The Most Delicious Wine Bars in Irvine

Phlight

★★★★☆ 4.2 (937) • $$

"Great place! Food and drinks were amazing! We ordered appetizers and a round of both red and white sangrias and neither disappointed. There is a parking structure directly across the street that is free but parking spaces are fairly narrow. Otherwise, you will need to find street parking nearby."

Bistango

★★★★☆ 4 (996) • $$$

"Amazing! My girlfriend and I decided to come here for date night after seeing the reviews from others. It lived up to its hype. This was one of my favorite dining experiences in a long time.The restaurant is beautiful and the staff were among the most attentive I have ever seen. Our waiter must have stopped by our table at least a dozen times during our meal to refill water and offer more bread and butter.The food was exquisite. Portions are small but my girlfriend and I liked that. I got the Japanese pumpkin ravioli and she got the pan seared scallop Risotto. They were both amazing. For dessert, we got the almond pear tart and profiteroles. We loved both of those as well!The night that we went, there was live music which made the experience even more fun. We will definitely consider coming back here again for another date night in the future!"

L'Opera

★★★★☆ 4.2 (837) • $$$

"Impeccable service, beautiful ambiance!I had the house Prosecco. Light, crisp and refreshing.I had the Messalina: enjoy the richness of the anchovies in this Caesar Salad.This was half the Penne al' Arriabata. The pasta was perfectly al dente. The sauce was savory, divine roasted garlic and a bit of heat.I was so satisfied with no room for dessert.The service is attentive and helpful.I heard that the opera singer does not perform anymore and I am sorry to hear that.*note Valet Parking is $15"

Neapolitan Pizzeria & Birreria

★★★★☆ 4.2 (825) • $$

"Chose this place to try out their interesting blackberry pizza. We drove to Laguna and were worried about finding parking, but they have their own parking lot - a big bonus for Laguna. We tried a couple of the appetizers - the heirloom tomato and buratta, and also the beets. We loved them both. They were delicious and nicely presented. Then came the blackberry pizza and it did not disappoint. They didn't skimp on the bacon. It was an interesting combo of sweet and savory. We also tried the Margherita pizza for comparison and it was great - nice thin crust and well cooked. The service was fast and friendly. Our server also let me in on a secret dessert of a cannoli and I was instantly sold!Glad to find this little gem in Laguna."

Filomena's Italian Kitchen & Market

★★★★☆ 4.1 (829) • $$

"I had Veal Piccante , my wife Scallops. Both were excellent.Service was outstanding by Hector . His wine recommendation was wonderful.Not enough garlic on the garlic bread was our only issue.The restaurant was pleasant and the serving staff entertaining."

Craft House

★★★★☆ 3.9 (853) • $$$

"Food and drinks are very good here. Staff is always very friendly. Really good whiskey list and cocktails, if you like it. One of my favorite places in Dana Point"

O Sea

★★★★★ 4.5 (628) • $$

"O boy am I obsessed with O Sea!! The employees are truly the most friendly and welcoming people! Sarah, the manager was so sweet and checked in on us during our meal. Fillie (may have spelled that wrong), was our server and he was so great, gave yummy suggestions and made sure everything went well throughout our time dining in! Food was very fresh and came out quickly! I want to try everything on the menu! Very open and bright space with plenty of indoor seating. Has a modern coastal vibe. Street parking around the Orange Circle, can get busy on the weekends. Can't wait to come back!"

Lido Bottle Works

★★★★☆ 4.3 (605) • $$

"My dog (yes dog friendly) and I popped in for a happy hour bite. I ordered the hummus and the cucumbers, but the waiter suggested I just combine them and save a buck. I got a lavender beer, it wasn't my fave but wasn't awful. Fun to try something new. I'm pretty basic and tend to find their food too fancy, but I enjoyed this visit. Sit outside and enjoy the view!"

21 Oceanfront

★★★★☆ 3.8 (750) • $$$

"Recently decided to visit 21 oceanfront, the place is extremely ambience, wonderful for a date night, the service was exceptional, I enjoyed an Asian pear salad, that they modified for me to make it vegan, it was delightful, my main entrée was the grilled cauliflower steak, which was exceptional, enjoyed a side of mushrooms & roasted asparagus both delicious , definitely will visit again"

Wine Lab

★★★★☆ 4.1 (569) • $

"I've been coming to the Wine Lab in Costa Mesa for years whenever I'm in Orange County and it's become my go to spot for a nice glass of wine & good vibes. This place has been a wonderful addition to the LAB with multiple dining places/shops in the same plaza. It's a great spot with a lovely ambiance, good wine, and delicious cheese is always a treat. Whenever I come in I'm always greeted by the friendly staff and mellow atmosphere. The Tasting flights are fantastic for exploring different varieties and they have such a wide selection, It's like a journey through flavors!They also have a wine shop and you can pick up a bottle of any of the wines they have on the menu. Definitely drop by if you're in the area and looking for a good wine bar."

