Restaurant Review: ARC Restaurant!

Finally got to check out ARC, a great new restaurant in Costa Mesa in the OC Mart Mix that is also the home to Portola Coffee Lab and Seventh Tea Bar!

 This non-descript building is the home to ARC!

ARC cooks everything over fire and you can see that by the cords of wood at the entrance that you are going to be in for something entirely different. This a throw back to the time when cooks used only fire as their fuel.

There is not a lot of seating and because of this they do not take reservations. So, we ordered some beer and waited for a table or three seats at the bar. They also offer wine and make some great looking cocktails. I will order one of their cocktails next time for sure.

The bar is a great way to watch the chefs at work. Because the place is fairly tiny, it makes for a much more intimate setting.

We ordered a few items to start. Everything is cooked over the open flame so everything comes in an iron pan! Careful these pans are going to be hot! We each ordered an appetizer. The meatballs came out first. There are three large meatballs in a fresh marina sauce. The meatball was perfectly cooked. It had a slight crust on the outside but was nice and light pink on the inside. The meat literally melted in my mouth! Great start! You also get a couple slices of wonderful garlic bread!

We also ordered the dip, a delicious concoction of tomatoes, peppers and ricotta with more of that amazing garlic bread to scoop it up with!

We also ordered the calamari which was a perfect blend of calamari, onions, shishito peppers and potatoes mixed with vinegar and citrus.

ARC also cuts all of its own meat and has special aged cuts that are off menu. One of my friends is a huge meat fan and asked if he could see the choices. The presentation was fantastic and they recommended that since this was our first time here to order off the menu and see if we liked their style of cooking and when we come back and if we would like a different cut of meat then we can order from there special selection.

There was another tray that was brought out with some expensive cuts. Perhaps next time.

One of my friends went with the tart which was a flatbread with onions, parsley and their hand cut bacon.

My other friend and I both went with the steak! This dish was amazing! The potatoes were great and dare I say the portion was too much! The steak was cooked to perfection! There is a slight crust on the steak seasoned with salt and the meat was still pink on the inside. It was moist and tender and if I had room I would have ordered another one.

Great service, a fun environment that seems to have quite a few regulars, plus great food makes this a new favorite of mine! I can't wait to come back!

Oh and they do not offer desserts on the menu. This may change in time! Keeping my fingers crossed!

ARC Restaurant Food & Libations

3321 Hyland Ave
Ste F
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(949) 500-5561

 

http://www.arcrestaurant.com

 

Menu

Hours:

Mon-Fri 11 am - 11 pm

Sat-Sun 10 am - 11 pm

All photos taken with the HTC One and not touched up or enchanced! These are the raw photo files!

Media Preview: Seventh Tea Bar (December 18, 2012)

I have gone to heaven! Christa and Jeff Duggan, the masterminds behind my favorite place for coffee, Portola Coffee Lab and the genius craft brew bar Theorem, are bringing tea into the mix! They are opening Seventh Tea Bar in January! I was lucky enough to attend a media preview!

The name Seventh derives from the Chinese philosophy that there are seven necessities to life, with tea being the seventh of these. If you enjoy tea, then you really owe it to yourself to come here next month to have a tea experience like no other. The knowledgeable tea baristas (my phrase not theirs) will take you through the various teas and brewing processes, much like they do at Portola and at Theorem. It is the educational knowledge that one walks away with from each visit, especially at Theorem, that I can equate to understanding the differences of wines for instance. But instead of wine, it is gaining knowledge of coffee and eventually tea. And after my experience at Seventh Tea Bar, I completely understand why tea is one of the seven necessities of life.

The first tea for the evening was their Yunnan Gold Tip tea from Yunnan, China. It was prepared by the one and only Truman! Truman is the wizard behind Theorem and is as passionate and knowledgeable about coffee as he is about tea. What I learned about this particular tea is that in China only royalty was allowed to drink tea made from the tips of tea leaves.

Truman prepared this tea utilizing an aeropress typically used for coffee. The resulting tea was slightly peppery with a subtle bitterness to it. I would pair this tea with something sweet. I  paired it with the French baguette and strawberry-black pepper jam. I really enjoyed the contrasting flavors of slightly bitter and sweet. Plus, the pepper in both the tea and the jam blended well together.

The second tea was the Dragonwell 3rd. It is a green tea and while I typically enjoy green tea, this one was much more bitter than what I was use to. I gladly paired this with the Smoked Chicken Salad (smoked chicken, Greek yogurt vinaigrette, green apple and scallions) tea sandwich. The bitterness of the tea and the subtle flavors of the sandwich paired perfectly with one another.

