We arrived early for our 6pm reservation, the hostess was very nice she said they have our table and its ready now. We were seated in the back area where the stage is. The entertainment for the night was cancelled as they called out, LOL. We had a cocktail and talked and looked at the menu, Jordan was our sever and he was fantastic. The Menu did not have prices as the other reviews and pictures indicated, I was not worried about that at all. I had found a menu price from a 2024 review and it was very reasonable for what you would order. We ordered our meals, no appetizers for us, just the cheese garlic bread which was very good. The bread was no frills but it was good, we asked for another basket. I had ordered the Boneless Rib-eye 16oz and my GF ordered the Alaskan king crab legs. The price menu I had said $47.95 the King crab legs were listed at $49.99 I know usually the crab is what ever market price is thats a given. Our salads came out very quickly and that was nice, the meal came just a bit after, perfect timing. I enjoyed the Rib-eye I ordered it Rare and it was server as such, it did have some time to cook up which I like. The crab was three large legs filled with crab, very good portion. During the meal, Jordan was very attentive and the other staff also stopped by and checked in. I was very pleased with the service and the level at which they were working. I did finish the Rib-eye and had one King crab leg. My GF ordered the twice baked potato and it was very flavorful and I had the baked potato loaded with SC and chives, butter. By the end of the meal, I was completely full, my GF was very full also, she does not eat much so I end up eating it or taking it home. The bill came and I see the prices, I was very surprised with the crab being $131.95 I was shocked but thats what they sell for I imagine. I have been to 5 star restaurants and paid less for more but that was another place. I was just shocked that they would do that. My dinner was $63.95 not to bad for the quality prime cut of meat I received. I paid the bill, no questions about it to the staff I felt I received great service and very good food so be it. One drink each $26 for a grand total of $239.09 for our meal. $45 tip to make it $284.09 this was more then I thought I would pay but it was a great experience and maybe we will go back. We were celebrating out Anniversary and thought it was ok to spend some money for US. This is my review as I experienced first hand and these are my opinions of the establishment. read more

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Service and entertainment were great. Other than that the food was WAY overpriced for the quality. Bread can be compared to restaurant chains like Sizzlers. For a 40 year old, the music was a bit loud and the lighting too red and dim. All in all, first and last time I attend here. read more

First off don't let these reviews fool you! I hadn't been here since 1987 for my prom. Wanted to treat my boyfriend for his bday. Sure there's feelings, Morton's etc. But those are chains. The Service was impeccable. Le Cave is known for their martini's I'm advised. Now I know why, Cosmo was perfect When you order they take your order & proceed to bring the cart around so you know exactly what your ordering. Portions are big! And well under what Morton's would charge. I ordered the filet, my boyfriend ribeye w/half lobster tail. Which looked almost like a whole one. They don't rush you even as the crowds roll in. It's a very quaint restaurant and is the same as it opened in 1962 on Valentine's Day. My boyfriend was given the fluffiest cheese cake for his bday! I love it here! May go back to chill at the bar soon... read more

La Cave - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Amazing food and the whole experience is awesome! This is my favorite place to come and have a steak.

I made a reservation for this place based on a couple of my clients saying it's a "must go to" for dinner- it's an institution. One described an old school steakhouse where it's dark (true) and red chairs/booths (also true) and they wheel a cart around to your table and you pick out your protein (not true) and make your salad table side (also not true). This was the worst experience we've had in a very long time. We immediately noticed the menu has no prices listed. That was the first red flag!! Overpriced for what we got; shrimp cocktail, steak medallions split, we had 2 Old Fashions and 2 glasses of wine. See pictures of our bill and the menu sans pricing. They initially sat us behind another booth in the corner and my husband asked for a better table. They sat us in the bar area where tables were set for parties of 5+ and it became so loud as the evening wore on, I couldn't even hear anything my husband was saying and felt overstimulated with noise and just wanted to leave. So much for a quiet, romantic evening The food is gross, the shrimp cocktail was undercooked and the cocktail sauce was watery with almost no flavor. The salad was drowned in dressing and the cup of red clam chowder was super fishy tasting & watered down. We ordered the medallions to share (they charge 1/2 the price of the meal to split) and the twice baked potato was similar to something Ore Ida would have in the frozen food section at the grocery store. We take turns planning a date night and enjoy trying out different places but this was such an epic fail on my part, I felt I needed to apologize to my husband. If you're a foodie, do yourself a favor and never, ever go to this restaurant!! It's a complete waste of money #neveragain read more

