We made a reservation at Pioneer and really enjoyed this little spot! It's tucked inside a diner,…read moreso it can be a little hard to find at first, but it's just inside the back patio area with a cute wooden saloon-door entrance. The space is small, cozy, and intimate with just a few tables. Our waitress was super friendly and took the time to explain the menu and different options to us. - Guava Y Queso (4.5/5): I loved this! It was really unique with the cream cheese topping, but the combination worked so well. Definitely a fun spot for cocktails and something a little different!

Lets try this again since my original review was removed…read more The night was going great. We just had dinner near by and decided get drinks here. We've been here a few times before and always thought it was decent. So, we made the last minute reservation online and got here 15 minutes early. When we arrived, there was a short line, but per the reservation instructions, one of my friends went in to check in while we waited outside. Friend: Hi, I'm checking in for a reservation. Bartender: What time is your reservation. Friend: 10 Bartender: What time is it now? Friend: 9:45 Bartender: Then I'll see you at 10pm. Friend came back annoyed and explained what happened. The bartender didn't say it in a joking way, but with attitude and annoyance. Most staff would respond "Thank you for checking in, we will let you know when your table is available." We weren't going to let this ruin our night, so we waited and were seated by the hostess. The bar itself is dimly lit and very tight. The music was loud enough that we had to almost yell to hear each other. The waiter came by soon after and was extremely friendly. We said we'd been here a few times before, but it's been a while. He refreshes our memory by saying they specialize making variations of classics. They want customers to focus on the flavors and that's why the menu doesn't list the spirit in their drinks. Also, they only make drinks on the menu because their drinks are prebatched/premade. We ask for recommendations which he was happy to give. We each order a drink and a snack for the table. As we're talking (very loudly so we can hear each other), we lose track of time before we realize that it's been 20 minutes and we haven't gotten our drinks yet. For something that's prebatched, it shouldn't take long. Before we can flag down the waiter, he comes by and apologizes that they lost our order and had to put it back in. We appreciate the honesty and say it's no problem. 5 minutes later, our drinks and food arrives. He again apologizes for the wait and has a second order of our food that he's including for free. Honestly we were ok with just the apology, but extra food too? Hell yea. Sounds like it was turning around. The drinks were okay. Not amazing, but definitely above average 3.8 / 5. The snack, bread and butter, were surprisingly good. 4.5 / 5 When we asked for the check, the waiter brought the credit card reader and told us we can swipe our card any time and left it on our table. We look at the bill and realize the waiter not only gave us the 2nd snack for free, but comp'd 2 of the drinks also. We all agree this waiter is GREAT. So why the 2 stars? Well first let me say, I would leave it at 1 star, but the waiter definitely earned them another. We wanted to pay cash, so we waited for him to come back. Instead, the original rude bartender comes by and realizes we haven't paid yet. We ask if we can pay with cash. He explains that they don't accept cash. Friend: Are you sure? *Proceeds to try to insert cash into the chip reader slot* Bartender: You're pretty stupid, aren't you? Friend: Maybe if I swipe it instead *Doubles down and proceeds to swipe the cash through the magnetic strip reader* Bartender: Wow, you really are stupid. My friend is a 100% a goofball and having fun with the bartender. It was OBVIOUS that he was joking. Was it funny? A little. Was it stupid? 100%. But for the bartender or ANY customer service staff to call a paying customer "stupid", that's simply unacceptable. We're all pretty pissed at this point and simply swipe the card and the bartender leaves. As I said earlier, we've come here a few times. We don't live especially close, but when we're in the area, we would always consider coming here. Now, there's no chance. For any business, even if your drinks and food are great, customer service can easily DESTROY your experience and that's exactly what the bartender did. Note to the male bartender with no hair: You really shouldn't be interacting with customers. You were rude from the start and have no sense of humor. Could you be having a bad day? Sure, but that's not an excuse to be rude to customers. I know management saw my original post because it was removed, probably because I referred to the bartender by his hairstyle (or lack thereof) multiple times. If they rather remove my post than deal with their bartender, that's another sign to avoid this place.

