Setting the Standard at Benchmark?

 

Benchmark

601 East Santa Ana Blvd. 

Santa Ana. CA 92701

Here's a heads-up on my following seven reviews. Back in March (yes, I'm that far behind in writing), I decided to visit seven OC Restaurant Week spots in seven days. For those unaware, OC Restaurant Week is brought to us by OC Foodies, an organization dedicated to highlighting Orange County restaurants and promoting the culinary landscape of our wonderful county. 

Over 150 restaurants participated in the first week of March this year. Each restaurant posts its special Restaurant Week menu online. Tickets are not needed, but reservations at some of the most popular spots are encouraged. The price points for lunch menus are $15 to $25, dinner ranges between $30 to $50, and they also offer luxe menus for 2 guests that go for $60 to $120. I spend way more time than I care to admit studying the menus and what days I will visit which restaurants. I didn't even study this much in school. 

Since restaurant week starts on a Sunday, Katie will join me for this one. I picked a restaurant that has been on my wishlist for the last five years. They landed there because Orage Coast magazine named them one of the best new restaurants of 2020. They get rave reviews for their patio dining and have been featured plenty of times in print and visual media. That's how we found ourselves kicking off Restaurant Week at Benchmark in Santa Ana. 

Benchmark recently celebrated its 5th anniversary, a significant milestone in the restaurant industry. The owners, Duane Greenleaf and Pedro Arizmendi, are very present at the restaurant, as they are there almost every day. They brought Chef Stefano Ciociola aboard in 2021 after stints at many Patina Restaurant Group spots and time spent at some big-name East Coast restaurants. According to their website, their shared vision is "a modern restaurant with an upscale casual menu and seasonal fare."

We arrived at Benchmark at 5 p.m. on a rather chilly Sunday evening. The patio was empty except for the hustle and bustle of the waitstaff getting ready for dinner service and going over the menu. We had our pick of tables. Removed by a mere few blocks from the noisy downtown scene, the patio felt like a park-like setting or maybe the backyard of a friend's house. Very comforting, even as the tables filled up around us during our hour-and-a-half stay.  

Even though Katie and I were going to get the restaurant week menu, we glanced at the regular dinner menu for kicks. The six starters were priced at $20 and below, with the crispy pork belly and Korean tacos catching my eye. The entrees included some sandwiches, a burger that looked amazing in the pictures I have seen, pasta dishes, and a braised short rib that sounded promising. Plates ranged between $16 to $39 for the short rib. We swiftly made our selections off the Restaurant Week menu, priced at $40 per person. 

Although it was not on the Restaurant Week menu, Katie can never resist trying a pretzel once she glimpses one on a menu. This Bavarian Pretzel with Artichoke Fondue ($16) has almost made me a pretzel convert. I've never been a fan of pretzels, but this house-made one from Benchmark was soft, buttery, and salted perfectly. What made this for me was the artichoke fondue, which was earthy and creamy, and I found myself wishing that this was served with a spoon so I could eat it like soup. A delicious start to any meal at Benchmark. 

Now, on to our $40 Restaurant Week three-course menu. We picked the Short Rib Croquettes ($16) as our appetizer to share. These three nicely fried croquettes were filled with potato, gruyere, and a surprising amount of short rib inside. Each was topped with an herb chutney, and the plate was smeared with an addictive red pepper aioli. The outer crust of each croquette had a nice crunch, revealing a creamy mixture of potato, cheese, and beef. A very comforting combo. The pepper aioli added just enough flavor to accentuate the croquette. I'm happy they streaked enough across the plate for all three little barrels of deliciousness.  

Before sitting down at the table, I narrowed my main course to two options, and my mind was made up when Katie selected one of the two plates I had my eye on. Truthfully, I knew I would be having this Shrimp and Broccoli Risotto ($30) because of Katie's shrimp allergy, but she's been known to throw me a curveball, like ordering this without shrimp. It keeps our marriage fresh. This plate popped with color when it was set in front of me, and I hope it does so in the photos, too. The risotto was piled high with parmigiano reggiano, parsley, broccoli, and four large shrimp. The risotto was incredibly creamy and flavorful. The gruyere and the broccoli were a great combination. The shrimp was cooked nicely and was an excellent contrast to the risotto.  

It was a seven-minute wait from when my meal was placed on the table to when Katie's Fusilli Cacio e Pepe ($26) appeared from the kitchen. I don't know what happened there, as our server never really gave us an explanation. This is not a traditional version of the classic pasta, cheese, and pepper dish. I'd describe this as a jazzed-up rendition with the addition of hazelnuts, guanciale, and butternut squash. The pecorino cream and sage butter sauce was delicious, and the hazelnuts added a nice textural element. The pasta was cooked well, and this meal comforted Katie.  

The only disappointment of the night was the Brown Butter Cake ($11). The cake portion reminded me of the Hostess coffee cakes I had as a kid, not in taste but in appearance. This one was topped with a pecan praline, which was nice and gooey. It came with vanilla gelato, and the plate was drizzled with caramel. Maybe because of the plating, this was disjointed to me. The sweetness was muted, and getting the perfect bite of everything was hard. It's not awful, but it's different from what I expected when we ordered this. 

