Vaca is a Spanish tapas style restaurant with great meat and cocktails…read more Some of my meal highlights was the bikini sandwich and the night's special, which was a perfectly cut piece of steak. I was disappointed in the patatas bravas, however, which I felt lacked much flavor. The cocktails were exceptional. I enjoyed a classic dirty martini, their specialty vaca tonic (A+ cocktail), and had their non-alcoholic drink called Starry Night (very delicious, but not worth $16). The setting is quite breath-taking, with the restaurant decorated with elaborate cuts of meat and wine bottles. The lighting is very warm-toned and elegant. Overall, we had a delicious meal and cocktails before heading to the Segerstrom (just a quick walk away). The service was excellent and the meal great, but I think the whole experience was heavily overpriced for what you get.

Had a friend in town so we decided to check out Vaca. I had heard great things so really wanted to…read morelove this place, but it was a bit short of my expectations given the prices. First off, my friends had sat at the bar for a good 20 min before the bartender finally acknowledged them and took our drink order. Even then she was not very nice and totally made other patrons orders who had sat down after us before even trying to deliver our drinks to us. Once the drinks were delivered, they were pretty much slammed onto the bar counter rather than being delivered with care. Yikes. I had asked for a bar napkin because the rim was sticky and she completely ignored me. So rude. Our reservation on a Friday night with a show happening at Segerstrom was at 7:45pm which means the show crowd should have already left by this point. We easily didn't get seated until 8:15-8:20pm for a 7:45pm reservation because our table was lingering. Seems like poor table management on the restaurant's part to be that far behind schedule. Once we sat down, we did our best to order right away as we were starving and was pretty sure it would take awhile for the food to come out. Our server greeted us within a few min of sitting down and since we were ready to order by the time she showed up, we ordered everything from appetizers to full meal. Started with the croquetas and gambas. Both were good but honestly I've had better. The sauce for the gambas felt like the ratio of the sherry was a bit much and not enough spice. Ended up with the Paella Valenciana which was okay, but the flavors felt kind of bland and the scallops and shrimp inside seemed like they could have been cooked more thoroughly. I believe we got the 12oz New York Steak to share, and it felt the meat itself was super tender but lacked a bit of flavor for my liking. We wanted the broccolini but they ran out so ended up with the Brussel sprouts instead which were very good. Overall the ambiance inside the restaurant is a bit tight and chaotic for my liking. I definitely like the bar area better than the tables which were very close together, so may have to try dining at the bar next time.

Cafe Sevilla This place is honestly another favorite spots…read morein Orange County. I've even bought gift cards here just to give to family because I love it that much. The whole experience is what makes it special--the ambiance, the Latin flavors, the service, everything is on point. But what really sets it apart is the folklórico dance performance. You don't just eat here, you get a full experience. It feels like a beautiful little piece of Spain brought to Costa Mesa. The dinner is like a full three-course experience while you watch the dancers, and it's just so memorable and unique. If you're in Orange County, this is a must-visit spot--you really should treat yourself at least once. Also, if you stay after dinner, it opens up into a club and you don't have to pay entrance into the club. They have a nice bar outside, so the ambience is flowing Ali he with drinks. The evenings that I've stayed after they have two rooms OK they have a DJ room and then they have the band room, I don't know if they have a band every single night but the times I've been there they do and I like that you one room is very club vibe and then you can go into the band room and it's more like salsa lit up vibing. I myself still have a gift card for their café side that I'm excited to use soon and check out. Can't wait to go back this week.

I go to Sevilla usually once a week on Sundays, for Salsa/Bachata dancing. And while I love the…read moreevent, I have to say the fact that this establishment still allows SMOKING on the patio is really disturbing. People are actively moving therefore they breathe that disgusting stuff twice as much. And don't let me start on breathing that while eating! For me personally...I already ended up in the hospital, because of second hand smoking, once. And I really don't want to do it again. Also what would be handy...is another LIVE bartender. Whoever is there so far looks like he's there as a punishment. Wanted to order a drink at the bar and the guy totally overlooked me. and that's not the first time. So yes...if the place can fix these two things, it would be a way more pleasant experience for, as I believe, many. Thank you.

