I think this is a best kept secret in Orange County. We planned to visit OCMA & I saw they had a cafe, so we thought we would conveniently do lunch there. Lunch was amazing, equally as good as the museum tour!! We went on a Thursday around 1P before doing the tour. The food was so fresh, creative & delicious that we both said we would meet here for lunch again on its own, sans tour. Our server, Christian, was attentive & knew the menu well. The menu is seasonal, so know that it can vary. We both got a wonderful dish that had squash & hazelnuts in it. So good, especially for fall. We had an amazing salad that featured cucumbers w/ creme fraische & sesame seeds. Sounds simple but stunningly good. I'm trying to recreate that at home but mine isn't measuring up as good as Chef Marissa's! What a lovely chef she is. We were happy to get to meet her. The cocktails were also very good. The vibe is modern food hall inside & they have patio seating as well (don't know if they serve food there or if it's just for the bar). There is a full bar. There are large sculptures on the patio if you want a photo op. We ended up being the last guests of the day, so it was quiet inside. The hours can vary as they host special events sometimes, so I suggest you call beforehand. I can see this being a great place to hold a meeting or event. They were very pleasant & helpful on the phone. That's a huge plus in my book - I had to call regarding food allergies that my friend had. Will definitely visit again we were thoroughly pleased. Great place for locals & tourists alike. Thanks for a great experience. read more

We were going to OCMA so my friend suggested we dine at Verdant which is in the museum, or at least it 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. read more

I'd like to start out by thanking our server, Christian for being very accommodating and helping us out 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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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During "Restaurant week", this restaurant has only 6 items on its menu. 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. All of them are vegetarian, which would not be a problem if this was advertised as a solely vegetarian restaurant. It is not on google maps. The food, despite everything, is not the best either. The sauces overpower the food by a lot. Other than that, everything else is fine. The menu is just very limited, but maybe that's just because of restaurant week. read more

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. read more

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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! read more

Verdant - Heirloom tomato salad with salmon added - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

Verdant - Picture from Bar-top This apple cocktail was delicious but since the menu is rotated I was not able to get it again - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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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. read more

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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. read more

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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. read more

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My husband and I were finally able to visit the Orange County Museum of Art minus the crowds from their opening weekend. We wandered through the different exhibit halls and managed to find ourselves next to the dining room of Verdant. The bar right outside serves cocktails and the vegetable forward menu from Verdant. We weren't hungry but opted for a few drinks. The menu did look enticing but we will be back another time. I had the Fall Spiced Old Fashioned with spiced bourbon, honey, and bitters. It was a little dry so I asked for more honey syrup. That helped. My DH opted for a shot of Tito's and some water. Our bartender Eric was serving us and another party. He let us know last call is about 5:50 pm as the museum closes at 6 pm. No worries, we downed our drinks, paid, and spent the last few minutes perusing the gift shop. read more

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Within the newly opened Orange County Museum of Art, lies the Verdant restaurant, which is pristine and beautifully modern in design. The service was great at Verdant, the food was not appealing for my taste. The baby kale salad was not very exciting, and the vegetable tagine felt overloaded with spice that did not sit well with the dish. The lighting was too overpowering at this restaurant, which gives it a cold, sterile feel. It is convenient to access through the museum, and I do appreciate the sustainability focus of the establishment and vegetarian/vegan nature of the menu. read more

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Delightful Vegan menu; cocktail is powerful & deliciously pretty. Ryan provided pleasant & thoughtful services. This is a great reprieve after focus museum arts viewing. read more

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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.

Went by Verdant for dinner on the anniversary of OCMA's 1 year anniversary. The food was excellent and very tasty. Very fresh, creative and filling. In keeping with the rest of the Mix Mix group it doesn't disappoint! We will be back. read more

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My servers Ty and Columba were phenomenal. Ty was Very polite and helped me with a recommendation of how great some chicken would pair with my avocado toast. Columba was was very quick in getting my food to my table. It's a peaceful and calm atmosphere after you've explored the art exhibit, the lighting and the view from the big windows was very lovely and calming. I loved how they added chili oil to the avocado toast. 10/10 peaceful experience for a quiet brunch with friends or for a solo trip. :) read more

Verdant - Inside the restaurant - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great food and very nice staff. I love the very clean feel with the all white and oak wood. read more

Verdant - House Made Potato Chips With Vegan Onion Dip - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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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.

This spot if great if you're already planning to visit OCMA... but i probably wouldn't go out of your way for it. It's chic and easy to grab a drink after walking around the museum. Drinks are somewhat underwhelming. The staff is quick but not necessarily the kindest. Parking is probably the hardest part (not super intuitive and pricey). If you want and activity plus a drink, this is your spot. read more

Came here for the first time to watch mean girls. Ordered from the bar and the bartender was really rude. Ordered a chai tea and he made a matcha and told him I said chai not matcha. Instead of being profesional and apologizing for messing up the order and fixing it he mumbled fuck grab the drinks continued to give attitude still mumbling cuss words and mind you I had my 12 year with me. I get your busy but no need for all the attitude and cussing. You guys need better employees.. read more

Verdant - This was the guy - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My brother and I stopped by Verdant yesterday (12/22) on our visit to OCMA. We shared a delightfully fresh chicory salad and flavorful acorn squash entree. Everything was very tasty!! read more

If you didn't know about this hidden Gem inside OCMA you're welcome amazing food fresh vegan and plant based forward and drinks are outta this world you can also hold your next event here as well. read more

Delicious!! I've eaten here twice and love the food! Clean and fresh, beautifully presented. Love the setting and the service is very attentive and unobtrusive. We'll be back! read more

The food was delicious and the atmosphere modern and friendly. I had the roasted acorn squash, which was fabulous. read more

Verdant - Roasted Acorn Squash - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I usually never write reviews but I wanted to share how the bartender was really rude and had an attitude. I do not remember his name but he had tattoos. He seemed to be annoyed when I asked to order even though there was barely anyone in the bar, plus food took forever. I would not come back here again. read more

Had a lovely lunch here today but it is pricey including $10.50 parking I was intrigued to try it because of their vegetable focused menu. Chicken and salmon can be added to salads but no beef here. I'm disappointed they didn't indicate GF options like they did for vegan and vegetarian meals. But they have GF rolls and bread and most entrees could be made GF. Service was friendly and efficient. read more