Food was excellent. They were very accommodating to our family - we are sadly lactose intolerant…read more The ahi ceviche was fantastic, the beef taco was perfectly crispy yet moist, the short rib enchilada was delicious, and the chicken fajita plate was filling with the chicken as the star. It was very juicy and the veggies were cooked to perfection on the grill. Shoutout to our host, Kia. He made this all possible. Would've taken more pics but we couldn't help ourselves to dig in.

Calo Kitchen + Tequila is one of my favorite spots. The margaritas here are seriously some of the…read morebest, always so good and perfectly balanced. It is the kind of place I crave when I want a good drink and a solid meal. The enchiladas are also a standout for me. They are always flavorful, well made, and super satisfying. Everything I have had here has been consistently good, which makes it an easy go to. Overall it is just a really reliable spot with great food and even better margaritas. Definitely one of my favorites.

Fun little spot! Would definitely swing by again. You just go in and order your drinks and find…read moreyour own seat. They whip up the drinks super fast! Came on a Saturday afternoon and was such a cozy area to sit outdoors and enjoy drinks with friends :) Tucked in the corner with a vintage, maximalist, whimsical vibe. I got the bees knees and the estoy enamorado and both were a tiny bit sweet for me but still really good!

A very special bar, from the drinks to the decor. I really like that they are open during the day…read moreand also late at night, with mixed indoor and outdoor seating (though the outdoor seating is a bit worn). Vibes are always good. If you have some time while browsing The Lab during the day, I recommend stopping by for a drink! It's also nice to include in your barhopping itinerary in the evening since there are a number of breweries around too. I've had mixed experiences with the bartenders. Luckily, the gentleman manning the bar during my most recent visit was very friendly. Drinks are always great. I've tried a variety of drinks from the menu here, but my favorites are: -Love in Drunk, a lovely cocktail with cucumber and grapefruit flavors that create a fresh watermelon taste when mixed together -Bee's Knees, short but strong and sweet -London Mule, very herbal thanks to the gin and very refreshing

Great tasting food (saltado picanha with garlic noodles sub for the rice) so phone did not eat…read morefirst. Edmond C was incredibly friendly and helpful! Great great service.

VOX So. Cst. Plaza was excellent!!! The menu has something for everyone from mild to spicy, some…read morereally creative dishes, and I had a difficult time making a choice. But the Seafood Soup was everything I could have wanted! The service was attentive without hovering and the table set attractively. I can't wait togo again!

Mother's Day at Ruscello!…read more 4 starters, 4 entrées, and 4 desserts for the table! Cocktails and wines made the celebration even better. The service was extremely attentive from the staff and assistant manager throughout the lunch. Everything felt smooth, warm, and well cared for. Perfect place for a Mother's Day treat!

Ruscello at Nordstrom is a great upscale vibe and perfectly located inside Nordstrom without…read morefeeling like you are in a store. The grilled cheese and tomato soup with a side caesar was the perfect combo for the middle of my shopping day. It's a large menu with a variety of choices that would suite most palates. There's lots of indoor and outdoor seating depending on the weather. Service was fast and I enjoyed my lunch. Would definitely come back during my next trip to South Coast Plaza.

What a hidden treasure You really walk into another place…read moreThrough the tunnel you are transported to Havana Furnished with a variety of furniture just fits Homey and fresh. Relaxed The staff are warm and welcoming. Gladly explaining the menu and make suggestions. The ingredients are fresh and a delicious blend of flavors You can taste the layers Lovely mid of savory and sweet all together without the spice Items are beautifully plated and presented

The staff were very friendly, and the outside seating was nice. But unfortunately, the food was…read morevery disappointing. Everything seemed either under-seasoned or over-seasoned. We ordered the mariscos fritos, ropa vieja, and filet mignon steak. The mariscos fritos only came with about 5-6 small seafood pieces, and for the price, I think they should include more seafood instead of mostly vegetables. The ropa vieja was extremely salty, while the filet mignon strangely had almost no seasoning at all. Even the corn on the cob on the side had no flavor. We came here to celebrate my daughter's birthday, so it was especially disappointing. Sadly, I don't think we'll be coming back.

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.

Great ambience and drinks were great Prices are typical like…read moreany other bar~ Clean place too~ Came on a regular Monday night, had indie Spanish music going. Great spot to go if your looking for quiet night -hang out Also~ Shout out to Juan who gave great service and was very patient towards us

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.

My partner and I came here after dinner on Valentine's Day, and I absolutely loved this little…read morespot. She had told me about it before and really wanted to take me, so I was excited to finally check it out. It's a very small place, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation online. That worked perfectly for us we were able to get in right away without any wait. Even though it's cozy, it doesn't feel cramped at all. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the drinks were wonderful. The staff really stood out to me. They were attentive, kind, and professional throughout the night. At one point, a patron started to get a bit too tipsy, and the staff handled it with such care and respect while making sure everyone else didn't feel awkward in the situation. It was clear they genuinely care about their guests' experience. Overall, such a great spot and we will definitely come back.

Tried the speakeasy cocktail lounge inside Dick's Church because we saw it on Resy and honestly, it…read morewas a huge disappointment. The atmosphere could have been cool, but every 5 minutes the bright hallway light blasted through the western-style swinging door and completely ruined the dark speakeasy vibe. The drinks were tiny and overpriced. We ordered two Old Fashioneds and the giant ice cubes took up almost the entire glass. Larger than a normal square ice cube- a little taller. But it seriously felt like they split one drink into two. Barely a shot in each glass, and the cocktails themselves were just so-so. Very syrup-y flavor. Definitely not "bespoke" or unique the was the server was upselling us. Service started good but when he got busy it went downhill. And by busy he got (1) 5 top.....He was excited about explaining the menu but then never once came back to check on us. When we finally flagged him down and asked for the check, he just dropped the handheld payment terminal on the table, walked away, grabbed it when we finished paying, and said absolutely nothing... no "thank you," no "have a great night," nothing. And this was after we still tipped 20%. Definitely not worth the money, service, or atmosphere. We won't be back.

Get ready to be transported into an old-timey disco cowboy & poodle wonderland. Just walk in, no…read moreneed for a reservation. The speakeasy was super cute and has fun spaces for you to enjoy your drink like a confession booth or a carriage! There were so many things to see in there and each little nook and cranny had its own personality and character. Drinks were great too! Everything that we had were full of flavor and strength. My favorite drink was the hibiscus vodka cocktail. Bar tenders were awesome and personable too. They also had intriguing mocktails too, friendly for those who don't drink. Will need to come back here whenever I'm in the area!

They say "big things come in small packages" and this speakeasy no exception…read more.. SUCH A VIBE WITH A WESTERN TWIST the cocktails will have you feeling buzzed in no time , plus the bartender are always on their A game. Simply love it here *sip*