Benchmark

I went to Benchmark with my parents for dinner during my return home for Spring Break. We were a little concerned going in about the outdoor seating given that it was a slightly chilly night. Our concerns were not necessary because the heaters were very strong and kept us at the right temperature. I loved the aesthetic of the seating area, it had a lot of fun elements that gave it a good charm. We ordered a selection of shareable dishes and split them family-style. For appetizers we got the bacon-wrapped dates, which were amazing and honestly could have been eaten for dessert. We also split the shrimp and broccoli risotto which was very creamy and very tasty. The short rib rigatoni was also amazing. We also split the flatbread appetizer which was potentially the best flatbread I've had (although I admit I haven't had many). Our server was conversation and pleasant without being overbearing and the food came at a steady pace so we were never waiting for food to arrive (aside from the few minutes the first round took). Overall, this was one of my favorite eating experiences in the Santa Ana area and I will be returning soon!

Benchmark is a super cute brunch restaurant with beautiful, well-thought out décor. Going here feels like going to a nice little garden party with your girl friends. The restaurant has a really comforting, relaxing vibe, which the decorations and design definitely contribute to. The food was above average, but I do think that depends highly on the dish that you order. I ordered a benchmark burger for myself, which I ended up regretting, not because it was not good, but moreso because it was very, VERY heavy for a breakfast/brunch. The burger tasted good, but the oiliness definitely got to me and I was unable to finish my food. I wish I had opted for the Spanish omelette, because it was really refreshing and might have energized me moreso than a burger.Still, their customer service and the vibe they've cultivated here definitely makes for a remarkable spot and unforgettable as well.

Joseph was our server for the evening and delivered excellent service. He checked in on our table often and had great recommendations for the menu as well as drinks. He's knowledgable about the entire menu, and what's popular for guests to try.The environment is very low key where the natural daylight can shine through, since seating is outdoors. We came for dinner service and enjoyed the light strings to provide the mood for our meal. Be mindful of the weather when you go, it was pretty windy that evening so the heat lamps kept me warm.

I came for happy hour for a girl dinner and I was a bit scared after reading the recent reviews but I enjoyed it.Our waiter was very kind and checked up on us at the perfect times. The tables are outdoor so bring a jacket just in case. I love that there are lots of string lights and plants because it adds warmth to the seating area. Food Consensus: We ordered the shishito peppers, Parmesan fries, artichoke fondue + pretzels, short rib rigatoni, little gem Caesar salad, and streak frites. For drinks, I ordered the guava Paloma. I'd order the shishito peppers and artichoke fondue + pretzels again. The shishito peppers and pork belly were nice and flavorful. I also just have a predilection for spicy foods. I love the surprise element of shishito peppers because you never know which one will be spicy. The artichoke wasn't very present in the dip but the pretzels were to die for. Perfectly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. I think all the other dishes were decent! Those 2 just happen to be the standouts to me.I would recommend coming during happy hour!

I liked:Chorizo Goat Cheese Flat Bread This was ok:Parmesan Herb Fries Steak Sandwich I did not like:Artichoke Fondue I'm surprised I didn't like this restaurant since I normally like New American. The flat bread was decent but I didn't expect it to be so sweet instead of savory. The fries are mid, the steak itself is good but the sauce is overpowering and the bread was difficult to bite through. The fondue is highly rated but was pretty sour when I had it. We actually thought the restaurant was closed because there's not a lot of people sitting in the front. They had people in the back alcove closer to the parking. Speaking of parking, there aren't a lot of spots and street parking is pretty full as well.Best thing about the restaurant is that the decor is very cute and well put together. If I do come back, I'd want to try the short rib orcchiette. The couple next to us said that was the best thing they had.

