If you have not been to CDM speakeasy basement AND are a fan of food cocktails and good service you are missing out. There is no place in Orange County that you will have the cocktails and service that you get from Brandon. It is a privilege to drink his creations and passion for hospitality. I do not say this lightly. It is why the phrase "a hidden gem" was forged. In my case not to use lightly. The food is great and overshadowed by the ambiance and comfort and complexity of his creative drinks. Manager always coming in to check also a plus on the restaurant overalll service. read more

CdM Restaurant - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

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After receiving a recommendation to visit quite some time ago, we finally made it out to CDM for a birthday weekend and were, unfortunately, really disappointed. It wasn't terrible, and we didn't leave thinking the food was awful, but for what the experience seems like it should have been it was not great. The signature cocktails are really nothing special and cost a lot. I personally had the Blood Orange Sour and might as well have just made my own whiskey sour at home and saved $17. We reserved a table outside and the atmosphere was nice and seats were comfortable. We're not sure if it was because we were sat in the far corner or they were understaffed, but the service was very slow, and even getting our card back after we paid took at least 10 minutes. Finally, the food was fine, aside from one of the salmon entrees coming out VERY rare. The restaurant ended up comping this dish for us. If you're looking for a nice night out with great food and drinks, there are plenty of more satisfying options for m Orange County that will be far better, and also cost you less than CDM. read more

The food was great, and the service was really personal, as we ate downstairs in the speakeasy (really sexy atmosphere) on Valentines. Our waiter/bartender was super friendly and funny. They had a specialty drink menu for the occasion and served my favorite rye, Angel's Envy, which I had on the rock. However, buyer-beware. When we got the check at the end and had ordered three drinks between us, there was a $2 charge added to each drink, so $6 on top of the cost of the $20 drinks. I couldn't figure it out, until I called back a week later to inquire after finding the receipt in my pocket. The Manager explained that CdM adds a $2 charge for making mixed drinks, and a $2 charge for the 'big ice cube'. You read that right $2 for a goddamn ice cube and $2 for mixing a cocktail. Frozen water. I may never go back, which is a shame. Was especially annoying that I was asked if I wanted a large cube, as I am at every bar/restaurant but no mention of the up-charge. Please help me understand the CdM cost impact that required somebody to come up with the brilliant idea that they start charging for ice? So unacceptable and truly outrageous. Cubes Don't Matter (CdM) read more

CdM Restaurant - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

CDM Restaurant is a vibe. The decor and lighting immediately set the tone. Dim, moody, stylish, and fun without feeling overdone. It's the kind of place that feels great for a date night or a group dinner where you want good energy. They also have a fantastic bar where you can sit and watch the game with a touch of elegance vs your favorite sports bar. Their old fashioned is top notch and the logo stamped ice they use is so cool! (see photos) The food is very good across the board. The spicy tuna on tempura eggplant is a standout. Huge portion, super flavorful, and delicious. Since it's run by the same team as A Restaurant, they also serve the legendary blue cheese burger, which is an absolute must for burger fans. The fries are excellent too: crispy, well-seasoned, and addictive. We also tried the blackened salmon, but swapped in the halibut sides and sauces at our server's suggestion--great call. It was outstanding, and the presentation was beautiful. Everything that hit the table looked thoughtfully plated. One heads-up: valet parking is pretty much required unless you luck out with street parking. Worth it though. CDM nails the combo of atmosphere, food, and execution, and I'll definitely be back. read more

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Amazing dinner last night- huge thank you to Sarah for the above and beyond service!! We really appreciated you. Chicken piccata and cacio e pepe always a hit. Can't wait to come back! read more

CdM Restaurant - Chicken piccata and cacio e pepe - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

I've been going to CdM Restaurant occasionally, and every visit has been a great experience. Sam always takes excellent care of us and consistently impresses with her bartender skills. We were there again this past Monday, and once again everything was outstanding. Great drinks, great service, and a welcoming atmosphere every time. Sam truly makes the experience memorable -- highly recommend! read more

