Super chill, cool red booths, strong drinks, no bros, good bands. In my single years, this was the only place I didn't mind being chatted up by strangers. I think it's funny so many people mention it's "underground" -- it's not a lair or anything. It's just one floor below ground floor! I guess basement businesses are rare in O.C. read more

Marginal. That describes the food and the service. Shrimp Scampi appetizer was good size portion, steaming hot, poorly seasoned and $20. Filet mignon was cooked properly medium rare, yet why do they dip it in soy sauce before grilling? Accompanying baked potato was barely warm and the side salad was comprised of lettuce and one slice of a beet. As for the service, it was utilitarian bordering on surly. Just enough to earn the tip and nothing more. And when $22 was left on a $98 bill (that's 22% last time I checked) there was not even a "thank you for coming in". La Cave is 3 minutes from home and no longer on our radar... read more

I never knew this restaurant was there, but I'm happy I know about it now. The restaurant is in the basement. I didn't know we had basements in OC lol. As soon as you step in, you can smell steak. It made my mouth water. The restaurant is dim, so it's perfect for a date . We sat at the bar, and the chairs were a little uncomfortable. The bartender was nice and VERY attentive. We ordered steak and sautéed mushrooms. The food was served fast. The steak was perfect and cooked just the way I like it, medium rare. The music was nice, until they turned it off at 9:15 on a Wednesday night. It made me feel like they were kicking us out. read more

This is one of the cooler bars in OC, in my opinion. The people that come here are generally pretty cool and not out of control. Usually good music to find here depending on the night. Lots of open mics to be had here. The vibe here is super cool, very hip. ANd very comfortable. Deep reds and dim lighting. Really, just a good place to hang out and decompress. Their steaks are good, as is the seafood. I think this also good for taking a casual date to. read more

I can say honestly that I really enjoyed my experience at La Cave. I really want to eat here for dinner, but I went for their Wednesday night DJ, who is a friend of a friend, Ian, and he was quite good. Funky, dancey house music mixed with a good crowd of people. Expensive drinks, but I'm awesome and brought a flask of JD with me, so it was alright. Because it's downstairs and underground, it's quite hot and gets very crowded. Once the DJ got more drunk, the music turned into a trance and I had to get out of there. But there weren't many d-bags like one would find at Sutra, and the music was decent. So go early in the night, and bring a flask. You won't be disappointed! read more

This is the best steakhouse i have ever been to & the food is to die for. If you are going to splurge, this is the place to do it.

This would be the 2nd time to visit La Cave. It was exactly how I remembered it. The rib eye steak was YUMMY! Semi-upscale, dim lighting with a jazz bar feel. Very retro. The service was pleasant. The waitress was kind and patient enough to repeat the menu, since the menu isn't on anything printed that you can read. Instead, they present the "menu" on a cart where the waitress points with a flashlight (remember, very dim lighting) and explains what each item is. Overall, the food was great, the service was great. A real treat for anyone who hasn't been here yet. read more

"La cave" or "The Cave", right? You wouldn't quite expect to find such a place in a strip mall but hey! Down the stairs, a little restaurant - bar with a strange European flavor... Looking around a I got this "A la three musketeers" deja vu, which is not bad. To add to the atmosphere their lights went out about three times (as all that is good comes in three) and, believe it or not, when the lights are off ,it can get pretty dark in a place without any windows. Luckily, we live in a time when cell phones with bright screens are a common place and can be easily be diverted into mini-lanterns. Which allowed us to get our drinks. Their cocktails are very small - actually I was not aware that they make such small cocktail glasses - but as expensive as anywhere else, so you should be prepared to spend more to get less, if that does for you. The band - The Dead Ponies - was great. Be aware though, a fully blasted concert in a room only a little bigger than my own living room (and remember, without any windows either) can be a bit hard on your ears. On the positive side, this could be perfectly fine if you are a bit hard of hearing to start with. read more

Best of both worlds here. Great dinner, the crowd averages 50+ years old. They wheel a cart around with steaks, seafood, and other selections of the day. Add in the cheese bread and the twice baked potato, and you're set. Then, depending on which night you dine, get up and mingle with the late 20's crowd. The bartenders are good and friendly (ask Mike any movie trivia!),and the drinks are reasonable. The cabs seem to gravitate here at the end of the night also, so you won't wait for hours to get a cab. It's not pretentious, and the dark environment keeps everyone chill. read more