This was my first visit to sonder and they made a great first impression! Since it was my friends…read morebirthday, they brought over birthday shots for both of them. Afterwards, the owner stopped by to say hi and since it was our first visit, he gave us shots for the whole table. Very kind of him. Food was great - we ordered a couple of things to share including the 6100 blue corn sourdough, chicken oysters, pork belly, spring onion pancake, and pork, please and prawn fried rice. My personal favorite was the fried rice, but everything else was tasty too! We also got dessert which was the pandan butterscotch pudding - yummy! Service was wonderful. They were attentive and kind and quick. They brought out some birthday ice cream for the two birthday girls in the party. Ambiance was great. It could be intimate and romantic for couples but also great for celebrations or large groups. I enjoyed sonder very much and will definitely visit again particularly due to their excellent service!

My daughter recommended this restaurant for a pre-Mother's Day dinner because she had been here for…read moredrinks at the bar when they first opened and really liked the ambiance. We came with reservations on Saturday night before Mother's Day. The first thing I thought when I walked in was that there was a live band playing with bad speakers because the music was so loud. But when I saw there was no band, I thought maybe their speakers were broken because the music had that scratchiness to it. Then I realized it was a DJ spinning vinyls with foreign music from the 1950's with that scratchy vintage sound on full blast (think shrill trumpets and shrill voices.) Now don't get me wrong, the music was wonderful and very unique ( again, a lot of foreign songs) with a few I even knew...my husband and I loved most of the songs that were played. HOWEVER not when it's so loud that we can't even hear our own thoughts! I felt annoyed within the first 5 minutes of being seated when my family and I had to keep repeating ourselves, and my husband even went to check the rest of the place to see if it was any quieter anywhere else, but it was blaring music everywhere. I ended up ordering for my whole table of 8 people because we couldn't even hear each other over the music to make suggestions on what to order. My adult kids (all in their 20's) kept apologizing for recommending this place for my mother's day dinner. But oh my, the food was delicious---practically everything I ordered was amazing! OMG the hangar steak skewers, pork belly skewers, iberico pork secreto steak, little gem salad, and their bread with goatmilk -butter were my faves! We also had the short ribs and the pork fried rice with prawns but they were mid...nothing to write home about. This would've been a great place to come have a drink at the bar for happy hour or even late at night on a weekend since they open until 1am on thursday, friday, saturday... but don't come for dinner unless you bring earplugs and learn sign language or know how to read lips because there will be no conversations over dinner unless it's just to the person sitting next to you. Even so, I noticed the young couple next to us looking very annoyed-- they got up and left after quickly finishing up their one cocktail while the speakers blared out an instrumental piece of a girl moaning the whole time until she climaxed. Heck---I'll have whatever SHE'S having lol So plz keep the music down several notches until after 10pm, and let the rest of us enjoy our dinner so that we can sing praises on how delicious everything was. Until you do, I think I'll cross this place off my list for now and revisit again sometime in the FAR future.

Great clean and beautiful rooftop bar on top of the Mariott hotel. It is valet only, but I heard…read morethere is free parking across the street. I only tried the drinks here and they were all great. Service was great and attentive, and overall I enjoyed my time and view here! Great place to chat and lounge around.

This was my second time visiting this restaurant -- my first visit was years ago -- and I came back…read moreto celebrate a friend's birthday. Overall, the food, drinks, and atmosphere were great, but unfortunately the hostess experience kept it from being a full 5-star night. I had a 7:30 reservation and arrived at 7:35, but waited nearly 10 minutes before being acknowledged. The hostess was quite rude and told me we had lost our table because we were "late," even though I had been standing there waiting to be helped. She eventually seated us at a dirty table and the overall interaction felt unprofessional and unwelcoming. Thankfully, our server Omar completely turned the night around -- he was kind, attentive, and very helpful. The manager Dave was also amazing and made sure we were taken care of. The food and drinks were excellent. The cocktails were delicious, the hummus with warm pita was fantastic (definitely ask for extra bread!), and the melted cheese with toasted bread was a highlight. The fries were uniquely cut and perfectly cooked, and the calamari was top-notch. The view and ambiance make this a great place to relax with friends over tapas and drinks. I would come back again for the quality of the food, the beautiful setting, and the wonderful service from Omar -- but I do hope management addresses the front-host experience, as it really sets the tone for the evening.

