What a hidden gem! The food, service and coffee were superb! The employees were so friendly and very helpful :) I was able to work in a very relaxing atmosphere. I will definitely be back!!!!! read more

I'm a frequent customer at Cafe Rose because it's near my house and I can't get enough of the great food and friendly service. This place is kind of hard to find, it's kind of in the middle of a corporate area so I think most of the customers are going on their lunch break (as am I). It's only open until 2pm which shows just how great this place is, they don't even need to stay open for dinner to make money. I've eaten here so many times, this review is well overdue because I've never had a bad meal here. I ususally get the tomato margherita salad which is excellent, it comes with a side of either fresh fruit, coleslaw (which is delcious) or zucchini bread. No matter which side you choose, it's always excellent. Another awesome aspect of this place is the service. The owner is so nice, I took my mom here for her birthday and he noticed we had a gift and he let us pick a free dessert. The servers are all very friendly and everyone seems genuinely happy to be working there. That's a sign of a great establishment. I can't tell you enough how great this place is. If you're in the mood for a sandwich, soup or salad, definitely try this place out for lunch. I hear their specials are good, however I've never tried them myself. I have gone with friends who absolutely rave about the specials though, so be sure to try one out if it looks good to you! read more

This place serves up very high-quality food and quickly too! The Spinach and Strawberry salad with pulled chicken is my current favorite, but I'm looking forward to trying more items! Also, the homemade Zucchini Bread is not to be missed! read more

Cafe Rose Express has officially won the place in my heart as my favorite cafe in the area. Today, my friend and I were greeted by Kelly who made us feel so welcome! He did a great job at explaining the menu for us, brought us complimentary cookies, and checked up on us to ask how we were enjoying everything. My friend and I were blown away by such customer service! They also now have "devoted diner club" cards where you get a free sandwich of choice on the 10th visit! Oh boy! Another reason to come again soon and bring a friend along with me! read more

Cafe Rose is the hidden gem for the 9-5 crowd! Open early for breakfast and late for lunch, they give you the perfect opportunity to swing by during your work day. The restaurant has rotating daily/weekly specials so you are bound to have something new and different each time you come in. If you like to mix it up, they also have combinations that you can build yourself. The quality of the food is top notch, the portions are very generous, and the ambience is very relaxing. If you work in the Costa Mesa area, check it out on your way to work or during your lunch break! read more

Cafe Rose Express - An egg salad on multigrain wheat with a Cafe Rose salad and a side of fruit (not just cantaloupe, but the good stuff too!). - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Just an updated review, and this time, and I can't believe I'm only giving them a 3 stars. Got their weekly special Jewel of the sea. The fish is good, the shrimp a bit small and a bit dried, and they forgot about the salad that's supposed to come with the entree. Just a little disappointed after couple of years. read more

Love this place. The bagels, coffee, and breakfast wraps is where it is at. The sandwiches and lunches are great too. Just remember that they usually close by 2pm on weekdays, so don't delay! read more

Oh my goodness, I love this place !! And the Yelp reviews speak for themselves, but everything is good here. Their lunch combo is awesome. You get 1/2 a sandwich, 1/2 cup of soup of the day, and a side order (e.g., fruit medley, baguette, etc). All under $10. I haven't tried all the sandwiches yet, but all the ones that I've tried were soooo good. Everyone there is SUPER friendly. I walked in to pickup my online order and everyone was like "Hey, Vincent is here!!". Super cool and makes you feel really welcome. So glad that this place is just a walk from my work. Keep up the great work guys and thank you!!! read more

I did breakfasts here, I did lunches because they were in the complex with a client site. Quick, easy, back to work. By day three I found myself reading the daily special menu to see what they were offering the next day because they made GOOD stuff. I mean seriously, not your standard corporate complex cafe type flavorless food, GOOD, FRESH, tastes creative stuff. Being my first client trip since the vegetarian conversion I was a little nervous and had a few things to deal with while there... but I also discovered a Ricotta Calzone. I would not have thought of that. Think lasagna insides, some grilled veggies and pizza dough... I'm a fan and regretted most ventures off campus for lunch after eating here. ...and waiter service. You order, take your number to your table and they deliver with amazing hospitality. read more

I love this place! I work across the street and my coworkers come here a lot for lunch. I also stop sometimes for breakfast to grab a coffee and a breakfast sandwich. The staff is awesome and they come to know you by name. The food is always fresh and delicious. Some favorites: Bountiful Garden Salad, Califronia Panini, French Connection sandwich. Haven't tried too many of their desserts but they look beautiful and the ones I have tried were divine. Try the zucchini bread with your meal, its awesome! They also do daily soups and weekly specials. read more

