Overindulging at Fogo de Chao in Irvine

 Fogo De Chao

623 Spectrum Center Drive 

Irvine, CA 92618

The Irvine Spectrum Center has stepped up its restaurant game in recent years. Gone are the days when Red Robin, Ruby's, and Fox Sports Grill ruled the roost. Now this Irvine center at the interchange of the 5 and 405 freeways is drawing some big names to their roster of eateries. Din Tai Fung and Mastro's Ocean Club are confirmed to be coming soon, joining already operating big hitters like Cucina Enoteca, Habana, Paul Martin's, and Shake Shack. I visited recently to try another spot I had always wanted to try out, Fogo De Chao. 

I'm a little embarrassed that this Fogo De Chao location has been open for more than five years, and this was the first time I had eaten there. It seems like just a year or two ago, I was at this location attending the grand opening party of Kona Grill, a restaurant that only lasted two years. That party was nine years ago though. Man, time does fly by. 

Back in the present day, my good friend George had the great idea of visiting Fogo De Chao during their Best of Brazil event, where you get to try a slightly pared-down version of the whole Fogo experience. For the set price of $44, you get to partake in eleven of their fire-roasted meats carved tableside until you cry uncle, you also get unlimited trips to their Market Table, which consists of salads, seasonal recipes, smoked salmon, fogo feijoada, which is a black bean stew with sausage served over rice, and a load of other items. My competitive eating days are behind me, but I put on my stretchy pants and headed to meet George for this gargantuan meal. 

When we arrived at just past 6 p.m. on a Wednesday, we were seated near the bar, on the outskirts of the dining area. I was afraid the gauchos who sliced the meat would pass us by. If you're a lighter eater, they have a couple of seafood entrees and an option to choose just one of their cuts. They are served continuously, and the market table is included with this selection. Our server greeted us, and we took off for the market table. 

I was blown away by the market table, but I knew I was here for the meats, so I only tried a small amount of the Fogo Feijoada, the black bean stew in the picture above. It was excellent, but very filling, so I only had a small amount. The rest of the table items looked fresh and were refilled quickly. Maybe someday I will revisit Fogo just for the market table, but I doubt it. Bring on the meats!

Remember when I said the Taste of Brazil menu offered eleven options? We were only presented with five, and although they did come around quite often, I would have liked to have tried their pork offerings, which were missing entirely. I have heard that some meats are done at different times, so maybe we were too early for the pork ribs, pork chops, and parmesan-crusted pork. Also absent was the Fire-grilled Brazilian cheese served by the gauchos. 

The quintet of meats that we were served were all good. My favorite of the five was the Picanha, the prime part of the sirloin, and the signature cut served here at Fogo De Chao. Like all their meats, they are seasoned simply with a liberal amount of salt added. This allows the natural flavor of the beef to shine through. The Alcatra is also top sirloin, but is sliced much thinner to ensure tenderness. The Linguica was coiled around the skewers like a snake, and very photogenic and delicious. The Chicken was surprisingly tender, and the portion size was very generous. The Bacon Wrapped Steak was probably the weak spot. Some pieces were good, while others needed to be left over the fire a bit longer to help the bacon get a little crisper. 

Another way they try to curb meat intake is by bringing garlic-mashed potatoes, caramelized bananas, polenta fries, and pao de queijo, more commonly known as cheese rolls, to each table. When these things are brought to your table, you subliminally feel like you need to eat them—at least, that's how I always feel. I picked at them a little bit. I liked the mashed potatoes and the rolls, but left the polenta alone after my first bite. It was kind of boring. 

Fogo De Chao is one of the best Brazilian churrasco restaurants I've visited. Even though I did not get the whole experience here, since they had limited meats and I chose to take advantage of their Best of Brazil special, which is limited in the kinds of meats you can get, I still enjoyed my time here. I checked the Fogo De Chao website and they have just started up the special again, but this year it's going for $54, which is still a good deal for all you can eat meats. To save even more money, Costco usually has $100 Fogo gift cards for $80, a $20 savings that gets this closer to last year's price. As I had predicted when we sat down, the gauchos sometimes skipped us because of where we sat in the dining room's outskirts. However, our server took excellent care of us. Fogo is definitely a special occasion restaurant, and I want to try them again.  

