I came here on a Saturday night at 7pm with a reservation but it wasn't too busy so you could probably also walk in. The seating/restaurant is outside kind of like a patio setting, and the ambience is very cute and rustic. There were multiple tables open, so the waiter let us choose where to sit which was very sweet. - roasted sweet potato and brussels sprouts: 9.8/10. AMAZING. It sounds simple, but the way they season, dress, and cook this is absolutely delicious especially with their little additional toppings (cranberries and pumpkin seeds). I would come back here just to eat this. The portion is also very generous. - roasted citrus half chicken: 8.1/10. The chicken was HUGE, delicious, and juicy, but I'm not sure I enjoyed the other things accompanying the chicken (kennebec steak fries and baby spinach did not complement the chicken well or were maybe under seasoned). - short rib rigatoni: 8.0/10. Plenty of short rib and well cooked pasta! Yummy, but I wouldn't get this again. read more

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

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Super cute spot in an area of down town Santa Ana that has been through some revitalization. All patio/outdoor seating from what I saw. Big tables for larger groups. Super friendly staff. Came here for brunch on Sunday. Arrived right when they opened so it wasn't busy, obviously, when we got there. But was bumpin' by the time we left. We ordered a little of everything. My nephew really liked the açaí bowl. Brother in law thought the burger was good. Everyone at the table loved the fries; that we ended up ordering a second round. I had the chicken tinga. It needed a pinch of salt and would have liked some heat in it. It was described as a skillet for brunch so I thought maybe it would be on home fries or have a fried egg on top. But it was just chicken tinga served in a mini skillet with house made tortilla chips. It was decent, but I guess I'm partial to the spicier tinga I make at home. We also had the avocado toast on a croissant with poached egg and arugula. Was a bit underwhelming. Nothing special. Tres leches French toast was tasty but dry. We ended up asking for more sauce for it. Lobster chilaquiles with poblano cream sauce was the tastiest thing we ordered, and it was actually quite good with a decent heat to the sauce. I ended up actually asking for an extra side of the poblano sauce to put in my tinga to give it some flavor. Overall, it was a cool little spot for brunch, chill vibes, friendly staff. Not any real parking to speak of, so you had to find street parking and walk. It wasn't a bad spot to chill, and nothing we ate was bad in any way. But to be honest, nothing blew us away. read more

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Wow! This was such a find in the heart of Santa Ana. First off, it is an outdoor venue. The decor is modern and relaxed with a cool vibe. There is a bar with a screen TV to hang out at. Reservations preferred as it is on the smaller side, and has a seated time limit of 90 minutes (plenty of time to enjoy your meal). There is a parking lot a block away that is worth it. Now for the food and service. Our server was Julissa and she was outstanding! She was happy, energetic and confident. She could make recommendations that were helpful and knew the ingredients and menu options effortlessly. Absolutely enjoyed our time with her - thank you Julissa! For starters we had the Korean BBQ Tacos - 10/10 with a beautifully seasoned meat on a large radish and tangy cabbage slaw. You get 4 of them. So good! For our meals we choose the Roasted Sweet Potato and Brussel Sprouts with cranberries and a spicy chipotle sauce. My friend loved it! I had the Crispy Airline Chicken over asparagus and pees in a creamy sauce. 9/10. It was good but I would've liked to have an added taste such as sun-dried tomatoes or artichoke hearts to give it a bit more texture and punch. For desert we had their most popular dish - Brown Butter Cake (10/10) - it did not disappoint. A spongy, soft, round cake with crushed pecan pieces, vanilla gelato, drizzled with caramel. A nice palate ending. I could see having this with a warm cup of coffee or tea. As a side note, since it is outside there were some small flies around occasionally but that can't be helped - just a heads up. Overall, it was excellent and I was already telling others about the wonderful experience we had here. Thanks Benchmark - see you soon! read more

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100% recommend! The food, ambiance, and staff were all so amazing. We were seated right away before the crowds came in. Our server was so happy to share his favorites when asked as it was our first time. We had the tacos for appetizers and lemon chicken and olives with drinks, and everything was delicious. Definitely recommend! We parked in the parking lot next to the coffee shop and everything was easy. read more

