This was our second or third time at Benchmark for dinner. All of the seating is outdoor patio, but with surrounding shelter and shading so no direct sun - in SoCal this works well most of the year. Waitstaff were attentive and helpful, even with parking. We both like the miso glazed salmon entree. I tried the sweet potato risotto which was tasty, unusual, and better than expected. The charred cabbage with lemon and chili had lots of flavor. We also tried the margarita mocktail made with sake; lots of tajin keep it interesting. No dish or drink is ever boring! The atmosphere is an added bonus. Recommended read more

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The service was wonderful. The outside patio felt warm and full of positive energy with all of the plants. Will definitely be coming back. The food was delicious with high quality ingredients. read more

Took my best friend here for her birthday tonight and was extremely disappointed by the food. I came here for my birthday about two years ago and really loved all the food items and the vibes so I thought it would've been a great spot to take my friend to, but I was unfortunately wrong. Everything was really salty and not that great, especially for the price. I won't be coming back and I don't think it's worth your coin. read more

Benchmark - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Absolutely amazing ! The Fritto Misto was a must try ! The shrimp , and calamari was so fresh & seasoned to perfection! The service was excellent! The vibe was relaxed, the air just flowed through the patio . I will be back soon , loved it ! Menu was amazing! read more

Benchmark is a hidden gem tucked away in Santa Ana. Super unassuming, and it just transports you to a truly amazing experience that you wouldn't expect! The menu changes with the season but I've been there a couple times throughout the year and both their brunch and dinner menu is always interesting and always so good! Perfectly cooked, perfectly seasoned, and beautifully presented - I've never had anything but compliments from my party whenever we go here! The service is something you'd expect from a Michelin star restaurant! All the servers are so sweet and they make you feel so welcomed and taken care of. This is definitely because the owners are passing their own philosophy and love down - they are also very sweet and welcoming! Standout server Mitch though! He's the reason why we'd go back again and again! The only "down" side is that seating is all outdoors but I just think it creates this really camp-y, fairy-light, in the trees experience that I think is just so special. Thanks Benchmark for always setting the bar so high! read more

Went here for their restaurant week brunch. We got the French toast, birria tacos, and chicken sandwich and it was all soooooooo so good! I would come back not during restaurant week and have another meal because the flavors were amazing! Although the food was really good, the service was lacking. Expected the staff to be more aware of the restaurant week menu. We also had a reservation but there was a line to check in so we waited for a little bit to be seated. read more

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Tried for the first time this week and was blown away! Everything from the food to the drinks to the ambiance was 10/10. Our server Joseph was great and steered us to some of his favorites and they did not disappoint! The gochujang fried chicken, artichoke fondue, and brussels sprouts were all standouts and must orders for the future. Can't wait to go back and hope to have Joseph taking care of us again. Two things to note, the restaurant is mostly outside so dress for the weather and no hard spirits (but some delicious beer, wine, and sake based cocktails!) read more

Tonight was our first time at this cute restaurant. The service was great. I had the chicken and my husband had the steak. Both meals were delicious. I had sorbet for dessert and my husband had the Tres leches cake. Very good. It was a lovely evening. read more

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We went on a Friday afternoon which also happened to be the same afternoon the city decided to cut the power for the entire block. However, even with the power out, Benchmark was still able to deliver both quality service and quality food with a back up generator and a limited kitchen. I went with a group of 12 but be aware, it is a smaller outdoor only seating restaurant so if you plan to go with a large group, highly recommend making a reservation! Food was good, our group mostly ordered the rigatoni, the burger, or the steak sandwich. It was good but nothing really out of the ordinary. I'd stay away from the tap water..tasted a little weird too. read more

Food, service and ambiance was magnificent! Every appetizer we had was a 10/10. Definitely coming back again. Highly recommend you try it out sometime. read more

This is the second time it happens where we arrive before 9pm and they refuse to give us a table. Thats extremely unprofessional. Extremely disappointing. We come from very far away and we always get stuck in so much traffic. We've had their food and it's good, a long time ago. And the vibe is also super cute. But I really believe they should either extend their hours or honor when someone is coming from far away to try out their spot. Absolutely disappointing, drove +1 hour for nothing. lol. read more

This is such an amazing spot. Joseph was our server and from start to finish he was amazing. He made our night even more enjoyable by his warm and funny personality. We always order a ton of food, and none of it disappointed. It's a great spot for date night, girls night, or a family night. Highly recommend the shishito peppers with pork belly appetizer as well as the hangar steak. The brown butter cake was perfection! We can't wait to come back and try out brunch. read more

