1. The burger was delicious and well-built! I love the flavors of the pie!…read more2. The spot has fun vibes! The interior is nicely decorated! 3. The staff was friendly and hospitable! The food came out after 10 mins! 4. There are indoor and outdoor seatings! Lots of table! 5. There are parking structures and lots! Restaurant should be able to validate! Note: Restrooms have multiple stalls! Photo: Banana Cookie Butter Pie and Classic Smash

This spot has a very eclectic and charming decor that creates a warm, inviting atmosphere. The…read morestaff is professional, knowledgeable, and well versed in both the food and drink menus, making the overall experience even better. The cocktail selection is excellent, and the wine list offers plenty of great choices. The salads were exceptionally fresh, and the sea bass was perfectly prepared and absolutely delicious. There is plenty of parking available in the lot, which is always a plus. Since the restaurant is located in an office complex, it tends to get busy on weeknights after work. A weekend visit may provide a more relaxed experience. Overall, it is definitely worth checking out for the food, drinks, service, and unique ambiance.

This intimate tapas restaurant really blew me away. Reservations are recommended due to the small…read moresize, but my friend and I came in on a weeknight at opening and were able to be seated. Our server was very warm and helpful. For two of us we ordered one heavier dish and 3 on the lighter side and I actually left pretty stuffed. The menu is always evolving so I'd love to return, but for this visit we started with the bread and ham butter. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the ham butter imparted so much flavor. My favorite item that we ordered was the Galician Octopus. The thin slices were perfectly executed and the flavors underneath packed a punch. I would pass on the Gambas al Ajillo. While the shrimp were large, I found myself wishing that they had some char. The Summer Squash Salad was a perfect complement to the other dishes. I found the squash ribbons to be unique, the dressing to be light and fresh, and the inclusion of small bits of cheese to impart just the right amount of saltiness to the dish. Because we were celebrating my birthday, they gave us a complimentary slice of the basque cheesecake with a candle in it. Typically I'm not a big fan of this type of cheesecake, but theirs was wonderful and we ate the whole thing. I'm always appreciative when a restaurant does a little something extra for a special occasion. Extra props to our server because she noticed the gift that my friend brought for me and took it upon herself to inquire about the occasion and bring the dessert. It's those little touches that mean a lot.

Fat of the Land was such a nice treat…read more I went here with two other people to celebrate a birthday dinner. Making reservations is recommended since the restaurant is small but making it wasn't too difficult. We were impressed by how cute it was. It had a dark European vibe which we loved. It's definitely intimate and great for small groups, not so much larger ones. We brought in our own wine to enjoy with a corkage free. We got seated right away and our nice waiter gave us great recommendations and answered our many questions. We ended up ordering a lot between all three of us but that's just how we roll. We started with their bread & ham butter, pork pate, and burrata. The pork pate didn't come with bread so we were glad our waiter recommended it. The pate was really good and was different. It was on the dense side but still spreadable and full of flavor. The burrata had peaches, cherries and pinenuts. It was different but in a good way and we also ate that with the bread. It was more bland and nice with the pate. For dinner we got their steak tartare, mushrooms, chicken, and pork. The steak tartare was on the saltier side which I didn't mind. It was actually a large portion and sat on some toast. The mushrooms were a hit. They were braised with an onsen egg on top to mix. The pork was exceptional. It was flavorful, tender, and cooked to perfection. I highly recommend it for protein. My least favorite dish was the chicken, which was actually super tender and cooked just right. I just didn't like the sauce taste and I am not a fan of beans. We ended the night with some basque cheesecake which was not too sweet and delicious. What an incredible meal. The pricing we thought was good for the quality and what you get. Some of the portions were smaller but good for us. The pork did have a 40 minute wait to make which our waiter told us. Service was amazing and the food came out as it was made. The restaurant is small so reservations is recommended. They have limited parking and there is also street parking around.

My mom wanted pasta. I wanted a restaurant where I have not…read morebeen before. Win win for Cambalache! It's within a 12mins drive for us and perfect in every way. It was a late lunch so I called to see if a reservation is needed for 2 ppl. Not at all so we jumped into the car. Such a wonderful restaurant in an unassuming plaza. Lots of parking. There's an outdoor seating area and a good size restaurant inside. We were greeted as we walked in. Btw, the HUGE glass door entrance, I love. There Were a few open tables and we were welcome to sit where we wanted to. Two classes of water were brought to the table and a waiter came with the menu. My mom is vegetarian and I am not. I asked the waiter for his vegetarian dishes and he provided me a pasta dish. That was exactly what my Mom was wanting. Linguine with a light pink sauce with mushrooms and you can add zucchini, bell pepper and broccoli. I ordered a sangria. That was just amazing itself. And a linguine dish with shrimp. Warm, sliced French bread and a small dish of butter was brought out first that was so good. Usually the bread and butter that is brought at small restaurants like these could be just mediocre or not good at all. This was warm and just tasty. We also ordered a Caprese. The plate came out with big chunks of mozzarella tomatoes, and both were sitting on a marinated pesto covered set of basil leaves. That was so good. The combination of the vinaigrette, mozzarella basil tomato pesto was exactly what we were looking for so refreshing. Our entrées were huge for $20 a plate. We had to take 3/4 of it home. That was so not expected. Pasta and the pasta sauce were amazing. Very freshly made. Dishes were made to order only and not sitting around. I asked if they were doing something special for birthdays and I pointed to my mom next to you know, the waiter came out with fresh homemade Tim. They also sing to my mom wish she was so sweet. I am loving this place and will be coming back. Thank you so much for the staff for making my mom feel so wonderful on her birthday. The food was amazing Services amazing. Restaurant felt warm the moment we walked in and so welcoming.

