We celebrated my husbands 50th birthday in the whiskey room. We had a whiskey tasting/presentation…read morebeforehand and Jacob was fantastic - very knowledgeable and the tastings were varied and delicious. The food was a set menu and everyone enjoyed their 4 course meal. We were there for dinner and enjoyed the beauty of the room in the light and after dark - the birdcages looked great at night and helped create an amazing photo background. From beginning to end, Casey was easy to book with, very professional and helpful. Overall a great experience!

I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. I've been here twice now and only twice…read morebecause I live in San Diego. Why won't you open up a location closer? Lol! I drove two hours each way yesterday because it is that good. Let me say that again. I drove two hours each way, and my only regret is that I did not order more food to go. We had the ribeye, which was so unbelievably juicy and tender and flavorful, we got short rib and chicken and the spicy rigatoni! We ordered two orders of the country bread because one order is never going to be enough! We got the brussels sprouts we got the cheesecake. I am just so disappointed that I did not order multiples of the short rib to go because let me tell you even Gordon Ramsey cannot do a short rib like Bosscat. There, I said it. Best restaurant, incredible value, the most amazing service, super clean tables, and restrooms. What more could you ask for? Oh, I know... a location in San Diego!

On Saturday evening, around 10:00 p.m., my wife, son, and I were looking for a place to enjoy a…read morelate dinner. My son called Culinary Dropout and spoke with Olivia, the hostess, to see if the kitchen was still serving. Olivia responded with genuine warmth and kindness, assuring us that the kitchen was still open and that they would be happy to welcome us. From the moment we arrived, Olivia's hospitality set the tone for an exceptional evening. She greeted us with a warm smile, made us feel genuinely welcome, and promptly seated us. Shortly after, our server, Layla, introduced herself. Despite the late hour, she was energetic, engaging, and had an infectious enthusiasm that elevated the entire dining experience. She expertly recommended several cocktails, along with a glass of wine, and her knowledge of both the bar program and the menu was impressive. Her recommendations for appetizers and entrées were spot on. We decided on the Wagyu Pigs in a Blanket, BBQ Nachos, and the Spicy Rigatoni. Every dish was beautifully prepared, flavorful, and exceeded our expectations. Another team member, Emanuel, delivered one of our dishes and was equally personable and engaging. He took the time to share information about the restaurant, further demonstrating the outstanding level of hospitality displayed by the entire team. Manager Dave also stopped by our table to check on our experience. We shared with him that this was, without question, one of the best dining experiences we've had in Orange County in quite some time. Great food certainly matters, but it was the exceptional service, genuine hospitality, and positive energy of the staff that made the evening truly memorable. A sincere thank you to Layla, Olivia, Emanuel, Dave, and the entire Culinary Dropout team for creating such a first-class dining experience. We look forward to returning soon and will gladly recommend your restaurant to family and friends.

Thank you so much to the crew that took care of us last Tuesday! After doing some crafts at the…read morenearby art studio, my party of 12 and I walked over at 9pm, hoping that it wasn't too unreasonable. Despite the late hour and the inconveniences of a large party, the staff there were accommodating and beyond hospitable. Every dish that came out was impeccable, and we all had the best time. They even gifted me an extra dessert (in addition to the one we picked out) for my birthday! We were all so impressed with our experience, and I already can't wait to go back for date nights! (i'm still dreaming about that monkey bread lol)

Such a great meal at Benchmark! Joseph was so kind and accommodating--he made us feel right at home…read moreand took amazing care of us. Our favorites were the burger (so juicy!), the artichoke fondue (a must-order), and the butter cake, which was the perfect sweet ending. Everything was delicious, and the service made the experience even better.

