Westend

Westend is a hidden gem! The food was top-tier—crispy authentic fish and chips, juicy chicken sandwich, and wings that were tender and delicious. Even though we didn’t stay long, the atmosphere was super inviting and definitely a place I’d bring friends to chill. Jon provided excellent service and made us feel welcome. 5 stars all the way!

I used to go to Westend a lot pre covid, and just started coming again recently, I have to say I am excited about the changes they have made. The biggest update is their outdoor back patio, it’s fully enclosed and has cool umbrella-covered dining tables, a stage for live music and stuff to do like ping pong, and corn hole; it’s the perfect spot to grab an afternoon drink and you can even bring the kids who can play games while you hang with friends. They have also revamped their food and drink menus and I can can’t say enough good things, the bangers & mash and hamburger are unreal…the rumarita is my go to drink but I may be partial. 🖤

I moved to Costa Mesa not long ago and have been looking for a good local pub. I walked by Westend with my dog one day and planned on stopping in for a drink, and ended up staying for 5 hours. John and Sue behind the bar are fantastic and chef Jordan developed a really thoughtful menu with French-inspired dishes you’d expect to find at more of a traditional sit-down restaurant. Overall, the people and the vibes are unmatched. Can’t recommend enough. They are also dog friendly which is huge for me.

We were looking for a place to eat before a show and randomly picked Westend and it did not disappoint. The owner was exceedingly kind and it the atmosphere beautiful and intimate. We had the most amazing fried asparagus appetizer that had a perfect crunch, not soggy like most fried apps and I cannot stop thinking about the burger I had, one of the best I've ever tasted. Can't wait to go back.

Food: West end from the outside seems like a local small bar with dark exteriors and quirky interior. Yes, the main thing is drinks and their own crafted cocktails. However it’s a hidden gem for southern-inspired food. With offerings like fried pickles, chicken and andouille po’boy, and shrimp and chicken jambalaya, they offer dishes inspired in southern, Cajun and creole cuisines. We ordered a Dauphin St Po’boy and a Duke burger. The burger was ok, with a heavy hand in pepper and salt, but beyond that expected flavors for a burger. The po’boy was flavorful and really good. Soft, yet toasted bread filled with the chicken, trinity veggies, good pieces of andouille, sauce, and cheese. The flavors complemented each other well and was well executed. For the sides we ordered their baked beans that had maple, bourbon and bacon. Those beans were made to perfection with a thick sweet sauce where you could feel hints of maple coming through and bits of bacon. And for desert we ordered the beignets. WOW! They were soft, perfectly golden pillows. If you go, please leave room for the beignets. It’s a must! Price: The prices were fair for the portions and service. Service: the service was amazing!! Our server was so nice, friendly, and attentive. They also never made us feel rushed which was great. Atmosphere: While there was a bit of light when we arrived, we quickly realized the place is really dark and small. We were given a candle but maybe adding a tad more lighting with fairy lights or something might help. Parking: there is no parking for this place, but there’s a supermarket across the street that has enough parking for all! Overall great place, very unexpected but I loved it. Will definitely come back!

The staff is fantastic, the best customer service hands down. They know the menu, will cater recommendations to your tastes, and will even offer tasters. The food takes a little while to cook, but it's well worth the wait. Get the fried pickles and the Brussels sprouts!

Super quaint local joint with fun and terrific service. Spanish, French, Italian menu with a Southern/creole flair. Westend gets super busy on Friday nights but is fun and worthwhile any night. Top dishes here are Jambalaya (superb), squid ink pasta, and lobster mac and cheese; all dishes are made in house daily. Pizzas are super thin crust Italian style. HINT: Try their sangria; they make it in batches with their own homemade syrup and real fruit steamed in the mix for a long long time

Genuinely surprised by this little hole in the wall! So glad i stumbled upon this constantly evolving menu, with fresh well sourced ingredients. The food was so good we didn’t even take pictures, that’s probably says a lot. We started off with the poutine, the gravy was thick and savory and the cheese curds were just the cherry on top. (8/10) So creamy and the perfect late night pick up. We moved onto the ceviche which is drenched in coconut milk and lit our palettes up! With crispy chips on the side for a dip! (5/10) We ended with the pork Katsu sandwich which was definitely an (9/10) for me, it really suited my palette with a bit of a sour citrusy inner and a thick piece of perfectly cooked pork, sitting nicely between to slices of milk bread! Perfection!

