Came here with a friend before going to watch Beauty & The Beast The Musical. Came at 5:00pm and…read moregot seated immediately. Shoutout to Laura who was the sweetest, most attentive server! I waited for my friend to come and in the meantime, brought chips, salsa, and black beans to start. The chips were hot and fresh and the salsa was the perfect amount of spicy. Beans were warm and coated the chip well. I asked if they can make mocktails and she said anything on the menu! The Strawberry Jalapeno was delicious, but I do wish there was more spice from the jalapeno. My friend wanted a Coke and Laura said they had no more so she was so bummed. Later, Laura came running and grinning and found the LAST Coke bottle in the back and brought it out! Such a funny and cute moment! The Tres Enchiladas de Mariscos were SO yummy. Each one with a different taste, sauce, sea food. My favorites were the shrimp, lobster, crab in that order. The rice was perfectly hot and fluffy and complimented the dish. Then, my friend and I shared the flan, which is truly a sharing portion. It was so RICH and thick and was the best dessert to top off the evening. Thank you, Calo and your amazing staff!

First time dining here, and it's a mixed bag. The food is good especially my Tres Enchiladas de…read moreMariscos and the portions are massive, but it comes with a steep price tag--though that's likely tied to being in a high-end mall. The atmosphere was quite loud, and even though we were moved to a quieter section, ambient noise still carried over. Service started off strong with an attentive server, but a major hiccup happened when she cleared away a plate that was barely touched and meant for a to-go box. To their credit, she was very apologetic, and management replaced the dish entirely, which was the right thing to do. Given the high prices, I'm on the fence about returning, but the service recovery was appreciated. 3/5 stars.

We stopped by this bar after dinner one night. Love it! The decor all over is neat! They have an…read moreoutdoor area and more seating inside along with the bar. Seats are limited. There's a tree right in the middle inside. The decor is best described as eclectic. I love it! The drinks were great! My guava martini was delish! We also had the espresso martini and that delish! The service was great! Everyone was super nice! They are open late! We stayed until midnight which was closing time on Sunday but we would have definitely stayed later! We are definitely coming back!

What a great little trendy bar hidden away! After the OC Fair we felt like a little nightcap &…read morethrough Yelp found this little gem. The ambiance was so cool with lots of Asian inspired decorations, total eye candy. The line for the drinks was a little long but went pretty fast and we were lucky to score 2 seats inside almost immediately. If not, you can stand around or sit on other little tables on their outside patio. You can view the drinks through a QR code, a wall menu or above the bar. The drinks were really good with fun names, it was hard to decide which I'd make my first! A great place to visit and enjoy a good drink.

I love a good fusion restaurant and Vox Kitchen does such a great job bringing together…read moreVietnamese/Asian and Peruvian flavors! I actually ended up coming here twice in one week, which says a lot about who much I enjoyed the food! The restaurant is located inside the mall and has plenty of seating. I would still recommend making a reservation during busier hours to secure a table. Both times I visited, the servers were really friendly and attentive, and the food came out fairly quickly! One thing worth mentioning is that the portions are HUGE! Most of the dishes are definitely shareable, which. makes this a great spot to come with a group so you can order a variety of things and try a little bit of everything. Items I've ordered: - Lychee Lemonade (this one is refillable): Really refreshing and had a nice fruity flavor, it is a little sweeter than I typically prefer but still really good - Mushroom & Steak Fried Rice: This dish was so good! I loved the combination of the savory steak and mushrooms. Everything worked really well together and it was such a satisfying dish. The portions were generous so I had leftovers - Appetizers: We also ordered quite a bit of appetizers to share but my favorite was definitely the calamari! The pieces were on the smaller size but what they lacked in size, they. made up for in flavor and quality. I loved pairing it with the sauce they provided which brought everything together. I also ordered the chicken wings, corn ribs and fries. - Saltado Filet Mignon: This was absolutely delicious and probably my favorite entree between both visits! I loved that you could choose how you want your steak cooked. I ordered mine in medium and it turned out great! The dish came with both rice and seasoned fries, making it incredibly hearty and satisfying meal. I really enjoyed the combination of flavors. Again, portion is very generous so it's a great option to share. They also came with tomatos and onions. Pro tip: they have listerine in the bathroom so if you do get those garlic noodles or the onions, pop in there after the meal! Overall great spot if you enjoy fusion cuisine or looking for great cocktails/mocktails to try.

