Old Vine Cafe

Get out of the urban jungle and linger in the serenity of a rustic European café. No need to pack your bags because your destination is Costa Mesa. Just a mile from South Coast Plaza, Old Vine Café represents an otherworldly dining experience. Plates are small so you can share, try a lot of dishes, pace yourself and ditch the race-to-the-finish-line mentality. Have breakfast until 3 p.m. Just don’t expect bacon, pancakes or waffles. Think crepes, omelets and quiche, with homemade nut butters and marmalades for the breads. Lunch selections include salads, panini and small plates. Unleash your sense of adventure and creativity at dinner. Choose the seasonal, vegetarian or original tasting menu, consisting of four small plates, with or without wine pairings. And/or, pick some dishes from the regular menu of pasta, salads and small plates, paired with an optional half glass of wine. When it’s warm, the earthy wooden dining room goes open-air. The large windows are opened to connect to the leafy outdoor patio framed by redwood trees. Old Vine Café is located in the Camp, a lifestyle center where you can also dine at Native Foods and 118 Degrees. Across the street at the Lab, there’s Gypsy Den, Habana and Zipangu. Memphis and Rooster Café are also neighborhood faves.

Tips: Mix and match to suit your tastes. The tasting menu says per person, but feel free to break the rules. Your party of two is encouraged to order one taste and supplement it with choices from the regular menu. Or order two different tastes and you end up with eight dishes to share. Community tables outside create the sociability of a European café, with one notable exception: no alcohol outdoors. Dinnertime is very popular, so reservations are strongly recommended.

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