Travel Costa Mesa Blog
Mother’s Day 2023: Brunches, Shopping, Facials and More in Costa Mesa
Where to take mom for Mother’s Day? Look no further than Costa Mesa! We’ve rounded up just some of the fun, delicious things to do to celebrate Mom this year in the City of the Arts®.
Mother’s Day Brunch
The list is long and distinguished, but here’s just a sampling of the great Costa Mesa restaurants offering Mother’s Day brunch or specials.
Silver Trumpet: Brunch buffet from 10am-2pm. Use the QR code on the graphic to reserve!
Ayres Hotel: Brunch buffet from 10am-2pm. Click the link for the menu and reservations.
Outpost Kitchen: Special Mother’s Day choices; live music 11am-2pm.
Randy’s Donuts: MOM Donut alert! Get your Mother’s Day “MOM donuts” (Bavarian cream-filled with pink icing) May 10-14 at all locations. 2 locations in Costa Mesa.
Playa Mesa: Brunch from 9am – 2pm plus free champagne for mom with entree.
The Capital Grille: Moms are treated to a rose & such brunch specials as lobster frittata, blueberry bread, steak & eggs or — new this year — smoked salmon & caviar. 10 am-2 pm. A la carte dinner options available all day. Bookings here.
Cafe Sevilla is serving brunch from 11am-3pm with bottomless mimosas.
Knife Pleat: A luxurious tea service on Saturday between 11:30 am – 1:45 pm. Reservations here.
Mastro’s: Perhaps dinner is more Mom’s flavor, and you know she’ll be thrilled to eat at Mastro’s. Enjoy sizzling dry-aged steaks, incredible seafood, cocktails and live entertainment Sunday evening.
What about a luxe experience at Petrossian by Tiffany? Check out this recent MSN article.
Shopping
South Coast Plaza has a roster of great Mother’s Day shopping offers and events, including a macaron-making class on May 15 and a must-see Cartier pop-up.
Costa Mesa Courtyards is giving away a $200 gift card to the center for Mom’s Day. Check out their Instagram to enter @shopcostamesa.
The LAB will have two floral pop-ups May 13 and 14 so you can pick up beautiful arrangements by local florists. More information here.
Facials…and Other Events
The Facial Lounge is a wonderful Costa Mesa spot to treat Mom for a future visit. Enjoy one of their organic, vegan facials and their delighful day spa. Visit their site for gift cards or to book treatments.
For those on a budget who still want to treat Mom, BodyCentre Day Spa is offering a 50-minute weekday massage special for $59. M-Thurs booking. They offer gift certificates and many different services including emerald laser, facials, personal training, emerald laser, colon hydrotherapy and much more.
The Wine Lab is hosting a Mother’s Day Candle-Making Workshop Sunday from 6-8pm. What better way to workshop than with wine?
Locale Magazine has a list of fun, free things to do in OC right now(don’t miss free admission to the Orange County Museum of Art!) plus different ways to celebrate Mom in OC.
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Time to Try These 5 Hot New Restaurants in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa’s place is secured as the hottest culinary city in Orange County. With 3 Michelin Star restaurants, two Bravo TV “Top Chefs” and James Beard Award nominees, Costa Mesa boasts an incredible array of restaurants that make it the perfect place to plan your next Eatcation®.
Check out these 5 new hotspots to dine in Costa Mesa!