Out of five umbrellas (because Brazil is home to the largest rain forest in the world, the Amazon is roughly the size of the 48 contiguous United States, so you better have an umbrella when visiting it), five being best to zero being worst, Fogo De Chao gets 3.5 umbrellas. 

For more information about Fogo De Chao, head to their website by clicking here: https://fogodechao.com/

It’s a Rager at Pasta Party in Orange

                         

Pasta Party

124 E Lincoln Ave. 

Orange, CA 92865

As I get older, I enjoy quiet nights at home binge-watching TV series or listening to audiobooks, cooking dinner, and, of course, trying to catch up on my restaurant reviews. However, this restaurant blog would be impossible to maintain without going out, so some nights we forgo the couch and head out with friends and family to catch up and explore a new spot. This particular Friday evening, the restaurant of choice was Pasta Party. 

Just mentioning this restaurant's name instantly brings me joy. Who doesn't love pasta or celebrations? Some individuals might not enjoy either, but they must be rare exceptions. In 2021, Pasta Party took over the old Orange Tree Deli. It's situated at the corner of Glassell and Lincoln, in the same small shopping center that includes Orange Tree Liquor and Jumbo Donuts.  

The man who brought Pasta Party to life is Chef Alexsanodro Orlando. He grew up in restaurants because his father, Antonio, is a well-known chef who primarily worked in notable Italian restaurants. He spent a decade at the famous Valentino in Santa Monica before opening a series of successful Italian establishments. Most recently, he was at Il Gatto Trattoria in La Habra, which took over the old Cat and Custard Cup space, and it’s definitely a restaurant I need to try right away. 

Alright, back to Pasta Party, which can best be described as a build-your-own pasta restaurant. The format is fast-casual: You order at the counter, and your food is brought to your table. Chef Alexsandro uses the same recipes that his family made in Southern Italy. You choose the pasta you want, your preferred sauce, and any add-ons you like, such as meatballs, sausage, chicken, or shrimp. The base price starts at $15.99 and increases depending on your selected options. 

Not in the mood for pasta? What are you even doing here then? Kidding of course. They also have pizza, sandwiches, and salads. Don't want to make a lot of decisions about what kind of pasta you want? They have signature dishes that come as they are listed on the menu. We ordered and found a seat in their oddly shaped, but comfortable dining room, and waited only ten minutes or so for our food to arrive. Let's see if this party was a rager or a snoozefest, like all the parties I threw in high school. 

First up for us was the Chopped Salad ($15.99) and Garlic Bread ($4.99). The salads at Pasta Party are meant to feed 2 people, but we stretched it out a bit to feed four. Who needs a lot of salad when you have plenty of carbs coming, right? The chopped salad consists of salami, mortadella, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses, finely chopped iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and a white balsamic vinaigrette. The salad was fine, and did the trick for us to give ourselves a good base while waiting for our entrees to appear. 

The garlic bread came to the table and my mom assumed wrongly that it was complimentary, and asked for some. After we explained that we paid for it, they still brought some out for her. Outstanding service here. They did not have to do that. The garlic bread was buttery, and the parmesan and garlic flavors came out in bursts. Looks wise, it reminded me of the frozen garlic bread we had as kids, but better. 

The build-your-own pasta starts at $15.99 and goes up depending on your desired add-ons. I got the Penne with Pink Sauce, Sausage, and Meatballs ($25.99). Yes, this was a little pricey for a plate of pasta, but I like my pasta to come with a lot of meat. The pasta was cooked well, not overdone, with a subtle chew. The pink sauce was creamy, and the meats were good, but I assume they are straight from the freezer, as I'm sure they are not making them here. The serving size of this was good, and if I had any willpower, I would have saved some for lunch the next day. 

Katie had the classic Penne Chicken Alfredo ($22.49). Their tomato basil sauce is the only sauce that does not incur an additional charge. Again, the serving size was plentiful, and the Alfredo sauce tasted rich. Katie liked the chicken-to-pasta ratio, and she claims she should have stopped midway through but ended up finishing it, too. I guess we are a perfect pair. 