Decent. I truly didn't know what to expect with all the reviews and having driven past La Cave for years. Elevator was under repair so I took the stairs. I don't weigh 2 tons but I felt like I did walking down them; they seemed fragile. Dark cavernous bar/restaurant- hence the name. Cheese bread is good, similar to Quiet Woman. There's no menu, nor pricing. Meat/fish are wheeled around on a cart and described by server; you have to ask the cost. I had a NY strip which, theme for the review, was decent, not great. Prices seemed high for the quality and atmosphere. read more

i had the New York steak cost of $27. I could not chew it to a point to swallow. After 50 chews I had 50% of the food in my mouth. I was so tired of chewing that one piece as it was not dissolving. And I was not going to swallow a piece of meat that the enzymes in my mouth cold not break down. I tried a second and third piece the same it was uneatable. i stopped eating it and the server did not offer to replace it with another dish after I said I can't eat this as it won't break down to swallow So I was stuck paying for the worse steak I had in my life. The table next to me heard my comment that the New York steak was uneatable and had the same experience. They too couldn't believe it. Good luck if you try the New York steak I wouldn't feed it to my dog. read more

Isn't it funny how some places always sound like a good time, but you always leave disappointed, and other places when someone mentions a place it sounds NOT FUN at all but you always have an amazing time?? Weird... Anyways- this is one if those places that always seems like a good idea- but it's always SOOOO annoying!! Overcrowded, everyone trying HARD to hook up... Ugh!! read more

La Cave has a special place in my heart. I first found out about this place a couple of years back & when you get there you wouldn't even know it existed. The entrance is right beside a blockbuster & it doesn't seem like anything's really there, but then you realize it's actually underground so you have to go down one level. After taking the windy stairs down you feel like you are entering a whole different era. It's a very dimly lit bar area with deep red cushion booths & small bar tables. You walk into the next room there's more tables & booths with a stage area - that's typically where the live band is playing. None of the decor has been changed since it first opened & it is a bit rundown, but that totally adds to the ambiance, so you definitely feel like you're taking a step back in time. The reason I fell in love with this place is the vibe. My friends & I were regulars on Wednesdays for Jazz Night. Being regulars, the staff (including the bouncer) are super friendly & make sure you're taken care of. Their drinks are strong - my worst hangovers were because of this place. It's a great place to just chill late night with some friends, enjoy some drinks & live music. I hadn't been here in a while but some friends & I met up again there last night & it brought back so many great memories. La Cave will always be one of my special places in OC. read more

Love this place for cocktails with friends. Admittedly have never eaten here, but the atmosphere is amazing. It's like walking into a Martin Scorcese movie set in the 60s or 70s. Like the scene in Mean Streets when Robert Dinero walks in slow-motion through the bar with girls on either side of him set to "Jumpin' Jack Flash". Perfect. I hope they never "update" that place! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izcZPwhPXUU read more

As the other reviews say, this place is all about the atmosphere. The host, bartenders and servers are all really friendly and helpful. They dont have a menu like most other places and instead bring a tray of all the meat that is on their menu to your table and show you the options with a flashlight (its pretty dark inside). Our table had the medallions covered in a mushroom sauce and they were pretty good. It was a little expensive but not bad at all for a steak house. All meals come with some form of potato and soup or salad. read more

Long before cell phones or the silicone Taliban ruled Orange County, there was La Cave. The doors first opened on Valentines Day in 1962 and La Cave has maintained its reign as a premiere dinner club ever since. La Cave is charming. I'm fairly sure the interior and some of the staff haven't changed since the restaurant first opened. A modest entrance literally leads you downstairs where you will be transported back in time. A dark, cave-like room with over sized red booths around the perimeter and a nostalgic bar is the main dining room. If you venture back you'll find another room with a smaller bar, stage and tables. This is the club. Don't be fooled, La Cave has excellent food! If you're looking for a vegan or vegetarian plate, run. It's all about meat, potatoes and delicious sea food. All of the dinners include their famous garlic cheese bread which is a meal in itself. Prices for dinner are on the high side. If you're on a budget, skip the food and come for the drinks and entertainment. Check the concert calendar on-line to see what's up. Not to be missed is Phil Shane who's indisputably the best lounge act EVER. La Cave is an absolute classic but even more so it's a great restaurant and cool venue, love it! read more

Pros -Excellent Service - Good food (not great but still enjoyable). I had the Alaskan King crab legs and my bf had the ribeye. My crab was definitely better than his ribeye which I found surprising since this is supposed to be a steakhouse but the crab was delicious. -Wine was pretty reasonably priced. -Nice romantic ambience Cons - Not necessarily a con but there is a limited offering of dishes and no menu. I personally liked the presentation but I was a little surprised that you could not see a menu or prices. -Parking lot is pretty small and there was no valet. We had a little trouble finding parking in the area but it was a Friday night. -Again, steak was good but not great. I think there are better steak houses around (A's, Mastros, etc.) but I liked that this was different and romantic. Overall, a great dining experience. This might not be my regular place to go but would definitely come back again. read more

