Wine Gallery (CDM)

Danielle:

Candice and I have been here a few times before so we thought we’d check it out for blogging purposes on a Friday night. We got there at 5:30ish so we had our pick of the place in terms of seats so of course we chose 2 barstools in prime real estate at the bar. This somewhat small location filled up quickly with young couples and locals, all of which we interacted with were very friendly and chatty.

The service was awesome--perfect. We have snacked there before on the flatbread (yummy) so I was anxious to try new dishes. We ordered one of the specials--mac n cheese with chorizo. DELICIOUS. We also got the short rib tacos. ALSO DELICIOUS. I could have eaten another round of both! Another perk for me? The server pronounced “bruschetta” correctly!

The S-factor? Well, not much of one. At any rate, you can settle for good food, wine + company. I have been here a few times before and noticed 1 or 2 “good lookers” on those occasions.  Maybe make this a stop before or after Crow Bar for the better male:female ratio.

Food: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★★☆☆

Price: ★★☆☆☆

Ambience: ★★★☆☆

Overall: ★★★☆☆

S Factor: ★★☆☆☆

Candice:

There is something very appealing to me about this place, with the bar and high tables surrounded by hundreds of wine bottles, wooden crates, wooden wine racks, and minimal thematic décor—it always feels simply cozy.  The room is well lit by natural light during the early hours of the evening and by nightfall, the mood lighting exudes warmth and relaxation.  Danielle and I have been to the Wine Gallery on a couple of occasions and our overall experience has been consistently above average.  We ordered the mac-n-cheese with chorizo and pulled pork tacos, both of which were satisfyingly appetizing.  (Admittedly, I have had more exceptional plates of mac-n-cheese, however the chorizo luckily added a nice burst of flavor to the dish).  I typically prefer sweet wine varietals but also often enjoy sipping light bodied white wines, but unfortunately I did not turn out to be a fan of even the first selection of my white wine flight that evening.  Fortunately, the host was kind enough to substitute the remaining two glasses of my flight with my original choice of wine that I ordered prior to the flight.  Throughout our stay, we were often checked up upon and enjoyed the company of our surroundings.  The customers always seem to be a very friendly and relaxed group and generally a balanced ratio of men and women and between the ages of 30-50.  Since Danielle had to depart mid evening, I remained at the bar by myself waiting to meet another of my friends.  In the meantime, the patrons around me were friendly and conversational and offered to keep me company until my friends’ arrival.  Once she arrived (thanks Kerrie Ann for traveling the distance to join me!), we continued the merriment and ordered additional snack plates including an assorted cheese plate and bruschetta.  Although the bruschetta was heavily drenched in garlic for my palate (and the effects unfortunately lasted well through the remainder of the evening), the food was nevertheless flavorsome.  Overall, the ambience, quality of food, and service of this establishment seems to remain consistent, so if you like it the first time around, then chances are you will return again without  much convincing needed.  

Food: ★★★☆☆

Service: ★★★☆☆

Price: ★★☆☆☆

Ambience: ★★★☆☆

Overall: ★★★☆☆

S Factor: ★★☆☆☆

Mozambique (Laguna Beach)

Danielle:

One of my favorite places to go on Sundays is Mozambique in Laguna. I usually go on holiday weekends so I don’t have to worry about work on Monday. This night usually attracts a crowd with the same perspective and has been packed each time I've gone. Sunday nights are reggae nights. Live music is also happening on other weekend nights as well, but reggae just creates the atmosphere for fun and mingling.

I first found Mozambique when on a serious hunt for any African food I could find to “get my fix” after a few trips to South Africa. I love the food here and have never had a dish that I didn’t like. I absolutely love the peri-peri chicken (tip: order an extra side of the sauce for some spicy dipping). It comes accompanied with salsa, but this isn’t just any salsa. It’s more like a tropical fruit salad. The chunks of fruits are large and juicy.