This restaurant has a dark lounge speakeasy vibe which I enjoyed. It is quite small and doesn't have the most ideal location. Valet parking is in a tight alleyway, and it's also hard to find parking on the streets. Food was overall a hit and miss. We ordered pizza, charred octopus, and fig arugula salad for starters. The pizza was delicious while the salad was just decent. The octopus tasted fresh but the portion was small and masked by mostly sliced potatoes and burned chorizo. The dish also had a spicy kick which isn't ideal for people who have acid reflux. For entrees, we had filet mignon and salmon. Both dishes were delicious, tender and well-seasoned. And for dessert, we had apple tart and chocolate silk pie. The apple tart was too sweet with a lot of caramel sauce while the chocolate pie was scrumptious. Cocktail drinks were refreshing. Service was unfortunately lackluster. Our waiter wasn't friendly and barely said two words to us. And while we were still working on our starters, the staff started taking plates away multiple times. I had to tell them we weren't done yet. They were just so rushy. The restaurant wasn't packed, so I didn't understand why. Maybe we just had a bad waiter that night and it's not normally like this? Nonetheless, I do hope the staff could work on their timing better. read more

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We love CDM!! Our server Ruby was great! Very kind, helpful and attentive. Wasn't our first time here, but we did try a couple new things this time. We started off with the parker house rolls and the spicy yellowfin tuna, which were both great starters. The star of the show was the lamb rack. This dish is cooked perfectly and pairs well with the pesto gnocchi that came with it. Our second favorite is the delicious charred octopus that comes with chorizo and potatoes. The service was great, the food is flavorful & tasty and the restaurant itself is very classy and perfect for a night out! read more

CdM Restaurant - Charred octopus and New Zealand half rack of lamb - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

Father Son dinner while visiting the area and we were treated very nicely. It was a crowded night and so our reservations were in an outdoor area without much traffic which was fine by us. The waitress recommended a few things and we stuck with most of them, having the Parker House Rolls, the grilled carrots, and the chicken piccata with the unlock of a serving of cacio e pepe instead of potatoes. For the two of us, it was a LOT (six rolls and a carrot plate the size of a mountain) but delicious. Everything was truly enjoyable and I wish that we had more people with us so we could have sampled more but with those three things, we didn't have room for dessert! read more

CdM Restaurant - chicken picatta with cacio e pepe - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

This is my boyfriend's and my favorite date night spot for special occasions! Every single person we've interacted with while dining here has been so sweet and welcoming. Our server, Sarah, tonight was lovely and made our anniversary a night to remember. read more

Sam did an amazing job as our server tonight. We came in for happy hour and shared an A Burger, fries and a Super Pizza. So full after the burger that we had to get the pizza to go. Definitely coming back and Sam turned us onto, A Restaurant too. So we're going to check that place out too. read more

CdM Restaurant - Old Fashioned! - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

Let me start with the waiter who really made the experience. Super nice guy that gave us great recommendations and was just amazingly cool. He recommended the chicken piccata and it was on point. So good. Just really crispy with a great sauce. I got mine without capers because I hate them, but this chicken was cooked perfectly. Also ordered the Brussels sprouts and broccolini which were both great. We had the octopus and ahi appetizers and both were really tasty. Highly recommend this place. read more

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I came here with a friend for a weeknight dinner. The outdoor patio was lit up for the holidays and looking so pretty. Inside, the bar area was pretty busy so glad we had a reservation. The bar dos have TVs and had the football game playing. For food, we started with the artichoke dip, which had a really good, unique flavor to it. It was served with bread, and had some type of onion topping on the dip. We both loved this. For food, the burger was very good as was the Chicken Piccata. The serving sizes were very generous, you could definitely share a few things. The Espresso Martini was also good and tasted like it has real espresso in it. Our waitress was attentive and helpful with suggestions. I'd love to come back for a weekday special or happy hour. read more

