Showing posts with label Taps Fish House and Brewery - CLOSED. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Taps Fish House and Brewery - CLOSED. Show all posts

Sunday, May 29, 2016

Hoping Taps Will Be The Tops - CLOSED


Taps Fish House and Brewery
13390 Jamboree Road
Irvine, CA 92602

I play it off like I am unemotional, but I can be pretty romantic when I want to be. For weeks before our first anniversary, Katie asked me what to do. I told her, just like with Christmas and our birthdays, we'll just go out for a quick dinner, with no presents. So when it was our anniversary night, I surprised her at work, got her flowers and a card, and even made reservations for dinner. Since she works so close by, and we've always loved our trips to Taps, that's where we headed to celebrate one year of wedded bliss.

This Irvine location of Taps is also celebrating its first anniversary next month. Founded by the successful Joe Manzella, Taps now has three locations (this one, Corona, and the original Brea spot). Also under his co-leadership is one of my favorite barbecue restaurants in OC, Lillie's Q. Built on the former Buca Di Beppo site, the interior of this Taps is completely unrecognizable from its last tenant. High ceilings, comfortable booths, and a wonderful brick archway lend elegance to the space, while the expansive bar area helps even things out with an upscale sports bar theme. The real showcase for this restaurant is the open kitchen, which allows diners a fantastic view of the goings on in this large culinary wonderland.

I had made reservations but did not need to on this quiet Monday evening in the dining room. During our stay, there was a slow procession of customers inhabiting the dining room, but we never encountered anything close to a rush during this early dinner hour. The menu at this location of Taps is a little different from the others. There are more table-side presentations on this menu, which I like, and I hope they come back in fashion. The rest of the menu is straightforward, with many seafood, steaks, and starters. They also feature a prix fixe menu, where for $31.99, you get to create your own three course meal from their selected offerings. This sounded great to both Katie and I, so we quickly ordered from our waiter Greg, and talked about all of the grievances we have experienced with each other from our first year of marriage. Just kidding, wanted to make sure you were still reading along. Here's how everything came out for us.




As is customary with all meals at Taps, they start you out with a Quarter Loaf of Sourdough and some Oil and Vinegar. This bread comes out piping hot, and that makes it even better. We devoured two servings of this before we had to stop ourselves.




You might think these Short Rib Meatballs were my first course, but you'd be wrong. Katie selected these as her appetizer course. I knew I married her for some reason. These tender meatballs were bathed in an arrabbiata sauce and topped with an interesting house-made lemon ricotta and gremolata. I later learned that gremolata is an herb condiment of lemon zest, garlic, and parsley. It really added to these meatballs. The citrus was evident, but did not overpower, which also could be said for the cheese used here. Both allowed the meatballs to be the star of the show.



I'm always a sucker for a Caesar Salad, and I had an inkling that this one was going to be good, and I was right. On their regular menu this Caesar is prepared table for two people, but this prix fixe portion was prepared in the kitchen. Romaine hearts, croutons, and pecorino romano cheese made up this salad with a very subtle Caesar dressing. I'd like a little more dressing, but a very solid yet simple Caesar.




Katie was torn between several choices but eventually went with this Harissa Grilled Atlantic Salmon. The salmon was presented on top of a bed of red quinoa and topped with toasted almonds, a cucumber bouquet, lemon vinaigrette, and fennel pollen. I'm not going to lie to you, I'd probably never order this, because I've never had a great experience with quinoa, but Katie loved this. She loved the freshness of the fish here, the use of cucumber, and the playful use of textures they came up with. She would totally get this again on future visits to Taps.




I went simple with my entree selection, the 8 Ounce Prime Top Sirloin. If a restaurant can cook a top sirloin and make it taste good, then you know they are doing it right. This was done to my desired medium, rare, and was more tender than expected. I would have liked a sauce with this, but it was fine when I alternated bites with good mashed potatoes. These were some of the best-mashed potatoes I've had in a while. Really tasty. This also came with some asparagus as the seasonal vegetable on this evening.




Dessert time was next, and I had this Classic crème brulee. Tahitian vanilla bean custard was topped with whipped cream and mixed berries. It was a strong creme brulee, but nothing that made it stand out. I did enjoy that it was pretty good sized and had a nice caramelized coating.



I have been on a roll with bread pudding lately, but this Salted Caramel Bread Pudding might take the cake as the best we have had. The bread pudding was moist and delicious, the salted caramel plentiful, and it really came alive with the addition of Pop Rocks. I know that they rotate their versions of this dessert, but if this is offered when you are here, order it; you won't be sorry.

Celebrating our anniversary at Taps was a great choice, if I do say so myself. The prix fixe menu was a great value. I added up everything I had, which would have cost me $45 instead of the $31 I paid. Katie's meal was an even better deal, as we would have had to shell out $49 for hers, but again, this costs us just $31. Good food and good for your wallet as well. The food at Taps is very solid, but what I had this evening was prepared too simply. I'd definitely jazz up my meal on my next visit. As much as I hate to say it, Katie's picks were better than mine this evening. Our service was on point, and the food made its way out to us promptly. Taps was a great place to celebrate our anniversary; it might just become our anniversary tradition.