Even with the minor hiccup of Katie's meal being delayed from the kitchen and my thoughts about the lackluster dessert, our initial OC Restaurant Week outing was a success. I was able to scratch a restaurant off of my wishlist. Benchmark's ambiance was excellent, and the food was terrific, too. Our server was friendly, but long lapses where she went MIA turned what should have been an hour-long dinner into an extra 30 minutes of waiting for the bill and finally making payment. Benchmark is still worth a visit, with some seriously good food being served here, and we look forward to a return visit soon. First, we have six more days of OC Restaurant Week to finish. It's a tough job, but someone's got to do it. 

Out of five jars of mustard (because the ground where Santa Ana is now used to be a mustard field before its 1869 purchase), five being best to zero being worst, Benchmark gets 3.5 jars of mustard. 

For more information about Benchmark, head to their website by clicking here: https://benchmarkoc.com/

Elevated Fast Food at Taco Mesiata?

 Taco Mesita

765 El Camino Real

Tustin, CA 92780

There are different ways we find ourselves at restaurants. Most of the time, I'll find out about a place on Instagram, Yelp, magazines, or even on TV. I jot them down on my restaurant wishlist and hopefully get around to visiting them. I also get tips from readers of this blog, followers on my social media channels, and people I meet and talk with once it's revealed that I'm a foodie. This visit to Taco Mesita was about different. 

Back in the heyday of restaurant blogs, I'd get invited to restaurant openings or restaurants that were looking to boost their sales, wanted to highlight new menu items, or wished to showcase seasonal menus. Yes, it was fun to get free meals, and we had a great group of OC bloggers that we got to know well and saw at all these places. It was like having dinner with friends, but a bill would never come to the table. Then, bloggers were replaced with Instagrammers and TikTockers, and they are now getting free meals.   

Every so often, I get an invite to promote a restaurant. I always imagine it's a PR person who is new to the industry and inherited someone's old Rolodex or list of media contacts. Taco Mesita contacted me through Instagram and invited me to their first-anniversary party. We went back and forth, and I said I was in and made sure I knew who to meet up with before we left for the party. 

The place was packed with people, and I made the split-second decision that we'd just pay for our food and write a review for all of you. I saw the person I was supposed to meet with briefly, but he was swamped, and I didn't want to bother him. We stood in line and waited to order. 

Taco Mesita took over the old Alberta's Mexican Food place in Tustin. It's completely unrecognizable from when the former tenant was there. The vibe reminds me of a hip Palm Springs restaurant. The predominant color is white, and the breezeblock wall shuts out what's going on outside the restaurant. There are only six tables, and the kitchen activity is easily seen through huge windows behind where you order. There's also a drive-thru for your convenience. 

Taco Mesiata is the brainchild of Ivan Calderon and his son, Nico. If they sound familiar, it's probably because you've eaten at their other restaurants, Taco Mesa or Taco Rosa. They added a third partner, Nico's childhood friend Max Moriyama, a designer in charge of branding and the restaurant's look and feel. Nico wanted to create high-quality food in a fast-food setting, something that you don't find anywhere. 

The menu at Taco Mesita is smaller than that of other Mexican places, which the owners say helps them provide high-quality items while keeping prices relatively low. They offer a trio of tacos and burritos, snacks, and breakfast items served until noon. Most items hover around the $6 mark, with only the chicken and steak burrito reaching double-digit territory. People looking to save even more can partake in their Taco Tuesday and late-night happy hour offerings. Now that you have the backstory let's check out what we ate this evening. 

We've always enjoyed the Chips and Salsa ($3) and Guacamole ($7.25) at Taco Mesa, and we are happy to report that the same is true at Taco Mesita. In fact, I'm pretty sure these are the same chips that they serve at Taco Mesa. We got more than enough chips for three dollars, and they came with a whipped jalapeno and a smoky tomato salsa. Both salsas were on point and provided an excellent contrast to each other, as I found myself switching back and forth between the two. The guacamole could also be the exact same recipe they use at Taco Mesa. We've eaten there numerous times, and Katie always orders the guacamole. This had the same flavor, freshness, and texture to it. If it's not exactly the same, it's very similar. Katie also tried the Jamaica Palmero ($4.50). This hibiscus beverage also included lime and organic agave. The lime helped subdue the sweetness, which was much appreciated. Very refreshing and one of the better juices that Katie has had in a while. 

The majority of the menu at Taco Mesita is snacks meant for sharing. We decided to share all the ordered items, which is rare because I'm usually a selfish eater. First up was the Quesadilla Dorada ($6) and the Panella Taquitos ($6). The quesadilla was like an empanada filled with corn, vegetables, and Oaxaca cheese. It was too bland for me. The outer shell was crispy, but the inside portion fell flat, with only the corn providing any flavor. The taquitos were a better pick. They are filled with fresh cheese and fried nicely to give a big crunch when bitten into. I would have liked more of the avocado crema, which was promised on the menu but was absent when these came out to our table. 