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Celebrated our 27th Wedding Anniversary and had an incredible experience! Such an awesome diamond in the rough! It started with our amazing server, Sam!!! Go in and ask for her by name, just a really good server! Her assistant, Alberto, was a great compliment to her service! The manager, Andrew, was incredibly generous with his service as well! The food was so tasty, I recommend the carrots and onion soup for appetizers, the Filet and Mac n Cheese was great and closed it out with an amazing Strawberry rhubarb pie à la mode! We will be back! Cheers! The ambiance was very warm and romantic! Such a chill spot with great music! read more

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I expected better.. I'm easy to impress but this just wasn't it. Came with a reservation and were seated on the patio. Thankfully the server came by and turned the heater on for us! We got the truffle fries as a starter - pretty good! Loved the truffle sauce. Our server recommended the dirty pasta and the chicken piccata - both okay. Tried the piccata with the pasta. Husband really didn't like the dirty pasta. Appetizer and food came out simultaneously, which made it to difficult to enjoy. read more

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We had a lovely date night at CDM. I tried making a reservation by calling them. Their new system was really easy and I did it all through the automated system on the phone. We got there and they had room in the speakeasy where we grabbed a couple drinks with bartender Brandon. He was awesome. He curated the drink menu and it was pretty epic. I loved the kiwi drink he made me sans alcohol. Then we had dinner. Our go to options are charred octopus and the dirty pasty. I was shocked how great their burger was though--that was an outside the norm order for us. The chopped salad was delicious too. read more

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The service was outstanding. This place is definitely a hidden gem and highly recommend to anyone looking for a romantic date night. The portions are shareable and the menu is regularly updated with seasonal options. We came for my birthday and it was such a wonderful experience. The staff went out of their way to make it extra special and it was very appreciated. Would highly recommend trying the pizza! And recommend using the valet as parking is very limited. read more

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Beautiful decor delicious food the Chilean sea bass was absolutely delicious the staff was amazing very romantic atmosphere read more

CdM Restaurant - Seabass - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

I'm really disappointed with our Valentine's Day experience. We booked this reservation months in advance -- back in December -- specifically to avoid exactly what ended up happening. When we arrived, we were seated in the corner at a small, wobbly, clearly out-of-place table that looked like it had just been pulled over to squeeze us in. What made it worse was watching multiple couples who came in after us get seated at booths and larger tables. There were at least 5-7 open tables visible throughout the night. When we asked about switching tables, we were denied. Yet two couples seated after us were given booths, so it clearly wasn't about party size. For a holiday like Valentine's Day -- especially with a reservation made months in advance -- I expected much better, particularly on a night that's supposed to feel special. Unfortunately, we will not be coming back for future holidays. read more

Food is good. Pricey. Hard to get in for a reservation on the interior. Decor and atmosphere nice. Friendly servers.

Great restaurant! Fun vibe also! BUT THEY TOOK OUR FAVORITE, The Ahi Tuna Salad, OFF THE MENU! The new Blackened Ahi Salad was just meh. Very meh. Please bring our favorite back! read more

CDM Restaurant is a true local gem and one of those places that never disappoints. Whether you're stopping in for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, the experience is consistently excellent. The food is classic, fresh, and done right. From hearty breakfasts to perfectly executed comfort food and solid dinner options, everything comes out hot, flavorful, and generously portioned. It's the kind of menu where everyone at the table can find something they love. The service is what really makes CDM Restaurant special friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. You feel like a regular even on your first visit, which says a lot. The atmosphere is relaxed, casual, and perfect for families, locals, or anyone looking for a great meal without the fuss. If you're in Corona del Mar and want reliable, high-quality food with great service and a neighborhood feel, CDM Restaurant is a must. One of those spots you keep coming back to again and again. read more

this review is really for the quality of the ribeye steak. That was a real disappointment. At $69 that should've been a good cut of beef. It was sinewy, and quite tough. "Why didn't you send it back? "Because the three people I was dining with would've awkwardly waited while their food got cold until this came back." the point is, it would've been clear that this wasn't a good cut of beef before it ever went on the grill. Really the restaurant should source much better than this. read more