Might I also suggest my favorite cocktail...the African mojito:

I love the crowd here because it has proved to be the potpourri of OC. There are younger, older, mixed ethnicities, etc. Typically, the crowd is chatty, so if nothing else, you can always settle for good food with good company. They also offer happy hour daily which makes it an ideal spot for sitting and sipping while waiting on the sunset.The ratio of men to women is pretty equal too.

Each time I’ve gone, I’ve met at least 1-2 people from Africa (various parts). How shocked they usually are to find out that I’m a regular in that part of the world. It feels like this spot attracts a more international crowd, and my friends from Africa another countries living in LA even know this spot.

On a side note ladies, if you are into tall, dark (true African), + handsome, this could be your spot.

Food: ★★★★★

Service: ★★★★☆

Price: ★★★★☆

Ambiance: ★★★★★

Overall: ★★★★★

Candice:

This was a special detour from our weekday happy hour and we stopped on by to Mozambique in Laguna Beach on a Sunday over the Memorial Day holiday.  I have been to this restaurant twice previously and both times thoroughly enjoyed the vibe and soulful atmosphere.  The food has been consistently good and I love getting the Peri-peri chicken meal.  This was my first time to happy hour there and for a complete $10 meal, it was quite the deal. Although I could go into great detail about the Per-peri chicken, it is enough to say that I chose a popular traditional dish and it was both hearty and flavorful.  Additionally, I seem to order this meal each time. Our main focus for this happy hour was not the food in particular, but to enjoy a Sunday night out knowing that there were no morning deadlines to meet.  The martinis were well made and also very reasonably priced for happy hour.  The people watching here was also pretty great especially since there is a considerably big bar area with live music, which happened to be reggae that night - so the ambiance was particularly energetic.  Even though there were no special connections made for me that evening, I had such a great time drinking and dining amongst a group of friends. The service had overall been a bit slow, but it was obvious that our waitress had a lot of tables to attend that evening so it was understandable.  I would highly recommend a visit to this place if you have never been before, and especially during one of their lively entertaining and musical evenings.

Food: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★★☆☆

Price: ★★★★☆

Ambience: ★★★★☆

Overall: ★★★★☆

Classic Q (Newport Beach)

Candice

Ooooh-la-la.  What a pleasant surprise this little gem turned out to be.  Ah, how I do love big sporting events at a sports bar, and this happened to be the night of game one of the NCAA tournament. There just always seems to be a pretty solid guarantee that women will be far outnumbered by the men and on this particular evening, the ratio ended up being about one female to every six men.  Not too bad, nope not too shabby at all.  Perhaps by now those of you who actually follow our blog are wondering why we, or maybe just I, get so excited when I enter a room and feel the testosterone encapsulate me. Well, try working with mostly women (and busy little children) 40+ hours per week and then tell me it isn’t welcoming to have men around, even if it is just to appreciate the sight of them.  So tonight was another good evening of men watching – there were just so many of them!  And not too bad of a crowd I might add.  We found a cozy spot near the end of the rectangle shaped bar where we could view all those in front of us but unfortunately not the best view of those behind us.  Regardless, there were plenty of tables throughout the restaurant that was occupied for most of the time we were in attendance. 

To be honest, I wouldn’t have given this place much notice with its somewhat dingy sign looming over the street, but as I drove by I noticed their patio area was quite crowded so it drew my attention.  The parking lot was a bit challenging to get to and the lot was full when we arrived, however there was plenty of nearby street parking.  As for the food, well, I made a bad call.  I wouldn’t typically recommend ordering pizza at a sports bar but I will admit that I was craving pizza for some unknown reason and thought I would give it a shot.  Although I consumed over half of it, I will confess I was driven by sheer hunger.  The crust was alright but not much anything else. I would definitely not recommend ordering this again.  As for the service, I would like to report that I am a bit surprised (but very pleased) at the superior level of overall service by the bartenders, wait staff, and anyone else working there because it was a very busy (or seemed like a very busy restaurant and bar) evening.  The service was not lacking at all and we were constantly attended to by both our bartenders (a male AND a female bartender – thanks both of you!) despite the fact they were constantly filling restaurant orders.  Although Danielle and I did not get the most optimal seating to interact with other patrons, there will no doubt be another visit to this establishment.  Finally…we are beginning to find some decent happy hour places after months and months of “research” (thanks Jenn H for your recommendations and following our blog so regularly!) – and not only do we continue to be receptive to all our followers’ feedback, comments, and suggestions, but we also sincerely appreciate all of you curious minded people who are interested in being  part of our entertaining journey! Until the next adventure…