I don't usually write Yelp reviews, but after an experience that was impossible to ignore, I felt…read morethe need to share what happened. I'm currently 8 months pregnant, and I had my baby shower at Benchmark on July 25, 2026. This is my first baby, and my best friend and sister spent countless hours planning the shower. They invested so much time, effort, and money to make it a special day, and we were all incredibly excited. When we arrived, the event space was extremely hot. We were informed that the air conditioning had broken the night before and were given a few fans to help. I was surprised that no one had contacted us ahead of time, especially since it was 95 degrees outside. At the very least, I expected someone to discuss alternative options or move us to another area, but that never happened. As guests began arriving, the heat only became worse. Our shower was from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and by the end, everyone was sweating and fanning themselves. It was incredibly uncomfortable and definitely put a damper on what was supposed to be such a memorable day. Another issue was that servers were constantly walking through our private event space because the restaurant's freezer was located in the back. Throughout the entire shower, staff were repeatedly coming in and out. This was never disclosed to us when we booked the event. Even with all of that, I tried to be understanding. Equipment fails, and I know unexpected situations happen. I expected that a manager would come speak with us, apologize, and try to make things right. Unfortunately, that never happened. Instead, we were given only $150 off a $2,600 bill. The food itself was delicious, but because of the extreme heat, we couldn't comfortably enjoy it or safely take leftovers home. It felt like we were sitting in an oven. After the event, my best friend contacted the manager, Pedro. It took about a week for him to respond. He acknowledged that they should have informed us about the staff traffic through our event space and admitted that he should have personally apologized for the air conditioning issue. He offered us a gift card, but we requested reimbursement of the $400 room fee instead. Since they had already deducted $150 from the bill, we asked for an additional $250, which seemed like a reasonable compromise considering the circumstances. His response was that they still had to pay the servers and cover the cost of the table linens. That explanation was extremely disappointing. We were also required to pay a 22% service charge for servers who, understandably, weren't present much because the room was so unbearably hot. This experience turned what should have been one of the happiest days of my pregnancy into a stressful and disappointing memory. While I understand that mechanical issues happen, it's how a business responds that truly matters. Unfortunately, the lack of communication before the event, the absence of management during the party, and the unwillingness to provide what we felt was a fair resolution left us feeling undervalued as customers. I hope management takes this feedback seriously so future guests don't have a similar experience.

I came in last Friday around 5pm, because I wanted a good steak and planned to meet in the area…read morewith friends. So I thought I'd eat here before meeting up with them. I was seated right away, there weren't too many people. The lady who sat me and took my order just didn't seem very pleasant. She didn't smile, honestly she looks like she hates her job. I'm a people person, and so seeing servers like that is such a let down in any establishment. Especially when I use to work at a restaurant myself. She took my order and what I ordered was one of the more expensive parts of the menu. Now I came in very casual, and I tend to look younger than my age. So I felt that maybe she didn't trust me thinking I'd dine and dash based on how I look or it's all in my head. However I did see her demeanor change a bit for an elderly couple. When I feel like that I tend to not want to stay longer. The steak and broccolini were delicious. There were these sliced potatoes layered then sliced in rectangle shapes and fried. I have no clue what it was, but it was all really good. The cornbread was delicious too! That butter was sweet, but it had a flavor I couldn't quite pinpoint. It went really well with the cornbread. The food was excellent. I ate fairly quickly because I already felt kind of weird from feeling like I don't belong and asked someone for my check and box. The gentlemen who did help me was incredibly warm, which I appreciate. I wish I got his name. He made this dinner a bit more pleasant. Then after the dinner was over I left so quickly I forgot my phone and the host that night was also very sweet. Despite that one lady server, the food, male server and female host made it a lot better.

I love the ambiance and beer selection. Also great menu and…read moreselection. The waiter was awesome

What a perfect place for girls who lunch! Or was a warm day so we sat outside to enjoy the views…read moreand weather. The service was a little slow at first because of some miscommunication but once we had our waiter everything was fast and friendly. The food was so good! We had their Salmon with Salmon and Rib Eye plate, both cooked perfectly. We also started with perfect Lemon Drops and once we got dessert, Cream Brûlée, we got Espresso Martinis. I can't wait to go again!

Whenever I'm in Orange, I walk past this restaurant. Once, on a Saturday, when I was thinking about…read moretrying this place out, the hostess asked if I had a reservation. Reservation? No. No meant no table. She told me it would be a couple hour wait when I could see there were tables available. I made a reservation this Sunday. Unfortunately, buffet brunch only. I could see the chafing dishes from outside, but decided to dine here anyway. There was a family sitting outside on the patio, but since it was warm outside, when the hostess asked inside or outside, I said inside. The waitress told me about the $59/person Sunday brunch. No espresso drinks, but it includes bottomless mimosas. Champaign with orange, pineapple, cranberry juice, or all three. Yes, all three please. Eggs are custom made orders by request. The brunch buffet had great options. It included, pancakes, waffles, French toast, crepes, pasta, potatoes, cod, chicken, meats, salads, pizza, fruit, yogurt, various breads, crème brûlée, and mini chocolates. My mimosa was perfect, since I poured my side juices in myself. The food all tasted great. My complaint is the eggs. I ordered two fried eggs. I had to remind her of the order because I believe the kitchen forgot my eggs. She made an excuse that they were busy. I don't think so, since I could see the three of them from my table. When I received them, they were hot and fresh, but the worst fried egg I've ever had. Ugly and runny. A fried egg should be the easiest thing to prepare. Disappointing. The entire time I was here, there were at most five parties. One was a large group celebrating a birthday. Not crowded on Sundays. No reservation required. I only had two separate plates of food and a plate of desserts. Unless you eat or drink a lot, the price of the buffet brunch is not worth it. In summary, service was good. My champagne glass was never empty. Excluding the eggs, all the food tasted great. I like the overall look of the restaurant. The Sunday buffet brunch is not my first choice.

