Went to check out the Jazz nights at Bar Tinto and had a nice night out with a girlfriend. Seating…read morewas limited so make sure to come early, managed to grab one in the corner. Staff was really friendly and accommodating. They recommended an orange wine that we liked. The oysters were fresh too and the bread had a nice crunch. Make sure to purchase tickets for the Jazz night in advanced they do sell out!

From the moment you walk in, the service sets the tone, attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely…read morewelcoming without feeling overbearing. The natural wine selection is outstanding. You can tell it's been thoughtfully curated, and the staff really knows how to guide you through it. The pairings are intentional and elevate the entire experience, not just an afterthought. The ambiance is top-notch, effortlessly stylish, warm, and the kind of place that works just as well for a date night as it does for a relaxed night out with friends. And the food... the pork belly taco was absolutely mind-blowing. Perfectly balanced, rich without being heavy, and executed with real attention to detail. This is one of those places where everything, from service to wine to food; comes together seamlessly. Definitely a standout.

This wine bar is cute, hip, and chic! I'm so happy we discovered what a neat place this is to hang…read moreout and grab a drink. The parking lot situation can be confusing but thankfully there is ample parking right across the street. Semi Tropic wines is located on an unassuming street but is very beautiful and cool inside. They also have a spacious patio for outdoor seating. I had a sparking wine that was juicy, slightly sweet, and refreshing. There were limited wines options this night but I think that's partly because the menu was "curated." Lots of non-alcoholic options which was a pleasant surprise. Menu is on the pricier side. This night we came because they were hosting the food pop up "Three Pigs" which offered a variety of yakitori skewers. We ordered one of everything and my favorites were the beef, chicken thigh, and cucumber salad. I'd love to come back and try Semi Tropic's house menu, but if they keep up a steady rotation of cool pop ups like this I think that would be an amazing idea too! I'm looking forward to their future events. We arrived early in the night (about 5:30pm) so there weren't many people. By the time we left closer to 7pm. the line to order at the bar was considerably longer and the place was packed. They host live jazz Thursdays and Fridays which I would definitely come back to enjoy for longer! Semi Tropic Wines is a neat place that would be fun for a first date, or a great place to begin your night out (if you're not worried about price). Cheers!

I went on a Thursday night around 615 for jazz. We got there and had to wait in a line to order…read morewine and food. They don't serve you here and you just order and then sit down. We waited about 10 minutes and there's no menu circulating so you are just standing there not knowing what they have. When we got to the counter to order, there were only five wines to choose from. I was a bit surprised since this is a wine bar. There's also only five food options and nothing really sounded great to me. On their website, they listed charcuterie and a lot more wines, but that was not what was offered. The inside is really cute. But the outside is rundown. The patio looks pretty shabby and that's where the jazz musicians play. There's no heat lamps or really a vibe out there. But the music was fantastic!

This place is my kind of wonderland. You can find everything from beer, wine, cocktails, bar tools,…read moregifts, and so much more. They also have tastings and pairings so check out their schedule. I love going in and asking the staff for their recommendations. They are super nice and informative. I have walked out with many bottles of whiskey that did not disappoint.