My brother-in-law did not feel like having pasta, so he ordered the Sausage and Pepper 12-inch Sandwich ($18.99) instead. The sandwich was cut into three four-inch sections, and included bell pepper, onion, giardiniera, provolone, and chopped sausage. The bun was fresh and soft. From my vantage point across the table, they could have filled the sandwich more. I also would have liked the sausage to be left whole so you could get sausage in each bite. There were some pictures online where they leave the sausage whole, instead of chopped, so maybe it's just the chef's whim about how you get your sandwich.  

My mom selected the 12-inch Pepperoni Pizza ($16.69). This was a basic pizza. The pepperoni was sparsely added, but there appeared to be a good amount of cheese to compensate for the absence of pepperoni. This will not win many pizza contests, but if you do not want pasta, at least they have other options. 

My dad loves to try Pastrami Sandwiches ($13.49), but only after he inquires about the thickness of the slices. The thinner the slice, the better for him, so he must have been assured that the pastrami would be to his liking. This pastrami sandwich was dressed simply with Dijon mustard and pickles on the side. He seemed to like it well enough and finished the whole thing, which is rare for him. 

Okay, I liked Pasta Party but was not blown away by it. If you're looking for authentic Italian food, you might want to try another Italian restaurant. I enjoy the concept of building your own pasta dish, but once you add everything you want, it can be pretty pricey. The other items we had this evening were okay, and nothing special. Good food, but I would not classify this as a drive-worthy restaurant. That said, Pasta Party could be a good option if you are in the mood for pasta and are in the area. The staff were delightful, and seemed like they were genuinely happy we were here. They also have lovely backdrops in their dining room that would be perfect for social media types. I'm glad we made it up here to meet my family and leave the house for a change. 

Out of five steamboats (because the city of New Orleans, known for the steamboats on the Mississippi River, also plays host to the world's most enormous bowl of pasta every year before the St. Joseph's Day Parade, weighing 800 pounds of noodles, sauce, and cheese), five being best to zero being worst, Pasta Party gets 3 steamboats. 

For more information about Pasta Party, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.pastapartyusa.com/

A Lot of Eating to Do in San Diego

The Lot

2620 Truxtun Road

San Diego, CA 92106

People often ask me when we will visit San Diego for restaurant reviews. If you click on the interactive dining map link at the top left of this page, you'll see that it's a valid question. In the fifteen-plus years I've been writing this blog, I've only reviewed one restaurant in our nation's eighth-most populous city, which is just an hour and a half away from Orange County. It's a bit embarrassing. 

I know I would love San Diego's restaurant scene. They have all my favorites: California burritos, fish tacos, carne asada fries, excellent Italian food, breakfast burritos, and plenty of great burger options. That just scratches the surface, and I can't explain why we haven't visited America's Finest City to explore their culinary offerings. I can only promise that we will correct this oversight. Let's start with this review now. 

Like my other San Diego restaurant review, we met up with Katie's cousins in the area. After far too much back and forth via text messages, the difficult Yvette finally agreed to a restaurant I suggested. Although she initially said any restaurant would be fine, she began to impose parameters on my suggestions: the place needed to accept reservations, she changed the area where we had to eat, and then the number of people changed. I really feel for her husband Steve, who has the patience of a saint to put up with her. 

We finally settled on The Lot, located at Liberty Station. This former naval training center has been transformed into a commercial development featuring retail shops, hotels, art galleries, and restaurants. Liberty Public Market has been on my list of places to try since it opened nine years ago, but a food hall isn't suitable for dining with a party of eight. 

Honestly, the rest of Liberty Station's restaurant options did not really impress me. They have some chains we have back home, like Slater's 50/50, Oggi's, Luna Grill, and Tender Greens, and other establishments didn't seem like they would suit a group of eight with different tastes. The Lot took our reservation for eight people at 6:30 on a Friday night without any issues, and surprisingly, the rest of our group arrived right on time. 

The Lot combines a movie theater, bar, and full-service restaurant. They have four locations, including this one, with another at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. From what I understand, they rebranded all their restaurants late last year. They are now known as Zentrl Kitchen and Bar, a California-Asian fusion restaurant with a Mexican twist. I’m unsure if the food we tried is still available at their restaurant, but the menu we ordered from is available at the movie theater, so it all may come from the same kitchen. I've rambled longer than one of Yvette's lengthy stories, so let's check out the food. 