My friends and I really enjoy this establishment. If you're in the local area, you can't beat the happy hour. The food is great and the drinks are even better. I'm leaving this review to share the time limitations which we were unaware of.. I did try to resolve this by calling the establishment; however, the times I called. I was told neither the owner or the manager were available. We got together for happy hour and ordered an abundance of food and drinks. At one point the hostess came to our table to share that our time was up. My group was bewildered as we frequent this location often and have never heard of a time limit rule. Thinking this was because we hadn't ordered another round, we decided to order dessert along with another round of drinks. The waiter was very accommodating. Unfortunately, the hostess was not. She stopped by the table to share someone else was waiting for our table, and she would try to figure out what to do with us. Needless to say, this made us feel uncomfortable and shared our sentiment with her. She shrugged us off and told us she was merely doing her job. We proceeded to leave. Long story short, the website is great with the tag of "stay a while" this really means stay only an hour and a half or you'll be kicked out. read more

Our server took his time to answer all of our questions and make sure we had everything we needed. They don't have any special coffee like lattes which seems weird for a spot that's so popular for brunch. There's a coffee shop across the street and they let you bring their coffee into the restaurant. The kimchi fried rice was good but the French toast was pretty dry. The outdoor seating area is really cute tho. read more

Benchmark - Kimchi fried rice, dulce de leche French toast - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

This is a cute little outdoor restaurant tucked in a residential neighborhood. The vibe is chic yet cozy and fairly quiet, but the food and drinks were not or miss. We came for brunch and ordered the smoked salmon flatbread, French toast, kimchi fried rice, and chicken tinga skillet. My favorites are the French toast and kimchi fried rice. The French toast is huge and great for sharing. The kimchi fried rice is flavorful with strong gochujang flavors. and the steak on top is tender. I didn't really enjoy the smoked salmon flatbread. There was very little caviar and the flatbread had a weird texture, almost like a banh xeo. The espresso martini was a huge miss. It did not have the rich espresso flavor and tasted like coffee flavored rubbing alcohol. I'll stick to wine if I come here again. read more

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(4.5) Super cute must-try spot in Santa Ana! I've been here a few times now for both dinner and brunch. The ambiance and vibe is sooo pretty and it's the perfect spot to get-together with your girls or to have a date night. Most recently I came with my girls on a Saturday afternoon. A lot of us either got the crispy chicken sandwich or the burger. Both were good but not mind blowing. We all enjoyed the appetizers/shareables though! I'd definitely come back to get the French toast and smoked salmon flatbread. Overall, I do prefer their dinner menu choices, though, over brunch. Service was great! We had a reservation for a large party of 15 and the staff were really nice and attentive. FYI - originally I was trying to reserve their private dining room (they call it the garage) but it was all booked up on the day that I wanted. So the event coordinator helped me make a standard reservation instead. I was told that for standard reservations, they can only host up to 15 guests. Luckily I had that exact number. Anything more than that will require a private dining room reservation! Parking: they have a very small back lot and street parking is available. BUT, I suggest parking at Ebell! It's a much bigger lot with many spaces, free, and less than one block away. :) super easy! read more

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Amazing French toast the service is excellent the burger was also amazing incredible atmosphere

This was my first visit, and I left with a good impression. The menu had plenty of choices, so it was easy to find something I liked. My meal arrived hot and was nicely prepared. The staff was welcoming and made sure we had everything we needed. There were a few small delays, but nothing that affected the overall visit. I would definitely stop by again. read more