I hate to be a hater and I hope we just caught them on a bad night.....but my food was poor at best. My crab legs did not taste fresh, my steak had zero flavor and my twice baked potato was burnt. They get 2 stars because the service was good, the garlic cheese bread is awesome and the wine was half off. Last bummer was that the Dean Martin impersonator was ok but, he was not as good as the Sinatra guy from last year. read more

Such a fantastic evening at La Cave. Everything was perfect... Susan, our server, was so sweet and pleasant. The owner came by to check on us... and the entertainment was fun and nostalgic. The food and drinks surpassed all expectations. La Cave is a unique dining experience that everyone should have. Can't wait to come back for the Elvis tribute!! read more

Went on Saturday night. Go downstairs and the place has great mood lighting. Hostess is super nice. Refreshing to have a happy hostess. Place reminded me of the ride pirates of the Caribbean. Went to the bar & bartender was nice & made a good martini. Place is small. We got a booth & then had dinner. They bring a meat cart to you to select what you want. Comes with a potato & soup or salad. Food was fantastic! Expensive, but worth it. Steak was so delicious. Too full for dessert. I had a great dinner & can't wait to visit again. read more

Food was really yummy but our server sucked! Slow like molasses never checked back in. Just not good. Paying those kinds of prices for a nice dinner, no problem but I expect top notch service. Would only recommend for happy hour. read more

Now, I have eaten at steak restaurants before, but this cut of meat was extra-ordinarily different. It was like butter the way it sliced and consequently melted likewise on my palette. The flavor...undescribably brilliant! I'm looking forward to our next visit to this secret little hole-in-the-ground!!! The selection of beverages will please you as well. The staff is friendly, helpful, attentive and professional. We didn't get a chance to experience the night club this time, but we must come again for the food. $35-50 for a full meal, fine dining ... yet at bargain value - generous portion of food!!! A++ in my experience! Thanks La Cave . Rick R. read more

La Cave - Ahhhh nature and me....ut oh...that bird made a mess on my iPhone! - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

First let address the widely differing reviews on this restaurant. If you are in the 45+ demographic you'll have a good time. If you're a 20-something look for someplace else. The restaurant is so 60's it is almost hip again. This restaurant has been around for 50 years and the menu hasn't changed. That should tell you something. As a matter of fact, you don't look at a menu, you look at the cuts of meat or sea food. There were 8 of us together, so the main dishes varied from shrimp scampi to swordfish, filet medallions.to a full size steak. ALL 8 of us thought our entrees were cooked properly to temperature and were delicious! Other reviewers have mentioned the cheese bread and twice-baked potatoes (they were good). If you're looking for a romantic restaurant, this ain't it. Or maybe it is. You'd have to sit on each others laps to be heard. The noise level is quite high. If you want to see something while you are there, install the flashlight app to your phone. All of us in our party said we would return. When you can get 8 people to agree about a restaurant, it must be a pretty good place. read more

Dark. Loud. Crowded. If you were planning on having a nice relaxing evening this is not to be on your list. When I say dark I mean dark... imagine a cave (hence the name) lit by campfire. There is no menu supplied to peruse as they wouldn't want anyone straining their eyes in the darkness. Instead your waiter will wheel a cart to your table holding various sample cuts of meat and seafood waiving a flashlight over each of the items while explaining preparations and menu specials. The food is enjoyable but I feel the steaks are rather overrated. If the same dishes had been served above ground, with the breathtaking view of 17th and Irvine (har-har), I'd image less "Top 9 Steakhouse" nominations for La Cave. Live entertainment, mostly in the form of local bands, begins at 10pm Monday through Saturday. However, the stage is setup in the rear dining area of the restaurant which provides horrible acoustics, high temperatures, and mild claustrophobia. Not the best live music venue in the neighborhood. Being small and dungeon-esque, La Cave does not lend itself well to dinner conversation either - especially on a busy night. On my last visit my date and I, while waiting for our food, were swarmed with 60 year old ass mere inches from our heads as people were gathering for a birthday party... I can still remember the smell. One of the old bats even had the gall to suggest I move my chair so they might have room to dance next to their dinner table. If you don't mind cramped quarters, dim light, and wait staff yelling over the crowds to take your order you may actually like La Cave quite a bit. For me, getting there early for appetizers and drinks is about all I can stand for. read more

