Only recently dined here for the first time. The folks that work here are so kind and provide such…read moregreat service! I think the interior was recently remodeled and it's very cute. Think: upscale diner vibes. The food is very casual. Tried the cauliflower and truffle fries to start. Both good. The miso salmon bowl was excellent and I would definitely reorder that. The salmon was cooked nicely, not overdone and had great flavor without being salty. Parking is pretty easy on a weekday. There's a lot of shins the restaurant and limited street parking.

I 'm fired up about this one!!! I believe I've already…read moregiven a huge thumbs up to the Newport location and since I'm talking about it, we took my 87 year-old mother there for her birthday the other day and the food was absolutely fantastic and the service was awesome. They are extremely well traveled and have been to the finest restaurants around the world and they absolutely loved it. They're not easy to impress. I'm talking about the Costa Mesa location, the outside patio is awesome and inside is some combo of retro plus old Newport plus new Newport plus old and new Costa Mesa. It's cool and thought out. Service was well on point. The food, though, was incredible. I had the three different enchilada combo that was out of this world, and my wife had some healthy protein bowl that was so light and so flavorful, it was just incredible.

If you are looking for a hidden gem in Costa Mesa, this spot is an absolute must-visit. From the…read moremoment you step inside, you are greeted by an adorable interior and decor that cleverly and beautifully matches the restaurant's theme. ​ ​Every single item we ordered from the menu was exceptional: ​Beet Salad & Bone Marrow: Both made for fantastic starters, setting a high bar for the meal. ​Beef Tartare: Served with house-made potato chips that are a masterclass in texture--thin, fried, airy, and crispy all at the same time. ​Steak and Fries: Classic execution and wonderfully prepared. ​Duck Confit: Superb. The pairing of the rich mole sauce and sweet potato puree takes the dish to an entirely different level, complementing each other effortlessly. ​Baklava Cheesecake: A creative and delicious twist on a classic. The cream cheese filling is light rather than dense, and instead of a traditional graham cracker crust, it features a fantastic baklava crust. It is nicely balanced and not overly sweet, though you will definitely want to pair it with a cup of coffee to finish it off. ​ ​Service: The staff is exceptionally friendly, highly attentive, and organized, making you feel well cared for throughout the meal. ​Portions: Portions are slightly on the smaller side. My husband and I ordered three appetizers and two main entrees to share, and we were still quite hungry by the end--so you may want to order an extra dish or side if you have a hearty appetite! ​Overall, a wonderful dining experience with incredible flavors and charming ambiance. Highly recommended!

Very cute restaurant serving fusion cuisine, sort of a mix between Spanish and traditional…read moreSteakhouse fare. Our server was very talkative and did a good job at suggesting dishes. We had the Duck and Steak frites. The duck was my personal favorite of the two. One duck leg set in a flavorful mole sauce that made the dish incredibly delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly to my liking although it was a bit tough. The French fries were addictive. Seasoned well and oh so crispy! They were some of the best I've had!

Went looking for a good spot to watch a World Cup game and originally tried the Harp. Big mistake…read more It was absolutely packed and standing room only, so we headed over to Wild Goose Tavern instead. Great decision. We got there a little before the game and had plenty of choices for seats. It definitely filled up as kickoff got closer, but with TVs everywhere, this place is pretty much built for watching sports. The food was surprisingly good, plenty of choices, good beer selection, and the service was excellent. Our waitresses were friendly and attentive even as the place got busier. The whole crowd had a fun energy, which made watching the World Cup even better. I've heard Wild Goose really cranks up at night with a younger crowd, but I haven't experienced that side of it yet. For a big sporting event, though, I'd absolutely come back. Great atmosphere, good food, cold beer, lots of TVs, and friendly service. Hard to ask for much more.

Tried this place after discovering on yelp. I was looking for a good espresso martini and this…read moreplace was a suggested result. I will say the espresso martini was not 5 star, but other drinks were good. We tried the blood orange marg, the spicy strawberry marg, and the cowboy marg. My mom liked the blood orange but the second round did not taste the same as the first. A bit of a consistency issue but she nursed it and finished it. My favorite drink was the cowboy marg. It was on the sweeter side but refreshing. For food. We had an assortment. Standouts were the steak dinner and onion rings! I would come back to try other things. The short rib grilled cheese was mid, but would be great to soak up alcohol. Cassidy was an excellent server, even as it got really busy for a UFC fight. Ambiance is definitely fun and unique. Generally, the experience was good. I would give it another shot to try other food and drinks.