I came for happy hour for a girl dinner and I was a bit scared after reading the recent reviews but I enjoyed it. Our waiter was very kind and checked up on us at the perfect times. The tables are outdoor so bring a jacket just in case. I love that there are lots of string lights and plants because it adds warmth to the seating area. Food Consensus: We ordered the shishito peppers, Parmesan fries, artichoke fondue + pretzels, short rib rigatoni, little gem Caesar salad, and streak frites. For drinks, I ordered the guava Paloma. I'd order the shishito peppers and artichoke fondue + pretzels again. The shishito peppers and pork belly were nice and flavorful. I also just have a predilection for spicy foods. I love the surprise element of shishito peppers because you never know which one will be spicy. The artichoke wasn't very present in the dip but the pretzels were to die for. Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I think all the other dishes were decent! Those 2 just happen to be the standouts to me. I would recommend coming during happy hour! read more

Benchmark - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Love the atmosphere of the space, but we all know you're here for the food. And I have to say. They could serve this food to me in a cardboard box and I would still give a 5 stars. Every single bite was delicious. Great flavors, great textures and great ingredients. The staff was very friendly and service was quick too. Absolutely recommend read more

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Food was mediocre but the setting is cool . The parking is so inadequate it's ridiculous , I parked in the surrounding neighborhood and got a 54.00 ticket for no permit . They need to inform their guests . read more

I love Benchmark. The tapas and ambience are amazing. We had a really sweet server! read more

It was my friend's birthday, and we had the best time! The food and atmosphere were absolutely amazing, and the staff even joined in to celebrate with us -- so kind and thoughtful. Parking was a bit tricky, but everything else was perfect. I'd definitely love to go back! read more

Benchmark - Beautiful place ~ - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Amazing food and vibes here! I always order the pretzels with the artichoke dip that is so yummie! The salmon flatbread, chicken sandwich, almost everything on this menu is amazing and worth the drive. Music they play here is on point! Staff is super friendly and always on top of it read more

Had reservation but no table was available. They had us wait. 10 min passed and we see a guy set up a wobbly table in the corner RIGHT IN FRONT of their kitchen. Note this is January. Cold night. No heater around. Owner Pedro said that is only table unless we wanna wait who knows how long. Will never return. Waste of our time. read more

I liked: Chorizo Goat Cheese Flat Bread This was ok: Parmesan Herb Fries Steak Sandwich I did not like: Artichoke Fondue I'm surprised I didn't like this restaurant since I normally like New American. The flat bread was decent but I didn't expect it to be so sweet instead of savory. The fries are mid, the steak itself is good but the sauce is overpowering and the bread was difficult to bite through. The fondue is highly rated but was pretty sour when I had it. We actually thought the restaurant was closed because there's not a lot of people sitting in the front. They had people in the back alcove closer to the parking. Speaking of parking, there aren't a lot of spots and street parking is pretty full as well. Best thing about the restaurant is that the decor is very cute and well put together. If I do come back, I'd want to try the short rib orcchiette. The couple next to us said that was the best thing they had. read more

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Recently had dinner at Benchmark for a friend's birthday. Our server Tiffany, who also is one of the bartenders, was amazing and such a hoot! The food and drinks are always divine. They do change out some items depending on the season but you really can't go wrong with what you ordered. This time around we ordered burrata + zucchini flatbread (AMAZING, please keep this on the menu) and parmesan herb fries for the table. - though we didn't get it this time, the shishito + crispy pork belly is also yummy. We also ordered the roasted sweet potatoes + Brussels sprouts, miso glazed salmon, shrimp + broccoli risotto, and crispy chicken linguine. No notes, all very delicious! Drinks were good, per usual. They use spirit-infused sake and are all crafted cocktails. Ambiance is super cute! Love the outdoor setting and all the lantern lights. Benchmark is perfect for dinner with friends or date night. Highly recommend! read more

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This is an old review. Hubby & I was in the area & I've been wanting to try this place so we came here for dinner on a Sunday night. Weather was nice so we sat outdoors. Service was friendly & attentive. We started off with cocktails & as for food, we shared the ahi tuna served over sesame crackers, roasted citrus half chicken, & I believe it was the crispy pork belly. Everything was flavorful & delicious! Ahi tuna was fresh & perfect bite size. The chicken & pork was tender. Drinks were on point & not too sweet. I def look forward to coming back to try other dishes on the menu. read more

