We made a reservation a day prior and when we showed up we were greeted and asked if we had a reservation but never were asked for our name. We were just told to wait so we went to the bar to grab a drink and weren't acknowledged by the bartender for quite a while except to ask if we were dining in...but after she asked that we just stood there awkwardly waiting for the opportunity to order. Our reservation was at 8:30 and ordered right away (since we already got our drinks) we didn't get our food for at least 45 minutes. Our appetizer never actually came out so we had to ask to cancel it as we were already done with our entrees and ready for our check. I was really hopeful for this place because they had plant based options and reservations available but the service truly put us off and the staff just seemed really unorganized and inattentive (maybe understaffed?). Even after asking to take our app off the bill, our waitress wasn't very apologetic. Hopefully it would be better under different circumstances and we should just come back for drinks only! read more

Unbelievable great food . Everything we had was epic . Wife shared the meat platter, brisket, chicken. I had mac and brisket, I'm not a big dessert fan but beignet I kinda crushed. Great service, totally helpful and friendly waitress. Have to be honest parking is a challenge, but definitely worth it. I will definitely going back to this awesome place read more

Came here after seeing all the great reviews on Yelp, so it's possible this place just didn't live up to expectations but there were simply too many things that led to several raised eyebrows. It's a little inconspicuous in that there's no sign on the outside of the building with its name on it, just the address number. So look for a black building with a black fence and tent. We parked in the shopping plaza across the street, as there was no parking along the street. Don't know if this is frowned upon but the lot across the street is huge and was empty at the time. Upon entering, my friend and I fell in love with the interior and all the pictures of the celebs with their coffees. They brought us out some homemade corn nibblets (?) to chew on as we waited for our food. They reminded me of corn nuts. They asked if we wanted a drink, but they didn't have a wine/drink menu ready yet. Luckily they let you sample the wines before you decide on a glass. I ordered the pulled pork sandwich as the waitress said it was super popular and one of their best dishes. While it was tasty, I felt it didn't quite live up to the hype. Just an average pulled pork sandwich to me. My friend also said her dish was average. We shared the calamari dish which I thought was just okay as well. The sauces that came along with it were good though. While the lady waitress/host(?) was great our actual waiter that was serving us came off as awkward the whole time and made a mistake with splitting our bill towards the end. He charged my friend the right amount but did it on someone else's bill so the remainder charged on my card actually ended up being much less than I was supposed to pay. Decided to do the right thing and let the staff know about the error and pay the remainder of our bill, but it was a very complicated issue and about 30 minutes passed by before we were finally able to figure it out and leave. While they did apologize, they didn't go or of their way to do anything more despite the inconvenience. At least offer to comp the drinks or appetizer? Overall, it just felt like the place wasn't ready yet, with the lack of the drink menu and a couple of the items we asked about from the food menu not even being available. I did notice a change of ownership sign on the window, so I'm wondering if they were still in the midst of transitioning... I think they need time to get more prepared and train the wait staff some more. As of my last experience, I don't see myself going out of my way to visit this place again. read more

See all

New Orleans vibes and it's GREAT! Last min stop best choice ever. We had jambalaya , and a pep pizza ! FOOD WAS AMAZING!!!! Best kept secret yet, the back patio is definitely a plus for lounging and smoking. Will be back ASAP read more

Westend - Jambalaya - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Please do yourselves a favor and come here! We came on a Saturday night with no wait at all. The moment you walk in, you'll enjoy the decor and vibes. I especially loved the music! Al Green... Louie Armstrong... come on! Wonderful! There's indoor and outdoor seating and a central bar. The bartender seems to run the show, but everyone is all hands on deck. The food- also amazing! We got the dirty south chips (first bite to last was mouth watering delicious). My girlfriend has the pesto chicken panini and I had the mouth watering Nashville hot fried chicken sandwich (can't remember the name). But omg SO good. We finished with the beignets which were light and airy. Everything was absolute perfection and I think I just found my new favorite Saturday night spot for dinner. read more

What a cute spot!! I can't believe I haven't been here before! The atmosphere was incredible - this is the perfect date night spot or the perfect place to catch up with friends. The food and drink were great! We enjoyed the Westend taters and Louisiana jambalaya which was the perfect amount of food to share. The best part was desert! The Elvis Addict was to die for! If you have room, don't pass this dish up. To top it all off, our bartender/server Jamie provided the best service and was so personable. She made out first visit to Westend memorable. Can't wait to come back! read more

