Old Vine Cafe in Costa Mesa

There's some good dining in Costa Mesa. Not so long ago, it was difficult to make that claim, but things are changing.

The Old Vine Cafe in Costa Mesa, in The Camp Complex on Bristol Street, was recoed, and it was wonderful, highly eclectic wine list (all over the place but offering good choices throughout), some highly creative Euro-based food (Roasted Goat, Rabbit Mole, red bean and farro (!!!)---lots of good choices from which to choose. Lots of umami; lots of savory.

Our starter wine was a delicious Rocaforte Dry Lambrusco for all of $11. Our tour-de-force was a quite nicely priced Calabretta Etna Rosso 2001 Nerello that was a knockout.

High, high reco. If you're in the area, go there. Old Vine Cafe is the website, also the Facebook page.

Hey Hoke isn't Rocaforte cheese

Condiments of the seasoning.

This is one of the restuarants we considered when we staying nearby at for AWS at the Hilton, but went instead to The Capital Grille.

Might have been different if we'd had your review then

Hey Hoke isn't Rocaforte cheese

Condiments of the seasoning.

Liniments of the Season to you, too! (We just hauled a 10' tree into the house.)

This is one of the restuarants we considered when we staying nearby at for AWS at the Hilton, but went instead to The Capital Grille.

Might have been different if we'd had your review then

The AWS was why I was there, Peter. Did two different seminars there. Cognac/Armagnac and Aromatizzato! Great crowd. Very appreciative.

Oh gosh

That's the second time we've both been at AWS and not met...

[Jenise]

Hoke, Orange County is really getting some great restaurants. Kind of like Oakland vs. SF, lower income neighborhoods with property values closer to affordable, like Santa Ana, are seeing a true resurgence. Quite a difference from the way things were when I lived there, where nearly all restaurants were corporate/chain types because no one else could afford the rents.