Birthday Dinner at 1886 Brewing Company

 1886 Brewing Company

114 North Glassell St. 

Orange, CA 92866

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Does Super Antojitos Live Up to Its Name?

 Super Antojitos

642 West Chapman Ave. 

Orange, CA 92886

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Easy Breezy Breakfast in San Juan Capistrano

 Breezy

31761 Camino Capistrano Suite 4

San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hoping for a Red Letter Day at Scarlet Kitchen

 Scarlet Kitchen and Loung

30865 Gateway Place

Rancho Mission Viejo, CA 92694

This would be Katie's third and final birthday dinner for those keeping track at home. We went out alone for one, then my parents took her out, and now it was her parent's turn to celebrate the well-deserved birthday girl. As is par for the course, restaurant selection duties were handed off to me. I gave seven suggestions in a group text, and the consensus was that we would celebrate Katie's birthday at Scarlet Kitchen and Lounge in Rancho Mission Viejo. 

Scarlet Kitchen, much like this area of Orange County, has been around for a while. They opened for business just before the pandemic hit and are still going strong. This might be due to the numerous articles and features I have seen about this restaurant. They were written up in the OC Register, Orange Coast Magazine, Voice of OC, Los Angeles Times, and Forbes named one of their cocktails one of the best brunch beverages. Very high praise. 

This is truly a family restaurant. The Executive Chef here is Paige Riordan, a former dancer, and choreographer who gave up dancing to graduate from culinary school in New York. Her father went to culinary school at the same time as her in California and handles the day-to-day operations at Scarlet Kitchen. His wife runs the business side of the restaurant, while Paige's husband is the General Manager. I always envy people who can work with family because I'm not sure I'd be able to do that with mine. 

The menu at Scarlet Kitchen opens with a trio of raw bar options and then goes on with bites, salads, tacos, sandwiches, main dish offerings, and sides. Appetizers and salads hover around the $15 to $20 range, while main dishes are priced from $25 and up. With only four restaurants that I could find in this newish city, I would imagine that Scarlet Kitchen is valued by residents of Rancho Mission Viejo for its diversity and varied offerings on its menu. I was curious if I would also become a new devotee of Scarlet Kitchen. Let's check out the food and see if this was a good pick for Katie's birthday dinner. 

Katie's dad is an aficionado of chowder. He orders it almost every time he sees it on a restaurant menu. The one here at Scarlet Kitchen is Marty's Clam Chowder ($10), and it's Chef Marty's concoction. It's a creamy chowder, rich and substantial, topped with real bacon and chives for an added flavor boost. Dennis enjoyed this immensely, calling it one of the better chowders he's had in recent memory. 

The rest of us tried the Maple-Roasted Brussels Sprouts ($10), which is not actually a starter but is listed as a side. We felt like rebels. This was a muted version of what we usually get when ordering Brussels sprouts at other places. These were not drenched in sauce. I would have liked a little more maple, but these allowed the sprouts to be the focal point, which is nice if you are a big sprouts fan. They also added currants and pine nuts for a burst of sweetness and texture. 

Katie's mom will start us off with the entree portion of our meal, as she selected the Chicken and Corn Rissoto ($33). The pan-fried chicken breast came out tender and juicy and lacked any dry bites that I usually associate with chicken when I order it in restaurants. It came with a corn puree streaked across the plate and topped with some chimichurri sauce topping it. The two sauces kept things interesting when used in alternating forkfuls. The risotto was creamy and studded with roasted corn, while some sauteed spinach, not visible in this picture, was plated directly underneath the rather large chicken breast. An interesting plating of the spinach.  

The birthday girl opted for the Blackened Fish Tacos ($23) for her birthday meal. I did not catch what kind of fish was used in these, but it was grilled and was joined in the tortilla by some sliced avocado, tomatoes, slaw, and a cilantro sauce. Katie felt these were very clean-tasting tacos. They did not rely on anything other than the blackened fish to do the heavy lifting flavorwise. The fish was plentiful, but she'd try something else on her next visit to Scarlet Kitchen. 