If you're looking for a quick cocktail or a nice sit down dinner then this a great local spot. Kayleigh behind the bar is always so welcoming and creative with her cocktails. Chef in the kitchen has a broad range of food items that are fun for everyone's taste buds! read more

We really really enjoyed this spot. My fiancee and I went her for lunch after a day at New Port beach and all the staff here was super friendly. Specifically the owner, or manager, shared a story with us regarding having just got back from running with the bulls. He was extremely friendly and kind. For food I had the turkey sandwiches which was perfection. While the Mrs. had a grilled cajun shrimp kale salad, which he ordered custom they made on the spot for her with no questions asked. Somethings that really put this place over the top, they provided us free salted corn prior to our meals (I don't remember the official name but it was tasty). and they also gave us a free order of beignets (friend doughnuts). Which were very very good. I'll definitely be back if I'm ever in the area. They've won me over. read more

Attentive service, fun eclectic hip like atmosphere , food were tasty but didn't stand out for me . Overall, great fun get together with friends with a different vibe . read more

See all

I guess it's a new, hip, intimate, secretive restaurant. We had reservations for a weeknight @ 7pm and only figured the restaurant was the restaurant because other shops surrounding it were closed and this was the only light place. Parking is very limited to either street parking or the plaza across the street (but towing may occur so be weary..) The location was definitely interesting - the small patio is dog friendly (reason why we came here) but the small romantic ambience is neighbors with a car repair shop. So, as we were having a glass of cab with our calamari next to the candlelight, you can hear the sound of hammering and sanding lol. When we left, we exited through the patio and there was a man painting and working on some parts. The Cabernet was okay - the wine menu isn't printed yet so I basically got whatever he said they had. Calamari was okay and tasted like your typical fried calamari. Perhaps I caught them on an off day but if they are still considered new, a few adjustments are needed read more

Amazing BBQ, cajun food - NOT expensive - fantastic staff - awesome music mix My friend and I hit Westend last night on a blind "pick a place on Yelp" after seeing Piff the Magic Dragon at the Segerstrom. We couldn't have chosen better if we'd tried We sat on the front patio and Jayme, our server, was the perfect combination of attentive and invisible. She also has travelled the world and had some wonderful tips for me to pass on to a friend going to Barcelona for the first time (thanks again, Jayme!). Christina later came by to help, and was also a wonderful combo of server and travel guide :) (She's from Italy) Oh, and the food was great, too! We could smell the BBQ (they were cooking tonight for tomorrow's brunch, a 12-hr cook), and while we chose other dishes that night, Jayme gave a little taster dish of brisket and pork and sauce, which was incredible. And I'm from Saint Louis, I know something about 'que :) For dinner, myy friend had the lobster Mac & cheese, which she loved. For someone who said she wasn't that hungry when we got there, she almost killed the whole thing :) I had the jambalaya, which was fabulous! Desert was beignets, which were not the usual deep-friend kind but softer. They were delicious, and came with a strawberry dipping sauce. You get four, but we were so stuffed we only could eat two, and my friend boxes the others. Also, some of the most eclectic and great music in town: blues to '80s ballads to Motown to ??? And a great "All work and no play..." massive wall hanging that is Instagram-ready ;) The manager/owner(?) and chef even stopped by, just to see what we thought of things Two entree and a dessert was about $50 ($25 apiece). Can't be beat! read more

Place was a little hard to find because there was no signage but we were glad we came by for lunch! Parking was a little difficult so we ended up parking across the street near the grocery store We ordered the burger, calamari, fish and chips, and sweet potato fries. All of it was good!!! My favorite was the calamari. It was perfectly crispy. The cheeseburger was great too. Their house chips were also good and the corn nuts were the perfect bar snack. Will def stop by again soon. Oh and the guy working and serving us was also just the nicest!! He made our lunch even better. read more

See all

My Story: The Westend and All of it's Glory!!! When something new, unique and special pops up in our local hood like, "Westend" it would be a crime not to spread the word! When we first walked in, the restaurant itself seemed rather small but then popped up our waitress, Karen, who was such a sweetheart and was so excited to show us there adorable back patio which provided additional outside seating. I'm not sure the name of them but we were given these complimentary corn nuts that were both sweet, salty & spicy.. I guess they could be called BOMB! We shared the chorizo tater-tots and the pulled pork sandwich! (F***, now all I want is a tater-tot dipped in ketchup and hot sauce).. To sum it up, the food was amazing and the service was perfect!! Westend is an enchanting gem of a restaurant which I foresee sticking around for a very long time! Bonus ~ they serve wine and beer!! read more

