I rarely leave reviews, but after my 4th time here in a month I decided it was time. This is a great hidden gem on Irvine Ave & Mesa Dr. They have a bar on the 1st floor, but I have only been to the restaurant on the 2nd floor. There is parking up on the 2nd level with easy access to the restaurant. I live across the street and they are dog friendly so it's convenient for me, but I keep coming back for the ambiance and FOOD! I couldn't find the pic I took of the smoked chicken salad sandwich (my favorite so far) but it all has been great! Hangar steak, Cheeseburger, butter lettuce... all Great! I've only had good experiences with the waiters and owners. All of them are very friendly and accommodating. Check them out! Or don't check them out so my pup and I can grab the best tables. read more

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Food was amazing. Ambiance was quaint. Service was good (considering they had only one server at the time).

Food And drinks were fresh tasting and delicious! We had the carrot appetizer and the fried cabbage appetizer. I had the pork chop and wife had the rainbow trout read more

Mixed feelings about Verde. This is a great nook for a restaurant - very walkable for the surrounding neighborhoods. The interior is fresh and bright but felt slightly sterile. I met a friend there right when they opened at 4pm for an early happy hour - "early entry" menu is very tapas-oriented. We enjoyed the cheese plate (it was a cheese in the parmesan family that I hadn't heard of before and I thoroughly enjoyed) and an order of fries. The star of the evening was the cocktail - our server recommended Lip Service and we polished off two rounds. Just like the interior of the restaurant, it was fresh and bright, perfectly balanced. Light on the gin...after 2, I wasn't buzzed and I usually would be. My half of the bill after tip was about $60. I'd be curious if there's a better vibe during dinner hour, but for me the place and people lacked warmth and I'm not itching to return at that price point. We were really interested in Bar Verde downstairs - much warmer space. According to the website, they are open on Tuesdays but our server upstairs let us know they changed the days/hours - couldn't find them posted anywhere on the property or on their website. Call first if you're checking out the Bar. I hope they find their stride! read more

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We went to the downstairs bar to listen to a friends live performance. It was not busy for a Friday at 6:15pm but quickly filled in. I Ordered the protein bowl with chicken without the tabbouleh (due to gluten free) and the chicken was perfectly cooked. I loved how perfectly bite sized the broccolini was cut up. My husband had the burger and enjoyed it. Our friends had the hangar steak and it looked great-they reported it was a very good steak. I had a glass of delicious Italian Sangiovese. My husband had the "Really? Carrot?" And it was good! Bathrooms are outside/shared with the complex businesses and clean. Service was good. Overall we would definitely return! Would love to sit upstairs next time since we have a 1 year old and keeping him contained in the bar booth was work. read more

Came here for dinner with some friends and had a great time. For starters, we began with bread and butter for the table then the shishito peppers. The bread is like a sour dough focaccia with a whipped butter. It was absolutely delicious, I honestly could just eat that alone and be content. The shishito peppers surprised all of us and were great as well with a sweet & sour type of glaze. I decided on the steak sandwich and despite not being that into horseradish, it complemented it really well along with the toppings inside. My husband had the hangar steak and although it was tender, could've had more oomph in the sauce for flavor. The broccolini's were gigantic too & a tad overwhelming. The potatoes though were amazing. Drinks and appetizers came out quick, but there was a bit of a wait for the entrees. Overall, kind and friendly service, beautiful ambiance inside, and an enjoyable experience. read more

What an unexpected pleasure!! We celebrated a friend's birthday and food was exceptional and service on point. Our server guided our choices with very good recommendations - grilled carrots, onion dip and salad to start off. For dinner, roasted chicken, skirt steak, and salmon. All were exceptional. I normally don't order chicken but glad I did. It was a generous serving of juicy tender, and oh so flavorful chicken!! The skirt steaks were cooked to perfection and so was the salmon. All just absolutely delicious. We will definitely be back and try their happy hour as well read more

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Foood and drinks are always so good! Everything is amazing. Staff is super friendly and knowledgeable. read more

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Verde was a super cool spot. They were very kid-friendly, and the staff stayed on top of everything from start to finish. The drinks were really good, and I loved that you can watch the planes taking off while you eat--it adds a fun touch to the atmosphere. The food was solid, and overall it made for a great experience. I'd definitely return. read more

