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    Work in Progress

    4.2 (541 reviews)
    Closed • 7:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Work in Progress Photos

    WORK IN PROGRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Work in Progress

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    Hyewon K.

    Parking sucks, service was fast, and drink was yummy. My friend said their pumpkin spiced latte is the best she has ever had. The cinnamon cold brew was very cinnamon-y.

    Blueberry Matcha
    Sydney H.

    Cute cafe tucked away at the Camp! I came here with coworkers after a team lunch and thoroughly enjoyed the blueberry matcha :) Great sweetness with a strong matcha flavor. Would come back if I ended up in the area again.

    Spicy Sando
    Mae V.

    This is one of the cutest places at THE CAMP for amazing sandwiches, awesome coffee/matcha, and friendly service. As soon as you walk in, the space itself is spacious and there's often a lot of people working and chatting with one another. There is always such unique drinks to try from their seasonal menus and they consistently deliver great drinks! Parking is a bit of a struggle in this area but this place is definitely worth the visit.

    Tristen A.

    The coffee the food the place. All of it was soooo good. The seating wouldn't be comfortable for long period of time but plenty of space to work and outlets as well. Everyone is really nice too. One of the top coffee places in Costa Mesa

    Our food and drinks! I got the classic sando with spicy salami
    Yun Ping C.

    I've been here before but never gotten anything for myself! Finally made it here again with some friends. I'm not a big coffee drinker but I got the classic sando with the spicy salami! It was pretty good! I ate alllll of it and I initially thought I would only eat half and save the half for later. My friends got drinks and a sandwich and a pastry. They said they enjoyed it as well. Service was great - nothing special that I remember. They were nice and quick. Ambiance is very relaxed. Cafe vibes. Lots of people in computers working or just hanging out with friends! Would come again!

    Indoor
    Marina S.

    Great coffee spot! Came here for a work meeting with a couple colleagues and there was enough space, while still having a cozy atmosphere. They had indoor and outdoor seating, which was nice. Their coffee was great, perfect balance of sweetness. We also tried a few breakfast items, all were very tasty and filling. Overall, would recommend this spot for a casual meet up or to get some work done.

    jenn l.

    Been wanting to try this place for a while now and finally had the chance recently. It did not disappoint! I got the breakfast burrito with bacon. I was tempted by the pastrami option bc I don't know anyone else that does PASTRAMI in a breakfast burrito! If I'm being honest, it felt more like a wrap than a burrito bc it was full of cabbage and the sauces provided were like chimichurri and sriracha vs salsa. It still was really good and tasty though! It was crowded on a Sunday morning but luckily a few tables were available. The line was out the door but it moved quickly. The inside is cute with natural lighting and a clean white and wooden look. Would definitely come back!

    Chloe N.

    This place is sooo aesthetic. It gets very crowded on the weekend and hard to find parking and seats. On weekdays it gets busy too but doable. Their drinks are unique and their homemade syrups are great. I tried their sandwiches which surprisingly taste good. Highly recommend checking it out at least once. Great vibe

    Ale S.

    First of all, I absolutely love the name "Work In Progress," and the customer service we received was exceptional. The person taking my order offered some great suggestions. We ended up loving our drinks--the taste was delicious and the presentation was beautiful. We also really enjoyed the atmosphere, especially the lighting inside and the outdoor seating area. It was a great surprise to find that they offer food as well. On the day we visited, there was a cheesecake vendor on-site, and it was truly delicious. I will definitely be telling others that if that vendor is there, they should not pass up getting a slice! Thank you for such a lovely experience!

    Vincent P.

    Quick a hip coffee shop, we were in the area and came here to grab breakfast and coffee. I forgot what drinks we all got, but I do remember that we all enjoyed each of our drinks. The AM Burrito comes with your choice of bacon or pastrami and also a side of pickled onions, house green sauce, and hot sauce. The burrito was tasty and made for a delicious breakfast. The price is certainly a little expensive, but it comes sliced, so you can split it with someone. The split portion was a solid amount for breakfast. Overall, it was a solid experience and I wouldn't mind revisiting!