My wife says the music was all on her Spotify and all her FAVORITES! Great vibes on a Saturday at 5pm! Now the review! This was our first time coming here, we had family staying in CDM and wanted to have a date night and scoured Yelp for restaurants in the area and landed on CDM due to its nice looking interior and upscale plating at not a horribly high price. Well all those reasons were confirmed when we got there! We got in early and opted for some drinks at the bar which were very nice, we enjoyed the upscale interior. We then moved outside to the patio area which was so comfortable and nice. We ordered and I mean this place was just fabulous, I won't go into detail of each dish but the plate presentation of everything was so well done and everything tasted SO GOOD! My only flaw would be the person giving the dishes didn't seem to fully understand what he dropped off and we wanted to know more about what we ordered. But it was so so good!! Great ambiance service was great food was amazing we can't wait to celebrate something to return! read more

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AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!! Our server was Sarah, and she was absolutely amazing. So attentive and kind. Food was delicious and ambiance is amazing. Would recommend read more

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There's valet parking and also street parking. Intimate and romantic space. Good wine selection. Friendly servers

Saturday night on PCH in Corona Del Mar. My expectations were over priced and undervalued. Boy was I surprised. Being seniors we had an early reservation, the valet guy was just putting on his uniform! He was friendly and efficient. The hostess was cute and helped us downstairs to the "speakeasy" for a pre dinner cocktail as requested. It is a small dark space with a fabulous bartender who was friendly and professional. We enjoyed our drinks in peace and took advantage of a charming, complimentary, vintage, Photo Booth. It was a worthwhile and entertaining start to a fun evening. We had a high top table near the bar. We split an appetizer (the yellowtail on deep fried eggplant). It was delicious. The service was friendly and attentive. We split a pizza rustica. The crust was thin and crispy the flavors perfectly balanced. We had the chocolate cake for dessert. It was dark and delicious. We had a really fun experience and the price was surprisingly affordable. I tipped the valet and we were home at sunset. read more

I love the vibe of this place! This was my second time dining at CDM, and I have to say the food, drinks, and service remain consistent. We had Mia as our server, and she more than delivered. We made it just in time for HH which got us some pretty good deals on cocktails and appetizers. We started with the Cauliflower Hummus and Pita Bread it is simple, but so creamy and flavorful. I loved everything about it. The Charred Octopus with roasted potatoes was also perfectly cooked to my liking. For mains, I went with the Black Tiger Shrimp + Linguine. It was delicious, but sadly I didn't finish it (I don't eat pasta often but indulge every now and then just took the rest home). My boyfriend ordered the CDM Fancy Pizza and finished the whole thing so I'll let that speak for itself. Lol. We tried a few cocktails their Sam's Old Fashioned, the Blood Orange Sour, plus a glass of wine. For dessert, we ordered the Corn Madeleines this is our second time getting them and honestly, they've become our favorite. Overall, a great experience once again. Mia truly made it even better! She was juggling a lot but still made sure we were well taken care of. Thank you Mia and CDM! We'll definitely be back. read more

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Food was amazing and drinks are good bartenders make specialty drinks . I side is pretty cool looking and nice velvet seat backs and bar stools / chairs are cool read more

CdM Restaurant - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

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I can't believe I slept on this place for so long. Likely because I was too busy going to Bandera (it still has part of my heart), but for a more elevated sexier night, CDM does it right! Think dark ambient vibes, velvet booths, house music - it's the brand's signature style. They have a cozy outdoor patio, a downstairs "speakeasy," though I've only sat at their main bar. For those unfamiliar with the River Jetty Restaurant Group they are most well known for the "A" restaurant brand. One of my all time favorite restaurants is their "A Crystal Cove" location for the same reason I now love CDM Restaurant. I must say I prefer this location more only because they offer the chicken piccata (with a side of cacio e pepe) which is one of my all time favorite dishes and used to be at their other location. I'm very excited to incorporate this restaurant in my regular rotation! read more

