Reservations were made by my sister Cathy and brother-in-law Mike who sat at the bar waiting while we were still navigating around a massive (new) parking structure at Irvine Spectrum trying to find a parking space on a Saturday night. My other sister Mary Ellen was somewhere far behind us. It had been a long while down memory lane when we first walked this spectacular outdoor mall in Orange County. Built by the Donald Bren Irvine Company ( a most respected and diversified private Real Estate company) with 1.15 million sf of building space, 130 stores and a 6400 seat theater with 21 screens, scores of restaurants, fountains, 350 palm trees and 500,000 ceramic tiles ( not to be persnickety) it wowed my attention for sure. The walkathon throughout is sure to burn a few calories but it is as pleasant as the county fair type food that graces the mall and lures you in. I'm talking coney island kabobs,tacos, pizza, pretzels, subs, funnel cakes ( see pics), yogurt, sushi, candy ( oh! the chocolate covered nutty caramel apples!),fudge, ice cream, crepes. The restaurants rate as some of my favorites . . .the kind you keep on your bookmark list like Cheesecake Factory and P.F. Changs.
There was some serious electric guitar playing mid courtyard and a 108 foot Lighted Giant Ferris Wheel handcrafted in Italy. My son tried to get on but alas, the gate closed at the late hour.
The family met at Javiers Mexican Grill which put every Mexican restaurant I have ever been to in my life, to shame. This was a serious eating and drinking hole. The tables were slammed with food, wall to wall people ( you walk sideways practically) and an army of servers who have grace and aplomb amid the screaming happy campers. We were navigated into a darkened back room lit with candles, a fake tree with flickering lights and a zen like fountain wall slick with water. The ambience was top notch. The menu extravagant. The salsa biting hot. Most of us ordered the lobster enchiladas and honestly, the beans were to die for. I don't remember refried beans like that since Mama Cita in Mexico when we lived in Guadalajara as young stupid students. Wow! Drinks? Margaritas without any allergic response. Just a wonderful show of food.
After sampling desserts along the courtyard, ( sharing means you get a bite or two) we realized the time got away from us. It was 11 pm and we tried to find a bathroom. Wound up in Dave and Busters and a new world opened up to us. Dave and Busters is one of those honky tonk establishments of eat,drink,play. The menu ( no we did not eat again) carried soft pretzel bits with spicy horseradish mustard or honey sweet mustard and cheddar cheese sauce. Flatbread pizzas, buffalo wings, potato skins, philly steak rolls, chips with the quac, spinach dips, edamame, burgers, quesadillas; the usual fare for people who get hungry playing video games. We walked through in order to find the restrooms and lo and behold, the sing song sounds sang to us like a casino melody. My sister bought a $20 power card and began to game. We tried skeet ball and wheel of fortune that brings on winning tickets you turn in for cool toys and high tech gadgets. The clock was ticking and we were tired but come on. This idea of fun out of the brainy agenda of Buster-- who ran a watering hole in 1982 next door to Dave who ran a fun and games facility for big people and combined their efforts friends that they became turned this enterprise into a monstrosity of fun all over the country ( Look for one near you). Definitely on my own agenda for a return visit.