    Brown Sugar Maple- Perfect
    Jeff V.

    For a place called Work in Progress, it seems to have figured things out already. It's always buzzing, rarely empty, and the overall vibe suggests this café is starting to outgrow its own footprint. Service is smooth, and efficient. The line moves quickly, and everyone seems genuinely happy to be there. The interior is bright and open, lively without feeling hectic, with a minimal industrial calm. No table charge means laptops stay awhile, but spots still open up sooner than you'd think. Of the list of sandos, I've tried the SPICY SANDO, CLASSIC SANDO, and the BREAKFAST SANDO. All were excellent. The focaccia bread stood out in particular. Light, buttery, and crispy. It holds up well and ties everything together. Of the drinks I tried, the PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE WITH ALMOND MILK, DE LA ROSA MAZAPAN PEANUT LATTE, MAPLE BROWN SUGAR LATTE, PISTACHIO CREAMTOP MOCHA, and VANILLA LATTE WITH SEASONAL CINNAMON CREAM TOP were all solid, with flavors that stayed controlled and not overly sweet. Work in Progress, currently in high demand. Repeat visits feel inevitable.

    Leeza D.

    Located in the Camp, WIP has a unique menu of coffee and breakfast/sando items. We ordered the Brown butter foam over the cold brew which is very buttery with chunks of brown butter swimming in the creamy top. The hot latte is standard. The Pastrami breakfast burrito is different and tasty! It is enough for two meals. Pastries from Nonna Mercato in Long Beach. Parking easy in the morning. Please come and create your own adventure.

    Bacon, breakfast burrito
    Ericka Z.

    I know everyone talks about the coffee at Work in Progress, but honestly I'm here for the breakfast burrito. This thing is unreal. Easily one of the best breakfast burritos I've had in Orange County. The balance of flavors is perfect, the ingredients taste super fresh, and somehow every bite still has a little bit of everything in it. What really takes it over the top are the sauces and the pickled onions on the side. Absolute *chef's kiss*...The sauces add so much flavor without overpowering the burrito itself. I also appreciated that it didn't feel overly greasy or heavy the way breakfast burritos sometimes do. The space definitely gets crowded, especially on weekends, and finding a seat can take some patience. But honestly, grabbing a coffee and one of these burritos and hanging out for a bit is completely worth it. This is officially one of my go to breakfast spots in Costa Mesa.

    Dirty Earl

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    1 year ago

    My favorite coffee spot in OC They have a delicious seasonal drinks that I always look forward to

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    Most the points are for the creativity and experimentation. Americano was bad. Matcha was okay. Tea espresso tonic was great.

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    Page 6 of 14

    Work in Progress Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Work in Progress

    Do they have outlets and Wi-Fi?

    Yes to both, however there's only 3 so you sometimes have to wait or sit in a corner!

    Do they stop serving AM foods (i.e breakfast burritos) after a certain time?

    They sell it all day until one hour before closing!

    View All 3 Questions

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    Knife Pleat

    Knife Pleat

    4.0(436 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    •$$$$

    I accidentally posted on my wrong account!…read more This place is amazing and BEYOND 5 stars. Knife Pleat at South Coast Plaza is one of the three closest I've found to a proper afternoon tea here in Orange County, and as someone born and raised in Britain for 20 years, I hope that's high praise! Haha! I've been at least five or six times now, and every single visit has been wonderful! The afternoon tea is beautifully done. The tiered stands are a feast: delicate finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, exquisite little pastries and macarons, all elegantly presented and genuinely delicious. The tea selection is excellent, and everything tastes as refined as it looks. What keeps me coming back, beyond the quality, is the service. They've consistently and graciously accommodated my allergies every time, which makes such a difference and lets me relax and enjoy the experience fully. The staff are attentive and lovely. If you're looking for an authentic, elegant afternoon tea in Orange County, Knife Pleat is the place. I can't recommend it enough, I'll keep coming back!

