Georgia’s Hosts Irvine Spectrum Center Grand Opening with Giveaways – Friday, October 18

Guests to receive special gift cards, mugs and keychains during Grand Opening
Georgia’s Hosts Irvine Spectrum Center Grand Opening with Giveaways – Friday, October 18
Photo: Official

Georgia’s Restaurant welcomes its fourth Southern California location with a Grand Opening celebration on Friday, October 18 at its new home at the Irvine Spectrum Center. Beginning at 11 a.m., the first 50 customers will receive a limited edition Georgia’s anniversary mug, which will include a gift card valued between $5 and $100 (distributed randomly). Each of the next 100 customers will receive a Georgia’s keychain with their order (first come, first serve, while supplies last).

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“As we celebrate the opening of our Irvine Spectrum Center location, we simultaneously applaud 10 successful years since the opening of our first location, which is at the Packing House,” says Nika Shoemaker-Machado in a statement, who owns the restaurant with her mother, Gretchen Shoemaker, and husband, Marlon Machado. “It’s quite an incredible feeling to see our family’s recipes become loved by so many throughout Southern California. We definitely filled a void in the Orange County market as we began to define local perception of Southern Soul Food.”

Georgia’s diverse menu delivers the experience of a home-cooked meal with recipes originating from generations past, adapted and updated for today’s diner. A great place to begin is with Nana Gretchen’s Fried Green Tomatoes, crispy coated fresh green tomatoes with a lemon aioli, and finger-licking Pulled Pork Sliders, slow-roasted pork and house-made BBQ sauce served on a brioche bun. For something a little more substantial, Southern Soul Food lovers must experience Georgia’s signature herb-seasoned, cornmeal-crusted, buttermilk Fried Chicken.

“Featuring only dark meat chicken and a special brine, our Fried Chicken has developed quite a following for being extra crispy, insanely juicy, perfectly golden and utterly addictive,” adds Shoemaker-Machado. “A personal favorite of mine, is our succulent Smothered Pork Chops, which are hand-tossed, pan-fried, and covered in bacon gravy… most people are compelled to lick the plate clean.”

Plates also include Georgia’s half rack of slow-roasted St. Louis BBQ Ribs; grilled-to-order 1855 premium Black Angus Tri-Tip; and farm-raised Fried Catfish, which is noted for its Creole-seasoned cornmeal crust. Each plate offering is accompanied by choice of delectable Soulful Sides featuring Southern favorites, including Red Beans & Rice, Collard Greens, Black-Eyed Peas, Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Mac & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Rice, Corn on the Cob, French Fries, and Nana Gretchen’s Cornbread, served with house-made honey butter.

Among Georgia’s specialty dishes are Gretchen’s Jambalaya, cooked to order with shrimp, andouille sausage and chicken, and served over pasta or rice; and Louisiana Tilapia & Shrimp, Creole-seasoned and grilled with a tomato Creole sauce, and served over rice. A sweet and savory favorite is Chicken & Waffle, with signature Fried Chicken atop a Belgian Waffle, served with maple syrup and creamy honey butter.

True Southern aficionados can dig right into one of the bowls offered on the menu, such as the Hoppin’ John with slow-simmered black-eyed peas and deboned smoked turkey neck; and the Chili Mac, with golden creamy mac and cheese served over homemade chili.

For a flavorful lunch or handheld option to take on the go, Georgia’s offers a Shrimp Po’Boy, with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, dill pickles, garlic mayo and dijon mustard on a French roll; Pulled Pork Sandwich, with slow-roasted, gently pulled pork, signature house-made BBQ sauce, and coleslaw on organic brioche; and BBQ Chicken Sandwich on organic brioche with signature house-made BBQ sauce, onion straws, spring mix, and sliced tomatoes.

Desserts cannot be overlooked, with Nana Gretchen’s house-made Peach Cobbler, Sweet Potato Pie, Lemon Cake, Pound Cake, and made-to-order Beignets, served hot and dusted with sweet powdered sugar.

Georgia’s beverage offerings include a selection of soda, iced tea, signature peach and seasonal sangria, red wine andwhite wine by the glass or the bottle, and bottled craft beer to complement each dish.

Nana Gretchen’s food philosophy is as earnest and welcoming as her famous hugs – “so long as there is love put into what you’re cooking, anything can be soul food!”

Georgia’s Restaurant at Irvine Spectrum Center is located at 732 Spectrum Center Drive, Irvine, CA 92618 (near Dave & Busters).

Lisa Hay

Lisa Hay

Lisa is a staff reporter for What Now Media Group. She covers new restaurant, retail, and real estate openings across all of our markets. A true foodie, this Air Force veteran has lived all over the world — from Aviano, Italy to Nairobi, Kenya — but her favorite spot is NOLA for its rich history, architecture, culture, and of course, its good eats.
Lisa Hay

Lisa Hay

Lisa is a staff reporter for What Now Media Group. She covers new restaurant, retail, and real estate openings across all of our markets. A true foodie, this Air Force veteran has lived all over the world — from Aviano, Italy to Nairobi, Kenya — but her favorite spot is NOLA for its rich history, architecture, culture, and of course, its good eats.

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