Verde Restaurant - Fries and steak - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I think this place is still working out the kinks, but has a lot of potential. Service was a bit hit or miss. The menu is interesting and the food was promising but in many cases needed a little extra seasoning. The onion dip was a lot of fun but needed more chips, our waiter did offer some. My salmon was cooked well but could have used a pinch of salt to liven it up. The same was true of the mushroom starter. This location is easy to get to with lots of parking. The cocktails and menu items are very creative. It's definitely worth checking out, especially as they mature. read more

Verde Restaurant - Salmon - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I've come here for lunch and dinner. Cocktails are fantastic. Really enjoyed the carrot cocktail. It was more pineapple forward than carrot forward. Our party shared a wealth of dishes, including the steak tartare, onion dip, catch of the day, hanger steak, duck salad and tagliatelle. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend any of the dishes but found the fish to be particular good and well cooked. Service was very friendly and attentive. The restaurant has a really nice, lively and casual vibe. Wouldn't hesitate to come back. We checked the bar out downstairs and it has a great vibe too! read more

This place is AMAZING! We have went 5-6 times now. The customer service is top tier. Both owners are almost always there and very helpful and attentive. The food is incredible. The cabbage, bread, green beans, snap peas, trout, skirt steak are some of our favorites. If you like farm to table type restaurants, this one is one of the best. We are new found regulars and already planning our next visit. Ohh and the Chocolate ganache is my sons absolute favor, "the best he has ever had". read more

Such a cute little restaurant in Costa Mesa. Wasn't super busy for an early dinner on Saturday. Staff was super friendly. Bella was our waitress and she made amazing recommendations for apps and mains. We had the bread & butter (sooooo good, it was like a sourdough focaccia and the whipped butter was amazinggggg. Could've just eaten a whole bowl of that) and shishito peppers (the sauce was super sweet and a little sour, very delicious), and for my main I had the half chicken and it was the best chicken I've ever eaten in my life! The only downside was that there isn't too much variety on the menu BUT it was perfect for our little group. Definitely will come back and try some other items. read more

Verde is absolutely amazing! From start to finish, the service was top-notch--attentive, friendly, and genuinely accommodating. As a very picky customer, I was so impressed with how they handled my requests with ease and kindness. The food was outstanding! The vegetables were incredibly fresh and crisp, and the salmon was cooked to absolute perfection--flaky, flavorful, and just the right texture. They even brought out extra hot sauce for me, which was such a thoughtful touch. And the dressing? So good that next time, I'll be getting it tossed in for even more flavor. The ambiance is young, hip, and in a great location--definitely a cool spot to hang out and enjoy an amazing meal. The menu has so many great options that I'm already planning my next visit to try their curry and other appetizers. Wow--loved everything about this place! Highly recommend! read more

Verde Restaurant - Salad with salmon - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is our second time having dinner here and it won't be our last. It is not often that a restaurant gets everything right. The service was exceptional and they were very helpful with modifications for particular food sensitivities of one of the guests. Cocktails were fantastic and appetizers and entrees were very flavorful and beautifully prepared. Some of the appetizers and entrees ordered by our group included charred snap peas, warm bread, pickled carrots, salmon, trout, protein bowl and hangar steak. read more

The bar downstairs is great on Saturday nights. It's very cozy and intimate before 10pm then it starts becoming a little more lively. The staff is super attentive and craft drinks were great! I'd recommended trying The Celery Stalker and The Really Carrot, both were light, refreshing and super tasty! read more

Amazing service! Excellent food! Tried for the first time last week. We will definitely be back. Everyone loved their meal

The menu is limited but everything is excellent in terms of taste and quality. The pork chop is so good, highly recommended. Service is excellent and they have very good drinks. Definitely coming back. read more

Verde Restaurant - Pork chops and trout - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

If you get there early, you have the place to yourself, but just for a while. Fresh and delicious food. The half chicken is great and well portioned. Limited but creative drink menu. Believe it or not, the carrot vodka drink is my favorite. The bartender is ready and able to fill your needs. Helpful hint: Park up on top and skip the stairs. read more

