Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Westend

    4.2 (446 reviews)
    Closed Closed

    Order Westend Takeout or Delivery

    Westend Photos

    WESTEND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Good for groups

    You might also consider

    More like Westend

    Recommended Reviews - Westend

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Jorge F.

    Cocktails are amazing! Food is really delicious! The restaurant/bar makes you feel at home and is the absolute best!

    A S.

    Chelsea our server/bartender was amazing, we shared great conversation with her and one of the owners of Westend, Kaylee. The food was super good, great drink choices w/ a variety of unique alcohol choices too (which can be made into mock-tails). Love that they are open again. I also love the funky vibe that Westend has great feeling and is quaint. Want a fun date night out or a night with friends? I highly recommend Westend.

    Lenny L.

    They are OPEN, and I can't wait to try their awesome food. They smoked their meat and I'm coming back for it. They have an awesome selection of cocktails.

    deviled eggs
    Nick H.

    Restaurant Bar with a Loaded Menu! 3.5 Stars! This restaurant serves huge portions. They do have outdoor dining and do take reservations. The menu sports various dishes and appetizers. This includes jambalaya, fishing ships, deviled eggs, tater tots...All of which we tried. Jambalaya- I have very high hopes for the jambalaya but it was AOK. If you are expecting NOLA Jambalaya, this is not yet. But, the portion was huge. Fish and Chips were AOK. The fishi and chips were also AOK. Lots of French fries. My favorite dish was the deviled eggs. The deviled eggs were flavorful and Pretty darn good. Customer service was also AOK. It was not very personable. Parking is pretty difficult. If there is a street parking in front of the restaurant or down the block further, the easiest is to park across the street in the shopping plaza. Overall an AOK experience. I would like to come back again and try other menu items and maybe some drinks.

    Chocolate Starfish
    Elise O.

    This is one of my fav places to go out for a drink & a bite. We always have a great time here! Amazing staff and the food/drinks NEVER miss. My go to is a chocolate starfish, veggie empanadas, and beignets.

    Aileen K.

    Beautiful place with some serious intimate vibes and romance. It did throw me off a bit though. For example, the cuisine is unexpected,..it's southern comfort and bbq, which doesn't quite match the romantic ambience. (But the smell of the place is heavenly because who can complain about the smell of bbq.) And it's in the middle of a typical Costa Mesa street with no lot for parking, so you have to find street parking or park in the plaza lot across the street (we didn't get our car towed or anything, and when we called, we were directed to that lot). So it was a bit sketchy. No complaints from me though-- which is why I had this place bookmarked and was so glad to finally make it out here in the midst of the covid madness. The brussel sprouts were good, as were the brisket and the fried chicken. Their macaroni and potato salad left a lot to be desired, though...we left pretty much all of that untouched. The drinks were also yummy. Ultimately though I don't think I would come back. PSA: NOBODY WAS WEARING MASKS, EVEN THE SERVERS AND BARTENDERS. We almost left once we saw this but we were starving and really wanted to try the food. In hindsight it was reckless and it still bothers me, which is why I'm alerting folks here. Dine here at your own risk, but I will say the food is good!

    Mac n cheese - average
    Simon K.

    The items I ordered were average. But they have a variety of impressive sounding menu items so I will be back to try something else. The deviled eggs were good with a nice reduction almost like balsamic underneath to provide a little kick. The empanadas were good, homemade, light and mild. The pizza was average - this is not a pizza place. The Franklin sandwich (with Nashville Chicken) was average and rather dry. They smoke their own meats, so I think I'll try that next time. I also heard the Jambalaya is good. Fun ambience in the outdoor patio. It seems to be a lively area with the neighboring establishments blasting party music. I hear this place turns into a big party late at night as well.

    Smoked BBQ Meat Sampler Plate
    Aileen F.

    Had a pleasant lunch here with the hubby. They didn't have coffee (unfortunately) coz their machine was busted according to the server. We were promptly seated since we arrived right when they opened. The server was attentive but overall service could've been improved. Why? I overheard him say that he was also the bartender so he was pretty busy making drinks and serving customers in their patio area (where we sat). We ordered: - kale salad = generous portion, a bit too acidic to my liking - prosciutto, apple, Brie sandwich with potato chips on the side = enjoyed this very much, nice flavor combination; melty cheese is always a winner - meat sampler with potato and macaroni salads = flavorful but needed more barbecue sauce which we asked for Overall, we enjoyed our lunch. We'll probably return if we're in the area.

    Amazing food amazing people! Best vibe! have to try the brisket empanadas! Omg and the mustard sauce omg.
    Rachelle W.