    I was excited to try the Michelin-starred afternoon tea set at Knife Pleat, and it came to about…read more$150 per person after tax and tip. The presentation was pretty, and the staff here provided attentive service. Unfortunately, there were several fruit flies around our table, which made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. I ended up leaving some of the food unfinished because of it, which was disappointing at this price point. I understand it's summer and these things can happen, but I expected a more polished environment from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Overall, the tea service was enjoyable, but the fruit flies took away from what could have been a memorable experience.

    Photos
    Knife Pleat - An elegant restaurant!

    An elegant restaurant!

    Knife Pleat - Finishing off with miniaturized desserts! The serving plate is perfect for placing a ring in the middle for that special special occasion!

    Finishing off with miniaturized desserts! The serving plate is perfect for placing a ring in the middle for that special special occasion!

    Knife Pleat - My favorite dish of the night, risotto. Probably the best I've ever had! You will love it!

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    My favorite dish of the night, risotto. Probably the best I've ever had! You will love it!

    Antonello Ristorante - Roasted Double Cut Pork Chop, in crusted with mix peppercorns.

    Antonello Ristorante

    4.3(1k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    •$$$

    We were in a group of 7. We made reservations a few hours prior and were ecstatic they were able to…read moreaccommodate our large group. Restaurant was very cozy and romantic. Entrance/host lobby area is a little snug. We were sat at a large round table. They had kids menus for my girls. We ordered Pellegrino and a bottle of wine. Table bread and a delicious pesto butter was given to the table. I'm not a pesto gal, but boy, I'll tell ya. That butter was delectable. We ordered a caprese salad and a beef carpaccio to start. The caprese was really nice and refreshing. Served with arugula on top. They also added I think fried crispy capers on top omg. So good. The carpaccio was. DELICIOUS! Thinly sliced beef, fresh parmigiana, topped with arugula and capers. Probably one of the best I've had. For entrees, my girls both ordered the hello kitty pasta with bolognese sauce, husband ordered fettuccini bolognese, brothers ordered porcini risotto, linguini vongole, and mamas lasagna. I ordered rigatoni with vodka sauce. Everyone enjoyed their dinners. They brought out the giant cheese block for my brother's risotto!! My pasta with vodka sauce was very good. I could've sworn on the description that it was served table side, but it wasn't =0(. Dessert was something else. We shared the cheesecake and tiramisu. Top notch. Service was immaculate. Our server was present without being too overbearing. Our waters were filled and wine glasses stayed full. Very accommodating to our children. Definitely recommend for any occasion.

    This is a great place for large parties or banquets Private…read morerooms available and there is plenty of free parking Upscale Italian food Plates well with good sized portions Service is attentive

    Photos
    Antonello Ristorante - Grilled Salmon with Calabrese sauce

    Grilled Salmon with Calabrese sauce

    Antonello Ristorante - Antonello Salad

    Antonello Salad

    Antonello Ristorante - Antonello Salad

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    Antonello Salad

    Seasons 52 - Wood-Grilled Filet Mignon served with broccolini, Yukon mash, red wine and mushroom sauce.

    Seasons 52

    4.1(3.6k reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$$$

    The best TEXT of the week. A concierge meetup with our dear Betty Galzen who left us to work in…read moreArizona. Where to go! Back to Seasons 52. Centrally located, lots of parking, good happy hour menu. A Plus, Plus, Plus for all of us who were coming from both North County and South County. We had 5pm reservations. No problem getting a good table in the bar area big enough for the 7 of us. We arrived at different times , but the handsome Cooper made sure we were always on his radar. He was fun, congenial and never made us feel as if we were an inconvenience, despite the fact our Happy Hour lasted till after 8pm. Susan and I ordered Pesto, chicken and mozzarella and lobster and avocado flatbreads, wood-grilled steak lettuce wraps, cup of butternut squash soup, wine and a flavored margarita. Our friends ordered lump crab cakes, plus wine and cokes. No one left hungry!!! Think we will probably meet here again in five months when our sweet Betty comes back and we celebrate FRIENDSHIP. Thank you to our Heather Dahl Ellis who gets us all together. We love you

