Wine selection: 4/5 Beer selection: 4/5 Small bites food: 4.5/5 Ambiance/atmosphere: 5/5 Service: 4/5 Price: 4/5 OVERALL: 4 stars (I know the math don't add up to that average, but that's what I'm going with) I was finally able to check this place out and was thoroughly impressed. As (Yelp) advertised via reviews/tips/pic..... it was as it matched. It's located inside of the OC Mix Mart, which is an interesting venue in-and-of-itself (see other review for further thoughts). We Olive is a total chill/hang-out spot. Especially for their daily happy hour specials (see pic, each day has something different highlighted as their happy hour special). I went on a Wednesday, which was Wine Flight Wednesday. Pretty generous pours. That should be noted! I got a beer. Was quite happy with the service/presentation (see pic). I got an Organic Chocolate Stout. $1 off beer during Happy Hour times. We paired our wines & beer with a couple items from their "small bites" menu. Firstly, the bruschetta (see pic). I have to say that this was a WONDERFUL portion of bruschetta. The only downside here is that they need to offer some more bread, maybe 50% more pieces. The popcorn was interesting too. I know $4 for popcorn (see pic) isn't typically thought of as "a steal", but the uniqueness of flavors. We had the jalapeno. MUAH..... nice touch. Atmosphere is really where it's at. This is a small place, but seemed to have PLENTY of seating inside. There's seating along the bar/counter that's directly in front of the preparation area... a counter along the outside perimeter of the store, and some tables on the inner part. The day I went it was cold, so nobody sat outside. But they have an outside patio too. I'm goin' when it's warmer FO SHO!!! Overall, I'd highly recommend this place for a few friends gettin' together, after work drinks, starter to a date, or even a first date (that's doing something very simple and light). I believe the owner is the guy who's running the place there too, so that's a nice homely/personal touch. Next time I want to try some meats, cheeses, and maybe that sorbet!!! [SIDE NOTE] They sell various types of olive oils too. Wish they had more olive oil tasting areas set up though. read more

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I absolutely love the vinegar and olive oil bar at We Olive. You can bring your own bottles (from pervious purchases at We Olive or other retailers!) and get your bottles refilled! They will label and reseal your bottles as well. They have a great selection and will let you try any of the flavors on tap before you buy. Love when businesses go the extra mile to be eco-conscious. We have been here multiple times for olive oil and balsamic vinegar refills and always have a good experience. read more

Delicious! We had the olive oil gelato and it was so refreshing! Never thought I would enjoy gelato and oils together but it's seriously one of my favorite combos now. You never know until you try. The person next to us got the cheese platter which looked amazing. The cheeses are from The Cheese Shop right across from them. We'll be getting that one next time around. I like how they use products from inside the mart like the cheeses from the cheese shop and gelato from N'ice cream. Check it out for some great little bites and great olive oils! read more

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My friend was dying to try the Meyer lemon olive oil gelato so we came during happy hour. Small little place next to portola coffee lab, mostly bar seatings so I suggest not bringing big parties... Each of us ordered an item since we each craved something different, but after the owner or someone with an accent had taken our order, he had such an incredulous look on his face... Probably thought 'these girls know nothing about wine..' since we had ordered bruschetta as the appetizer, a dessert, along with a flight of red wine. But he was funny and humorous about it.. Bruschetta: not usually a fan cause it's always too plain to me, but this was probably the best I've had yet... Light snack, fresh tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. The tomato juice with balsamic on the bottom made for sucha great dipping sauce for the bread. The Meyer lemon olive oil ice cream was really refreshing and the olive oil added a nice lemon fragrance. And the tart balsamic vinegar was the perfect offset to balance the sweetness. Although $10 for 3 small scoops was a bit too much. The red wine flight was $10, came with 3 2oz. samples, drink from light to dark. The first two were fruitier and tart, while the third, a Cabernet blend, was more full bodied. From the reviews, I need to come back to try the cheese, olive, and wine tasting and the olive oil one too. read more

We Olive & Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

James was great to work with for a private party of 16 on the patio. We did a wine and olive oil tasting, along with the vege salad and an assortment of flatbread pizzas to eat. Everything was ordered in advance and delicious. We had good service from James and his helper. This location is not near where I live, but I'd go back again, next time I'm in the area. Thank you, James. read more

Place was great when the previous owners ran it. New guy there recently had horrible social skills. Very arrogant. I will never go back.

