Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Famous Gallo’s in Corona Del Mar

Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

 A man always knows when he has just encountered something so special and dare I say it, famous.  No, it’s not the obvious sign that preclaims it so, and no, I’m not being facetious.

You see at Gallo’s Italian Deli in Corona del Mar, famous means something else entirely.  Here “famous” to the dedicated sandwich-makers that take pleasure in recommending the most popular subs means consistently turning that sub around to me, the customer,  bagged and ready to go in literally a matter of seconds.  To Bridgette, the wonderful cash register attendant who’s been part of this establishment for 13 years it means putting a smile on my face, shaking my hand and welcoming me to the neighborhood after having shared what seemed to be a lot of personal details. To the patron chowing down on his favorite creation at the outdoor stand-up counter, exclaiming he’s been eating here for 25 years and loves it, famous means knowing that there is a gem of a place off Coast Highway with a bright blue awning that has been delivering goodness in a roll for a very long time and will probably be here for a long time more to come.

For those who work at Gallo’s and who frequently eat here, this place is truly famous.

Get down to Gallo’s Italian Deli and try the “Combo,” “The Napoleon” or “Hot Pastrami” subs and I guaranteed you too will be an instant fan of this Corona del Mar eatery.
Gallo’s Italian Deli
3900 East Coast Highway
Corona Del Mar, CA 92625-2649
(949) 723-0100

Yard House at Fashion Island Provides Plenty of Options

Monday, November 30th, 2009

The Yard House Restaurant located at Fashion Island provides plenty of options for beer lovers!  I went with a group of friends last Saturday and although their menu has recently been updated, we were all still able to find a refreshing beer to go with our individual tastes.  I always seem to choose one of their many Lost Coast flavors but others branched out and had everything from Black & Blue blends to a good, dependable Stella.  Although our timing was a bit off, I would definitely recommend making it to their happy hour for half off appetizers (during football season this deal is extended Monday nights throughout game time).  Their California Roll and Spicy Tuna Roll are unlike anywhere else I have gone before…they are designed with the ingredients layered together including fish, cucumber, edamame, avocado and the wasabi soy sauce making a delicious take on sushi that is perfect for sharing.  My other recommendations would be their Spinach Cheese Dip - of course! - and their Béarnaise Sliders.  Good atmosphere, good beer and always good times!

Happy Hour: (Martinis and Beer)
Monday - Friday: 3pm-6pm
Sunday - Wednesday: 10pm-Midnight

Yard House Restaurant
Fashion Island
849 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 640-9273
www.yardhouse.com

4 Most romantic spots in Newport Beach

Monday, August 10th, 2009

Newport Beach is home to four of the top 10 romantic restaurants in Orange County according to Examiner.com.  If you are looking for that perfect place to share a meal with someone you love head to one of the following:

Bayside Restaurant
900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach
(949) 721-1222
www.baysiderestaurant.com

Cafe R&D
555 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach
(949) 219-0555
www.hillstone.com

il FARRO
111 21st Place, Newport Beach
(949) 723-5711
www.ilfarro.com

Mayur Cuisine of India
2931 E Coast Hwy, Corona del Mar
(949) 675-6622

For the complete list, please visit:
Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in Orange County at
Examiner.com

Celebrate Dad in Newport Beach

Tuesday, June 9th, 2009

Treat dad to a day at the Spa with Man on Mission at Spa Gregorie’s. Dad’s can get a haircut and a free 15-minute scalp and shoulder massage. He will enjoy a relaxing massage complete with peppermint oil and hot towel treatment.

Location: Spa Gregorie’s, 200 Newport Center Dr., Suite 100, Newport Beach (949) 644-6672 For more information click here

Take Dad out to eat, don’t miss these Father’s Day specials!

Five Crowns’ signature dishes will be offered in a special brunch menu prepared by Executive Chef Dennis Brask on Father’s Day. This charming replica of an English country inn offers a menu designed with something to please everyone. Fathers will be offered a chocolate cigar in celebration of the occasion, and one lucky dad will win the drawing to receive a certificate for a “Prime Rib Dinner Party to Go.” The dinner prize, a $350 value, serves 12-15 and includes a whole Prime Rib Roast, Salad, Mashed Potatoes, Vegetables and all of Lawry’s famous “fixings.”

Brunch entrées include the restaurant’s renowned Roasted Prime Ribs of Beef, Steak and Mushroom Pie, Medallions of Beef, Seafood Crepes, Chutney Chicken, Eggs Benedict and Sesame Crusted Halibut. The dinner menu will feature late spring seasonal specialties. Alaskan Halibut, Colorado Lamb, Maple Leaf Farms Duckling, and Salmon are among the many popular entrées for which the Five Crowns has long been known.

Times: Brunch served from 10:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., Dinner served from 4:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Location: Five Crowns Restaurant, 3801 E. Coast Hwy., Corona del Mar (949) 760-0331 For pricing and reservation information please click here.

At Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, families can enjoy a prix-fixe three course Father’s Day Brunch. Entree selections include Filet Mignon Benedict, Crab Cake Benedict, Applewood Smoked Pork Chop or Smoked Salmon Quiche. All entrees include family style loaded mashed potatoes and sautéed green beans, plus choice of starter and dessert. In addition, each reservation will receive a $25 Fleming’s gift card. The regular menu will also be available.

Location: Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 455 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach (949) 720-9633 For more information click here

Enjoy Dinner with a view at 21 Oceanfront. Celebrate Dad with the Father’s Day Surf & Turf Special. Start off your meal with a salad or soup. You get an entree choice of Prime Filet Mignon, Two Australian Lobster Tails, or Combination Australian Lobster Tail and Petite Filet Mignon. All choices are served with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables. And for the finale you choice of Homemade Chocolate Cake or New York Cheesecake.