It must have been seafood night because Dennis continued the trend when he got the Fish and Chips ($25). This came with three beer-battered pieces of cod and tarter sauce and scarlet sauce, which resembled the sauce from Raising Cane's but less peppery. The batter on the fish was crispy, and the fish underneath was flaky and tender. Again, I liked that they offered two dipping options, which helped keep this interesting. The french fries were nicely done as well. Hand-cut, fried to perfection, and seasoned simply with salt. It is a nicely done fish and chips. 

I walked into Scarlet Kitchen, knowing precisely what I'd be having this evening. It's not uncommon since I study menus online before eating anywhere, but every once in a while, I do waver. I stuck to my guns and ordered the Scarlet Burger ($23 plus $2 for adding avocado). This burger utilizes grass-fed beef and is joined between the brioche bun with Irish white cheddar cheese, maple bacon onion jam, and garlic aioli. The burger was good, but did not blow me away. The beef was very clean tasting, but the inside condiments fell flat. Bacon onion jam never really meets my expectations, and the garlic aioli could have been applied with a heavier hand to make this pop. I did like the inclusion of the white cheddar, which melted wonderfully over the patty. This came with rustic fries, which were thicker and not as good as the fries with the fish and chips. I did enjoy my fries better with the scarlet sauce, but I still found myself sneaking most of the fries from the fish and chip plate. 

Dessert is a must when celebrating a birthday, so we went big with a trio of sweet treats. The Classic Creme Brule ($15) was exactly as it sounds: very straightforward. A crystallized crust topped it, revealing a creamy custard base when broken. This was not as sweet as others, but we all enjoyed it. The Strawberry Cheesecake ($14) was the same. It was a traditional cheesecake that did not overwhelm you with sugar. I'm not the biggest fan of cheesecake, but everyone else enjoyed this. Much more to my thing was the free birthday sundae they gave Katie. Vanilla ice cream with hot fudge, whipped cream, and a cherry. I ate most of this while they were eating the other two desserts. 

Scarlet Lounge made an excellent first impression on us. I enjoyed that they had a wide array of choices to pick from. Even with this wide variety, Scarlet Kitchen is a restaurant you'd visit only occasionally. This is the place I'd envision more for date nights, girl's night out, and, like us, birthdays and other special occasions. The food was on point, and as this area grows, Scarlet Kitchen will become a favorite of all the people who are moving into this area. 

Out of five dice (because in the board game Clue, Miss Scarlet is the first person to roll the dice to get the game started), five being best to zero being best, Scarlet Kitchen and Lounge gets 3 solid dice. 

For more information about Scarlet Kitchen, head to their website by clicking here: https://scarletkl.com/ 

Celebrating Restaurant Review Number 1000 at Bourbon Steak

 

Bourbon Steak

1 Monarch Beach Resort North

Dana Point, CA 92629

As my restaurant reviews began piling up, especially in the early days of this blog, I started to think about where I'd like to review for my 1,000th different restaurant. I wanted to pick a place that was fitting for such a milestone. I wanted it to be something other than the latest hot chicken spot or a run-of-the-mill chain restaurant. Even though there are no guarantees, I wanted a place that I believed would be memorable and one of the better restaurant experiences in Orange County. Around a year ago, I decided my 1,000th restaurant would be Bourbon Steak. 

Bourbon Steak is located inside the Waldorf Astoria Resort in Dana Point. It's been open for five years and comes to us from celebrity chef and restauranteur Michael Mina. His website lists 14 restaurant concepts spread across the US and one international location in Dubai. This is one of seven Bourbon Steak restaurants operating today. Bourbon Steak is Chef Mina's riff on a traditional steakhouse. He strives to elevate his steak and seafood offerings to a new level with his technique and creative flair.  

We arrived at the Waldorf Astoria at 8pm on the Saturday of my birthday week. We usually do not eat so late, but this was one of the few time slots available when I made my online reservation. Parking is valet, and the Bourbon Steak entrance is to the left as you pass by the front desk in the lobby. If you were familiar with Stonehill Tavern when this resort was St. Regis, that's where you head for Bourbon Steak. 