Avengers Assemble! This is a five star review and a…read morewonderful place that we highly recommend! The parking is easy in a small shopping center,, we didn't even need to use Pym particles to shrink the car to fit into a spot. There is indoor and outdoor seating, so we chose outdoor seating, so we could dine in alfresco and the service was excellent. Both the main server and her assistant consistently checked in on us and made sure our drinks were filled. Service is very friendly and they basically had Spidey-sense for exactly when we needed refills. We ordered their chef special steak, which is an Argentinian grilled ribeye, but with an Italian sauce. We also ordered the shrimp, which is also a fusion of Argentinian and Italian. The flavor team-up was so good it felt like Tony Stark and Bruce Banner working together in the lab. For an appetizer, we got an empanada. This is one of the best empanadas we've had, as the crust was very airy and crispy, but not heavy and overly dense. Excellent texture and flavor,, honestly mighty enough to lift Thor's hammer tbh. Also, ordered Argentinian sausages. Excellent texture and bold flavor. It may not have a spicy kick as an Italian sausage, but quality meat and insides. Dr Strange would happily take us on a tour inside and out of this sausage with his yellow portal openers. Oh wait, we are the sausages, so guess he can't. Interestingly, enough, we didn't think that bread could be so excellent! We are big fans of French and Vietnamese style baguettes that are slightly crispy on the outside, but very light on the inside. The bread here was crispy on the outside, but also light and a little chewy on the inside, but in the best way possible. So it has its own flare and flavor. We asked, and they indeed bake this in-house, and you could definitely tell! They mentioned that they make their sandwiches with this baguette bread that is baked on premise and in-house, so we will definitely have to come back and try it again. That bread is basically the reality Infinity Stone of the menu. Excellent food, excellent service, and excellent ambience! Kinda as relaxing as chilling at the Avengers compound after a long mission.

The Capital Grille is always a hit for me. One of my favorite times to visit is during The Wagyu…read moreand Wine Pairing. They offer Wagyu burgers paired with a glass of wine for $35. If you appreciate a great burger, and just happen to like wine.. you will be as happy as me. The event happens every April and November. Check it out. As usual, the customer service was always. The ambiance is nice and relaxed.

came here with bestie for my late bday celebration & we were sooooo surprised at how amazing our…read moremeal was we ordered the calamari & shrimp cocktail for apps for entrees i ordered the steak frites w caesar salad & hg ordered the seared salmon with salad just WOW... the calamari with peppers ???? WE ATE THAT HOE DOWNNNNNN the peppers added the most delicious twist on those perfectly seasoned & crispy calamari. each bite sent us into orbit truly so sexy the shrimp were SO BIG and PLUMP absolutely juicy and bursting with every bite we looooooved our salads, the veggies were super fresh and perfectly seasoned with dressing my steak frites was so good, i got mine medium rare & it was perfectly cooked, and that chimichurri sauce?? so good fries were crunchy and yummy and the green dipping sauce paired perfectly the seared salmon was soooo good like omgggg the couscous & the sauce was SEXY ASL truly so yummy !! the veggies were a fantastic pair with each bite and so cronchy service was AMAZING!! i forgot our servers name but girl, WE LOVE YOUUUUU our waters were refilled before we could even think to ask and she surprised me with free dessert i love how ambient the interior lights are it's perfect for meals with family or date night HIGHLY RECOMMEND

One of our favorite places that we have ever tried! The appetizers are a must try!…read more The fries were so crispy yet so fluffy on the inside. The ahi tuna was amazing, must try. The rigatoni was ok, nothing surprising. The steak had a very strong wine glaze which was not our favorite. It was very busy when we got there but we were lucky to get a small table by a tree. All the servers seem to help all the tables so service was a bit chaotic as different servers asked us if we ordered already. Regardless, all of the servers were super kind. This restaurant only has outdoor seating area which creates a breezy and chill vibe when the weather is nice.