Amazing spot! We only planned on grabbing a quick bite before heading back to the IE, but the food blew us away. My son said, the chicken sandwich was perfect, the wings fell right off the bone, and my other son and I thought the fish & chips tasted legitimately British. Even though we didn't stay long, the atmosphere was incredibly inviting and definitely a place I'd bring friends to hang out. The ambience was relaxing and had a great hangout vibe. Jon's hospitality made the visit even better. Highly recommend!

I've been coming here again the last few months. I've come to know they have new owners and just recently got the kitchen open! I've been to a few events here with different Dj's but I love when they have disco nights. I love when Sue is behind the bar because she always has good cocktail recommendations and she's always so nice.

Cozy spot with a big back patio for live music. The place is new (July 2025?) so they didn't have food yet, but great drink service. Informal with a very friendly staff.

Cocktails are amazing! Food is really delicious! The restaurant/bar makes you feel at home and is the absolute best!

This is one of my fav places to go out for a drink & a bite. We always have a great time here! Amazing staff and the food/drinks NEVER miss. My go to is a chocolate starfish, veggie empanadas, and beignets.

Chelsea our server/bartender was amazing, we shared great conversation with her and one of the owners of Westend, Kaylee. The food was super good, great drink choices w/ a variety of unique alcohol choices too (which can be made into mock-tails). Love that they are open again. I also love the funky vibe that Westend has great feeling and is quaint. Want a fun date night out or a night with friends? I highly recommend Westend.

The burger is excellent. Atmosphere is fun and totally well thought out. Great neighborhood bar with good food! Fun for anyone..not stuffy. Ashley the bartender welcoming. She knows the whole set up and got us going on food and drinks right away. Really great music playing!

Last thing I had here was the Westend Burger and before that it was the Franklin. Both choices were very good. The service and bevys were excellent as well. I'll be back

They are OPEN, and I can't wait to try their awesome food. They smoked their meat and I'm coming back for it. They have an awesome selection of cocktails.

We had a private event here tonight for a 30th birthday and it was such a blast! First and foremost, Kayleigh and Dax gave us top notch customer service. Went above and beyond to make my husband's 30th memorable and personable. The food was yummy and the drinks were strong. Can't ask for much more! The bartender was super sweet and kept things moving a great pace! We will have more future events here!

Restaurant Bar with a Loaded Menu! 3.5 Stars! This restaurant serves huge portions. They do have outdoor dining and do take reservations. The menu sports various dishes and appetizers. This includes jambalaya, fishing ships, deviled eggs, tater tots...All of which we tried. Jambalaya- I have very high hopes for the jambalaya but it was AOK. If you are expecting NOLA Jambalaya, this is not yet. But, the portion was huge. Fish and Chips were AOK. The fishi and chips were also AOK. Lots of French fries. My favorite dish was the deviled eggs. The deviled eggs were flavorful and Pretty darn good. Customer service was also AOK. It was not very personable. Parking is pretty difficult. If there is a street parking in front of the restaurant or down the block further, the easiest is to park across the street in the shopping plaza. Overall an AOK experience. I would like to come back again and try other menu items and maybe some drinks.

Beautiful place with some serious intimate vibes and romance. It did throw me off a bit though. For example, the cuisine is unexpected,..it's southern comfort and bbq, which doesn't quite match the romantic ambience. (But the smell of the place is heavenly because who can complain about the smell of bbq.) And it's in the middle of a typical Costa Mesa street with no lot for parking, so you have to find street parking or park in the plaza lot across the street (we didn't get our car towed or anything, and when we called, we were directed to that lot). So it was a bit sketchy. No complaints from me though-- which is why I had this place bookmarked and was so glad to finally make it out here in the midst of the covid madness. The brussel sprouts were good, as were the brisket and the fried chicken. Their macaroni and potato salad left a lot to be desired, though...we left pretty much all of that untouched. The drinks were also yummy. Ultimately though I don't think I would come back. PSA: NOBODY WAS WEARING MASKS, EVEN THE SERVERS AND BARTENDERS. We almost left once we saw this but we were starving and really wanted to try the food. In hindsight it was reckless and it still bothers me, which is why I'm alerting folks here. Dine here at your own risk, but I will say the food is good!