    Great vibe! Awesome people! food was amazing. Great drinks. Have to try brisket empanadas omg! Mustard sauce amazing and I hate mustard! So good.

    Delicious fries. Perfect. I didn't try the sauces.
    Crystal M.

    If I said this was the best meal I can remember then I'd be telling the truth. All I seem to do is eat, eat, and the eat some more. Frankly, I've gotten tired of eating. Why? Most restaurants lately seem to want to waste my time. I've had a lot of lazy, nasty food for the past several years. Sometimes there can be a thing or two on a menu that is okay, or tasty. Westend blew my Foodie mind last night. I had the Aperol Spritzer and it was completely refreshing. Actually, I bet all of their drinks are refreshing. This was very well balanced with sweetness, citrus, and with my second one there was a super thin cucumber slice. I was a little grossed out because I hate cucumber drinks. It still worked. The fizz was long lasting and I loved the cool metal straw they gave me. I ordered the Wedge as an appetizer. I told my husband so many times, like with each bite, that it was the best wedge I'd ever had. I'm quite confident that I've eaten at least 100 wedge salads in the past year. Most are just a big hunk of iceberg that is screaming for help. The first thing I noticed was the insanely crispy bacon. I've never had bacon so crunchy that wasn't also burnt. The pieces were tiny. Somehow I had just enough for each bite and the salty flavor was able to compliment the dressing, blue cheese, and herbs. The temperature was also perfect. I'm often disappointed when I get served an ice-cold, wilted, fresh from the fridge salad. There was only a slight hint of chill. We also shared some calamari. It want well with my wedge. It wasn't super fresh calamari, but it was fried well. I never eat any dipping sauces with my calamari. I'm all about just using the lemon. It was yummy. Not the best ever. Then our jambalaya arrived. I must admit that I normally would not order Jambalaya, Gumbo, or even an etouffe. This is because they normally are pretty gross. I decided to take a chance. It was the best chance. Like I hit the jackpot. I'm actually eating omg the leftovers for breakfast. I can safely say that this is a delicious dish. I wanted to make sure that I wasn't famished or delusional last evening and somehow imagined this fantastic food. Nope! It's still awesome. First, there is tons of meat. Chicken, sausage, and jumbo shrimp. Tons of meat. I think I had five shrimp in my plate. I told my husband to eat some of my food because he inhaled his jambalaya. Somehow this morning I'm still finding tons of meat. This is what I would consider mildly spicy. I love extremely hot food so proceed with caution. This may actually be very hot for a normal mouth. It was perfect. I'm glad that I could enjoy all of the flavors without having heat overwhelm my tongue. In the middle of the jambalaya and while enjoying the spritzer, I decided I needed an order of fries. Wow! They were like a gift. Perfectly crispy and salty. Well done. You could poke someone's eye out. So delicious. In summary. It's Monday morning and I wanted to eat at Westend for breakfast. They are closed on Monday's. Boo hoo!

    Brisket Sandwich, lunch special
    Steve B.

    I have been up and down 19th street for years and witnessed the influx of new bars and restaurants. Westend by far is the best I have visited. Across the street is El Metate Market and La Canada, that is saved for another favorable review. What drew us in is the smoker out front with the $10 lunch sign. Wow, what a score. We had the pulled pork sandwich and brisket sandwich . The Chef/Pit Master is a craftsman. If you like smoked meat this is a must go. Just enough rub and smoke, meat was tender and moist as you would hope. The bonus is they put the BBQ sauce on the side not on the meat. There is so much more on the menu and the cocktail selection looks great too. Highly recommend.

    Tom C.

    Must say I was a bit disappointed. After reading the reviews I really wanted to check out the place. So much so our group stopped by after our early dinner and had our 2nd dinner of the night just to try the food. Pro: cute decor, good drinks the shrimp po-boy was decent flavor. Con: 1. The place was half empty but we still had to wait to order, get our food, ask for our bill 2. The food was bland. The lobster Mac and cheese needed pepper and salt. The jambalaya was very watery and more marinara sauce then jambalaya (as seen in my picture). Really wanted it to be more then what I got. 3. The place didn't have AC. Or if they did it wasn't turned in. When we were there it was later in the night and the restaurant was half empty. Can't imagine how it would be if it's pack in the summer time. Overall, like some reviews said this is more of a neighborhood bar to grab a drink and chat for the local. Would not say I will be back.

    Marissa S.