I am no stranger to Fable & Spirit and I'm surprised I haven't reviewed them until now. While I…read morecould go on with how great my dinner experiences have been (cocktails, Guinness brown bread, fish & chips, burger) and the glamorous Hollywood Regency/Gatsby aesthetic, what really prompted me to write a review was my first brunch experience with them! For drinks, my husband started off with a gin spritz which was refreshing and not too sugary. I wanted herbal tea but all they had was black, so my server got creative and put fresh mint leaves in hot water which hit the spot! For food, we shared the sourdough pancakes with lemon mascarpone and blueberry compote and the shakshuka (with extra poached eggs on the side). Both meals were incredible! The pancakes were the perfect amount of sweetness as the batter was not overly sugary to account for the compote and mascarpone. The shakshuka was bold and rich in flavor and my husband particularly loved the naan that came with it. The struggle now, is whether we come for brunch or dinner!

My husband actually came across this spot on OpenTable or Resy and made a reservation for us to…read morecheck it out--and I'm really glad he did. We started with the Caesar salad, which sounded unique with kale and capers mixed with romaine. It did not disappoint--my husband took the first bite and immediately loved it. For mains, we ordered the Fable Burger and the 12-hour Kurobuta porchetta. The burger was next level, especially with the addition of pork belly--it added so much flavor and made it stand out from a typical burger. The porchetta was also a hit: perfectly cooked, tender, and paired so well with the polenta. We ordered the kids cheese pizza for our toddler and we were surprised how big it was. Definitely worth the price! Honestly, we loved everything we ordered and enjoyed every single bite. Service was fantastic as well--friendly and attentive throughout our visit. The only reason I'm giving 4 stars instead of 5 is because the food took a while to come out. It wasn't a dealbreaker, but definitely noticeable. Overall, a great dining experience and definitely worth trying!

Food was super yum, prices were great, and very efficient!! There was a wide selection of dishes as…read morewell.

Chow mian is the best. Been here 3 times in 3 weeks. Kevin is the best, favorite worker everytime.read more

Darkroom is such a special restaurant and over the past year-and-a-half since they opened, it has…read morebecome my wife any my favorite restaurant in Orange County. That is not an easy title to acquire; we're really lucky to have wonderful restaurants all over OC. But Darkroom simply does it differently. The flavors and textures that we experience every night we go are always so unique and playful while also remaining balanced. No dish is ever just dropped at the table, it is presented and described in detail, which is very helpful because each dish utilizes techniques and ingredients that are surprising and yet work perfectly together. The ambiance is immaculate, with tunes playing from a vinyl station that is showcased in the restaurant. And the most important part: everyone that works here makes every night feel special. They are all so wonderful and really make Darkroom stand out.

So many great things to say about my recent visit, dinner for two…read more Service is always top notch. Quality ingredients. Fun vibe. Great place to get an atmospheric change from the day to day. You will love their cuisines!

Loved everything about this place!…read more Ambiance is casual and intimate, you're seated closely to fellow guests along a kitchen bar top where food is served family style and immediately after cooking. Wine pairings were generous and went very well with the food. Service was fantastic, you get descriptions of food from someone who genuinely loves what they do and the dishes they create.

Stone counter seating for only 18 guests. Three chefs serving the things they are proud of while…read moreputting on a three-man show. I love their passion and enthusiasm, starting with their "freshest bread". The oven-to-plate brioche is a signature starter that reflects their values, their commitment to getting you the freshest food they can. The Greenest Salad goes so well with this, and all the veggies taste like they were just picked from the field. They procure many top-notch ingredients, and most of the preparation is simple so the food can speak for itself. My favorites from that night include the Mussels Croquetas which had beautiful bits of shellfish and a cream sauce that was to die for. They also made the first Paella I've ever liked, and their Lamb is the most delicious I've ever tasted. There is a dessert that I hope they never stop serving. The Kougin Amman ice cream sandwich is a genius pairing, especially because they just might make the best pastry in the world. I love the up close and personal approach, and the ingredients are incredible. A fun little splurge if you're in the area.

I joined this new company about a year and as you may be able to tell. I have been fed well. For…read moreJanuary quarterly meeting dinner, the company booked BO-beau. It is an outdoor rooftop style restaurant. It offers great laid-back atmosphere. perfect for catch up, date night dinner or company relaxing dinners. I ordered steak and a cheesecake. They were phenomenal. Service was good. Our waiters served our 10+ people table with ease.

