Beautiful space! Staff was extremely friendly and working hard!…read more Came to try out their drinks but ended up ordering food as well! Steak and frittes were decent. Steak was cooked perfectly, frittes could use some work. My friend had the poke and cleaned his plate (bowl?). Tried the matcha berries & cream which was nice. I also got an iced jasmine with a vanilla cloud (cold foam?). Very yummy and great to sip on while soaking in the great ambiance. It was pretty busy when I arrived on Tuesday late afternoon, but we were still able to snag a table pretty quickly. I'll be back :)

Salty horse, I hate how much I crave you...especially when I need something quick…read more It's one of the newer coffee shop / cafes in Costa Mesa and is still on the Hot List as the line is 15 min minimum on random Tuesday at 11 am. (Does anyone work anymore!? ) The longest I waited was an hour but that was 3 weeks after opening. And I can tell you, as long as you have the time it will be worth it. The overall aesthetic is coastal cowboy meets rustic modern. There is a ton of seating with a great outdoor patio. Parking in the back is pretty slim, so your best bet is street parking. You can either get lucky or park around the block, depending on the day / time. My absolute favorite coffee is the Hawaiian Cowboy. It flavor profile is a nutty tasting honey that's refreshing yet not overly sweet. You can actually taste the espresso without it being too powerful. This coffee is worth the wait. Their other drinks are also good, but this one takes the cake. They have a pretty expansive food menu as well, so it's much more than "just a coffee shop". And you can't forget about their baked goods. O M G. It's from a local bakery (sift bakery) who makes the best non basic treats around. Salty horse found its place at the top of my list in a very saturated coffee market.

We were looking for a light, quick meal before a local concert, and our friend suggested this…read moreplace. It fit perfectly for us! It was a beautiful day, and we were given our choice of patio dining. Our server, Grace, friendly and efficient, was exceptional at checking on us which doesn't always happen when outdoors. She brought our drinks and meals quickly. One friend ordered sliders which she really enjoyed. She commented that it was the perfect size and tastes that she was looking for. Another friend and I split a steak salad. Sharing a salad off a plate can be an awkward feat, but they offer a split-plate up-charge for avoiding that! The salad was simple: steak, cherry tomatoes, and lettuce, but chopped fries were an unexpected addition. Overall, a great fit to get our night started off right!

I had seen this place multiple times on my way and around Southern California. Specifically the…read moreCosta Mesa Newport Beach area but never stopped by. Today. My friend had to go shopping and so we decided to grab a bite to eat at kenwoods. From the outside, the windows are so darkly tinted. I couldn't tell if they were open or not. But upon opening the door there were people scattered throughout the place. So we just walked into the bar area and got a high top table. Server came up to us, asked us for drinks and handed us menus. He came back shortly after we gave him the order. I had a chicken Caesar salad and a space dust double IPA, my friend just had a cup of coffee. The chicken Caesar was really good, and the beer was as expected. The first cup of coffee that he brought to the table was cold so we had to send that back to get a fresh cup. Now it wasn't that busy so I would think that the server would take a moment to check to see that the coffee was warm, but apparently that didn't happen. I got my food and started digging in and the coffee came out a few minutes later. The salad was good, had a nice size chicken breast on top and the dressing was really tasty, not overpowering. I was a little bit stunned at the bill when it came to the table and it was $35 plus dollars, I guess the food and grocery hikes still surprise me, although they shouldn't. The dining experience was okay, it wasn't stellar by any means, but it was adequate, I didn't felt neglected or rushed in any way. The only reason I didn't give it five stars was because of the coffee incident. Having been a server in the food industry. That's definitely one of the things you look for. Bottom line, I would probably come back again. But there are many other places in Costa Mesa to try.

We hosted my retirement party at The Country Club. We wanted something different from the usual…read morebuffet thing. The Country Club is beautiful. It's decorated in a 1930's speakeasy theme and is very clean and very well maintained!! My wife contacted Megan, the Event Coordinator who invited us to have dinner so we could check out the venue, go over some scenarios and sample the food. Megan was so super cool, friendly and knowledgeable. She made it easy...she was straight forward with pricing and had great suggestions. She listened to what we wanted and made all the necessary accommodations. We then did a food tasting to select the menu for the event. There was soooo much good food it was hard to make decisions but we did it!! Then came game day!! Megan and here team had everything ready to go. Megan introduced us to the staff members who would be serving us. Everyone was so nice, professional and attentive. Then came the food!! Everything was fantastic and beautifully displayed. All my guests had great time and loved the food and loved The Country Club!! Thank you Megan and the team and thank you to The Country Club!!