Out of five barrels of oil (because the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, also known as TAPS, has carried 16 billion barrels of oil to date), five being best and zero being worst, Taps Fish House and Brewery gets 3.5 barrels of oil.

For more information about Taps Fish House and Brewery, head to their website here: http://www.tapsfishhouse.com/ 

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Taps Opens in Irvine - CLOSED


Taps Fish House and Brewery
13390 Jamboree Road
Irvine, CA 92602

Many new places have recently opened up at the Tustin and Irvine Marketplace. These two centers, which are really one, are divided by Jamboree Road, and they have really stepped up their culinary game in the last few months. Opened just recently is a new sushi spot, Mizu Sushi, Inland Empire staple, Miguel's Jr., Class 302, and Piadina Italian Sandwiches are all now in full operation here, and there are more on the way. It's been announced that The Melt, Famous Dave's BBQ, and Wokano, which is erupting like crazy, will open here in the coming months. I was excited to try another new restaurant that brought us here on a recent Thursday afternoon, Taps Fish House and Brewery.

Taps are not entirely new, though. They have outposts in Brea and Corona, which have been wowing people in those areas with their fantastic Sunday brunch, seafood, and award-winning beers. This move to South OC did not come suddenly, either. Owner Joe Manzella had been looking for this spot for a while now. In fact, back when we experienced Taps brunch for the first time in April of 2012, Joe had let Katie and me know that they were scouting out where to put their next Taps restaurant in South OC. Over three years later, they are opening up in the old Buca Di Beppo spot across the street from Lazy Dog Restaurant.

This latest Taps is a mash-up of Taps in Brea and Joe's other restaurant, The Catch, next to Anaheim Stadium. There's a very nice patio here, high ceilings, and a huge bar that brings to mind all that is great about The Catch in Anaheim. The rest of the restaurant is equally grand. Nice comfy booths along the walls, a nice brick archway that separates the two-roomed dining areas, and nice sight lines that direct your attention into the busy kitchen. There's also an oyster bar lined up with all their oysters ready to be consumed.

We were here for a friends and family event, which meant they were still working on staff training, getting the kitchen in working condition, and testing the fire alarms. If this dry run foreshadows what to expect when they open, everything's probably running smoothly. To help with training, every table was given a different preset menu. We saw many wonderful dishes from the kitchen to surrounding tables and were eager to see what was in store for us. Let's take a look.



All meals at Taps start with their very good bread. This was served with oil and vinegar, which went well with the toned-down sourdough. It came out hot and was a great start to our meal.




First up on our preset menu was the Ahi Tartare ($14.99). I'm always a little weary when an item has so much going on with it, especially when that item is ahi, but this was excellent. Ahi tuna is mixed with avocado, red onion, cucumber, scallions, and soy chile emulsion and topped with crispy wontons. This was served with gem lettuce cups, but we preferred it without. The lettuce kind of overpowered the very well-made ahi mixture. It was very tasty.



I really liked this little twist on a regular Caprese salad. The Heirloom Tomato Caprese ($10.99) drew raves from my buddy Joe, who considers himself a Caprese connoisseur. In this version, the tomatoes are joined with one of the best burrata that we have had, a smear of basil and another of vincotto, micro-basil, crisp prosciutto, and toasted pine nuts. Most of you know I'm not a big tomato fan; it's a texture thing for me, but this was stellar. The nuts gave this an earthiness, the burrata was creamy, and the tomato added a little sweetness to even out this plate. Joe was very pleased with this.



The first of our two entrees was nothing I would normally order, but I enjoyed this Grilled Alaskan Halibut ($32.99). The fish was joined by blistered shishito peppers, pork belly, spring veggies, and a citrus herb salad. As I was eating this, it kind of grew on me. At first I thought the vegetables made this more of a salad, and the pork belly and halibut got lost. After we picked away some of the produce, the freshness of the fish and the tasty pork belly shined through. I'm still not sold on this for me, but others who enjoy vegetables more than myself, might enjoy this entree.




You might not think of trying a burger at Taps Fish House, but you would be missing out. This Taps Burger ($13.99) had it going on. The burger comprises aged chuck, sharp cheddar cheese, mayonnaise, red onion, tomato, lettuce, and pickle. It is sandwiched between a toasted brioche bun. All of this contributed to a very juicy burger. The bun did a great job keeping its integrity with all the moisture. The beef was fresh and flavorful, and the sharp cheese complimented the beef well. I was also happy the meat was cooked medium, just the way I like it. An excellent burger that could only be made better by adding a few slices of bacon. Maybe next time. The fries were also pretty good at Taps. A subdued garlic and parsley flavor was detected, and these came out of the kitchen scalding hot.

