What a hidden gem! I only heard about this place from my neighbor, and wow--it completely exceeded…read moremy expectations. The ambiance is very traditional. The moment you walk through the door, the incredible aroma of all the fresh cooking and preparation makes you hungry, even if you weren't before. The food is outstanding. The prices are on the higher side, but the quality of every entrée absolutely justifies it. You can really taste the care and craftsmanship that goes into each dish. The service is wonderful as well--friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. I almost hesitated to write this review because it's already hard enough to get a reservation, but a place this special deserves the recognition. If you have the chance to dine here, don't hesitate. It's fantastic!

Onotria? Where's that I asked?…read more It turns out there's an almost hidden gem near Red Hill in a business plaza. All the good ones are, right? After eight fantastic Brunello samples at Hi-Time Wine Cellars, food was necessary and new friends invited me to join. Once I found the spot it was a quick procedure to grab a seat and study the daily menu. The wine list is also impressive. A round of prosecco led to two really outstanding appetizers. The crudo tonno (Tuna) carpaccio, and soft shelled crabs on a bed of arugula. Just squeeze that lemon to provide the rest of the flavor. So good, relatively light, but I studied the menu closely, so many good choices. Sadly, I forgot to take a picture but it changes so frequently it probably doesn't matter. My selection was the Branzino picatta, and the others got bigoli in a saffron sauce with black truffles, Bigoli is a hand-rolled pasta commonly found in Umbria BTW, and the Bucatini Amatriciana, famous for the guanciale. Everything came out looking perfect and stately. Formal yet rustic, and full flavored. My veggies on the side were delicious. Another wine from Alto Adige, a red, came with dinner. Perfect choice, light, but complimentary. All throughout the evening we had fantastic, friendly service. Chef Massimo was very friendly, too. I had already guessed it, but the amazing olive oil to finish the carpaccio was from Umbria. My friends bought a bottle to bring home. I'm wondering what will be on the menu next time?

This hidden gem is in a little strip shopping center, across Bristol Street from the Ayers Hotel,…read moretucked between a gas station and a dry cleaners and a nail salon. Anyway, it was worth seeking out. Our party of 5 swamped the poor guy working there. We ordered a lot of food, like a double brunch, because we were hitting the road for a long drive back to Northern California. So this one French guy (Yes, he really is French. He moved to Orange County from Paris, hence the name.) This French guy had to make us a couple of sandwiches, an omlette, and about 7 crepes. I felt sorry for him when I found out he was making the crepes one at a time and bringing them out as soon as each one was ready. I think he said his help has Mondays off. These crepes are like the best ever. We didn't want to tell him to stop because every one he brought out was absolutely fabulous. I'm pretty sure it was 7 crepes because we started with 4, and then my daughters and niece asked him to make 3 more. It was a good thing we weren't rushed for time. This is one spot we will definitely return to. We also learned that he is available and does crepes for corporate events. He brings his equipment and sets up in whatever location you want. That would make for a fun company event.

Orange Paris Cafe, is a French eatery in a small strip area that houses a few other food outlets…read moreand has a gas station just outside of it. It is a unique concept and the place has a following. The dining area is small, but cozy and has a bistro feel, pictures of Paris adorn the walls (the restroom too) and there is French music to blend well with the simple ambiance. We ordered several items. First my Americano coffee (made with Italian espresso), was only good for a few sips, just too sweet for me. Second, the Quiche Maison (traditional French recipe, eggs, tomato, spinach, cheddar cheese). While this pie slice was soft and tasty, it was thin and could have easily passed off for pizza. What it lacked was the usual thickness one sees in a quiche slice, gives it body and also embeds the rich flavor of eggs and cream. Then came the crepes. The tomato and bacon was well received, as was the strawberry crepe. In this department, the crown goes to Crepe Suzette (orange syrup, orange zest, creme anglaise and whipped cream). It had optimum softness, the right amount of sweetness, chew and yes, butter. Truly a heavenly treat for the taste buds. Service is very slow, but rewarding. So if you are not in a hurry and are in the mood for fresh French brunch items, give this place a visit.