Our most recent experience with them was last Friday. Food was great. Our server was very personable and offered great service. Vibe is also great. read more

From the greet to the good bye... Everything is amazing here. Highly recommend, especially the speakeasy I will come back every chance I get. It's a YEAHHHH BEBE!!!! read more

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I have a couple things to say. I came in on Monday night for dinner and the service was great, but honestly, the food was subpar. Now it's an expensive restaurant and so for the price point I was a little surprised at the quality. It was a pretty busy night too! Our party ordered a bunch of food and the ones that stood out to me the most was the octopus and cacio e pepe pasta! So good! Oh and the spinach gnocchi! The texture taste was everything on those three items! I would come back just and only for these items Our cioppino was so bland it tasted like water broth, we had to send it back... the halibut was extremely dry and the filet was good but nothing spectacular. Spicy yellowtail was also very good! Service was great our server ruby was sweet, her assistant always cleaned our table and she would reset our silverware between each course. We ended with expresso martinis and the corn Madeline's which was a great touch! Sweet and tasty. Overall was a good experience but not sure if I would be back anytime soon. read more

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Went here before we went to see the lights at Sherman Library and this place was so fancy and gorgeous. Parking was bad though, you had to look for it. We sat at the bar and literally only ordered the side dishes because everything was pricey and just too fancy for us. But the sides were yummy, i loved the brussel sprouts and the broccolini. The sides were big too, perfect for sharing and there was 3 of us. I wish there were better entree options too but nothing really caught my eye. read more

CdM Restaurant - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

The last few times I've been here, I had a great experience. Ambience is always very lively and I love that they have some gluten-free options. It is a sister restaurant of A, so very similar menu, but a little bit of a different vibe. We sat in the bar/lounge area, and our server who is also the bartender was super friendly and made great cocktails. We ordered the cheese and charcuterie board and modified it to be gluten-free and it was delicious. Great date night spot. They also have a speakeasy downstairs that you can check out before or after dinner! read more

CdM Restaurant - Modified gluten-free cheese and charcuterie - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

Food was incredible here: we got 3 appetizers (including the carrots, which came highly recommended) and a pasta and pizza (so light on crust and heavy on flavors). Wow, wow, wow. The service was a 10/10, from the minute we walked in to when we left! Everyone was so welcoming and kind. Shoutout to Sam R, our server. She was informative and warm, and she made my fiances birthday dinner SO GOOD. He was BEAMING (possibly part of his 3 drinks he got- all were amazing. He even said, "How did they DO that?" To the old fashioned ice cube. Ambiance is intimate and classy. Next time: we want to check out the speakeasy! We got super lucky with street parking (probably thanks to our 5:00 reservations), but they do have valet!! Thanks, Sam R for everything read more

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Great experience here. Had the BBQ carrots for appetizer (amazing) and followed with the skirt steak which was super tender and scrumptious! Good service and a happening spot for people watching. read more

Truly impressed with service and quality of food. I was here with my family for happy hour and we had a phenomenal experience! Sarah was our server, she is the best read more

Pictured is the Cacio e Pepe and corn Madeleines. The Cacio y Pepe was too creamy and rich for me. After a few bites I wasn't feeling it anymore. The corn Madeleines tasted like cornbread. But they looked amazing especially since the waiter added a candle and Happy Birthday writing on them. The pasta reminded me of what Michael Scott carb-loaded before the Michael Scott Dunder Mifflin Scranton Meredith Palmer Celebrity Rabies Awareness Pro-Am Fun Run Race for the Cure. read more

CdM Restaurant - Corn madeleines - New American Near Me - Corona Del Mar, California

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We loved everything we ate at CdM! The Parker house rolls were some of the best rolls we've ever had, loved both of our entrees and ended the night with the chocolate silk pie which was light and not too rich. Portion sizes were great and servers were kind. I'd definitely come back! read more

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