Bourbon Steak's dining room is much brighter than other high-end steak restaurants in OC. The lighter wood walls blend nicely with the tan booths and chairs, and even though we were seated as the sun dipped into the sea, the natural light streaming in through the numerous windows added to the brilliance of the space. We sat at a booth towards the back of the restaurant, just adjacent to the patio overlooking the pool area, golf course, and the magnificent Pacific Ocean. 

Every Bourbon Steak has a different menu based on their locale and because they are chef-driven. The menu at this location is led off with shellfish platters and a caviar selection. There are then five appetizers and salads to select from. Entrees include Angus and Wagyu steak options, seafood, and four highlighted entrees shown prominently in the menu's center. Eight signature sides close out the menu. Prices for appetizers and salads range between $21 to $45. Entrees, of course, only come ala carte and will set you back anywhere between $41 to $294 for the 50-ounce Wagyu tomahawk. A little rich for my blood, but let's see if Bourbon Steak was an excellent pick for restaurant review 1000. 

When eating at Bourbon Steak, you will be presented with some extras throughout your meal. Amuse Bouche and the much-raved Duck Fat Fries. The amuse-bouche offered this evening was a mushroom truffle soup, which was rich and flavorful, and a foreshadowing of what we had in store for us later in the evening. The duck fat fries are brought to every table right after your order. They come out hot and crispy and are all explicitly seasoned to correspond with the sauce in front of them. The dipping sauces included a green goddess with tajin, a parmesan truffle aioli, my favorite, and rosemary thyme ketchup. I was astonished to see that the couple next to us had barely touched their fries, and I fought back the urge to ask them for theirs until they were taken away by their server. 

We went without any appetizers and dove straight into the salad portion of our meal. Katie selected the Baby Artichoke Hearts ($21). This mini tower was full of flavor, with the artichokes complimented with creamy avocado, puffed quinoa, Marcona almonds, and a subtle red wine vinaigrette. This was delicate but still packed a punch. I loved how the other ingredients played nicely with the artichokes but did not overpower them. Katie called this one of the best salads she has ever had. Very high praise. 

While reviewing restaurants on this blog, I've eaten my fair share of Caesar Salad ($21), so it was appropriate to have at least one more, as this was our 1000th restaurant. This upscale Caesar utilized baby gem lettuce, a garlic streusel, and plenty of parmesan reggiano sprinkled on top. The muted dressing was evenly distributed on each piece of lettuce like it was applied leaf by leaf. The garlic streusel added a nice flavor boost, but I did miss the absence of croutons, which would have added a bit more texture to this salad. 

Another treat from the kitchen was the Roll served with our salads. It was pillowy soft, and filled with rich truffle butter that I ate way too quickly. The top was salted just enough to not become a distraction. I should have asked for another one, but I had a big meal coming up.  

It pained me to not get a steak here, but we were celebrating, so I decided to treat myself to this Lobster Pot Pie ($140). This Michael Mina signature item was finished tableside with a staff member removing the top part of the buttery crust and placing it on the plate. He then completed the brandied lobster sauce and mixed it with the seasonal vegetables before expertly separating the lobster meat from the shell. It was quite the performance. 

The lobster was one and a half pounds and was very tender. The sauce was unusual, as it was less rich than the drawn butter that has become commonplace when eating this crustacean. The seasonal vegetables on this evening resembled more of a crab boil than what you'd consider for a pot pie. I spied large chunks of red potatoes, celery, pearl onions, and some sliced carrots instead of the more traditional peas and smaller cuts of carrots and onions. Placing the top crust on the bottom helped let the lobster shine even brighter. A rich meal, but one that was very well balanced. 

Katie went the more traditional route at Bourbon Steak when she settled on the 8 Ounce Filet Mignon ($76). Our server did not even bristle when she asked for this medium well, which has happened plenty of times at other steakhouses in OC. It might have been because she also upgraded to the optional Blue Cheese Crumble ($8), but this was delicious, even though the steak was cooked to a medium well. Something that only happens sometimes at other spots. When I asked how she liked her steak, Katie threw out adjectives like delicious, perfectly cooked, and unforgettable. 