What was intended to be a quick stroll through The OC Mart Mix was brought to a halt when we were lured by the sign featuring $5 Mimosas - their Saturday Special. We thought, "Why not?" The staff was so welcoming and friendly. The mimosas were relaxingly refreshing and tasty that we opted to order a Flight of Olive Oils, as well. What fun dunking little cubes of bread in the sampling of truly tasty olive oils and peach balsamic! The relaxed indoor setting with the pleasant breezes blowing in from outside, the wonderful staff, and the tasty snacks started our weekend off right! Fun and cozy atmosphere! read more

Just came for a nice set of olive oils. I wanted to get something useful for people who like to cook! This was the perfect spot! The woman at the counter was super friendly and showed me the cute little pre-made sets. I told her they were gifts so she wrapped them up as such. While I was waiting the waitress told me that I could sample all the oils they had on display! There were a ton! There were pre-cut cubes of bread ready for dipping. 5 stars for the taste as well as the service! Whether it is sweet or savory, this is going to be my one and only shop for olive oil! I had no idea they served ice cream...just read that in another review...will be sure to check that out! read more

As a specialty shop within the OC Mart Mix, it's naturally alluring as something noteworthy. Seating is pretty limited but it was nice to sit outdoors in the patio while the sun was setting. I had the bruschetta, olive oil ice cream and the red wine flight (3 glasses of 2oz pours) The wine was yummy and the tomato for the bruschetta was very fresh, although I wish they used more olive oil. The only other place I've had olive oil ice cream is at Zero Zero in SF. We Olive's had a more fluffy texture in the ice cream and the meyer lemon olive oil made it very fragrant- I highly suggest tasting it with the wine! They were understaffed when I went so it was difficult to grab a server and we ended up walking up to pay our bill. As all places in the OC Mart Mix, it's def on the pricier side. They have extensive choices for quality olive oil which is quite a niche interest, but if you're here more for the wine, I suggest going to the Wine Lab at the camp! read more

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This is one of my absolutely favorite places to stop by once a week. I have been coming here for a few years now and have had the privilege to get to know the owner Phil. Which a lot like his wine is an acquired taste. I have never seen so much romance oozing out of a 600 square feet at the most, sit and sip like this one before! The Décor is perfect for the amount of space they have. The beer selection is always on point and I usually always discover a new favorite craft beer here. "my name is James Nguyen and I am an olive oil addict" I believe I may be up to 10 bottles here now. I cant get enough of them! They are not only great for cooking but also a great way to entertain at home. Garlic, Basil, blood orange, jalapeno.. The list goes on and on. They also carry Balsamic Vinegar!! read more

We Olive & Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I just wanted to give the biggest thanks to everyone that was working at We Olive today! Our baby shower ran flawlessly. Your team helped in every possible way and EVERYONE enjoyed themselves. My wine was beautiful and complimented the food we ordered. Big thumbs up for White Blend, very smooth. We loved the patio and created a cozy feel for our event. Thank you! We shall definitely be having more events here again! read more

We Olive & Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Amazingly unfriendly. Don't ask a question about beer or you'll get told to go elsewhere.

We came here just for the olive oil gelato and it was great. I always enjoy stopping by the OC mart mix because there's always so much variety and I like that the restaurants all have this really nice cozy, at-home feel to them. So combine casual dining experience with food you would find at a fine dining restaurant and you get restaurants and cafes in OC mart mix pretty much! My friend and I were a bit confused when we first stopped by, because this place is more of a wine bar than it is a sit-down restaurant so it was a bit awkward because we stood by the counter for a while before someone even came by to help us. This lady came by and I had to ask if we could be seated after 5 or 10 minutes. Anywayss.. apparently you can only sit inside if you order drinks so we ended up sitting in the communal area shared by Portola coffee lab and all the other shops around the area. I totally was under the impression that this was a restaurant with a wine bar but nope, you can't enter if you're under 21 or if you're not purchasing any drinks according to the waitress. The olive oil gelato was really different, but a good kind of different. The vanilla ice cream came with a pool of Meyer lemon olive oil and balsamic vinaigrette with sea salt sprinkled on top and it is seriously like nothing I've tasted before. It's like at the same time the flavor is a bit odd because usually you wouldn't associate ice cream with olive oil, but its such a different kind of flavor that you keep taking bite after bite. The hint of olive oil really adds to the flavor of the ice cream and it was the bit of balsamic with the salt on top gives it a good kick. Cool small bites and interesting wine list are both things that I will be coming back for! read more