We were in Newport Beach for an event, and decided to check out Sol. We were very glad we did! The…read moreservice was extremely friendly and the food was fantastic! It's not the place you go for ambiance, but the food and service more than make up for it. I started with the seafood soup, and it's everything that you'd want in a seafood soup: tasty and full of the good stuff. My wife very much enjoyed her steak. It was cooked exceptionally well. The swordfish was a reminder of why swordfish is one ofy favorites. It can easily get dried out when it is overcooked, but this was cooked to perfection. I can't wait to go back and have it again.

The food was excellent and the staff was kind and courteous…read more Fun fora date night or with the girls! I would highly recommend!

Bar Tinto is more than a hidden gem. It is a rare find in Orange County. It offers some of the best…read moreMexico City style food items I've had anywhere other than CDMX itself. The chef uses his free range of creativity and offers such unique and amazing ingredients in all of his dishes. He truly cares and has a passion for beautiful food. My wife and I know alot of chefs and restaurants in SoCal and this is some of the best food we can find. Chef Jonathan and his kitchen staff are all one of a kind. They shop for only the freshest ingredients and offer a variety of seasonal dishes throughout the year. The Pork Belly Taco has been a long standing menu item that literally NEVER disappoints. It is incredible. Every tostada the chef creates is amazing. And the Green Goddess dressing on their salad is worthy of bottling and drinking straight. The wine program is also incredible. The range of wine is amazing and everyone on staff is SO knowledgeable about every wine they offer. If you aren't sure about wine or how to pick out you can give them the simplest explanation of what wine you want and they will bring over several bottles to chose from and will give you an in depth and beautiful description of all of them before you decide what you want. Amazing food, wine, music and vibes are all huge perks but what really sets Bar Tinto over the edge is the hospitality and kindness of all the staff. Great for date night, for a night out with friends, a spot to bring the parents too, literally any occasion. We look forward to sitting in tinto and enjoying the food and wine at least twice a week!! Gracias, Bar Tinto! 10/10

Went to check out the Jazz nights at Bar Tinto and had a nice night out with a girlfriend. Seating…read morewas limited so make sure to come early, managed to grab one in the corner. Staff was really friendly and accommodating. They recommended an orange wine that we liked. The oysters were fresh too and the bread had a nice crunch. Make sure to purchase tickets for the Jazz night in advanced they do sell out!

I can't believe I haven't eaten here until now! My husband and I came in for a date night. We…read moredidn't have a reservation but thankfully we were able to get a table since it was a quiet night. The ambience is so warm, cozy, and romantic. I loved how quiet it felt and how we got to have a great time talking throughout the night. The service was excellent. Friendly, professional, and not intrusive. The food was incredible!! We made it a slow 4 course meal with soup, salad, mains, and dessert. The main dishes were our highlights! The meat and the vegetables were all perfectly prepared. The boeuf bourignon was superb. Meat so tender and flavorful with whipped mashed potatoes. I had the king salmon special which was one of the best I've ever had! I appreciated the portion sizes for being just right, not too small but not so big that you become too full or feel like you're wasting food. The soup special and salad were delicious as well. I loved that the soup was perfectly seasoned and didn't require any extra salt or pepper. Finally the dessert special was a pavlova topped with strawberry ice cream, whipped cream, and strawberries. It was delicate, flavorful, and had an amazing combination of textures. We can't wait to go back! I wish I had pictures but the experience felt so intentional and special that I didn't want to take away from the moment with photos. Make sure you visit! Food that tastes like the person preparing it actually cares is rare in this world.

A lovely experience from start to finish. Warm and efficient service by Jeremy and the service…read moreteam, paired beautifully with the outstanding cuisine. Cozy dining in a relaxed yet efficient style generally unavailable anywhere else. Sharing a delicious seared scallop and risotto appetizer with a glass of white Burgundy transitioned to beef Bourgogne for me and steak au poivre for my bride of 47 years accompanied by a Bordeaux, both available in half bottles. Nice. A celebratory crème brulie was a fitting conclusion. Attention to details like artisan bread with soft and luxurious butter, hot food served piping hot, quality stemware in a warm and unpretentious dining room. And if all that were not enough, the menu and wine pricing are extremely reasonable. Shhhh.... Unless NPB glam is essential, for those that appreciate dining of quality over being seen, Basilic is not to be missed.