    Love this place. We had reservations at 6 PM on Sat. night…read more It was super busy but we were seated on time. The hostess outside, the waitress, and wait staff were very friendly and attentive. We had a wonderful bottle of Cambria Chardonnay with our Lump Crab and Shrimp-Stuffed Mushrooms. As an entree we both had the Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops. Melt in your mouth. We sat outside which we like because it's a little quieter. Love this place!!

    Photos
    Seasons 52 - Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops served with broccolini and mascarpone risotto.

    Caramelized Grilled Sea Scallops served with broccolini and mascarpone risotto.

    Seasons 52 - Cedar Plank-roasted Salmon with seasonal vegetables, marble potatoes and dill-mustard sauce

    Cedar Plank-roasted Salmon with seasonal vegetables, marble potatoes and dill-mustard sauce

    Seasons 52 - Seasons 52 has a wide selection of varietals on our wine menu

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    Seasons 52 has a wide selection of varietals on our wine menu

    Bar Tinto - Pork Belly Taco

    Bar Tinto

    4.6(24 reviews)
    0.0 mi

    Bar Tinto is more than a hidden gem. It is a rare find in Orange County. It offers some of the best…read moreMexico City style food items I've had anywhere other than CDMX itself. The chef uses his free range of creativity and offers such unique and amazing ingredients in all of his dishes. He truly cares and has a passion for beautiful food. My wife and I know alot of chefs and restaurants in SoCal and this is some of the best food we can find. Chef Jonathan and his kitchen staff are all one of a kind. They shop for only the freshest ingredients and offer a variety of seasonal dishes throughout the year. The Pork Belly Taco has been a long standing menu item that literally NEVER disappoints. It is incredible. Every tostada the chef creates is amazing. And the Green Goddess dressing on their salad is worthy of bottling and drinking straight. The wine program is also incredible. The range of wine is amazing and everyone on staff is SO knowledgeable about every wine they offer. If you aren't sure about wine or how to pick out you can give them the simplest explanation of what wine you want and they will bring over several bottles to chose from and will give you an in depth and beautiful description of all of them before you decide what you want. Amazing food, wine, music and vibes are all huge perks but what really sets Bar Tinto over the edge is the hospitality and kindness of all the staff. Great for date night, for a night out with friends, a spot to bring the parents too, literally any occasion. We look forward to sitting in tinto and enjoying the food and wine at least twice a week!! Gracias, Bar Tinto! 10/10

    Went to check out the Jazz nights at Bar Tinto and had a nice night out with a girlfriend. Seating…read morewas limited so make sure to come early, managed to grab one in the corner. Staff was really friendly and accommodating. They recommended an orange wine that we liked. The oysters were fresh too and the bread had a nice crunch. Make sure to purchase tickets for the Jazz night in advanced they do sell out!

    Photos
    Bar Tinto
    Bar Tinto - Oysters

    Oysters

    Bar Tinto

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    Darkroom - Smoked tuna, beemster, trout roe, broccoli stem, lemon zest