See all

5/100 - Yelp 100 Challenge 2018 Small little restaurant/bar with very cool decors on the wall. Came here around 8PM on a Friday night. Even though it says "French," the food did not feel French at all. We ordered the Nola pizza, squid ink pasta, and veggie empanadas. We also got their root beer beer, which tasted amazingggg! Definitely get it, you can't even taste the alcohol! Nola pizza - it's a simple thin crust pizza with creole chicken, Italian sausages, and onion. They have two sizes, 12 inch or 16 inch (i think). We ordered the 12 inch for two people and it was wayy more than enough! Squid ink pasta - a little bit on the salty side, comes with shredded crab on top. Pasta itself was super buttery and soft! Highly recommend trying this dish! Veggie empanadas - comes with two per order. Sort of dry IMO but the avocado & sauce on top balanced that out. Server is great! He gave us very good recommendations for our beers. Food is good but the wait for the food to come out is terrible...took a very long time for our food to come out. Once it did come out, it was all at once (we were hoping the starter appetizers would come out first) Will definitely come back when I'm in the area! read more

Delicious, comfortable, and date night friendly! The co-owner Roland was super accommodating from beginning to end of the meal. He was happy to let me try 3 different wines to select my favorite - a glass of Rośe. I also enjoyed Brussels sprouts, veggie pesto pizza, jambalaya, and beignets! I'm always on the lookout for a great hole in the wall restaurant and the vibes and food hit every mark. I will definitely be back, thank you Westend! PS. We also got to talking with Roland and they are installing a bar, valet parking, and live music very soon! read more

See all

So incredibly happy we stumbled upon this restaurant/bar! Friendly staff, delicious drinks (the old fashioned is my favorite!), killer BBQ (order the pulled chicken or burger!), yummy fries, memorable beignets and a central location. Parking can be a bit challenging but there is a lot across the street! Walk in to sit at the bar or make a reservation online. Enjoy! read more

Holy moly! I heard the food here was amazing, but WOW my expectations, and palate, were blown away! First of all, this is a hidden GEM in Costa Mesa. I ordered a few things, and everything that came out was mind blowing. I can't rave enough about the BBQ items on their menu... true Texas BBQ flavor that is out of this world! Want a healthier option? Order the Brussels sprouts - a serious must have! The owner, Roland might be the most accommodating person in the biz, and the bartender who served me, Jayme, might be the funniest person I've met. I fully recommend this establishment to anyone living in the area, or visiting. Definitely will be coming back, prob once a week lol! read more

Stumbled upon this gem when I arrived at The Cave next-door too early. Came on a Friday night around 7 PM and it was pretty empty. We were seated in the back patio, and it was so nice and cozy and romantic. Our server was absolutely amazing and personable. Sangria, both red and white were very good, however I think I like the red better though. Ordered the brussels sprouts which were so good, had the kale salad with cranberries and walnuts, and the pozole. The pozole was OK, but I really dug the brussels sprouts and kale salad, I took the leftovers home and it was amazingly delicious a few days later as well. Looking forward to coming back here again! This is a great date place. read more

Westend - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

ALL I HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THIS PLACE IS: DAMN! From the moment we walked in, it was pure delight. Ivy, not our waitress (felt more like a long lost friend), the owner? of the restaurant, immediately came out to offer some off the menu items and break down of the menu. I ordered the Breaking Bud and the fried pickles. The fried picked: not burnt, dry, or too moist.... let's just say efficient perfect, shall we. The beer was a little hoppy, but that's just a matter of preference. Some people love it. I will definitely try the Ballast Point next time. Ivy brought out a small plate of Sweet & Sour fried Hominy. Think Jalapeño Corn Nuts... but better. Now stay with me.. the picture is included.... these are freaking delicious. I ordered the Tuna Melt and Tater Tots: the tuna was on rye and came with a pickle, the tots, unbeknownst to me., has cheese and bacon... ohhhhhh mama...how does this place just fulfill my stomachs naughty thoughts? If you are on the verge of coming to this place, I implore you.... DOOOO IT!!!!!!! YOU WILL LOVE THIS PLACE read more