We Olive & Wine Bar - Came here just to try this olive oil gelato! - Wine Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I can't speak to the quality of the wines because we left before we ordered. The man working there was surly, rude, and clearly didn't want our business. I'm relieved to see that there are others who have experienced this here as it was hard not to take it personally. We headed over to the cheese shop across the way - and I'm going to post a glowing review of them. We will not be going back. read more

Do not trust the posted hours. I have come 3 different days during the hours they say they are open only to find a closed store. I want to have my bottles refilled. read more

Great location for after dinner casual stop. Walk to location from various restaurants. We ate early, avoided crowds then came here for wine and beer. Good selection of various tap and bottled beers. Next door ( inside) is a coffee shop if you so desire. The four of us had 2 different wines, a beer and an expresso. Very friendly helpful service. No rush , just enjoy the drink and the company. read more

We had a glass of Tempranillo during their happy hour. It can get packed for the wine can only stay within their borderline. When I tasted Jalapeño olive oil, I couldn't believe how much I enjoyed the interesting combination of flavors and there's more of a dozen dipping condiments with focaccia bread. I love their decor. Hardworking, attentive and professional employee. Will come back for happy hour! read more

We Olive & Wine Bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is such a fun place when it comes to meeting new people and trying new wine sampling's. The food samplings is also very nice as well! Great location to set meetings too. Very professional staff who are very knowledgeable in their wines. read more

The service by the manager at this location was exceptional. He sanitized our tables and chairs before we sat. He put extra care into the preparation of our food. And he was generally an extremely polite and pleasant person to deal with. We could not recommend this place more. Great job! read more

We stopped in for a bottle of wine and had to leave after about 10 minutes as our table at shuck was ready. The brunette man behind the bar was very rude. When I asked to get the rest of the bottle to go, he snatched it off the table in a very unpleasant rude motion. Was thinking of going back for their pairing, but won't be back unfortunately. read more

Small venu with friendly service. I found that a great treat is to first stop and have a dark, bold cup of coffee at Portola Coffee Lab, and once you have enjoyed that, come directly over to We Olive and follow that with a delectable dark beer. I had a Mission Dark Seas. This is definately going to be a new thing for me - this pairing of 2 delicious drinks. I love the wine bottle chandelier here. I will have to have dinner sometime - but I know I will be back to relax and enjoy the drinks. read more

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We love this place! A great spot to grab a glass of wine. The owner is kind and knowledgeable about his products and always has a great recommendation if you're looking to try something new. I've also done their wine, cheese and olive oil tasting nights and that is always a fun time! read more

A little disappointed at the service for a nice wine bar. Was not impressed with their food even though I ordered off HH. It was 1 item but, I still expect some efforts. The bruschetta I ordered tasted more like salt than anything. I did bring it to the servers attention andOther than that it's a cute place great location and ambiance. Been a few times in the past at other locations and had a great experience but after this I think I'll find a new wine bar. read more

Came here with a friend. After she had taken her 3rd sip from her beer a fly landed and drowned in her pilsner. Surprising because we were indoors and SOCO prides itself as being upscale and a luxurious destination. I showed the bartender (Russell) what happened, and asked politely what he could do for us. Keep in mind the beer glass is more than halfway full with a dead fly floating at the top. Russell then grabs a butter knife and manages to scoop out the dead fly. Then with a straight face he slides the beer back over to me implying that everything is all good now. After explaining to him that my friend would prefer not to drink a beer that just had a dead fly floating around in it, Russell finally pours a new pilsner in a new glass and has the decency to charge me for another beer. True story. Won't be coming back. You shouldn't either considering their protocol when it comes to finding dead insects in their food or beverage. read more

I'm so disappointed that it took me so long to get here. I love unpretentious wine bars and this is exactly what We Olive is. You can go here if you haven't a clue about wine, if you're an occasional wine drinker, or you know exactly what's going down with wine. We Olive is in the OC Mix or OC Mart. Listen, I don't have all the details but if you're on Yelp you can figure it out. The bottom line is that you definitely should get here and check it out if you like wine. They have a great selection and there's something for every price point. Unless you don't believe in paying above $3 for a bottle. If that's the case this isn't for you. It's not the swankiest wine lounge, meaning there aren't plush couches and chairs for you to sit and relax but you can grab a couple of bar stools and chill. Oh, there are specialty olive oils and vinegars too. I'm there for wine. read more