Palenque Kitchen
Palenque Kitchen opened in Costa Mesa’s Westside neighborhood in late 2022 and has already been getting rave reviews. Palenque focuses on regional Mexican cuisine from Oaxaca with a modern twist by Executive Chef Gabriela Gomez. They also have a full bar with emphasis on cocktails deriving from agave, with one of the largest Mezcal and Tequila selections in Orange County. Palenque is open late Fridays and Saturdays with a nightclub vibe…plus, find happy hour every day from 5-6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with single tacos as low as $5. 1749 Newport Blvd., Costa Mesa. https://www.palenquekitchen.com/location/orange-county/
Hong Sushi & Ramen
Hong Sushi and Ramen is a new spot in Costa Mesa’s Westside neighborhood offering the freshest sushi including hamachi, toro, tako, unagi, ebi and much more. Try happy hour every day from 2-5 p.m. Monday through Friday with $5-7 appetizers and $5 sake. 2075 Newport Blvd. Ste 108, Costa Mesa. https://sushiwaveinc.com/
Simply Fish Seafood
Simply Fish Seafood Restaurant was created by Derek Taguchi, a native Southern Californian, third-generation Japanese American with a passion for fishing and seafood. He’s trying to offer seafood usually only found at high-end dining establishments to the everday seafood lover. Select from daily catches of Pacific halibut, ahi, mahi mahi, salmon, whitefish or scallops cooked in your choice of lemon garlic butter, blackened Cajun, or teriyaki. They have Taco Tuesday specials, sandwiches, bowls and even Keto-friendly dishes. 1534 Adams Ave. Ste. D, Costa Mesa. https://www.simplyfishseafood.com/
Mezzo Calzone
Mezzo is making high quality traditional Italian calzones in a variety of flavors. The calzone’s outer crust is baked to crispy perfection while the doughy inside filling contains a blend of ricotta and mozzarella cheeses along side an assortment of hearty meats and vegetables. We love the pesto calzone pictured. 440 Fair Dr. #106, Costa Mesa. https://www.mezzocalzones.com/
MIAN South Coast Plaza
The Michelin Bib Gourmand-award-winning MIÀN Gourmet Sichuan Noodle opened at South Coast Plaza in October 2022. MIÀN is the brainchild of James Beard Award-nominated Chef Tony Xu from Los Angeles. Find a variety of noodle soups with bold, spicy flavors, plus a variety of other traditional Sichuan dishes on the menu. 3333 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. https://www.southcoastplaza.com/directory/mian/
Honorable Mention: FOLKS Pizzeria
We know, it’s not new – but people are calling it the best little pizzeria in OC. Eater LA featured it this week and the OC Register exalted its amazing crust. Folks Pizzeria is a full-service, dine-in experience with limited seats and pizza oven capacity so you may wait a minute for the deliciousness. Walk-ins & reservations for dine-in are welcomed. The CAMP, 2937 Bristol St., Costa Mesa. folkshospitality.com
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Posted in Food
Costa Mesa’s “Ramen Row” – Overflowing With Flavor
Did you know Costa Mesa has its very own “Ramen Row”? As Costa Mesa continues to build its image as an Eatcation® destination, a street in the urban center of the city is home to a number of outstanding ramen hotspots. Noodle houses, specifically ramen ones, are coveted by locals and visitors alike to the city. The soul-satisfying broth potent with umami flavor, juxtaposed with jammy egg, green onion and a flurry of toppings is a feast for the senses.
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Posted in Food
Top Tips for Mother’s Day Brunch in Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa has every option you need to treat mom to a perfect Mother’s Day brunch. Whether mom’s up for an elegant Michelin-star experience or a lively brunch, the table’s set for you, mom and the family to enjoy the special celebration. Read on for some ideas of where to brunch in Costa Mesa.
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5 ways to spend Thanksgiving in Costa Mesa
What if you could skip the cooking and enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner at one of our celebrated restaurants, take the family to a holiday event AND get your shopping done Black Friday or Small Business Saturday? Enjoy your break with these 5 ways to spend Thanksgiving in Costa Mesa. Visit during the holidays and get one of our holiday hotel deals starting as low as $99.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Several Costa Mesa restaurants are serving up some delicious Thanksgiving dinners. Silver Trumpet Restaurant & Bar, in Avenue of the Arts, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, is serving a family-style, prix fixe menu. Choose between butternut squash fritters or corn chowder for a starter, market greens or baby arugula salad, turkey and ham or prime rib for the entree and, for dessert, pumpkin creme brulee or carrot cake. All meals come with stuffing, mashed potatoes and green beans.