This place was a real awesome surprise. Excellent food,…read moredrinks and service. From the outside you dont expect to walk into a beautiful room with such a stunning bar. I definitely recommend this place!

I tried the Killer Smash Burger and WOW... 10/10. It was so satisfying -- perfectly cooked with…read morecaramelized onions and chilis that gave it the perfect amount of spice without being overwhelming. Definitely a must-try! The sweet potato fries never disappoint, and adding cheese just takes them to another level. And don't even get me started on the truffle fries... so addicting, definitely meant for sharing (or not). If you're thinking about trying something new here, this is your sign!

I was introduced to Eat Chow by a close friend and overall had a pretty good experience. Their…read moreservice was surprisingly quick, the food came out in 15 minutes from the time we ordered. The iced horchata matcha latte leaned much heavier on the horchata flavor, so don't expect a strong matcha taste if that's what you're looking for. The best thing we ordered was definitely the Chow Chorizo Burrito. It was fully stuffed, the chorizo was seasoned really well, and the avocado balanced everything nicely. I'd absolutely order this again or even pick up to-go for a full beach day. We also got the Strawberry Haute Cakes, which were massive, fluffy pancakes topped with fresh strawberries. Definitely a good option if you're sharing. A couple of things to note - parking is pretty limited, which is honestly expected for this area, so just plan ahead. The interior also feels a bit cramped for the amount of seating they try to fit in, but the space is at least nicely decorated and has a cozy vibe. Would come back here again for brunch, but only in small groups of 2-4 people.

This review is a couple of months past due - but, better late than never! A friend had recommended…read moreVerde Restaurant after a hike, and I honestly didn't have any expectations. The interior looked cozy and cute - with outdoor seating as well; we opted to sit inside. They have a slightly small menu, which was fine. She insisted on ordering the pickled carrots - so of course we had to start with that. The green sauce on top was absolutely delicious. Onto the food - I ordered the Lemon & Sumac Half Chicken which was full of flavor and nothing short of amazing. Her Rainbow Trout was just as good, making us feel good about what we're putting into our bodies. Yes, it is a bit pricey, but the quality of the ingredients Verde Restaurant uses justifies the price. I would definitely come back here, and so happy it was recommended to me!

A genuinely fun restaurant! The options are all farm to table, and the view is amazing. I…read moreappreciate how tucked away and hidden Verde feels. They had a special pasta menu for downstairs (separate kitchens, heads up!) Service was kind and attentive, and we enjoyed the ambiance. We'll be back to try the new seasonal menu!

We came here on a Friday afternoon around 5pm. Trying to get in for happy hour and we made it in…read moretime. The place wasn't busy at all. Plenty of indoor seating and a nice long bar. They have 3 nice size tvs too if you're wanting to watch some games. We sat at the bar and for sure thought we'd indulge in happy hour menu times but we saw photos of the Drive Thru Burger and could not resist ordering it. My friend and I split the burger. It was the perfect amount to share as well. The patties were so juicy and flavorful along with the sauce and the rest of the ingredients, it was definitely one of my fave burgers I've had in a while. I decided to try their espresso martini. Not bad at all. I asked for not to sweet and no cream, got exactly what I ordered. We ate for sure coming back to try the bread pudding dessert as well, one of my faves!

#1 favorite brunch spot in OC! The food is TOP-NOTCH. Amazing options, great flavor, consistent…read morequality. When I say amazing...I mean AMAZING. I've had the Drive Thru burger, chicken and waffles, BTL, etc. and they were each some of the best food I've had in OC. Can't get over their French fries with the homemade ranch and the garlic aioli. Honestly committed to trying everything on the menu at some point this year. Service is also top-notch. Gabriel is the best waiter (you know they're good when you don't even want to call them waiter) I've ever had at any restaurant - he is so sweet, funny, and makes everyone feel genuinely cared for. I love that the restaurant is usually quiet and less busy because that means I don't have to wait to be seated, but I am genuinely SHOCKED. This is the type of place you expect to have a 3hr waiting list. Perhaps it's a matter of location. Perhaps they revamped their menu since some of the negative feedback. If you've tried this place and it wasn't your favorite, please give it another chance for brunch, it's fantastic! Can say enough great things about Social. BLESS YELP FOR HELPING ME FIND THIS GEM!