Westend - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Not sure if the guy was new, just waking up, or had other things on his plate, but I did not feel important as a customer at all. We came into the place 5 minutes after it opened, got seated, and then were left there for a while. We asked the waiter what a specific thing on the menu was. He didn't know. I think he tried to guess. We ordered. Not too much longer, 4 out of 5 dishes came out. The waiter asked my brother what he ordered again and then seemed like he ran off to go tell the cook to make it. My little sister got up to ask him for 6 knives so we could cut our food. He gave her one knife. We kept eating and shared the knife. We almost finished eating and then he brought out more knives. We finished eating and he didn't come by. We wondered if he was going to bring us the bill. I got up and asked a waitress for it. She brought it out quickly. She was cool. By the way, the food was yummy. read more

This place would have easily got a 5-star rating if it weren't for the slow service, which is sad because our waitress was nice and welcoming. The food took forever to come out. Making two burger meals should not take half an hour, especially when there was only one other party in the restaurant. We ordered the house made sangria to start off with. The sangria was refreshing and garnished nicely with slices of fruits. A plate of corn nuts cake out with the drink to munch on. We found the nuts surprisingly good that we licked the plate clean of the its seasonings (and also because the main meals took so long to arrive and we were starving). I ordered the pulled pork sandwich with a side of macaroni salad. The sandwich was amazing in itself. The blue cheese crumble complemented the sweet and savory BBQ, slow roasted pork really well. Each entree plate came with a slice of pickle and a chili pepper which was a nice bonus. Overall, great place for sandwiches. I only wish I didn't have to wait so long for food and the check. read more

Westend - Half eaten corn nuts (whoops) - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ordered food from the door dash app. Had plenty of choices although it was late. I got a call 25 minutes later from door dash saying that although they accepted my order they are actually closed. The driver was waiting for the food but the restaurant was closed. Well that's just great. Now 30 minutes later most of the places are closed and if I order now I'll have to wait another 30 minutes. Super disappointed. I was looking forward to trying the food. read more

If you're looking for good food made from scratch and with love which gonna surprise you with its taste and for a place with a new york-ish / parisienne atmosphere with a little hint of punkrock and the cutest little backyard then you have to go to Westend (you HAVE TO :) ) By driving by we realized that place because it looked so cute from the outside and the fact that their is no sign with the name of the restaurant kind of attracted us (it felt like finding a secret treasure). The place has the coolest black & white design with framed pics of rockstars everywhere and good music (and - thank god - not too many tv's :)). The guys in there where the nicest!! We ordered the hummus as a starter, the westend-pizza and their special pulled pork burger. Everything was not more or less than just FREAKIN' DELICIOUS - and everything had just that little ingredient which made it taste better than elsewhere, kind of special and makes you wonder what that secret is. You can taste that those guys make their dishes from scratch and with love to all the ingredients and spices. Even the chips are homemade - you never gonna want to have others than these chips! Just the best! We loved it from the second we went in - and the food we tasted and the people we met in there made us even love it more! Thank you so much guys! It was so nice meeting you and the food was the best! We're already looking forward to come back :) Ps: If because of the lenght of my rate you're wondering if it is an ad - the answer is no. We just loved that place so much and they just opened three days ago so we wanted to spread that this place is awesome (even if we really like secret places ;) ) read more

See all

My friend and I came across this place for our date night and so glad we did. We were created by Charlie who was very sweet and welcoming (maybe his place, I'm not sure as he was the one doing everything) either way, very friendly! Now the food was phenomenal! Very chill vibe and the food options and drinks options were great and well thought out. Love the idea of this place! And That Elvis for dessert... oh- em- g! Keep up the great work! read more

Westend - The Elvis. Deep fried peanut butter and jelly with raspberry drizzled ice cream. Need I say more!? - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

See all

Fun, young, energetic restaurant with talented mixologists. Super friendly casual atmosphere and yummy bites. read more

See all

I came into this cute spot tonight and I was so pleasantly surprised by how awesome it is! It's an intimate little gem with great natural light and lots of fresh air. I ordered the brussels sprouts and they are soooo amazing! Roasted, sweet and so yummy omg!!! I loved that the owner Roland was available to chat about his recipes and how passionate he is about food. And I had the most tasty buzz-friendly drinks handmade by the bartender Jayme! I'm DEFINITELY coming back! Just an FYI about parking: it's down the little driveway to the right of the restaurant in the back, but if Westend is poppin the night you come, the lot in the back might be full so just park right next to the restaurant in the neighborhood. Super easy and totally worth it! read more

