Here are a few food stories and deal alerts for you to chew on during the holiday weekend:
Panera Bread is opening a new restaurant Monday in the Target Pavilion in Westminster on Beach Boulevard. The restaurant is next to Lazy Dog Cafe. (see photo, right)- Speaking of Lazy Dog… The Orange County-based upscale casual dining chain is expanding rapidly. According to the chain’s website, several new restaurants are slated to open in the next 18 months, including a new Lazy Dog in Irvine. Other restaurants are slated for Thousand Oaks, Valencia and Temecula. The Irvine restaurant will be at The Market Place, in the same spot once occupied by French 75/Wilhelm’s Chophouse. The restaurant is slated to open in winter 2010. (OCR Profile: Lazy Dog Cafe)
- Say “Aloha” to IHOP. Using a Hawaiian theme as a summer promotion, IHOP has introduced 3 new pancake flavors to its menu: Pineapple Upside Down Pancakes, Banana Macadamia Nut Pancakes, and Strawberry Passion Fruit. (QSR Magazine)
- How expensive is eating at South Coast Plaza? Consider these deals from Boudin SF and Lawry’s Carvery that will help keep your wallet somewhat full. (South Coast Plaza blog)
- Heard of the 8 oz. Burger Bar? Get wild burgers, cocktails, and ribs for cheap. (LATimes food review)
- It is unofficial Sandwich week! (Food Frenzy blog)
- What do you think of first when you hear “Thai Cafe”? Some random wannabe Asian restaurant run by Western caterers? But this one is different. (ElmoMonster blog.)
(Compiled by Miki Fujiwara/Register Staff Writer-Intern)
(Panera Bread photo courtesy of The Gadgetress)
I’ve been to the Thai Cafe, and it’s very good. The flavors are intense, unlike a lot of other Thai-esque restaurants here in the O.C., and reminded me a lot of the home-style, mom & pop places that my wife and I enjoyed while traveling in Thailand in ‘07.
Lazy Dog must be doing something right, because every time I gone in (except for Brunch one time) the place has been packed to the hilt; and let me tell you that is no small feet in this economy. What Lazy Dog does right is good quality food people like at a very good value price. It’s not cheap food but people can see the value of this place. A few examples (I’m kind of paraphrasing since I don’t have a menu in front of me) : A PRIME Flat Iron Steak for less than $20. A pot roast that reminds me of prime rib for about $15. A delicious lamb shank, that can be had in a generous half portion for around $10. I mean these are the hearty meals that no one makes anymore but people want to eat at a fair price and that is why this place in expanding even in this economic downturn. Being in the restaurant business and a former sous chef in the Wine Country, I know what it takes for a restaurant to succeed and I think Lazy Dog has the right formula.
I can’t wait for the Lazy Dog at the Irvine Marketplace. It’ll be a great restaurant for the family oriented area.
Where be the Roscoes?