We were excited to meet Gabi's new man, Brennan, and he could not have been nicer when I shoved my phone in front of him to take a picture before his first bite of the Fried Chicken Sandwich ($23) he ordered. The menu states that this sandwich was dressed with cilantro mango coleslaw and roasted habanero BBQ sauce, all in a brioche bun. Since I had just met Brennan, it may have been too much too soon if I had asked him for a bite. He had no complaints I could hear, but he was primarily focused on Gabi as it should be. 

Yvette was very proud to show off her Tuna Poke Bowl ($23) and we were all excited when it got to the table as well, because that would mean that she would be busy eating it, and it would give one of the other seven of us a chance to speak. This good-looking bowl came with a big mound of sticky rice in the center, then cubed tuna, cucumbers, sliced avocado, seaweed salad, and cherry tomatoes surrounding the rice. This did not seem like it would be served at a movie theater. The poke was dressed well and the ingredients were all very fresh. Two thumbs up from Yvette. 

I'm unsure who got these Ahi Poke Nachos ($23), as I hurried around the table snapping pictures before eating my meal. A bed of wonton chips was topped with yellowfin tuna, green onions, avocado, pickled red onions, and furikake seasoning then drizzled with a cilantro sriracha aioli. This looked good in the picture, but upon closer inspection, they appeared stingy with the amount of tuna on here. I zoomed in and could only see twelve small pieces, unless they hid underneath the wonton chips. The tuna poke bowl might be the better value, as they cost the same.  

The night's least impressive-looking item was The Lot Chicken Tenders ($20). These came five to an order and were served with french fries. They were straight from the freezer but were good sized and served their purpose. The fries were okay, but could have been crisper. 

Katie is always a wildcard regarding what she will order when we are out to eat. I've been with her for 16 years, and this might be the first time I've seen her get a Chopped Turkey Cobb ($22). This take on a Cobb salad had just what you'd expect: blue cheese crumbles, avocado, cubed turkey, crumbled bacon, hard-boiled egg, cucumber, lettuce mix, and a champagne vinaigrette to tie everything together. This was also supposed to have tomatoes, but Katie opted to have them removed. She felt this salad looked better than it actually was. She questioned the freshness of the lettuce, and was not too thrilled with the bland vinaigrette dressing. She'd get something else next time. 

My dining partners were all over the place with what they chose for dinner this evening. These Pretzel Bites ($16) were a hit on the other side of the table. The pretzel balls were salted and served with a jalapeno nacho cheese dip. 

A salad or appetizer would not quell my hunger after our drive down here, so I selected the Lot Burger to satisfy my hunger. This good-looking burger included lettuce, tomato, onion, secret sauce, and cheese on a glossy brioche bun. The menu called for American cheese to be included here, but I chose cheddar instead. The burger was good, but not in the upper echelon of burgers I've had. They need more seasoning and secret sauce included here. The produce was relatively fresh, and I was happy they used leaf lettuce, instead of the usual humdrum iceberg most places use. This burger would have also been better if I had gotten some bacon, it would have woken up my taste buds. 

Okay, so this is not a great representation of the food scene in San Diego, but it was good for movie theater food. Not that I've ever eaten anything other than popcorn or candy at the movies before this. It was way more appetizing than those hot dogs that rotated around at the concession stand when I was growing up. The food was restaurant quality, but what we had this evening would never be described as craveable. We did experience some outstanding hospitality, as our server was right on top of everything we needed during our visit. I promise we will return to San Diego in the future, as I know I have a lot of eating to do in this scenic city to our south. 

Out of five roller coasters (because San Diego is home to the Giant Dipper, a 100-year-old wooden roller coaster at Belmont Park in Mission Beach), five being best to zero being worst, gets 2.5 roller coasters. 

For more information about The Lot, check out their website by clicking here: https://www.thelotent.com/movie-theater/libertystation

Filling Our Pie Holes in Los Alamitos

 Gourmet Pie and Cafe

5350 Katella Ave. 

Los Alamitos, CA 90720

Fresh off our brisk pace of one hour and three minutes in our latest 5K race along the beautiful coastline of Long Beach, we needed a place to refuel before going home and taking a much deserved nap. A quick search of Yelp brought us to Gourmet Pie and Cafe in nearby Los Alamitos. 

