News Summary
Costa Mesa’s dining scene is set for a delicious transformation with SOCIAL Kitchen + Craft Bar launching a Southern-inspired dinner menu, highlighted by its bass taco. Taco Tuesdays add to the excitement for taco lovers. Additionally, Verde has opened its doors, offering a fresh and sustainable dining experience with a vegetable-centric menu led by Executive Chef Paula Balderrama. Together, these venues promise innovative flavors and a unique culinary experience in the area.
Costa Mesa welcomes a flavorful addition to its culinary scene with the introduction of SOCIAL Kitchen + Craft Bar’s innovative Southern-inspired dinner menu featuring the popular bass taco. The restaurant, known for its distinctive take on Southern cooking under Executive Chef Jeffrey Boullt, also hosts Taco Tuesdays, making it a must-visit for taco enthusiasts. Meanwhile, a new dining experience has emerged in the area with the recent opening of Verde on November 15, 2023, located at 2675 Irvine Ave, Suite D1.
The highlight of SOCIAL Kitchen + Craft Bar’s menu is the bass taco, which showcases a blend of vibrant flavors that cater to adventurous palates. At the heart of this dish is the bass, which is sourced from Baja, Mexico. The fish is skillfully battered using a mix of beer, soda water, cornstarch, and flour before being fried at a low temperature. This cooking process ensures a crispy exterior while maintaining a flaky interior that is sure to delight taco lovers.
The bass taco is meticulously assembled starting with a house-made avocado mousse that combines avocado, buttermilk, cilantro, Serrano chiles, and lime. This creamy base is topped with a fresh citrusy slaw, made with Meyer lemon, Weiser Family Farms cabbage, and red onion, all enhanced by olive oil and shiro dashi. A smoky and spicy housemade salsa macha, featuring garlic, onions, peanuts, and a unique blend of three chiles—guajillo, morita, and chile de arbol—adds an extra layer of flavor. To finish, the taco is garnished with cilantro blossoms, adding a visually appealing touch.
Just a short distance away, Verde introduces an entirely different dining concept with a focus on sustainability and seasonally sourced ingredients. The name “Verde,” reflecting its location at the intersection of Mesa Verde and Irvine, signifies a commitment to fresh and vibrant cuisine. The two-story venue includes an upper level that offers 70 seats, characterized by fern-colored walls, creating a welcoming atmosphere for diners.
Executive Chef Paula Balderrama has curated a vegetable-centric menu at Verde, featuring signature dishes that highlight the freshness of ingredients. Guests can enjoy charred broccolini dressed with mustard grain and roasted pickled carrots served in a creamy verde sauce. Additionally, a vegetarian fall verde curry is available, catering to plant-based diners. For those seeking protein options, the menu includes rib-eye cap with anchovy herb butter and salmon accompanied by romesco, sweet peppers, and corn.
One of the standout offerings at Verde is the seafood stew, which sets itself apart by utilizing an herbaceous white wine sauce instead of the traditional spicy red broth. This creative approach reflects the restaurant’s dedication to innovative cuisine and seasonal flavors.
Complementing the food offerings, Verde’s bar program boasts a carefully curated wine list featuring both Old World and local selections, as well as vinho verde, Portugal’s renowned green wine. The cocktail menu mirrors the restaurant’s commitment to using fresh ingredients, incorporating “green” elements such as spiced pear, dill, and green chartreuse into their drink recipes.
Bar Verde, situated on the lower level of the venue, provides a moody ambiance with a 40-seat lounge atmosphere, offering an assortment of elevated bar bites for patrons to enjoy. This setup allows for a seamless transition between the dining area and the bar, providing customers with a unique dining experience.
Verde is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., while Bar Verde operates from Tuesday to Saturday, welcoming guests from 5 p.m. to midnight. With the combination of SOCIAL Kitchen + Craft Bar and Verde, Costa Mesa is set to enrich its dining landscape with an array of innovative culinary delights.
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Additional Resources
- Orange Coast: SOCIAL Kitchen + Craft Bar
- Wikipedia: Costa Mesa
- LA Times: Dining in Costa Mesa
- Google Search: Costa Mesa restaurants
- Modern Luxury: Verde Restaurant
- Google Scholar: Southern Cuisine Costa Mesa
- OC Register: Best Eats March
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Southern Cooking
- LA Times: Top Chef Alum in Costa Mesa
- Google News: Costa Mesa New Restaurants
Author: STAFF HERE COSTA MESA WRITER
COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER The COSTA MESA STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERECostaMesa.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Costa Mesa, Orange County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the OC Fair, Concerts in the Park, and Fish Fry. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce and Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, plus leading businesses in retail, fashion, and technology that power the local economy such as Vans, Experian, and South Coast Plaza. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREAnaheim.com, HEREBeverlyHills.com, HERECoronado.com, HEREHollywood.com, HEREHuntingtonBeach.com, HERELongBeach.com, HERELosAngeles.com, HEREMissionViejo.com, HERESanDiego.com, and HERESantaAna.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into California's dynamic landscape.