We were sitting enjoying our food truck lunch out at the SoCo Farmer's Market, when we were offered a free sample of bread, olive oil and vinegar from We Olive and were told about their special offers that day. We later ventured into the OC Mart Mix to check the place out. What a cute little store. Occupying a small area in the Mix, you can sample all their lovely olive oils and do some wine tasting at their wine bar to boot. I didn't even buy anything and the girl who was helping us was so nice in letting us sample all the different olive oils they had freshly pressed. Robyn ended up buying some yummy garlic-infused olive oil. You get your olive oil in a bottle that you get discounted refills on return visits. With Yelp check-in you get free olive oil bottle pouring spout. Robyn also did some wine tasting while we were there. I had a nice conversation with another customer there about the wine she was purchasing. They also had olives, tapenades and vinegars for sale as well as olive oil soaps and other products. We noticed that they have happy hour in the wine bar Tuesday through Saturday from 4-7 pm and all day Sunday. We will definitely be back for their Happy Hour. I really want to sample their sangria and some of the tapas they have available :) read more

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Look, if a place can serve a brownie covered in blood orange flavored olive oil and make it taste absolutely amazing, I'm in. That's exactly the type of surprises We Olive will throw at you. And that's exactly what makes you fall in love. ...Well, that and the amazingly awesome olive oil geniuses that are Debbie and Phil. They kickass, and will make you feel like you just learned about the sun after all these years of living in the darkness that is grocery store olive oil. They have a great selection and recently added wine to it too. If you take anything away from this review, let it be this: If you're stumped on what to get someone as a gift, get your ass to We Olive ASAP! They've got you covered for any gift for anyone. I'm not even joking, I rarely set foot in the kitchen and I'd even be thrilled to get a gift from We Olive for any occasion! read more

This is a really cute little spot in the OC Mix. They have great olive oils and balsamic vinegars. They make great gifts around holiday time, so keep that in mind. I've been a couple of times for different tastings with my friends. Just last night I did a beer and cheese tasting there, the beer and cheese were both really good. The other tasting I did was an olive oil/cheese and wine pairing, and it was a ton of fun, I love all three things, and the pairings were so well done. There is an awesome little cheese shop right across the way, so you can grab some of the cheeses you try. The parking over at the mix always seems like a zoo but I recommend checking this place out. read more

First off, the owners here are so awesome. They are passionate about what they serve and sell. Better yet? Phil is freakin' hilarious. If you are lucky enough to get a seat at the bar and chat with him a bit and/or just watch and listen to him ... you'll be entertained for hours. This spot is located inside the OC Mart Mix, which is inside of the SOCO center off the 405 and harbor. There's absolutely no way you'd know it was here unless you were looking for it. They sell olive oil, yes. But what's better is they also serve a few food items and beer and wine. Everything is on the expensive side. But everything is super high quality as well. $6 for an HH wine is well worth it. They have a $14 cheese plate that changes often - and is always fulfilling and tasty. I've been here quite a few times now and every time I appreciate it more and more. They even have a little patio area in the back. Note that they are closed on Mondays and HH is 4-6. Thursday is taco and sangria night. read more

Met my aunt and cousin for lunch on a Saturday afternoon. We ordered some tasty sandwiches from the Cheese Shop and asked if we can eat at the wine bar. They said yes so we walked over and took a seat. It was my first time here so I waited for him to acknowledge us but after he didn't come over I walked over and asked for a wine flight. Honestly the older worker (owner?) that day seemed bothered and had a very grumpy attitude. He was watching tv and without saying anything went to get my flight ready. I found it odd but didn't let it bother me. A few minutes later my flight arrived he described each wine so quickly and walked away before I could ask any questions. I was kinda surprised of how fast he was but again I tried not to let it bother me and tried to enjoy my flight. The wine was actually very nice. I was going to order a glass but the worker/owner that day never checked in on us and we were the only ones there that day. I was so turned off I decided not to order a glass of wine since we were left on our own the whole time. It just didn't feel friendly and I got these off vibes. I honestly wondered if it was just us but of course found other reviews that stated they felt the same way. Such a bummer. Really could be a fun place if he was more attentive and friendlier. Two stars only because the wine was decent otherwise it would be 1 star for the awkward experience and lack of service. read more

Located in the OC Mix. It's a casual little spot to come grab a glass of wine. Come check out happy hour.It's $2 off a glass of wine and $1 off craft beer and they have small plates. Happy Hour Times: - All day Monday (11am-7pm) - Tuesday - Friday (3pm-6pm) - Saturday - Sunday (11am-2pm) read more

