This place is the best, such affordable food and the best service in town. Food is also incredibly…read moregood, better then most places that are charging double what they are. I don't understand how it's not constantly packed. If you haven't been here, go as soon as possible because you won't regret it!!!

This is my go to Mediterranean place in Orange County. Everything is fresh, healthy and homemade…read more My favorite is the Koobideh Combo! The watermelon mint drink is refreshing and their baklava is the best!

The food was food, friendly staff and great service! Great spot to bring kids for a meal.read more

My new after gym spot. Everything is fire…read more I had the chicken kabob plate. Chicken was juicy. Vegetables grilled to perfection. Chefs kiss

First time at Lemon & Thyme and it was a great experience overall. The ambiance was calm and quiet…read moreenough for our group to comfortably talk throughout dinner. The food was excellent, but our server Gabriel really made the night. He was attentive, funny, and gave great recommendations while answering all of our questions. We started with the prime beef tartare, shrimp ceviche and roasted cauliflower. All three were delicious. For entrees, we ordered the grilled octopus al pastor, short rib ravioli, branzino, and the 24 oz ribeye. Every dish was flavorful and well executed. The ribeye with mashed potatoes and mushrooms was cooked perfectly, but the standout for me was the short rib ravioli. I had heard of it before but never tried it until this visit. The pasta to filling ratio was spot on and every bite was excellent. For dessert, we ordered the espresso crème brûlée, which was rich, creamy, and well balanced. Gabriel also surprised us with a baklava cheesecake on the house, and our group could not stop talking about it. Combining baklava and cheesecake was a game changer. Definitely a place I would come back to.

Absolutely loved Lemon & Thyme! My boyfriend and I live right across the street and have been…read moredriving by this place for months, so we're so happy we finally came in. The service was 10/10. Our waiter was incredibly attentive, warm, and genuinely enthusiastic about the food. He gave us the best recommendations, and everything he suggested was amazing. The meal itself was incredible. The shrimp saganaki was my favorite, and my boyfriend loved the short rib ravioli. You can tell everything is made with love it has that true mom and pop restaurant feel that's so hard to find. The chef came out at the end and we had such a great conversation. We'll definitely be back!

I can confidently say that Darbari Persian Grill is my all-time favorite spot for Persian cuisine…read more Every single time I come here, it's consistently amazing. My go-to order is the chicken Cornish, and I always substitute the rice for zereshk polo. The rice is perfectly fluffy every time, and the barberries add the most delicious tang that just brings the whole dish together. It's seriously so good. They're also incredibly generous with their lavash bread, which I love because it pairs perfectly with everything. But what really makes this place special is the service. Everyone here is genuinely so kind and attentive, and I mean everyone. You're always greeted when you walk in and again when you leave, which just makes the whole experience feel so warm and welcoming. There's also an older gentleman who is always there with the biggest smile, checking in to make sure everything is perfect, and it never goes unnoticed. I also love that it's pet-friendly. The outdoor seating area with the turf is such a nice touch, and my dog absolutely loves it. Overall, this place is a 10/10 with 1000/10 service. Anytime I'm in the area, I have to stop here without fail.

Clean plates. Clear flavors…read more No excess, no confusion. Just food that knows what it is and doesn't pretend to be anything else. You eat, you understand, you leave satisfied.

Great food that goes with the terrific service. You will love it so give it a try you will not be…read moredisappointed

Everything was very good! From the Spicy Feta Dip, to the Lamb Gyro, to the Tzatziki sauce, to the…read morefries! Everything was very good quality, the portions were generous, and the seasoning/flavors were above what I usually experience at most Gyro/Greek establishments. Love the food and didn't know this place existed. You've got a new fan!

Discovered this place a couple of years ago and took my cousin who lives here in FV less than 2…read moremiles away, but had never been. She's a regular now. Decided to have dinner here again, and so glad we did. Ordered the combo with gyro meat and kefta. Serving size is decent, less meat than expected but tasty and filling, Love the rice and hummus with warm pita. Also ordered the grrek salad. My husband and I shared both entrees. The combo ones with a side salad with a lemony deessing, which was really good and different from the Greek salad dressing, also really good. You can request the pickles id happened to notice when I wsnt to order more pita. 1 cones with the meal but its not enough for the amount of hummus. There are 3 sauces also. A tzaziki, hot sauce and another green one im not sure if it was a pesto. No matter, all good. I'll definitely be back. Its popular for sure, lots of takeout and call in orders. Steady line of customers at meal times.

This is a small hidden gem Mediterranean place. I like to get the gyro plate that comes with gyro,…read morehummus, salad and pita. They also have delicious kabobs, kafta and baba ganoush. I wish the baba ganoush they would also offer it as an option for the plated meals besides the hummus like a extra charge would be great. It's probably not as popular then its smokey and chunky and a bigger portion to share like an appetizer. This place gives you a good portion for the price.

The food is amazing and the service is great. My wife asked about a drink that wasn't on the menu…read moreand they didn't have it but our server mixed it up for her. Lebanese style falafels are the best and this place nails it. I commented to my wife how beautiful the chicken had come out, the colors, little black charred corners and edges from the fire, golden reflection on the glaze. It is not cheap but worth every penny. Our server was great and we can't wait to go back. The place is so unassuming from the outside and beautiful on the inside.

