Service here is amazing allison was our server amazing recommendations from her and so…read moreknowledgeable!! my girls and I came in for a couple drinks and food ! we had items from the brunch menu everything is great definitely try the chilaquiles con relleno she made my friends birthday by bringing a special surprise at the end! amazing atmosphere and drinks are delicious try the coconut pineapple marg!

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!

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!!!

Sol service is great!!! They offered to take photos! Views are amazing and the food was good.read more

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!

Let's start with the exceptional: the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous with stunning ocean views…read moreof the PCH. The interior is bright, airy, and upscale due to a recent remodel. The lush indoor palm trees are nice focal elements. Service is also very attentive and pleasant. Does Javier's offer the best Mexican food in Southern California? No. You do sometimes get the sense that you're paying for the vibes and the views. But there are still tasty options! On a recent visit, the pescado crudo was very fresh, bright, and flavorful. I also really enjoyed my pina margarita. While the trio of seafood enchiladas were tasty, I thought the lobster meat was a bit too finely chopped for my liking. The crab enchilada was actually my favorite of the three. The mole poblano was decent, although I've certainly had more complex moles. But not terrible by any means! I'd recommend Javier's for a date night or a special occasion with family!

Javier's - Newport Beach (Crystal Cove) 7832 E. Coast…read moreHighway, Newport Beach, CA 92657 Date of visit: October 2026 Disappointing Service at Javier's Newport Beach - Crystal Cove I recently visited Javier's in Newport Beach and was extremely disappointed with the service, especially considering the restaurant's reputation and prices. I ordered the Aguachile de Camarón, a dish I absolutely loved at Javier's in Las Vegas. It was listed on the first page of the appetizer menu, and I specifically pointed it out and made it clear that I did not want octopus, I wanted shrimp. When my food arrived, they brought me ceviche instead. I remembered the aguachile in Las Vegas being served in a stone bowl, so I politely asked one of the waiters whether the Newport Beach location served the same dishes as the Las Vegas location. He assured me that Javier's in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Orange County all served the same dishes. I explained that what I received looked and tasted completely different from what I remembered in Vegas and that the ceviche was extremely sour. He then asked, "Did you order the aguachile?" I said yes, and he confirmed that what I had been served was actually ceviche. At that point, I realized my order had been taken incorrectly. What disappointed me most was that nobody acknowledged the mistake or apologized. Instead, the interaction made me feel as though they thought I had ordered the wrong dish. It was honestly embarrassing having to send the food back in front of other diners. I felt like people were watching me return a dish simply because I didn't like it, when that wasn't the case at all. I knew exactly what I ordered. I wasn't changing my mind or being difficult. I just wanted the aguachile with shrimp that I had requested from the beginning. They eventually brought out the correct dish, but I had to wait for my food twice because of their mistake. Not once did anyone take responsibility or offer an apology. To make matters worse, they even charged me an additional $5 for habanero sauce. Considering the inconvenience, the extra wait, and the confusion caused by the incorrect order, I would have appreciated a small gesture of goodwill, even something as simple as waiving that $5 charge. It's not about the money. It's about customer service and how a restaurant treats its guests when something goes wrong. I understand that mistakes happen, but what matters is how they're handled. A simple acknowledgment, an apology, or a small gesture would have completely changed my impression of the experience. I genuinely enjoyed Javier's in Las Vegas, which is why I was looking forward to visiting the Newport Beach location. Unfortunately, this experience left me feeling disappointed and embarrassed over something that wasn't my mistake. For a restaurant with Javier's reputation and pricing, I expected much better attention to detail, accountability, and hospitality. Customers should never be made to feel embarrassed or responsible for a restaurant's ordering mistake. Sometimes a sincere apology and a little consideration go a long way.

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.

Been here a few times, Great place to watch a game. Food is amazing and great service from Mariana…read moreat the bar!

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!

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!

Great first time experience at Avilas - Costa Mesa. From the moment I pulled in to the driveway,…read moreSalvador was waving hello. At first I thought he confused me with someone else, but nope, he was just being nice and welcoming. The experience: I came with my mom on a Sunday and it was pretty busy; however, the wait time wasn't bad. We were seated fairly promptly and began with chips and salsa. We shared: Camarones à la diabla, menudo, and chingolingas. The camarones were 10/10! I've tried this dish at numerous restaurants and this is by far the second best tasting camarones à la diabla I've ever had. First place is a restaurant in NorCal from years back. The red salsa is delicious! The shrimps are a nice size and they have the shell on so it retains all the flavor. Even the beans and rice were delicious. The menudo was delicious as well! I'll definitely be back for this too. It's only served on weekends, and we were lucky they still had some available. The chingolingas are almost like flautas de pollo, it came with guac and sour cream. They were delicious too, however, I'll probably order this as an appetizer or to share with others. Rocky was our server and he was amazing! Super friendly and attentive. We talked about the food, other locations, and even their anniversary event coming up on October. From the moment I drove in until we left, it was a great experience. Not only was the food delicious but the service was superb. All the workers seemed happy and it looks like a nice environment to work at, I think this adds to the experience for people who come eat here. It's nice to see everyone working together, smiles, and being to attentive. I almost hesitated coming here because I thought it was going to be Acapulco style "Mexican food" but I was wrong. Definitely real Mexican food.