My favorite hidden gem in Costa Mesa. Love the vibe here. Empanadas are my favorite. Drinks are amazing. Staff make you feel at home. Highly recommended!

First time customers and will definitely go back. Great vibe. The owner was super nice and Lauren was awesome!Great fried chicken and sides. Don't pass on this place.

The items I ordered were average. But they have a variety of impressive sounding menu items so I will be back to try something else. The deviled eggs were good with a nice reduction almost like balsamic underneath to provide a little kick. The empanadas were good, homemade, light and mild. The pizza was average - this is not a pizza place. The Franklin sandwich (with Nashville Chicken) was average and rather dry. They smoke their own meats, so I think I'll try that next time. I also heard the Jambalaya is good. Fun ambience in the outdoor patio. It seems to be a lively area with the neighboring establishments blasting party music. I hear this place turns into a big party late at night as well.

Had a pleasant lunch here with the hubby. They didn't have coffee (unfortunately) coz their machine was busted according to the server. We were promptly seated since we arrived right when they opened. The server was attentive but overall service could've been improved. Why? I overheard him say that he was also the bartender so he was pretty busy making drinks and serving customers in their patio area (where we sat). We ordered: - kale salad = generous portion, a bit too acidic to my liking - prosciutto, apple, Brie sandwich with potato chips on the side = enjoyed this very much, nice flavor combination; melty cheese is always a winner - meat sampler with potato and macaroni salads = flavorful but needed more barbecue sauce which we asked for Overall, we enjoyed our lunch. We'll probably return if we're in the area.

Great vibe! Awesome people! food was amazing. Great drinks. Have to try brisket empanadas omg! Mustard sauce amazing and I hate mustard! So good.

Our go to spot. Friendly staff. Awesome food. Strongly suggest giving it a shot, you won't be disappointed. A+++

My girlfriend and I went here for a date night and we got there around when they opened so it wasn't too busy. We just wanted to eat and hang out a bit. The food was very good especially the dessert. We will definitely be back

When we walked into West End last evening, we were pleasantly greeted by the bartender and the server and told we could sit wherver we liked. This is such a pet pieve of mine that you are greeted property when entering a business. My wife and I both own medical business and we pride ourselves on having great staff. It turns out that this is a one woman show in that the bartender was also the owner, the waitstaff, everything. It was her, one server and the chef. Thr dining experience was very nice and food was top shelf. We ordered the meat board, think charcuterie but with pulled pork and brisket.. its a can't miss dish. The atmosphere is great, it's very quaint like a small European restaurant. Our community needs restaurants like this as opposed to thr big corporate chains. These businesses are the essence of our community. We can't recommend the West End enough. We will be back.

Had the best dinner date here. Cocktails were so good and the spot is ultra hip and vibrant even the bathroom was cute as heck. Fun times joking around with the staff and having a great meal.

I had a great time here and people that work are so fun and it is a place to go and unwind. I felt like I was with old friends and I just moved in the area. It's a happy place to grab a drink! I say please support this place in are community . All with great smiles from all. A place to be!!! We need to support them! 100%

So many great things to say about this eclectic, sexy restaurant! The food is outstanding! Some of my favorites are the Mac n cheese(with the brisket), kale salad and the meat platter! They also have the best, thickest, juiciest burger I've ever had. It blows In-n-Out away - no lie! Let's not forget dessert - I've been to Nola MANY of times. Westend's beignets are by far better than any place I've had in New Orleans. They are scrumptious! The owners are super rad and the bartender, Kayleigh, is even more rad! She makes the best drinks. I'm currently not drinking right now so I told her a few things I was craving and she whipped up a couple different mocktails for me. Super sweet lady! I highly recommend! You won't be disappointed.