We finished off our meal with all three tacos on their menu: Pork Shoulder ($5), Rottisserie Pollo ($5.75), and Woodfired Steak ($6.50). I actually liked all of these tacos, but if I had to pick my favorite, the Pork Shoulder would get the gold medal. It came with savory and smoky pork that played well with the pineapple and cascabel adobo. The silver medal goes to the chicken taco, which is rare for me to pick chicken over steak anytime. The chicken was tender and came with a delicious tomatillo corn relish and the avocado crema, which again was used too sparingly but might have pushed this taco to the number one spot if it had more on it. Settling for the bronze medal is the steak taco. I liked the marinade they used on the steak, but too much greenery and a lack of cotija cheese cost them the 2nd position on the taco podium. Yes, I've been watching far too much of the Olympics going on right now. 

Taco Mesita is a fascinating concept, and I feel they are still evolving. The food here is definitely an upgrade in quality to what you'd expect to get at a place with a drive-thru. The price point is manageable, but the portion sizes will not overwhelm you. It's a fine line that restaurants are walking these days regarding portion sizes versus item costs, especially with more quality ingredients. If you like lots of cheese, sauces, and heavier proteins, Taco Mesita might not be the right fit for you. But if you want a more authentic, subdued meal, this place might be what you are looking for. I'm glad they reached out to me, and I look forward to seeing what's ahead for them. 

Out of five digital clocks (because mesita translates to English as a bedside table, and I still have my grandmother's digital clock I inherited from her as a kid over forty years ago), five being best to zero being worst, Taco Mesita gets 3 alarm clocks. 

For more information about Taco Mesita, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.tacomesita.com/

Hitting All the Numbers at Keno’s

Keno's Restaurant

5750 East La Palma Ave. 

Anaheim, CA 92807

This is another long-overdue review. For those unaware, I grew up in Yorba Linda and lived in North OC for the first two decades of my life. In the 1970s and early 1980s, Yorba Linda and the surrounding area were not a hotbed of excellent restaurants. Even today, it still isn't going to rival other parts of OC, but the restaurant scene has gotten a little bit better. Keno's Restaurant is one spot that helped change the restaurant landscape back in the days of yore. 

Keno's has been around since 1983. Back then, just to get to a Denny's or another coffee shop, you had to go to Orange or Brea. Keno's helped cut our drive time in half, and it quickly became a local favorite. The current owner, Steve Cooper, and his father-in-law bought the restaurant in 1993, and locals still flock here for weekend breakfast, karaoke nights in the lounge, early bird breakfast specials on weekdays, and their famous fried chicken special on Tuesdays. 

Walking into Keno's, you feel instantly transported into the past. Every table is a booth, eliminating overcrowding in the dining room. The servers seem to have been here forever, and the darkened lounge brings to mind the Peppermill I visited as a kid in Reno. You can also eat at a counter, which you don't see in many restaurants anymore. 

The menu at Keno's is enormous. Highlights include burgers, melts, sandwiches, steaks, seafood, pasta dishes, Mexican food, and comfort food classics like meatloaf, country fried steak, a turkey dinner, and others. To be honest, I have only had breakfast here. Their breakfast menu is filled with all the classics and served all day. We were meeting our good friends Ozker and Bianca for a long overdue catch-up. We had about a five-minute wait for our party of five at 9 on a Sunday morning, which was way shorter than when we had been here before. Let's take a look at how our breakfast went this particular morning. 

I'm going to spark a little controversy with my following sentence. Chicken fried steak is the most photogenic of all breakfast foods. It's almost impossible to take a bad picture of this delicious dish. Eggs Benedict might be a close second, but then there's a sharp drop-off for third place for the most beautiful breakfast plate. Anyway, Katie chose the Keno's Chicken Fried Steak and Eggs ($17.79). Keno's uses sirloin tri-tip, which is breaded and topped with a country gravy. It was in the fryer just a minute or two too long, but the gravy helped to cover up that mistake. It's not the biggest country fried steak plate she has had, but the inclusion of the three eggs and the mound of crispy hashbrowns more than filled her up/ 

Many people would describe Bianca as special, so it was fitting that she ordered the Special Gourmet Omelet ($16.99). The omelets at Keno's are all made with three eggs, and this one came with mushrooms, tomatoes, bacon, and cheese and was topped with avocado. Bianca was happy with this omelet and even more thrilled that she did not have to do the dishes afterward. Instead of toast, you have the option of getting two pancakes instead. She did that so she could share it with her four-year-old daughter. Both mother and daughter were happy with their breakfasts. 

