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TGIF on a Tuesday Night - BOGOF

I can count with my one hand, that's how many times I've been to TGIF.  While I didn't find the food horrible, I didn't find it appealing, either.  Their famous Jack Daniel's entrees tasted all too sweet for my liking.  I get coupon flyers all the time in the mail but they often ended up in the trash.  Now I love a good bargain but it still has to taste semi-descent for me to spend the money to buy one entree to get the second one free.  

I had a light salad for lunch.  I was barely full but resisted the urge to get more food because I have been eating a lot of good food all weekend because of the Costa Mesa Restaurant Week.  When I got home, I was too hungry to cook.  Looking through the mail, I saw TGIF coupon flyer.  "Want to give it a try?" Allen asked.  We haven't been there in like 10 years.  "Sure, why not?"  I replied.  I was too lazy and too hungry to think or drive anywhere further for dinner.  Besides, it's buy one entree get a second one free.  

On a Tuesday night, the restaurant had a good crowd but still plenty of seats available.  We were seated right away and our server came within minutes.  She handed us the menu and we ordered our usual iced tea.   

After glancing the menu for a few minutes, I decided on Bruschetta Chicken Pasta - Multi-grain angel hair pasta tossed in Bruschetta marinara – made with sliced garlic, basil and Roma tomatoes – topped with fire-grilled chicken breast. Drizzled with balsamic glaze and sprinkled with Parmesan shavings.   Surprisingly, the chicken was not dry at all.  The pasta actually tasted pretty good.  I thought it could use a little more sauce but it had enough garlic and hit of balsamic to give it the flavor. 

Allen got the Sizzling Chicken & Shrimp - Sauteed garlic-marinated chicken breast and delicious shrimp tossed in a Bruschetta marinara.  Served with onions, peppers, and creamy mash potatoes on a sizzling platter of melted American and Mexican cheeses.  This had pretty bold flavor but was a bit greasy and salty. 

Our bill with 2 entrees and 2 drinks only came to around $23 before tips.  Really not bad.  For casual dinning, I think TGIF will suffice.  I think I will keep the coupon flyer instead of tossing it in the trash next time.

Service: 4 stars
Food: 3 stars
Ambiance: 3 stars
Overall: 3 stars

TGI Friday's
23040 Eastpark Dr.
Yorba Linda, CA 92887

(714) 974-4274

Costa Mesa Restaurant Week 2011 - Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza

Food and fashion under one roof is what this restaurant calls an irresistible combination.  I call it genius!  Upon entering the restaurant, you can't help but be intrigued by the vintage and yet sophisticated decor.  In addition to the restaurant, it also houses a Wine Retail Shop, Next Vintage.

Allen and I had been here before and tried many of the amazing Small Plates.  We decided to come back again during Costa Mesa Restaurant Week, this time for dinner.  

Once we placed our orders, we were served with a small loaf of baguette and cheese roll.  I appreciated these were freshly baked.  We also got two small plates of Halibut Ceviche, compliments of the chef, which were quite good.  The sauce was made from orange (I'm guessing) instead of lemon/lime, so it was different.  

The Restaurant Week Dinner Menu offers only 2 entree selections, so I went with it but Allen opted to order from the regular dinner menu.  My first course was the SUMMER MELON SALAD PROSCIUTTO, PICKLED ONIONS, RICOTTA WALNUT BUTTER.  At first glance, I wasn't sure if I was going to like it.  The melons looked 'cooked'.  Once I took a bite, I realized they had been infused with something (liquor manybe?) and were quite good.  I am not a fan of prosciutto, so I gave them to Allen, but I enjoyed the rest.  :)

Before my second course arrived, we also received 2 plates of Tortellini, again, compliments of the chef.  Not sure why we got them because we didn't see other tables getting them, so THANK YOU!  These were so yummy.  

My entree was BLACKENED PORK TENDERLOIN CREAMY GRITS, SHRIMP, BRAISED SWISS CHARD, BACON JUS.  The pork was very tender but it tasted 'smoked' to me instead of blackened.  I loved the shrimp which was very sweet!  I barely ate the rest because I was so full.   

Allen ordered 8 OZ. FILET MIGNON - CARAMELIZED ONION POTATO CROQUET, BABY CARROTS BOURBON PEPPERCORN SAUCE and a side order of GARLIC SAUTEED SPINACH.  The filet was very tender and flavorful.  The spinach tasted very much like Chinese stir-fry and was very good.  But we probably should have gotten something else had we known the filet already came with it. 

For my dessert, I chose MINT CHOCOLATE BROWNIE SUNDAE - DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIE, MINT CHOCOLATE CHIP ICE CREAM, HOT FUDGE.  The brownie was very different that it was not at all sweet.  The ice cream was very minty.  If you like sweets, this may not be for you, but I enjoyed it. 

I was really surprised not more people were dining there.  I really thought more people would take advantage of the restaurant week.  Maybe because it's the first year and not many people knew about it!  That's too bad because so far, Allen and I are enjoying every dining excursion.