There's a scene in "It's Complicated" where Alec Baldwin's character, whose second marriage is to a complete tool of a trophy wife, grumbles that he has to go to the grocery store because his wife "ran out of olive oil for the pasta." Of course, he's grumbling to Meryl Streep's character, his first wife and chef extraordinaire, who would never think of serving something so easy and common as pasta. As someone whose pasta intake counts for roughly 50% of all the food she eats (and about 75% of all the food she cooks), this dig hit pretty close to home. But, after discovering We Olive, my pasta is no longer "common." I came across their shop at the Yelp Goes Green Elite Event at the OC Mart Mix a couple months ago, and I have been enjoying their garlic olive oil now almost every week. They have an awesome selection of olive oils and balsamic vinegars, and although I want to buy much more than I know I should spend on a bottle of olive oil, I will be content to try one bottle at a time (every two months, at the rate I'm going!). Bonus! They let you bring back your empty bottle for discounted refills! I don't think I've ever finished a bottle of olive oil as fast as this garlic olive oil, and I can't wait to go back. Take that, Meryl! read more

this is a very unique place some of the mixes they have are very distinct i mean how will you think about to mix olive oil and wine?! its new discovery of new adventure for my list to go read more

I love love this place they have amazing selection of Balsamic and Olive oils. Ry was our server for the day and i love how genuine he is. We will be coming back. read more

Fantastic place! Excellent wines and suggested pairings every month on the first Tuesday. Wes is fantastic... he was pouring our wines and knows a lot about them! Highly recommend to any wine lover or even if you're just curious read more

Came for the olives, but ended up getting a beer. This cute little wine bar is part of the OC Mix in the South Coast Collection, that's a fancy way of saying smaller, interesting shops in what is generally a pretty industrial location. We sat on the patio and enjoyed a hummus appetizer with wine and beer. It was a pleasant location with friendly servers that know when to help you and when to leave you be to enjoy your conversation. I'd definitely go back and bring friends. read more

We Olive & Wine Bar - Beer at the wine bar, why not? - Wine Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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This was my all time favorite place....until tonight. I've always loved We Olive. My boyfriend and I have been going here for about 3 years. It's the best place for a beer and small bites. I have always recommended it to my friends: well-priced, great selection of beers; the wines are pricey for the pour, but the selection is worth it; and the olive oil is my favorite. Also you can get Pueblo's food delivered to We Olive, which is AMAZING. But ultimately, I find my experiences here are the best with the waiters. Can't say I appreciate the attitude of the owner that much. About 5 minutes after we signed the bill -- and in that five minute I was just waiting for my boyfriend to get back from the bathroom and get coffee--- the owner politely asked us to leave....even though there was no crowd, no wait, and it was NOT busy. Overall just a bit rude and something that's never happened to us before....but hey...if that's how you need to run your business then so be it. It just now means that this is a place where, no matter how regularly I come or how much I spend, I have to have a glass on the table or I am not welcomed to even sit...or gather my things. read more

I went to We Olive & Wine Bar with a group of friends and enjoyed my first visit. The ambience is relaxing and low key across from Taco Maria in SOCO, Costa Mesa. They have a nice offering of beer and wine and reasonable prices. The service was attentive, friendly and welcoming. I would recommend this establishment for anyone looking for a nice establishment with fair prices. read more

We Olive & Wine Bar - Petite Syrah delicious - Wine Bars Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Had a great olive oil tasting. Dorie was super helpful and knowledgeable. The bulk EVOOs are delicious. I bought the Olio Nuovo, which straddles the fruity v green/peppery divide very well, and the Jalapeño infused, which has subtle jalapeño flavor and a kick on the finish. I also bought a bulk bottle of aged balsamic (8, 12, and 15-year old blend, I think) and the peach-infused white balsamic, which is very sweet and sexy. I know it's sacrilege, but I put a bit into my white wine at lunch (Dorie had said it was good with Prosecco, so I extrapolated). The wine aroma was amazing. I'm going to slip some in on my next wine tasting. My first time here, but with the cheese shop in front, an oyster bar a few doors down and Portola coffee next door, my goal is to eventually try every EVOO they have open, and that's a lot! read more

We Olive is a decent place to grab a glass of wine, a bottle (not much on draft) of craft beer (nothing mind blowing, but it's not their specialty), and a cheese plate, olives, or other small food item. A glass of wine will run you $13-14 for a 6 oz pour, and during happy hour, you save a couple of dollars per glass. They sell 3 oz pours as well, if you're into that sort of thing. There is a red and white wine flight of (3) 2-oz pours for $11-14, but the pours are literally just tastes, which is fine, but it's worth noting. Keep in mind that while their Facebook page states that happy hour runs from 4-7PM, it actually ends at 6PM, as I found out tonight. read more