Service was great and you get an upscale type of vibe! From our host to the waiter and servers,…read morethey were all so nice and friendly! The food was on the pricier side but they have amazing deals for Happy Hour! Our dishes were fresh and delicious! We ordered calamari, garlic noodles, chicken bowl, and saltado w/beef. It was a 10/10 for all!

First time here as my mom wanted me to try it. Came here on a Tuesday lunch and there's plenty of…read moretables available, no wait. We got seated right away. I ordered the Roma tomato soup bowl and it's a bit bigger than normal which I enjoyed. The soup was delicious. I also ordered the Margherita Pizza as I wanted some grill cheese to go with the tomato soup and this was the closest thing. It was pretty good. My parents ordered the portobello mushroom ravioli and the ginger sesame salad. The ravioli was a bit too heavy but the salad was very flavorful. Our waiter was awesome! Overall: I wouldn't mind coming again if my parents wanted to.

Honestly, eating at Nordstrom cafe is always a must for me where ever I go. Their cilantro lime…read moresalad is the best thing on the menu. Can't go wrong with their service - they're always nice, friendly and on point. The establishment is always clean and no funky smell. It's like your typical restaurant setting but in Nordstrom. I will always recommend coming here even if you're not shopping at Nordstrom.

My husband and I came to Habana in Costa Mesa to celebrate our anniversary, and we had such a…read morelovely experience! We made a reservation ahead of time, and when we arrived, our table was decorated with rose petals and a cute anniversary card. Such a thoughtful little detail that made our celebration feel extra special! For food, I ordered my usual, the Ropa Vieja, and it's honestly a 10/10 every time! The meat is always packed with flavor, and their rice is literally my favorite! My husband ordered the New York steak, which was super buttery, tender, and seared to perfection. We also ordered a side of their Caribbean fries, and the dipping sauce was SO good! For drinks, my husband ordered El Cubanito, which was really good! I went with the Agua de Coco, which literally comes served in a coconut! I also ordered a shot of their Havana Club Añejo to go with it, and I loved the combination. Definitely something I would order again! Overall, such a wonderful experience! Between the delicious food, drinks, and the thoughtful anniversary setup, it made our evening feel even more special. Habana continues to be one of my favorite spots, and I would absolutely recommend it, especially for a date night or special occasion!

More parking than I thought on a weekend…read more Restaurant located at The LAB Anti-Mall in Costa Mesa. Tropical vibes and decor. Our server was initially prompt, but as the evening passed, we saw him less and less as the tables began to fill to the point we had to ask other waiters to refill our water. We ordered a bunch of entrees and sides to sample the menu. I ordered the Chef's Special which included a hanger steak, broccoli, and roasted potatoes, along with a side of the Chorizo Mac n Cheese. The consensus was that the food lacked seasoning. The sauces that were served with the dishes enhanced the flavor and added the needed seasoning. What I want to highlight is that they had cooked my steak just as I wanted (rare) and the broccoli was just how I liked it. Price is a bit steep, but you're paying for the aesthetic and atmosphere. Overall, while I'd be open to trying it again, it wouldn't be my first choice for Cuban food.

We were going to OCMA so my friend suggested we dine at Verdant which is in the museum, or at least…read moreit used to be. We checked in at the museum front desk and my friend said we were going up to restaurant on the third floor. The person at the desk said they moved it and it was on the first floor now. She pointed over to what I knew to be the snack bar that had been there since opening. We went over and sure enough it was just drinks snacks and a few pre-packaged light meals. I have to guess they just quietly went away.

I'd like to start out by thanking our server, Christian for being very accommodating and helping us…read moreout on Sunday! I had made a reservation online for 6 people at 12:30pm and my reservation was accepted. When we got to the museum, we were told the restaurant was closing at 12:30pm and I felt very upset. Why was the reservation accepted then? When I got to Verdant, there was no one in sight. The restaurant was empty and there was 1 other party, but no staff. I actually ended up making my way near the kitchen, and that's where I found Christian, who appeared really busy. He explained that they had a wedding later that day and had to close at 1pm for set up. He still sat our party and was very kind, accommodating and helpful. He gave me a great tip and said when making cafe reservations, it's best to call ahead, because they do sometimes have event buy outs. As far as the ambiance, it is a really beautiful space. But, it was SO cold. It seemed like the AC was on full blast. The food was pretty good, but the menu seemed to change since I was there last.

