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

Food was pretty mid tbh :(…read more Santa Barbara avocado toast (smoked salmon) 5/10. Like it was edible but so plain. Wouldn't recommend Short rib benny 7.5/10 not bad, probably the best thing we had but it was still ok. Mary's French toast 6/10, bready, not enough toppings to balance it. Charcuterie 5/10.. it was giving Costco Kinda overpriced Bottomless mimosas do have a time limit Made an indoor reservation but when we got there they didn't have any tables inside available? So we sat outside and it was HOT. And we were kinda forgotten outside And we were celebrating a birthday and they didn't do anything for birthdays I guess

This review is a bit overdue, but wanted to give some major credit to this restaurant for our…read morewonderful experience! We made a reservation a couple weeks in advance for two people. Once we arrived, we realized how intimate and limited the seating was (so makes sense you need to book in advance). This is a great space for date night or a small group. I wouldn't try to come to this location with a large party. I loved the small and intimate dining experience! We got about half the menu and I'd absolutely get everything again. Some of our favorites were the bread + ham butter (a must), the burrata (another must), the mushrooms (I could eat these all day), and the octopus (insane). You can tell every dish has a recipe that has been specially curated for this restaurant, with so many unique flavors and combinations, that you just have to come check it out for yourself. I believe our server's name was Sam, and he was so wonderful! He even brought out their delicious basque cheesecake for the birthday we were celebrating! Just overall a very thoughtful, intimate, delicious restaurant that has easily become a top option for us! Highly recommend!

Cute restaurant for dinner. Not ideal for large parties- no more than group of 4. Would be best…read more It's a small restaurant with about 5 tables and 10 bar stools. We tried: Galician octopus - amazing and must try! Steak tartare- also delicious and must try! Gambas al ajillo - shrimp were large and tasty Pollo en bravas - small leg and thigh with a lot of flavor Tinned razor clam- it came in a cane so it tasted different. I misread and thought it was fresh seafood. Basque cheesecake - my favorite! Must try! Parking can be challenging as there is a small parking lot in the back with about 7 spaces or so. Probably best to get there early. Customer service was excellent!

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.

. The food's aite. Not as special as you might hope. . The…read moresandwich was a lil dry. Thankfully I've sauce at home. - Slow service. Seamless said order'll be ready 12:25-12:35pm. I arrived 12:47pm. Staff said it'll be ready in a few min. ...??? - Exorbitant. - Awkward ambience. I held the door open for a group of ppl. All of them walked through and ignored me. + Good amount of indoor seating. + Ample parking. + Located same plaza as Williams MMA. I had: $19.95 Italian Club Sandwich + tax = $21.70

Locsted on the corner on the second floor of the South Coast Plaza. There's plenty of parking…read morenear it. When I went theres a lot of construction on the exterior which made it look less then. But once your inside its nothing but opulence and class. You walk in on the first floor. If its your first time there, its kind of confusing as theres just a small room and a stairway to greet you. Go up the stairs and thats where the front desk people will meet you. We were here for a surgical joint infection webinar. So we had the entire back room reserved. Lots of bottles of wine. When you enter the room, the noise of the main dining room melts away. Its a really nice private room!! Customer service here is amazing. Lots of great wait staff. They were so on point with service. Because we were here for a meeting everything including alcohol (wine and cocktails and shots) were included. The food too was also included for attending the webinar. I dont think it was because it was "free" that thr food tasted so good. But oh my gosh the quality and the taste was simply top notch. The breads to begin with were really good. Then the appetizers were so good. We had their calamari, prosciutto wrapped mozzarella and lobster and crab cake. Each dish was decadent without being heavy. Tasted amazing. Really built your anticipation for dinner. Their wedge salad was extremely fresh and crunchy. Never had one before but if this is what salads are meant to taste like, I will be ordering more in the future! Tasted amazing. Almost acted like a palate cleanser. Entrees we had their porcini rubbed bone in ribeye in 15 year aged balsamic sauce and their pan seared sea bass. They were both so good!! Best steak I've had at a restaurant in a very long time. The crust was amazing. The sauce was to die for. The steak was cooked perfectly (medium rare) and it literally melted in your mouth. The sea bass was cooked perfectly as well. Well seasoned. Flaky. And just so good. The table had shareable sides including mash potatoes, lobster mac n cheese and grilled asparagus. The large chunks of lobster was amazing in the dish. Everything tasted great. They had the drinks flowing. Wines beers, seltzers and cocktails. For dessert it was a trio of different desserts. Beautiful presentation and tasted amazing. Its a very nice restaurant. The quality of food is top tier. The taste is next level. Customer service is amazing. Fortunately for us it was all paid for. But if not be prepared to pony up some Benjamins!!

