Javier's Cantina & Grill- Irvine, CA

For a business lunch, someone suggested Javier's Cantina & Grill at the Irvine Spectrum. There really isn't anything thrilling to eat at the Spectrum but it was closeby and also I have not been to Javier's before.

When we arrived at around 1:15 pm, the restaurant was busy and loud. We immediately asked to be seated outside as the interior was very dark and the table they were originally going to seat us seemed too uncomfortably close to another table to have any type of discussion without major overlappage of voices.

The tables at the patio was a better atmosphere, and the waiter left us with our menus and brought out water.

While munching on some chips and some (watery) spicy salsa, I perused the menu. I finally decided on the Steak Picado.

After our waiter took our order, we continued to munch on chips/salsa. I ended up only eating the chips as the salsa didn't appeal to me (at all).

After about 15 minutes or so, our orders arrived. I took a quick picture of my plate...



^Steak Picado - cubes of Angus beef steak sauteed with tomatoes, onions, pasilla chiles, and flavored with cilantro. Served with arroz, frijoles, and warm tortillas.

It looked good and smelled good. The beef was tender enough but apparently the chef got a little too seasoning-happy as the cubes tasted like...just salt.

As I was hungry, I didn't care and did not ask to substitute another order. With enough ice cold water, and rice to go along with the beef, it was not bad. I enjoyed the tomatoes, but it was standard sauteed tomatoes.

I also picked off my director's plate too as she didn't finish her Seafood Enchilada but it was just meh.

As for the service, it was pretty spotty. Our waiter forgot to bring out the additional taco plate to my co-worker's entree and also forgot my warm tortillas and when we asked about it he explained that he was expecting some of the kitchen staff to bring it out but he will go check.

In the end, they still didn't bring it out, and I think we both didn't care enough to ask again.

The waiter, however, did take my co-worker's entree off the bill I believe.

Good thing this was a business lunch, as I didn't need to pay, but I highly doubt I'll come again or recommend it to anyone else.

Javier's Cantina & Grill (Irvine Spectrum, across from Cheesecake Factory)
45 Fortune Drive #400
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 872-2101