Service: 4 stars
Food:4 1/2 stars
Ambiance: 5 stars
Overall: 4 1/2 stars


Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale Costa Mesa
3333 Bristol Street
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(714) 824-4600

Costa Mesa Restaurant Week 2011 - Season 52

I have to thank my sister for introducing me to this fantastic restaurant.  It has become one of my favorite restaurants in OC.  Of course I had to take advantage it during Costa Mesa Restaurant Week.  The name Season 52 has specific meanings.  It offers season-inspired, currently summer, and weekly special menus.  It uses natural cooking techniques with fresh and healthy ingredients.  Every item on the menu is under 475 calories!  You can eat well and not feel guilty about it.  Now that's what I call good eating!

We were here for dinner just about 1 1/2 months ago, so this time, after checking the Restaurant Week menu, we chose lunch instead.  The restaurant was quite empty at 11:30am on Sunday morning so we were seated immediately.  I was glad we had a booth by the window.  With my camera flashing taking food photos, sometimes I feel bad about distracting other diners.  

Our server was Morgan.  She was great!  Friendly, efficient, and attentive.  We made our lunch selections and soon we were enjoying our meals one plate after another.  

First appetizer was the famous Ripe Plum Tomato Flatbread With roasted garlic, sweet basil and Parmesan cheese.  The crust was pretty thin so you don't have to feel bad about the carb intake.  

Second appetizer was Grilled Chipotle Chicken Skewers With spicy BBQ sauce, summer corn relish and guacamole.  There were 3 big skewers!  The chicken was very tender.  The BBQ sauce was fairly light.  It didn't taste 'spicy' at all but the corn relish definitely had a little punch. 

Our first entree was BBQ Chicken Salad Organic greens, corn, roasted red peppers, and crumbled blue cheese.  Again, the chicken was super tender and the salad very light and refreshing!  This is a great lunch for any day!

Second entree was Lemongrass Salmon Salad With organic field lettuce, cucumber, toasted pistachios and cumin-lime vinaigrette.  This has to be the BEST salmon salad I've ever had.  Allen agreed with me!  The salmon was moist and oh so tender!  I love the salad just as much.  The dressing had a bit of sweetness in it that complimented the salmon perfectly!  By the way, I love how the salad came in a plastic cylinder and they twisted it to release it.  :)

Lastly was our desserts - little shots of heavens!  I mean Mini Indulgence!  If you've never had these, you don't know what you're missing out.  All I can say is 'OH MY GOODNESS, OH MY GOODNESS!'

We were supposed to get 1 each, but our server gave us an extra complimentary one.  We chose Mango, Red Velvet, and Oreo Chocolate (can't believe this one is sugar free!).  We love them all!

Thank you, Season 52, for another wonderful dining experience.  Thank you, Morgan, for your excellent service.  I know we will be back soon!

Service: 5 stars

Food: 5 stars

Ambiance:5 stars

Overall: 5 stars

Season 52

333 Bristol Street

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(714)437-5252

Costa Mesa Restaurant Week 2011 - The Capital Grille

The Capital Grille is a chain restaurant with locations all over the US. My first encounter with The Capital Grille was at Beverly Hills where Anita Lau of Mad Hungry Woman hosted a Happy Hour Event which was also featured by Allen Taylor Photography.  Allen and I enjoyed the Bar Menu so much that we were thrilled to find out it was participating in the Costa Mesa Restaurant Week. We chose to have lunch here because the lunch menu looked just as good as the dinner but cheaper. We were so lucky we made the right choice. We got a lot of very delicious food at a very good price!
I had made a reservation for 12:45pm. When we got there, the hostess checked us in and then told us someone would take us to our seats. We waited and waited, for 5 minutes no one came! She finally took us to our table herself. Frankly I was not very happy. Once we were seated, it took at least another 5 - 7 minutes before our server finally showed up. I was getting a little frustrated. By then, I told Allen I was deducting 2 stars from the rating! Fortunately things did pick up after that.

We got our usual iced tea and were also served a bread basket.  Loved the sesame crusted bread!  They were warm and crunchy but soft and hearty inside!
Trying to maximize our dining experience, Allen and I usually order different selections from the menu so we can sample as much as we can.  For first course, I chose the Clam Chowder and he chose Field Greens, Spring Vegetables with Shallot Champagne Vinaigrette.

 

The salad was lackluster.  It barely had any dressing on it.  Allen took one bite and put down his fork.  I couldn't convince him to take a few more bites, so I did instead.  Yeah, it could have used a little more dressing.  

The clam chowder was creamy and seasoned just right.  Too often this was made on the saltier side, but this one was perfect.  However, there were much more potato than clams.

My entree was Dry Aged Sirloin Salad with Gorgonzola Vinaigrette.  I was wow'ed that it actually came with a big piece of steak instead of cubes or strips!  Now, sirloin is one of the leanest cut and tends to be a little tougher to eat.  Even though this was not melt in your mouth tender, it was easy on the mouth even at medium.  The chimichurri sauce was one of the best I've had.  I also enjoyed the salad but the steak definitely took the lead! 

