Fun little quirky bar with a lot of eclectic decor where you can enjoy some really novel drinks…read more Went here on a Saturday night and although there is a long line to get drinkservice was still very good despite the amount of people that were there. I ordered the halo halo and was not disappointed by the garnishes and was impressed by the amount of work involved in making that one drink.

A very special bar, from the drinks to the decor. I really like that they are open during the day…read moreand also late at night, with mixed indoor and outdoor seating (though the outdoor seating is a bit worn). Vibes are always good. If you have some time while browsing The Lab during the day, I recommend stopping by for a drink! It's also nice to include in your barhopping itinerary in the evening since there are a number of breweries around too. I've had mixed experiences with the bartenders. Luckily, the gentleman manning the bar during my most recent visit was very friendly. Drinks are always great. I've tried a variety of drinks from the menu here, but my favorites are: -Love in Drunk, a lovely cocktail with cucumber and grapefruit flavors that create a fresh watermelon taste when mixed together -Bee's Knees, short but strong and sweet -London Mule, very herbal thanks to the gin and very refreshing

Saw Vox Kitchen & Bat on IG and decided to give it a try. So happy that we did! This is an Asian…read morePeruvian fusion restaurant . The food was as good as it looked on IG We went for lunch and there was minimal wait times when they open for lunch at 11am. We made some stops and i consistently checked the wait times online. Within 1/2 hour of when they opened, I noticed the wait times online were starting to get longer. I put my name on the waitlist and it was about 10-20 minutes and got there in perfect time to get seated right away. They are in the side of the mall that has Crate and Barrel and Anthropologie. They have regular seating in the restaurant, outdoor seating and another section outside of the restaurant which is within the mall. We were sat at the outside seating in the mall which has a small bar area as well. We ordered the spicy (wasn't spicy IMO but had a little kick to it) shrimp won tons, CHIFA fried rice with chicken and the Saltado with Filet Mignon (sub rice for garlic noodles for a small fee). Everything was delicious and good portion size. So many other items I would like to try. Can't wait to go back!

We usually go to the FV location but it's convenient that one opened up inside of South Coast,…read moreespecially since there's usually a wait and you can at least walk around the shops at this location while you wait. We ordered the spicy shrimp wontons, garlic noodles, crab congee, and the filet mignon saltado fries (sidenote: you can also upgrade the side of rice from the saltado fries to garlic noodles but my partner wanted rice AND noodles lol.) The spicy shrimp wontons are on the sweeter side so if you're thinking they'll be similar to a certain restaurant in South Coast, it's not quite the same - but still yummy! And I think it paired nicely with the garlic noodles. They don't skimp on the crab in the congee and it's sooo flavorful (contrary to what I feel like people often assume about rice porridge). Our server recommended a side of chili oil to pair with it that added some texture and depth, but I like how strongly the crab comes through without it. If I had to pick one dish though, it'd be the saltado fries (sub garlic noodles). The spice from the aji dipping sauce sneaks up on you a little bit but it complements the tender meat and the fries, tomato and onion balance it all out nicely. We were seated at the bar where they were playing all kinds of bangers (at a low enough volume where we could still talk amongst ourselves), and both our server and the bartender were attentive... would recommend!

Came here before a Segerstrom performance; phenomenal service! The entire staff was so helpful and…read morecaring - top notch. As someone who regular dines at Nordstrom cafes, I think I prefer them to Ruscello? I'm a pretty plain eater overall - But -- the portobello mushroom ravioli was quite tasty. My better half also enjoyed his sandwich. The french fries were consistent between here and Nordstrom cafe. While we dined indoors, I liked that they had a little patio area, too! One of the more affordable places to eat in the area. 2026: 41/100

Mother's Day at Ruscello!…read more 4 starters, 4 entrées, and 4 desserts for the table! Cocktails and wines made the celebration even better. The service was extremely attentive from the staff and assistant manager throughout the lunch. Everything felt smooth, warm, and well cared for. Perfect place for a Mother's Day treat!

Had my first visit here a couple days ago. Great environment , great service and great food…read more (Although I wish the menu was a bit bigger ) still had plenty of choices to make it work though. Also the Asian lady who was manager was very welcoming

Lovely atmosphere, great food and amazing drinks. Our server Tenka was very helpful and very…read morefriendly.

We were going to OCMA so my friend suggested we dine at Verdant which is in the museum, or at least…read moreit used to be. We checked in at the museum front desk and my friend said we were going up to restaurant on the third floor. The person at the desk said they moved it and it was on the first floor now. She pointed over to what I knew to be the snack bar that had been there since opening. We went over and sure enough it was just drinks snacks and a few pre-packaged light meals. I have to guess they just quietly went away.

