims the vendors that they have partnered with. Their meats and cheese come from Boar's Head, while their loaf bread is made by Bread Artisan. Local produce supplier Penjoyan Produce handles the veggies here, and the baguettes come from C'est Si Bon, located in neighboring Newport. 

The 17th Street menu is broken up into hot and cold sandwiches, lettuce wraps, sides, and chips, and they even offer a freshly baked cookie, which you will see in a moment. Their sandwiches run anywhere between $10 to $16. Since I live about 30 minutes away, I utilized their online ordering, which worked like a charm. The ordering process was easy to navigate, and my lunch was ready at the promised time. The hardest part of the process was my drive home, as I could not wait to dig into what I was expecting to be some solid sandwiches. So let's check them out. 

All the sandwiches here excited me, but I knew I'd have this Bomb Pastrami ($16.49). This explosive sandwich comes with coleslaw and sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, and chopped pastrami on rye bread. I loved the contrasts in this sandwich. The tangy kraut and the sweet coleslaw worked well together. The savory pastrami and the creamy swiss were an excellent tandem. The bread held firm, even after my half-hour drive home. Boar's Head makes some good pastrami which 17th Street Deli puts to good use. Definitely one of the better sandwiches I have had this year.  

When eating at a deli for the first time, I like pairing a hot sandwich with a cold one. At 17th Street Deli, I had to choose from 12 different sandwiches. Maybe it was because of the name, but the Bacon Monster ($15.79) jumped out at me. This baguette was filled with a whole cavalcade of things. It starts with bacon, turkey, roast beef, and ham rolled up in the inner core of the sturdy but soft baguette. Provolone cheese, avocado, mayo, mustard, lettuce, and oil and vinegar completed the outer rings of this sandwich. Again, with the name of this sandwich, I was expecting more from the bacon here, but it did not stand out much. The rest of this was tasty, but I'd probably skip the lettuce next time to allow the meats and condiments to stand out a bit more. I'd also add some jalapenos or pepperoncini to give this a burst of spiciness next time.  

I've been on a Potato Salad ($1.99) kick recently. I'm trying to find one better than the one at Mario's Butcher Shop in Newport. This one from 17th Street Deli could not topple that one for the throne, but it was okay. The texture was spot on, equal parts creamy and chunky, but the flavor profile was just average. A fine accompaniment to your sandwich, but it didn't blow me away.  

I'm very particular about Chocolate Chip Cookies ($2.15). I usually like a cookie that has a crunchy outer ring and a soft doughy center in the middle. Even though this one was soft throughout, I really enjoyed it. Plenty of chocolate chips in it, and it had that just baked enough texture that a lot of people want, apparently like myself. 

17th Street Deli was well worth the trip. This is another deli I wish was located closer to where I live. I'd be a very faithful devotee to this spot. With all the excellent places to eat on 17th Street, it's almost not fair the number of choices that the residents of this area have when it comes to fantastic restaurant options. This deli is solid, the people are so lovely, the online ordering process worked like a charm, and that Bomb Pastrami sandwich is probably in my top ten sandwiches in all of OC. I'm so happy we connected on Instagram, and I look forward to some return visits soon. 

Out of five tow trucks (because the Automobile Club of Southern California is the 6th largest employer in Costa Mesa, and they run a fleet of tow trucks), five being best to zero being worst, 17th Street Deli gets 3.5 tow trucks. 

For more information about 17th Street Deli, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.17thstreetdeli.com/

Pardon My French, It’s a Damn Good Burger

 Butcher's House Brasserie

3321 Hyland Avenue Suite D

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

With the rising prices going on everywhere you look these days, I have been searching for some deals. I had heard that Butcher's House Brasserie had a perfect one for lunch. They offer a burger, fries, and a beer, wine, or beverage of your choice for $24, Tuesday thru Friday from 11am till 3. That's only a couple of bucks more than I'd pay in my local drive-thru. With all the glowing things I've heard about this place, I had to check it out. 

Butcher's House opened at the very end of last year in the old Pueblo location at South Coast Collection in Costa Mesa. It's helmed by Jeoffery Offer, a native of France who had previously worked his way up from pastry assistant to executive chef at Moulin, helping that restaurant go from one location to five during his tenure. 