Incredible spot! The drinks are beautiful, delicious and strong. The smoked BBQ meat platter was juicy, satisfying and like a portal into the south, each bite a marriage between traditional Texas BBQ and New Orleans.... Had brussel sprouts, mac and cheese, BEIGNETS , kale salad... perfect spot for a date night :) The bartender Kayleigh was a total sweetheart and gave rockstar service. Highly recommend. Looking forward to next time!

I have been up and down 19th street for years and witnessed the influx of new bars and restaurants. Westend by far is the best I have visited. Across the street is El Metate Market and La Canada, that is saved for another favorable review. What drew us in is the smoker out front with the $10 lunch sign. Wow, what a score. We had the pulled pork sandwich and brisket sandwich . The Chef/Pit Master is a craftsman. If you like smoked meat this is a must go. Just enough rub and smoke, meat was tender and moist as you would hope. The bonus is they put the BBQ sauce on the side not on the meat. There is so much more on the menu and the cocktail selection looks great too. Highly recommend.

I got to spend a night out with my girlfriends here and I really digged the vibe of this place. It is located in the gentrified area of Costa Mesa so the location can be janky but what mattered to me here was the food, cocktails, and company (of course). Both ambiance and music were a bonus that transported me to New Orleans for the night. Yeah, baby! Starting off with cocktails, their list is pretty impressive with my favorite being the New York Sour. It's a Boston Sour variation with red wine among the many ingredients as well as shaken egg white which I always love in my drink. The Rose Sour was also very delicious. Appetizers you shouldn't miss are the Calamari and Brussels Sprouts. I can't emphasize enough how these are a must. Meanwhile, skip the Squid Ink Pasta w/ Crab - very mild squid flavor and all you can taste is lemon. I really enjoyed the Jambalaya as well as everyone else on the table. It was a more generous serving vs the other dishes so definitely a great value there. If in the mood for a panini, the Apple, Prosciutto, and Brie will sure to please. As for dessert, Beignets and the Fried Peanut Butter Sandwiches were what we devoured but if I have to pick one, I liked the texture of the latter better. Westend is a perfect example of a hole-in-the-wall that you may easily miss while driving but I strongly suggest you don't. Parking: street and plaza right across.

Must say I was a bit disappointed. After reading the reviews I really wanted to check out the place. So much so our group stopped by after our early dinner and had our 2nd dinner of the night just to try the food. Pro: cute decor, good drinks the shrimp po-boy was decent flavor. Con: 1. The place was half empty but we still had to wait to order, get our food, ask for our bill 2. The food was bland. The lobster Mac and cheese needed pepper and salt. The jambalaya was very watery and more marinara sauce then jambalaya (as seen in my picture). Really wanted it to be more then what I got. 3. The place didn't have AC. Or if they did it wasn't turned in. When we were there it was later in the night and the restaurant was half empty. Can't imagine how it would be if it's pack in the summer time. Overall, like some reviews said this is more of a neighborhood bar to grab a drink and chat for the local. Would not say I will be back.

Our favorite cozy neighborhood spot! Great cocktails and the food is incredible. The best bbq in town. Don't sleep on this place!

quaint little joint, feels nice on a not-overly-hot afternoon - definitely need the menu to expand back up a bit as wet came for some particular dishes but totems out they're not serving them currently (soft "re-opening" stage) ... music is a little overbearing and loud , hard to have a conversation (even though it's relatively smoove jazz & sinatra - it's LOUD ‍)

I've been here a few times and every time the food has been amazing! The atmosphere is very relaxing and cozy. The bartenders are super nice and attentive too. It's a little hard to find but worth it!

My boyfriend and I stumbled upon this place last night and it didn't disappoint. Casey was the bartender and made some of the best cocktails I've ever had. We didn't order food but it looked everything that came out of the kitchen looked amazing. Will definitely be back!

Cool ambience, good food great service. Fun drinks. Good for a date night or just a casual dinner

I went here tonight on a first date and was very impressed by the staff and service. Everyone was so kind and attentive. It was very inviting. The food was also delicious. Truly exceeded my expectations.