I'm always partial to skillets; the more meats, the better. That meant the Farm House Skillet ($16.99) would be placed before me. Just like the omelets, the skillets are made with three eggs. This skillet came with the holy trinity of breakfast meats; ham, bacon, and sausage, and was finished with bell pepper, onions, and cheese topping the hashbrowns. This was not heavy on the bell pepper or onions, which allowed the meats and cheese to stand out more. I liked the contrast between the crispiness of the hashbrowns and the eggs. Very filling and satisfying.  

I always try to pair savory and sweet when eating my first meal of the day, so it was no surprise that I opted for pancakes instead of toast. However, I added chocolate chips for an additional $2. From the picture, you probably think I got ripped with the number of chocolate chips they gave me, but they were plentiful in the batter underneath. The pancakes were delicious, and it's easy to see why they are so popular with their guests. 

It's easy to see why Keno's has been such a hit with the people of North OC for the last 40-plus years. There are few coffee shops like this around anymore. The food will not blow you away, but it's a place where you can get a nice and honest breakfast with large portions for a fair price. After having breakfast here, we skipped lunch and ended up having just a light dinner. I wish I remembered our server's name, but she was excellent and ensured our every need was met. With an experience like this, it's easy to see why the people of Anaheim Hills, Yorba Linda, and other surrounding cities have supported Keno's for so many decades. 

Out of five stone blocks (because the Great Wall of China is believed to have been financed by an early version of the gambling game keno, and they used quite a few blocks for this massive structure), five being best to zero being worst, Keno's Restaurant gets 3 stone blocks.  

For more information about Keno's Restaurant, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.kenosrestaurant.com/

Brining Chicken to Dizzying Heights at a Mall?

 Dizzy Bird

555 The Shops at Mission Viejo

Mission Viejo, CA 92691

This is a first. In my 14 years of writing about restaurants, I am trying to remember writing about a restaurant in a mall food court. In the early days of this blog, I might have written a review about Hot Dog on a Stick, Mrs. Field's, or Cinnabon, but I didn't. Now, there's not one of those places within 15 miles of where I live, and there is no longer any Hot Dog on a Stick in OC. It's not surprising because malls are being bulldozed at an alarming rate. 

I thought my days of mall food were over, except for the occasional visit to redeem a gift certificate at either Island's or the Cheesecake Factory that my mom and dad get me every year. What has brought me to the mall food court? I've seen the glowing reviews for Dizzy Bird, a Mediterranean-inspired chicken rotisserie that opened at the Shops at Mission Viejo almost a year ago. They possess a very impressive 4.8 rating on Yelp and have had some prominent social media influencers visit to try their food.

That was enough to get me moving and plan out the seven-minute drive from my house to give them a try. They are located in between Island's and Blaze Pizza. Park near Dick's Sporting Goods for the closest parking to Dizzy Bird. Predictably, ordering is done at the counter, and they call out your name when your order is ready. I visited here two times, and each time, they seemed to be one of the busier tenants at the food court, with their only competition for the title of most foot traffic at the food court being Paradise Bakery. People really love those cookies. 

It's no surprise that chicken dominates the menu at Dizzy Bird. If you are not a fan of poultry, it would be best for you to move along to another stall nearby. They feature chicken in various forms: a wrap, bowl, salad, plate, or, for larger groups, even a platter. Six sides and nine house-made sauces close out the menu. Plates go anywhere from $14 to $18, while wraps will set you back $12. Let's see how our two trips here went. 

Katie was getting a wrap, which I'd typically get, but I selected the Half Chicken Plate ($18.99) for the sake of diversity.  This comes with a leg, breast, thigh, wing, two sides, pita bread, and garlic sauce. It was a good sized plate of food, but I'm professional, so I finished the whole thing. Truth be told, I'm not the world's biggest fan of chicken because, most of the time, it's as dry as the Sahara Desert. This was one of the juiciest versions I have ever had. Even the breast was juicy, which is very rare. The skin had a crispy texture and was very flavorful. For my two sides, I got lemon garlic potatoes and Mediterranean rice. The rice was bland, but the potatoes were bursting with goodness. A tinge of lemon hung out in the background of each bite while the garlic was front and center. Very tender potatoes also. The pita bread was good, and the garlic sauce was very strong, just as I like it. It might be one of the better garlic sauces we've had in OC. I'd get more next time to help wake up the rice. 

On our first visit to Dizzy Bird, Katie got the Silly Bird ($11.99), one of four wraps available. I also got this one on my second visit several months later. This one contains rotisserie chicken, potatoes, pickled cucumber, garlic sauce, and Dizzy Bird sauce for dipping. As you can see from the pictures above, Katie's wrap was left on the grill a little bit too long, but she enjoyed it. The wrap was filling and satisfied my hunger. The chicken and tender potatoes worked well together. I'd ask for extra garlic sauce the next time I get this, as it was less noticeable than I would have liked. The dizzy bird sauce had a nice tanginess to it, and I found myself using it more and more while I was eating my wraps. 