Gourmet Pie and Cafe's story started in nearby Cypress in 1984. It was founded by Tony, Ruthie, and their son, Mike Richards. Back then they were primarily a bakery, but they slowly added some of their family's favorite meals to their menu. In 2004, they relocated to their present spot on Katella Avenue, across from Costco. 

When walking into Gourmet Pie, Bar 29 is off to the left, and the name refers to the temperature at which they serve their beer. The bakery case is right behind the hostess stand, and features an assortment of pies, cakes, and cookies. We chose to sit in the dining room, with booths lining the walls and traditional tables in the center. I was surprised that we did not have to wait for a table at 9am on a Sunday morning, but this restaurant is bigger than it appears from the outside. 

Breakfast is served until 2pm at Gourmet Pie and Cafe. The menu here is relatively large, with very few surprises to anyone who has eaten in a coffee shop. The menu includes omelets, egg dishes, house specialties, French toasts, waffles, Mexican breakfast items, and pancakes. As of this writing, nothing on their breakfast menu has surpassed the $20 mark, but with egg prices skyrocketing, I'm sure it's just a matter of time before they reach that threshold. Let's see what we ordered to celebrate another 5K in the books. 

I'm a sucker for breakfast items with the most ingredients included in them. The Mexi-Mess Potatoes ($14.40) fit that criteria rather nicely. This starts with a base of bacon and potatoes sauteed with green chili, cheese, onions, and mushrooms, then topped with salsa, two eggs, avocado, and sour cream. See, lots of things going on here. The serving size was larger than most places, and they were not stingy with the bacon and cheese included here. I would have liked the potatoes to be a little crisper to give this a little diversity when it comes to texture. Even though I was famished when I sat down, I took half of this home and had it for lunch the next day. Still good.   

After drinking almost a gallon of liquids after sitting down, Katie was ready for something with more substance. She chose the Spinach, Avocado, and Mushroom Omelet ($15.40). I'm guessing by the size that it was a three egg omelet. Katie enjoyed this omelet, which was not overstuffed with cheese, so it allowed the veggies to be the star of the show here. She also ordered a Side of Bacon ($4.95), which she crumbled onto her plate. I was lucky enough to get an extra strip for my meal also. You can never have enough bacon is my mantra. She also got rye bread with her meal. 

A place called the Gourmet Pie and Cafe, and we did not get pie? Yeah, I opted to order the Cinnamon Roll ($3.35) for here and the Chocolate Chip Cookie ($1.95) on the way out for later. The cinnamon roll was nicely done with plenty of sugary icing on top and a good amount of cinnamon inside the folds of the roll. This brought back memories of the Hostess cinnamon rolls I had as a kid before school. I loved those things. This one was bigger and better though. The cookie was a letdown though. As you can see from the picture, chocolate chips were seriously lacking. A few were on the bottom, but this was a boring chocolate chip cookie. 

Gourmet Pie and Cafe was a good breakfast option in this area. I would not classify this as destination dining, as I don't foresee us traveling all the way from South OC to eat breakfast here, but if we were in the area, I wouldn't mind returning to try more of their breakfast options. Our server was pleasant, and it seemed like she'd been here for quite a while, as she knew many of the customers that populated the dining room. Thanks, Gourmet Pie and Cafe, for nourishing us enough so we could get home and recuperate from our grueling 5K. 

Out of five rodeo clowns (because across the street from this restaurant is the Los Alamitos Race Course, which features quarter horses, which are also a popular breed on the rodeo circuit as well), five being best to zero being worst, Gourmet Pie and Cafe gets 3 rodeo clowns. 

For more information about Gourmet Pie and Cafe, head to their website by clicking here: https://gourmetpieandcafe.com/

A Packed House at Maison in Dana Point

 Maison Cafe and Market

24501 Del Prado Avenue

Dana Point, CA 92629

I promise this will be the last of my birthday posts. My in-laws are always so busy, whether it's watching their grandkids, visiting their family up in Burbank, or escaping all the family drama and jetting off to Vegas to lose at video poker while drinking their weight in bloody Marys, we finally found time to have my birthday dinner three weeks after my birthday. I'm not mad because I cherish hanging out with them, and they let me choose where I wanted to celebrate. 