Food: ★★☆☆☆

Service: ★★★★★

Price: ★★★☆☆

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

Overall: ★★★★☆

S Factor: ★★★★☆

Danielle

Finally! A crowd! Hallelujah!

We started out at Ten because happy hour goes until ten on Tuesdays. We wondered if perhaps that would draw a crowd. Nope. I walked in and just stood there looking for an open spot. There was no one working at the hostess stand for the 10 minutes or so I stood there. Needless to say, I was already turned off. Candice walked in and mentioned a place down the street that had a crowd….my interest was piqued. 

When we drove by Classic Q, I realized I had passed this place so many times without noticing it. That could be a bad sign….we decided it’d be a great night to try it out since the game was on. I was pleasantly surprised to find a full parking lot and equally full bar area when we walked in. All I ask for in OC these days is just a crowd. That’s a nice start. Well, the other pleasant surprise? We were two of the few women there. I loved that the women who were there seemed normal with 100% genuine parts and un-botoxed to the hilt. 

We found the only two open barstools at the bar. The location wasn’t ideal but doable for such a late join. The service was awesome and the bartenders worked their butts off filling the servers’ trays and attending to the patrons at the bar. Maybe some of the “trendy” establishments could take some lessons....

Anyway, I ordered the sliders with sweet potato fries. Delicious? No, but I ate it like it was! By that time, I was starved. It’s your typical bar food quality, but the menu was extensive to be a “bar-like” spot.

We are looking forward to going back here for another game night. It seems an ideal spot for men from the nearby businesses to stop in for a beer sans the pretentious atmosphere of other close-by spots. 

Food: ★★☆☆☆

Service: ★★★★★

Price: ★★★☆☆

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

Overall: ★★★★☆

S Factor: ★★★★☆

Chapter One (Santa Ana)

Danielle:

I love Santa Ana. I love the Artist Village area. I love Chapter One. I’ll always choose this area for good eats and drinks. I never leave disappointed.

We got to Chapter One around 6ish. We were only one of maybe 10 patrons in the restaurant and two of 6 at the bar so needless to say the evening started without much delay. I was able to order immediately as I had reinforced myself at work all day with the Moscow mule…as I teach my kiddos with the exception of the last part – “First work, then Moscow mule.” It was as cool and refreshing as I had been dreaming of all day. My eyes got a treat with the hunky bartender as well.

  

We ordered the etouffee fries (nothing too special) and mac-n-cheese. I do love their mac-n-cheese. The menu holds so so so many fabulous choices that whichever one you choose will most definitely make a party in your mouth. Okay, sidetracked. Onward to dinner. After hearing the special, the American burger, I was intrigued. Candice mentioned to the bartender that I’m a burger critic so it seemed that the gauntlet was thrown down at that moment. I don’t remember much about what’s on the burger as my mind stopped on the fact that the burger is comprised of short rib and two ground meats and topped with pork belly. Hello, I LOVE short rib…short rib anywhere in whatever form.  I will say, the burger was incredible. It was in my top 5. I’m not sure if it still was when I received the check and saw that it was $17.00. Seriously?!? What burger cost $17?!?! Obviously, that one does. That price left a bad taste in my mouth. If the burger was not that delicious, I would be upset. I just was not expecting the price. 

As the night went on, the happy hour crowd left and the dinner crowd rolled in which was comprised of small groups and couples. Another bartender came on board as well. As the bar area became more crowded, our service began to wane. The bartender made eye contact from time to time but didn’t check in as often as we’d hoped. My energy for hitting the Copper Door downstairs dwindled while waiting around for service and the check.