I have been going to Hi-Time Cellars for many years now, and I was a bit surprised to find that I…read morehad not included them in a Yelp review! Well, let's fix that right now because this place should be a must-see destination when you are in Orange county. I'm not kidding, this place is an adult Disneyland! The moment you walk in the door it is a visual sensory overload. To the left isn't a complete cigar shop with some of the most elusive and amazing brands. It is definitely a must-see when you go in. The humidor is stocked to the gills, and they have every accessory you could possibly want. As you keep walking, to your left, they have an amazing gourmet chocolate section that is second to none. One of my favorite places to go and just wander around like a kid in a candy store... Literally. You have to go downstairs where the wine selection is. I'm not kidding you, it is like a half a city block long broken down into country, region, varietal, and tight. There are so many bottles to choose from. You can get anything from a $10 bottle up to a $17,000 bottle of wine If you are a bourbon, Scotch, or whiskey fan, you have to check out the selection that they have. They have amazing deals, they work with the distillers to have a great selection of high-end alcohol. Speaking of high-end, behind the glass obviously is the really high-end stuff like pappy, Van Winkle, whistle, pig and many others to choose from. Are they pricey? Yes they are. Are they hard to find, yes they are. Can I afford them? Absolutely not. But they are fun to look at like paintings in a museum. Here's the secret ticket for those of you going in at the back of the bourbon section, right next to the walk-in beer cooler, they have a discount rack where you can pick up bottles for seriously 90% hot. Hot it is definitely worth a look because sometimes you will find amazing deals on stuff that you never thought you could afford. Speaking of beer, you can buy kegs six packs, individual cans of just about any beer you can think of... And even some you did not know existed. It is definitely worth your while to go there and hang out for an hour. I can't end this review before bragging on the staff. Super nice, super helpful, willing to make suggestions, and just making your visit. Fun is the cornerstone of the experience. Super great people kind of like cheers, where they remember your name. Bottom line? You would be doing a disservice if you did not go check this place out. Highly recommended and Dan Leadbetter approved!

Been a here a few times and it's a vibe. Went here after a brewery run with some friends to end the…read morenight and tried the Charleston cherry for the first time. Excellent drink and very smooth. The place overall is very small but there's so much to see. Seating can be tricky, especially for a group, but once you're situated it's a great place to just hangout and enjoy the company of whoever you're with while enjoying some good drinks. You order at the front and the drinks are quickly made and the bartenders are very friendly and happy to answer any questions you have about the menu. This place is part of the Anti-lab mall with excellent dessert places nearby as well.

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

We have been coming here for several years as a fun hangout for a couple drinks. But they've…read moreintroduced us to the varieties of olive oil. Now using the different oils to flavor or accent the food is next level. They do popcorn with olive oil instead of butter and it's amazing. My favorite is jalapeño oil for popcorn with a little kick. We've also done some of their wine and cheese tastings. Discovered so many great new wines and that comes from a beer drinker. They are full of knowledge for the beer, wine and olive oils that you can't miss finding something that hits the spot. Highly recommended.

So, first impression = bad. Asked about orange wine, my fave, but the fella working rudely said in…read morea terrible tone, yeah we have one but you can only be here if you show me your ID. First of all, people underage barely drink wine, let alone know what orange/skin contact wine is. Second of all, I'll show it obviously. Anyways, we came back 2 days later because we really wanted to try this place on our way back home. The owner's daughter was working, and SHE WAS SO SWEET. One of the best customer service experiences. We got some olive oil samples (lemon & basil) & it was so good w/our bread, we ended up buying the olive oil 5 piece sampler pack. Never been more into olive oil than now. That basil was extremely tasty. Also had my orange wine (amazing flavor + so crisp), plus a drink consisting of sparkling wine w/pear or peach balsamic vinegar???? Surprisingly SO GOOD. She told us there's a location in La Jolla and we live in San Diego, so we may become regulars there!! Thanks for the amazing Valentine's Day experience.

Just. The. Best. Restaurant. Everrrrrr…read more The food is amazing. The wine selection is amazing. The people are amazing. I would best describe it as upscale Mexican-inspired food, with a relaxed, friendly, chill atmosphere, and super cool and eclectic decor. Everything on the menu is delicious, but I especially love the lump crab squash blossoms and the ceviche tostada. We love it here.

So good! From the food, service and DJ Love spinning on the…read moreweekend? What more do you want?