As is the case at all high-end steak places, sides must be ordered separately. We chose the Brussels Sprouts ($19) and the Black Truffle Mac and Cheese ($19). Both were adequate but did not make me swoon like the lobster mashed potatoes at Capital Grill or Fleming's Potatoes. The Brussels sprouts were crunchy, but more gastrique was needed to liven things up after my initial forkfuls. The truffle mac and cheese was better, but I expected a bit more richness, and while the truffle was present, I had wished for a bit more. A little more cheese would have helped things out here. I might have better luck ordering the baked fingerling potatoes and the mushrooms in a soy glaze.  

The pastry chef at Bourbon Steak is brought to us by Rebekah Eastman, who also worked at the St. Regis Resort and Bottega Angelina. The most mentioned item out of the four on her dessert menu is the Spiced Beignets ($15). This was two desserts in one, as you get four beignets and a small bowl of vanilla creme brulee. The beignets were light and fluffy and dusted with plenty of powdered sugar. A more grown-up version of the ones at Disneyland. The creme brulee was good but could have been a tinge sweeter for my tastes. I also received a special birthday dessert, bagged caramel corn, and a piece of salted dark chocolate for each of us. A lovely touch. 

Our visit to Bourbon Steak was like being on vacation for the three hours that we were here. Our every whim was catered to, service was first-rate, and the food was delicious. I must mention our fantastic server Jaci, who kept things moving without making us feel rushed. Lyle, the captain of the restaurant, was quite the character and is definitely someone that made sure our visit was as memorable as he was. The food at Bourbon Steak is just as good as what you get at the big chain steakhouses but might be even better due to the techniques they use in the kitchen. Bourbon Steak is the ultimate special occasion restaurant and was the perfect spot for our 1,000th restaurant review. Here's to the next 1,000.  

Out of five pillows (because the world's most expensive bottle of bourbon is Old Rip Van Winkle 25 Year Old, which now sells for $50,000 or more, and it's named after a character in a story that sleeps for 20 years, and if you are going to sleep for that long you better have a good pillow), five being best to zero being worst, Bourbon Steak gets 4.5 pillows. 

For more information about Bourbon Steak, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/bourbon-steak/orange-county/ 

Julep, Good Enough to Toast To?

 Julep

3325 East Imperial Highway 

Brea, CA 92823

It was day two of birthday dinners for Katie, and this time it was my family's turn to spoil the birthday girl. As is her custom, Katie yields the restaurant selection to me. This is not due to my prowess in picking great restaurants. It's more about me choosing a spot that will satisfy her and my family. After many minutes of research online, I finally decided on Julep in Brea. 

Julep burst onto the scene eight months ago and is situated in the old Jimmy's Famous Tavern spot on the corner of Valencia and Imperial Highway in the La Floresta Shopping Center, which is anchored by Whole Foods, Mendocino Farms, and Urban Plates. Julep comes to us from the Toast Restaurant Group, which runs Mimosas Brunch and Dinner in both Whittier and Anaheim Hills,  Benediction in the City of Industry, and Toast, which boasts three locations in Downey, Whittier, and down the road in Brea. 

This is the least brunch-centric of their concepts, even though they offer a brunch menu on weekends from 8am til 3. The lunch and dinner menus are the same, and all items on both are offered after 11am daily. Julep has plenty of options for you to consider when dining here. They offer 13 appetizers, along with soups and salads. Burgers, sandwiches, and pasta dishes are available, with 14 more significant entrees of steaks, seafood, and chicken dishes. Prices range between  $12 to $25 for starters, and entrees will set you back anywhere between $14 to $55 for their filet mignon. 

They take reservations through their Yelp page, but only for parties of four or fewer. For bigger parties, you are asked to phone the restaurant, which I did since we were a party of six, but after numerous calls spread over several days with no one answering the phone, I decided we'd chance it and just show up. We met at half past four on a Sunday, which is not precisely peak meal-eating time. After a wait of about five minutes, we were seated. 