L'Antica Pizzeria Da Michele Belmont Shore

★★★★☆ 4.3 (471)

"I'm hoping this isn't one of my novel sized ratings because this place is SO AMAZING, I could go on and ONNNN! And I wish I was there now. My dog, Kennedy, & I were in the market for Italian, while we stayed at our airbnb on a short getaway close by. I door dashed L'Antica for us, husband joined later. We ordered La Diavola, Spaghetti Pomadoro, Meatballs & the Beet Salad. Holy molyyyyyy...and yes even as door dash. The pizza was amazing! Naples style. Came with reheating instructions for the oven and it was perfect. The spaghetti is house made and delicious with authentic rustic red sauce - omg. The beet salad knocked our socks off! Well not the dog, she stuck to spaghetti and a little bit of meatballs. But my husband and I were astounded by the amazing flavor and enjoyment. The meatballs were so tasty and beefier tasting over bread crumbs like other meatballs I'm not the biggest fan of anywhere else. I forgot to mention, they sent side bread sticks. I dipped those in that amazing rustic red sauce the meatballs were swimming in - WOW!!We loved it so much, we took our entire family to dine there the very next day. We ordered the same items, but added the basil pasta and the pizza that has the spicy peppers to it. Again, holy moly...or mamma Mia, rather! I can't say enough about the food here it is just something you have to experience! When we dined in the ambiance was wonderful and the service was friendly warm quick and wonderful. I think the best way to put it is just what I said, this is just something you have to experience, especially in person, but even delivered by DoorDash! It is so amazing."

Tannins Restaurant & Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4 (534) • $$

"Food was wonderful! Service was impeccable l. Thank you Alyssa! You are a rock star!!!!"

De Luca's Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (554) • $$

"I had driven past this restaurant for years, but I finally decided to go for lunch. Walking in the restaurant it looks very clean and cozy. The waiter was professional and efficient. I ordered the chicken Parmesan with pasta and it was delicious. The chicken was tender and moist. The pasta was very well seasoned. I'd like to come back again with my family."

Casanova Ristorante

★★★★☆ 4 (487) • $$

"Great service, fair prices, and exceptional food!! Casanova is an absolute gem. So glad I found this place. The food is just so good, I love turning people on to this place! You will be glad you ate here"

Sebastiani's Italian Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.4 (402) • $$

"Authentic Italian cuisine with great wine selection and fantastic music on the weekends"

Rothschild's

★★★★☆ 4 (445) • $$$

"Love this place! The food and service is amazing. One of my favorite espresso martinis ever. I got the bolognese pasta--it was great! Only thing I find weird is that the girls have to wear bow ties for their uniform? It's giving Cheesecake Factory. Overall would recommend!"

Romeo Cucina

★★★★☆ 4.1 (395) • $$

"Stellar experience tonight with Linda as my server. I've been coming here for over ten years, so I'm very surprised this is my first review.I started off with the minestrone soup. I'm not exaggerating when I say their version of this soup is my all time favorite soup. Yes it tastes as great as the photo looks. Then for my entree I ordered the lasagna. Another amazing dish that was cooked to perfection tonight. I usually order their pizzas, but I'm glad I went with the lasagna tonight.It's been awhile since I ordered one of their seafood dishes. The last time I remembered it as being very good.For dessert I asked Linda for a recommendation and I'm sure glad I went with the tiramisu. I'm a tiramisu snob, and boy they nailed this dish down. Perfect flavor, and not too sweet. I'm nearly positive they make their own. Top it off with a fresh pot of decaf. Perfect meal for this very cold night.Finally, Linda took very care of me, and kept checking up on me. In spite of the fact she was so busy, she provided me a stellar dining experience."

Ruth's Chris Steak House

★★★★☆ 4 (401) • $$$

"Ruth Chris Long Beach was the best date night we could have asked for. The food is always consistent and the quality is top tier BUT it was the IMPECCABLE service we received that made our night! Hailey was our server and Adolfo was her server assistant and both of them were a dream! Hailey gave us recommendations when we couldn't decide between our sides and made sure she kept us updated on our drink orders when the bar got a little backed up. We were going to skip dessert and then we saw an Apple crumble that another table had ordered and Hailey highly recommended it...I'm so glad she did.We had such an amazing time that we left our table and went to the bar. The bar was packed but we never felt as though we were being ignored as you sometimes can feel when the bar is busy.Overall, this has been the best Ruth Chris experience I have had out of going to multiple locations in and outside of SoCal. We will definitely be back!"