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What a surprise. I made dinner reservations at Benchmark the day they were switching over to their seasonal spring menu. I LOVE that they highlight the freshness of seasonal ingredients in their items. My group of 3 shared several spring time dishes- carrot salad, chicken croquette and a lemon dessert. Carrot salad was the best item ordered. Also had their hangar steak which was fair...slightly dry. What brings me back here is the quaint setting and attention to service. read more

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My boyfriend and I tried happy hour at Benchmark for the first time today, and it was such a great experience. Our server, Joseph was amazing..so helpful, knowledgeable, funny, and attentive. He gave us some recommendations that we ended up ordering, and everything was delicious. The food and drinks were great, but Joseph truly made the experience even more special. We'll definitely be back especially for brunch! read more

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Fairly disappointing. So not our first time here. Food had been decent in the past but everything about this establishment seems to have gone downhill. First the good: Hangar steak is decent. Good cut of meet. Well flavored. Cooked properly. The restaurant itself is all mostly outdoors and has a nice vibe overall. Has the feel of a quaint neighborhood bistro. Sadly that's where things drop off. The Bad. First and foremost, most dishes were terribly under seasoned and lacking in flavor. The Artichoke Fondue, which is a popular staple here, was bland and had no real identity at all. The Korean BBQ meat was decently cooked, but also largely flavorless and totally devoid of character without its accompaniments. Next, the Gochuchang friend chicken. Have had this dish in the past and it was interesting and seemed to hold promise, but upon closer review, it now comes across like dry frozen chicken pieces in a barely tolerable mix of Buffalo/ and a sweet Thai chili sauce. Buried in sesame seeds, which really add nothing to the flavor in the amount the dish contains Finally the Ugly: Service was just dreadful. There seemed to be one server and an assistant, maybe, working the entire section. Dishes came out at different times. Staggered. Felt like things were missed. Forgotten. Each course was an excuse from the staff for the poor service which starts to ring hollow after the 3rd or 4th time, and when tables sat after you, have finished and left before you have even received your entree. Benchmark has the feel of a quaint neighborhood bistro, with reasonable Prices, but the experience is simply underwhelming and not worth it. Would not return or recommend. Sad because there is some potential to this locale. read more

Benchmark - Gouchchang chicken. - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Stumbled upon this place after being stuck on the 5 Fwy. Have book marked it and made reservation for 1. The tuna tartare, soup, and calamari/shrimp were great. I loved it so much that I brought my family back. The apps were all great and we ordered multiples. The main dishes had some misses. My kids loved the pasta. But I can't recall after 2 months which main dishes I would recommend. Corkage fee was $30/bottle. The service was great both times. We had the garage area for our large party and it was perfect for a birthday celebration! read more

Benchmark - Garage converted to private dining - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Branzino was a highlight! We loved the delicate fish with perfectly crispy skin paired with a delightful fregola sarda and summer squash in a delicious broth. The corn and avocado salad was ginormous- lots of fresh, light veggies. There's also an awesome hour hour menu. We enjoyed the frito misto- sizeable shrimp and delectable aji verde sauce. Parmesan fries were tasty. The artichoke fondue came with a Bavarian pretzel the was superb- fresh and pillowy. Friendly, helpful service. Gorgeous patio setting - amazing setting for a fun date night! read more

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Very ambient with excellent food. The atmosphere reminds me of restaurants I went to in Bali.

Stopped by for a late lunch a couple Fridays ago. Service was okay. We ordered the steak salad and burger. The burger was delicious and cooked to perfection. The steak salad - steak was overcooked. Took a while to flag down our server to let him know, but once we did, he was able to have them cook a new steak. Great ambiance, good vibes, outdoor setting. Would def come back again. Dog friendly. They have a corner like bar stool where you can sit with your pup, a bit awkward corner. It still nice to be able to bring our dog with us. read more

Benchmark - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Good food Service could've been better. They were not attentive in regard to the way that we wanted our burger cooked, which was well then when it came back out, it wasn't cooked well like we had asked it to be. Why ask if you're not going to actually do what we ordered? Staff also was avoiding of us for whatever reason and I don't want to think that it's because we were black, but for whatever reason, they sure enough were not looking our way almost had to chase down our waiter using another waiter so that we could actually get this order correct and then after that he basically. I don't know I don't know about this place ... wasn't too inviting and that kills tastethe food was all right, but if the staff and the environment aren't great, who cares for the food? read more

Loveeeee this place it's so cute! The outdoor seating is such a vibe. I went for brunch had had their special, I can't remember what was in it but it was so good. Also had their Bloody Mary very yummy all around. I will definitely be back! read more