All in all, my love affair with Chapter One will continue. Everyone should try this place.

I haven’t been yet, but I hear Sunday brunch is killer with $5 mimosas (all you can drink) with your meal. That’s next on my agenda for this area, but hold the burger, I could drink two more Moscow mules for that price. =)

Food: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★★☆☆

Price: ★★★☆☆

Ambiance: ★★★★☆

SFactor: ★★★☆☆

Overall: ★★★★☆

Candice: 

I have been to the Santa Ana Artist Village area only twice before and I still feel the same about it…it is great! It seems to always have a pretty good vibe and although I do not consider myself all that artsy and trendy, I certainly love admiring all the hipsters that come to hang out.  We arrived at Chapter One at a decent time and although it was a bit quiet, Danielle and I knew we were taking our chances given that it was the start of a holiday weekend and likely a hit or miss on the crowd.  As I sat down and was greeted by the bartender…stop. Helloooo good looking. (I even got a bit shy and speechless for a moment and thought this is going to be an entertaining evening regardless of what crowd rolls in.) I couldn’t seem to select a drink off of their very overwhelming list of beverages so instead, opted for the bartender’s choice (fantastic concoction Drew, thanks!).  Apparently the first drink that was made was named “Drew’s cucumber” or so the receipt indicated.  LOL, enough said.  However, it was an absolutely perfectly crafted drink in that it was delicate and well-balanced in flavor.   

Danielle and I started with a little mac-n-cheese and etouffee fries (kind of a fancy version of chili fries) as our tapas and neither really disappointed.  Although Danielle swears by their mac-n-cheese, it was indeed tasty but ranks in my just average range. I moved on to the “Potato Pear” as my meal (had to save room for dessert!) which was truly exceptional.  I was a supporter of all the ingredients individually and when it was combined together so elegantly, mmmm, divine!  I probably could have licked the plate clean.  Talk about a plump portion of flavorful mashed potato that is panko crusted and shaped like a mini pear… then placed neatly upon a bed of savory marsala cream sauce with chunks of wild mushroom mixed within the sauce. 

To satiate my palate I ended on the “Chocolate Pate” which, being a huge fan of Belgium chocolate I was slightly disappointed by the overall combination of flavors.  The chocolate was rich but nothing all that distinctive in flavor as Belgian chocolate can and should be.  The butter biscuits were my favorite on the plate but they seemed to be just a more delicate version of the tasty shortbread cookies made by Walker.  However overall, the menu selection is truly fantastic and I was pleased in general with what I ordered.

The small hip crowd earlier in the evening dwindled away quickly and the later crowd that materialized seemed more representative of the Santa Ana inhabitants and of a more dominant ethnic population.  As extremely attentive and appealing as our bartender was earlier in the evening, his demeanor also morphed and disappointingly, our needs quickly became neglected.  Don’t get me wrong, I recognize that attention needs to be divided among all patrons as well as the fact that as the restaurant picks up and bar orders are in high demand, there is obviously less time to devote to individual patrons.  However, has anyone ever seen Danielle (I mean us girls) drink?!? We are thirsty (and okay fine I admit, one of us, hungry) girls. As attractive and bewitching as I found the bartender, I still would appreciate just enough consideration so that I could at least place my dessert order (I had to draw the attention of the other bartender) and/or be offered another beverage perhaps?  Oh well.  Although the ending was a bit of a let down, I am grateful that I can amuse myself with the simple reminiscing of the earlier part of the evening of hanging with a  hipster crowd and bantering with a striking bartender.  I’ll take it as a good kick-start to my three-day weekend.  