The great room is a restaurant within the Weston. It's got a casual but ups ale type vibe. I had…read morebreakfast there and it was on point. I had the classic American breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and sourdough toast. The servers were attentive without being too present. I always appreciate that. I'd come back tomorrow if I was staying another night.

Brunch at The Great Room in Costa Mesa was such a classy casual vibe. The ambience feels modern and…read morerelaxed, and we had a lovely view of the fountain outside which made everything feel a little more elevated and serene. We ordered the Lox and Bagel with smoked salmon, capers, cream cheese, pickled red onions, fresh dill, and sun dried roasted tomatoes. The salmon was fresh and silky, and I loved the brightness from the pickled onions and dill. The roasted tomatoes added a nice depth of flavor. I also had the white crab white omelette with spinach and substituted the fruit for hash browns. The omelette was light and fluffy, and the crab added a subtle sweetness. The hash browns were crispy and satisfying. Cappuccinos were great, rich, smooth, and perfectly foamy. Just note they are nine dollars each, which feels a little steep, but they were well made. Service was pretty good overall, attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Overall, a solid four stars. Great atmosphere, quality brunch options, and a polished setting that feels perfect for a relaxed weekend catch up. I would come back for the vibes and the cappuccino.

This place is full of life, energy, laughter... the kind of place where you immediately feel good,…read morerelaxed, and completely yourself. As an Italian, I can say this is the only place where you truly breathe real, authentic Italianità. It genuinely feels like being back in Italy on vacation, like a summer day in Rimini or in a lively Italian seaside town. The food is simply outstanding. The gelato and coffee are incredible, the filet mignon is the best I have ever tried, and the piadina and pinsa... absolutely exceptional. Every bite tastes like Italy, the real one. And then there are the people behind it, who make everything even more special with their warmth and passion. It's the kind of place you keep coming back to, not just for the food, but for how it makes you feel. Always my favorite

Food was a bit underwhelming. We ordered a vegan soup (not pictured), gluten-free flatbread (not…read morepictured), gluten-free bolognese, and a gluten-free vegan pizza. The soup was flat and needed something to brighten it up, the bolognese was extremely greasy, and the pizza was nothing to write home about as it was somewhat bland. The staff were very personable and friendly but the service was inconsistent and slow (our server forgot about our flatbreads, so we had to chase down another server to get them for us). FYI parking in the plaza is a nightmare, so get there early if you have dinner plans!

We went to Lido Bottle Works for a girls' dinner last night and had the weirdest combination of…read moreAMAZING food and slightly off service. First, the food was seriously 10/10. We shared a bunch of things and there really wasn't a bad dish. The hummus with tomatoes and crispy bread was delicious, and we absolutely loved the meatballs in the slightly spicy curry sauce. We also had the pepper pasta, clams (one of my friends had never even tried clams and loved them!), cacio e pepe, and Mary's chicken. The chicken was Korean-style and came with kimchi green beans that somehow tasted a little like dill pickles -- in the best possible way. We loved them! The service, though, was just...odd. My bestie and I both ordered dirty martinis with blue cheese olives. Mine came with them, hers didn't, and neither martini was nearly dirty enough. Once we got some extra olive brine they were much better. But the funniest part was when we reminded our server that my friend was still missing her blue cheese olives. She came back with a skewer of them IN HER HAND and just handed it directly to my friend. No plate, no napkin, nothing. We all just looked at each other like, "Did that really just happen?" So overall, I'd absolutely come back because the food was THAT good. The kitchen gets an easy 5 stars from me. If the service had been at the same level, this would have been a five-star experience all around. For this visit, 4 stars -- but definitely worth going for the food!

The whole experience was incredibly disappointing. Between waiting to be seated, waiting to be…read moreserved, and waiting for the food, we spent about an hour waiting -- the food alone took around 40 minutes. The chicken sandwich was actually good, but unfortunately that was the only highlight. We ordered the special chorizo hash, and it was really bad. There was barely any chorizo -- probably less than one sausage in the entire dish -- and the rest was just a huge amount of large-cut potatoes. The potatoes weren't crispy, and one of the eggs wasn't cooked properly. The cocktail was even worse. I ordered the Dragon Coconut cocktail, and it tasted like a milkshake with a strong alcohol aftertaste. Really unpleasant. Waiting an hour would have been understandable if the food and drinks were worth it, but they absolutely weren't. Very disappointing experience.