Had a great time on Sunday! The bartender Sarah was so cool. Very attentive and chill vibes. Then…read morethe karaoke night was great too. 10/10

We love Kitsch Bar and have always had a good time here, which is why this was so disappointing…read more The bartender, Sofia, completely ruined the vibe for us. She was rude and came off really disrespectful, and at one point said things that felt degrading. It made my boyfriend so uncomfortable that he actually left and went outside just to get away from it. Instead of calming things down, she got more aggressive and tried to intimidate me and my friend into leaving. She straight up told us to go and wouldn't even let me finish my martini. I had a long week and just wanted to relax, and that moment felt so unnecessary and frustrating. We still love Kitsch Bar, but that experience with Sofia was not okay and definitely left a bad impression. Hopefully it's not something others have to deal with.

The great room is a restaurant within the Weston. It's got a casual but ups ale type vibe. I had…read morebreakfast there and it was on point. I had the classic American breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and sourdough toast. The servers were attentive without being too present. I always appreciate that. I'd come back tomorrow if I was staying another night.

Brunch at The Great Room in Costa Mesa was such a classy casual vibe. The ambience feels modern and…read morerelaxed, and we had a lovely view of the fountain outside which made everything feel a little more elevated and serene. We ordered the Lox and Bagel with smoked salmon, capers, cream cheese, pickled red onions, fresh dill, and sun dried roasted tomatoes. The salmon was fresh and silky, and I loved the brightness from the pickled onions and dill. The roasted tomatoes added a nice depth of flavor. I also had the white crab white omelette with spinach and substituted the fruit for hash browns. The omelette was light and fluffy, and the crab added a subtle sweetness. The hash browns were crispy and satisfying. Cappuccinos were great, rich, smooth, and perfectly foamy. Just note they are nine dollars each, which feels a little steep, but they were well made. Service was pretty good overall, attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Overall, a solid four stars. Great atmosphere, quality brunch options, and a polished setting that feels perfect for a relaxed weekend catch up. I would come back for the vibes and the cappuccino.

We made a reservation at Pioneer and really enjoyed this little spot! It's tucked inside a diner,…read moreso it can be a little hard to find at first, but it's just inside the back patio area with a cute wooden saloon-door entrance. The space is small, cozy, and intimate with just a few tables. Our waitress was super friendly and took the time to explain the menu and different options to us. - Guava Y Queso (4.5/5): I loved this! It was really unique with the cream cheese topping, but the combination worked so well. Definitely a fun spot for cocktails and something a little different!

This place is well hidden, but unfortunately the experience was ruined by how rude and dismissive…read morethe employees were. I asked about seating for two and was simply told to wait outside with no explanation. After 15 minutes, I asked for an update and was again given a vague, dismissive response. Why not give a yes or no answer to whether accommodations can be made? There were several parties waiting in the brightly lit hallway with no A/C, despite plenty of tables seemingly available. At one point, another party peeked inside and a young kid employee with an Afro came out and rudely waved his hands in a "what do you want" manner without saying a word. Two waiting parties immediately left, and we decided to do the same after witnessing that. Another party with a reservation waiting told us this happens regularly and that the staff can be rude. Whether that's their normal practice or not, it was enough to make me not want to give this place my money. We ended up going to two other bars nearby that the one party waiting there recommended and had a completely opposite experience, welcoming and respectful. Definitely disappointing and don't recommend wasting your time as there's so many other places to try.

From start to finish this place is did NOT disappoint.... After knocking on the door we were…read moregreeted by a smiling, friendly face. Then we were led through the door to walk into this fun and sassy bar. There was so much to look at and the vibe was on point. The bartenders were knowledgeable with all the different flavors of spirits and I picked a tasty drink (or 2). My overall experience was top notch!

Very cool spot it' has really nice decor. However all of the staff was great except one bartender…read morehe started off extremely rude and stayed consistent he was a lil taller works on Sunday night black hair thin guy . The spot is great just give the guy a pep talk that nobody has time for it . Go check it out