Food: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★★☆☆ (had to average in the end of the evening)

Price: ★★★★☆

Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

SFactor: ★★★☆☆

Overall: ★★★★☆

The Corner Office (Costa Mesa)

Danielle:

 

Candice and I ventured out to The Corner Office in hopes of finding better luck on a Thursday (based on conversations with guys on the “the best” night for happy hour—and well, I had Friday plans). When we got there, it looked like the “after work” crowd was beginning to dissipate and new patrons were rolling in for the Clippers and Kings games. We found our way to the bar and a “regular” helped us find 2 spots together. Thank God that he was there or we may never have been noticed. When the bartender walked over, we assumed that perhaps it would be to see what we wanted since her area of the bar was not crowded. Instead, she made a straight line for the “regular.” He nodded for her to take care of us first. In strange ways, chivalry is not dead. The funny part was that when she returned she made sure to serve him first. He left shortly after, and our service left with him. [Guys, I know, you’ve been dealing with this for years at bars, watching all the ladies be served and I don’t agree with that either.] We waited foooooooorrrrrreeeeeevvvvvvveeeeer to gain her attention to order another beer and inquire about food. We were never even offered a menu or asked if we planned to eat.

I ordered the nachos. It doesn’t even really warrant much text. They were sub-par even being bar food. 

I think the venue is great and I will return for another night of sports. Several options were available for sitting at the bar, around the bar, at high top tables on the outskirts of the bar, or at booths that had small TVs.  It seems the perfect spot for watching sports. There’s also an outside patio area with a nice courtyard view of local businesses. I’ll definitely go back (with a penis in tow or with assurance that guys are already there in hopes that I’ll be quickly served and hydrated). 

Food: ★☆☆☆☆

Service: ★☆☆☆☆

Price: ★★★☆☆

Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

SFactor: ★★☆☆☆ (on this particular night, but potential is good)

Overall: ★★★☆☆ (2.5)

Candice:

So, this was probably the first time I actually made it to happy hour before Danielle, and with much encouragement via texts, she made me step out of my comfort zone and walk into a bar by myself to look for seats.  I did and <insert chuckle> it was probably an extreme situation to test myself given the ratio of men to women was like 15 to 1.  It was quite nice to have so many eyes on me at once and luckily the bar was dimly lit enough to hide the color of my face going from pale to all shades of red.  Although the crowd was “sparse” given it was a Thursday and both the Kings and Clippers were playing, I think this place has plenty of potential during a bigger sports night.  Most of the TV’s were showing the Kings game and based on the crowd reaction to the game I am guessing most of the customers were Kings fans.  As for the venue itself, it is quite large and spacious and I particularly liked the open space area near the patio facing what looked like a hotel and its grassy flourishing grounds.  The food was definitely on the pitiful side, even for bar food standards and the menu presented a meager array of options.  But what was even more inexcusable was the service, or shall I say total lack of.  SERIOUSLY. What does a girl have to do to get the attention of the bartender??! Thankfully, a very nice gentleman not only offered to move down a barstool so that Danielle and I could sit next to each other, but he also directed the attention of the bartender to us when she approached him to chat with him.  For all the restaurants and bars that I have done blogs (and even non-blogs), this bartender (yes, you the petite brunette who doesn’t like to make eye contact with women even when we say “excuse me” to get your attention) has got to be one of the worst I have yet to encounter when it comes to service.  And, when we finally did get our drinks and food, there was nothing courteous in her demeanor.  Some of you might be thinking I am being a little harsh because hey, she might be having an off day, but when we observed her interactions with the male patrons at the bar, then I think I may even be generous in my description.  So, with the exception of the impolite bartender, this place definitely has possibilities on a bigger game night.  Although the probability of us returning is slim, I would recommend you ladies stopping by for a visit if only just to enjoy the advantage of the ratio disparity.

Food: ★☆☆☆☆

Service: ★☆☆☆☆

Price: ★★☆☆☆

Ambience: ★★★☆☆

SFactor: ★★☆☆☆

Overall: ★★☆☆☆

SOL Cocina Mexican

Danielle

I’ve been putting off visiting SOL because I felt like it may have the same crowd as its neighbor, 3-Thirty-3. Because we are dedicated to finding the best happy hours despite it being our style or preferred area, I suggested Sol. I have heard great things about it, but again, I just didn’t want to see “that crowd” all over again.