Our office group of almost 30 had another fantastic happy hour here recently…read more Food was great, service was excellent. Loved the crab cake and the beets goat cheese salad. Devil eggs, burger sliders were all very good. The banana bread pudding was amazing! We also brought our own cake that someone in the office ordered from a French bakery.

My son was craving eggs Benedict at 2 PM on a Thursday. We ended up at this place, so happy to have…read morefound what we've been searching for. Since the place is technically a bar at night, the place was empty when we came in just before the crowds. The door was inconspicuously located on the side, which we had to search for. That in itself was a fun "hunting" experience. We literally circled the entire restaurant before we can find it. It was so small I thought we were entering the back door. They did have a spacious patio seating, but we opted for inside since it was a hot day and the AC was blasting in there which was really nice. We ordered eggs Benedict just as we had planned and a strawberry lemonade. Everything was delicious. Service was quick and friendly. There was a lot of parking around the establishment. When at the Lab, there is a planned return trip to this place.

Came here last night and had a phenomenal time. The service was great, the host was kind and asked…read moreus about our days. Our waitress checked on us consistently and made sure we were happy and never needed refills. I wish I had gotten her name because she was great! Everyone there was kind and helpful! The food was amazing. The Chilean Sea Bass here is my favorite!! I dream of their whipped potatoes. Also, by far the best place to get butter cake. It was soooo good. The espresso martini was the perfect amount of sweetness that I had to have two. Overall the food was spectacular and always is! This location is so cute and has a nice beachy vibe. We will definitely be back!!!

My family loves Nicks. First time here at this location. We usually go to the Laguna beach…read morelocation. Glad to say, it was a wonderful experience. Food was top notch. Service was attentive and kind. Thank you Ryan (or Brian), our server, for helping my family celebrate my mother in laws birthday. She had the best time and wants to go again. She is particular so that is saying alot. Ambiance is always classy. Thank you Nicks!

First time at Lemon & Thyme and it was a great experience overall. The ambiance was calm and quiet…read moreenough for our group to comfortably talk throughout dinner. The food was excellent, but our server Gabriel really made the night. He was attentive, funny, and gave great recommendations while answering all of our questions. We started with the prime beef tartare, shrimp ceviche and roasted cauliflower. All three were delicious. For entrees, we ordered the grilled octopus al pastor, short rib ravioli, branzino, and the 24 oz ribeye. Every dish was flavorful and well executed. The ribeye with mashed potatoes and mushrooms was cooked perfectly, but the standout for me was the short rib ravioli. I had heard of it before but never tried it until this visit. The pasta to filling ratio was spot on and every bite was excellent. For dessert, we ordered the espresso crème brûlée, which was rich, creamy, and well balanced. Gabriel also surprised us with a baklava cheesecake on the house, and our group could not stop talking about it. Combining baklava and cheesecake was a game changer. Definitely a place I would come back to.

Absolutely loved Lemon & Thyme! My boyfriend and I live right across the street and have been…read moredriving by this place for months, so we're so happy we finally came in. The service was 10/10. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, warm, and genuinely enthusiastic about the food. He gave us the best recommendations, and everything he suggested was amazing. The meal itself was incredible. The shrimp saganaki was my favorite, and my boyfriend loved the short rib ravioli. You can tell everything is made with love it has that true mom and pop restaurant feel that's so hard to find. The chef came out at the end and we had such a great conversation. We'll definitely be back!

Don't be intimidated when you first walk in and see a dark long narrow bar. Keep going, this place…read moreis expansive with several different seating areas, including outdoor seating. The McGoose Sausage Sando was amazing! It comes on a homemade biscuit. In a good way it reminds me of Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Delicious! The Cinnamon Roll was rather flavorless. More like a load of bread. The coffee was good. Very friendly staff and local regulars that you can have nice conversations with.

Came here on a Thursday evening to catch up with a friend. It wasn't busy when we arrived and there…read morewas plenty of seating. They have lots of TVs here to watch a game as well. Overall, I can't say my visit was very memorable. Service was REALLY slow. Maybe they were just having a bad night. I ordered some tacos that were pretty tasty, but nothing to rave about. They had a great selection of drinks, however.