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.

Beautiful outdoor setting, delicious food, excellent service…read more They rolled out some new menu items today, and I tried the Thai green curry and it was fantastic, the best curry I've ever had! Someone in our party had the hamburger, which was amazing, we had the frito misto appetizer, and it was so good we ordered another! Both the owner and the chef came around to our table to check on us. Epic experience!

We hosted a baby shower for my sister at Benchmark and what a horrible experience. On the day of…read morethe event, it was around 90 degrees and the AC broke. The room was getting progressively hotter so we asked if the AC was on and a server casually told us the AC was "on the fritz." We had spent months planning this event and this was incredibly disappointing. Even before the guests arrived, I noticed the cupcakes and macarons I had brought in melting from the extreme heat. All the guests were noticeably and understandably uncomfortable and sweating the entire 3 hours. No one came to check on us or to apologize for the inconvenience. This was not the event we had envisioned for the guest of honor who was 8 months pregnant. It was not only uncomfortable but also posed a health risk.The restaurant showed a lack of concern, care and accountability over the entire situation. I understand that the weather and the AC breaking were out of anyone's control but the handling of the situation and the aftermath was poor. We tried to give the restaurant opportunities to make this right but they failed at every opportunity. Because of the lack of communication, poor decision making and incompetency, I cannot recommend this restaurant for any events. The servers were nice and the food was all right but there are many other acceptable options for food in the area.

Food BOMB! Vibes = vibeyyyy! Cocktails are delicious!!!…read more Came here for the first time during the week just randomly. It all hit the spot! Super delicious and fresh. You can tell it's high quality ingredients. Cocktails were craft and so yummy. We sat outside and that was such a great move. Great ambiance!! Tried so many things and nothing disappointed! Will be coming back again! The only note is it is on the pricier side but it's high quality. It's one of those special date night places!

This place used to be amazing…read more What happened? Brussel sprouts so burnt. Undercooked fish with a side of hair. Underseasoned and burnt tomahawk. $234 meal (+ tipped $40 despite the bad food) What a disappointing meal. I asked for the tomahawk bone but it was just placed into the takeaway bag bare/exposed, not even foil wrapped. Cmon Arc. What happened.

great service and food was great! i loved the la bola and patatas bravas most but everything else…read morewas also very good as well! portions were filling despite it being small, staff were prompt and very nice restaurant was a little warm inside but nice ambiance and good vibes

I have been a big fan of Amar's for years and have been to Broadway in Laguna Beach a couple of…read moretimes. I've always wanted to try VACA in Costa Mesa and last night was the night. We took advantage of the Friends and Family menu they provide on Mondays Only from 5:00 to closing. We sat at the beautiful bar and were watched over by Jacob. The wife had some special non-alcoholic drink that was very pretty and tasted great. I went with the VACA Tonic, an icy concoction made with gin. It was super refreshing and a nice way to start. This menu has selected tapas items that range in price from $8 to $19. We ordered the Pan Con Tomate ($8) which comes with sliced toasted bread slices, tomato pulp, a delicious olive oil and a side of sea salt. You take a piece of toast, squirt some of the olive oil on top, then pour on the tomato pulp. Light, tasty and delicious. Next up, the Patatas Bravas ($9). Perfectly roasted spicy potato cubes, slathered with tomato sauce and a garlic aioli. WOW! So simple yet so good. I licked the plate clean. Next up, the Bikini Sandwich ($9). Two small perfectly toasted cheesy sandwich wedges that have Iberico ham, manchego cheese and a hint of truffles. It was really delicious and the special ham was the star of the show. These are great starting items, yet surprisingly filling. I couldn't stop there though and wanted to order some of their famous paella. I decided on the Paella De Carne ($53). This is a meat paella with pork belly, chorizo, blood sausage, duck confit (a leg & thigh), beef cheek, with bomba rice and a garlic aioli. You have to wait about 20 minutes for them to make it but it's worth the wait. It was perfectly cooked and awash in flavor. The special paella pan they prepare the dish in looked well seasoned and I wished I could have taken it home. The menu is extensive with lots of choices to accommodate any palate. The restaurant is beautiful and has a front and back patio seating. If you have a choice, sit on the back patio. There is valet parking for $12, but there is a parking structure right across the street that provides easy access and is free with validation.