I picked Maison Cafe and Market in Dana Point for my birthday dinner. This place was on my radar after I read a restaurant review in the OC Register in 2019. Yes, I really do have restaurants on my list that have been on there for six years or more. The reviewer of that article really loved their sausage with pasta and the apple pie. Much has changed in the six years Maison has sat on my restaurant wishlist. 

For one, Maison moved locations four years ago. During the pandemic, they had a well-publicized disagreement with their landlord over outside dining, but this must have been settled amicably because, while Maison moved a mile away, Chef/Owner Danielle Kuhn operates one of her three restaurants, Doheny Cafe, at the former Maison site. Her other restaurant is Giana Bakery and Provisions, a block from Maison. 

With all the critical praise and a 4.7-star rating on Yelp, Maison Cafe is one of the biggest restaurant hits of the Lantern District, which is saying something because there are plenty of great places to eat in this area of Dana Point. Looking at the photos from Yelp, I see that breakfast seems more popular here, but when we arrived at Maison on a Friday at 6pm, we were met by a busy and lively restaurant. Luckily, Katie's parents had made a reservation beforehand, so we were seated immediately. 

Maison is described as a mix of French and Italian dishes that they hope will satisfy your hunger, support your health, and leave you satisfied. This mantra is posted on their website. Their dinner menu includes starters, salads, entrees, and sides. When we visited, they had nine entree options, priced between $22 to $30, while the starters and salads go anywhere from $9 to $26. Very reasonable for this area. Let's move on to what we had this particular evening. 

It seems like forever since I reviewed a restaurant that starts each table with a complimentary bread basket. I looked back, and it's been seven months since I shared a complimentary bread basket with you all, and that one was from the nearby Bonjour Cafe. I'm unsure if that's because restaurants are trying to cut expenses or if I have been trying to save money by reviewing more affordable places to eat. This one at Maison was freshly made and came with oil and vinegar. I'll never be disappointed with something I've been given for free; this bread was no exception. 

Truthfully, I was running late for my birthday dinner as the parking gods were not with me this evening. Katie and her parents were apparently hungry, so they ordered this Roasted Goat Cheese Dip ($15) before I made my grand entrance. I would have gotten their hummus or clams as my choice, but this might teach me to be more punctual. Even though I'm not the biggest fan of goat cheese, this is pretty tasty, although rich. The goat cheese was tempered a bit with the addition of a garlic confit and the use of parmesan cheese. The same toast in the bread basket was used here as the dipping agent. Pretty solid and a must for people who love goat cheese, like Katie's mom. 

Katie was not content with just the goat cheese dip; before our entrees arrived, she also tried the Petit Salad ($9). This dinner salad featured mixed greens, tomatoes, and cucumbers dressed in a sherry vinaigrette. Although listed as petit, it was good-sized, featured fresh produce, and had an on-point vinaigrette. 

My father-in-law loves the standards or what some people would call old-school dishes. Out of everything on the Maison menu, Chicken Pot Pie ($28) is the best example of this. This football-shaped pot pie had plenty of shredded chicken, peas, carrots, mushrooms, and potatoes, all enclosed in this buttery crust. This came out scaldingly hot and steamed for quite a while after cracking the crust. The inside did not have a very heavy sauce, which allowed the natural flavors of the inside ingredients to shine. There was not much left, which is a sure sign that Katie's dad really enjoyed this. 

Katie selected the Cavatelli Pasta ($22). This very comforting dish utilized the rarely seen hollow pasta with some housemade sausage, broccoli rabe, and a pecorino cream sauce, which was so good that I almost asked if they could line up some shots for me to guzzle down. Katie was equally enthusiastic about her meal. She loved the sausage and the perfect way that the pasta was cooked. She felt this was a very rich dish, which filled her up rather quickly, which allowed me to enjoy her leftovers the next day. They were excellent even after being in the fridge overnight.  

Since almost everyone who knows her would say she's a special lady, it's no surprise that Katie's mom, Lynn, would get the Halibut Special ($30). Looking at the pictures from Yelp, this special must be featured quite often, but the kind of fish used is rotated. On this evening, the buttery halibut was perched on top of some beautiful pesto risotto and asparagus, with some roasted tomatoes adding even more color to the plate. Lynn was generous enough to allow me a bite of the halibut, which was nicely done and went well with the pesto risotto. A great pairing. 