La Cave - Menu with no transparency on prices - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Excellent service- perfectly grilled ribeye- delicious twice baked - fantastic dirty tini-all wrapped up in a red booth w/ lovely live singer... OG classic FTW read more

We enjoyed our time, the atmosphere with the music was nice but i don't believe it was worth the price tag (no prices on the menu, by the way.. but expect to spend at LEAST $150 a person with a drink, an appetizer and an entree) the server was nice & helpful. I can't remember her name, but she was great! Honestly, i felt it was similar to captain jacks in sunset beach, i would probably go there instead since there is at least a beautiful ocean view to go along with the high prices. read more

For Tony's birthday we had a special dinner here. Cool and unusual place. I could say. You have to walk down to the basement in a not so fancy area, there's a cave! Excellent A beautiful cave! Services from hostess to our waiter who was showing meats in a case with ice were great! Never seen that kind of service before! Food was good. Pleasant ambience. Restaurant was packed ! Decorations on the wall was interesting. Definitely a place to eat for birthday or anniversary or some special occasions. yelp La Cave. . . , meat Seabass, sword lobster . bar ... . Ribeyesteak Kids steak Seabass 2 Shrimps appetizer $$$ read more

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Cool surf and turf restaurant with an old school vibe. It's in the basement of the building and is dark and cave like. But it feels warm and friendly like a family run establishment. All of the food is well seasoned. I might say that some of it was slightly over seasoned. But I liked it. The cheese bread was great with a nice amount of cheese. The salad with ranch was great with homemade dressing. The side of sauteed mushrooms was very flavorful and complimented my entree. The ribeye medium rare was cooked perfectly with a lot of seared in flavor. The add-on half lobster tail rounded out the dish perfectly. They have a bar counter and a private party room as well. Nice round booths provide for an intimate setting. read more

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We take the kids and grandkids every September. Anniversary birthdays celebrated. Food and service is great! Great Tradition!

I must be talking a lot about speak easy's. Because my friend and I had dinner plans but we wanted to get together before dinner so we can have some quality time. She did NOT disappoint me! When I pulled up I thought this looks like a nice tiny bar. I enjoy dives. Upon entry and she turns into the stairwell I came to a sudden stop and said "NO WAY! Is this a speakeasy?!" With a lot of smiles and laughter we made our way downstairs. Once we entered the hostess found us 2 seats together at the bar. Very quick and attentive service from both the bartender and hostess. I loved the red leather booths and lighting. Song with The dark wood and the noise level of this place. Granted I had my back to the entrance so she had to explain to me everything that was going on behind me. Cash is still accepted here because it is king. This is a proper establishment and there are some amazing stories that come out of this place when I told friends about it. I am very excited to return. I will be making reservations and enjoy a fine dining experience in the near future. Does anyone know if they still have Jazz bands here in certain nights? Anyways.... Cheers! read more

La Cave - Marilyn is everywhere - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Came here last night for dinner and the food was amazing. I love the old school vibe. Our server Malcolm was awesome, super friendly, funny, and made the whole night so enjoyable. Definitely ask for him if you go, he'll take great care of you! read more

A steak that cuts like butter and terrific cocktails and service. First time and won't be the last!

Ambience nice, good entertainment! Worst food quality, dry, hard, and expensive! No prices on the menu! Had surf and turf, couldnt cut my prime rib with the knife they gave me! Service was good. read more

Let me preface this with the fact that I'm not a steakhouse person. Steakhouses are usually basic vibes with no good IG Pic options. As a non red meat eater...I'm usually stuck with a $40 jidori chicken or a $20 house salad. This place changes the game with its vintage vibes and menu options. We had the mushroom app and it was amazing. I had the shrimp scampi (I'm very picky about shrimp) and it was bomb. Hubby's steak was cooked to perfection. Portions and prices were great. Service was top notch. I honestly haven't had such great service in Cali in a while. We will definitely be back. read more

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I love coming here! The double stuffed potatoes are good. The steaks are good too. The service is always good. I never have any problems here. I always come in without reservations and they always get me in. I like the darkly lit vibe tot he place. Its always nice here. read more

Steaks are good although Mastros is better. Service is great. Chill vibe. Paper plane cocktail is good.

