Dare I say I prefer this place over Javier's??…read more Okay okay I came here on a whim with a girlfriend and Palmilla fully exceeded our expectations. We did not have a reservation but we were able to sit at the bar, and eventually we moved to the center communal table. Honestly, I would prefer to sit there than at a private table! You are so in the mix of the whole restaurant, great place to be social. To drink I had a skinny margarita with raspberries added and my friend had the orangutan (espresso martini). My drink was SO good and SO cute. I am being serious when I say after I ordered it, the entire communal table got it too. I love that instead of chips and salsa they bring you fresh, hot tortillas with salsas and HONEY BUTTER?? to dip them in. This was so yummy and definitely unique to Palmilla. We ordered the guacamole, combo plate with a cheese enchiladas and crispy beef taco, and the filet mignon tacos. The only thing I might skip is the guac but thats just knit picking because everything else was so good. The ambiance of this place is beautiful. Think boujee beach bar in Tulum with a natural pallet and foliage. Every member of staff we met was also a 10/10! I'll be back!

10/10 Most…read moreimportantly: Oliver @ the bar made this is most memorable experience. All of the cocktails and margs we had were delicious! The hand made tortillas with salsas was such a great and unique choice! Someone finally realized that as delicious as they are, eating that many fried tortillas in one setting can't be good ...Oh! And that honey butter. Divine. Fruit margs, spicy margs, every single one of them is PERFECTION. Make sure you upgrade to Ocho blanco (trust me it will save you a hangover)... Shared the carne plate with chimichurri with asparagus and spanish rice...so flavorful and delicious. Large portion and perfectly cooked. Seabass ceviche was spot on and the plantains were next level. Music, ambience, people and vibes were just POSITIVE. New favorite Newport spot...I mean seriously, what other place has a motorized ceiling that opens at sunset hour? Take my money.

JC is amazing and the best singer ever. He made our experience here so amazing and we had such a…read morefun time at dinner!! Give him a raise!!!

JC! Amazing Service!! Thankyou for making us feel welcomed and like a family ! We appreciate your…read moreservice and being friendly and Attentive!!! The Food was Amazing ! Thankyou for your charisma and Humor as well!

I got the taco combo which was not bad, though got a bit too wet. The fish taco was unfortunately…read moretoo spicy for me to eat. Surprisingly, the plantains were the highlight for me, though quite sweet. The tres leches was also good. It's fun to come for a birthday, they'll bring out some bright sparklers with your dessert.

We tried a few different dishes at RED O, and overall, it was a bit of a mixed experience…read more The chilled ahi tuna tostada was good and a nice start to the meal. The filet mignon, however, was disappointing. The meat didn't have much flavor at all, and I would rate it around a 5/10. We also ordered the crispy Baja fish tacos. They were tasty, but unfortunately, there was more oil and crispy coating than actual fish. I wish there had been more fish in each taco because the filling felt a little lacking. The highlight of the meal was definitely dessert! We ordered the churros and lava cake, and both were delicious. Honestly, they were the best part of our meal and something I would definitely order again. Overall, some dishes were enjoyable, but I expected a little more in terms of flavor and portion of the main dishes.

do not sleep on the taco borrachos, they were absolutely flavorful and the shredded beef were…read more*chef's kiss*. love the ambiance of the restaurant, super chill. many options for seating, either at the bar, indoors, or outdoors on the patio. you can even choose from tableside service or order and sit down. love that chips and salsa are comp, which should always be the case for mexican restaurants, even if it is built into the menu pricing elsewhere. the salsa bar is one of the best i've ever seen with plenty of spice options to choose from- my personal fave is the avo salsa. let's not forget the drinks- the strongest margarita i've had in a long while and i regret not sharing it because after having one i was basically done for- lol. i love that cc is located in a shopping plaza that provides ample of parking- now that was during the weekday, not sure how it is during the weekend but i can see it being crazy during summer weekends. can't say it's "affordable" but it was certainly a great drinks and even greater food.

Walked to this cute restaurant for dinner. The server at the counter was pleasant and greeted us…read morein. He said open seating everywhere including patio where we would order at the counter, get a number, and delivery to the table. Or full service in a certain section. We opted to sit in the patio area so we ordered at the counter. We received free chips with our order and they have a salsa bar with a few sauces plus limes. Our orders did not take long. My fish tacos meal with a draft beer and tip was about $34. My favorite were the tacos. Fish was tasty and seasoned well. Nice crunch and sauces. Chips were good. Rice and black beans could use more flavor. The patio was nice and we able to watch sports on a big screen. We all enjoyed our dinners and time there.

Late review but I felt like I should leave this here just in case people are wondering cause if…read morethey closed down cause of the food quality. -- Came back to Playa Mesa for my friend's birthday. The chips and salsa were really good. The aguachile had a nice spicy flavor that made it stand out. The queso fundido was SO good super cheesy, and paired with the handmade tortillas it was one of my favorites. We also ordered the calamari and I was surprised by how good it was. Everyone ordered different rounds of cocktails throughout the night and honestly, not one missed. Service was a little slow, but it was a busy Friday night, so that's somewhat expected. I've been here before and the grilled octopus tacos and carne asada burrito were just as good as I remembered them. They also made the birthday celebration really cute. They sang happy birthday, brought out a small ice cream, and gave my friend a big mariachi hat. Good food, great drinks, and still consistent as I remembered it. So long Playa Mesa. 9.5/10

Playa Mesa has a great atmosphere with beautiful aesthetics. In the evening, the open windows…read morecreate a nice breeze, though they do let a few flies in. The hostess was friendly, and our server was funny and kind. He was a little less attentive as it got busier, but the staff worked well as a team, so we never had to wait for refills or anything we needed. Parking in the back can be a little tight. The birria tacos were packed with flavor, and I loved the inside-out cheese crust. My husband's fajitas were flavorful, although the chicken was a little overdone. The guacamole was excellent, especially with the pepita seeds adding great texture. Overall, we enjoyed the flavorful food, service, and atmosphere. We'd definitely come back!