Not satisfied with working for someone else, Chef Jeoffery dreamed of owning his own restaurant. That dream was realized a few feet away from Moulin's SOCO location. Offer learned a lot about the art of butchery from his father, who was a butcher in his hometown of Toulouse, France. Butcher's House is an informal restaurant focusing on dry-aged beef and other French specialties. 

People and the press have taken notice. Orange Coast Magazine named Butcher's House the best new restaurant of the year. Another considerable accolade was being included on Brad Johnson's 75 best restaurants in OC list, coming in at 42 on that heralded list. Not too bad for a restaurant that has only been open for nine months. Other articles from Eater LA, the Orange County Business Journal, and Los Angeles Times have followed, showcasing what Chef Offer is doing here. 

The lunch menu is a slightly pared-down version of the dinner menu, and both menus have the same prices no matter what time you are eating here. I like that. Unless the portions for lunch are more petite than dinner, the meals should be priced the same. The menus at Butcher's House are divided into soups and salads, mains, house specialties, burgers and sandwiches, sides, sauces, and desserts. Prices for entrees range from $17 to $48 for the 14-ounce ribeye. In addition, the lunch menu features three specials, which is what I was here for. So let's get to it. 

Here's what inspired me to drive 40 miles round trip for lunch, the Burger Special ($24). As I stated before, it includes a burger or sandwich of your choice, french fries, and a beverage of your liking, including a draft beer or wine. So let's take a closer look at what we have here. 

First up is the Mountain Burger. This dry-aged beef patty was topped with roasted garlic, caramelized onions, dijon mayo, thick-cut bacon, a slice of potato?, and raclette cheese between a very well-crafted brioche bun. The standouts were the patty itself, seasoned well, juicy, and cooked nicely to a medium temperature. The bacon is made in-house, and it had a nice bite to it and was less smokey than I expected. I was not sure what to make of the sliced potato, but it did not really get in the way here, with the presence of the very gooey cheese. Plenty of onions and garlic were present, but I would have liked a little more of the dijon mayo to have been applied to this, as I think it would have tied things together a bit more. Whoever their bread supplier is should be proud of this bun because it did a superior job keeping everything together while maintaining a soft and pillowy texture. 

The French Fries at Butcher's House were sturdy, fried well, and seasoned simply with salt and pepper. These are the kind of fries that In N Out strives for but misses every time I have them, which is seldom because I'm not a fan, but I digress. These fries came with some ketchup, but I like variety, so I needed a dipping sauce to keep things interesting. I tried two of them, the Shallot and Blue Cheese ($1.00 each). Since I did not have the menu in front of me, I relied on my server's guidance in picking from their five sauce options. I was disappointed with the shallot, as this red wine-based sauce was not meant for fries. The blue cheese was a little better, but it was thinner than I expected, and the flavor was a little more subdued than I liked. Checking the menu now; I should have tried the spicy mayo or the Bernaise. 

I was a little confused about what this side of lettuce drizzled with dijon dressing was for. It was a lot of lettuce to add to my burger, and it was dressed way too lightly and left in big leaves to be a salad. Since I had a little extra sauce, I ended up cutting it up and making a salad. It was not the best, but I didn't want it to go to waste. Again, it was a lot of lettuce. 

My little lunch excursion to Butcher's House Brasserie was a nice little treat for myself on my well-earned day off from work, but it only whetted my appetite to revisit this restaurant soon to try their affordable steaks, sausages, and sides. The burger and fries definitely lived up to the hype, as they were cooked perfectly, and with just one bite, you could taste the quality and craftsmanship of both. I can only imagine that their other entrees would be the same. The service on this visit was efficient and friendly. I will search out more of these specials in the future, so keep an eye out.  

Out of five airplanes (because Chef Jeoffery is from Toulouse, and that French city is the center of the aerospace industry in all of Europe), five being best to zero being worst, Butcher's House Brasserie gets 3.5 airplanes. 

For more information about Butcher's House Brasserie, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.butchershouse.com/