We all went through the food truck frenzy. Some trucks were good, some were your typical roach coach. Some, like The Lime Truck were great and made enough money to start a brick and mortar – TLT Food.
Brunch at Poppy and Rose is not one to miss.
Los Angeles is not too far from Orange County and every so often I have to drive up and show my parents I am still alive and my under-eye circles haven’t gotten any bigger. On this occasion, I met my parents for a romantic Valentine’s Day Brunch at Poppy and Rose.
Costa Mesa’s Corner Retreat: Plum’s Cafe
A great lunch spot, dinner, and even drinks.
3-Thirty-3 was always a place I avoided in college because it is where the “old people” went to hang out on a Friday night. Well apparently now I am that “old” person and I am definitely hanging out there on a Friday.
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| build your own burger and sweet potato fries |
Not only is it a fun place to people watch, grab drinks or a late night bite, it is also great for lunch or dinner. As we all know, it’s my birth-month this month, so when co-workers offered to treat me to lunch we easily chose 3-Thirty-3. With large booths for big parties, high tables for a group of 2 or 4, or the bar, 3-Thirty-3 can fit any group size. It definitely gets crowded on a weekend, so call ahead.
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| view from our booth…yup on the water. |
There is valet parking or you can park on the other side of Sol and walk over here. The food is great and is a large enough menu to please all diet constraints. At lunch you have the option of making your own burger (yup, just like The Counter), the salads are HUGE, and the chicken tenders and calamari are some of the best I have had. (especially when drunk) And for dessert you cannot miss out on ordering the apple pie, it was crazy good. The drinks might be on the pricier side, but just split a bottle before you cab over here…makes for a happier night anyway!
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| sweet thai spiced calamari |
I also have heard they have a build your own breakfast burrito and bloody mary bar that sounds really enticing, anyone tried it out before?
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| breakfast burritos AND bloodys?! (pc: yelp) |
3.5 for great food, lots of space (if you have a table), great drink selection but higher prices.
Great weather means outdoor seating…
This weekend is supposed to be fabulous, and there is nothing better than eating outdoors in Southern California. (Just wear sunscreen!) As you already know, I am a HUGE breakfast burrito fan, and brunch is kinda a big deal in my life so I thought I would share one of my favorite spots – Rose Bakery Cafe. I am a little scared to share this secret, but it already is packed so what the hell.
If you aren’t ordering the California Breakfast Burrito with Spinach tortilla, then I recommend any of the other wraps. As I mentioned before, I tend to order tuna sandwiches to compare sandwich places, and this place knocks my socks off. Any of the sandwiches or wraps are exceptional, but the best part about Rose is the baked goods. Fresh made donuts and cakes and goodies galore. Some might even say that the donuts here are the best in OC (thanks D for the introduction!)
If you are looking for a brunch, if you are hungover and need take out, or if you want to just sit and bask in the sun with some good food and great people watching, this is your spot. Even John Elway comes here…
5/5 because I really can’t figure out anything negative about this place…
Brunch – the most important meal of the day.
Brunch is starting to become one of my favorite meals. I am not a big fan of breakfast foods – as a kid I would ask for soup before school. (My parents must have thought I was so weird.) Now, I can manage some eggs, bacon and potatoes, lots and lots of potatoes.
My go to spot is usually Nate’s but this weekend my boyfriend dragged me out of my comfort zone to go to an old spot we used to hit weekly – Rooster Cafe. I ordered the huevos rancheros and my boyfriend got a breakfast burrito. I feel like I am cheating, but that sh*t was delicious.
The huevos rancheros might seem small because its only one “taco” but it comes with a heaping pile of red potatoes. I couldn’t finish the plate and the salsa was perfect. The breakfast burrito was…just so perfect. Nate’s has the best hangover, greasy upon greasy, burrito. Rooster Cafe has the perfect breakfast burrito. We got it without cheese (lactard), and it actually almost felt healthy? Not really an explanation you want of a breakfast burrito but believe me it is worth trying.
They also have lunch items that looked pretty good. The line can be quite long, parking limited, but they have seating outside. If you are willing to wait, definitely stop by here next Saturday for some good home cookin’.
4 huevos for good food but long lines and little seating.
Weekend wrap up
So while your hangover is still fresh, I thought we could remember all the great things about this weekend.
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| Tapas style with an Asian Flair. |
A MUST Eat: The Playground is the beginning of a new era for Santa Ana. A once sketchy area has now become the new hipster central, and this restaurant is in the middle of it all. Fresh food with a different menu every day.
If you are a picky eater, ask for substitutions or don’t like sitting next to strangers then you suck don’t come here. This place is a food novel, starting with great cocktails and ending with the best Toffee Sticky Pudding anyone could imagine. Best meal in Orange County yet.
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| Pizza, beer and sports: a true man’s spot. |
Pitfire Pizza may be a chain, but it’s a pizza lovers delight. The Burrata Pie is delicious, as is the Pitfire Sasuage for meat lovers. For those that don’t like pizza the salads and sandwiches are also a hit! Great beer selection for pretty decent prices in East Costa Mesa. There is also a “speakeasy” in the back called Pie Society for those that enjoy a good Old Fashioned.
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| Breakfast done right. |
Hangover Cure/Best Breakfast Burrito in Orange County is at Nate’s Korner. Yeah it’s in Santa Ana, yeah you have to drive there, yet you will not regret this. Largest juiciest burrito you will find for a decent price, but it get’s crowded so call ahead. If that one person in your party doesn’t want a burrito, there are sandwiches, salads, bagels, etc. Buyer beware, the double cheeseburger with bacon will give you a heart attack.
