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    Verdant Photos

    VERDANT ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Verdant

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    Timmy S.

    This cafe is located on the top floor of the OC Museum of Art. It has a casual, sleek, modern feel with the length of one wall being windows with a view of the museum's rooftop terrace. A long bar with a great list of house cocktails is located at the entrance of the dining area. There seemed to be more people seated at the bar than in the restaurant on this Saturday afternoon. The hostess, who also served as our waitress, was sweet and attentive. After being seated we decided we'd get something small to eat and a couple glasses of wine rather than cocktails. The wine list is short but representing a good variety of choices. We chose a California Zinfandel and an Italian Barbera both of which were very good. We also shared an item from their "small plate" options - the Mezze Platter. Included on the plate were hummus, babaganoush, tabuleh, pita, cauliflower, and pea pods. Everything was fresh and flavorful and healthily enjoyable (most, if not all, of the menu is vegetarian if I recall). Some reviews complain that the prices are too high but for a classy museum cafe I thought they were reasonable. This is a great place to relax and mellow-out after viewing the exhibits.

    Shakshuka
    Stewart L.

    This was my first visit to Verdant, my 2nd to OCMA, where Verdant is the rooftop cafe. I made a reservation through Tock, but did not need one at 11 am when both the cafe and museum open. The cafe is helmed by partner chefs Ross Pangilinan and Nick Weber, who also run Terrace by Mix Mix and Populaire in South Coast Plaza. Verdant is 100% vegetarian with optional salmon or chicken add-ons. The restaurant and bar both overlook OCMA' s upper plaza, which is landscaped and has some tables, but currently no art/sculptures; apparently there was an issue with children climbing the art. The art inside is surely rotated. The restaurant has some 4-tops but most of the tables are larger, perhaps for a communal dining experience. The menu is not extensive but pretty unique. I just ordered the shakshuka, a go-to breakfast dish for me. Their version was quite tasty, full of tomatoes and herbs and accompanied by a piece of grilled sourdough. It took awhile to come out because the place had just opened and the dish is baked. Service was good. A nice respite during a museum visit. For snacks or beverages, there is a coffee bar of sorts called the Fueling Station by the museum entrance and shop. It was closed in preparation for some sort of transformation when I visited.

    Z A.

    Delicious, vegetarian and vegan café. Ordered a two entrée combo and a coffee. My date ordered a side salad and entrée and a rhubarb beer. Excellent service. It's in the OCMA. Outside patio views. Lovely way to spend an afternoon.

    Heirloom tomato salad with salmon added
    Steph H.

    STEPH JUDGEMENT: Spendy, but good, with lovely service and ambiance. Ours is a time of museum restaurants with great food and decor, with prices to match. Located on the top floor of the museum, the expansive windows let in some fantastic light that gave the whole place a wonderful airy feel. I decided on the heirloom tomato salad and added a pan-seated salmon fillet. I'd asked them not to overcook it and I am happy to report that they didn't. It was delectable, but not cheap! But the service was good and the place has ambiance for days. Treat yo self!

    Justin N.

    Great drinks! Great vibes as well. Anagoretti was amazing with her service, and it was a wonderful time before our dinner :)

    Hearts of palm ceviché
    Ariel D.

    Verdant is a vegetarian cafe located on the second floor terrace of the Orange County Museum of Art, and holy natural lighting Batman--the soaring panoramic windows, polished concrete floors and minimal furniture in this airy dining room are a whole mood. We were sat immediately on a Saturday afternoon by the host who was also the server. The banh mí tastes nothing like a banh mí, but that doesn't mean it's wasn't good. The mushrooms packed a nice umami punch, though I do wish there were more pickled veggies. The avocado toast was fine, the toasted hemp seeds added a really nice crunchy texture contrast. The ceviché was absolutely the star of show. Hearts of palm, citrus, cilantro, and shallots on crunchy tostadas... I will come back just for this dish.

    small bar selection
    Van D.

    Verdant is the cute little bar on the 2nd floor of the Orange County Museum of Arts. They have a cute bar area or it seemed like some restaurant seating and outdoor tables nearby. I personally enjoy the bar area, so I sat there to hang out. They have a small selection of hard liquor and a simple cocktail menu. Service was a bit distracted and took a while to get to me. I was more than ready to order when they were ready. I wanted something refreshing so I went with the Juno Daiquiri ($16), a kuleana rum Agricole, yuzu juice, simple syrup and eucalyptus bitters. I could really taste the yuzu juice, which I enjoyed and the drink had a decent amount of alcohol in it. I asked for the check right away so I can leave whenever I want to. I didn't want to sit around and wait any longer than I needed to. I might be back if I'm already at the museum, but I'm not in a rush.