Avatar Coffee Roasters

★★★★☆ 4.1 (302) • $$

"SUCH a beautiful cafe with lots of seating, outlets, and great interior design but oh my god is the parking a nightmare lol. I've now been twice, and both times I wasn't able to find parking right away-- so I'd give up and go to Hidden House Coffee instead and then come back to Avatar to see if there's parking. As some other reviews mention, it's definitely possible to park at the nearby Tustin Legacy-- but it is a decent walk away. Other than the parking situation, it's great. Lots of (healthy) food options and the coffee is great. 90-minute limit on the wifi, which is kind of a bummer. But as a study location, it's nice. Just not as convenient as Wall Writers, for example."

OC Wine Mart & Deli

★★★★★ 4.5 (231) • $$

"First time trying their BTS breakfast burrito! Burrito was great - all the ingredients tasted clean, light, and lightly seasoned. The red salsa had a slight kick but other than that, not much flavor. Service was quick and attentive! Plenty of parking. I visited late on a Sunday morning and it was quiet inside except for the sounds of the television playing. Area was clean and organized with some indoor seating and plenty of outdoor seating. Will definitely come back!"

BXCR Underground

★★★★☆ 4.3 (222) • $$

"This is the small little bar we found you can barely see it but the door was open and they had these old cases used as tables to set drinks on loved it. Kind of a dark small cute inviting little bar. The bartenders were super sweet, it was also kind of busy for a Wednesday night which was kind of cool! I definitely want to come back, I had the espresso martini and my friends got the Big Lebowski drink which was also very good. The espresso martini was amazing I loved it! I really enjoyed our girls night, was nice to get out and enjoy some drinks and just be out enjoying the evening since I never go out. I hope to come back here again and I would highly recommend coming here for a drink and maybe some food! Loved it! Have a beautiful day :)Aloha"

Leatherby's Cafe Rouge

★★★★☆ 3.8 (245) • $$$

"Always delicious before a show-- we appreciate the vegetarian option and the excellent service. It's a relaxing, quiet restaurant with a view of the plaza and the offerings change with the seasons. I always look forward to a meal here!"

Barnoa Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.4 (174) • $$

"We enjoyed the food. It was obviously prepared with care and it was tasty. The service was good - maybe not quite as quick as you would hope, but they were busy. The waitress was named Mattie and she was very sweet and knew the menu.The best part of our experience there was the band - the Gardner Trio - they were EXCELLENT. They played a wide range of Christmas music and they were very talente"

Snipe Island Crafthouse

★★★★☆ 4.4 (140) • $$

"We popped in after a walk on Balboa Island on a Saturday. It wasn't too crowded, we got seated right away. Our server was friendly, service a bit slow but we weren't in a rush and most people are here to relax and have a good time. We got a burger and a pizza, both were yummy! Seems they have a lot of local craft beer options, and cool seating options."

Osteria Mare Blu

★★★★★ 4.7 (46)

"Incredible. Lived in Italy in the mid 90s and this is the closest I've felt to food I've romanticized and dreamt of since. The staff is impecable, the chef should be at a James beard restaurant in Los Angeles and it is right here in our quaint slice of paradise. Pro Tip, ignore the menu and simply ask what you should order while sharing what you enjoy. Perfetto!"

California Vintage Wine Bistro

★★★★★ 4.9 (39)

"Options abound in a tidy and tastefully decorated space with tall tables and lots of TVs. We tried the chicken karage, hummus, truffle fries, and the Brussels sprouts. Each dish was delicious, and they all had a nice touch to elevate above and beyond the typical bar fare. Service was prompt and friendly. We will be going back.We visited on a random weekday afternoon so the place was fairly quiet. I can imagine this place as a great pre-game stop before a Ducks or Angels game."

Fogo De Chão Brazilian Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$$

"I hear so much of their happy hours I had to try for myself before taking the plunge with their full dining experience. Happy hour is only at the patio or bar top and you seat yourself for bar top. We ordered the lamb chops, cheese appetizers, and filet mignon along with two clean cocktails. Also got the complimentary cheese bread. All were delicious, but the lamb is REALLY gamey. It was recommended to eat lamb medium cooked. It really is an acquired taste. I asked the hostess what is the best value at fogo and she said the brunch* was by far better than anything they offer just due to the breakfast options and it costing less than dinner."

