Mangia da Maggiano, Italo-Americano at its Best! and other Costa Mesa, CA Restaurant Reviews

Restaurant Name: Maggiano's Little Italy/Corner Bakery

In a nutshell, Maggiano's is a pleasant spot for Italian-American dining and for gathering with family and friends.

There are many locations of Maggiano's but the one in Costa Mesa is in a particularly lovely area, just a few steps away from the popular South Coast Plaza and fantastic Orange County Performing Arts Center.

Overall, the menu is satisfying, offering a variety of pastas, meats and salads. Maggiano's is a step above the more visible Italian food chain in America, Olive Garden. Maggiano is closer to authentic than OG.

Connected to the main restaurant of Maggiano's is the Corner Bakery which is more for people who are on-the-go. The cheesy garlic rolls are to die for! Hopefully, these will be continued on the menu. Ask for one!

The restaurant gets too dark at night for me but I can overlook this. Perhaps the obscuirty is romantic but I would rather have more light. On weekends and nights, the restuarant is most crowded of course, so therefore it gets very lively in the dining area. Music from Sinatra, Dean Martin and other, similar crooners is often played on the speakers and live performed by wanna-bes Rat Pack types.

Favorite Dish: Stuffed Mushrooms!

It's just an appetizer but it was filling and tasty! It has the feeling of eating meat without being meat. The mushrooms were portabello of course!!

For a dinner dish, I would reccomend the Chicken Vesuvio. Leave some room in your stomach for this!

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Theme: Italian
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Address: 3333 Bristol St. , Costa Mesa, CA 92626-1811
Website: http://www.maggianos.com/locations/detail.asp?sid=001%2E025%2E0081

Restaurant Name: Vie de France bakery and cafe

Though it is likely not quite up to the strict standards of the French, Vie de France is satisfying enough indeed , especially for Californians. Vie de France is a regular place that I go to when I have been in Costa Mesa throughout the several years in the area.

Inside of South Coast Plaza is the Costa Mesa bakery/cafe and this one just may be the busiest one in the chain. Everytime that I stop by here, the restuarant seating is full or near capacity. It is nice quite as nice to dine in. The tables are so close together in a fairly tight space and there is no outdoor dining here to enjoy a cool breeze. In my opinion, it would be better to try a baked item, like a croissant or brioche, and have it to go than to dine here.

Favorite Dish: spinach croissant - a favorite of mine and my mother that is available in the bakery area (for pick-up only)

Any salad on the menu would be great, try niçiose, a typical French one.

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Theme: French
Comparison: about average
Prices: US$11-20  » Currency Converter
Phone: 714.557.1734
Address: 3333 Bristol St
Directions: Inside South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa.. of the 55 freeway
Website: http://www.viedefrance.com/