Le Chateau Garden Bistro, at Ayres Hotel Costa Mesa / Newport Beach, has a 3-course Thanksgiving menu, plus complimentary glass of house wine with fresh baked sourdough bread and olive tapenade. Choose between butternut squash soup or winter green salad to start. The entree is an oven roasted sliced turkey breast with port gravy, creamy mashed potatoes, fresh roasted winter vegetables and homemade stuffing with Italian sausage and herbs. For dessert, choose pumpkin pie with whipped cream and caramel sauce or apple crisp with vanilla bean ice cream.
Cafe Sevilla, in Triangle Square, has a three-course menu (two-course for kids) that includes choices of starter, entree and dessert. The full dinner menu is also available.
The Capital Grille dine-in option comes with slow-roasted turkey with brioche stuffing, French green beans, cranberry-pear chutney, Sam’s mashed potatoes and pumpkin cheesecake. There’s also a take home option with all of the sides that serves 4.
If you’re eating Thanksgiving Dinner at home, Mastro’s, named best steakhouse byThe Orange County Register, has you covered with their family dinner kits for 4. The cook-at-home kits come with Caesar salad, three-bone prime rib with au jus and creamy horseradish, garlic mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, creamed corn, creamed spinach and cinnamon pecan butter cake.
Vaca is also offering a Thanksgiving to-go package that serves 4 to 6. The dinner includes a whole roasted Mary’s Farm all-natural turkey with gravy, roasted squash and banana soup, buttermilk chives mashed potatoes, orange scented cranberry sauce, Santana famous Italian sausage corn bread stuffing, bourbon and maple glazed yams with candied pistachios, charred broccolini with toasted garlic and preserved lemons. Plus, four desserts to choose from: pecan pie, pumpkin pie, apple pie or cheesecake.
For South Coast Plaza restaurants offering Thanksgiving dinner options, click here.
Night of Lights OC
Get in the holiday spirit with Night of Lights OC at OC Fair & Event Center! Opening the day after Thanksgiving, the drive-thru experience is a perfect family-friendly event. Enjoy the mile-long winter wonderland filled with characters, snow and over a million lights. You might just spot Santa too! Pre-order holiday treats to eat during the drive. If you go opening weekend, you can receive 40% off with the code BLACKFRIDAY.
A Christmas Carol at South Coast Repertory
A Christmas Carol returns live to the stage at South Coast Repertory! The Orange County family tradition will feature SCR founding member Richard Doyle taking on the role of Ebenezer Scrooge. Bring the whole family to see the classic story from Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol opens November 27.
Black Friday
Where else should you spend Black Friday except the largest shopping destination on the West Coast? Shop what they call “Fabulous Friday” at South Coast Plaza, which has 250 boutiques and 30 restaurants to choose from. Check the South Coast Plaza calendar for the Black Friday specials you just can’t miss.
Small Business Saturday
Support Small Business Saturday in Costa Mesa at The LAB Anti-Mall, The CAMP, SOCO and The OC Mix and more. The LAB has celebrated the “Little American Business” for over 25 years. The indoor/outdoor space hosts an eclectic array of small businesses including a zero waste refill shop, record store, boutiques in Airstream trailers and more. Across the street at The CAMP, you’ll find another collection of unique shops such as SEED Peoples Market which carries ethical and eco-friendly clothes, accessories and home goods. There’s even a shop within Blackmarket Bakery with fun gift ideas.
The variety of boutiques at SOCO and The OC Mix continues to grow. Within The OC Mix, you can find Savory Spice Shop with great gift collections for home cooks, The Mixing Glass for the mixologist of the family, clothing boutiques and a recently opened luxury pet store. SOCO and The OC Mix hosts an annual Small Business Saturday event with tenants offering special discounts at shops and restaurants. There’s even a special event for kids from 11:00am to 12:00pm with hot cocoa, treats and a sing-a-long with Mrs. Claus!
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