Not something that I get every day, I ordered the Beef Bourguignon ($30) and a side of Parmesan Risotto ($12) for my birthday feast. The bourguignon was a very hearty stew with a ton of beef, potatoes, carrots, pearl onions, and mushrooms, all in a red wine sauce that ties things together wonderfully. Enough for two people; only a few bites of the beef were on the dry side, but a few dunks into the sauce remedied that. The veggies were about the same size, ensuring they were all equally tender. I'm a sucker for risotto, and this one was unique. They paired the parmesan with a bit of lemon zest, which kept me from being overwhelmed by the richness that risotto is known for. 

I was pretty full when this birthday dessert arrived, and unfortunately, I did not jot down what it was. I know, rookie mistake. It was good, and I liked that they included plenty of ice cream on top. You'd think that after doing this blog for fifteen-plus years, I would be better about my note-taking, but it was my birthday, so maybe I'm starting to show my age. 

There was not really too much to critique about the dinner we had this evening. Everything was delicious, the service was warm and friendly, and I did not feel that the prices here were too outrageous. If I had to be pressed to say something bad about this restaurant, it would be that they don't have their own parking lot, and if they did, I could have made it here on time. Okay, I know, that's not their fault; it's mine for not leaving earlier. We older people drive way too slowly. 

Out of five lanterns (because many of the streets in Dana Point are named after colored lanterns to signal to ships where they were stationed), five being best to zero being worst, Maison Cafe and Market gets 3.5 lanterns. 

For more information about Maison Cafe and Market, head to their website by clicking here: https://maisondanapoint.com/  

A Hardy Welcome Back to MINT in Laguna Hills

 MINT Desi Craft Kitchen

25381 Alicia Parkway

Laguna Hills, CA 92653

MINT restaurant is back, but it's been a long and laborious road getting things ready for their guests to walk through the door and experience what I feel is one of the best Indian-Pakistani restaurants in South OC. Founded in 2016 as a family business, MINT expanded two years later by taking over the vacant storefront next door. Unlike many other restaurants, this helped them grow their business enough to survive the COVID crisis unscathed.  

Then, in 2022, another setback. As MINT was weeks away from reopening after a remodel of their dining room, tragedy struck. Every restaurant's greatest fear, an electrical fire started in their kitchen. After nearly three years of hassling with the insurance claim, the city permits, and restaffing their restaurant, they were in soft opening mode at the end of last year and had their official grand opening the first week of 2025. Great news for the people of Laguna Hills and the surrounding area. 

MINT comes to us from the same family that has brought us the much-ballyhooed and Michelin-recognized Khan Saab Desi Craft Kitchen in Fullerton and Shor Bazar in Hawaiian Gardens. These restaurants have been featured on all of our local TV stations, in both the OC Register and Los Angeles Times, and on too many best-of lists to mention. There might even be more accolades to come, as we've heard rumblings that another concept from this family is on its way to Long Beach. Stay tuned for that, but for now, it's MINT's turn in the spotlight. 

We were invited to visit MINT on a recent Wednesday evening. For reference, this restaurant is located in the Alicia Center, which is located at the corner of Paseo de Valencia and Alicia Parkway. Other standouts in this center include Heaven on a Fork, Mercado Corona, and Pizza Hut. Okay, I'm kidding about that last one; I wanted to ensure you were still paying attention. We were immediately met warmly at the host stand and whisked to our table. 

The dining area has a lot of character. One wall features a full-length booth that spans the entirety of the restaurant. Tables are spaced apart comfortably, so you are not sitting right on top of other diners. The room is deliberately darkened so guests can easily see a Bollywood movie projected on the exposed brick wall. The music playlist over the speaker system is at the perfect level to still allow for talking at your table but also fill in the gaps of silence with upbeat contemporary Indian favorites. 

The MINT menu is divided into five sections; starters, grilled meat dishes, stews and curries, rice dishes, and sides. The menu will look familiar to Indian food fans, but even if you're an Indian food novice, the menu explains what items are very well, so you can order to your tastes. The price point here hovers right around the $20 mark, with only two items over $30. When eating at MINT, a good rule of thumb is to order one item from each section of the menu to get the full experience. Just make sure you have three or more people, or you'll end up taking food home like Katie and I did. Enough talk; let's check out the food. 

