Water Grill — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

Edit to add: It's been 2 weeks since I wrote this review and there hasn't been much response from management. I was notified that the host received one phone call asking if they wrote this review...and still no efforts to placate how terrible this experience was. No effort to make things right. This is for an event that was held at the Water Grill that had around 50 guests between the ages of 1 year old to 95 years old. I would highly reconsider hosting any events here as we had a subpar experience.

Guests were to arrive at noon and leave by 2 PM— a very important detail, especially as there were event coordinators (paid by the hour) as well as folks who had flights scheduled to leave shortly after the event was to come to a close.

Our orders for food were taken at 1:30 PM and the food came out at 2:30 PM. Remember when the event was supposed to end at 2 PM? Half the guests had to leave and the trays of dessert (about $40 worth per table) were thrown on each table at 2:45 PM. Oh, and the sides came out after the desserts came out…. What? Service came around the room to refill water maybe once during the time we were there, and drinks took forever to come out.

Now, I’m guessing that the restaurant was understaffed as there seemed to be two additional events happening at the same time— but events need ample time for reservations; therefore, the restaurant management should have accounted for enough staff to provide excellent service for all three events. We felt neglected as a group, not to mention that the hosts of the event literally did not get their beverages or food until way after the event was scheduled to be done. The servers were then VERY quick to clear our tables within 30 min of the main entree coming out… it felt like we were rushed to eat and leave. Drinks also came out wrong…. Which took another eternity to get the correct drink.

With the reputation of this establishment as well as the price point, very underwhelming and disappointing experience. The timing of the food was….. so frustrating with our age range of guests. There was so much left over food due to people having to leave at their SCHEDULED time, not to mention that most did not even receive their desserts and/or sides.

Once it actually came out, the food was good, I hope we had more time to enjoy everything instead of feeling like we need to scarf things down because we were being rushed and we were so hungry. Such a shame that the whole experience really was horrible when the food was high quality.

I hope that this review gets to the management so that they know how to make their guests’ experience much more elevated than what we...

• I tried to keep this off Google Reviews, but I haven't received a reply (or call) from either southcoast@watergrill.com or the GM contact on their website. So I'm assuming that regular guests aren't a priority. Judging by multiple recent reviews, maybe this place is going downhill and my money is best spent elsewhere.*

Here is the email I sent them after a disappointing Thanksgiving experience.

Hi Team,

We are regular customers and big fans of Water Grill, but yesterday's experience was disappointing.

It started poorly upon arrival. We had a reservation for two adults and our two-year-old son made through OpenTable. We even called the restaurant afterward to ensure a high chair would be ready. Unfortunately, this request wasn’t noted, and we were seated in a booth with a pillar in the middle. As a result, my son’s high chair had to be placed outside the walking path, leaving me unable to see him for most of the meal while I sat across from my wife. Additionally, the setup left my son with limited table space, and we had to stop someone to ask for a bread plate so he would have something to eat from, as only two place settings were provided when we sat down.

We began with the clams and chorizo, which were excellent and the highlight of the meal. However, our main course—4 lbs of King Crab legs—was underwhelming. They were overcooked and tough to chew, though our son enjoyed his mac and cheese.

Service could have been more consistent throughout the evening. Nicole, our server, seemed disengaged. I have almost 10 years of experience in the restaurant industry and understand the challenges of delivering excellent service, especially on holidays. While I gave grace and tipped accordingly out of empathy, there were multiple issues. We had to repeatedly ask for iced tea refills, table clearing, and even for my son’s meal to be boxed up. At the end of the meal, I sat for 10+ minutes with my credit card out, waiting to pay. My wife eventually had to take our son outside because he became restless, which disrupted nearby diners.

For a total bill of $536.39 for two adults and a child, the experience didn’t meet our expectations. Additionally, no one wished us a Happy Thanksgiving during our visit. While I understand not everyone celebrates, this felt odd, given that a Thanksgiving menu was being served.

We appreciate Water Grill and have come to expect much better experiences than we had tonight. We will be back, but I did want to share our experience in hopes it will help during...

Water Grill is a consistent favorite of mine. I always start with The Last Word—perfectly made every time. This classic cocktail is a balanced mix of gin, maraschino liqueur, lime juice, and green Chartreuse, which gives it a distinct herbal complexity. Green Chartreuse is not available at most restaurants because its production is strictly controlled by Carthusian monks in France, who limit its supply, making it a rare and coveted ingredient.

I love ordering their Caesar salad with Chilean Sea Bass on top. The salad itself is a perfect classic, with the crispiest croutons, perfectly salted Parmesan, and fresh anchovies that are simply unmatched. The Sea Bass is cooked flawlessly—crispy on the outside, flaky and tender on the inside, never fishy, and always fresh. I like to add Fresno chilies for an extra kick, which you can request when ordering. The best part? They don’t charge extra for substituting the Sea Bass on the salad instead of a separate entrée.

The black cod with noodles is my husband’s go-to. It has an elegant Asian twist, consistently fresh, and makes for a light yet satisfying meal. It comes with red chilies, adding a touch of heat and contrast to the dish.

At the start of the meal, they serve complementary fresh-baked bread and homemade butter sprinkled with large sea salt crystals—a simple but indulgent touch. I also appreciate that the restaurant keeps real silverware, which adds to the high-end experience.

Service here is impeccable—attentive yet natural, without the robotic feel of many high-end restaurants. What sets Water Grill apart is the Michelin-level food quality, a diverse and lively crowd that ensures fresh ingredients daily, and thoughtful details like salt and pepper shakers at every table.

For dessert, their Key Lime Pie is a standout. The graham cracker crust is incredibly crisp and fresh, and the filling is more like a cheesecake—dense, smooth, and rich. The meringue is soft and fluffy, which I normally don’t like, but here, it just works beautifully. Their Pazookie and Brownie Sundae are also big hits.

Overall, Water Grill delivers on every front—fresh seafood, thoughtful service, and a high-end dining experience that keeps me...