So on my ongoing search for the perfect Italian Hoagie I came across a place in Costa Mesa called Frank’s Philadelphia…

Everyone in line around me was talking about how they heard it was better than In & Out. We had young people there, teenagers, parents and their parents – all of them waiting to get their hands around a nice juicy burger.

The kitchen was a-buzz with activity with three line-cooks plating dishes and a busy front counter. But with all this activity, was the food good?

On today’s trip I came across some Almond Flour, course ground semolina, a can of San Marzano’s Crushed Tomatoes and most importantly, a Cortina’s Italian Sub.

Wait! Don’t bite into that sub…yet. They key to any Italian Sub is to give it time for the oil, vinegar and spices to permeate thru the meats and absorb into the bread. A tightly wrapped sub in butcher paper is also key, in my opinion. Something about the paper, lends itself to the sub.

I did mention I had onion rings right? This was the highlight of my evening actually. Yes, the onion rings trumped the burger and the chicken sandwich. Extra crispy on the outside, not greasy at all and I could taste the onions.

My monthly foodie dining group met on Saturday to enjoy dining at Park Ave in Stanton. Stanton you asked? Yes, this central Orange County city that isn’t exactly known for its culinary accolades is host to one of the OC’s top restaurants…

If you’re in San Diego, you owe it to yourself to make it to R Gang Eatery, where Rich Sweeney presents a menu of Retro-American dishes with a contemporary twist…

Pick Up Stix is an Asian restaurant chain that started in the neighboring town of Rancho Santa Margarita back in 1989. Today they are over 90 restaurants strong with locations in California, Arizona and Nevada.

Break of Dawn’s Chef Nguyen is so playful with the design and taste, he adds something different to something ordinary and it becomes something brilliant.

Our server this evening was attentive and the meal was good. The bento box was nice, but you are really here for the sushi. We found a good selection of sushi on the belt, but felt that there could have been more choices – something to set them apart…

It has been almost 2 years since I have eaten at the Old Vine Café. One can say that is a good thing so I can appreciate how well the meal and experience has lasted in between visits – but one can also say that missing out on such wonderfully made food all this time is a travesty…

Located in the Irvine Marketplace off Jamboree and the 5 Freeway, the Lazy Dog Café has transformed the old French 75 location into a warm, inviting and cozy space…

I lived in Washington D.C. for 12 years and it was there that I started my fascination for José Andrés with Café Atlantico, Zaytinya, Oyamél and now Jaleo.

Rumbi brings a taste of the Islands in the form of burgers, rice bowls, entrees and salads. While most think of Hawaii when they think of the Islands, Rumbi goes to the Caribbean, South Seas, Bali and Jamaican Islands as well.

There is a new restaurant coming to Mission Viejo! Rumbi Island Grill has taken over the old Mustard’s Cafe space on Alicia Parkway in Mission Viejo.

Servers are one of the first to greet me and the last when I leave a restaurant. How that server treats me and other patrons is a direct reflection of the restaurants core values is it not?

They’re finally here! It’s been a little over 2 months since we found out that The OC was going to be host to a new cupcake bakery. Frostings Cupcakes in Lake Forest will open on July 2.

A nice neighborhood Burger Cafe with a nice selection of California Beers. Use of produce and meats from local farms is important to them and it shows in the craft of making a good burger…

I was intrigued at the idea of a Filipino restaurant located in a food court inside a Mall. How much foot traffic sales was she getting? I was surprised!

I celebrated my birthday with Tim and we decided to go to Pizzeria Ortica in Costa Mesa. We were greeted promptly with a smile. Everything tonight wasn’t what I expected, it was better…

I don’t eat breakfast enough, but maybe the new Specialty’s Cafe & Bakery at the Irvine Spectrum will change my mind…

I have been on a baguette hunt these last few weeks. There have been a few places that have been recommended to me, but I Cream Pan takes the prize so far…

Formerly Saigon Grill, it is now the Pho Ha Noi. I went in with some expectations, but sadly walked away disappointed. I think the first clue should have been that the place was empty…

It was pretty busy and it seemed most of the chairs were filled. There were only 3 sushi chefs behind the bar. There are about 4 servers/hosts. Each time someone walked in waiting to be addressed, the were blantantly ignored…

Savannah is closing its doors tonight as it serves its last dinner service. Culinary Adventures which owns the restaurant has decided to close this location. Formerly Chat Noir, the restaurant was rebranded as Savannah shortly before the departure of the then owner of Culinary Adventures, David Wilhelm.

Now Jamillah isn’t the most pretty restaurant. The place is a bit run down and there hasn’t been any remarkable upgrades since they moved in. They have seating for around 65 and is lit by florescent lights in a drop down ceiling. The food fortunately outweighs the shortcomings.

The location on El Toro Road in Lake Forest apparently closed their doors just over a week and a half ago according to an employee at the Lee Sandwiches next door. I took a peek inside and they have been stripping the location of fixtures and furniture.

The Islands Restaurant at Laguna Hills will close at the end of the day on Wednesday, March 11…

Happy Birthday to the Rockin’ Baja Coastal Cantina! This year they celebrate 25 years of soups, shrimp, burgers and salads to sandwiches, tacos, tostadas, fajitas as well as their famous Baja Buckets!

Well what a nice detour it was today when I originally had plans to go to The District in Tustin and head to RA Sushi for the $10 Prix Fixe menu for OC’s Restaurant Week. Delightfully, I ended up at Bistro West and went home with a happy stomach!

To kick-off the start of The OC’s first Restaurant Week, I went to Zov’s Cafe Bakery & Bar in Irvine for their $10 Prix Fixe Lunch menu ($15 with dessert). Zov’s Cafe Bakery & Bar is owned by Zov Karamardian who owns Zov’s Bistro in Tustin…

Orange County will be hosting their first ever Restaurant Week! Starting this Sunday, February 22, over 80 restaurants throughout Orange County will be offering Prix Fixe menus for $20, $30 or $40. Restuarant Week goes thru Saturday, February 28…

When I first moved to Mission Viejo almost 2 years ago I found Casa Franco, a small Mexican Restaurant. The place is kinda small, not always full, but there are always people in there…

We sat to dinner and was presented with a fairly simple menu. Marcella’s offers some traditional Italian dishes like Spaghetti Alla Carbonara, Gnocchi Con Bolognese and Pizza, but we opted to do an array of small plates…