Cliff Notes: Price Range: High Parking: We ubered, no idea Perk: FOOD WAS DIVINE Non-Perk: Invest in sound panels and turn the heater on Ambiance: Date night, low lighting Noise: Painful Recommend: I would for the food Dissertation: Pardon me while I dry the drool from my quivering mouth....This place was phenomenal! I wish I would have taken a picture of our steak, but completely forgot! Sorry my peeps, now you'll have to go to this amazing establishment and get lots of picture for yourself! The ambiance was romantic, except for the noise and deathly coldness. Our waitress was so sweet and did the best she could with getting our items out but they were slammed and it was only 6:00 pm! However, not sure if I would go back because it was just so loud and FREEZING. They need sound panels, or something to control the noise and maybe turn the heater on??? It's located in the basement; the ceilings are low and what could be a very romantic-fun filled evening turned into a shivering, shouting match just to be faintly heard. Unfortunately, the shrilling back and forth didn't help thaw us from the cold. (sad face). So while the food was amazing it just cannot outweigh the noise and deathly cold. While I wouldn't reserve a spot inside again, I would definitely get something to go! The food was that good! read more

La Cave - Took awhile to get this tasty drinks! (Club Soda/Vodka) - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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9 months ago I left a review obviously I had a few to many to drink. When I read it today, I was appalled (spelling wise) This restaurant is amazing. I can't say enough good things about them. I've been going here for more than 20 years. The young lady who owns it and her Daughter that runs it with her are fabulous. It's a must see. Best steaks in the OC, It's a must have. Way to go guys! . Can't wait to see you again and I think I'm going this weekend. read more

Great food and great service! Very fun place to go. The scampi is amazing. Our waiter was super nice and had wonderful suggestions.

Food was good Service was excellent, Blanca was our server and she was friendly and helpful. She made my birthday celebration so special. Thank you Blanca! Ambiance is always perfect . Been going there since the 60s Still perfect . Great for a romantic dinner. read more

This unassuming place has a small entrance with signs to go to the basement. Once there, it feels like a secret speakeasy, very cool and unique. We were seated at a nice table, given the menu that had so many steak and seafood options. Lots of waiting for service and drinks and refills and the weird thing was that there were no prices on the menu so you are totally ordering in the dark. The waitress doesn't volunteer any information or check in often. We checked online and we're able to find that the prices were what we expected but it was a super weird experience. All in all, the food was good not great. The vibe was unique and cool but not in a high end steak house way, more like in different and interesting. I enjoyed it but wouldn't return or bring anyone here because there are much nicer steakhouses to choose from... read more

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We have been here many times. However, our experience was so poor last night we will NOT be going back. The hostess was dismissive and rude. The waitress lacked any respect, concern or appreciation for us as customers who were paying a large amount of money. The salad was atrocious- top leaves of romaine which are usually discarded- flat flavorless. Horrible. The Signature twice baked potatoes fell short of anything you could expect and failed to have any evidence of ingredients except salt and maybe sour cream. Disgusting. Even the shrimp in the shrimp cocktail and scampi seemed almost pasted their expiration date- which was unnerving- gross. Not sure what happened to La Cave but they clearly hoped we'd have some cocktails and wine and they kept the lights low hoping we would not notice just how bad the food they were serving was. The cost is way too much to be disrespected on so many counts at this establishment. La Cave management and owners need to get a handle on what is happening or they will become just a local waterhole for the few lasting faithfuls in the area. Do Not go here for dinner. They do not deserve your business. Even the busboy was rude- approaching the table as we were finishing our meals- pointing at guests then putting his hand out to gesture we hand him the plate to be removed. Very embarrassing as these people were my guests! Ridiculous. At very least there is a need for staff training and quality control. read more

Food and atmosphere are awesome. We have been coming here for years. Great steaks and stiff drinks. We usually sit at the bar to forgo the wait. Either way the service is the same. read more

We have been there many time spanning across many years and have seen a decline every time. This last week, we went just for drinks and apps and sat the bar. The bartenders have quite an attitude, so don't plan on chit chat. The food was good, but our steak was overcooked! And the ambiance seems to be declining (clean wise) and had a slight smell. I understand they want to keep it "authentic" but a few upgrades here and there would help! read more

The service was great. The food was phenomenal. Large portions, high quality steaks. I split the Filet medallions with a friend. The restaurant actually served everything split on separate plates for us. Even the salad. Yes the place is dark. But not horribly. Yes it's pricey, but it's worth it. The picture is another friend's prime rib. (I tried to color correct the red picture). Everything was perfectly cooked. read more

