Coconut-centric dessert house from Thailand opened recently at Union Market Tustin. (Courtesy All Coco)

Puesto opened a second location in Irvine at 3311 Michelson Drive, Irvine. Shown: potato taquitos. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Rancho Santa Margarita-based John’s Incredible Pizza Company, a family entertainment and food venue, is opening its second Orange County location later this year at the Westminster Mall. (Courtesy John’s Incredible Pizza)

Rancho Santa Margarita-based John’s Incredible Pizza Company, a family entertainment and food venue, is opening its second Orange County location later this year at the Westminster Mall. (Courtesy John’s Incredible Pizza)

Rancho Santa Margarita-based John’s Incredible Pizza Company, a family entertainment and food venue, is opening its second Orange County location later this year at the Westminster Mall. (Courtesy John’s Incredible Pizza)



Rancho Santa Margarita-based John’s Incredible Pizza Company, a family entertainment and food venue, is opening its second Orange County location later this year at the Westminster Mall. (Courtesy John’s Incredible Pizza)

Rancho Santa Margarita-based John’s Incredible Pizza Company, a family entertainment and food venue, is opening its second Orange County location later this year at the Westminster Mall. (Courtesy John’s Incredible Pizza)

Rancho Santa Margarita-based John’s Incredible Pizza Company, a family entertainment and food venue, is opening its second Orange County location later this year at the Westminster Mall. (Courtesy John’s Incredible Pizza)

Rancho Santa Margarita-based John’s Incredible Pizza Company, a family entertainment and food venue, is opening its second Orange County location later this year at the Westminster Mall. (Courtesy John’s Incredible Pizza)

Rancho Santa Margarita-based John’s Incredible Pizza Company, a family entertainment and food venue, is opening its second Orange County location later this year at the Westminster Mall. (Courtesy John’s Incredible Pizza)



Puesto opened a second location in Irvine at 3311 Michelson Drive, Irvine. (Courtesy Puesto)

Puesto opened a second location in Irvine at 3311 Michelson Drive, Irvine. (Courtesy Puesto)

Puesto opened a second location in Irvine at 3311 Michelson Drive, Irvine. (Courtesy Puesto)

Puesto opened a second location in Irvine at 3311 Michelson Drive, Irvine. (Courtesy Puesto)

Puesto opened a second location in Irvine at 3311 Michelson Drive, Irvine. Shown: Shared appetizer plate of elote (roasted Mexican corn). (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)



Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge recently opened after a menu revamp. The venue now features modern takes on a steak house menu such as this classic Wedge salad. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge sports a new modern look. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Baby beets: a starter dish at Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

The new Leatherby’s dining room. (Nancy Luna, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Powell’s candy store announced its plan to close at the end of the month. (Register file photo)



Here’s the latest restaurant and retail news for the week ending Jan. 28, 2018.

Pizza venue in Westminster

Rancho Santa Margarita-based John’s Incredible Pizza Co., a family entertainment and food venue, is opening its second Orange County location later this year at the Westminster Mall.

The 41,000-square-foot Westminster venue will be the company’s 14th location.

John’s Incredible Pizza offers a buffet spread, rides and games for families all under one roof. Admission prices range from $5.49 to $7.49 for children and $11.99 for adults. The basic admission covers access to the gaming area plus all-you-can-eat buffet stations: pizza, pasta, fried chicken, soup, salad and dessert. Additional charges exist for unlimited soft drinks, flavored coffees and ICEEs.

The “Fun World” area includes 100 video and ticket-dispensing games, a spinning ride called Twister, a full-sized bumper car ride, and a free fall ride called Frog Hopper. The venue is expected to open in March.

John Parlet opened the very first John’s Incredible Pizza in 1997 in Victorville.

Tacos with a twist at Park Place

San Diego-based Puesto, a full service gourmet taco restaurant, opened its second Orange County location this month.