Benchmark - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

We've been trying to get here for a while since it's outside our normal zone but I'm so glad we finally got here. The food was excellent and it was surprisingly warm and cozy on a rainy night. I was going to cancel our rez with the rain, but they have it well heated and dry in the main room and we had a beautiful night. The service was great and we would definitely get back here to try more dishes. read more

What a beautiful spot for a Sunday brunch! There are only outdoor seating and we went exactly at 12pm when they open and got seated right away. Food came out relatively fast and our server was attentive. The food was great, I honestly have nothing to note but the kimchi fried rice that comes with a fried egg and steak was delicious! You can add some sliced avocado on top with an additional charge but I opt out on that. My friend, however, loved it with the extra avocado. My other friend ordered the birria tacos and she really liked it (she's very picky about her tacos so it was impressive to see that she gave it a thumbs up). Lastly, the music was very good, our group had such a great time here! Side note: the restrooms are located in the other building next to the restaurant and parking is horrendous if you're going at peak hours. read more

Benchmark - Kimchi fried rice - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Cute little place.. it's a converted garage but super trendy and cool. I got the lobster/shrimp enchilada and the French toast. Enchilada was great , seafood was cooked just right and the French toast was good too. Service was friendly/fast and it's in a nice little part of town. Go support this business! read more

Benchmark - French toast and piece of fried chicken - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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Joseph was AMAZING! that's how service should be. He was so nice and attentive to even my dog thank you so much! read more

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Came here with a group of 6 including 2 kids for dinner. Wanted a cocktail and the waitress said they only have saki cocktails and she swore the old fashioned tasted very similar to bourbon. Sadly it didn't but they comped it so that was nice. Got a great glass of cab instead. We got the tostadas and the artichoke fondue which were both really good! I got the short rib rigatoni, the others got the fried chicken, burger and the sweet potato and Brussels. All good. Only downsides being 1) service was extremely slow and 2) we were sat outside which was honestly great but it was packed in and they had three space heaters on so it was roasting! Overall a nice dinner but they seems a bit short staffed and service was underwhelming. read more

Very cute & nice decor setup & relaxed atmosphere here. I love the way they've repurposed a container for the outside building next to the two outside patio dining areas. Love the outside spaces, makes a lovely weekend brunch experience even better. Great place for gatherings for birthday parties which so many people do enjoy here. Artichoke fondue: 4 stars Bavarian pretzel sticks was nice warm & fluffy but the actual dip was on the salty side. This went well as a dip for the fries that we ordered as well. There should be 4 not 3 sticks of this dish is for sharing. Smoke salmon flatbread: 4.5 stars Very crunchy with a nice lemon drizzle on top of a sprinkle of arugula & smoke salmon . A bit on the burnt side but loved the crunch that this dish had instead of the usual soft bread that flatbread has, which gave it a nice texture. Seasonal sorbet: peach 4 stars Very creamy, I thought would be less creamy since sorbets aren't usually creamy Overall great taste but small serving. Service: 4 stars Good but can be a bit slow. Parking can be a pain here since it's so limited & the surrounding neighborhood doesn't have many parking spots & requires permits to park there. -.5 stars RSVPs are not required but definitely recommended here as it can get crowded. Prices are on the higher side & menu is very limited not much seafood options for brunch & lunch is only served during Friday's. It would be great if there was more vegetarian options as well. -1 star Overall: 3.5 stars If only yelp can have 1/2 stars read more

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Great everything.Enjoyable. wonderful service. I'll be back. Food prepared well! I just cant say bought about how good they are

Johnny was our server and he was great. He gave us some thoughtful recommendations and was consistent in checking in on us. The artichoke dip and burger were so good, we split everything between the 3 of us family style. My friends raved about the bulgogi fried rice but I was too full to function. The spot itself is cute but mostly outdoors, bring a jacket for California weather changes and just enjoy the space. read more

Our first time here and we were met by the best server Joseph! Incredibly friendly and recommending the Burger and Short Rib Pasta. Amazing fries!! Highly recommend this spot if you want some fun vibes and service. read more

