Roll into the Orchard Hills Shopping Center and you might think you’ve arrived in wine country.
There are dozens (possibly hundreds) of shady olive trees everywhere, mixed with some stately palms. The shopping center itself has a facade of stone, all different shapes and sizes, the kind you might see in Europe. Even the McDonald’s here is ensconced in stone.
The center also has an open-air patio for dining, with a few dozen tables and chairs. Wooden trellises and umbrellas offer shade. And overhead, heat lamps are fired up on cool nights.
In addition to Zov’s (see accompanying story), here are several eateries to choose from.
Ren Asian Bistro offers fast casual standards such as Yang Chow fried rice, shave ice and boba Thai tea. Jinbei offers sushi and traditional Japanese fare, and La Sirena Grill serves up fresh contemporary Mexican fare.
The day I was there the special was a Diablo Quesadilla made with ghost pepper cheese, fajita veggies, blackened chicken and chipotle aioli.
A family-owned restaurant, La Sirena has won raves from publications as varied as the Los Angeles Times — “Some of the best Mexican Food I’ve ever tasted”— to Bike Magazine — “for the best breakfast or post-ride burritos and (craft) beers” — to Sunset Magazine, which plugged it in its Best of the West.
La Sirena is also committed to strong environmental ideals. Its beef is grass-fed, and its chicken is cage-free. Even its dining room is eco-conscious, designed with reclaimed wood.