Postino Park Place

★★★★★ 4.6 • $$

"Came here for lunch with a group of five. We were sat pretty immediately and had a chance to order food. We ordered the toasts for the table and sandwiches and salads for our entrées. I really enjoyed my meal. I will say service was a little off, but I think it's because they were about to switch shifts. It was hard to find someone to help us for a while, but once the second server came around, they were really helpful. A great spot to check out if you're in the area for lunch, dinner, or even happy hour!"

Gladstones

★★★★☆ 3.5 • $$

"Great place to catch a bite in Long Beach. I've been here a few times now and have always been impressed.The food is pretty good. There's a variety of seafood dishes, all done well. Each time I've been here, I'm looking forward to the next thing I get to try. The location is really nice. It's right up near the water, and with the large windows, gives a great view whether you're sitting inside or outside."

Fly 'N' Fish Oyster Bar & Grill

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$

"Stumbled upon this restaurant after a day of tanning in Newport Beach. The restaurant is very cute and cozy. Service was very quick and attentive. FOOD- Clam Chowder 4/5- Artichokes 4/5- Oysters 4/5- Clam Linguine 5/5: My favorite dish hands down! The dish came out piping hot. So creamy, buttery, with just the right amount of garlic. They did not skimp out on the clams either. Would happily make another pit stop here the next time I'm in Newport. Heard they have a decent happy hour."

Seasons 52

★★★★☆ 4.1 • $$

"We came here tonight for the first time in a long time. We had a 6:30 reservation and we arrived a little early. We decided to go to the bartop to get a drink while we waited for the rest of our party. It took the bartender 15 minutes to greet us. As a former restaurant AGM, I was astounded. Once we finally got greeted and got a round of drinks our party arrived and we closed out and went to our table. The server was nice. I believe her name was Laura. Super informative about the food menu & offered suggestions. We shared the pepperoni flatbread; it was super light and tasty. You can tell the ingredients were fresh; of which we really appreciate. I had the sea-bass which was INCREDIBLE. it was super flaky and easy to eat. The shiitake mushrooms really complemented the dish. My husband had the pork chop of which he said was great. Besides the greet time at the bar the reason for the lack of a 5th star was that the bathrooms were honestly disgusting. It looked like they hadn't been cleaned or checked all day. There was tissue paper all over, water all over the floor and counter (which could really be a safety hazard), empty soap and empty toilet paper holders. I went in to use the restroom prior to our 40 minute drive home and I decided to hold it and wait."

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4 • $$$$

"It's always good to come here and enjoy a nice good ribeye steak the service here is always amazing food & drinks is good also the tomahawk is my favorite steak here but today it was the ribeye.."

CUCINA enoteca Irvine

★★★★☆ 3.9 • $$$

"Was there with 4 adults/3 kids. Spent around $300 bucks. Staff was solid and accommodating, nice outdoor seating (on the left patio), but the food was just meh. Pizza was cold and dough was tough. The tempura battered squash blossoms were poorly fried and consisted of mostly cheese, barely any vegetable. The portion for the other apps barely fed two people. The meatballs were packed too tight and processed. Some decent highlights... my gin martini, family style salad, and rigatoni bolognese. This place is a huge letdown compared to their SD location. Probably find tastier food at 90% of the other Italian restaurants around here. Would not come here again."

Wine Country Trattoria

★★★☆☆ 3.2 • $$

"Service was good but the portions are ridiculously small for the price point. They used to give bread and oil/vinegar at the tables, they no longer do. The menu is limited and the server said there's no pesto options, because there's no pesto in the kitchen...at an Italian restaurant?!?! That's a hard fail. We ordered the calamari for fourteen bucks. It was literally 10 pieces with a row of fried green beans underneath it. We were told that the patio heaters haven't been working for a year even though it was 65 degrees and windy outside. Clearly there's no priority given to customer comfort. This used to be a must-go full service restaurant in DCA, now it's a shell of what it once was. I won't be returning and I would advise others to avoid it."

Urban Grill and Wine Bar

★★★★☆ 4.2 • $$$

"First experience here and got the tri tip soup, the crab cakes, the Australian lamb chops and the special of the day was this incredible seabass with a lemon sauce and mushroom risotto. Everything was absolutely delicious I'd order it all again! The supermoon Pinot noir was refreshing and delicious as well. Great service, great ambiance really enjoyed our time!"