    I got to spend a night out with my girlfriends here and I really digged the vibe of this place. It is located in the gentrified area of Costa Mesa so the location can be janky but what mattered to me here was the food, cocktails, and company (of course). Both ambiance and music were a bonus that transported me to New Orleans for the night. Yeah, baby! Starting off with cocktails, their list is pretty impressive with my favorite being the New York Sour. It's a Boston Sour variation with red wine among the many ingredients as well as shaken egg white which I always love in my drink. The Rose Sour was also very delicious. Appetizers you shouldn't miss are the Calamari and Brussels Sprouts. I can't emphasize enough how these are a must. Meanwhile, skip the Squid Ink Pasta w/ Crab - very mild squid flavor and all you can taste is lemon. I really enjoyed the Jambalaya as well as everyone else on the table. It was a more generous serving vs the other dishes so definitely a great value there. If in the mood for a panini, the Apple, Prosciutto, and Brie will sure to please. As for dessert, Beignets and the Fried Peanut Butter Sandwiches were what we devoured but if I have to pick one, I liked the texture of the latter better. Westend is a perfect example of a hole-in-the-wall that you may easily miss while driving but I strongly suggest you don't. Parking: street and plaza right across.

    See all

    Photo of James N.
    78
    45
    168

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Cute place for a drink. We had a variety of cocktails and beers and all were good. Not too loud so we were able to catch up w friends.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Sara H.
    127
    35
    10

    6 months ago

    i love this place! is it closed? my heart is broken. i hope ya'll come back. amazing food.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of A S.
    0
    6
    12

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Nick H.
    1162
    2707
    8938

    6 years ago

    Helpful 20
    Thanks 0
    Love this 21
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Art E.
    2
    22
    1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Aileen K.
    3190
    1047
    1949

    6 years ago

    Helpful 26
    Thanks 0
    Love this 21
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    7 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 38
    Thanks 0
    Love this 37
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Mac D.
    460
    10
    9

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Lisa G.
    1072
    824
    5696

    8 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Our favorite cozy neighborhood spot! Great cocktails and the food is incredible. The best bbq in town. Don't sleep on this place!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Scotty T.
    171
    139
    242

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jill C.
    14
    10
    0

    3 years ago

    Cool ambience, good food great service. Fun drinks. Good for a date night or just a casual dinner

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Brie B.
    245
    10
    1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeff P.
    1213
    20
    3

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Cat H.
    700
    1066
    105

    7 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 12

    Westend Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Westend

    Will there be a DJ for Halloween night? What kind of music? I made a reservation for 8:30 :)

    We are always full of surprises. Best bring those dancing shoes...

    I made reservations on Open Table, and the confirmation page says "Cash only at this time." Is that correct?

    Yes this place is cash only they have an ATM outside but if you wanna avoid the fees with the banks bring cash.

    Is there a music on Wednesdays?

    Yes, if you bring your phone and use an app.

    Are babies allowed?

    At a bar? What's wrong with you??

    Is there a corkage fee? And will you have live music this Friday?

    Hell, yes the fee is $15. This Friday we may have a dj hand selecting various genres all night.

    Is the Live Jazz going on all day on weekends? Thanks!

    Not when we were here on a Saturday 7pm...but the music selection was truly awesome!

    Is there live music here on Sundays?

    Not yet, at the end of March we will host Live Jazz on Sundays!

    What is their most popular dish or drink here?

    Shrimp PO'Boy or the Southern Pulled Pork BBQ Sandwich

    View All 9 Questions

    You might also consider

    Pioneer - Transfusion...sooo good!

    Pioneer

    4.6(213 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    We made a reservation at Pioneer and really enjoyed this little spot! It's tucked inside a diner,…read moreso it can be a little hard to find at first, but it's just inside the back patio area with a cute wooden saloon-door entrance. The space is small, cozy, and intimate with just a few tables. Our waitress was super friendly and took the time to explain the menu and different options to us. - Guava Y Queso (4.5/5): I loved this! It was really unique with the cream cheese topping, but the combination worked so well. Definitely a fun spot for cocktails and something a little different!

    This place is well hidden, but unfortunately the experience was ruined by how rude and dismissive…read morethe employees were. I asked about seating for two and was simply told to wait outside with no explanation. After 15 minutes, I asked for an update and was again given a vague, dismissive response. Why not give a yes or no answer to whether accommodations can be made? There were several parties waiting in the brightly lit hallway with no A/C, despite plenty of tables seemingly available. At one point, another party peeked inside and a young kid employee with an Afro came out and rudely waved his hands in a "what do you want" manner without saying a word. Two waiting parties immediately left, and we decided to do the same after witnessing that. Another party with a reservation waiting told us this happens regularly and that the staff can be rude. Whether that's their normal practice or not, it was enough to make me not want to give this place my money. We ended up going to two other bars nearby that the one party waiting there recommended and had a completely opposite experience, welcoming and respectful. Definitely disappointing and don't recommend wasting your time as there's so many other places to try.