We came for lunch and the environment is nice outside, we were seated outdoors. I remember the sun…read morecould be an issue, a lot of the areas aren't shaded. It seems like this spot is super popular for brunch drinks. Had the birria taco and this one was probably my favorite of the dishes tha we ordered. There is a crispy shell, two different sauces, and condiments to add with it. There is a lot of different textures and the meat was juicy. The smoked salmon flatbread wasn't as good, it looks very colorful and pretty, but I didnt think the flavors went together very well. I like the smokiness but the salmon wasn't umami enough to justify mixing in caviar and avocado and arugula that would normally pair well with beef. Finally, had the chicken tinga skillet, which had flavor in the sauce, but the chicken itself was just ok.

I can't believe this is my first review to ARC restaurant, because it's definitely not my first…read morevisit so apologies to ARC. We come here a few times a year, mainly for celebratory events w/one of our friends that love it here as much as we do or date nights with the hubby. It's a small, intimate place that has lights dimmed and a really great ambiance and the food... we love it! You can never go wrong with the steak with potatoes and broccolini, sooo good. I believe you do have to order each item separately though. My friend is a huge fan of the tomahawk, they always get it. But we've tried a few items, on this particular night we tried the roasted chicken, it was pretty good, but not one of our favorite entrees. We've also tried the chile relleno and their version is different but we love it. Their drinks are great too! One of our favorites is the Old Fashioned Twain I think it might be called. Their service is also great and a reason we come back; every server has been attentive and wonderful! It's the perfect date place!

Cute spot for a date night and if you're in the mood for a really good cocktail…read more I forgot to take pics of my food unfortunately but the salad portions were huge and the steak was very good! Service is friendly and be sure to expect longer waits on crowded evenings.

Splurge restaurant but food is very solid! My husband and I…read morecame here for date night and had a great experience~ Vaca is located next to south coast, interior has tall ceilings and have a small indoor and outdoor seating. They have Spanish menu items, several tapas and main dishes. We got 4 wines and both loved with whites and reds! La bola (8.5/10)-the meat inside was delicious wasn't overly crispy, sauce on top was too much but a classed dish Pani puri (9/10)-interesting concept scallop was delicious and sauce was rich, shell was crispy Cauliflower (7/10)-bit too salty and rich but they give you a good portion Steak (7.5/10)-we asked for medium but it was more in medium rare, good quality but small for price Churro (9/10)-cant beat a piping hot churro with chocolate sauce portion not too large Our server was friendly and vibe was classy Would love to try the paella my next visit!

Vaca is one of the best dining experiences in Orange County. The Spanish-inspired menu strikes a…read moregreat balance between traditional flavors and creative execution, and every dish we ordered felt thoughtfully prepared. The tapas are perfect for sharing, with standout flavors that make it hard to pick favorites, and the paella is worth the wait. The atmosphere is lively and energetic without feeling pretentious, making it a great spot for a date night, celebration, or dinner with friends. Service was attentive, knowledgeable, and helped guide us through the menu. Chef Amar Santana's influence is clear throughout the restaurant, and it's easy to see why Vaca has built such a strong reputation. Not the cheapest meal in Costa Mesa, but the quality, creativity, and overall experience make it well worth it. I'll definitely be back.

One of the best hidden gems I've discovered. If you didn't know exactly what you were looking for,…read moreyou'd probably walk right past it. It's a little tricky to find, but once you do, it's absolutely worth the effort. We started with the grilled peach and burrata salad, followed by the shrimp saganaki and the short rib ravioli. Every dish was exceptional--thoughtfully prepared, beautifully presented, and full of flavor. It was truly one of the best meals I've had in a very long time.

Made a reservation for two last night at Lemon & Thyme for my friend to take me out for an early…read morebirthday celebration! For everyone who had to do multiple laps around the plaza's parking lot to find this place, you're not alone. We were struggling, but eventually found the restaurant tucked away on the outskirts next to a private training gym (the one with the super tinted windows). Upon arriving, the restaurant was very gracious to bestow upon us a pair of complimentary lemon and thyme dinner rolls. They were warm, fluffy, and everything a carb should be. Honestly wish we had more of them, to be honest! The menu was short, which was helpful in its own way. I have such chronic decision paralysis, meaning the more options I have, the more ordering conflicts I'll have, lol. Forever petitioning for every establishment to have tasting flights!!!! We ordered the Grilled Octopus Al Pastor and Ora King Salmon entrees. The octopus was a unique take on the dish, but I don't think I would order it again. I was hoping for more sauce and flavor, but it was more of a dry dish. Still something everyone should try at least once -- especially because feedback is subjective and my experience may not be yours! My friend enjoyed the salmon dish, but it looked pretty standard to me. They also brought out a complimentary Epresso Creme Brulee for my birthday, which was both figuratively and literally sweet. Very decadent and kinda had a nice tiramisu taste to it -- order this! The service was excellent and very attentive. Was very hydrated during this meal because my water cup was never empty! I would come back to try the other dishes with a larger group so I can pick at everyone else's plates, hehehe.