New American Restaurants in Santa Ana, CA

“great place for dining....“

“First time here, great service and yummy food. The entire staff was very friendly and helpful. Everyone had a warm smile to welcome us in. We will definitely be back“

“Celebrated my friend’s birthday here and everyone loved it. Service was excellent, the atmosphere was vibey and not too loud even with the music playing (vinyls-only is a nice touch!). The food was creative and delicious and my NA drink was excellent too. I’ll mention standout dishes even though the menu is constantly changing—my group really loved the maitake mushroom dish that was smoky and full of umami that it was surprisingly reminiscent of steak?! We guarded the hamachi crudo sauce after the fish was finished to dip their perfectly fluffy and crunchy focaccia into after. Same with the scrambled egg agnolotti, the sauce was incredible and the agnolottis themselves truly surprised us. The ricotta donuts were chef’s kiss as well. I really appreciated the warm welcome and introduction made at the beginning of our meal. I spent a long time looking for creative restaurants doing something different and interesting to celebrate my friend’s birthday in OC and DARKROOM nailed it. I also loved the creative touch with the bill trays :) What a gem!“

“I couldn’t wait to share our experience at Benchmark restaurant in Santa Ana California. Everything about this place is perfection! It was a hot day, but the beautiful outdoor dining area was cool and breezy underneath the beautiful trees. Our waitress was knowledgeable, wonderfully friendly, and attended to all our needs. Each of us ordered a different item on the menu and I had to taste everything. I had the Spanish omelette, which was delicious, the burger seems like a very popular item understandably because that along with the delicious fries was exceptional. Enchiladas with mole were a wonderful treat, and the French toast was probably the hit of the table. This wonderful brunch dish was not exceptionally sweet, which made it so perfect. Some places just overdo it with the sweetness. We will definitely be going back many times to tryout dinners and more of the selections on all of the menus. I will also be spreading the word because this is probably my favorite place in Orange County now. Thank you Benchmark for a fantastic experience!“

“Found this place when looking for a lil brunch spot on a Sunday afternoon. Me and the wife swung by, great service. I got a breakfast burrito. Pretty good flavor just wished it was a bit bigger. But it was 9 bucks so I was happy about that. My wife got their basic breakfast food and she thought it was great. Similar to norms or dennys level of breakfast. Overall, we will be back soon!“

“Good Friends - Good Food - Live Music - I’m in!!!“

“Food is delicious and service is great!“

“Toda su comida es deliciosa y el ecselente trato , muy familiar.“

“Games, bar and DJs are cool. Live bands aren't trialed and there's no sound guy. Bathrooms don't work.“

“During our recent 3-day weekend getaway, we stumbled upon Citra Bar & Kitchen at the newly renovated Hotel Zessa, and it quickly became our go-to spot for nearly all our meals. This place is truly a hidden gem! From the moment we walked in, we were captivated by the modern yet cozy ambiance. The highlight of our experience was undoubtedly the drinks. The Citra Margarita was refreshingly perfect, and my wife couldn't get enough of the Hibiscus Cooler. We also indulged in the Casamigos Flight, which was a delightful treat. Following our server's recommendations turned out to be the best decision. We tried nearly everything on the lunch and dinner menus, but the Chicken Taquitos stood out as our favorite appetizer—we ordered them multiple times! As for the entrees, you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but our top picks were the Chicken A La Brasa, Blackened Mahi Mahi, and Salmon Salad. Each dish was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. Being gluten-free, I was thrilled to find that Citra Bar & Kitchen had plenty of options that catered to my dietary needs without compromising on taste. Overall, our experience at Citra Bar & Kitchen was outstanding. The revitalization of Hotel Zessa and the exceptional dining experience here is a testament to Santa Ana's commitment to enhancing their community. We can't wait to return, and I highly recommend this spot to anyone visiting the area. You will not be disappointed!“