The Wayfarer — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

I miss when this place was Detroit Bar, largely because the bands that came through were pretty high caliber, but also because some of the refinements that were made after the fact aren't capitalized on the way they should be. I went here for a meal once and basically had to arm-wrestle the staff for a special order for one of our guests. The bands that come through aren't anything amazing, but it seems like it takes an act of congress to get a booking there regardless. Also, they have a horrible tendency to not update the marquee and if they do, they put the neighborhood-specific advertisements (like football games) towards the commercial side of the street while putting the band advertisements toward the residential side of the street (I would do the opposite to better appeal to both.) I guess this is a solid spot for people who want to hang out at a strip-mall bar, but I fell out of love with this place...

What a weird night. I’ve never gone to a bar where they interrupt your evening, demanding that you pay money to stay.

We got to the bar around 8:45. No cover at the door (it’s early, understandable). Bought a couple rounds of drinks and were talking with other customers when two of the bar staff walk up with a clipboard and let us know that if we plan on staying, we have to pay a cover. Otherwise we will be kicked out at 9:30.

In what world do you demand money from people already within your bar? Every bar/club/venue in OC would start charging a cover for new arrivals around 10pm. Even if they charged a cover at the door from the very beginning, we would have paid. Making the rounds to the already-paying customers inside your bar is weird, and kills whatever environment you were hoping to have.

We won’t be back and will be telling everyone to do the same. It’s a shame too, the ambience and...

I saw a buddy play a show here, and it was comically loud. I wish I had brought earplugs, but oops. Anyway, it finally occured to me to put in my noise-cancelling earbuds, and guess what? I could actually understand the singer's lyrics. I could hear what the lead guitar player was noodling. Whatever was cancelled out left just the band, and they sounded great.

There are two sound guys in the corner, and I don't really understand what they were going for. This isn't My Bloody Valentine. If you can turn it down enough to actually let us hear the music, it would help not just the bands onstage but also the fans who want to be able to hear music, or even just sounds, when they're 50.

Place has a great vibe tho, and the night's...