I also tried the Hot Bird Wrap ($11.99). For this one, they tossed their chicken in a hot sauce mixture and added garlic sauce and pickled jalapenos to the wrap. This woke up my taste buds, but not in an overly violent way. The heat was a slow burn but never really got too intense. I used the provided dizzy bird sauce liberally, which helped mitigate the heat index of my wrap. My wraps were both excellent, but I'd opt for the hot bird the next time I visited. 

Dizzy Bird is a step in the right direction for the food court at the Shops at Mission Viejo. It is an independent concept that offers good-quality food to the six people who still visit malls instead of buying things online. Dizzy Bird is an excellent alternative to this venue's fellow chain tenants: Chipotle, Charley's Cheesesteaks, Panda Express, Smash Burger, and others. This is not my favorite lineup of places to grab a bite. Besides Dizzy Bird, there might be another reason to visit the food court soon, as Shaya Grill will soon open in the old Rubio's spot. They are a lamb restaurant, which might be a tough sell because lamb is not on many people's radar, but I'm a fan. So, there may be another mall review soon. 

Out of five trumpets (in honor of jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, who famously played the trumpet), five being best to zero being worst, Dizzy Bird gets 3 trumpets.  

For more information about Dizzy Bird, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.dizzybird.com/

Pardon My French, We’re at Bonjour Cafe in Dana Point

 Bonjour Cafe

24633 Del Prado Ave. 

Dana Point, CA 92629

I did a quick little search about what a French breakfast typically comprises. The average Parisian eats a lighter first meal of the day than their counterparts in the US. A croissant or a slice of bread with butter or jam, crepes, or yogurt are commonplace. They save their big meals for later in the day. This makes perfect sense because when I eat a breakfast of country-fried steak or pancakes, I suddenly feel the overwhelming need for a nap. Am I going to change my breakfast habits? You already know the answer; there's no chance. 

We had just finished walking in Dana Point Harbor and needed a place to refuel after our strenuous two-mile walk. My manager at work has always raved about Bonjour Cafe, so we plugged the address into our GPS and headed over to the Lantern District to give them a try on a recent Sunday morning. 

Bonjour Cafe has been around since 1992 when Pascal and Sandy LeVette wanted to create an affordable place for locals, employ a welcoming and consistent staff, and provide a good meal. The area was revitalized over the ensuing years, and the people of Dana Point and some out-of-town guests flocked to their little storefront near the corner of Violet Lantern and Del Prado. This past year, Pascal and Sandy decided to retire but found a buyer for their restaurant in a longtime server at their establishment, Cristian Gutierrez. 

This helped maintain the restaurant's continuity. There were no big shakeups in the staff. The menu stayed basically the same, and there did not seem to be any drop-off customer-wise, as they seemed to be busy, especially on the patio in front of the restaurant, which is packed most days. We were seated right away inside, right near the window. 

The menu items are listed in French, but the descriptions are all in English, so it's an easy menu to read. The one-page breakfast menu features five versions of eggs benedict, quiche, avocado toast, omelets, crepes, and French toast. Most items hover between the $15 to $20 range. Since we were so hungry, we quickly made our selections. Here's what we ate at Bonjour Cafe. 

I always like something a little sweet with my savory breakfast, so Katie and I decided to start with the Pastry Assortment ($6.99) at Bonjour Cafe. Included in the basket were a cinnamon roll, a chocolate chip twist, a custard croissant, and a cranberry twist. As is the case when eating authentic pastries from other parts of the world, these were less sweet than their counterparts from the US. They still did the trick, though. I enjoyed the chocolate chip twist the best and was surprised that the custard croissant was square and flat instead of what I'm used to a croissant looking like. Each of these tasted similar, as I believe that they used the same dough for each one. It's alright, but it's different from what I expected.  

They also brought out this bread basket as if we needed more carbs. Bread baskets are uncommon at breakfast, but we will never refuse more bread. It was presliced and came with some packaged butter. Nothing earth-shatteringly great, but we quickly scarfed this down right before our breakfast arrived. 

First was Katie's Brittany Omelet ($20). This large omelet was filled with smoked ham, mushrooms, and Swiss cheese. The cheese was not used in overabundance, so the ham and eggs could stand out more. She felt this omelet was much lighter than others from other breakfast spots. Katie is not a big mushroom girl, but she found these delicious and helped bring an earthiness to most bites. The potatoes were seasoned well; since they were not uniformly cut, they had different textures, which was pleasing. 

My manager at work always raves about the benedicts at Bonjour Cafe, so the Smoked Ham Benedict ($17 plus $4.50 for a side of potatoes) was a must-have. This benedict forgoes the typical English muffin for country bread as its base, then piles on the thinly sliced ham, perfectly poached eggs, and hollandaise sauce and chives to top everything off. I liked the use of bread instead of the usual hard-to-cut-through English muffin. The poached eggs melted into the ham wonderfully, but I did have one problem with this benedict, the hollandaise sauce. It was very thin and lacked the flavor punch you expect from hollandaise sauce. 