Immediately, I loved the openness and décor of the establishment. It seemed to just be picking up when we arrived but we easily found a high top table for 2 in the middle of the bar area. There’s also a nicely sized bar, some larger tables for groups in the bar area, and an outside patio (fantastic) over the water. Happy hour is offered daily—DAILY!—and lasts from 4-7PM. I was impressed by both the options and prices on the menu. 

We ordered the naked guacamole, pork carnitas street tacos, and panuchos (their twist on empanadas). The food was delicious, and the portions were ample for the cost. It rivaled happy hour portions/cost at places like El Torito Grill, but the taste and variety were way better.

The S-Factor? Well, it was getting geared up as we headed off to peek at 3-Thirty-3. When we came back by to pick up our cars, it looked quite busy. I’d like to go back there and stay through the night to see the crowd. As we left, two cute guys went in. They looked the nice nerdy-but-cute type which we both like so we should have popped in behind them but the toll of a long rough week with an extra day of work had taken its toll and my desire to lie in bed and watch TV prevailed.

I’m voting this a “must do happy hour.”

On a side note: we made it to 3-Thirty-3 just in time to miss happy hour. We looked at the menu anyway and it seemed Sol was the better spot for a happy hour menu. We found a spot at the bar and settled in for some noteworthy people watching. The crowd was young—20s and 30s with a sprinkling of older gentlemen and cougars. Sadly, the merging of groups or “coupling up” was predictable. Again, why Orange County, are you so into that high maintenance look (boobs + blonde hair)?!  Our bartender was handsome and reminded me of a younger hotter Javier Bardem but he still couldn’t salvage this place for me. I'd only hit SOL out of this duo.

Food: ★★★★☆

Service: ★★★★☆

Price: ★★★☆☆

Ambiance: ★★★★★

SFactor: ★★☆☆☆

Overall: ★★★★☆

 naked guacamole

 panuchos--I loved all the "stuff" on top

 street tacos

For more information on SOL, click here. 

Candice

 

This was my first exploration to SOL Mexican Cucina, off of Pacific Coast Highway in Newport.  The bar area was quite spacious and traditionally adorned with Mexican décor and colors.  There was an abundant amount of natural light throughout the entire room and plentiful number of tables and stools scattered about.  The crowd numbers remained fairly consistent throughout the short period we lingered around and it was a nice mix of ages and ethnicities and about an even gender division.  My drink choice for this first stop of our happy hour was the frozen margarita.  I was forewarned it came pre-mixed but that it was not to disappoint.  In fact, although I typically do not appreciate pre-made mixes all that much, it was in fact quite flavorful and had just the right amount of kick in it to sustain its refresh quality.  Our palates enjoyed plates of naked guacamole, street tacos, and panuchos.  The food was not superior but it was equal to its value.  I liked their version of chips and dip and their tiny three-choice platter of sauces that I unfortunately did not know what to do with since our waitress was not all that interested in being of assistance throughout our stay.  Regardless of the lack of service, I would likely return here if I came with a larger group of people and was interested in snacking decent Mexican dishes and frozen margaritas. 

Food: ★★★☆☆

Service: ★★☆☆☆

Price: ★★★☆☆

Ambiance: ★★★☆☆

Overall: ★★★☆☆

S Factor: ★★☆☆☆

From SOL we decided to head over on to 333 and check out the early night scene.  I have been to this restaurant previously for an early dinner, but never stayed around to watch the later night crowd roll in.  I enjoyed the friendly banter with one of the bartenders and was amused throughout the evening of what seemed like the stereotypical “Orange County” scene.  I was certainly not dressed to impress as our original intention was to hit SOL straight after work… so I huddled in my hoodie and preferred to behold the attempts by various male and female suitors to woo one another.  Okay, admittedly that was entertaining.  I was impressed by the number of matches that were made so quickly and somewhat engrossed by the end pairing results.  As I exited, to be quite frank, I was glad to be nondescript and was satisfied to end yet another uncomplicated happy hour adventure.