The last tea I sampled for the evening was the Oolong Fanciest from O Mei, Taiwan. This was by far my most favorite tea of the evening. It was prepared using the gaiwan technique and I watched as the tea barista Kelly infused this tea several times. This produced a very subtle, full-bodied tea that was very easy on the palette. I easily paired this with the Gravlax Glory (house cured citrus salmon, shallot-caper relish, dill creme fraiche, sliced heirlooms) tea sandwich. I loved the subtleness of the tea paired with the saltiness of the salmon. A pure joy!
Taking a look at just some of the food offerings that will be available at Seventh! The menu was created by Chef Katherine Louis and is meant to not only compliment the teas, but stand out on its own as well.  Starting with the top left is the Smoked Chicken Salad tea sandwiches! The Gravlax Glory tea sandwiches are on the upper right! The apricot and walnut scones on the lower left! The amazing light and buttery croissants on the lower right! Anytime of the day that you visit will be a heavenly experience!

The unbelievably delicious strawberry-black pepper jam on the upper left! I want a few bottles to take home please! The top right is my plate to sample the food offerings! I'm not ashamed to say I went back from more! The bottom is an example of the menu. January 2nd cannot come soon enough!

Special thanks to Christa Duggan (sorry I didn't get a picture with all of us Jeff!) for this wonderful preview! You have already made a coffee fan out of me for life! And you are already making me a tea fan for life! I cannot wait for whatever your next idea may be!

Thank you to coffee and tea barista extraordinaire Truman for giving me the understanding of the many complexities of coffee and now tea. I look forward to be further educated in the future!

And of course thank you to Mona for the invite! Thank you introducing me to Portola coffee Lab. My world has never been the same!

This evening was truly special and to be with people who truly love what they do makes everything that much more enjoyable! When people tell you that the extra ingredient is love, they really mean it here. You will find people that understand their craft far better than anyplace I have ever been. And when you merge the best ingredients with the most knowledgeable people, you create magic.

Seventh Tea Bar opens on January 2nd and if you are a fan of tea or just a casual tea drinker, you will not find a better place to experience tea.

*Seventh Tea Bar officially opens January 2, 2013*

Seventh Tea Bar
The OC Mart Mix
3313 Hyland Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

Press Release: Seventh Tea Bar by Portola Coffee Lab to open January 2, 2013!

Portola Coffee Lab Owners Jeff + Christa Duggan’s latest concept in Orange County redefines the Tea House

 

Costa Mesa, CA (December 2012) – Expanding its modest selection of teas, Portola Coffee Lab is introducing a craft tea house, Seventh Tea Bar, which opens to the public on January 2, 2013 at the OC Mart Mix in Costa Mesa (3313 Hyland Avenue). The concept’s name is derived from the traditional Chinese belief that tea is the seventh of the seven necessities.

With more than 30 unblended single-estate teas brewed with various methods, Seventh Tea Bar will deliver an experience as rich as its sister coffee concepts, Portola Coffee Lab and Theorem slow bar. Owners Jeff and Christa Duggan will focus on a unique and thoughtful selection of unblended teas spanning the globe, but offerings will also include iced teas on tap, and fruit and herb-infused custom creations. Seventh will offer various traditional tea services for individuals or groups, complete with Chef-inspired tea sandwiches, scones and pastries. These will be available throughout the day to fulfill the most commonly followed tea times from around the world.

The design for Seventh Tea Bar can best be described as Victorian Modern, where old-school tea has a modern edge. The space features multiple seating options from table seating to oversized chairs. A patio is perfect for larger groups and special events.
“This is definitely not your grandmother’s tea house – after water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world and we intend to present the best quality and most interesting unblended single-estate tea selections with various brew methods,” explained Jeff Duggan, who, along with his wife, Christa, opened a barista-driven craft coffee bar, Theorem, less than two months ago. “We’ve spent most of our time focusing on delivering a unique craft coffee experience, and this next step in our story takes us into the vast world of tea, which is full of interesting twists and nuances.”
Seventh Tea Bar by Portola Coffee Lab is located in the OC Mart Mix at 3313 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA 92626. Following its opening on January 2, 2013, Seventh Tea Bar will be open daily to the public. Reservations are recommended for larger parties and special tea service requests. For more information, please visit http://www.seventhtea.com.

ABOUT PORTOLA COFFEE LAB
What began as the selfish pursuit for delicious coffee turned into a decade-long fanatic passion for roasting coffee for Jeff Duggan, who first opened Portola Handcrafted Coffee Roasters in Irvine began in 2009. Using a very small batch roaster, Jeff worked feverishly to keep the pantries and hoppers full in many homes and food establishments throughout Orange County, but roasting meticulously sourced coffee beans and serving them ultra-fresh was not enough. He found that far too many great beans were destroyed at the hands of poor equipment, flawed technique, and coffee storage dispensers. To further his brewing science, which continues to be underestimated in the industry, Jeff and his wife, Christa, created Portola Coffee Lab in 2011. The goal was to create a 100% single-cup craft brew coffeehouse designed and constructed as a nod to craft, quality, and freshness.
Within a year of bringing a never-before-seen concept and style of coffee to Orange County – one that had previously only been offered in the country’s largest metropolitan areas – Portola Coffee Lab has created a distinct brand that revolves around producing an artisanal culinary product, Craft Coffee. In September 2012, husband-and-wife team, Jeff and Christa Duggan, expand their culinary range with the opening of their 6-seat Craft Coffee bar, Theorem.