Just grabbed Sunday lunch here and was pleasantly surprised. Great ambiance (retro tablecloths are the perfect touch to the atmosphere), friendly service and AMAZING food. Got the BBQ pulled pork + shrimp poboy with fried pickles and all three were fantastic. I am from Mississippi so I am pretty familiar with Southern food and this is my new favorite spot in OC for a taste of home. Will definitely be back. So many more things I want to try!! read more

Westend - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The return of Westend-- the Bomb for cocktails, beers, and spectacular food! It is even better than before!!! The decor rocks, and the service is outstanding! read more

I just wanted to say that today was my first time here Service:super5, jaime!! I just love when non-vegan restaurant go out their way to accommodate vegans even tho i dont go to restaurants expecting them to do so! Food :5 they made their tatertots vegan style(soyrizo vegan cheese) just for me and that made my night I was really happy even the people next to us notice me how happy I was and ordered the same thing !! Plus tatertots really good!!! Location: small cute intimate , I love it! Parking : just park cross the st!! read more

Westend - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

PoBoy heaven especially with that shrimp. Jambalaya was pretty solid and I would consider worth the order to be at a minimum a place holder for your favorite memory jambalaya down south. The flavors are there as well as those fresh ingredients, a little more bite spice wise would keep pace with some spots in NOLA. It's tough to match that straight southern flavor BUT Westend is one of the most solid spots I've tried south of LA and north of the border that hits real close. The bonus here is the beer as one of their French Amber/red ale selections is truly one of a kind. I hope to be a regular of sorts since it took so long for me to find considering my time living here in west side C.M. read more

Great food, Great vibe. Welcoming community that makes you feel right at home:) My OC go to spot! read more

Been getting recommendations to go here! I was blown away by how delicious and creative the food is. The drinks are amazing too! Really enjoyed the ambiance and the staff is awesome! Eclectic with a cool artist/music scene vibe. read more

Westend - Leaving - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Wanted to support this small business but am sad to report that not a single employee was wearing a mask. Very disappointing.

This place has good vibes, great food and maybe even better drinks. Get the double fried fries and don't hesitate to end the meal with the beignets. Tyler and Callie were amazing hosts, great night all around. Would and will go back in a heartbeat. read more

Not even sure how to go about writing this one?! Made reservations via yelp, not sure why because there was about 8 people in the whole establishment minus the "hired help". Stood in the doorway for a few minutes before someone even acknowledged us by saying "just seat yourself". Uh...okay, thanks for letting me stand here like an idiot. Looks like cool hipster decor. We sat there for a few more minutes without being approached by a bus boy, bartender or server. Eventually a guy asked us "is everything ok here?" I'm not even sure what that means?! He disappeared like a magician into the back I assume to get a menu but who knows. My wife gave me that look. She looked hangry and thirsty. I knew we had to get off this ride before it got worse. I wanted to like this place, it's got great reviews but it was date night and you guys totally c@&k blocked me! read more

So glad we called ahead after reading reviews that said staff were not wearing masks. When asked if staff were masked, the host said "uhhh they can". Not. Okay. There is a state mask mandate. It is illegal for your staff to serve patrons without masks. If you care about your health, don't eat here. read more

My friends and I were hungry today and decided to try this place. From the outside it does not look like a restaurant, but the inside is amazing. They have a mini bar and the most delicious food. I was in the mood for something different so we went to this place not knowing what to expect. Our server was incredible, brought us drinks and food in minutes. He made sure we were taken care of even though he had other customers to attend. My overall experience was amazing. read more

See all

Absolutely not okay with the lack of masks here for staff. I thought it was one isolated event (refer to earlier review), but that person was right. Not a single staff member is wearing a mask here, and all come well within safe distance to serve you and take orders. I used to love this place but definitely will not be returning. If you take your safety seriously, you won't come here either until they get their priorities straight. I'll get my cocktails elsewhere, places that actually take appropriate precautions. read more

Great food! Great drinks! Great service! Great music & ambiance! Had the jambalaya, pulled pork sandwich, tots, and calamari. Delicious! Had the old fashion, perfectly smooth with a hint of fresh citrus peel, perfectly sweeteen, with Frank playing in the background. Highly recommend & we'll be back. read more

Well I'm sorry to say it's gone down hill. First, our favorite waiter for 3 years left. The manager was pretty much a dick when we were here the other day. No accommodating. The cocktails were not up to par. The food was eh. I do not know what happened but. I will not be going back. Sometimes people frequent a place because the have a favorite waiter or waitress who you know will take good care. And fro what I could tell only one guy did this here. And he is gone. So we are too. read more