How did I not know about this place?? I work within walking distance... I just came in for lunch, nom! Definitely going to come here regularly and totally agree that it's a hidden gem! Friendly customer service at the counter and when they brought our food. Nice, clean atmosphere. A good size place with indoor and outdoor seating. I got the cup of soup and half salad combo for about $8. Thursday's soup was potato, bacon, broccoli and I chose the Crunchy Hong Kong Chicken salad, plus you get a side, I chose fruit. Everything was very fresh and delish, and my co-workers said the same about theirs. And the servings are pretty big; I had to ask for a box to bring half home! The only drawback is the wait, there was a short line at the counter to order and then we waited a little longer than expected for our food. But how can I complain about them being busy because the food is so good and fresh? I might just call it in next time if I'm in a rush. read more

If you have never eaten here, Do the combo. It's a great way to try out the menu. There is so much to choose from and everything is delicious. The staff are super friendly and love to help. All reviews from other yelpers convinced me to check this place out. Great garden. So far the Hong Kong Crunchy chicken salad is my favorite! read more

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Apparently they stop serving breakfast at 10:30am and serve lunch at 11am, I went in with my coworker around 10:30am and was unable to order either breakfast or lunch!!! What kinda cafe is this?! Aside from the confusion of not being able to order either lunch or breakfast the girls at the counter were super rude and disrespectful apparently they are unable to accommodate customers! I really hope the owner reads this because I'd like to talk to them personally! read more

Service. Service. Service. This place gets it. The people at the register are just the nicest and warmest people ever and you can really feel the positive sincerity they vibe off. The food isn't too bad - I've had the Big Mouth Hoagie and the French Connection, along with the Southwestern BBQ Rotisserie Chicken salad. The sandwiches were pretty good, but nothing exceptional. However, their salads is definitely a winner. The dressing/vinaigrette was mouthwatering and their full sized salads are enough for a good sized lunch. Their claim to fame seems to be their zucchini bread. Which, having bought my own loaf as a gift for my mother, I cannot have enough of. Two pieces come as a side to your entrees - get it. It's definitely worth a try and maybe you'll end up buying a loaf for yourself. I will be coming back when I crave some zucchini loaf in the near future. read more

Had such a good thing going here.. Today was a complete turn off. My brother and I ordered the special...Maple Balsamic Chicken with mashed cauliflower and grilled asparagus.. The maple balsamic flavor wasn't too good, but that's on me for choosing. As we begin eating, my brother asks me if it tastes fishy. I didn't agree...then suddenly after my next bite or so, got an overwhelming fishy taste that almost made me want to spit it out. It seemed to be only certain parts of the chicken. I can usually stomach food that isn't good and finish my meal, but I couldn't bring myself to even attempt another bite. Same with my brother. I brought it up to those behind the counter. Gentleman explained that they haven't had any fish on the menu for the week. I wasn't really there to accuse anything or argue, just stating what we tasted because it's rare for us to not finish a meal. He asked if I wanted another piece of chicken... Why would I want another after my brother and I couldn't stomach the two you had just served? Politely declined and left... Spent $26 bucks for some asparagus and mashed cauliflower, which, admittedly, was pretty good. read more

I need to give credit where credit is due. I am starving, and I want something good... actually really good. I had come one previous time to Cafe Rose, and was quite pleased with what I ate, and I just so happened to be passing by -- ROUND 2. The special was filet mignon stroganoff (haven't had stroganoff in ages), and what is the soup -- lobster bisque. No joke I need to treat myself more often. It changed my day. It revitalized my love for a great lunch every once in a while. The bisque had big chunks of lobster meat in it, was creamy perfection. The stroganoff made me remember my mothers cooking (which is really exceptional) then multiplied it by 10. Meat in the dish was super tender and flavorful. This is a popular lunch spot and they do actually sell out of things I have come to learn. It was a treat for sure. Oh and the owner was behind the counter running food too, giving me a personal greeting. You can't really say that too often anymore. Go, enjoy, and return the next week for the next special. That is all. read more

What the matter with you foodies? This place totally deserves 5 stars. Was busy as heck and we got our food lickity split. Saint Patrick's week special included the guiness braised pot roast with mashed taters and peas and carrots and it was soooo freakin' good and totally filled me up. read more

