Bei Restaurant

Lebanese food in a surprisingly transformative, clubby Costa Mesa dining space

Certain types of dining experiences are only possible in a climate like Orange County’s, which tends to maintain low precipitation and at least moderate if not warm temperatures all year. Bei Restaurant distinguishes itself from other Costa Mesa Mediterranean spots by making atypically great use of its ambient environment, rapidly transporting guests from a forgettable parking lot into an attractive, semi-enclosed dining room. When the weather’s great, the outdoor heaters stay off, but they’re at the ready just in case.

Bei delivers Lebanese classics with some of the best service we’ve experienced locally: attentive, friendly, and happy to continue bringing over endless pita chips so you leave sated. From a culinary standpoint, we found a mix of hits – including all of the grilled meats – and mids, such as sambouseks and the zataar dip.

There are also some misses. Flat pitas didn’t have any warmth or spark, adding nothing to already bland, oil-heavy babaghanosh, hummus, and muhammara dips. As these are some of our favorite appetizers – and not hard to do well – it stings when they’re underwhelming.

The clubby vibe and reasonable pricing make Bei worth checking out, regardless; it could be a good place for date night if you’re looking for a Mediterranean experience that’s more upscale than most. Its lamb, chicken, and steak are particularly worthwhile, so lean heavily on the proteins here and you’ll have the best chance of loving your meal.

Stats

Price: $$
Service: Table
Open Since: 2023

Addresses

1951 Harbor Blvd. Suite B
Costa Mesa, CA 92626

949.799.0064

Instagram: @beirestaurant