My wife and I had another great dining experience at Nick's today. We were very pleased with the…read moreexpert service provided by Taylor who was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. The French dip sandwiches were delicious. Taylor did an excellent job of packaging our leftover sandwiches, au jus, and fries for another snack tomorrow! We will certainly be coming back in the near future for a return dining experience. Lastly, we were fortunate to be seated in the air conditioned bar area since we've been experiencing an unusually difficult heat wave! Thank you, Taylor

Ordered for pickup on a weekend evening, was quoted a 45 minute wait but it only took 25 minutes to…read morecomplete my order! I chose the prime rib dip sandwich with fries, and split the spicy rigatoni and warm butter cake with a friend. The spicy rigatoni could've been saucier, but it also could've dried out on the drive home. It had great heat and flavor and I appreciated that the sauce wasn't too thin. The prime rib dip with the au jus was an absolute STAR, super thin slices of juicy meat, buttery bun, and savory au jus on the side (not watery at ALL). Crispy fries were a great accompaniment, didn't even need ketchup. Lastly, the warm butter cake was really tasty! I enjoyed the berry sauce and the buttery crumb of the cake. Mastro's is still king, but Nick's is a more than satisfactory runner up. Overall, would definitely come back to try out the rest of the menu.

We hosted my retirement party at The Country Club. We wanted something different from the usual…read morebuffet thing. The Country Club is beautiful. It's decorated in a 1930's speakeasy theme and is very clean and very well maintained!! My wife contacted Megan, the Event Coordinator who invited us to have dinner so we could check out the venue, go over some scenarios and sample the food. Megan was so super cool, friendly and knowledgeable. She made it easy...she was straight forward with pricing and had great suggestions. She listened to what we wanted and made all the necessary accommodations. We then did a food tasting to select the menu for the event. There was soooo much good food it was hard to make decisions but we did it!! Then came game day!! Megan and here team had everything ready to go. Megan introduced us to the staff members who would be serving us. Everyone was so nice, professional and attentive. Then came the food!! Everything was fantastic and beautifully displayed. All my guests had great time and loved the food and loved The Country Club!! Thank you Megan and the team and thank you to The Country Club!!

This place was a real awesome surprise. Excellent food,…read moredrinks and service. From the outside you dont expect to walk into a beautiful room with such a stunning bar. I definitely recommend this place!

Amazing spot! We only planned on grabbing a quick bite before heading back to the IE, but the food…read moreblew us away. My son said, the chicken sandwich was perfect, the wings fell right off the bone, and my other son and I thought the fish & chips tasted legitimately British. Even though we didn't stay long, the atmosphere was incredibly inviting and definitely a place I'd bring friends to hang out. The ambience was relaxing and had a great hangout vibe. Jon's hospitality made the visit even better. Highly recommend!

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

Salty Horse is an Experience, & I Understand The Appeal…read more I find myself coming back to Salty Horse for the great ambiance and quality drinks. I came shortly after they opened on a Saturday and they had a line as per usual. It's always a crowd here! But, it feels trendy and charming. They have a seasonal menu and a concrete menu. On my two visits, I ordered the Dessert Glaze with whole milk ($7.50) and the Straight from Kyoto ($7.50) with maple walnut milk. Both drinks I ordered were $7.50 and the price doesn't include tax, so I paid ~$8 in total per drink. They don't add too much ice, so you get a good amount. The Dessert Glaze wasn't very memorable, but I really enjoyed their matcha with the maple walnut milk! The taste was similar to a hazelnut creamer, and the drink wasn't too sweet because their matcha is very strong and full-bodied. My friend ordered the Arnold Palmer, and it was kind of watery so I wouldn't recommend their lemonades. The drinks can take a while depending on how busy they are, but whether you can find a table or sit at the bar, there's usually somewhere to sit. The ambiance here is great, with a bathroom, trendy decor, and a community-feel. It has been hot lately, and they don't run AC, however. So, be mindful of that. We didn't try any food, but it honestly looked amazing. Some cafes make you feel a certain way, and I think Salty Horse has that it factor where you want to come bring your friends for brunch or a quick drink. It's simply a nice place to be. Parking can be tough but it neighbors a residential area, so street parking is available.