La Cave - Prime Rib dinner. Saturday only, while supplies last. - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I was a little worried about going here with all the mixed reviews, but I have to say it was fantastic. Yes It's a niche, dark, old restaurant, but the staff were friendly, service impressive, and food was delicious. We went on a Wednesday night so it was quiet, sat in John Wayne's booth, dinner was the filet Mignon and the porterhouse, twice baked potatoes and the mushroom starter with the main course. Steaks were outstanding and priced accordingly. The only negatives were even though it was quiet, everyone was sat in the same corner, the music needs to fit the ambiance, the old fashioned were terrible. A full glass of ice, slice of orange, and a cheap cherry, that's not how you make an old fashioned. If you want to enjoy the food and ambiance go during the week, when it's quiet. The grill is small and I can see why the weekend reviews are bad. Steak dinner, side, 2 drinks each, about $100 per person. read more

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The food is excellent, the service is excellent and the atmosphere and ambience is amazing

This is the place to be if you want great drinks, food, entertainment and atmosphere. Open since 1962, it is not an old place . The drunks are bold, and worth it. The menu has something for everyone. read more

La Cave - Paper Plane drink - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Simply the best steakhouse in Orange County if you love the good old classic style very good food, entertainment, warm atmosphere you can visit formal or casual but either way you will enjoy it and the service is very polite and very fast read more

We have been to La Cave several times and have been fortunate to have found this gem! They treat their employees good and it shows! Food is delicious, large portions, music, ambiance great. We have had Malcolm the most polite attentive team member waiter. He is sharp and knowledgeable. The manager Laura, is such a lovely person, she brings the restaurant going and an asset to la Cave. La Cave is a fun romantic date place and highly recommend going there! read more

La Cave has always been a local treasure and I have been taking family & friends there for over 40 years! I took two close friends to La Cave for a special birthday dinner. The vibe / ambiance is still the coolest in OC, the staff was outstanding, but for the first time ever the steak was very poor and disappointing. I had the rib eye and it was awful, it reminded me of when I was 12 chewing on my baseball glove. The quality of the meat was worse than Dennys and I could not chew through it (too tough). I just swallowed pieces whole - it was gross. La Cave has been very special to my friends, family, and myself and I will give another try. But someone should review their quality control and return this restaurant to greatness. Three dinners with a few drinks was over $350 and the poor quality was embarrassing. read more

My partner took me here for my birthday dinner. We made a reservation. The steaks and lobster tail were incredible! Likely the best steak I ever had (filet mignon, he had the Porter house). The drinks were excellent too, especially their martinis!!! The service was fast and attentive. I loved the low lights and vintage ambiance. Can't wait to go back! As for the prices-as the saying always goes, you get what you pay for! And here, you certainly get exceptional dining. read more

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Wow! What a place! Seriously what a time capsule of elegance and class. The food was extraordinary and the staff lovely. You can tell they love what they do here, everything is top notch. read more

Interesting little comedy club. Very intimate. Only issue was some drunks in the beginning but after they left and the comedians stopped blaming the audience for the show the headliner was a lot of fun. Host was great too. read more

La Cave - Stage - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This steak house is yummy the atmosphere is delightful the food is tasty and the drinks are stiff! Not to mention that cheese bread! Customer service is wonderful especially a waiter named Edgar, who gives us excellent service and remembers our orders to the T. I highly recommend this place! read more

La Cave - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

La Cave is everything. Take me from reality and place me into a Soprano episode. With all due respect, I felt right at home with the chef serving every course (not even sure there was a waitress?). I sat at the crowded bar and watched the patrons ooze with excitement at the bar for their tables. No complaints and the New York strip appetizer was equivalent to multiple entrees! 100 percent delish and loved the nostalgic stairway with Marilyn and Audrey pics. read more