Benchmark - Enchilada - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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We had a great brunch today with Joseph as our server! The drinks, food, and ambiance were amazing but his hospitality made our visit with old friends incredibly special! Thank you for a great visit read more

We've now been here at least a handfull of times, and every visit has been consistently excellent! Mitchell and Joseph are one of a kind, super sweet, and go above and beyond to make sure we have a wonderful dining experience. brunch and dinner have always been amazing!! The restaurant's cozy, tree-shaded patio creates a relaxed, inviting vibe that's perfect for casual outings but also we have sat all over and the concept it self is cute. overall, the food and services is unforgetable- I can't recommend Benchmark enough. read more

The ambiance was cute, but the food was just alright. The airline chicken was a bit on the tough side, and I wish there was a bit more flavor. The chicken linguine was also just okay. It's difficult to find parking, so we had to park at a paid lot. read more

Burger came undercooked(raw the first time) twice. Pretzel is absolutely not worth $17 Fries and aioli were good French toast was delicious Overall for the prices I was paying I would've expected more. Service staff were really nice which I appreciated read more

I really wanted to love this spot but it was just a-ok for me. It wasn't bad by any means but I just didn't love any dish. The chicharones to start as a bar bite were flavorful but tasted a bit stale. I really enjoyed the crispy pork belly with shishito peppers but really it should be called shishito peppers with a small splash of pork. The Benchmark burger was tasty but my fries were on the cold side. The Gochujang fried chicken was probably my favorite dish. Nice flavor and combo between the fired chicken and slaw. I will say the price point for the dishes we chose was very reasonable and so were the wine and beer prices. FYI..."cocktails" are sake based. Only outside seating. read more

Benchmark - Fritto Misto - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

We had the Cesar salad, fondue pretzels db chicken tinga. Everything was absolutely perfect. I'm not the biggest Cesar fan, but that Cesar dressing was probably the best dressing I've ever had on a salad. Would get it every time. I forgot the servers name with the big beard but he was an absolute stud. Great food, people and vibe. We will be back! read more

Benchmark is a super cute brunch restaurant with beautiful, well-thought out décor. Going here feels like going to a nice little garden party with your girl friends. The restaurant has a really comforting, relaxing vibe, which the decorations and design definitely contribute to. The food was above average, but I do think that depends highly on the dish that you order. I ordered a benchmark burger for myself, which I ended up regretting, not because it was not good, but moreso because it was very, VERY heavy for a breakfast/brunch. The burger tasted good, but the oiliness definitely got to me and I was unable to finish my food. I wish I had opted for the Spanish omelette, because it was really refreshing and might have energized me moreso than a burger. Still, their customer service and the vibe they've cultivated here definitely makes for a remarkable spot and unforgettable as well. read more

Benchmark - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

So many great things! The outdoor garden vibe. Excellent and attentive service. Warmly greeted and the lighting and ambiance are magical. Felt like dining al fresco in Paris. Ordered the: CRISPY CHICKEN LINGUINE ... manilla tomato-basil sauce, zucchini, capers, burrata, mozzarella cheese, calabrian chili crunch. It was wonderful. Chicken was tender and perfectly cooked. First time having square linguini noodles. Excellent at holding sauce. Was a great experience and definitely recommend! read more

Came for lunch and sat in the sheltered area due to the wind and an event. It was cozy, service was exceptional and the food was delicious!! We will definitely be back! read more

First time here, but arrived around lunch time. Didn't realize there was a brunch vs dinner menu. Limited brunch menu overall. Not too enticing compared to their dinner menu. The crispy chicken sandwich was fair, but nothing spectacular. The burger was SALTY. The fries on the side were good. The french toast was OK, again, nothing spectacular. Salad on the brunch menu wasn't too bad. The enchiladas with the mole were OK. The pastrami hash stack was good per family members, probably one of their best brunch items. We were seated outside, and the heat lamps were on, so wasn't chilly. Lots of leaves and foliage fallen on the seats though, especially the outer seating. Restrooms are located in a separate building next to the restaurant. Service was standard. The music selection was great (90s hip hop & pop)! Parking can be limited. Their back lot is very limited. There is street parking, but can also be difficult to find. So we parked in a lot (mobile pay) behind Hidden House Coffee, which was just a block of 2 from the reataurant. Not a terrible walk at all. read more

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Fantastic food and service! Great place to enjoy a tasty brunch on a Sunday afternoon.