Even with the rather dull hollandaise sauce, Bonjour Cafe is worth seeking out if you want a French breakfast spot. Their prices are a few dollars higher than most places, but the portion sizes are not skimpy, and they use some quality ingredients. We experienced some excellent service during this visit, as they came to check on us regularly. It's good to eat a lighter breakfast occasionally, but I'll always be true to my US breakfast roots. Next week, it'll be country-fried steak and eggs with an extra side of bacon. 'Murcia

 Out of five pencil sharpeners (because the pencil sharpener was invented in France in 1828), five being best to zero being worst, Bonjour Cafe gets 3 pencil sharpeners. 

For more information about Bonjour Cafe, head to their website by clicking here: http://www.bonjourcafe.com/

Buzzing Into the Hive Sports Bar and Grill

 The Hive Sports Bar and Grill

6362 East Santa Ana Canyon Road 

Anaheim, CA 92807

One thing that drives me crazy is how restaurant influencers exaggerate how great a place is. I know most of them are getting paid by the restaurant to be there, or maybe they are trying to drive traffic to their accounts by over-hyping a restaurant. That's not my style. I like to tell it like it is, which probably accounts for all my two-and-a-half and three-star reviews. I don't give a glowing review because I occasionally get a free meal. I don't want to see the three of you who read this blog throw your money away by going to an average restaurant. I also always add a disclaimer at the end of every post that my meal was comped, which these food influencers rarely do.

Okay, end rant. A well-known Instagrammer had visited The Hive in Anaheim Hills and gave a glowing review. I needed a place to meet my parents for dinner and decided to try it. The Hive is in the former spot where the original Slater's 50/50 used to be. This shopping center, anchored by a Big Lots and a few smaller storefronts, has always seemed out of the way, lacking the foot traffic to make a restaurant successful. For a point of reference, it's between Imperial Highway and Weir Canyon, on the corner of Fairmont and Santa Ana Canyon Road. 

On a recent Friday evening, when we visited, many people found themselves here. There was a steady stream of guests throughout our stay. The inside of the restaurant is similar to when this was Slater's. They made the bar wrap around the dining room side, which helped to open up the space and make the bar the focal point of the restaurant. They also added more flatscreens, so there's no bad seat in the house when watching a game. 

The menu here is top-heavy with many appetizer options, which makes sense while watching sports. Salads, burgers, sandwiches, tacos, and more extensive entree options are also available. Prices for starters range between $8 and $16, while entrees will set you back anywhere between $10 and $26. They offer breakfast on weekends, and their happy hour is Monday through Friday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Let's see if I thought the food was as good as the Instagrammer did. 

My dad is probably the most unpredictable eater I know. A definite wild card, he tried the Fish and Chips ($16.99) this evening. Four pieces of fried cod, french fries, and coleslaw were sat before him. The fish had a lighter batter than most places, which was nice for a change. The cod was nice and flaky underneath, and the tartar sauce kept him interested throughout his meal. The fries were almost to the point of being over-fried, but they were saved from the fryer just in time. They had a good outer crunch to them. The coleslaw was bland, without a lot of dressing. It was mainly used to cut the richness of the fried food. 

My mom connected with her inner child by ordering Chicken Fingers ($14.99) from the appetizer menu. These come four to order and also include fries. These seemed like basic tenders, but my mom enjoyed them and even took two home for lunch the next day. Again, the fries and chicken were left in the fryer for too long, a trend that will continue with the next item. 

Katie does not often eat burgers, but she was intrigued by the Hive Burger ($18.99 + $3.50 upcharge for onion rings instead of fries). Their namesake burger features melted provolone, caramelized onion, plenty of arugula, and fig jam on a glossy bun. The burgers are a half pound and include Angus beef and brisket. She described this as an elevated bar burger. She enjoyed the way the sweet onions and arugula interacted with the cheese. The burger patty was tender and juicy. As you can see from the picture above, the onion rings were obviously over-fried and almost burnt. They were not worth the $3.50 upcharge for three onion rings. The provided ranch helped mask the burnt parts of these rings, but she'd just stick with the fries next time.  

Since all the Marie Callenders by my house closed several years ago, I've been craving their famous Frisco Burger. This craving led me to get the Big League Deluxe ($19.99 + $2.50 upcharge for tater tots instead of fries). This burger/sandwich includes bacon, sliced avocado, Swiss cheese, and buzz sauce on parmesan-crusted sourdough bread. The bread was a little light on the parmesan, but I enjoyed this burger. Like Katie's burger, the patty was tender and juicy, and the creaminess of the avocado and cheese went well with the smoky bacon and the beef. I will ask for extra of their buzz sauce next time, as I need more, and I'd like to dip the sandwich into it. The tater tots were a good choice. They had a nice crunch, and I alternated between dipping them in ketchup and ranch. 

Our visit to The Hive was a mixed bag. We all liked the mains, but Katie's burnt and lack of onion rings and the over-fried fries were a bummer. Their prices were a tad high, especially when you get hit for an upcharge by not getting fries. The portion sizes are big, which helps lessen the hit to your wallet. We experienced excellent service this evening, as plates were cleared, drinks were refilled, and the pacing of our meal was nicely timed. Unlike the food influencer who came here before me, this is not a glowing review, but The Hive is a great place to catch a game, have one or two cocktails, and have some solid food. Something that this area of town sorely needs. 