I'd like to start out by thanking our server, Christian for being very accommodating and helping us…read moreout on Sunday! I had made a reservation online for 6 people at 12:30pm and my reservation was accepted. When we got to the museum, we were told the restaurant was closing at 12:30pm and I felt very upset. Why was the reservation accepted then? When I got to Verdant, there was no one in sight. The restaurant was empty and there was 1 other party, but no staff. I actually ended up making my way near the kitchen, and that's where I found Christian, who appeared really busy. He explained that they had a wedding later that day and had to close at 1pm for set up. He still sat our party and was very kind, accommodating and helpful. He gave me a great tip and said when making cafe reservations, it's best to call ahead, because they do sometimes have event buy outs. As far as the ambiance, it is a really beautiful space. But, it was SO cold. It seemed like the AC was on full blast. The food was pretty good, but the menu seemed to change since I was there last.

Great ambience and drinks were great Prices are typical like…read moreany other bar~ Clean place too~ Came on a regular Monday night, had indie Spanish music going. Great spot to go if your looking for quiet night -hang out Also~ Shout out to Juan who gave great service and was very patient towards us

We love Kitsch Bar and have always had a good time here, which is why this was so disappointing…read more The bartender, Sofia, completely ruined the vibe for us. She was rude and came off really disrespectful, and at one point said things that felt degrading. It made my boyfriend so uncomfortable that he actually left and went outside just to get away from it. Instead of calming things down, she got more aggressive and tried to intimidate me and my friend into leaving. She straight up told us to go and wouldn't even let me finish my martini. I had a long week and just wanted to relax, and that moment felt so unnecessary and frustrating. We still love Kitsch Bar, but that experience with Sofia was not okay and definitely left a bad impression. Hopefully it's not something others have to deal with.

The great room is a restaurant within the Weston. It's got a casual but ups ale type vibe. I had…read morebreakfast there and it was on point. I had the classic American breakfast of eggs, bacon, hash browns and sourdough toast. The servers were attentive without being too present. I always appreciate that. I'd come back tomorrow if I was staying another night.

Brunch at The Great Room in Costa Mesa was such a classy casual vibe. The ambience feels modern and…read morerelaxed, and we had a lovely view of the fountain outside which made everything feel a little more elevated and serene. We ordered the Lox and Bagel with smoked salmon, capers, cream cheese, pickled red onions, fresh dill, and sun dried roasted tomatoes. The salmon was fresh and silky, and I loved the brightness from the pickled onions and dill. The roasted tomatoes added a nice depth of flavor. I also had the white crab white omelette with spinach and substituted the fruit for hash browns. The omelette was light and fluffy, and the crab added a subtle sweetness. The hash browns were crispy and satisfying. Cappuccinos were great, rich, smooth, and perfectly foamy. Just note they are nine dollars each, which feels a little steep, but they were well made. Service was pretty good overall, attentive and friendly without being overbearing. Overall, a solid four stars. Great atmosphere, quality brunch options, and a polished setting that feels perfect for a relaxed weekend catch up. I would come back for the vibes and the cappuccino.

Innovation and reverence for the classics can coexist beautifully…read more Hidden inside Dick's Church in Costa Mesa, P10NEER is an intimate, space exploration-themed speakeasy with a vintage 1970s aesthetic, small sharable bites, and rotating seasonal menu. P10NEER reimagines traditional classic cocktails through inventive techniques (yay, SCIENCE), curated ingredients, and thoughtful twists to make each drink feel both nostalgic and a new adventure. The creativity and hospitality of the team at @pioneer.cm is out of this world. For an experience that goes beyond great beverages, P10NEER is well worth the journey. Place for quiet conversations with a plus one or a small group. Resy recommended. Walk-ins accepted. Save a seat at the bar for me! PS: New Mission! Special Summer Program premieres July 17 on the Dick's Church Patio VACATION by PIONEER: A 1970s backyard barbecue. Fridays & Saturdays, 4 PM to sundown through the end of August. More info via Instagram @vacation.pioneer

Gem in a very odd place! Came here on a random Saturday night with some good vibes. The place is…read morevery small and basically is full by 8PM. There is another section hidden behind a door or some sort that opens up a bit later into the night. People come here to chat and drink, so the turnover rate is slow. It's located inside a restaurant and conspicuously placed thru a random door in the hallway, so you might be confused when you get there. As for the drinks, I didn't actually drink myself that night but my friends ordered at least 10 drinks (some of them 3 by themselves), and they all said the drinks were pretty good. I mean, the drinks just kept coming. If you like to yap and drink, this would be the place.