1. Ok first off, the location is not exactly on Newport Blvd literally drove around in a circle…read moretwice. Look for "Cecil Pl. 2. Took a bit to find parking(only street parking). 3. It's not a "serving" restaurant. We waited for about 30 min in line. When you get to the counter you order your food and drinks. 4. Then you wait around for a table to open. We waited about 10 minutes. 5. Our food came out fairly quick after getting a table. The vibe/ aesthetic is nice. I was really excited to check this new place out. Little disappointed with the process. Plus you couldn't really tell who works there, made a bit hard to get someone's attention, everyone was wearing regular clothes. Food- I ordered a Cowgirl chicken Sando 3/5 Verde Bowl 4/5 Drinks- Blueberry Mint lemonade 3/5 Golden Dunes Latte 3/5 Service -3-5

Shorebird in Newport Beach is such a great spot, though service could've been a bit better and more…read moreattentive given the price point. We kicked off dinner with a round of drinks: an espresso martini with a nice touch of cinnamon, a refreshing margarita, a tall draft beer, and a tequila margarita. Everything from the bar was top-notch. The seafood was definitely the highlight. We ordered a massive spread of oysters on the half shell, both classic and dressed with ponzu, scallions, and tobiko. We also shared a fantastic salmon and avocado specialty roll, along with sashimi and crudo plates that tasted super fresh. Overall, the coastal vibe is fantastic and the food and drinks are great, but hopefully service is a bit sharper next time!

Brought a friend and her family here to celebrate a milestone birthday on a Saturday afternoon…read more We were really hoping to sit in the patio, or at least near it but, unfortunately we were sat at a booth alongside the interior wall. Totally understandable as it's peak summer, and a weekend, they get busy. The restaurant was hot and humid. Now I'm sure they have AC, and even with all the windows and patio doors being open, they really should have opted to use the AC. The entire dining experience was uncomfortable. We ate our meal literally sweating. Even our server was sweating lol All our drinks went room temp in a matter of 10 minutes, we had to repeatedly ask for glasses of ice from the bar just to try and mitigate our body temperatures somehow. Also, the booth itself was incredibly tacky. And I don't mean visually tacky, I mean the texture. The feeling of plastic when it gets really old and it feels sticky to the touch, that tacky. You couldn't slide in or out of that booth if your life depended on it. And again, considering how humid and hot the interior was, it only made it worse. The lighting was also so dim that it gave the vibes of being sat in the corner of a musky Denny's diner lol. Halfway through our meal they turned the lights off for dinner service (I get it, to set the mood) but it made the table so dark we had to ask them to turn them back on so we could see the food on our plates. It wasn't that the entire restaurant was dim, it's certain tables (and sadly ours was definitely one of them) We had a party of 6, and one person got their meal well before the rest of the table. We of course insisted she begin eating, which she did, and our remaining meals came out as soon as she was done with hers. The waiter removed her plate as he set down everyone else's lol. The food was good, but, again with how uncomfortable the environment was, it was hard to enjoy. The restaurant was also fairly empty throughout our meal. We got there before 5 so that awkward "linner" time frame. Even so, we had to flag down our waiter for another round of drinks, water, etc. The Shorebird absolutely has stunning views, and that's what they're known for. Their food is solid, mist dishes fairly justifies the high price point. This visit was just not their best. Overall service and ambiance, fell extremely flat. I set the bar high for my guests, as they traveled in from out of town and I raved about my experience from a few months back. Granted, I was sat at the patio, overlooking the beautiful view, and the service was impeccable. With all the stellar dining options in Newport, unless you find yourself at a table on the balcony, I don't think Shorebird is the obvious choice. You'll end up spending the money regardless so you may as well look for a spot that is guaranteed to meet the expectations of the price point without having to be dependent on a view.

Went here for a business lunch with my coworkers and founders, and Trenta certainly hit the spot…read more If you're looking for a place that can hold big parties for your company lunch or just for a big lunch altogether, they offer a pre-fixed menu, which allows you to: 1. not waste time thinking what to order 2. get the most popular and best-in-class dishes all on the front We had a meatball dish alongside a variety of pizzas and some pasta. Great overall lunch made me very sleepy afterwards because it was so delicious and so filling. Would come again, five out of five stars.

Don't get me wrong. I love this place. But I think with popularity, service and quality starts to…read morebreakdown. Went on a Wednesday night with a party of six. Drink order took quite a while. Some people didn't even get asked if they wanted a beverage. 20min at least. Ordered bread, salad and entrees. Bread came out. No salads. Salads came out with entrees. Makes for a crowded table Bottle of red wine was warm. Chicken piccata came with French fries. Menu said baked potatoes. I asked if I could get pasta, they said no substitute. But they did. French fries are not a baked potato. All in all, still had a good time. Just was hoping for great.

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!