Is this medium rare?

T and I have been trying to coordinate our schedules to see if we could go to RW. Lunch or dinner, weekend or weekday...it just seemed like we would never make it and then suddenly we were able to go today. But where to go? Whe wanted to go to a restaurant that hadn't been to before so we were limited. After going back and forth, we decided to go to Ecco across from The Lab. It is in an eco-friendly shopping area filled with restaurants and shops.

Calamari Fries



Bruschetta

When we walked in there were only three tables occupied. We chose to sit outside. The menu for RW changed slightly. We had the calamari fries and the bruschetta as the appetizers.  The calamari fries were surprisingly crispy with just enough breading on them.  The bruschetta were a bit bland and large.  It would have been better if they were four smaller pieces instead of two larger ones. 

The entrees were modified.  Instead of the white sea bass, Ecco substituted with the organic half chicken with swiss chard, cannellini beans and chicken jus.  I picked the chicken since I had the beef yesterday at Mastro's while T had the hanger steak medium rare with broccoli rabe and black olive vinaigrette.  I kept saying I wanted to get the mac and cheese but decided at the last minute to go for the wood fired roasted corn.  What we got was an experience in itself... 

The wood fired roasted corn was basically corn that was a bit dry and rolled in grated cheese, salt and chile.  I should have gone with my gut and ordered the mac and cheese BUT if the bruschetta was bland, maybe not...  T's hanger steak came out medium well not rare.  It was brown all the way through and dry.  The olive viniagrette looked like chocolate sauce. I've never seen someone have to send the food back but was the first time.  Mine was actually very moist.  The flavors were throughout the chicken and the breast didn't even taste like breast meat.  The only thing was that the beans were mushy.  Halfway through the meal, the manager came by and said that he would comp the dessert but we were thinking that the dessert is already included so why? 



Hanger Steak with Black Olive Viniagrette and Brocolli Rabe

Organic Chicken with Cannelli Beans and chicken jus

For dessert, T and I shared the tiramisu and zeppoles.  The tiramisu was a small square.  The other plate was three zeppoles that were hot cinnamon sugar donuts that you could dip into hot chocolate syrup or sweet cream.  The waitress gave T an extra serving of tiramisu to bring home.  Overall, this was an interesting meal of returns and service.  Although it wasn't a busy restaurant day, it certainly felt like it.

Zeppolis with Chocolate Sauce and Sweet Cream

Tiramisu



Can you hear me??

The first ever Costa Mesa restaurant week kicked off on Friday and my friends decided to do a girls night out. The guys did not want to join because they said it was "too much estrogen." We decided to go to Mastro's because it seemed to have the best value with an appetizer, entree, two sides and dessert for $40.11.

We parked behind the TGIF to save on the valet parking. Although our reservation was at 6:15, some were late so we didn't get seated until almost 7. It was so dark that it was hard to see the room and boy was it loud. There was live music but we could barely hear ourselves. I think we had to repeat ourselves so many times it was like a broken record.

Mastro's gave a variety of warm breads including French, pretzel and Parmesan toast. It wasn't as good as the Palm Terrace but a close second. I ordered the French Onion soup for the appetizer and it came out in a steel bowl with a thick slice of bubbly cheese, French bread cubes and onions. It was salty but it probably from the cheese and being on the stove for a long time but it was piping hot.  Because of the 20 mins or so wait between the appetizer and entree with sides, I practically got full on the soup. Lol

Bread Basket

  

French Onion Soup


The steak came out on a HUGE platter and nothing else. Why is that? They could have put my scallop potatoes on the plate and then the creamed corn in the separate dish instead of three separate dishes. The song "Only the Lonely" came to mind as my steak came in front to me. Hehehe!!! We ordered the Lobster mashed potatoes after reading numerous recs on Yelp. It arrived and was ceremoniously plopped on our plates. AnK thinks it was claw meat which wasn't was tender was I would have thought it would be.  It was disappointing considering all the recs.  Since we didn't pay for the valet, I chalk it up to a free side.  It was $34.   :( The 10 oz. NY strip was rare and surprisingly tender. I know they just put salt on the strip but it was a bit heavy handed. Jeannette and Jen added scallops but I was glad I didn't since I was full from the soup. The cream corn and scalloped potatoes were okay but you could tell that there was ALOT of cream and butter involved. You know there isn't any low fat options here. It was glistening!!

10 oz NY Strip

Lobster Mashed Potatoes

Creamed Corn and Scalloped Potatoes



Chocolate Strawberry, Pecan Tart, Butter Cake



The dessert was a signature dessert trio which included chocolate strawberry, pecan tart and Mini butter cake. The plate was warm so the cakes and strawberry slid around the plate. I had to take a picture of Amy's plate cuz it looked better. The berry was sweet but WOW were the cakes on the sweet side. If I didn't have to work the next day I would have taken dessert with coffee. It would have been better.

Overall, I would still go for Restaurant Week to try Mastro's at least once. My recommendation is to ask to NOT sit in the main dining room. You won't be able to hear yourself talk or think. You'd be drowned out by the music and the singing and find yourselves speaking as quickly as you could between songs.  The steak was a bit salty but for some it can be okay but the value is good. Most had to go bag but the bags are HUGE and apparently only one size no matter how much food you have to bring home.  LOL  I don't know if I'd do this again but I'd probably opt out of the Lobster mashed potatoes.  

Ceviche from The Lime Truck

After a long hiatus, I'm back with a brief post. On Friday, The Lime Truck came to my work place for a few hours. With all of the hype, would it be worth it????

I was debating back and forth..go for the pulled pork tacos at $4 or blue crab ceviche at $10. I know steep right!!! Sigh... However, I'm a bit of a sucker and decided to go for the ceviche. Try it once especially when I heard they were going to be on The Food Network Great Food Truck Race. I also decided to do the limeade since part of the $ would go to charity.

What I got was a lot of scallops and real crab meat. It wasn't as tangy as the ceviche I've had before. The chips were like pita chips and there was a lot of sauce in the container that it soaked through. The one thing I was impressed with was that the chips did NOT get soggy which was impressive. They were crunchy until the end. The limeade wasn't as sour or tangy as I thought. Maybe too much ice or sugar for me. :(

Would I try it again...probably not but I'd go for the chips in a heartbeat. I heard the pulled pork taco are good so I'll try that if the opportunity arises again.