Would definitely go again! To start off I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the restaurant. They…read morehave plenty of wonderful outdoor seating. The service was also great, we had a friend that ordered a drink not knowing there was cinnamon inside; upon hearing that she couldn't have cinnamon, our server immediately changed her drink into something she could have! For food we ordered the granola bowl, the chicken sandwich, and the toast that came with a delectable dipping sauce. I ordered an orange juice as well and I really recommend it! I rarely have orange juice but wanted to try it and it was really fresh (tasted freshly squeezed). The granola bowl was perfect, not too sweet. The sandwich was also made perfectly. All in all, would definitely come back for the food, vibes, and service!

This place deserves a gold star! I've been coming here since it opened a couple of years now. The…read moreoutside deck is located in a charming Spanish revival courtyard off of 17th street in Costa Mesa. It's a beautiful spot for brunch, mid afternoon snack or gathering spot with friends for dinner. The vibe is Newport relaxed quietly trendy. But let's get on with the food. In the morning if they have the monkey bread in stock don't skip on it. Their avocado toast is exceptionally well done. In the afternoon I recommend their dips and cocktails. They are on the lighter side. The star of the show for me right now is their dinner deals. Recently the restaurant has been doing weeknight specials that really are SPECIAL. Kudos to the chef who did Thursday Parma Chicken night (6/11). We started with a cold draft of Peroni Italian beer. Followed by a plate of Parma chicken, salad and frites. The chicken was other worldly. It was huge! Somehow still crispy with speckles of sesame, even with a layer of melted mozzarella, ham and fresh whole leaves of basil. Fries were thick and perfectly crisp on the outside and fluffy inside. Two sauces accompanied the plate. A tomatoey one and a creamy aioli for dipping. The salad was fresh and lightly seasoned. At $25 for the whole meal including drink is the best deal in Eastside Costa Mesa. The only critique I have is the beer could have been colder. The salad a little bigger (it was delicious). The courtyard heating lamp a little more ample. Thursday night Parm night went so well, I came back to try their Steak and Frites with Wine on Tuesday night. For $35 it comes with a light French red. You could get a white or an-alcoholic wine. I prefer a deeper red but their choice was probably picked to be the most pleasing for most folks. The salad and frites were well executed as Thursday night. They never asked how we wanted the steak done but delivered perfectly cooked steaks. Seared and slightly crisped on the outside and pink to red center. Their compound pat of butter on top was delicious (I cannot tell what is in it but delicious). They also had two sauces accompanying the plate. One was a grainy mustard that went very well with the steak and the other was their creamy aioli. If you want a great deal and great food try them out for their Tues or Thur special. Go now before word gets out and they get too busy to book a table. I plan to be here this summer for them.

I have been meaning to try this place for a while so when my son's auntie wanted to do dinner, we…read moremet up. This place is very child friendly thankfully. My son was a bit over sugared with the lemonade we ordered but when he calmed down it was better. They have a published kids menu but they have additional items not on the website available. My son ordered the Mac n cheese but ate 2 bites. Instead, this 4 yr old ate the lobster deviled eggs and calamari fries like they were his last meal. I think it's safe to say he's going to be expensive when he grows up. The poke stack was similarly good as was the Chardonnay I ordered. I have to say a big thank you to staff for being very patient with an over stimulated 4 yr old. I was trying very hard to get him to lower his voice and chill out and yall thought nothing of it. Thank you so much for your kindness. Given this experience we'll have to come back again to apparently give my child his fix of lobster, deviled eggs and calamari fries. But no lemonade! Thanks again!

Heard they have the best lobster roll in the nation so of course, the little food critic that I am…read morehad to come check this place out for myself. They give you the option of either a 4oz or 6oz, priced at $34 and $49. It's a Connecticut style roll made with buttered lobster on a toasted brioche bun. It also comes with a side of fries and you can choose your choice of seasoning, "Chef's way" or "Maine style." The roll is pretty expensive but honestly worth it in my opinion because of how much lobster they pack into it. The brioche bread was perfectly toasted. The lobster was fresh and buttery without making the bread soggy, even after pouring extra melted butter on top. This is definitely the best lobster roll I've had.