Out of five drones (because male bees in a hive are called drones), five being best to zero being worst, The Hive Sports Bar and Grill gets 3 drones.  

For more information about The Hive Sports Bar and Grill, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.thehivesportsbar.com/

Making a Run for Amarith Farmhouse

 Amarith Farmhouse

18729 Brookhurst Street #6

Fountain Valley, CA 92708

For about fifteen months, we have been doing a 5k a month. It sounds a lot more impressive than it actually is. Truthfully, we just walk the 3.1 miles in about an hour, depending on how many hills we encounter on the course. The exercise is okay, but I really look forward to the breakfast afterward. Most races start around 8 a.m., meaning we can sit at breakfast before most people roll out of bed. These races also allow us to eat in an area we would typically not be in, thus more opportunities to try places like Amarith Farmhouse and Bakehouse. 

Amarith felt like a new restaurant when we visited earlier this year. They did not have a permanent sign, the dining room was sparsely decorated, and there appeared to be some training going on when we ordered at the counter. I was surprised to learn they had been open since June 2022. I was also unaware they have two other locations, one in Orange and the other in Corona Del Mar. There's also an Amarith Table Restaurant in Garden Grove, which is not listed on their website. I guess my restaurant game is a little rusty. 

The man who started Amarith Cafe is none other than Adam Amarith. Like many restaurant owners, Adam has a fascinating backstory. Amarith hails from Cambodia and wanted to be a doctor until the country fell to the Khmer Rouge. He and his family were relocated to a work camp, where for four years, he watched as his dad and siblings all perished in the camp. He survived by working in the camp's kitchen and using the culinary knowledge his mom passed on to him as a youth.  

After immigrating to the US, he worked at the Santa Ana School District for 17 years. He's also a senior pastor at a church in Long Beach. As if that's not keeping him busy enough, he flips houses or rents them to needy families. He's also very involved in helping the people of his homeland have a better life, whether it's having clean drinking water, funding for healthcare, or finding another way to help the poorest people of Cambodia have a better quality of life. 

Back to Amarith Farmhouse. They use all-natural ingredients whenever possible. Foods without artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives. They have a farm from which they can get most of their produce. They survived the pandemic by switching gears to doing many corporate gigs, thrived, and came out on the other side by expanding. Talk about an American success story. After learning all of this, I was excited to refuel after our grueling 3-mile jaunt through nearby Mile Square Park. 

It takes a lot of confidence to open a bakehouse a few doors down from Paderia, a bakery I consider to have the best cookies in Orange County. Amarith Farmhouse did precisely that, though. This Chocolate Chip Cookie ($3) will not rival Paderia's cookies for best in the county, but it was a solid effort. The outer circumference of the cookie had a good crunch, while the inside was soft. There was also some chocolate in each bite, which is not always true at other bakeries. This was not as hefty as the cookies from Paderia, but it had a good flavor, and you could tell it was freshly made. 

I'm usually a fan of chilaquiles for my first meal of the day, but I changed that up by getting this Asada Steak and Eggs ($18). The menu states that the asada is medium rare and comes with grilled onions, peppers, jack cheese, and red salsa. The steak was seasoned well but was more medium well than medium rare. It was only kind of tender, and a few of the pieces were on the dry side. The sunny-side-up eggs helped moisten this up a bit. I only got a little cheese and very little salsa with this. The house potatoes were nice and crispy. This was fine, but it did not knock me out. I'd get something else, the chilaquiles or the country-fried steak the next time. 

Katie still surprises me sometimes, even after being together for 15 years. She's usually a creature of habit when it comes to eating breakfast. She usually gravitates towards a breakfast burrito. At Amartith Farmhouse, she got this Bacon Egg Brioche ($10). This sandwich came with an over-medium egg, two strips of bacon, cheddar cheese, and chipotle aioli. It usually comes with ketchup and sliced tomato, but Kate modified it to suit her tastes. The brioche bun was freshly made and did a great job keeping everything together. Katie liked this sandwich and was especially fond of the chipotle aioli, which added a bit of spice and went well with the egg and bacon. 

Amarith Farmhouse was good, but we'd have to return to try other things to get a better feel for what they have going on here. I love their story and how they are expanding, and it's hard not to root for their success. They served a good, honest breakfast at a fair price. With more 5k races in our future, some at nearby Mile Square Park, we will return to Amarith Cafe very soon.  

Out of five Navy Corsairs (because Mile Square Park was initially used as a training spot for military aircraft during and well after World War II), five being best to zero being worst, Amarith Farmhouse gets 3 Navy Corsairs. 