Location: 21 Oceanfront, 2100 W. Oceanfront , Newport Beach (949) 673-2100 For reservations please call (949) 720-9633. For more information click here

Bayside Restaurant invites you to celebrate Father’s Day in style with an exquisite three-course brunch, featuring items such as Griddle Crab Cake, Lobster Salad Sandwich and Venison Loin Medallions. Free-flowing Champagne is included in the set menu price. Choose to dine within an elegant ambience inside or enjoy the outdoor terrace that overlooks Newport Harbor.

TIME: Brunch is from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Bayside Restaurant, 900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, 949-721-1222 For more information click here

Bessie B. Jeweled, Balboa Island Bovine Beauty

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

For years she has stood patiently greeting the visitors and locals who stroll and shop the main street of Balboa Island.     If you’re going to have a cow in your front yard, this is the one to have - “Bessie B. Jeweled.”  Most would find being the Island’s “fashion icon” a difficult task, but Bessie is up to it, thanks to her owners at Even Sisters who hand-paint Bessie in dozens of different seasonal costumes. What girl wouldn’t want pj’s custom created for her by local designer Paul Frank!  So popular is Bessie that she was invited to be the official “hostess” to welcome all the cows who stampeded into town for the OC Fair’s 2007 Cowabunga!  Somehow she finds time to participate in the Annual Balboa Island Parade the first Sunday in June.

This is the kind of local humor that makes shopping & dining on Balboa Island so much fun.  The merchants that have been serving this community for years continually seek out unique and distinctive gifts.   Old-fashioned ice cream shops serve up frozen bananas, yogurt, and Balboa Bars, the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon of boutique browsing.   If you aspire to be a fashion icon like Bessie, the trendy clothing boutiques won’t disappoint either.  Serious shopping, however, may demand a caffeine infusion.  I believe Bessie prefers a triple nonfat/half-decaf/mocha latte to keep her girlish figure.  Although she hasn’t quite got the autograph thing down yet, she will pose for a picture with you!

Muldoon’s Offers More Than Just a Fun Pub Atmosphere

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

St. Patty’s Day came quick this year. Is anyone else shocked that it’s April?!?! Anyways my friends and I decided to head over to Muldoon’s Dublin Pub & Celtic Bar to kick-off the weekend.  To our surprise, we got a lot more than the Guinness and Newcastle that we were hoping for.  Muldoon’s hosts live local music Friday-Sunday every week and it is FREE to the public. 

The band was great and there were several people dancing and singing along to everything from U2 to Sublime.  Since there are two pubs plus the open air patio, the best part was that we never felt cramped and didn’t have to wait long at the bar.  We grabbed a table in the smaller pub and were able to catch up while playing a round of darts - not my best sport!!  The night was a lot of fun and I’ll definitely be checking out their calendar of events before next St. Patty’s Day rolls around!http://www.muldoonspub.com/calendar.asp

Muldoon’s Dublin Pub & Celtic Bar
202 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-640-4110

2009 Best of the OC Hotlist Winners presented by MyFoxLA

Thursday, April 2nd, 2009

The winners of the 2009 Best of the OC HOTLIST presented by MyFoxLa.com have just been announced and here are some of the ones who made the Top 5 cut in our very own Newport Beach!

 

In the Cheap Eats category…(added on April 16)
Best Pizza – 2nd Place- Gina’s Pizza
Best Sandwich Shop – 2nd Place- Big Belly Deli

In the Great Meals category…(added on April 16)
Best Latin American — 1st Place- Javier’s
Best Seafood  - 3rd Place- The Crab Cooker , 5th Place- The Rusty Pelican
Best Asian Fusion -1st Place- Ten Asian
Best Tapas – 5th Place- Tapas Restaurant
Best Cajun/Creole – 2nd Place - Rockin’ Baja Lobster , 5th Place - JACKshrimp
Best Chinese – 1st Place- Ho Sum Bistro
Best French – 2nd Place- Pascal’s , 4th Place- Pescadou Bistro

In the Nightlife category… 

Best BrewPub -1st Place -Newport Beach Brewing Company
Best Irish Pub -1st Place- Muldoons Dublin Pub & Celtic Bar
Best Dive Bar- 4th Place- Beach Ball
Best Sports Bar -2nd Place-Rudy’s Pub & Grill
Best Dance Club - 3rd Place/Tie Tentation Ultralounge, 5th Place - Sharkeez Newport Beach
Best Neighborhood Bar -4th Place -Mutt Lynchs, 5th Place –Blackie’s by the Sea
Best Trendy Bar -2nd Place –The Cannery, 3rd Place -333 Waterfront, 4th Place- Crow Bar & Kitchen

In the Specialty Food & Drink category…

Best Bakery – 5th Place-Wonderland Bakery
Best Coffee Shop – 5th Place-Kean Coffee
Best Chocolate – 5th Place- Balboa Candy
Best Tea House- 4th Place – Teddy Bears & Tea Cups

In the Pet category…

Best Couture – 1st Place – The Barkery

In the Shopping category

Best Children’s gifts – 3rd Place/Tie- Toy Boat Toy Boat Toy Boat

Results for the following categories will be released soon:

Fashion - Announced Friday April 3
Weddings - Announced Wednesday April 8
Arts and Entertainment - Announced Wednesday April 8
Health and Fitness - Announced Thursday April 9
Beauty - Announced Friday April 10

Click here to see Best of OC Hotlist Contest Rules