La Cave - Bar area at La Cave - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I long for the days of the old steakhouse, the one where be seen but still be hidden, be local but still in a big city, a steakhouse where you can still sit in a circular booth and see the whole floor, somewhere where they will bring the meat out for you to choose before cooking it... La Cave is that. If you didn't know, you'd never know, La Cave is in a business building that also has you thinking it's a strip mall. Actually it's below the building. Take the stairs down and follow the red light... As soon as I opened the red door, the red light turned me reminded me of my past life. I was hoping Mamie Van Doren or the Duke and Pilar Wayne would walk through the doors like they did years ago, or was it those big polyester collared shirts that I wore in the 70s, or was this where I parked my DeLorean? Well it's 2019 and tonight it was me and a stunning blond, both experiencing the restaurant for the first time, turning the table to avoid hitting the family next to us while squeezing into our center booth. The reason it is called La Cave is not because it's a cave, but because it translates into the cellar in French. There are two dining rooms in this underground hideaway with a full bar in the larger room. Exposed brick walls and arches connect into red leather booths all immersed in dimmed red lighting. The restaurant is packed and the lively chatter is constant. I could see everyone but I couldn't see anyone. I started with their signature dirty martini with olives stuffed with blue cheese. The olives are amazing, this drink is a must for martini fans. The brought us their staple garlic cheese bread, which we then topped off with their mushrooms appetizer. The cheese toast is wonderful on its own, even better with the sauteed mushrooms. Next was the shrimp cocktail, with four of the largest shrimp I've seen with their tangy, spicy with a hint of sweetness homemade cocktail sauce. The cocktail sauce really makes this dish. Before we ordered our mains, they brought out the refrigerated display cart which showed all the meat cuts... The steaks, the lobster tails (you can order full or half tail), their swordfish, halibut and king crab legs. Inquire about prices then. For dinner I had the full filet mignon with salad and twice baked potato. The filet mignon cut I received was flavorful and juicy, a properly cooked medium rare. They offer a petite filet also, but why would I when the full cut is only $5 more. My steak was perfect and the potato was solid but not mind blowing. La Cave is a Costa Mesa institution. It has great food along with that old school charm and mystique but without the stuffiness of the new high end chain steakhouses and without the markup. The dress here ranges from semi-formal to nice casual to Hawaiian shirt. It's unpretentious inside and it's an all ages crowd... Hot dates, young couples, older locals, and regulars, all just here to relax and enjoy themselves. If you are looking for pristine in your steakhouse with $2000 French burgundies, La Cave is not that, but it more than surpasses that with its fun, charm, lore and the same dishes that it has served for almost 60 years at affordable night out prices. ***Sorry, everything looks nuclear in my photos. It was the red lighting!*** read more

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This place is a hidden gem! The restaurant has been established since 1964. A quaint place with dim red-ish light. Parking was not a problem and you have to walk down a set of stairs before seeing the host. The staff is extremely friendly and customer service was excellent. Each entree comes with soup or salad and a side. It's a lot of food for about $40-43/order. We ordered: Shrimp cocktail- jumbo size and absolutely delicious! It comes out to $5/shrimp. Prime rib- only on Saturdays and it was very good. Rib eye- this was a large cut that was tasty. Filet - flavorful and cooked just right NY steak - a big piece of meat!! Also very good. Cheese cake- creamy and good Carrot cake- I'm usually not a fan of carrot cake but this one was so good! Our nice waitress, Nayeli, bought it to us on the house. She provided excellent customer service and all the waiter/staff that helped us that nice were so nice. Good food along with good customer service makes the meal that much more delightful. Thank you! For the price, the portion, great food and the fantastic customer service I'm giving this place a five star! read more

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I think this place has an amazing array of food dining options, and excellent service especially considering the price. I was between four and five stars, so I rounded up. The food was incredibly delicious, and I sampled a piece of steak from everyone in my party. I got the prime rib medium, which usually served medium rare. The sauce really put the prime rib over the top in flavor and experience. The prime rib was excellent, with perfect texture. My favorite though, was the ribeye steak because it had a fiery grill finish to it and a little bit of the fatty meat you would expect. The steaks all were very wonderful, and I have no complaints. I tried the fillet and the New York steak also. One thing that surprised me was there double baked potato, it basically is mashed potatoes they put back into the potato skin and sprinkle on top some seasoning. It was amazing. I highly recommend this, and I hope they advertise it more because it was one of my favorite things of the night. They have a "visual menu" which means there is no thing written down, including prices. So, you pretty much order what you want and find out what the prices on the give you the bill. I have to say, I was able to enjoy my food a little more without knowing what it cost. The service was also very excellent, though I have to say it was probably a little better because we dined at 5:30 PM - a little earlier than the crowd. I would highly recommend this if you want a lot of attention. Make reservations! All in all, I think paying $40 for a steak and being in a steakhouse with amazing service is an unbeatable price. I would expect to pay $60-$80 for the steak plus another 10 to 15 for the sides for the same experience elsewhere. Great deal. Oh and check in for a free dessert! read more

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