We stopped by this bar after dinner one night. Love it! The decor all over is neat! They have an…read moreoutdoor area and more seating inside along with the bar. Seats are limited. There's a tree right in the middle inside. The decor is best described as eclectic. I love it! The drinks were great! My guava martini was delish! We also had the espresso martini and that delish! The service was great! Everyone was super nice! They are open late! We stayed until midnight which was closing time on Sunday but we would have definitely stayed later! We are definitely coming back!

What a great little trendy bar hidden away! After the OC Fair we felt like a little nightcap &…read morethrough Yelp found this little gem. The ambiance was so cool with lots of Asian inspired decorations, total eye candy. The line for the drinks was a little long but went pretty fast and we were lucky to score 2 seats inside almost immediately. If not, you can stand around or sit on other little tables on their outside patio. You can view the drinks through a QR code, a wall menu or above the bar. The drinks were really good with fun names, it was hard to decide which I'd make my first! A great place to visit and enjoy a good drink.

The atmosphere and decor is lovely. The service was on…read morepoint, helpful. The food was very delicious! We will definitely be back for their drinks and food AND the music

We were trying to decide what to eat and ended up coming to The LAB Anti-Mall because we wanted to…read moretry and support one of the independent businesses there. I was hesitant at first because I had never really tried Cuban food before, but I'm so glad we took a chance! I ordered the El Churrasco based on the staff's recommendation, and it was delicious. The steak tasted incredibly fresh, and everything came together as the perfect savory and satisfying meal. The atmosphere has a dark, tropical island vibe, with plenty of outdoor seating. We ended up sitting inside in one of the booths, which was very comfortable. They also offer happy hour from around 3-7 p.m. daily, although the happy-hour specials are only available at the high-top tables. The only issue we had was that our server cleared the wrong plate without asking. He left the empty plate that I was finished with on the table, but took away the plate with my corn on the cob that was only halfway eaten. I'm not sure why he chose that plate, but I wish he had asked whether we were finished before taking it away and throwing out food we were still eating. Other than that, we really enjoyed the food and would definitely come back. I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a great sit-down meal at The LAB!

cute little speakeasy! my friend and i stopped by to start our night, and we loved the vibe and…read moreatmosphere inside. we ended up sitting in the carriage after another couple left, and the seats were a little wet/sweaty lol, which was definitely interesting but other than that, everything was cute and cozy. our drinks were good, although they weren't as sweet as we expected. definitely more of a personal preference, so i can see others loving them! overall, it's a cute spot to grab a drink, enjoy the atmosphere, and then move along to your next stop for the night!

We wanted to stop at a random bar in the area since we were out here for our friends birthday (you…read morecan take a look at the previous review). I searched Yelp and this came up a couple miles away and we liked the name of it. Haha! Cute little place. And I mean, LITTLE. Not big at all and hard to maneuver once inside. Pretty cramped. Hard to get a drink. Had a group of 4 people totally cut in front of me and my husband. We went to the other side of the small bar and waited several minutes.... Fortunately, the girl in front of me was sweet to offer to order our drinks for us. The decor was fun and festive but we won't go back. Not our style, not our type of bar to hangout in. Plus we pretty much surpassed the general age of the crowd. Like probably by at least 15 years. HA!

This place has very nice views and it has a really good vibe. I will say that staff is on it about…read moretables being reserved. There is street parking if you don't want to valet.

What a view! Super nice bar to of Lido House! It opens after…read more4 o'clock. Great bar! Great bar menu, good service good food selection on menu. The feta was creamy, savory and delicious!

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.