HAHHA.. oh damn memories.. I moved up to this area in 2005 and lived across the street in the Coronado Apartments.. and man it's dangerous living in walking distance to this bar... I became friends w/ the bartenders here and they are some damn cool people.. Kevin, Josh, Mike.. man these guys hooked up some good ass drinks... there were plenty of times i went to work hungover because of this place... anything you order is always a double.. The food here is good too.. the restaurant is dope.. everybody that's been there always says, "whoa it reminds me of Swingers!" The live jazz and funk/soul bands get down here!!! Dunno if they still do the live karaoke w/ a band anymore.. but damn those nights were so fun.. nothing but fine ladies.. and some dudes.. but it's OC.. what ya expect?.. there are times when after the the band would stop and just play music off their laptops.. my friends and I would get down and break.. Ahh one of the only places I miss in OC... I wonder if I could still walk in this bar and be at home.. haha read more

I love this place. Great food served in a cool-looking basement. I love the ambience of the dimmed light in the close space. My only criticism for this place would be that I think the drinks are a little weak. I had three Blue Hawaiians and I didn't feel a thing. read more

Growing up in Newport Heights, La Cave was a staple in the "celebratory dinner out" days. 20 years later, it still is. Words? Who needs words or a menu? Not La Cave! The catch of the day speaks for itself. Usually my catch is a Lobster, baked potatie and salad with extra blue cheese. All your surf and turf is cooked to order on that little grill you pass as you walk to your table. Its a great place to grab a drink, check out Newport's nouveau riche crowd (usually stumbling over from Cokewood- excuse me, "Corondao") and hear live music. Say hi to Leilani, she's a damn fine waitress... read more

This place is alright. The only thing that keeps me going back are the live bands. Every so often they'll have a gem show up. Karaoke nights (thursdays?) are awesome with Color Me Bad, a live karaoke band. They are crude in all the right ways, it's awesome! Other than the bands they host, this place is not spectacular in any way. Just a dumpy little overly cramped bar that caters to the OC faux bad-ass genre. read more

I agree with other yelpers- I've always had a great time here, hard to pinpoint, it just has a certain panache. Schedule it so you get to see Phil Shane, such a must to complete the whole experience... Get here a lil early to secure a seat at the comfy bar if you come to drink, if you come to eat, eat early or get a booth, because you will have lots of annoying bar people crowded around you if not... I think the menu is a bit pricey, but overall good. It reeks of red meat when you walk in the door, its a comforting feeling, lol The standout was the shrimp cocktail, better than the showy maestros... Drinks are strong here! Love it! Fairytale like environment, serious you're-in-a-movie vibes and feel Um people who say they should update the place and the bathroom are soooo fricking oc lame...what do you want everything stuccoed, and granited to death? The bathroom sucks, some things are little shabby, but um has anyone ever heard of CHARACTER OR HISTORY??? So few places in OC got any of that, LA CAVE does, and they should be proud! read more

The only thing good about La Cave is their garlic bread. I might be biased here, because the only time I visited La Cave at night happened to be the night a terrible metal band played. The crowd was less than stellar and everyone was looking for a fight. Not the kind of bar I want to spend my Saturday night at! I will give them some credit for having an amazing happy hour! 2 drinks here and I am buzzed for the remainder of the evening. read more

What is not to like about La Cave? We especially enjoy the garlic bread and rapid martini delivery. The prime rib is tasty, and the salad with blue Cheese delivers. read more

La Cave was amazing! Had the steak medallion with the twice baked potatoe... definitely a place to bring my whole family! Their Staff were very friendly and loved the atmosphere. read more

This was such a cool place to visit. You walk underground and everything is red. Awesome vibe down there like a bordello or brothel. The menu is straight forward; they speak it to you and then they show you the cuts of meat they have. I've never been so excited about a menu that was literally just meat and broccoli. Everything was delicious. Would definitely come back here! read more

La Cave - Steakhouses Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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All the bad reviews are accurate. Save yourself money & time. I ordered the ribeye and it had to be the WORST ribeye I have ever attempted to eat at a place that claims to be a steakhouse. I ordered my ribeye medium and so did my boyfriend. Well what came out was mine was WELL WELL done and was so tough you can barely cut it, his came out rare. After receiving my plate the server was pretty MIA most of our time being there. When the server finally came back and offered to make us a new one and box it up to go, I agreed. I was hoping my money didnt go completely down the drain, but when I attempted to have some steak & eggs in the morning let's just say the steak was rare and again tougher than hell. It's a crappy peice of meat period. I took a gamble and lost big time. Will definitely not be back for a visit. read more