This visit to Taps Fish House really whetted my appetite for what's coming here. I'm looking forward to trying their brunch buffet, which features many breakfast items, seafood, and a chocolate fountain. There are also a few things they had yet to divulge about their brunch, and I look forward to seeing what those things are. Since they opened on June 8th, I have heard all positive things about Taps, which is rare for a new restaurant. Our server, Talya, was very sweet and dealt with us awesomely. Reducing driving time to Brea will be nice by having this Taps Fish House open closer to us in Irvine.

We would like to thank all of the staff at the new Taps for all the wonderful service we received during this visit. I'd also like to thank General Manager Masaya Yamazaki for taking the time to chat with us and give us a little hint of what was to come at this location of Taps. I'd also like to thank the wonderful Lee Healy, who invited us to the friends and family event. Thanks for everything, Lee. Lastly, I'd like to thank my dining partner on this adventure, my good buddy Joe. I always have a good time hanging out with this guy, and he knows his food as well, way more than he knows how to play poker, but that's a story for another day.

For more information about Taps Fish House and Brewery, go to their website here: http://www.tapsfishhouse.com/

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Sunday Funday at Taps Fish House! - CLOSED


Taps Fish House and Brewery 
101 E. Imperial Highway
Brea, CA 92821

I know what you probably think: "Didn't they just review Taps?" You would, of course, be right. Taps was the first restaurant that we reviewed in Brea early this month. Since that time, we have done two other reviews in Brea. The reason for our quick return to Downtown Brea? We were invited to try Taps Brunch.

After my first trip to try Taps lunch was a great success, I was very excited to see what they had in store for us, especially since brunch is one of my favorite meals. We got to Taps right at noon, and the place was packed. We were ushered to the back of the restaurant, where our party of some of the best food writers and bloggers our county offers were assembled. Most of the blogs listed to the right, under "my favorite blogs," had a representative in attendance. I always like meeting up with this great group of foodies. Trading stories, getting some tips on where we should eat, and just catching up.

Our hosts for the brunch were Proprietor/Founder of Taps, Joe Manzella, and Taps award-winning Brewmaster Victor Novak. Both men were very hospitable to us. We even tried to persuade Joe to open up in South OC. He told us that they are working on it. Victor learned his craft in Philadelphia and continued his brewing education on European trips. As an added bonus, we were given a bottle of their award-winning Imperial Russian Stout, Remy. Have not tried it yet, but with the beers that we did try, I am sure it will be great.



When we entered the room, we were handed this very well-garnished Bloody Mary. At Taps, they feature a Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar for an additional charge. With all of these fixings and the delicious Bloody Mary mix that they use as a base, each concoction is sure to be a winner.






Since Taps is first and foremost a fish restaurant, let's start with the seafood portion of the brunch buffet. Oysters on the half-shell, Shrimp Cocktail, and Salmon are just some of the many offerings from the sea. All were fresh and tasted great.








Here is a quick look at some of the salads at Taps. When I am at brunch, I tend to avoid this section because I like to focus on hot foods. I did, however, try the Crab Macaroni Salad, Baked Potato Salad, and Garlic Crostini. I am not a big macaroni salad fan, but the added crab was a real flavor booster. All the salads were refilled many times throughout our visit.








This is where I kill at a buffet brunch with the hot items. Numerous items were offered at Taps. Sliced Turkey with gravy was a must-eat. I also was a fan of the Cheesy Potatoes, and no brunch buffet would be complete without a carving station featuring Prime Rib. This prime rib was cooked a perfect medium rare. Also featured were the usual breakfast items, Bacon Sausage, Waffles, and the Bread Pudding and Cinnamon Rolls deserve special mention. Both merited return visits to the buffet line.






Desserts are not to be missed at Taps for sure. They have slices of Cakes, Creme Brulee, and Flan, but the Chocolate Fountain is the big draw.  Dipping items included, pretzels, fruit, rice crispy treats, marshmallows, and graham crackers. We spent a lot of time here. The beignets are ordered off of a menu, along with all egg dishes, and are included in the price of the brunch. Having the kitchen prepare omelets and egg dishes helps keep the flow of the restaurant moving.



Here is a quick shot of two of my full plates at the brunch. I really did some damage at Taps. Brunch is served from 9:30 to 2:30 every Sunday at Taps. Reservations are strongly advised, and this place definitely fills up. They offer over 100 items, so there will be something for everyone at Taps.

We would like to thank everyone at Taps for the wonderful hospitality. Service was first class on our visit here. Special thanks to Joe Manzella, who knows his stuff and was a real pleasure to talk with. Thanks also to Victor Novak for the beer samples, which all tasted great. Tom Hope is also worth spotlighting for the wonderful brunch buffet that is done under his tutelage. One last thanks goes to our hostess for the brunch, the amazing Lee Heally. Thanks so much for the invite to another wonderful event.

To find information about the brunch or any other meals at Taps, click here: http://www.tapsfishhouse.com/brea/