Enchiladas de Camarones (packed with shrimp and crab, so yummy)…read more- Guacamole Nachos - Empanadas de Camarón (the crust is super crispy, stuffed with tender shrimp, topped with creamy sauce, cheese, and pesto - so rich and flavorful) Definitely recommend! The Trio de Enchiladas Lobster, shrimp, and fish. The sauce is killer, feels like avocado and cheese. - Steak Picado (made with premium Angus sirloin, stir-fried with tomatoes, onions, and pasilla chilies, seasoned with garlic and cilantro) You gotta try this! - Ceviche de Ahi (so fresh, refreshing, and sweet) Totally loved it Service is great. They have performance at night and the ambience is pretty chill and full of cultural decorations.

I've lived in the US for 10 years, and this was easily the worst service experience I've ever had…read moreat a high-end restaurant. We came for a birthday lunch, and the restaurant was not busy at all -- about all of the tables were empty. The hostess, an older Latina woman, seated us in a corner table. We politely asked if we could switch to a different spot with a better view and looked around at the open tables. We were respectful the entire time, but she was rude from the very start, with a terrible attitude. My friend later told me she slammed our menus down on the table and pouted. It was shockingly unprofessional. I couldn't help but wonder: if she doesn't like her job, she shouldn't be working in hospitality. We even questioned whether we were receiving this treatment because of our race. We requested to speak with the manager. Unfortunately, the manager's response was dismissive and perfunctory. We never received any genuine apology for the hostess's behavior. This level of treatment is completely unacceptable for a restaurant of this caliber. That said, our server who took care of our table was wonderful. He was polite and attentive, and he's the only reason this review is not a total disaster.

10/10 for service! Everyone who works here is incredibly friendly and helpful. The manager,…read moreHeather, is especially wonderful. You can tell it's a really well-run place. We had a great time and enjoyed our meals. A bonus if you have little ones: they have a cute outdoor play area for kids! We'll definitely be back.

Came here for lunch on a summer Monday. Not busy at all. We sat outside to get some sun but the…read moreseating options are great. The vibe inside near the bar is classic & the other inside area was lovely and gave patio vibes while being enclosed and shaded. Lunch specials were fabulous! Worth the price and the flavors did not disappoint. On our way out we noticed Taco Tuesday & Happy Hour menus. Pics attached. Small parking lot in the back as well as paid street parking. They also have a kids play area on the patio with lots of toys. I believe it was partly shaded.

amazing taste and atmosphere literally cured my hangryness…read more Everyone I talked to was so nice as well

It was my first night staying in Newport Beach and I was looking for some dinner. To be honest, I…read morewasn't feeling most of the places I encountered - however a family friend said they had tried Great Mex and had good things to say. Mexican sounded good, so I decided to check it out. Great Mex is located right on the main strip on the Balboa Peninsula. It's very much a hole-in-the-wall space - with a super simple/casual set up. The space isn't large - you order your food at the counter and then there are a few tables where you can sit. I was lucky that the place was empty when I arrived - shortly after I sat to eat a bunch of people came and filled the tables. They have a good variety of Mexican dishes - nothing too outrageous, mostly things familiar to the American palate. I decided to get the two taco combo dish and chose al pastor as my protein. The tacos were super tasty - generously filled with two being enough if you're hungry but not starving. The dish came with rice and refried beans which were also good. They carry Mexican Coke, so I got one of those to finish the meal off. Service was great - they were super friendly and the food was ready relatively quickly. They also went above and beyond - two people in my party got fountain beverages but they noticed they were too watered down and were quick to replace the syrup and provide us new beverages. Overall, I had a good meal at Great Mex - definitely a standout on Balboa Peninsula.

10/10 our server Omar was amazing,he was supper friendly and attentive he made sure we had…read moreeverything we needed throughout our meal.Definitely will be coming back!

Kalaveras has become part of our annual water polo tradition. Every year, we come here to celebrate…read morethe end of the season, usually with a large group of anywhere from 40 to 80 people. We reserve the back room, and the restaurant always does a great job accommodating such a big group. This year was no exception. The management was wonderful, the service was well organized, and the food was amazing. It's not easy handling a party this size, but they always make the experience enjoyable. The Mexican food is consistently delicious, and the drinks are always great as well. We look forward to this celebration every year, and Kalaveras has become a special part of the tradition. We'll definitely continue coming back for great food, drinks, and another memorable end-of-season celebration!

We were recommended this place by Rocky and it was amazing. Great atmosphere, even better food. Our…read moreservers Rocky and Jenny were fantastic. They made us feel so welcomed. Thank you again!

Very good service from Salvador and Yolanda felt very welcomed for our very first time here!!!read more