DARKROOM Restaurant and Wine Bar — Restaurant in Santa Ana

Darkroom santa ana ca

I’ve never developed an addiction or obsession in such short amount of time. It was instantly.

After sleeping on it and recollected some mental clarity I can confidently confess this is my new favorite place in OC.

This restaurant / bar delivered, checked all the boxes and subsequently exceeded my expectations dramatically. I’m saying this as I already had high hopes and a preconceived notion this place was going to be well above average due to the fact I heard about owners / chefs resume and past work experience.

For the time being; I cannot and will not try to describe the 4 dishes and handful of fancy drinks we had last night for fear of not doing justice to the well thought out menu and flawless execution of the team who prepared them.

I just want to express gratitude and give credit where it’s merited.

I’m ecstatic that restaurants and eateries of this caliber can exist in Orange County CA. Not having to drive to LA when craving something of extraordinary caliber that’s just simply on another level is a good thing.

It ain’t easy to just drive to republique, bestia, bavel, ryla, rustic canyon, cabra, holbox, providence, etc when the mood and bougie appetite strikes. It’s a real annoyance that all the better grub is in Los Angeles county. The list goes on for days..while OC for the most part stays basic and unexciting.

Btw my gf is a picky and ridiculous batch and she preferred this to all the restaurants listed above (which are all absolutely phenomenal) And of course prefers to anything else in OC and we’ve been close to everywhere that’s worthwhile and highly rated from the whole in the walls to the most expensive in gods country. It’s the first restaurant she’s been blown away from every single item ordered. Kinda wild.

Very good stuff and don’t even get me started on the vibe and concept. The best DJ, and playlist I’ve ever experienced dining. No cap, and not even being slightly hyperbolic or dramatic.

Michelin 1 or 2 star worthy food without the pretentious BS and redtape...

Here are what we (7 of us) take away: Food: The Comte sticks: good Zucchini bread: very good. The bread is like a cake, light and fluffy with some specks of grated zucchini, not dense. Little gem Caesar: ok. Not a conventional Caesar cuz it got dills, parsley, and mints, lot of them. I like dills but not for this "Caesar-style" cuz it overpowered the taste of dressing... and all nori crunchies and pistachios got really lost. Smoked and seared Albacore: so so. The beautiful fish slices got lost in the puddles of olive oil emulsion, the same as haricot verts. I would spread the emulsion on the plate, layer Haricots then fish slices on top. Drizzle with some emulsion so you can highlight the beautiful seared fish slices and the contrasts of colors. Also, I would rather grate the Myers lemon zest on top and or surrounding than lemon chunks. I had to separate not to eat them...lemon flavor is great but not adding the bitterness to my palate. Wanderer NY steak: the most disappointing dish, got 3 dishes. The steak was cooked perfectly and high quality but was overpowered by super salty and saucy soy sauce reduction. All the fancy ingredients like Macha salsa, miso spinach, etc... got really lost. They didn't come together... Kungpao donuts: strange. The sauce and flavor perhaps is perfect with shrimp or chicken, definitely not for donuts desert. 7 of us had a hard time to process it. I wouldn't call Kungpao and imitate a Kungpao-style, rather prefer an orange flavored syrup with sea salt sprinkles. Semifreddo: good. Risotto: very good.

I appreciate the creativities but if they dont harmonize together then they defeat the purposes. Also, the star ingredient has to shine, anything else is complimentary for taste, texture, contrast, creativity. We tried but definitely will not a repeat.

Service: The service was great from server to bartender and chef. However, our server missed one order. It was no big deal but we had enough food to...

Wow! What an incredible dining experience! This was my second time here, and I have to say, it’s always an absolute delight. Last night was no exception!

We kicked things off with the *Raw Scallop Tostada- bright, light, and refreshingly delicious. The Meyer lemon was the perfect touch, elevating the dish to a whole new level. *The Little Gem Caesar remains a favorite, with the perfect balance of crisp lettuce, fragrant herbs, crunchy croutons, and a dressing that ties everything together beautifully.

Then came the showstopper: the *Maitake Mushroom. Smoky, dense, and finished with a perfectly balanced sauce, it was out-of-this-world delicious!

For the main course, I went with the *Swordfish with cucumber shiro slaw. Now, I’ll be honest, I’m not usually a fan of swordfish or pickles. But wow, this dish completely changed my mind! The flavors melded together so harmoniously that I was truly impressed. My boyfriend ordered the *hanger steak and declared it the best steak he’s ever had. It was fantastic, flavorful, and served with a creamy spinach side that made the dish even more indulgent. He loved it so much that he had to order bread just to soak up every last drop of sauce. Nothing goes to waste here!

For dessert, we went with the *Tangerine Semifreddo with citrus gummies. At first, we thought, “Hmm, interesting…” but after the first bite, mind blown! Their inventive approach to food is just spectacular.

Even without a full liquor license, their exceptional food more than makes up for it. The ambiance is dark and intimate, and the service is top-notch. I’m truly impressed with this gem of a restaurant and will continue to support them. If you haven’t been yet, do yourself a favor and...