    Salad cost  $28
    Christine L.

    We stopped by here on our first visit to OCMA. We came pretty close to closing and had no issues getting seated. Service was quick and attentive. We got: -glass noodle salad w/chicken: salad itself was $16 and an additional $12 for chicken. The amount of chicken for the additional $12 was humorous. The salad cost a total of $28 and honestly it should have cost no more than $15. It's incredibly expensive for what it is We did enjoy our drinks though and would only recommend this place for drinks.

    Avocado Toast
    Arlene L.

    Beautiful & bright, high quality, small portions We had lunch here this week, the avocado toast was excellent, the vegetable tangine was tasty but small, the olive oil cake with carmelized pecans was very yummy. Overall a really nice lunch, fancy, but kinda expensive for what you get (and this was on special), and you have to pay for parking too, it's on top floor of the museum. I would definitely come back if I was there for a show or the museum but not just to dine.

    Picture from Bar-top This apple cocktail was delicious but since the menu is rotated I was not able to get it again
    Andrea A.

    I have visited over 3 times when visiting the museum and it quickly became a new favorite. The cocktails are priced at $16 but they are deliciously crafted by the bartenders with house made syrups and quality liquor, needless to say they also pack a punch. I have not tried the food, in all honestly, it has not caught my eye. it seems a bit overpriced, $16 for avocado toast?? Nevertheless, the vibe is very clean and classy. It's a must visit if you're in the museum. The menu is rotated so do not expect to try the same cocktail twice if you visit at a later time. Keep in mind you will need to pay for parking and they do not validate.

    Avocado toast
    Lauren A.

    Visited OCMA for the first time and made it to the top floor during my visit. The top floor of the museum has their outdoor terrace as well as the museum's cafe/bar - Verdant. Since I was there, I decided to try out the cafe and get a small item off the menu for lunch. Overall, I liked the ambiance of the cafe. It's light and bright, minimalist design with views of the terrace. It does seem like a pretty cool place for events, which they told me they do offer. I was attended to and seated right away. Although it was pretty empty when I walked in, I noticed that many of the tables were already reserved for museum tour guests/donors. The staff were very friendly. Service was quick. I ordered the avocado toast (avocado toast with heirloom tomato, hard boiled egg, and a crunchy chili sauce). It honestly looked like art! I felt bad cutting into it. It was good, but it was also $16. Bread was a little hard to cut through. A bit expensive, but I enjoyed the environment and it's a nice option for museum dining.

    Fizzy lifting cocktail.
    April C.

    On the top floor of the OCMA. It is a fairly stark space but it is to be expected in this museum. Very friendly and efficient staff. Prices are inline with other museum restaurants and the general area. I definitely recommend the glass noodle salad - the miso dressing is crave-able. I think the negatives would be the chips which were over-salted and the cheese plate which seemed rather pedestrian. It was all good, but I think they could improve on those particular dishes. The space opens up to a huge patio so I look forward to returning in the summer and enjoying an indoor-outdoor experience.

    Chips with three kinds of onion dip.
    Marilyn S.

    Went here with my best friend from college for a quiet lunch and it was lovely. We started with the chips and onion dip, decadent with caramelized onions, fried crunchy onions and spring onions. Then we shared the vegetable tangine, which had a nice curry seasoning and the glass noodle salad with chicken, which was honestly the best thing I ate all year. It was so light with amazing flavor. The chicken was juicy and savory, just perfect. The service was efficient and non intrusive so we were able to have a nice conversation and talk about the art. I'm very much looking forward to eating there again and saving room for dessert.

    a bar with a lot of bottles on the shelves

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    so much fun! wife and kids had cocktails. tons of vegetarian options. a lot of small plate sharing going on deserts are even fun.

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    Cute open and airy restaurant on the 2nd level of ocma museum with bar. Beautiful designer furniture and simple fresh menu.

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    Ask the Community - Verdant

    Do you need reservations?

    No! But museum members may make a reservation!

    View All 4 Questions

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    The Great Room

    The Great Room

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    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.

    Verdant - cocktailbars - Updated May 2026

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