The concept was quickly followed by a foray into the world of tea with the introduction of Seventh Tea Bar in December 2012. The Duggans’ take on the classic tea house offers nearly 100 unique and thoughtful varieties of tea spanning the globe, ranging from loose-leaf varieties, iced teas on tap, and fruit and herb-infused custom creations.

For more information, please visit http://www.portolacoffeelab.com.

Review of Theorem at Portola Coffee Lab - Autumn Menu September 25, 2012

Reservations for a coffee bar? It only has six seats? I know some of you are thinking, "That's crazy!" And others are thinking, "Wow! I wonder what makes it so unique that I need reservations?" The later was my train of thought and I made reservations for my friend Stephanie's birthday. My friend Steph is an avid coffee drinker!

First off, I want to say, sorry there will not be a whole lot of photos for this review as they ask us to not use our cell phones, cameras or other electronic devices while inside Theorem. The idea is to enjoy the flavors of the coffee and its presentation while learning the inspirations behind each drink without being interrupted by text messages, phone calls or picture taking. I, for one, am a big fan of this idea and it really made the experience that much more enjoyable. So with that, I will do my best to describe all of the drinks that we had.

The day that we went was the first day of the new menu and it celebrated Autumn. In the future, the menu will change each week and focus on a select coffee or a season or both.

Our barista for the day was Truman Severson. He shared his thoughts on Autumn and what it meant to him. He told us how he was reminded of camping as a child and the smell of smoke. He was also reminded of ten different fruits, vegetables, and spices that he had out for us in glasses and then filled with hot water. That would part of our second course.

He talked to us about fruits of the season such as apples. He prepared an apple cider with ginger shot for us to help cleanse the palette and get us prepared for a taste of Autumn.

The first drink was a cappuccino. There was a base of maple syrup and sea salt was sprinkled on top. It had a nice smoky scent to it. But there was no smoky taste as you sipped it. It felt savory but not heavy. Surprisingly the maple syrup and the sea salt did not overwhelm the flavor of the coffee. Great start to the Autumn menu!

The next drink was an Italiano. Remember those ten glasses of hot water? Well, by now, each one was infused with the flavor of its contents. Instead of Truman making us his vision of Autumn in a drink, he allowed us to syphon whatever flavors we wanted to combine into a glass. We then mixed it with an espresso and had our own vision of Autumn. I combined the flavors of apple, cinnamon, ginger and cranberry. Each sip covered the entire taste palette on my tongue. Such a simple idea that works amazingly well. It was really cool to be able to make my own vision of Autumn! I would love to see more types of interaction like this in the future!

The last drink was a con panna. This was the gastronomic drink of the day! Truman combines apple sauce with liquid nitrogen to make sort of an apple ice. This was combined with another espresso and hazelnut whipped cream in a frosted glass. I took Truman's advice and tried to keep all three ingredients separated for as long as possible to taste each ingredient. Such a great way to finish the tour of autumn.

Steph and I both thoroughly enjoyed our tour of Autumn as told through coffee.

The cost was $20 and that will vary with each menu and its offerings. I love the atmosphere and the interaction with the barista and hearing him tell his story of the idea for the menu. With the menu changing every week, there is more than enough reason to come back more often. In fact I have already made reservations for next month! Reservations can only be made through the web site and I have included the link below.

If you are a coffee lover or even a casual coffee drinker, you owe it to yourself to make reservations at Theorem.

Reservations can be made up to a month in advance at:
http://www.portolacoffeelab.com/theorem

As a reminder they ask that you do not use cell phones, cameras or other electronic devices while inside Theorem.

Theorem is located in the OC Mart Mix at 3313 Hyland Avenue, Costa Mesa.

Review of Portola Coffee Lab: The Perfect Cup of Coffee!

Mad scientists exist and they exist for the cause of good at Portola Coffee Labs! It's like a mad science experiment gone exceptionally well! This was my first time here and I was pleased to see everyone dressed in lab coats! They take their cup of coffee seriously!

The photo above shows the V-60, made by a company called Hario. It is a single cup drip method where the perfect amount of hot water is placed in the cone and the grounds brew. Each cup can take up to 4-8 minutes to brew. This was totally worth the extra time. The cup was rich and smooth!

This cool looking gadget is called the Kyoto-style dripper. This slow (8 hour) process drips water methodically onto grounds to produce a robust, concentrated cup of coffee.

The best cup of coffee I have ever had!

In a few days they are opening a one of a kind experience called Theorem! Think a cocktail bar but with coffee and minus the alcohol! For a set price you will be able to experience and learn about coffee in a way never before realized. Reservations are mandatory and only taken through the website! I can't wait to go!


Portola Coffee Lab

The OC Mart Mix
3313 Hyland Ave
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

(949) 284-0596

http://www.portolacoffeelab.com/

Hours:

Mon-Fri 6 am - 9 pm

Sat 7 am - 9 pm

Sun 7 am - 8 pm