Cafe Sevilla

Over the course of multiple meals at the Spanish tapas restaurant Cafe Sevilla – initially in San Diego before the small chain opened its long-awaited Orange County location in Costa Mesa – we were on a non-stop rollercoaster ride that finally made us jump off after too many bumps and twists. On our first visit, we found Sevilla to be the best Spanish restaurant we’d tried in and south of Orange County, with a nice menu, solid dishes, great drink selection, and also great service. While the level of Spanish authenticity was a flat B, the overall experience was between a B+ and A-, enough to merit return visits.

When the Costa Mesa location opened, we were overjoyed to say that Cafe Sevilla actually rivaled both the flavors and experience of dining at a good place in Spain – serious praise given that we once owned an authentic tapas restaurant and have high standards. Between the menu’s scope, improved indoor and outdoor seating, and continued great service, we felt that the Orange County location was even better than its San Diego predecessor, and looked forward to coming back.

On subsequent visits, the magic had worn off. Famous Spanish small plates began to deviate more and more from both authenticity and careful prep techniques; items such as croquetas came out overcooked, ingredient quality suffered, and the menu increasingly shifted towards non-Spanish items: ceviches, potato chips, baby back ribs, and queso fundido, to name just a few.