First, what a quaint little place! Absolutely loved the atmosphere. Our server, Seth was so kind and attentive. The food was amazing! I can't wait to go back and try something different. Great vibes here!!! read more

Benchmark - Enchiladas Suizas--lobster and shrimp. - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Sunday lunch with the ladies. Thankfully we had reservations, as there was a line waiting prior to opening. Cute outdoor patio only. Smallish but nice. We shared the Parmesan herb potatoes with garlic aioli. 5/5 a winner. For what ever reason, our ticket got lost? Waitress kind of disappeared & another took over? Anyway, the table to our right got served & left before we got our food. Granted, we were busy chatting & took awhile to order. To we had: smoked salmon salad on spring lettuce mix. VERY good, ample salmon. Vinaigrette was very nice & balanced. Ordered the pretzel sticks by themselves. $3/piece. Didn't want the sauce. Just needed a bready something. These were KILLER! Hot, soft sprinkled with pretzel salt. VERY good. My friend ordered the Spanish omelet. Again a timing issue. She insisted we start. We were 1/4 way through our salads before she received her omelette. Thankfully I'm a slow eater (my other friend was almost furnished) .She was very happy with it once she did receive it! Perhaps there were no potatoes prepped? Usually half cooked to accelerate omelette cook time? They comp'd a dessert due to the major delay in service. (Third party on our right by this time) Sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice cream. Truly yummy. Almost forgot about the service delay. Without the service delay, the food is a solid 5. With the service delay - 1/2 a star. The biggest deterrent is the parking. There is none. A tiny lot is shared with a back apt. type of situation. 2 churches & 2 apt complexes right across the street. 2 had to circles the block several times. Ended up parking in a church lot. If you park across Santa Ana Blvd to the south, you cross the Steam trolley tracks. Which aren't as wide as regular railroad tracks. I may return since the food was really good. My friends won't since they had to hike a block and a half away. Which is a bummer as we're all in the food industry. 3-1/2 (service delay, no parking) food is a solid 5 though. read more

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First of all, your driving by amazed by this patio. Probably doesn't survive the rain very well, but luckiwe live in California . Food 12/10. Very hippie vibes from the service as though I'm back in the 70s and I might get some fungi with my friends read more

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Everything here is delicious! The issue is that the portions are small for what you're paying. I would definitely come back though. - pretzels with artichoke cheese: glorious! The pretzels are perfect and the amount of cheese they give you is more than enough. You'll want a second order of pretzels to finish off the amazing cheese. - tacos: yummy and flavorful. Comes in a count of 4. - fries: crispy and sprinkled with Parmesan which makes them extra good. Our server was very attentive all night. And the place is beautiful. Perfect for a date night out. read more

Benchmark is such a gem in Downtown Santa Ana! The outdoor setting is adorable and has such a great vibe! The service is top-notch every single time, and the food presentation is absolutely stunning. Highly recommend the ahi tuna, fritto misto, Korean BBQ tacos and miso glazed salmon! This place never misses! read more

Came for lunch on a beautiful Friday afternoon. The vibe was great and it wasn't too crowded. The service is amazing. Attentive without being too intrusive. The lunch menu had a great variety. The ahi tuna tostadas, sweet potato with brussel sprouts and the pork belly/shishito peppers all were amazing. Wonderful experience. read more

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Very poor customer service experience from owner Pedro. We had a reservation on Friday night and when we checked in, we ended up waiting around 5 minutes before anyone greeted us. Granted, I understand it was a Friday night around 7:30pm and it was busy but still saying that he is "honoring our reservation" by setting up some lousy table in the corner was not right. Unfortunately he was unapologetic and continued to say "he was honoring our reservation" and so we ended up leaving. Unfortunate experience because I was excited to dine there but I will not be back. read more

Benchmark was absolutely superb! Frm the appetizer to the entree to the drinks there just wasn't anything I could find wrong. The atmosphere had a real calm naturistic calm peaceful vibe as my fiancée and I sat outside. It literally was like finding a gem in the rough of Santa Ana if you will and the pretzels were nice and soft and delicious with the dip. The fried calamari well the sauce under I display like it plain but I couldn't help but dip in the sauce it came in and before I could go for more my fiancée finished it , he is lucky we still had an entree the Korean chicken and the coleslaw salad it came in gave it a nice balance where both strong flavors balanced each other out and the drinks were delicious and just enough alcohol that my fiancée and I headed home and danced the night away. So thank you to the staff as they were very fast and friendly and to the bartender superb drinks and my compliments to the chef muah! I couldn't have made it a better night had I done it myself thank you! read more