 

Allen's entree, The Grille’s Signature Cheese Burger with Truffle Fries, was very impressive.  The burger was flavorful and juicy.  The truffle fries were equally delicious, but we were so full that we barely ate 1/4 of it!  We had to leave room for desserts still!  

There were 2 choices for desserts; Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake and Classic Crème Brulee.  You guessed it, we got both.  I had flourless chocolate cake once and didn't like it at all.  But this one tasted different, in a good way.  At first bite, it was really bitter, and it got better the more I ate.

The creme brulee, according to Allen, was night and day compared to what we had previous night!  In other words, it was yummy!  

While I was taking the food photos, I asked one of the bus boy if he could take a picture of me and Allen, he abruptly said 'No, ask someone else.'  I was so shocked!  I thought he could have done it in a nicer and more polite manner.  Another waiter later came by and took a picture for us (don't know if the bus boy actually asked him to) and gave us 2 prints.  That was nice but I was still pretty hurt by that bus boy!  

We had made another reservation at another restaurant for dinner and decided to reschedule it to a different night because we're both stuffed!  This by far is the best value for your dollar at $20 per person!  I highly recommend it. Bon Appetit! 

Service: 4 stars

Food: 5 stars

Ambiance: 5 stars

Overall: 4 1/2 stars

The Capital Grille 

3333 Bristol Street

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(714)432-1140

Costa Mesa Restaurant Week 2011 - Le Chateau Garden Bistro

When I learned about the Costa Mesa Restaurant Week, I was super excited. After all, Costa Mesa boats many fine restaurants. What better way to try them but during restaurant week in which the best sampling of foods were presented as Prix Fixe menu? After checking out the menus on the official website at http://www.costamesarestaurantweek.org/, I made 5 reservations at 5 different restaurants, Le Chateau Garden Bistro being the first.

The restaurant is located inside Ayres Hotel and Suites Costa Mesa. We walked by a fountain courtyard with outdoor seating's which was quite beautiful. Inside, the restaurant is small with a little bar. Although we had a reservation, it was not really needed as there were not too many diners. We were seated quickly and got our menus. We had already checked out the Prix Fixe menu before coming so we knew exactly what we wanted to order.

Neither Allen or I drink often, so our drink of choice is often iced tea. We also got a basket of bread with minced olives and butter.

I started my meal with the Bountiful Summer Garden Salad - Delicate Butterleaf with Sundried Cherries, Cranberries, Candied Walnuts, Sonoma Goat Cheese and a Poppyberry Vinaigrette. I loved it! I could eat 2 plates of this and make it a full meal!

Allen chose Napa California Salad Summer Char Grilled Iceberg with Smoked Shitake Mushrooms, Vine Ripe Baby Roma Tomatoes, Shaved Maytag Blue Cheese and a Light House Italian Vinaigrette. This was very good, also. The iceberg lettuce was very fresh and crisp, but I thought the Shitake Mushrooms were a little too chared and some tasted bitter. The blue cheese was also very strong so we left quite a few uneaten.

After the salad, we each got a small serving of sorbet to cleanse our palates. It was very refreshing. I wish I could have had more for dessert!

Second course for my meal was Choose Three Selections to Build your Trio Entrée Plate Accompanied by The Chef’s Pick of Farmer’s Market Vegetables and Mashed Potatoes or Rice Pilaf. I picked Filet Beef with Roasted Shallot Demi Glace, Natural Atlantic Salmon with Shallot Balsamic Reduction and Sautéed Spinach, and Jumbo Thai Shrimp Sweet Peanut Chile Dressing. The beef was excellent. It was tender and flavorful. We asked for medium and it was cooked perfectly. The salmon was just OK. I thought the sauce was a little too strong. The shrimp was the weakest. I thought it was made with Shrimp Cocktail and thrown together with the sauce. Absolutely no thought into it. It tasted cold and blend despite the sauce. The mash potato was overly seasoned. It was too salty and with a funny taste.

Allen's Trio were Filet Beef, Local (Dorado) Halibut with Cilantro Coconut Milk Sauce, and Caramelized Garlic Chicken. Again, the beef was done right, but the halibut was just OK like my salmon. The chicken was dry and disappointing. Both Allen and I thought the food were not prepared fresh. Maybe in preparation of Restaurant Week, they precooked them and just heat them up when people ordered them.

For the dessert, I chose Creme Brulee. It was a big one. But big doesn't mean great. I prefer it a little warm but this was cold.

Allen's Chocolate Molten Cake with Ice Cream was worse. We love the ones at Roy's but this one tasted like it was frozen and reheated in the microwave before served. The texture was just all wrong.

Service was good but not excellent. The bus boys refilled our drinks promptly but our server were not as attentive. Other than serving the food, he only came by to check on us once. Overall it was a very unimpressive experience.

Service: 4  stars

Food: 3 stars

Ambiance: 4 stars

Overall: 3 1/2 stars

Le Chateau Garden Bistro

Ayres Hotel and Suite Costa Mesa

325 Bristol St.

Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(714)549-0300