Great food, excellent service, and a wonderful ambiance! The restaurant is very kid-friendly,…read moremaking it a great choice for families. You can make reservations by phone, or book online if you prefer outdoor seating. The restaurant has a beautiful, modern design that creates a welcoming atmosphere. Our waiter was attentive and thoughtful, checking on us throughout the meal to make sure everything was perfect. The food was delicious, and we had a great overall experience. I'll definitely be coming back!

Had brunch at Zinc Cafe & Bar on a Sunday with an 11 a.m. reservation. Would definitely recommend…read moremaking reservations ahead of time since it gets pretty busy during brunch. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating, though the indoor dining area is on the smaller side. The bar area is even more intimate, with only a few two-person tables and has a much darker, moodier atmosphere compared to the bright feel of the main dining room. I tried the Blueberry Scone ($5), Bacon Onion White Pizza ($20), and Truffle Mushroom Burger ($25). Unfortunately, the scone was the biggest disappointment as it was quite dry and I wasn't a fan of the walnuts. The pizza and burger, however, were both solid choices but nothing that stood out. My favorite part of the meal was actually the shoestring fries, which were perfectly crispy and well-seasoned. Service was just okay. After taking our order, our server never came back to check on us, refill our water glasses, or see if we needed anything else. One thoughtful touch was having sinks located outside the restrooms for anyone who just wanted to wash their hands. That said, the restroom layout felt a bit awkward. The doors were difficult to maneuver, especially with the toilets located immediately inside, and the toilets themselves were noticeably low. Parking can be challenging on weekends, particularly during the breakfast and lunch rush. Most of the nearby street parking is metered and while we only paid about $3.40 for two hours, finding an available spot might take a bit of patience.

Came for Happy Hour on a Thursday!…read more Service was impeccable, and everything - from the entrees to the cocktails - were delicious. I will say - the fries were a bit undercooked, but the artichoke dip appetizer made up for that. Location has plenty of parking with ample seating, lush decor, and upbeat music. It looks like they change menu items frequently, but overall, this place primarily serves handhelds (e.g. burgers, sandwiches, dips) with a fun selection of cocktails!

Service A+ Amanda was our server, she was so bubbly and had awesome recommendations for Coctails…read moreand food. My husband has a wheat allergy and she was so sweet to help with accommodating him as well as offering tasting when trying to decide between seltzer or a cider. Coctails and Food were A++ I will dream about their Tomato Addiction until i have it again! Bursting with flavors, sourdough was fresh and had the right amount of crunch. Melty brie and the garlicy tomatoes married together perfectly. Will be returning for that alone! Santa Ana Winds was yummy with the perfect amount of coconutty flavor. Nightbloom had a beautiful presentation with a very unique flavor, so delish!!

Date night with wife, loved the cozy location, we sat at the bar. It seems like every time we eat…read moreout its just "meh"...Fat of the land delivered, we loved it. We both drank the Tempranillo, great wine! Bread + Ham Butter - aight, tastes sort of like chive creamcheese. Gambas al Ajillo - good, got to dip the rest of our bread Burrata - Fresh fruit with vinaigrette, good dish, we enjoyed it. Rack of Pork - I rarely get blown away but they nailed it. Must Order! Basque Cheesecake - Light and fluffy, delicious. We loved the food and the ambiance, service was friendly, great spot. We will come back to try some more dishes, the Steak Tartare was looking good.

Came early to beat the crowd and had virtually no wait! The atmosphere here is super unique with…read morevery dark with rich gem tones...makes you feel like you're stepping into an elaborate escape room set. Our server, Lee, was amazingly friendly and helpful throughout the night. - Salmon Cortada (Must get): Absolute favorite dish. It comes with two pieces featuring glistening, incredibly soft salmon over bread with subtle hints of sweetness and lemon. A remarkably complex and delicious bite. - Octopus (Second Favorite): Layered over a bright green sauce with a touch of chili. Perfectly cooked, super tender, and packed with flavor. - Anchovies: A fresh, oily, and satisfying appetizer to start the meal. - Braised Mushroom: Cool presentation with a poached egg in the center. Very tasty, though a fairly familiar flavor profile. - Elote: Tasted a bit more like a basic corn salsa than classic elote. Not my favorite. - Bread & Ham Butter: Sounded interesting. Personally wouldn't order this again, as I prefer a light whipped butter on rich, buttery bread over sourdough. - Basque Cheesecake: A solid dessert to end on. Tasty, not overly sweet, and the cheese flavor wasn't too overpowering. Parking in the back is quite tight with only about 5-6 spaces. There is also some street parking too.