We held our wedding rehearsal dinner at Benchmark and could not have been happier! Even with a rainy evening, the staff was incredibly friendly, attentive, and so accommodating. Our families and friends were blown away by the beautiful space and the food. People were still talking to me about the kbbq tacos served on radishes and the artichoke fondue days later. Everything was delicious, and the atmosphere felt cozy and celebratory in the best way. The private event space was perfect for our group of 20+ and it was nice that we had access to a Bose speaker and had full control over the music played in our space. From start to finish, the Benchmark team made the night feel special and seamless. It truly exceeded our expectations and was the perfect way to kick off our wedding week. We are so grateful to Gaylene, who helped us organize our private event, and the entire staff for their amazing service. read more

First time complaining about any service online in my almost 40 years of adult life. In short and to the point: *Party of 7 w/6PM reservations *Ordered about 7 appetizers, 5 cocktails, and 6 meals and bill plus tip was $400-500. *One of the appetizers came a little late and after we received meals plus took a little while to get food-understandable to prep food. *It was about 7:05 when we were asked if we wanted dessert and we were pretty much full from dinner so we didn't get any. *Few minutes later bill came and we paid. *Not too long after that our waiter pops in while we're talking and tells us he needs table and we basically have to leave. *We had a guest from out of town and just the way it was done was so embarrassing and left really bad feeling. **We didn't see sign or was advised of time limit to eat. We waited longer to get food longer than the time it took to eat dinner. I don't like being negative to a business as is why I've never done this before but it was just so embarrassing and we felt really upset after dinner. In closing: Very nice place Food was really good Service was good but robotic-no response from employees at all Thank you for your time! read more

Wow! Never have i ever had to wait 10 minutes for a menu. I get being short staffed but you don't turn around, seat another couple and give them water right off and ignore us. Never have a feel more blackballed in a restaurant- hire more people so if someone calls out you are not losing customers before they can even order a drink. I was looking forward to trying this place out but now I'll never set foot in there again- epic fail! read more

Joseph made our Valentine's Day so special. From the moment we sat down, he took great care of my friend and me. bringing over heaters so we could stay cozy and walking us through the menu with such confidence and knowledge. His recommendations were spot on, and you could tell he genuinely wanted us to have the best experience possible. We absolutely loved the environment, the service, and the overall vibe. We'll definitely be coming back and recommending this place to all of our friends. Thank you, Joseph, for making our Galantines memorable read more

Benchmark - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

Mark your calendars, and make that reservation to Benchmark, you will not regret it. What a quaint little gem Benchmark is! But don't let their serene atmosphere fool you, this is a popular little spot. We came for brunch with some girlfriends today, and our waiter informed us they had 200 reservations for the day. WOW! The outdoor restaurant is beautiful. Lots of greenery, open space, and a modern rustic feel. Their food comes out gorgeous! I felt almost bad digging into my açaí bowl, but that may have been the best açaí bowl I've ever tasted. My girlfriend ordered their smoked salmon flatbread, which also came out looking so fresh and delicious. I also requested for egg white with no butter, and they still tasted SO good. I am still thinking about Benchmark tonight writing this, to be honest. I cannot wait to return, especially for brunch so I can get their açaí bowl again (give it a try!). Be sure to make reservations, as the place fills up quick. read more

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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

We swung by for lunch and left impressed especially with the food. The outdoor setup is chill with string lights and a relaxed patio vibe that makes you want to linger a bit. Food-wise, we sampled a few plates and everything hit the mark. My favorites were the spaghetti alle vongole, and the shishito peppers with pork belly, which had a great bite of smokiness. The rest of the menu seemed well-balanced and satisfying, too. The service felt friendly and effortless, like dining with friends who know the best spots in town. It's casual enough for a weekday lunch but polished enough to feel a little special. Bottom line: great food, nice outdoor ambiance, and a comfortable vibe. I'd definitely go back for more bites and that easygoing patio energy. read more

Benchmark - New American Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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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

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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