HOT SUMMER EATS

--Compiled by Claudia Figueroa

BLUE BEET

Blue Beet’s $2.95 Beef Grenadine Tuesday night special is a meat lover’s

fantasy: marinated beef strips on a mound of mashed potatoes and candied

carrots. A blues band entertains patrons with classic songs, ranging from

Blue Oyster Cult to Bob Dylan. The restaurant is at 107 21st Place in

Newport Beach. Hours: 11:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Information: (949)

675-2338.

BRISTOL CAFE

When Bristol Street’s New York Burrito (a wonderful little oxymoron)

changed its name to Bristol Cafe, many patrons found themselves confused

and sad; they thought its owner had put an end to the best culinary wraps

in Costa Mesa. But, in fact, Bristol Cafe has the same menu and continues

to serve a plethora of health consciously prepared wraps, including the

house favorite: A barbecue wrap, with marinated chicken, crushed

pineapple and coleslaw, topped with barbecue sauce and served with a side

of tortilla chips. Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m. to 6

p.m. Saturday. The cafe is at 320 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. Information:

(714) 540-8903.

BRITTA’S CAFE

Besides being a sweet, earthy lady, Britta Pulliam owns and operates one

of the most pleasant cafes on the Newport Beach Peninsula. With open

French doors and a dining room that faces Main Street, patrons may enjoy

Britta’s selection of fine wines and lively atmosphere before they choose

from a menu that includes wild king salmon with horseradish crust and

rack of lamb seasoned with garden herbs. Hours: 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

The cafe is at 205 Main St., Balboa. Information: (949) 675-8146.

CAFE JARDIN

Spend your afternoon in a botanical garden enjoying chef Peter El Corel’s

vegetable strudel with bell pepper coulis or quiche Lorraine. The cafe is

in Sherman Library and Gardens and features sandwich du jardin, a

spectacular veggie plate made with grilled portobello mushrooms and

freshly baked foccacia bread. Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. weekdays. The

cafe and library are at 2647 E. Pacific Coast Highway, Corona del Mar.

Information: (949) 673-0033.

CALIFORNIA BEACH

Sushi and art are more compatible than you think. When you eat at

California Beach it’s not the sushi chef you’re checking out--although

there’s a lot to admire about the way he chops that tuna into little tiny

squares. It’s the images of Jimi Hendrix and John Lennon hanging on the

wall. The food and art combined with a couple of sake shots will send you

straight to electric lady land. It’s all groovy, baby. But getting past

the psychotropic art, the restaurant serves up some pretty fantastic

sushi, including mouthwatering, fresh-water eel, halibut and crispy

spider rolls. Hours: 5:30 to 10:30 p.m. daily. California Beach is at

3355 Via Lido, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 675-0575.

COSTA MESA OMELETTE PARLOR

“Just-a-Jiffy burger” is exactly that: a hamburger smothered with peanut

butter. Costa Mesa Omelette Parlor attracts diners with unusual taste

buds and imagination, but good food and friendly service keep ‘em coming

for more. Chili lovers will appreciate “banking on Ken Fowler,” a fluffy

omelet stuffed with chili con carne and cheddar cheese. Hours: 6 a.m. to

3 p.m. daily. The Omelette Parlor is at 179 E. 17th St., Costa Mesa.

Information: (949) 645-0740.

MEMPHIS SOUL BAR CAFE

Some of the youthful regulars enjoy the ambience, but regulars at Memphis

come for the Southern-style hospitality and tasty food. The patio is the

perfect spot to enjoy a fried catfish filet plate, served with hush

puppies, mustard greens and black-eyed peas with okra, tomatoes and

andouille. It’s proof that Chef Diego Velasco has mastered the art of

Louisiana-style cooking. So relax, order a vox apple martini and enjoy

Memphis’ comfy, retro-fied atmosphere, especially Thursday nights, when

The Todd Oliver Quartet adds a little bit of steam with improvisational

jazz tunes. This place is sure to please those with a healthy appetite

and an affinity for good entertainment. Hours: lunch is served from 11:30

a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays; dinner, from 5 to 10 p.m. Mondays through

Wednesdays, 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 5 to 9:30 p.m.

Sundays. And there’s a brunch menu from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sundays.

The cafe is at 2920 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. Reservations: (714) 432-7685

PLEIN AIR CAFE

The Plein Air Cafe is the perfect place to enjoy a well-deserved

lunchtime break. It’s in the Orange County Museum of Art, and patrons

have the choice of eating in the sculpture gardens or the pavilion, which

has a view of the garden. Also, diners eat like aristocrats but pay

reasonable prices. The menu includes a pear salad, soup du jour, Chinese

chicken salad, a mango and brie quesadilla, fresh Dungeness crab cakes

and a chicken breast smothered with roasted bell peppers and mushrooms.

Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. The museum/cafe is at

850 San Clemente Drive, Newport Beach. Information: (949) 760-9711.

TACO MESA

Taco Mesa’s grilled chicken taco wrapped in a steaming corn tortilla and

drowned in fresh cilantro salsa is just as delicious as its calamari

tacos. Aside from a wide selection of Mexican cuisine, Taco Mesa offers

yummy empanadas. They’re made with fresh corn dough stuffed and grilled

with your choice of many options: potatoes, chorizo and cheese, nopalilos

(cactus) and cheese, chicken and cheese, steak, mushrooms and cheese and

real crap, or shrimp and cheese. The chicken tacos are prepared just

right, with fresh tomatoes and lettuce. Add a side of guacamole and green

salsa for extra flavor. Hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily. Taco Mesa is at

647 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa. Information: 949-642-0629

THAI WAVE

Thai Wave is not a place where you can stay cool during the summer. Most

of the dishes, such as the chicken panang curry, are hot enough to make

you break into a sweat. But on a summer night, it’s a great place to take

a date for a wide selection of traditional Thai dishes. Don’t skip the

tantalizing garlic shrimp plate. Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. Thai

Wave is at 211 62nd St., Newport Beach. Information: (949) 645-3057.