    Darkroom

    4.6(330 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    •$$$$

    (TLDR: Came here around the beginning of the month; it's the perfect spot for a date night. Great…read moreservice and very unique dishes through which you can tell the chef-owners love their craft. Even for the dishes that weren't a perfect hit, we appreciated their artistry and saw the vision they were trying to implement. Darkroom's concept as a restaurant is hard to find in Orange County: not only does this establishment gather inspiration from various influences, but also has fun with it by producing distinct, original plates.) Located in an unassuming strip mall, Darkroom is a chef-driven restaurant with a dimly lit, moody atmosphere. Reminiscent of its photographic namesake, the restaurant is literally a dark room lit with soft red lights. The bar area looked especially cool and edgy with its unique lighting and design. Another nice touch was the menus, which appeared to be printed daily to reflect the revolving offerings. The vinyls were also changed by hand after each song. Seating was prompt with a reservation on a Saturday night. Service was A+. The staff here are so on top of things that, when I twisted myself to observe the bar behind me, some staff rushed over thinking I was looking for my server (oops). Waters were constantly refilled. I also saw one of the chefs checking in on tables; he told us he was one of the two chef-owners. Now, onto the food. I averaged our ratings and included our separate ratings when we didn't agree: little gem caesar salad // 7 // Pretty tasty. Some pieces were a bit bitter, which brought down the overall taste. The bitterness was masked with enough dressing and parm (would've been nicer w/ more dressing). We did finish the dish and appreciate its unique handheld plating though. wagyu tartare // 2 // 0, 4 // The herbs and shiso leaf concept was unique, but it was a bit plain and dry as a whole. We mixed thoroughly as instructed yet still couldn't detect the sauce at the bottom. Maybe they forgot it or didn't add enough? They kindly took it off the tab without us asking. potatoes // 8.75 // 8.5, 9 // Very good: the potatoes had crispy skin and a fluffy interior while the tobiko added "crunchy" pops. The dish was finished w/ a creamy sauce, and had umami and smoky notes. Pro tip: there is extra sauce at the bottom. My bf didn't like the roe, hence his lower rating. Delicious overall. lasagna // 9 // I'm usually not drawn to pasta, so this was my bf's pick. The pasta was both soft and crispy, paired with a creamy orange Calabrian chili sauce and a heap of parmesan. the wanderer steak // 8 // Sesame chili crisp added crunch, while the sauce complemented shishito peppers and tender steak. We enjoyed it; our server said it's a menu mainstay. pork tomahawk // 9.4 // 9.25, 9.5 // Five words: crispy, fatty, tender, tangy, juicy. Thai-inspired and apparently a recent addition. Perfect ratio of fat to lean meat. Tangy sauce with papaya salad balanced the pork. Personally, I prefer unripened mango over papaya for more tartness/depth; something in the papaya salad felt slightly missing for me. Still our favorite dish of the night. ricotta donuts // 8 // Creamy ricotta balls reminiscent of donut holes. If I were a Food Network contestant, I'd call it a deconstructed jelly donut with ricotta balls, cream, and fig jam. Not mind-blowing but good, and we finished them. drink 108 frosé // 7.5 // A strong, bright, citrusy slushy cocktail. I liked it more when melted, probably because I don't like alcohol. My bf said he "see[s] the vision." We got two free drinks for our anniversary, one non-alcoholic and one wine. Surprisingly, the non-alcoholic drink (a sharp, refreshing herbal tea from China) tasted better to us than the wines. Take that with a grain of salt since we don't like alcohol. Now that I've experienced Darkroom, I plan on booking Chrysalis sometime. Even for anything we didn't find perfectly to our liking, we appreciated the artistic vision and understood what the components were trying to accomplish. I would definitely recommend Darkroom to others -- especially if you want fun, highly creative dishes.

    Dark Room is easily one of my favorite restaurants in Santa Ana! The food is consistently amazing,…read moreand one of my favorite things about this place is that they switch up the menu, so there's always something new and exciting to try. The service is wonderful, and the ambiance is such a vibe--stylish, intimate, and perfect for a night out. You can tell there's a lot of thought put into both the food and the overall experience. Definitely one of those restaurants I'll keep coming back to. Highly recommend.

    Photos
    Darkroom - Inside ambiance

    Inside ambiance

    Darkroom - Black truffle risotto

    Black truffle risotto

    Darkroom - Tuna crudo

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    Tuna crudo

    Work in Progress - wine_bars - Updated September 2026

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