This was unexpectedly an incredible meal! We went in the evening and it is tucked on the second floor of a strip mall area? I am not familiar with the shopping area but it seemed like everything was closed at the time we went on first glance so at first glance you may not expect it. The food tasted so fresh and I can tell they took care with the ingredients. From top to bottom including the drinks the food was delicious! My partner got the lip service cocktail and he really enjoyed it! I highly recommend the gem lettuce salad I think that what it's called. That was my favorite since it was so light and fresh. I wish all places had salads like this! We also got the tagliatelle pasta with meat sauce which was excellent I'm pretty sure it was fresh made pasta which gives extra points. And we also got the cod which was the catch of the day which we finished so fast it was that good. I know this place only opened in November so I'm very impressed with it! My only recommendation to add a nice touch is the paper menus kind of made it seem too casual, but I think the food and prices aims to be more upscale. If they put the paper menus in a folder or something I think that would be a nice touch. I know I'm picky but everything else I don't have any complaints or suggestions so that's saying something! Go check this place out if you want a fresh and great tasting quality meal! We will be back I love that it's seasonal menu items so looking forward to what they have next! read more

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This place is fabulous! Food and cocktails were great & the service is friendly and we loved the ambiance. We will be back.

Appetizer has hair inside... We went there during a week day. Order steak tartar, seafood stew and cheese burger with fries. ( total bill with tip is $3 short from $100) I would think this should be a restaurant with decent quality, but obviously not... We were excited to try the steak tartar, cuz I really like raw beef. When I had the second piece of bread with the steak tartar, I realize there was something like a hair in the middle of the tartar in my mouth. I had to pull out the hair. ... I almost was going to throw up. Called the waiter and told him the situation, he just said a quick sorry and took the dish ( I was discussed by the hair so didn't take the photo) The entree seafood stew was a $ 40 dish but the seafood was like frozen small tinny pieces. Flavor was good but I don't feel it has the value. Until the end, no store manager or owner came to ask or say sorry about the hair inside the appetizer. read more

Verde Restaurant - Seafood stew. Lots of shells and all the seafoods are in small pieces. - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Verde offers such high quality food, flavor, fine wine and friendly vibes!! We are obsessed with this place. We come every week now and are so grateful for such a wonderful dining experience!! Highly recommend you go and enjoy the lovely atmosphere, food, drink and service. read more

Had a great dinner here with the family tonight. Food was incredible and kids ate free because it was Wednesday. Service was great. We'll definitely be back soon! read more

Amazing foods, the way their chef uses acid is . We had such amazing time celebrating father's day here. Grilled cabbage, trout dip, beet salad, 32 oz rib eye, and side of fries were all beyond our expectation. Friendly staffs and amazing view were just cherry on top. We r Def coming back for parents date night ! read more

Verde Restaurant - 32 Oz ribeye - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great location. Chips and Salsa were amazing. All their entrees are so tasty. We also like their fresh salads

Verde, Loved the environment / ambiance, great food with friendly engaging staff. I had the salmon and it was delicious, crispy crust with a soft tender inside paired magnificently with the sauce. Really enjoyed dinner here and can't wait to be back! Thank you Verde! read more

Though they'd never been prior, good Friends local to Verde suggested it among others when we asked for recommendation toward our gathering in O.C. It was the right choice! We made a reservation for 5:30PM on Thursday.....likely not necessary but you never know. We had a few minutes to look around before our Friends arrived and took in the variation in seating inside and out. Then had a brief chat with the Bartender to find out what the tequila offering was. Gabby sat us in gracious fashion, and to our later delight she was our Server. We ordered cocktails, the tequila ones with little to no direction other than our request for Reposado. What ultimately arrived at the table was four perfect and clean drinks. Bartender has skills.....check! Lots of catching up to do and Gabby never rushed us.....she only wanted to know if we could give her a signal so she'd know when we were ready to order. We finally gave her thumbs up and ordered bread, starter salad, hangar steak, and entree salads with steak and salmon protein toppers. Every single piece of the meal was without reservation from very, very good to excellent. Fresh, properly seasoned, sides of smashed potatoes and asparagus perfect, temperatures on the spot. Chef has skills.....check! We were so enthralled in catching up and eating that we had to hustle in departure so we didn't miss a concert. Gabby took it all in stride from beginning to end, and the four of us left with opinion in unison that we'd like to come back very soon. Our early Thursday time may have spoiled us because while fairly busy, the restaurant wasn't slammed. A weekend experience might be different, so we'll have to give that a shot to make sure they can carry the same torch during busier times. In the end......great job Verde! We will be back. read more

Such a delightful farm-to-table restaurant. The food is so fresh and delicious. The service is outstanding and the quality for price is very good. The only critique is the restaurant needs sound buffering because the airport is so close and the air traffic is so loud. But not a problem when you lose yourself in a bite of hot bread or fresh salad. Highly recommend for wonderful food and attentive, friendly service. read more

We had an impromptu dinner at Verde with another couple and wow were we impressed. The food was some of the best we've had in The OC, and I think we've found our go-to place. We started with the Pickled Carrots and a Beet Salad - both we good, but the star for me was the trout. My hubby also loved his pork chop. The house made desserts were a lovely ending. We both have a sweet tooth and appreciate when a restaurant takes time and effort preparing something special rather than buying frozen cheese cake. ;-) The care by our server Blaze was also warm and attentive. Definitely worth giving this hidden gem a try. It's good for date night or a meal with your besties. read more

Great food! Excellent ingredients and flavors. I've been 3 times and it's always very good.