The dining area conveys a pleasant and relaxed vibe with its exposed dark wood beams on the ceiling, striped tiled flooring, and glass roll-up doors allowing plenty of natural light to permeate the restaurant. The space is still recognizable from when this was Jimmy's, but they have added their own touches like the dragonflies and empty bird cages adorning the walls and the whimsical art spread throughout the restaurant. 

We started with two appetizers, the first of which was the Corn Fritters ($13). These yellow corn fritters resembled tater tots, with a crunchy outer shell and a cornbread mixture inside. They came with a maple bourbon sauce for dipping. I'm not a huge cornbread fan, but everyone else enjoyed these. I enjoyed the choice of the dipping sauce, which saved these for me. 

The Ahi Tuna Tartare ($18) gets a lot of love online. This tuna tower uses cubed tuna mixed with a sesame dressing as its base and then is topped with an avocado mash. It comes with wonton chips for scooping. I liked this, but I only had a couple bites since it was split among six people. The tuna was fresh but could have been seasoned a bit more. I enjoyed the avocado on top, which stole the show for me with this plate. 

This Fried Chicken ($20) wins the award for most photogenic dish of the evening. The chicken breast was fried nicely with a delightful crunch when bitten into. It was also surprisingly tender all the way through. It was served with a large spoonful of garlic pomme puree, which you might know better as garlic mashed potatoes. They were very buttery, but the promised garlic was very muted. The plate was rounded out by a Dijon mustard sauce that lined the bottom and served as a gravy over the fried chicken. An odd choice that worked well because the mustard was not too front and center. My mom and sister enjoyed Julep's take on this American classic. 

The birthday girl Katie picked the Beef Stroganoff ($25) as her celebratory meal. I'm sure I have not mentioned it, but Julep is a cast iron skillet restaurant, meaning all their entrees are cooked in or finished in a cast iron skillet. I think this dish was just finished in the cast iron. This meal was made up of filet mignon, pappardelle, and the same Dijon mustard sauce that was used on the fried chicken. Katie liked this version of the comfort food classic. The noodles were cooked nicely, the steak was tender, and she appreciated the uniqueness of the mustard sauce. She scrapped this plate clean. 

It's always entertaining to see what my dad will order when we go out to eat. He did not disappoint by getting this Cast Iron Trout ($21). This rather large piece of trout was cooked to where it was flaky, but it was a little too mild in the flavor department for my tastes. The garlic mashed potatoes, and the green bean baby friese citrus salad did an admirable job of livening things up. 

My brother-in-law had heard good things about the Shrimp and Grits ($21) at Julep, so he tried them. This was another interesting interpretation of a dish we've all had. The garlic shrimp and grits were placed on top of four asparagus spears and some red wine demi glaze and then topped with fried onions. This was too busy. The red wine sauce seemed out of place, and the asparagus should have been situated to the side, along with the fried onion strings. The shrimp and the grits were good but were overwhelmed by the other components of this plate. 

I usually avoid getting ribs and other barbecue items at non-barbecue restaurants, but for some reason, these Coca-Cola Beef Ribs ($25) piqued my interest enough to order them. They were decent and better than some I have had in actual barbecue spots in OC. Plenty of tender and flavorful meat on these one-and-a-half ribs, and the barbecue sauce added a tinge of sweetness to each bite. I usually like to apply my own barbecue sauce to my meat, but this sauce was pretty solid. The plate was rounded out by some coleslaw and french fries, both of which were satisfying. 

I admit I did not have the highest hopes for a good meal when we entered Julep this early Sunday evening. I changed my tune when we had finished eating, though. The food here will not blow you away and make you want to immediately return, but the menu is varied enough that almost anyone can find something at Julep that they will like. The little twists they add sometimes miss the mark, but not enough to ruin your meal. The service this evening could best be described as slow. Our server had a bunch of tables to attend to while other servers walked around aimlessly, not doing too much or helping our server out. It's a young staff, so they may find their way. The price point here was more than fair for the portion sizes. Not to break my arm, patting myself on my back, but this was a pretty good spot that I picked for my family to celebrate Katie's birthday. Everyone left here happy. 

Out of five horses (because the most well-known julep is the mint julep, famous for being served at the Kentucky Derby), five being best to zero being worst, Julep gets 3 horses. 

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