Pueblo (Costa Mesa)

[ps99472]

http://www.yelp.com/biz/pueblo-costa-mesa-2http://www.pueblotapas.com/

A cozy little tapas restaurant located at the OC Mix (parking and dedicated seating! nice!), we stopped by for lunch today.  It was a fun experience.  We had a large party and my wife called ahead and they were able to accomodate.  Got a nice booth right near the bar.  One of the owners came by to greet us which is always nice. 

Lunch menu

Queso fundido

Jamon iberico

Seafood paella

Oyster bocadillo

Close up of the oyster sandwich (great use of kale)

Goat cheese cake

Bread pudding

The fried oyster sandwich is the sandwich to get here.  Brininess of the oysters, tender pork, and all those rich flavors to be paired with a kale salad.. It was really good.  Highly recommend it, a ps9 thumbs up!

They have one of my favorite IPAs on draft, the Alesmith IPA.  Friendly service and even the chef came out to greet us in the end.  I hope they make it, definitely a memorable experience today. 

 

[irvinehomeowner]

ps9 is always able to find something with tentacles where ever he eats.

 

[ps99472]

You know me too well, you should order the 'dragon whiskers' at Sam Woo next time, it's one of my favorites.

 

[JustSayin]

Goat cheesecake sounds interesting.
How was it?

 

[ps99472]

It was ok, better use of it in the fundido, I would go with the bread pudding more.  The owner was gracious enough to comp us a couple dishes without us asking, including the goat cheese cake.  Don't remember the last time we dined out where there is so much interaction with a restaurant, a nice change.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

@ps9:

Your new avatar is freaking me out.

 

[irvinehomeowner]

 

[JustSayin]

It was ok, better use of it in the fundido, I would go with the bread pudding more.  The owner was gracious enough to comp us a couple dishes without us asking, including the goat cheese cake.  Don't remember the last time we dined out where there is so much interaction with a restaurant, a nice change.

What's the black stuff on top of the fundido?  (NO, QWERTY, DON"T DO IT!!)

 

[ps99472]

Truffle

 

[ps99472]

Looks like they won OC Mags best restaurant category in the latest issue,  can't wait to go back.

 

[orange_curtain]

I've heard this place is good.

 

[ps99472]

Still one of our favorite places to dine in OC, free corkage first bottle, accomadating service, and the food is great.  The short rib two ways above is delicious, mustard seed, braised rib, carpaccio, on a crunchy crostini, pair with your favorite red and get ready to slap your mama

 

[bones]

Still one of our favorite places to dine in OC, free corkage first bottle, accomadating service, and the food is great.  The short rib two ways above is delicious, mustard seed, braised rib, carpaccio, on a crunchy crostini, pair with your favorite red and get ready to slap your mama

cosign.  i think it's actually better than vaca.

 

[ps99472]

Haven't tried Vaca, made 4 reservations past month but ended canceling all of them.  The reviews on Yelp didn't help.