I recommend coming early to secure a parking spot in the lot or scout for parking in the…read moreneighborhood close by. I was lucky enough to get the last spot in the lot. We had reservations and our tables were ready early before our time so we were able to sit there and wait for the rest of the party. The menu is pretty extensive with a good variety of cold and hot appetizers and meats. The prices were also reasonable. We opted for the dinner package, which came with choices of 3 cold appetizers, 3 hot appetizers, salad, 3 choices of meat, and rice for $55 per person plus tax and gratuity. The belly dancing show started at 8:30pm and was entertaining. The dancer really engaged with the audience. I was sitting in a far corner and thought I was hidden from her view, but she came over, started dancing next to me, and got me to do a slight shimmy along with her. It was fun. My only complaint is the waitress was a bit much. We already ordered a lot of food, mind you, but every opportunity she had, she kept pushing to order more and then mentioned there would be an extra charge. She also wanted to charge us for 8 people even though we had 7 people at the table.

I had to take a second to write this because the experience was that good…read more Andres at CAVA is on another level. From the moment I walked in, he brought great energy, was genuinely welcoming, and made the whole experience feel personal instead of rushed. You can tell he actually cares about what he's doing -- not just going through the motions. He helped me build the perfect bowl, gave solid recommendations, and made sure everything was dialed in exactly how I wanted it. On top of that, his attitude stood out the most -- positive, attentive, and just real. That kind of service is rare. People like Andres are the reason I'll keep coming back. CAVA is lucky to have him. Give that man a raise.

CAVA is my favorite Mediterranean fast-casual spot and easily my go-to for healthy fast food…read more I love the salad bowls, and the braised lamb is always my order, it's flavorful, tender, and really satisfying. The toppings are great too, with plenty of options that let you build something fresh without it feeling boring. I used to go to CAVA all the time when I lived in New York, so I'm genuinely happy to have one here in Costa Mesa now. Reliable, healthy, and consistently good, this place never lets me down.

Okay, as a restaurant owner (5 locations in D.C. on Military bases) and a chef I take many things…read moreinto account before making any kind of decision. Let's start first with the visualization. Pom Olive is in a nice neighborhood with parking. Before walking up to the restaurant you can tell this isn't a place to take someone you're trying to "impress"! The restaurant could use a little art mural on the walls...a little of touch and woom! Now let's get to the service. The service was friendly and not pushy which made me feel very relaxed. Food options ---- plenty! Pricing ---- very reasonable! Taste was very tasty. If you're with a friend or a small family it's a great spot. This wasn't a big restaurant so if you're a bigger party it makes a great take-out! Enjoy!

Food was flavorful and filling. service was very attentive . The ambience was relaxing with calming…read moremusic. This made my experience exceptional. I will return to this place and recommend it as well.

** this is from several months ago** t'was sitting in my drafts for a bit,…read more... Several beer pitchers in @ HACHI (just next door-shout out to them)-- for a celebration of a breakup, the end of midterms, or simply the triumph of continuing to exist (in THIS economy?? were all needing to praise ourselves for simply surviving) -- we found ourselves drawn, like moths to a fluorescently lit flame, to Halal Guys. Now listen. The food? Solid. Reliable. The kind of food that understands you are not here for nuance. You are here because life has punched you in the throat and you require a plate of rice, chicken, gyro meat, and mysterious white sauce to spiritually stabilize. I used to go to the OG one in NYC when i was getting punched in the throat there too. (PUNCHED IN THE THROAT BY ACADEMIA, FIGURATIVELY, y'all haver crazy imaginations outthere). BUT it;s the people... It's always the people... The staff. My siblings in falafel... it was 10 PM. You could feel the collective energy of "we have been serving drunk people since sunset and you are the 437th group tonight explaining your breakup story while pointing at the menu." Not judging, just warmth and the quiet aura of people who have seen things. Who have witnessed humanity at its lowest point: ordering extra hot sauce and then immediately regretting it. JC looked in my soul and I think he understood,,, everything. AND JESS! (my fairy wielding a spoon scooping the heavenly meat and talking to me like a therapist??) And they fed us. Efficiently. Respectfully. Would I return? hell ya i would. only to see if Jess and JC remembers me. JK the food is always reliable. y'all stay away from the hot saucres,

Overall (1/5) This was easily my worst Halal Guys experience…read moreand honestly left me really disappointed. I came craving something familiar and left feeling like I wasted both time and money. First Impressions (1/5) When I walked in, there was only one person working, handling the fryer, the register, and assembling plates. I genuinely felt bad for her, especially considering the steady line forming. What We Got (2/5) I ordered a regular plate, which is what I usually get at Halal Guys. Nothing customized or complicated, just the standard order I have had many times before at other locations. Taste and Quality (0/5) The food was shockingly bad. The rice was raw and crunchy, which was hard to believe at first. The meat pieces were tiny and very chewy, and the pita bread was extremely soggy. On top of that, it was only around 4 pm and the usual spinning meat and grill were not even on, despite the line picking up. Service (2/5) The worker was clearly trying her best, but one person running everything in a busy location is not realistic. She was constantly running back and forth between the fryer and the line, which made the whole operation feel chaotic and slow. Space and Atmosphere (3/5) The space itself was fine and what you would expect from Halal Guys. Clean enough, but nothing stood out positively enough to offset the food experience. Was It Worth It (0/5) Not at all. As someone who is pretty frugal and almost always finishes their meals, I could not finish this plate. It genuinely felt like a waste of $18. Final Thoughts This location does not seem to be held to the same standards as other Halal Guys in the area. This experience was disappointing from start to finish.