MINT is a halal restaurant, so that means no alcohol, so mocktails are the order of the day here. Mixologist Ahmad Hosseini has curated a cocktail list that was such a hit at their other restaurants that they decided to bring the alcohol-free beverages to MINT. Katie selected the Hide 'n' Seek ($12), while I tried the Mint Lemonade ($12). Katie's beverage comprised guava, lime, blood orange, and Seedlip 42, a popular non-alcoholic spirits brand, while my lemonade included lime, blue curacao, mint, simple syrup, and Seedlip 42. Both mocktails were refreshing, and the best part was that they were not overly sweet, like many non-alcoholic drinks tend to be. They were sophisticated, well-crafted drinks, and the fresh fruit burst through with each sip. Well done, Ahmad. Other beverage options include non-alcoholic beer and mimosas, craft sodas, lassi, and bottled water. 

Starters are not to be skipped at MINT; we ended up having three of them. I would not skip the Chili Chicken ($12) on future visits. They coat tender boneless leg meat in a delicious sweet and slightly spicy chutney. The result reminded me of a buffalo wing with a less vinegary tinge. I found myself devouring these to ensure that I'd get more than Katie. I know, selfish. The Bandar Buns ($12) are very popular online. They came out on a lava-hot skillet and were paired with a mango chutney, which was equally spicy and sweet. The rolls were soft and pillowy inside and lightly salted on the outside. It's not listed as a starter, but we could not wait to get some Garlic Naan ($5). This was a good version, but I would have liked the garlic to be used more abundantly, but I'm a garlic fiend. 

If you thought we went overboard with the starters, we went crazy with the entree portion of our evening. I hoggishly ordered the Lamb Chops ($28), knowing that Katie is not a fan of lamb, and I'd be able to have the whole thing to myself. Ingenious, and after my first bite, I knew my plan had worked perfectly. The lamb came with four chops to an order, and each chop included a masala rub with garlic oil for a pleasant, earthy taste. I was not the biggest fan of the yogurt sauce that came with this, but luckily, the tenderness of the lamb and the excellent rub negated the need for it. 

Since a trip to New York in 2010, Katie has become a big fan of Chicken Biryani ($22), and although that one was the Middle Eastern version, she is inclined to order it whenever she sees it on a menu. This version at MINT is a lot spicier than its Middle Eastern cousin. It's probably due to the inclusion of Thai chili, which is included in this good-sized bowl of rice and boneless chicken. A very comforting dish; the heat with this was the way I like it, a slow burn. A perfect meal for the wet and chilly weather we've been having lately. This will definitely warm you up from the inside out.  

This is probably more of what you think when Indian food is mentioned. The best Butter Chicken ($19) I ever had was at the long-departed Tamarind of London, which closed in Newport Coast ten years ago. Lucky for us, the Head Chef of MINT, Jamil Hosseini, is guided by the former executive chef at Tamarind of London, Imran Ali Mookhi. This butter chicken was exactly as I remembered it at Tamarind. A buttery-rich tomato-onion gravy base that coated the tender and plentiful chicken. Each forkful was silky smooth, and I craved this the more I ate it. The Dal Tadka ($15) paired nicely with the richness of the butter chicken. This yellow lentil dish also included onion seeds, ginger, and garlic. It gave off slightly smoky vibes, with a burst of spices at the end of each bite. We closed our entree course with more carbs, this time opting for the Butter Naan ($4). A classic and one of the better naans we've had in a while. 

I saw online that they served pineapple sorbet in an actual pineapple, which seemed right up my alley since I've been eating a pineapple a week for the last couple of months. Unfortunately, they took it off the menu recently, but we veered towards their Coconut Sorbet ($9). This was a nice and light end to our overindulgence at MINT. The sorbet was very creamy, and the coconut flavor came through loud and clear, 

South Orange County residents should be excited that our area has another excellent option for Indian-Pakistani food. MINT is right up there with some of the best in the whole county. We experienced some really excellent service during our stay, and every employee we encountered seemed very eager to share how proud they were of this restaurant. With all that has happened here over the last few years, I'm sure the community will be eager to support this family-run business. We will be making a return visit very soon. 

For more information about MINT Desi Craft Kitchen, head to their website by clicking here: https://mintdesikitchen.com/

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