We went as a group of 4 for dinner on a Saturday night. Though it was quite crowded, there was plenty of parking available. The restaurant is downstairs but there is an elevator available. It is noisy inside but not unbearably so. We had 7:00 reservations and were seated immediately. Nayeli was our server and she was very helpful and attentive. We ordered prime rib, ribeye, the small filet and a vegetarian plate. Bread, salads and clam chowder were our starters. The garlic bread was yummy and we all enjoyed that it is a bit more thinly sliced than other places we frequent. They will bring more if you ask. Never heard how the clam chowder was but our friend finished it pretty quickly. Those of us who ordered meat enjoyed it. I had the ribeye. It was perfectly seasoned and cooked and had a beautiful char. Had a bite of the boyfriend's leftover prime rib the next day and though it was yummy, I preferred my steak. Biggest surprise of all was our friend's vegetarian plate. She got the baked potato, broccoli and asparagus with their mushroom appetizer as her entree. Yes, she knows it may have had some kind of meat consommé or broth in it but was fine with that. Those mushrooms were AMAZING! I think she regretted letting us all try them before she realized how flavorful they were! She is in a cast because of a broken finger. One of the employees noticed after she ordered and offered to have her food cut up into bite size pieces. Kudos for the attention to a customer's needs. We checked in for the free dessert. We chose cheesecake and Nayeli brought us the chocolate cake, too. Even though we were full, we all very much enjoyed those desserts. The 2 were more than enough for 4 people. Overall, we were exceptionally pleased with the whole experience and will undoubtedly be back in the near future. read more

Hadn't been in over 15 years. Nice to see some things and places dont change. Great food, great service, and old school atmosphere Was hoping to have some prime rib, but that is sadly only served on Saturdays. Please note neither Yelp nor their website mention this read more

We dined at La Cave as it was recommended by friends. All in all, it was a soso experience. The good: Friendly hostess (who is also the owner) and waitress. The restaurant is in a basement, so it really is a cave with no internet reception. It is loud, but in an upbeat way, and had a live guitarist playing on a Saturday night. The bad: The waitress was great while we had her attention at the beginning. Very friendly, and took our order accurately. Then we didn't see her again until she checked on our meal when we were 75% of the way through (a little late I think). My wife and I both had prime rib (featured that night), and we overheard from another table saying that the ran out by 7:15 (a little early I think). The weird: The menus had no prices, nor could I figure out what anything cost from the bill, although the overall amount charged was reasonable. The number of items on the menu were surprisingly few - about a dozen total food items, including appetizers and entrees. The prime rib itself was so so, cut a bit thin, with about 25% being inedible fat. At the end, after I gave them my credit card, there was a 15 minute wait to get the receipt, putting another disappointing touch on our experience. Overall, we had an ok time, but don't need to visit La Cave again. read more

So I Came Here Saturday Night On My Lovely Bar Hopping Adventures. This Location Is Located In A Strip Mall Type Setting On The Corner. When You Walk In You Take An Elevator And The Actual Restraunt Is Located Underground. Be Prepared To Have Your ID Because As Soon As You Get Down They Card You. this Place Seriously Looks Like You Walked Into 1975 It Looks Like It Hasn't Been Touched Since Then. The Ceilings Are Low And The Place Is Dark With Just Candle Lighting Guiding Your Way. There Are Two Rooms And Two Bars...One Is The Restaurant Side And The Other Is The DJ Area. The Drinks Are Pretty Potent And The Bartenders Are Friendly. All In All Had A Good Time But Not Somewhere I Would Come All The Time For Drinks. read more

How have I not written a review for this place?! Okay, I have never actually eaten here but I have been to many shows in the lounge... the Living Suns, Mississippi Man, Handsome G, Make Moon, Phil Shane... This is definitely one of my favorite places to see a band play. It's free, it's swanky, it's dark & intimate, the bartenders make decent drinks, and if it gets too hot/loud, you can go back upstairs and hang outside. The 7-11 in the same parking lot is a good after show stop. read more

This review is for the music, not the food. I did not try the food. I went to an event here to listen to one of my favorite DJs. I thought it was weird that it would be in a steak house. But when you go in, it's really cute, cozy, and small. You go through the dining area and you can watch the guy cut your meat. The entertainment is in the back room. It kind of feels like you're in a basement lol. There is a bar in the dining area and in that back room. It gets extremely hot in there and I worried there weren't any visible east exits in case of an emergency. The place gets packed and there are only two bathroom stalls for the ladies. I would go back though! It's a really cool spot! read more