Clik here to view.
Top 10 Hot Spots, San Diego (Food Republic)
Georges California Modern, La Jolla (Brad A. Johnson) San Diego’s time is now! Literally. While it’s freezing (or trying to) everywhere else, it’s currently sunny and 70 degrees in San Diego. Typical....
View ArticleClik here to view.
Where to Eat: Napa & Sonoma
Bottega by Michael Chiarello (photo by Brad A. Johnson) My good friends over at Food Republic just published my Top 5 picks for wine tasting and dining in Napa and Sonoma. Obviously, the choices for...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Quick Look: Restaurant 1833, Monterey CA
Marrow bone at Restaurant 1833, Monterey CA (photo by Brad A Johnson) Restaurant 1833 seemed unlikely to become a standard-bearer for today’s savvy yet casual approach to fine dining. It was beset...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Quick Look: Juliette Kitchen & Bar, Newport Beach
Juliette Kitchen & Bar, Newport Beach (Photo by Brad A. Johnson) Juliette Kitchen & Bar opened under the radar in Newport Beach a couple months ago, and it has quietly but quickly become one...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OC Review: Playground, Santa Ana
The burger at Playground. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, OC Register) Playground’s printed manifesto says, among other things, “Please take the wording on our menu very seriously.” OK, fair enough. So I’m...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OC Review: The Cellar, San Clemente
Clams at The Cellar in San Clemente. (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, OC Register) “How long do you think the wait will be for a party of four on Friday night?” The Cellar in San Clemente doesn’t take...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What to Eat at Hue Oi, Fountain Valley
Banh Beo Dia at Hue Oi (Photos by Brad A. Johnson) In this week’s OC Register, my Short Order review calls attention to Hue Oi, an outstanding Vietnamese restaurant specializing in the regional cuisine...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OC Review: The Ranch, Anaheim
THE BAR AT THE RANCH IN ANAHEIM. (PHOTO BY LEONARD ORTIZ, OC REGISTER) The women at my table are talking excitedly about going line dancing after dinner. The men at my table are rolling their eyes,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OC Review: Arc, Costa Mesa
Arc’s wedge salad with fire-grilled bacon (Photo by EUGENE GARCIA, O.C. Register) The air is thick with the scent of brown butter and duck fat and smoldering embers. The musk of charred meat seduces...
View ArticleClik here to view.
What to eat at Linx, downtown Orange
The TJ Street Dog at Linx (Photo by MARK RIGHTMIRE, OC Register) In this week’s Short Order in the OC Register, I briefly talk about Linx, a new gourmet hot dog spot in downtown Orange. And while the...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OC Review: Sushi Murasaki, Santa Ana
Sushi Murasaki (Photos by Brad A. Johnson) “Halibut fin,” the chef says, timidly, handing two small plates across the counter, each sporting a single piece of nigiri sushi. The glistening sliver of...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Short Order: El Farolito in Placentia
Combination plate, Papa-style, at El Farolito (Photo by Cindy Yamanaka, OC Register) Long live the combination plate. And yellow cheese. El Farolito opened in Placentia in 1974, but I didn’t get...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OC Review: RokPrime Steakhouse & Grille, San Juan Capistrano
RokPrime Steakhouse & Grill (Photos by Cindy Yamanaka, OC Register) RokPrime is a beautiful steakhouse that opened in October in downtown San Juan Capistrano. The ceiling drips with chandeliers....
View ArticleClik here to view.
10 of the Best Burgers in Orange County!
Photos by Mark Rightmire, OC Register Today is national burger day (as if we really needed a designated day to eat burgers). In last week’s O.C. Register, I recounted 10 of my favorite burgers from...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Best and Worst OC Dining of 2013 (thus far)
Some of the best dishes of the year so far. Now that summer is here, I thought I’d take a moment to look back at the best and worst of my dining adventures in Orange County since December. It’s always...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Before & After: Sue Ann’s American Kitchen, Placentia
After: casserole at Sue Ann’s American Kitchen (Photo by Brad A. Johnson) One of my favorite things about Sue Ann’s American Kitchen in Placentia is the focus on casseroles for lunch. Casseroles don’t...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OC Review: Little Sparrow, Santa Ana
Little Sparrow in downtown Santa Ana (Photos by Eugene Garcia and Brad A. Johnson) I can’t stop thinking about the pastrami at Little Sparrow. At lunchtime, Little Sparrow in downtown Santa Ana serves...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OC Review: 370 Common, Laguna Beach
370 Common in Laguna Beach (Photos by Leonard Ortiz) When I arrive, my guests are already seated and enjoying a glass of wine. I notice a mysterious bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag. “What are we...
View ArticleClik here to view.
OC Review: Studio, Laguna Beach
Studio at Montage Laguna Beach (Photos by Leonard Ortiz, OC Register) When the scallop arrives, I’m completely transfixed. It’s a single, glorious scallop, the perfect size, about three bites. It’s...
View ArticleClik here to view.
Review: Sue Ann’s American Kitchen, Placentia
Sue Ann’s Kitchen (Photos by Brad A. Johnson and Mark Rightmire, OC Register) If I’ve ever raved about a crab cake at another restaurant, I take it back. Go to Sue Ann’s. Order the crab cakes. This is...
View Article