Our party of 4 all had excellent meals and our waitress, Gabby, was attentive and so helpful. She suggested the carrots as an appetizer and they were a wonderful surprise. We ordered Negronis which the bar made superbly. Two of us had the pork chop which was yummy and perfectly prepared. My vegetarian sister loved her protein bowl and I had the roasted vegetables - another nicely prepared dish with great flavors. This restaurant feels upscale and homey at the same time. On a Tuesday night most tables were full. We will be back for sure and highly recommend to all our friends read more

I've gone here twice now and the consistently great experience deserves a 5 star review. Verde's menu is delicious and fresh. From the pickled carrots to salmon, the pairing of flavors and portion sizes are perfect. Both times I've requested a non sweet, refreshing cocktail and they've delivered. The restaurant is well designed. Perfect open concept that allows for great table conversation yet intimate enough to feel like you're dining at a true hidden gem. Tasting menu was reasonably priced and filling. And the owners are so welcoming, kind and just the right amount of engagement for a lovely evening. I'll be back! read more

Verde was excellent... many of the staff came from Mozza and the chef trained under Nancy Silverton. I had the salmon prepared as their daily catch...DELISH!! read more

Verde Restaurant - Salmon prepared as the daily catch. - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I visited Verde this past Friday and will definitely be back! Our server was attentive and got our drinks and appetizer order in right away. We started with the smoked trout dip, which was absolutely delicious. For our main dishes, my friend and I shared the farmers market salad and girella pasta--both were perfectly prepared and well-seasoned. The cocktails were also expertly crafted and complemented the meal beautifully. Excited to return for lunch and another dinner visit soon. read more

Verde Restaurant - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Tremendous meal, first timers. Although they had a multi course Valentines menu that evening, we wanted to explore more of the menu. Three of us, one being my 83 year old mother-in-law, had 5 appetizers and salad, and three entrees. Hit it out of the park on everything. We had the charred cabbage, broiled marinated carrots, short rib chili(killer), beet and feta cheese salad, and house made olive oil bread and whipped butter. Every dish great attention to detail, delicious and varied saucing. We could have stopped there, but we continued on to the trout, hangar steak, and 12 oz pork chop. The sauce on that baby was tremendous, and I'm currently finishing the left overs in my hotel room for breakfast covered in that remarkable sauce. Service was spot on, timing was appropriately spaced out. Definitely put Verde on your map. read more

Great new spot by Irvine Ranch Market over by Back Bay. Tried the half chicken, butter meat salad, onion dip, cheese burger, salmon, and the tagliatelle. Service was attentive and warm, especially the hostess inviting us to the downstairs bar where there is a DJ and fun cozy bar seating with a small standing area. Great spot to get together either friends - beautiful aesthetic inside, interesting/intriguing menu, and delicious cocktails. read more

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Amazing service and people here. They are next to the new mom school. Every Friday, they (especially Anthony) greeted us for lunch. Overwhelmed moms just figuring out how to change, feed, order, eat, and even exist with our babies. They treated us wonderfully. The wines are delish as is the food (chips and dip, sandwiches, etc.). I am just sad they aren't open on Thursdays for lunch since that is when our new class is at. read more

Verde is such a gem! Their customer service is always warm, welcoming, and attentive and it makes the whole experience that much better. But the real star here is the charred cabbage. It's seriously to die for! Perfectly cooked, flavorful, and somehow still feels light and healthy. It's so good that sometimes I wait until they open at 4pm on their balcony just so I can order it. My only wish? That Verde opened for lunch. If they did, it'll save me a few hours of waiting lol read more

Anthony the owner is great-ask him about the Mezcal. Bella, our Server, was knowledgeable about the restaurant and the menu. She made the dinner that much more enjoyable. Order the Blistered Shishito Peppers! Food, drink, service, ambience all awesome! read more