Cafe Rose Express - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

After seeing rave reviews for this tucked-away restaurant on the Web, my wife and I decided to check the place out for ourselves. We were VERY impressed. The restaurant is behind the Rose & Tulip event center on Scenic Drive near Harbor and MacArthur in Costa Mesa. Being smack in the middle of the Harbor Gateway Office Park, you can only find the place if you know it's here. Definitely make the effort to seek it out. The cafe has an extensive menu featuring fresh, made-to-order sandwiches, panninis, salads, and entre-style plates as well as fresh pastries. The staff is extremely friendly. This includes the owner/manager, Kelly, who greeted us personally and later visited us at our table. Our food was delivered quickly and was of the highest quality. There's plenty of seating on the patio adjacent to the large lawn where weddings and other events are held, so the atmospheric is very garden-esque. You'll dine among roses, succulents and tall trees. And the prices? No different than you'd find at any Corner Bakery. Both my wife and I had "combo" lunches that included half a sandwich (large), salad (plenty) and side order. Just $8.50 each. By not ordering drinks, we got out for under $20.00. Not too shabby. read more

Such amazing place. Food is so fresh all the time. And everything tastes great. The best part are the servers and people working there. I feel my grandma is serving me food. Such warmth. Tips: Watch out for the specials. read more

I love this place! They have delicious soup! The owner came and talked to me when we sat down. Apparently they have like a total of 85 different soup cycled through the month!!! That's freaking amazing! Now I need to try them all. This place is going to get to know me very well very soon! read more

I went for lunch last week with my mom and was so excited to check it out. I am wishing I had known about this place when my office was across the street. lol. I had the grilled veggie salad with a side of fruit. I was so yummy. I loved the tahini mayo that they used and the bread was so soft, I would eat a whole loaf of that bread if I could. My mom ordered a salad and said there was something in it that didnt quite make sense, for the life of me i can not remember which salad or what the ingredient was, but she picked around it and enjoyed it all the same. She raved about the Zucchini bread. The space is beautiful, I have always wanted to see the Turnip rose event space and I am so glad i got to wander around today. read more

I don't know why I've never reviewed this place before. It's my favorite sandwich/salad place and I try to come here whenever I'm in the area at lunchtime. The food always tastes fresh and delicious, the servings are huge, the presentation is beautiful, and the women who work here are super sweet. I always feel so happy when I come here. Unfortunately, it's ruined all other sandwich/salad places for me. read more

Right next to the IBM Costa Mesa office and Anna Linen's Corporate Headquarters. Very fair prices with great service. You really can't go wrong by coming here for a business lunch. read more

Excellent place for lunch! Ladies at the front are super friendly, love the family feel. Strawberry and Hong Kong Salad are awesome. Love the Kansas stack roast beef sandwich with horse radish. Their weekly specials are great too adding to the variety. read more

The place is clean and seating is available inside and out. I love their California panini with their zucchini bread YUM. I didn't enjoy their wet burrito and tostada though :( I would stick with their sandwiches and salads. GET THE ZUCCHINI BREAD!! read more

this place is really big. Indoor and outdoor seating. nice lawn. -very busy, but service was still fast. -workers are very helpful -Panini turkey mag, was delicious. fruits were fresh and sweet. ($8.75) - weekly special ($12.95) : came with tri tip with sauce, fries, and salad. Tri-tip steak (very tender), sauce (ok), garlic fries (shoestring) was good, forgot how salad was. My total came out to $23.44 (w/ no drinks) Definitely coming back here. read more

Great local lunch spot, although it can get VERY crowded at lunch time. The first time I came I waited for-EVER and wished I would have called my order in ahead. The second time there was not a very long line for whatever reason, it's sort of hit or miss. I have had: Lemon-Zested Greek Salad: This salad was a good size and the ingredients were fresh and flavorful. The addition of beets was interesting! However, I was really excited about the lemon part of this salad and really I couldn't taste much lemon flavor in the dressing. I wished that the lemon flavor would have come through more. The salad was big but very light and refreshing. Torta Rustica: YUM. This sandwich was amazing. A generous amount of pesto slathered on chewy ciabatta with turkey, provolone, spinach, and roasted red peppers. I got this as part of a two-item combo, which was a good thing because even half of this sandwich was plenty! Cafe Rose Classic Salad: Got this as the other half of my two-item combo. A nice simple salad with the interesting addition of dried shitake mushrooms, which I really liked! The white balsamic dressing was excellent. Zucchini bread: All the salads and sandwiches come with a side item, and it's really no question that you MUST choose zucchini bread. This bread is super moist with just the right amount of sweetness. It's great to take with you for an afternoon snack! Big fan of Cafe Rose Express and will definitely return often when I am working in the area! Wish it was open on weekends! read more

