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In an attempt to spice up the midweek doldrums, my friends and I headed out to the happy hour offered “til closing” at the identity-confused Ling & Louies (which you may have known six months ago as...
In an attempt to spice up the midweek doldrums, my friends and I headed out to the happy hour offered “til closing” at the identity-confused Ling & Louies (which you may have known six months ago as Thaifoon) over at the Irvine Spectrum. Being the budgeted, hungry lushes that we are, we had our hopes set high for the famously cheap tapas-like appetizers and, of course, the beer (a few brewskies will help loosen your creative capacities, you know. And as for whether that’s a good thing, well…read on…).
As my friends and I were seated out on the fire-lit patio perusing the happy hour menu, we noticed something peculiar: there were no drink specials! That’s right, if you booze, you lose over at Ling & Louie’s, a hefty $5 or so per beer (unless you’re like me and don’t mind the $3.75 Bud Lights on a night out).
But if you are hungry, then you found yourself a good deal. There are only three prices on the happy hour menu: $1, $2, and $3—the numbers that signal the beginnings of birthday songs, that garner communal energy in furniture-lifting situations, that count off a lively waltz—yes, $1,$2, and $3 are great numbers indeed, and the food you get for those measly prices may just be worth the lack of cheap alcohol.
I kid you not, I ordered the entire [happy hour] menu. I recommend the pork ribs; trust me, they’re good—and you get four of them for $3. As for all of their other eggroll and dumpling type dishes, they are definitely worth your small bills. The only thing I would not try again would be the chicken satay; not to sound like a culinary prick, but the breast tenders they use don’t bode well with their mode of cooking, and it just tastes too much like curry. If I order a satay, I want peanuts! But that’s just me.
To quote our waitress after we whined about the lack of discounted booze: “But with all the money you save on food, you can buy beer!”—which kind of defeats the purpose of happy hour; overpriced beer in exchange for cheap food? I don’t dig it, but for you non-drinkers out there, I think you’ll find yourself a second home.
NOTE: As of June 2006, they're happy hour options have changed.
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The coffee served at Peet's is quite simply my favorite, so my review may be slightly biased in that respect. It's dark, rich, complex coffee--definitely not for those who seek the mild blends that...
The coffee served at Peet's is quite simply my favorite, so my review may be slightly biased in that respect. It's dark, rich, complex coffee--definitely not for those who seek the mild blends that they offer at Starbucks. Also, there are always free samples available: teas, organic coffee, pastries, candies, etc.
The small size of this particular Peet's is made up for by the tables and benches located just outside. On a sunny day, you can sit at one of the shaded tables with a cup of coffee and a friend and enjoy watching all the ritzy Newport types saunter about. A lot of people like to bring their dogs here, so sometimes there's some exciting canine interaction. There is also a nice water fountain that, at certain times of the year, is inhabited by a beautiful mallard duck.
The only bad things I can think of are that it can definitely get crowded here, especially in the mornings; and since this Peet's is not that big to begin with, it becomes a madhouse once the line grows longer than 5 people. Also, the pastries are noticeably more expensive than other Peet's I've been to, but such price hikes are characteristic of Newport Beach.
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Gelato Paradiso is a fun place to take a break from a day of pricy shopping at the nearby Fashion Island. The store itself is located in the Corona Del Mar Plaza.
The gelato spread is pretty...
Gelato Paradiso is a fun place to take a break from a day of pricy shopping at the nearby Fashion Island. The store itself is located in the Corona Del Mar Plaza.
The gelato spread is pretty fancy--fruits and other decorative pieces garnish the display and they have fancy gelato cakes that you can special order. With upwards of 20 flavors, and number shakes and other gelato creations available for your consumption, you're sure to find something to please everyone.
But, like the ritzy stores that surround it, Gelato Paradiso is pricy. And if the gelato was THAT good, I'd look past the inflated price tag--but I've had better gelato elsewhere. Gelato Paradiso is good, very good, but failed to impress me as much as I thought it would. Also, the intimate setting of the store also means that it can get crowded quickly if a bunch of people decide to come in at once, which I've seen happen on more than one occasion.
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The view is the only reason to come out to this Diedrich's: the huge paned windows provide a magnificent view of the Pacific ocean, as well as all the beach-goers and pick-up basketball players that...
The view is the only reason to come out to this Diedrich's: the huge paned windows provide a magnificent view of the Pacific ocean, as well as all the beach-goers and pick-up basketball players that are enjoying the sun out on the sand.
Scoring a seat isn't so difficult if you go during off-peak beach hours, and it's well worth the wait; there's nothing like sitting with a friend or a good book and sipping coffee while enjoying a view of the waves.
As always, Diedrich's prepares a fine cup of coffee/espresso. Little known item on the menu is the "scoop of ice cream". Order that with a drizzled shot of espresso on top and you're in for a treat.
