Encore ~ Entertainment and Nightlife in Orange County

Archive for the 'Barry Koltnow' Tag

AfterWork: Fred’s in Surf City

May 7th, 2012, 3:29 pm by

Cinco de Mayo has historical roots, but it is mostly an excuse to throw a party.

Fred’s Mexican Café doesn’t need an excuse to party.

Sure, May 5 is a big day at Fred’s, but so is May 4 and May 6.

Click here (or the photo above) to see a photo slideshow of Fred’s Cinco de Mayo celebration.

It’s pretty much Cinco de Mayo all year long at this second-floor restaurant that overlooks downtown Huntington Beach and the Pacific Ocean. It offers one of the best ocean views in Orange County, and then clouds that view with an ocean of margaritas.

Not that anyone’s complaining, mind you.

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Posted in: After Work • Slideshow • • • • |

AfterWork: Paul Martin’s in Irvine Spectrum

January 9th, 2012, 11:12 am by

The restaurant business is fascinating, particularly if you’re not in it. If you’re in it, you work too hard to be fascinated.

What fascinates me is trying to figure out why some restaurants operate for years before the public discovers them, while other restaurants have an hour-long wait for a table after only two months in business?

On a recent Friday night, Paul Martin’s American Grill had a 75-minute wait for dinner, and the new restaurant has been open since Nov. 14. I had to find out why.

 

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Posted in: After Work • • • • |