My upcoming wedding is located at the Turnip Rose (TR) Promenade and Gardens; the same location as this breakfast/lunch only cafe (cafe is only open weekdays). Just like everything else I've experienced from the TR, this cafe is truly magnificent. I've been so pleased working with the TR staff. Food here is very delicious. Everyone is so friendly. Entree prices are very reasonable. Save room for dessert. Can't go wrong with any of them, but the chocolate dipped cinnamon twist are my fave. Quick Tip: ask for the Kelly Special. This espresso drink is amazing! read more

We choose this place (via yelp, ofcourse) for a small holiday group lunch. We were 8 people --- and this place was perfect! Cozy, good food, great service & close to the office. Where do I begin ... the excellent service. Although they don't provide waiter service, the attitude of the workers over the phone & when we arrived at the cafe was terrific. I called the morning of thinking I couldn't get a reservation but would just hope for a Christmas miracle ... not only, did they give our little group a reservation --- they literally reserved a small private room for us --- with cute Christmas ornament decorations hanging from the ceiling! We were advised to call in our orders ahead of time so we wouldn't have to wait in line to order. Since their menu was available online, it was easy and great advice. Now, the food. Everyone in our party thought the food was very good. We all ordered a variety of sandwiches and panini along with salads to share. We all agreed the food was tasty, fresh and very good quality. Great ambieance, terrific workers & good food! read more

Food was great. It was super fresh and tasty. I will definitely go back again! Great outdoor seating.

Cafe Rose Express is a quaint cafe with a ton of business around lunch time. California grilled panini was okay... A little dry. Come before 12 if you want to beat the rush. read more

Food was great! They gave me a sample of their Zucchini bread which was Awesome... so I bought it. Everything is made fresh. Wasn't crowded, staff friendly (one of them said she's worked there for 17 years). Clean, nice decor, Very hard to find, but worth the journey! read more

I recently discovered Cafe Rose Express. I have been there 7 times in the last 4 months. The meals that I have received were great. Sandwiches, soup, zucchini bread - all tasty. Even the owner comes out and is welcoming. He seems to know many of the patrons. Heck, he even welcomed me with a pat to my shoulder. This is definately my go-to-place. Prices are reasonable for the quality & food portions.This is the way a restaurant should be run. Update 7-18-17: Have still been coming here for years and never disappointed. Today, I had the short rib special for $13.49...and holy cow...this was as tasty as a meal three times it's price. Keep up the good work Cafe Rose Express! read more

WOW IT CAN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!! This place honestly tops any other lunch spot I have been to. It is hidden in this little business district so it's hard to find but it is so worth it. The food there is underrated because its just sandwiches and salad but everything together is just so good. I don't know what they put in their food but it's like crack. The truly outstanding part about this restaurant is their service. I don't know if the guy is the manager or owner but there is this one man who is so nice. When I first visited there, he took the time to talk to me about each of the menu items because I was so confused. The second time I came, he gave my friends and I a free dessert. I don't really remember why but that truly made my day. It's a shame this place closes at 2pm but if you ever want to go to a nice place with AWESOME service for brunch, this is your place!!! read more

Every ingredient so fresh. I had the farmers market sandwich. The staff was genuinely friendly :). This place felt like a little treasure. Can't wait to visit again. read more

Cafe Rose Express - American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

A really great place for lunch! Cafe Rose is right across the street from my office and it is so nice to have something way better then fast food so close. The Cafe is part of an events and catering business. The regular menu is mostly sandwiches and salads with a couple Mexican items like the burrito as well. All the food is prepared fresh and you can taste the quality in every bite. Really good all around. The menu isn't extensive, not a whole lot of choice, but what is available is top notch. The best thing about this place is the specials. They run for a few days to a week and they are really worth trying. Today I had Fillet en croute, pieces of fillet Mignon wrapped in pastry with some new potatoes, onion straws and broccoli. Sooooooo good I don't have words. over all this place is just a little pricey, but well worth it. The are only open until 2 and it does get a little crowded around noon. There is some very pleasant out door seating and some big screen TVs inside to watch while you eat. I'd give it 5 stars if it was a little less expensive, but really this place is great! read more

I would say it is the best with that price in this area, as so far. Well, I am just new here, gonna try more place to have lunch ;-) read more

Their old-fashioned doughnut is SO GOOD!! We had a variety of breakfast items that we all enjoyed. The breakfast burritos are great with the homemade salsa! read more

Came for lunch and got the Chinese Chicken Salad. It was excellent. Great service and the salad was made with fresh ingredients. I will request additional dressing next time. read more

I eat here at least once a week. I love the hong kong chicken salad. The staff is pleasant. The lunch rush goes fast, so you are in and out quickly. read more