    Photos
    Pioneer - EL CAPITAN Grape Leaf * Soft Herbs * Pomegranate Summer 2026

    EL CAPITAN Grape Leaf * Soft Herbs * Pomegranate Summer 2026

    Pioneer - Sourdough bread

    Sourdough bread

    Pioneer - New york sour, in the fall menu

    See all

    New york sour, in the fall menu

    Habana - outdoor patio, late night dining and cocktails by the fire pit

    Habana

    4.1(6.1k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$$
    Hipster vibe
    Outdoor seating

    Took my friend here to celebrate her birthday and we had such an amazing time!…read more We were greeted with complimentary drinks and given the choice of rosé or a tequila shot, which was such a fun way to start the celebration! We ordered the beef empanadas to start, and they were perfectly flaky on the outside and so savory and flavorful. For our entrée, we had the ropa vieja, which had just the right amount of flavor and was absolutely delicious. The ambiance was beautiful and made the whole experience feel extra special. They even brought out her birthday cake with a sparkler, which was such a sweet touch! We truly had such a wonderful time celebrating here. Everything from the food to the atmosphere made her birthday feel so special. I would absolutely recommend coming here, especially if you're celebrating someone you love. We'll definitely be back!

    We visited Habana around 12:40 pm on a Tuesday and were seated almost immediately. Parking at The…read moreLAB can be a different story though, and honestly may be harder than getting a table depending on when you visit. We ordered the Cheese Empanadas and El Churrasco. I originally wanted a different empanada, but one of the ingredients conflicted with an allergy and couldn't be removed. The staff was welcoming and helpful in pointing out which dishes and components contained it, so we went with the Cheese Empanadas to be safe. The food came out within about 10 minutes. I really liked the pastry on the Cheese Empanadas because it was light and airy, although the cheese filling itself was a little heavy for my personal preference. The El Churrasco was good overall. I enjoyed the chimichurri, corn, and rice, but the skirt steak itself was just okay compared to others I've had. The restaurant itself is beautiful and has a great atmosphere. Overall, Habana is a solid option for Cuban food and everything we tried was good, but nothing particularly shined for me. I'd still be interested in coming back and exploring more of the menu.

    Photos
    Habana
    Habana - Outdoor patio

    Outdoor patio

    Habana - Habana costa mesa patio

    See all

    Habana costa mesa patio

    Playa Mesa - Plato del Patron. Roasted Jidori chicken, confit spare ribs, cesina, chile toreados, pico de gallo, ceboilltas, papas bravas & refried beans

    Playa Mesa

    4.4(3.5k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Late review but I felt like I should leave this here just in case people are wondering cause if…read morethey closed down cause of the food quality. -- Came back to Playa Mesa for my friend's birthday. The chips and salsa were really good. The aguachile had a nice spicy flavor that made it stand out. The queso fundido was SO good super cheesy, and paired with the handmade tortillas it was one of my favorites. We also ordered the calamari and I was surprised by how good it was. Everyone ordered different rounds of cocktails throughout the night and honestly, not one missed. Service was a little slow, but it was a busy Friday night, so that's somewhat expected. I've been here before and the grilled octopus tacos and carne asada burrito were just as good as I remembered them. They also made the birthday celebration really cute. They sang happy birthday, brought out a small ice cream, and gave my friend a big mariachi hat. Good food, great drinks, and still consistent as I remembered it. So long Playa Mesa. 9.5/10

    Playa Mesa has a great atmosphere with beautiful aesthetics. In the evening, the open windows…read morecreate a nice breeze, though they do let a few flies in. The hostess was friendly, and our server was funny and kind. He was a little less attentive as it got busier, but the staff worked well as a team, so we never had to wait for refills or anything we needed. Parking in the back can be a little tight. The birria tacos were packed with flavor, and I loved the inside-out cheese crust. My husband's fajitas were flavorful, although the chicken was a little overdone. The guacamole was excellent, especially with the pepita seeds adding great texture. Overall, we enjoyed the flavorful food, service, and atmosphere. We'd definitely come back!

    Photos
    Playa Mesa - East Side Sunset

    East Side Sunset

    Playa Mesa - The eastside cocktail - all the drinks here are delish!

    The eastside cocktail - all the drinks here are delish!

    Playa Mesa - Lovely interior...

    See all

    Lovely interior...

    Westend - newamerican - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...