Best smoked Brisket in OC and The Duke burger is hands down the best burger in SoCal. Great vibe and bar

So happy to have stumbled across this restaurant. I made reservations on yelp and showed up to eat here with my boyfriend's family and our dog after a day at the beach. We were seated out back since we had the dog with us. I do wish their tables were a little nicer/bigger out in the back because the current tables they do have back there made me feel like I was sitting in someones backyard eating. We ordered the down south chips to try and I ordered the kale salad with shrimp for myself. The down south chips are addicting! Who doesn't love potato chips smothered in sauce with chicken and sausage! I could not stop eating it and wished I ordered a second one. My kale salad was good! It was lemony with a minty after taste making it very refreshing and the shrimp was delicious. They were so fresh and cooked just right. My boyfriend ordered the crawfish etouffee which was also very delicious. I would come back here to try other dishes they have but more importantly, eat the down south chips again.

The best martini I've ever had. Kayleigh knows what she's doing. Also everything on the menu is 10/10 i drool over this place. Music is always the best too... Dax is untouchable when it comes to vibe curation

I liked this place as it reminded me so much of New Orleans - the vibes and the colorful food. Had reserved through Yelp as we were nearby and almost all the places we were calling to get a reservation - the earliest for 5 people for Italian food or any kind of food seemed to be at 8pm/9pm earliest. Since only one was from around the area, the rest were from all out of town, we didn't want to wait too long to get food as we all still needed to drive. Tyler helped us out with the parking situation and with our running late timing. For parking, they don't have a huge parking lot, and its actually quite minimal. There were two spots to park in the front and then we ended up putting the two cars we were in, in the back. So as many said, street parking/park at your own risk. We ordered Calamari for the appetizer so we had something to snack on as we were ordering the entreés. Which included: Shrimp Shredded Kale Salad - tasty and refreshing. "Best in the West" Veggie Burger- pretty good! I am not a vegetarian but I enjoyed it. It was more sweeter than expected as it was made with beets (I believe) but very refreshing and saucy for a change. Louisiana Jambalaya (2 orders) - DELICIOUS. I had a few bites of one of the orders and I thought it was amazing. If they had a place near me, that's what I would be ordering! Lobster Mac & Cheese - I don't recall if I got to sample it but my girlfriend J who ordered it said it was pretty good. Overall, decent experience. Would come back, but probably with not a large group and definitely carpool so it wont be too bad looking for a spot. Can't say anything for the bathroom as I didn't use it during my visit here. Restaurant has a modernized old school vibe on the interior and a green bush area in the back for more seating.

We gave this spot a second try and wow--what a huge difference!! We went for lunch and sat on the back patio. It was a bit hot out there, but we found a shady table. The service was great and our waitress took very good care of us. We had the Brussels sprouts, which we think were some of the best we've had. You must get them!! We ordered the burger and the veggie pizza (with chicken). Both were so good, especially the pizza! It was exactly what I wanted...artichokes, tomatoes, pesto, garlic and mozzarella...and chicken. The burger was awesome. My husband ate every last bite. The non-alcoholic beverage selection is pretty good and the wine/beer list contains a nice variety. I believe they have a liquor license now, so I can't wait to go back and try a drink and listen to some live music on the patio!

Place has killer ambiance, service and the food was spectacular! We will be back soon! Love it!!!!

Amazing food! Kayleigh is so amazing and always makes me feel right at home!!! Such a cute date night ambiance, and right next door to my favorite bar Three-13!

Hole in the wall restaurant with a hip ambiance! I read the reviews and parked across the street. There was a truck parked in front of the place, so you couldn't even see the sign. Just input the address in your GPS, and you'll be fine. We made reservations for 7pm and were quickly seated. Our server was very attentive and inviting and started off with complimentary corn nibbles (tasted like a homemade version of corn nuts!). My friend and I shared: Brussel Sprouts: SO GOOD. Perfectly complemented by sliced almonds, craisins, and pork belly. Lobster Truffle Mac N Cheese: also delicious! You could taste everything in the name lol Jambalaya: full of flavor, meat (shrimp, sausage, chicken), and perfectly cooked rice. Leftovers were amazing the next day. It was too cold to do outdoor seating, but the inside decor was very cool such as the numerous records on the wall and dim lighting! The music is quite loud, but you'll still be able to have conversations with your party. Next time, I'll have to try the drinks and beignets!