Late review but I felt like I should leave this here just in case people are wondering cause if…read morethey closed down cause of the food quality. -- Came back to Playa Mesa for my friend's birthday. The chips and salsa were really good. The aguachile had a nice spicy flavor that made it stand out. The queso fundido was SO good super cheesy, and paired with the handmade tortillas it was one of my favorites. We also ordered the calamari and I was surprised by how good it was. Everyone ordered different rounds of cocktails throughout the night and honestly, not one missed. Service was a little slow, but it was a busy Friday night, so that's somewhat expected. I've been here before and the grilled octopus tacos and carne asada burrito were just as good as I remembered them. They also made the birthday celebration really cute. They sang happy birthday, brought out a small ice cream, and gave my friend a big mariachi hat. Good food, great drinks, and still consistent as I remembered it. So long Playa Mesa. 9.5/10

Playa Mesa has a great atmosphere with beautiful aesthetics. In the evening, the open windows…read morecreate a nice breeze, though they do let a few flies in. The hostess was friendly, and our server was funny and kind. He was a little less attentive as it got busier, but the staff worked well as a team, so we never had to wait for refills or anything we needed. Parking in the back can be a little tight. The birria tacos were packed with flavor, and I loved the inside-out cheese crust. My husband's fajitas were flavorful, although the chicken was a little overdone. The guacamole was excellent, especially with the pepita seeds adding great texture. Overall, we enjoyed the flavorful food, service, and atmosphere. We'd definitely come back!

On a recent Sunday morning, I'd discovered this place (only open on Sundays) -- and determined we…read morewere heading there that evening! Enter the parking lot from Bake. Friendly, welcoming, professional, and attentive service. We ordered the following cocktails -- all beautifully presented, each with fine details (including clear ice cubes), passionately prepared, and with fun-&-uniquely different flavor profiles... unlike any cocktail we'd tasted: Last Cloud, $20 Warm Fade, $20 Kembu Highball, $18 Complimentary (warm) popcorn was appreciatively offered -- and refilled. I understand that the menu changes weekly. Dimly-lit, intimate bar with (if I'm not mistaken) 10 barstools at the bar top and limited seating (I seem to recall about 12) between high top and round tables. Fun to discover another speakeasy!

Such an amazing experience, easily the best cocktails I've had in years. The mixologist putting…read moretogether our drinks was like watching a true artist at work. He is very detail oriented, and you can definitely taste the complexity in the drinks. This speakeasy is open only on Sunday nights from 8pm-1am. There is a dj spinning music to set the mood. Parking is easy and right up front because most of the businesses are closed. I definitely recommend!

Food was delicious great service Out server Dana was very…read morenice had a great personality Very good ambiance

Best food. Best service- everyone is happy to work here. This place is underrated!!! I can't get…read moreover the quality of the food and cocktails. Try the guavamente! If she's available, Dana is the best! LOVE YOU PALENQUE

Celebrated my brother's birthday here with our family and friends! We got a booth area with our big…read moregroup and it was cute! The interior is dark and gives off the vibe of being in Hawaii! The drinks were flavorful, sweet but still strong! I love the martinis we got (dragon lady, treasure box, and vitamin D) and definitely recommend trying one or ALL of them! The punch bowl we got was yummy and great for group pictures! The food was yummy especially paired with the drinks. Spam nachos and stowaway fries are a must! The stowaway fries has egg, pork, and gravy that is similar to a loco moco! Service was great and quick! We will come back here for his next birthday for sure!

Loved this place!!! Not only did it have beautiful design and fun drinks, the food was so good!…read more I would recommend to make a reservation or join the waitlist on the way over, we thought we could just walk in but it was an hour wait that ended up only being around 30 minutes! The front door staff was kind and she explained the 2 hour strict dining policy as she walked us to our table. I was blown away by the beauty of this place, it reminded me of an adult version of the rainforest cafe. My friends and I started off with a few drinks-- mai tais and the dole whip drink they have. Both were really good but the dole whip is out of this world. For food we shared wings, poke bombs, coconut shrimp, spicy edamame, and fries. The portions are decent for the price but it makes sense because the food is so flavorful. My favorite item was the spicy chili wings. I think this is such a great place for hanging out with friends or date night.