Since my first visit to Lazy Dog Café in Irvine, I’ve been a fan ever since. The Brea location just opened and it sits in the former Le Vie en Rose plot. The building is brand new and has a mountain lodge look to it with floor to ceiling glass façade to let the natural light in. If you have ever been to Big Bear, the architecture is very similar to the homes facing the lake.
On Valentine’s Day, Lazy Dog will be kicking off sweet menu specials, including a Sparkly Strawberry Sangria, as well as Surf & Turf and Passion Fish entrees that are sure to win extra points with that special someone.
Let’s take a look at the Valentine’s Day Special Menu:
- Sparkling Strawberry Sangria - Freixenet (an organic, sustainable sparkling wine), fresh strawberries, citrus juices ($7.50)
- Surf & Turf - Hickory-smoked, bacon-wrapped USDA Prime Coulotte Steak, Grilled Garlic-Herb Jumbo Shrimp Skewer, Mashed Potatoes, and Broccolini with Burgundy Wine Sauce and Citrus Cream Sauce ($21.95)
- Passion Fish & Champagne-Lump Crab Cream Sauce - Pan roasted Barramundi, Walnut Wild Rice, Sweet Pea Shoots with Champagne-Lump Crab Cream Sauce ($19.95)
- Butter Cake – From the new dessert menu, homemade butter cake topped with strawberry compote garnished with balsamic reduction and mint chiffonade finished with vanilla bean ice cream ($4.95)
They also have an extensive selection on their menu to choose from as well. Let’s take a peek:
Lazy Dog Burger is a charbroiled 1/2-pound beef patty, mayonnaise, our house-made savory onion relish, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, red onion, atop a grilled soft potato bun. The burger was juicy and charbroiled to perfection. The bun was sturdy, yet spongy. The potato bread flavor was very apparent and added a great taste to the burger. The Cajun fries with chipotle ranch for dipping was awesome! If I had just the fries, I would be a happy camper! Thumbs up, way up!
Braised Pot Roast Melt is braised pot roast, melted mozzarella, caramelized red onions, tangy black pepper and horseradish cream sauce atop toasted herb foccacia bread. This sandwich was finger-licking good. The pot roast was so tender it just melts in your mouth. The combination of creamy & gooey mozzarella, sweet caramelized red onions, zingy black pepper & horseradish sauce works really well together. My only complaint is that it messy to eat as a sandwich. But, there are no rules on how to eat it so pick up that fork and go at it. The sautéed spinach was cooked just right with a vibrant green color and fresh flavor. Thumbs up!
Cobb Salad is chopped chicken breast, tomato, avocado, bleu cheese crumbles, hickory-smoked bacon, and egg. Ask for it tossed so all of the flavors get mingled together. Cobb salad is my favorite salad and Lazy Dog makes a pretty good one. It’s a close second to the Cheesecake Factory’s rendition which is my all time favorite. A good addition might be a slice of garlic cheese toast or breadstick. Otherwise, well done! Thumbs up!
Lazy Dog Café also unveiled a new dessert menu a couple of months ago. Treat yourself and your sweetheart to one of these fabulous desserts:
Coconut Pudding Pie is a tropical treat that combines layers of warm graham cracker crisp and caramelized fresh pineapple topped with coconut rum pudding and housemade vanilla whipped cream. This dessert is amazing! You won’t want to share this one so get two. The vanilla bean whipped cream is made fresh daily. The coconut rum pudding tastes like homemade pudding with coconut flakes inside. It’s not ultra-smooth, just a tad lumpy to give it that homemade feel, but light, creamy, and full of coconut flavor. The pineapple was perfectly caramelized and juicy. The graham cracker crust on the bottom had the texture of gingerbread giving you a nicer crunch than just a plain graham cracker crust. Brilliantly executed! Thumbs up, way up!
Butter Cake is their homemade butter cake topped with strawberry compote garnished with sweet balsamic reduction, mint chiffonade and a tennis ball-size scoop of vanilla bean ice cream. The cake is like a combination of a vanilla cake and biscuit. It holds up really well with the compote like a gourmet take on strawberry shortcake. The balsamic vinegar was wonderful with the vanilla ice cream, like chocolate syrup. I think this would be much better with just some homemade vanilla whipped cream to balance out the heavy cake and forgo the vanilla ice cream. Thumbs up!
Kahlua & Coffee Crème Brulee is their version of the classic crème brulee infused with Kahlua liquor, fresh brewed coffee and vanilla beans. The sugar on top is torched and topped with chocolate-covered espresso beans. This is the best flavor infused crème brulee I’ve ever had! I love the Kahlua flavor with the creamy custard. The caramelized sugar was like stained glass and shattered with the touch of a spoon. The chocolate covered espresso beans were awesome! This is definitely a coffee-lovers dessert. Thumbs up, way up!
Lemon Blueberry Jar is a parfait of sorts, layered with graham cracker crisp, tart lemon curd, blueberry compote and fresh, housemade vanilla bean whipped cream. First off, I think this would be a good follow-up with a fish or seafood entrée. The tart lemon custard was very tart so be prepared. The blueberries get a little lost in the lemon, but there was a slight flavor. The whipped cream toned down the tartness, but not enough for my taste. Though, I love the graham cracker crust! The presentation was very rustic and playful.
Cinnamon & Sugar Pizza is their dessert pizza, brick oven-baked, with cinnamon sugar butter and a single scoop of vanilla ice cream. This is a great dessert to share with the family. The cinnamon sugar butter was perfectly caramelized and added a layer of crispy texture. The vanilla ice cream was luscious and had plenty of vanilla bean specks in it. Thumbs up!
Triple Chocolate Chip Brownie is their signature brownie recipe that combines milk, white and semi-sweet chocolate chips to create a moist and rich chocolate treat that sits atop a teardrop-shaped run of chocolate fudge and is dusted with powdered sugar topped with a tennis ball-size scoop of vanilla ice cream. The chocolate brownie was decadent and full of rich chocolate flavor. The chocolate fudge was more like a ganache with a velvety smooth texture. Thumbs up!
Homemade Apple Cobbler is served dusted with powdered sugar and round scoop of vanilla ice cream. Now, this is one of the best apple cobblers I’ve ever had. The apples were sweetened just right with a perfectly balanced cinnamon flavor. The crumble topping was awesome – buttery and added a soft crunchy texture to the dessert. The ice cream was definitely a plus. When it starts to melt, it became an instant vanilla crème anglais. Thumbs up, way up!
Take your sweetheart to the Lazy Dog Café. There’s also plenty of patio seating if you would like to bring your pup along with you!
Atmosphere: 5 out of 5 stars
Service: 5 out of 5 stars
Décor: 5 out of 5 stars
Food: 4 out of 5 stars
For more information:
Lazy Dog Café
240 S State College Blvd
Brea CA 92821
714.529.9300
Or visit their website to find a location near you
Hours:
- Sunday from 10am to 12am
- Monday through Saturday from 11am to 12am
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