For more information about Amarith Farmhouse and Bakehouse, click here to visit their website: https://www.amarithcafe.com/

Seeing Is Believing at the Blind Pig

 The Blind Pig Kitchen and Bar

31431 Santa Margarita Parkway

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

Our six-month exile in Rancho Santa Margarita was coming to an end soon. We lived out here because our former lease was up, and the place we would be living was being renovated, and we wouldn't be ready to move in for half a year. One of the most affordable places we could find butted up against O'Neill Regional Park, but it seemed so far away from everything. 

If we wanted to avoid the toll roads, it would take us an extra twenty minutes to get anywhere. I planned my days by making only one trip to and from home. We eventually just caved in and used the toll road to reach places. Since we were in such a remote place, we decided to explore the dining options in our temporary city. RSM/Foothill Ranch is not known as a culinary mecca by any means, but some hidden gems can be found if you look hard enough, like The Blind Pig. 

The Blind Pig is near the lake in the Mercado Del Lago shopping plaza, also home to Carmelita's, KD's Donuts, Il Sole Italian, and the Trough, a sister restaurant of The Blind Pig. They have delicious breakfast burritos and sandwiches that are worth visiting for. The Blind Pig has been here since 2013. It's credited with elevating the dining scene in RSM at a time when there were too many chain restaurants and mediocre fast-casual spots dotting the dining landscape within its city limits. 

It was a slow burn with many of the locals. They didn't quite get the New American menu or the craft cocktails they were slinging behind the bar. They now have a four-star rating on Yelp with nearly a thousand reviews. They have also opened another outpost of The Blind Pig in Yorba Linda, another tough city to crack, but this October, they will celebrate their 5th year in business there, so it appears that people have taken to them there as well.  

We arrived at half past six on a Saturday evening without a reservation. The restaurant was half full, and we were seated immediately near the back of the darkened dining room. The dinner menu lists over ten starters and about the same number of entrees. Prices for main dishes start at $16 and go up to $65 for the twenty-ounce ribeye. I could put away over a pound of meat, but the $65 price helped me pump the brakes on that idea. Let's see what we actually did partake in this evening. 

Neither of us was in the mood for a salad, so we split the Crab Cakes ($16). The online menu for this item claims that it comes with a radish serrano tartar sauce and baby arugula, which, obviously, this starter did not have. The online menu describes this as including a cilantro lime slaw and a creole avocado aioli. This is closer to what it was, but the sauce resembled a deep mustard look and taste. The slaw on top was a nice compliment to the very well-done crab cake underneath. There was not a lot of filler used, the crab was fresh and flavorful, and the breading used to bind everything together was light. It's one of the better crab cakes we have had 20 miles inland. 

Again, this Short Rib Ragu ($24) is not listed on either their online menu or any of the menus pictured on Yelp, so maybe it was a special this evening. This plate featured pappardelle as the pasta, with a nice and meaty short rib ragu underneath plenty of parmesan and several basil leaves. Katie loved this dish and finished it rather quickly. She claimed it was just as good as those she had in Italian restaurants and was even better than some of those Italian joints. She would not hesitate to get this again if it appeared on their regular menu or as a special. 

When I walked into the Blind Pig, I was inclined to get one of their two burgers, but I called an audible and selected the Pastrami Dip Sandwich ($22). Some pickles, Swiss cheese, garlic aioli, and some onions joined the pastrami between the bread. The dipping sauce they chose for this was Carolina gold sauce, a mustard/vinegar sauce the people in that part of the country use instead of traditional barbecue sauce. I was unsure how I would like this, but it worked for me, and I'm not the biggest fan of mustard. It was muted just enough and predictably went well with the pastrami. The bread-to-meat ratio was off, as this sandwich needed more pastrami. The bread was soft yet held together nicely. The hand-cut fries that came with this were fantastic. They had a great crunch, and I alternated dipping these between their delicious garlic aioli and ketchup. If you don't get a meal with fries, consider ordering these fries off the starter portion of the menu. 

We wrapped up our evening with the Skillet Cookie ($13). Its base was a chocolate chip and sea salt cookie topped with a scoop of lavender and honey ice cream. I believe the ice cream was vanilla, but honey was poured over it, and lavender was sprinkled on top. This was good, but did not knock my socks off. The cookie base was good, with just the right amount of salt added. This lost me with the overpowering lavender and honey, which got in the way of the cookie and ice cream. It's not my favorite cookie skillet of all time. 

The Blind Pig is definitely one of the restaurants we miss now that we live in our new place. It's also one of the few restaurants we'd be willing to drive back to RSM for. I'd like to try one of their burgers or short rib tacos on future visits. They also change their menu quite often, so there might be something else that I want to try. What we had on this visit was delicious, and the service we experienced was cordial and efficient. Also, watch for the $10 coupon they send out through the mail to save a little extra money here. In the six months we lived in RSM, we got one every two weeks or so. Any savings help these days. 

Out of five speakeasys (because the term blind pig was another name for a speakeasy during the prohibition years), five being best to zero being worst, The Blind Pug gets 3 speakeasys. 

For more information about The Blind Pig, head to their website by clicking here: https://www.theblindpigoc.com/