Was in downtown Santa Ana and was looking for a small chill trendy place to have happy hour. And came across Benchmark, situated on the corner of the street. Theres some free street parking if your able to snag those, or a small valet parking lot if need be. Happy hour is between 4 and 6. Came in right when they opened and were seated in the back patio area by their valet parking lot. Our waiter Joseph was excellent super knowledgeable about the menu without being pretentious. Super friendly without being awkward or too friendly. Gave us a quick rundown of the establishment and their menu. Provided recommendations and suggestions without being overly wordy. Kept it professional but kind. Great customer service on his part. The drinks and food came out quickly as well. All their cocktails are sake based. But infused with tequila, whiskey, gin, vodka, etc. Dont know why or how. But all their drinks were aesthtetically pleasing and tasted amazing!! Unfortunately there's only the guava paloma that's on their happy hour menu. But ee had about 8 different drinks. And they all looked beautiful and tasted amazing!! There wasen't any drink i didn't like!! They all stood out and were memorable. See attached photos for what we ordered, but they all tasted excellent!! Can't go wrong with any of them.Food wise we ordered the following:1. Gochujang chicken bites- on their happy hour menu. Coated nicely with the gochujang sauce. Popcorn chicken type bites. Crunchy outside. Soft white meat inside. Tastes amazing!!2. Pork belly and sushito peppers- lots of sashito peppers. But the pork belly bites were really good. And it's on the happy hour menu. So if there isn't enough pork belly for your liking order another plate of it. 3. Artichoke fondue- warm artichoke fondue with bread sticks. The fondue was rich, thick and creamy. It really compliments everything else too (fries, burger, flatbread, etc.) Pretzel bread stick was good too.4. Chorizo goat cheese flat bread- a little sweet, a little salty. Nice and crunchy. It was excellent!5. Benchmark burger- nice and juicy patty. Tasted amazing. The fries were ok. Nice and crunchy. But lacked flavor, but that's ok. If that's the worse thing we had, that's pretty good then.6. Brown butter cake- this was the best thing we had!! Butter cake was rich and dense (in a good way). They separated the ice cream and the warm butter cake so the ice cream wasent all melted. The caramel added to the dish, and the nuts added some texture. But it was the perfect way to end the meal. Overall everything was great about this place!! The ambiance, the customer service from Joseph, the food, the drinks, the atmosphere. Everything was simply perfect and amazing!! I would definitely come back here in a heartbeat. It definitely sets the benchmark for nice trendy restaurants in the OC, with good food and good drinks!!

Great food and vibe. Liked the wine choice they had. Few parking stalls available and street park

This is such an amazing spot. Joseph was our server and from start to finish he was amazing. He made our night even more enjoyable by his warm and funny personality. We always order a ton of food, and none of it disappointed. It's a great spot for date night, girls night, or a family night. Highly recommend the shishito peppers with pork belly appetizer as well as the hangar steak. The brown butter cake was perfection! We can't wait to come back and try out brunch.

Good place to grab a food we came here for date night, but the service was horrible.I wish our experience with a lot better Unfortunately, we got. With an upset leader that made our experience horrible..

Very cute & nice decor setup & relaxed atmosphere here. I love the way they've repurposed a container for the outside building next to the two outside patio dining areas. Love the outside spaces, makes a lovely weekend brunch experience even better. Great place for gatherings for birthday parties which so many people do enjoy here.Artichoke fondue: 4 starsBavarian pretzel sticks was nice warm & fluffy but the actual dip was on the salty side. This went well as a dip for the fries that we ordered as well. There should be 4 not 3 sticks of this dish is for sharing.Smoke salmon flatbread: 4.5 starsVery crunchy with a nice lemon drizzle on top of a sprinkle of arugula & smoke salmon . A bit on the burnt side but loved the crunch that this dish had instead of the usual soft bread that flatbread has, which gave it a nice texture. Seasonal sorbet: peach 4 starsVery creamy, I thought would be less creamy since sorbets aren't usually creamy Overall great taste but small serving. Service: 4 starsGood but can be a bit slow. Parking can be a pain here since it's so limited & the surrounding neighborhood doesn't have many parking spots & requires permits to park there. -.5 starsRSVPs are not required but definitely recommended here as it can get crowded.Prices are on the higher side & menu is very limited not much seafood options for brunch & lunch is only served during Friday's. It would be great if there was more vegetarian options as well. -1 starOverall: 3.5 stars If only yelp can have 1/2 stars