Why is always so hard trying to find someplace to eat when there's loads of restaurants literally…read morearound you. Same thing each time, never figuring out what to eat and where to go. Tell me to meet you somewhere and I'll be there. Simple as that and less stress for me. Anyways, that's how we ended up at this place. Trying to find happy hour with food in the area was somewhat a challenge. Either they were finishing up or it wasn't that interesting on the menu. Of course some places offered amazing drink deals but no food. We ended up here actually across the street still looking up for places but the rooftop patio was what caught our attention. The restaurant itself looked bare as there was no one inside. Still on the early side but noticing people going in and then heading up stairs. After a few debates on here and there, we gave up and found our way here. Checked in with the host, letting him know that we just wanted happy hour upstairs. It was about two flights of stairs which the place looked quite industrial with all the metal beams and stairs. Downstairs was beautiful but completely emptied. Everyone wanted to utilize the rooftop patio as it was beautiful out. We were greeted by someone which mentioned to us that any bar seating was available. There was a section towards the back that was pretty lively. I think it was booked for a group. Instead of the bar area, we asked to sit along the rooftop counter that looks out to the street and building across the street. Way better view and perfect way to spend the afternoon hours. Staff were all pretty sweet and very friendly. Whatever we needed they were they to help. Both the regular menu and happy hour menu were quite impressive. As we just wanted HH, it was given. They had drink special for 10.00 and small bites for 10.00 as well. Didn't hesitate and started off with some drinks. The red sangria with mixed fruits was a nice clean and refreshing treat. Tasteful without that aftertaste. And the Le Pistolet Fumant, a delectable tasty drink with mezcal with a hint of pineapple. And other well drink that was perfect for a nice afternoon. HH drink special was quite tasty to start off. Food wise, started off with an order of the Caesar salad, simple but delicious. Fresh crisp Romaine lettuce and slices of Parmesan and crouton bits. Nice crunch with each bite. The dressing, wow pretty tasty. And an order of the Mac and Cheese . Most places it's either a hit or a miss and let me say it was a HIT. Quite cheesy and full of flavors that a second order was had. A dish I do recommend for HH. We also had an order of the Brussels sprouts which was excellent. A nice glaze and crunchy with chunks of house cured pancetta. Nice big chunks I must say. Lastly the beef sliders with Wagyu beef patties. Honestly, this was the least favorite of the dishes we got. You would think it sounded great but it was quite tasteless and nothing major to report on. Served with brioche bun and shredded lettuce and tomatoes and a lemon aioli. I had high hope for it when I saw the group next to us order it but it was a little disappointing. Overall, the Mac and cheese, Caesar salad and Brussels sprouts were all hits. The sliders, disappointing. Other items on HH didn't look too ingesting for us but it was for other people. The rooftop lounge and bar area was the place to be when we were there. It picked up real fast after we got seated. Picnic style tables being occupied by large groups before HH ended. Just the rooftop alone was great and beautiful. It a place that's good for a drink and meal with friends. Downstairs was beautiful but seemed more of an intimate experience. Overall, it was a great choice for a meal during HH.

Came for a girls lunch date earlier to this weekend and this spot did not disappoint!…read more THE SERVICE: 5/5 - Quick, friendly, accommodating, and our waiter made a real effort to engage in conversation with us. The FOOD: 4.5/5 | Drinks: 5/5 Off the appetizers, we had the pork belly bites and dirty fries! First dish came with a long hot pepper, several mini tortillas, and 2 dipping sauces. The pork was crunchy on the outside and soft+succulent on the inside. I can see myself doubling up on this appetizer the next time I come. Dirty fries were great; it came with a generous amount of pickled onions - providing a really nice contrast to the savoriness of our meal. Our waiter graciously accommodated our request to have the egg on the side. Off the entrée/taco menu, my friend ordered the Korean tacos and I got the Ensenada (fish) tacos. But you can also order the Ensenada tacos with shrimp. These were delicious, I would have loved a little more lime crema to go with the fish - but not a big deal. I got a Watermelon Margarita. I wasn't expecting it to be HUGE, but it was the perfect amount considering how much food we as a pair ordered. My friend ordered the La Toxica table side cocktail and one additional mango cocktail. Table side cocktail was a whole show and my friend really enjoyed it. We had a great lunch at Tempo Cantina. I can't wait to try more of their bar menu, maybe even at night when the restaurant is lively

Very large and fun bar/restaurant/cantina with great ambiance and good food. The interior…read moretransports you to Mexico. Plenty of parking. Prices are on the higher side. I tried the Japanese-Mex menu and the sushi was outstanding. I would have it again anytime. Good, friendly service.