So glad it's back open! Great ambience and even better food. The beignets are so good and pillowy, reminds me of New Orleans. Great date spot

I've been meaning to try this place, so on our way to the air show, we decided to pop in for food and drinks. This is a super cute hipster themed restaurant with great food and service. Jayme was friendly and attentive and we had great fun talking with her. The food is fabulous! We had literally the best tater tots with a fried egg, aioli, and vegan chorizo. So good. We also had yummy fried pickles and my friend had the pulled pork sandwich which he loooooved. Their sides of macaroni salad and potato salad were yummy. I love how they asked up front about dietary restrictions or preferences because they cater to it all- omnivore, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian! Love it. Decor wise it's really hipster and interesting with antique style items paired with old Hollywood and random stuff but it all works somehow. All in all, we will be back. It was awesome! So good. I do recommend they maybe install a tv so we can watch football on sundays but otherwise it's great!

The best food, especially beignets I've ever had! Drinks are phenomenal too! Highly recommend. Service is A+

A small and cute hole-in-the-wall but with limited seating throughout the establishment. Tip: no parking lot so I parked in the residential street next to the strip of businesses. Be forewarned, there is no signage so I had to circle back to find the building. Brussels sprouts: totally sharable or as a side. Crab Squid Ink Pasta: (off the menu) I am a SUCKER for squid ink pasta. They said there's lemon and I'm not a fan of tartness in my food so I asked for less lemon. Nonetheless, it was too lemon-y for me, the pasta was way overcooked and it was quite bland. After a few bites, we felt as if we were eating overcooked lumps of pasta with bland crab. I had high hopes for this dish, especially since it came highly recommended by our waiter. Lobster truffle Mac & Cheese: you can definitely taste the truffle flavor and there were huge chunks of lob-sta. It had a crusty garlic bread crumble on top, giving it a nice crunch as you eat the creamy pasta underneath. I'd order this again if I ever come back.

This place is practically for Yelpers only since the signage is a big fat ZERO (see picture). It's word of mouth only (the way the owner wants it, apparently) and Yelp is leading the way. The decor and seating at Westend is interesting and comfortable. Our waitress/bartender could not have been nicer. There are about five tables outside in the back which look like they could be nice for an evening meal or drink. My son ordered the avocado hamburger and it was fabulous. The party was seasoned with what I can only guess was onion soup mix and was cooked perfectly. It came on a (somewhat slightly over-) toasted brioche bun which was pretty huge. I had the jambalaya which had lots of interesting characteristics (the first of which is that the serving size was huge). If you LOVE chili powder then this is the dish for you - it is in there in abundance. Each meat component in the dish was cooked beautifully (shrimp, chicken, sausage). None of it was tough or overdone. The rice was shockingly undercooked and gave the whole dish a little texture that I wasn't looking for. If they'd backed off the chili powder a bit and gotten the rice right then this dish would be stellar. The good news is that both of these things are easily remedied. I have to admit that I kinda liked the no signage part of Westend. It felt a little like I was walking into a private club or speakeasy. The food was good and the ambience was nice. I'd probably come back here the next time I was in town.

First time at Westend, even though it's been around for years! Can't believe we hadn't tried it sooner. First off, the food was unbelievably good. We got the fried pickles, double fried fries, The Duke Burger and Nashville Fried Chicken. Everything was great. Kudos to the chef & kitchen! Secondly, the drinks were true quality cocktails. We ordered two cocktails off the menu, The Venetian Quest and Medusa's Venom, and loved them both. I then ordered a Bee'a Knees and let the bartender use her creativity. She completely blew me away - it was so good! Made with a special spicy honey. I loved it. Not to mention, the owners were great people, staff is friendly, and everyone is down to chat. We will definitely be going back!

New girl working was not very educated about the food they served and drinks she made were sub par. Very unbalanced flavors. Very nice girl but just need some work. Food was good service was okay!

Outstanding food at reasonable prices. My table got the Brussels sprouts and brisket empanadas to start. The sprouts were roasted and tossed with a tasty sauce and a bright cabbage salad. My entree was the brisket bbq sandwich which was wonderful, 10/10!