The new restaurant is also the brand’s second taco eatery in Irvine. Puesto has earned wild success for its gourmet tacos made with stone ground non-GMO blue corn tortillas. Puesto is best known for its signature Mexico City tacos where the protein is encased in a heaping of grilled cheese.

Register food critic Brad A. Johnson said: “The chef takes a handful of cheese and plops it onto the griddle. Then once the cheese has melted into a roundish blob, the taco fillings get piled on top. The whole thing is then rolled up like a crepe (it looks almost like a tamale at this point) and stuffed into a blue-corn tortilla with salsa.”

About half the tacos on the menu come layered with crisp, melted cheese, including the chicken verde, mushroom, and al pastor versions. Other notable dishes include a shareable plate of potato taquitos for $12. The elegant presentation features crispy taquitos stuffed with cheese, melted cheeses, and soft potatoes. The taquitos, made of red guajillo chipotle tortillas, are served standing up in a bed of guacamole and salsa fresca.

The 5,300-square-foot Park Place location is part of new AC Marriot Hotel but is not affiliated with the hotel. Customers can enter the restaurant, with an indoor-outdoor dining room, from Michelson Drive. The dining room features an 18-seat bar with a custom made tequila carousel.

“We’re incredibly grateful for the support that the Orange County community has shown us this past year, and we’re honored to open this second location in the bustling mixed-use Park Place center,” founder Eric Adler said in a statement. Address: 3311 Michelson Drive, Irvine.

Segerstrom dining gets revamp

Theater venue Leatherby’s Cafe Rouge reopened last week after a remodel updated the restaurant’s decor and menu.

The fine dining venue closed before the new year for a top-to-bottom makeover that included scrapping its haute American cuisine in favor of prime dry-aged steaks with traditional steakhouse sides such as macaroni and cheese, au gratin scalloped potatoes and a wedge salad.

The entree menu also includes brick chicken made with Mary’s Chicken, crispy skin duck breast, bone-in porterhouse pork chop, salmon with an agave lime glaze, scallops and tuna.

The layout of the restaurant remains the same, but the decor is vastly different.

White tablecloths are gone, replaced by elegant frosted acrylic tabletops by KrystalCast. Seating includes dark gray banquettes upholstered in felted wool. The restaurant, located inside the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. only during performances.

Dog Haus vandalized

Specialty sausage chain, Dog Haus, was forced to temporarily close its MainPlace Mall location after the restaurant was vandalized.

The Pasadena-based chain said it plans to reopen soon. The fast-casual concept operates 28 restaurants with plans to open dozens more across the country through franchising.

Candy shop closes

After a 10-year run, the nostalgic candy shop, Powell’s Sweet Shoppes in Laguna Niguel said it is closing at the end of the month.

“Thank you to all our loyal customers and fans! It has been a fun 10 years! Unfortunately, our lease is coming up for renewal and the new lease rate is not favorable for a viable business. We do not currently have plans to relocate at this time,” the shop said on its Facebook page.

The Willy Wonka-inspired candy shop sells a variety of retro sweets such that range from Abba Zabba candy bars to moon pies. The shop, at 27000 Alicia Parkway, will remain open until Jan. 31.

Coconut-mania in Tustin

If you’re a fan of all things coconut, head over to Union Market Tustin. The food hall at The District shopping center has landed an indie dessert concept from Thailand. Dubbed “All Coco,” the store opened last week, serving its menu of coconut-based desserts for the first time in the U.S. The concept has 15 locations in Thailand.

The menu features coconut ice cream, coconut water slushies, coconut soft-serve and frozen pudding mixed with coconut flesh. Prices range from $3 to $8.

“All Coco is the next evolution of the coconut water trend. We’re not only incorporating our premium coconut water into desserts but we’re also utilizing the entire coconut across the menu, from its husk and shell to the coveted young coconut meat for really unique and refreshing treats you just won’t find anywhere else right now,” Lakeet Ngov, director of U.S. operations, said in a statement.

All Coco opened in the space formerly occupied by Mr. Holmes Bakehouse.