And just like anywhere else in Laguna, parking can be very difficult. There are only about 7 free spaces or so dedicated solely to Diedrich's patrons.
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Tucked away in the back of the Jamboree Promenade, sandwiched between Curves and The Tanning Spa, is Caffe Latteria: a little coffee house that is frequented mostly by the local office workers. ...
Tucked away in the back of the Jamboree Promenade, sandwiched between Curves and The Tanning Spa, is Caffe Latteria: a little coffee house that is frequented mostly by the local office workers. Just look for the huge green sign that says: "Coffee".
Caffe Latteria offers a wide variety of coffee and espresso drinks with cheaper prices than Starbucks. They have a number of flavored syrups and the employees are always more than happy to customize a drink as per your tastes.
They also serves smoothies containing the acai berry, which has been described as having a taste reminiscent of blueberries and chocolate. Loaded with antioxidants, the acai berry is all the rage in Brazil and is quickly gaining popularity in the United States.
Although business usually seems to be slow here, if you arrive during a rush, be prepared to wait: at most, there are only two people on staff here at any given time, and although they are pretty speedy, they can become overwelmed at times.
And they aren't open all day; during the week, they close at 6pm.
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The long anticipated Lee's Sandwiches made its glorious debut in the University Town Center to a welcoming population of sleep-deprived and pennywise students; that's because Lee's is open 24 hours...
The long anticipated Lee's Sandwiches made its glorious debut in the University Town Center to a welcoming population of sleep-deprived and pennywise students; that's because Lee's is open 24 hours a day and the majority of the sandwiches are under $2.
The speedy service is reminiscent of an In-n-Out, except the order numbers are announced via a pre-recorded message and displayed on an LCD screen. These Vietnamese-style sandwiches are served on fresh, petite baguettes, and if you aren't familiar with this type of cuisine, forget the lettuce and tomatoes: these sandwiches come with a mixture of julianned and sweetened vegetables that works well with the savory meat, and for a price that is under $2, it's worth it to try at least once. Who knows? You might just get hooked.
My only complaint would be that they pretty much skimp you on the meat, at least in the Vietnamese-style sandwiches. If you're a big eater, you might find yourself ordering two, which definitely isn't going to break your bank.
But Lee's also offers noticeably larger "European-Style" sandwiches; these would be the lettuce-and-tomato type of sandwiches that we are used to here in the states. They come with a pickle, the choice of a croissant or baguette, and are a still a steal of a deal for the sub-$4 price.
This particular Lee's also offers a rich, creamy, gelato type of ice cream, coconut waffles, patio-dining, two flat screen TVs (no sound), and internet access.
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Large selection on the menu -- burgers, salads, nachos, potato skins, soups...even a few asian dishes! I suggest the nachos, you get some bang for your buck. The Soup of the Day in the sourdough...
Large selection on the menu -- burgers, salads, nachos, potato skins, soups...even a few asian dishes! I suggest the nachos, you get some bang for your buck. The Soup of the Day in the sourdough breadbowl is also a favorite.
The decor is haphazardly endearing in a fisherman/sports grill type of way and the service is definitely friendly -- You want your fries extra crispy? You got it.
There is a seperate bar area which is always teeming with the regulars.
Did I mention that this place is open 24 hours a day?
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Here we have one of the only bars in Irvine -- and conveniently located within walking distance of the perpetually hard-working student population of UCI.
If you go there on your birthday they...
Here we have one of the only bars in Irvine -- and conveniently located within walking distance of the perpetually hard-working student population of UCI.
If you go there on your birthday they give you a free slice of tasty cake; but that would hardly make up for the suprisingly mediocre food. The meat (our party ordered chicken and beef dishes) was really dry, which is extremely disappointing considering the prices you pay. And food that was cooked correctly, well, just didn't taste that good (I'd blame some questionable herb & spice combinations). Karl Strauss, Newport Brewing Co., The Yardhouse, BJs...they're all better options!
I have heard from others, however, that Steelhead's pizza is good. The fries, too, were fairly decent. If I were forced to return, I'd limit myself to those particular foods.
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This particular Panera is spacious--there is lots of room for people to spread out, you can even lodge yourself in an isolated corner if you like. It's a great place to study or catch up on that...
This particular Panera is spacious--there is lots of room for people to spread out, you can even lodge yourself in an isolated corner if you like. It's a great place to study or catch up on that book you've been working on. The coffee is decent and the refills are free. Plus, they offer soy milk for those patrons who prefer a non-dairy creamer.
Their bagels are unique and flavorful--I would almost describe them as gourmet. I recommend the Asiago cheese with butter or the Chocolate Chip with hazelnut cream cheese.
They also have a selection of gourmet sandwiches (regular or panini style), soups, and salads. Make sure to try the "Seasonal Specials".
Also, they almost always have samples out, and everyone loves free samples!
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