If you are looking for a hidden gem in Costa Mesa, this spot is an absolute must-visit. From the…read moremoment you step inside, you are greeted by an adorable interior and decor that cleverly and beautifully matches the restaurant's theme. ​ ​Every single item we ordered from the menu was exceptional: ​Beet Salad & Bone Marrow: Both made for fantastic starters, setting a high bar for the meal. ​Beef Tartare: Served with house-made potato chips that are a masterclass in texture--thin, fried, airy, and crispy all at the same time. ​Steak and Fries: Classic execution and wonderfully prepared. ​Duck Confit: Superb. The pairing of the rich mole sauce and sweet potato puree takes the dish to an entirely different level, complementing each other effortlessly. ​Baklava Cheesecake: A creative and delicious twist on a classic. The cream cheese filling is light rather than dense, and instead of a traditional graham cracker crust, it features a fantastic baklava crust. It is nicely balanced and not overly sweet, though you will definitely want to pair it with a cup of coffee to finish it off. ​ ​Service: The staff is exceptionally friendly, highly attentive, and organized, making you feel well cared for throughout the meal. ​Portions: Portions are slightly on the smaller side. My husband and I ordered three appetizers and two main entrees to share, and we were still quite hungry by the end--so you may want to order an extra dish or side if you have a hearty appetite! ​Overall, a wonderful dining experience with incredible flavors and charming ambiance. Highly recommended!

My wife, daughter, and I discovered Lemon & Thyme completely by chance - and what an incredible…read morefind. It took a minute to locate the restaurant and figure out parking, but once we arrived at the door, the experience was first-class from beginning to end. The hostess was charming and welcoming, the staff kept our waters filled and the table spotless, and our server, Juan, was outstanding. His knowledge of the menu, detailed descriptions, and personal recommendations made ordering easy and built our anticipation for every dish. We started by sharing the beet salad and Chicken Tinga Empanadas with the Gringo Killer Sauce. The beet salad was fresh and beautifully balanced, while the empanadas were packed with rich, savory flavor. The Gringo Killer Sauce added a bold kick that made them especially memorable. My wife ordered the wedge salad, my daughter chose the Grilled Octopus Al Pastor, and I had the 8 oz Picanha special. Every dish was exceptional. The octopus was a creative and flavorful take on al pastor, and the Picanha special was perfectly cooked, tender and was an absolute standout. Everything was so impressive that I sent my compliments to the chef and was fortunate enough to meet Chef Jackie personally. Then came dessert. Juan described a peach cobbler special that immediately had my mouth watering, while my daughter ordered the Espresso Crème Brûlée. Juan returned to our table with three plates and spoons and informed me that Chef Jackie has recommended her specialty. I did not argue, Chef knows best. She surprised me by sending out something different: a slice of Baklava Cheesecake accompanied by a scoop of house-made peach cobbler ice cream. Now, I have eaten some outstanding cheesecakes all around the world, but this Baklava Cheesecake was on an entirely different level. It was rich, layered, perfectly textured and flaky, and so unbelievably delicious that I nearly licked the plate clean. The house-made peach cobbler ice cream was equally impressive--light and creamy, yet captured the full peach cobbler flavor. The Espresso Crème Brûlée was also beautifully executed, with a crisp caramelized sugar shell and a deep, smooth coffee-flavored custard. My daughter ate half of hers before turning her attention to the cheesecake, and she does not even like cheesecake. That alone should tell you how special it was. I live three hours away, but I will absolutely be making the drive back. Lemon & Thyme delivers exceptional food, thoughtful hospitality, creative dishes, and the kind of personal service that turns a meal into a lasting memory. This is my new favorite restaurant!!! Do yourself a favor and make the trip to Lemon & Thyme. Ask for Juan, trust Chef Jackie, and do not leave without desert. Chef Jackie, Juan and the rest of the staff, thank you for the amazing experience!!!