Red O

If you are looking for upscale Mexican cuisine, this place is a must! Especially when they have their special «steak & lobster» for two!!! Came here randomly with the wife one night, and the waiter (who was super friendly) told us about the special and we immediately jumped on it! The presentation was pretty fabulous, the steak was cooked perfectly, the lobster was great, and the tortillas and sauces paired to perfection. There were a couple of table that took notice to what we had ordered and wisely did the same! Definitely going back!

Fantastic food, with horribly stereotyped OC girl hostesses at the front.
Appetizer: Corn and Goat Cheese Tamales– so very good! Likely my favorite tamales of all time!
Drink: Margarita– tastes like it should.
Entrée: Enchiladas Suizas and Chilean Bass with Chimichurri on top. You get what you pay for! At $ 42 that was one of my favorite fish dishes ever.
Dessert: Churros and Tres Leches. Was quite full at this point so I don’t have a fair opinion, but I can say I had no issues eating it all on a full stomach!
The Latin staff was great– they work hard!
The blonde/​brunette girls at the front are unprofessional and have no character. Get rid of them! They are the first and last impressions!
They talk to each other and barely recognize customers. I walked out and right back and in without paying attention a girl says, «Welcome.» I look and she did not even see that I was the same person– in fact she didn’t even look up from her phone! On the way out same thing– looking down at (her cell)?, and unprofessional.

More than just dinner… last night I came to this beautiful restaurant for a work sponsored happy hour. So the preface this review, please note that I have never eaten a meal here outside of this event so tonight was an experience on horduerves and service.
My first impression. Positive. the building is kept up with beautiful landscape and a Mediterranean theme with valet service and very clean areas. The tables throughout the restaurant were all well presented with the proper place settings and no table was left Un bussed.
The room we had our company sponsored happy hour was well prepared with several nice tables, a spread of Mexican food such as tacos and salsas and never did I feel my needs were not met as the staff was always available to refill drinks, offer an appetizer or ask of there’s anything they can get for you. Staff showed exceptional service!
Appetizers were delicious and the portion sizes were perfect. Now my to do list will include having a proper sit down meal. Stay tuned!

It’s not you’re typical Mexican restaurant and that’s what’s so splendid about it. It’s the Mexican influence found in their steak and seafood menu that truly makes the overall dish so unique and delightful. Moreover, the overall atmosphere creates for a perfect wine & dine experience. I would say it’s more avant-​garde than your typical classic feel.
From their appetizers I would recommend Mary’s Duck Taquidos, very tasty and not too heavy allowing room for the main dish. The Main Lobster Tail was exquisite and cooked just right. And of course a Casa Blanca Margarita to tie the Mexican influences all together.
I would easily recommend this for an alternative fine dinning experience. Thank you for having me, I was truly satisfied.

Got a promotion from Citibank called in a few times and no one knew what I was talking about (Newport location) Shanti a hostess hung up on me after the second call because she couldn’t hear me but (Hillary) a manager and Franco the GM heard me just fine??? After being hung up on because she didn’t know what I was talking about regarding Citibank and the guaranteed reservations/​butter cake promotion??? I attempted one last time… Called back and asked to speak to a manager, enter Franco who also didn’t know what I was talking about? (This promotion is going on till the end of this year and started last year) I expect more from a General Manager? Is it too much to think the GM would train his staff and actually have knowledge on a promotion that Citi is trying to collaborate with them on? After he admitted that he is learning about this from me and has no knowledge about this promotion he put me on hold (enter Hillary) and another manager got on the phone that did know about the promotion. I don’t think I’ll try this place… Not even at the restaurant and the service is like this? #I’llPass #SeriouslyRedO? #Notworthit #WorstExperienceINeverHad
Franco here’s a picture of the promotion you’re having… Call me for details

Excellent Service! Food was outstanding! I ordered the filet mignon and hubby got carnitas both were to die for! Margaritas were so Delish over all first time experience 5 will defiantly recommend this place to anyone and i will be back

This place is loud with live music which I loved. The restaurant is beautiful. The collection of tequila is amazing. My husband and I were there celebrating our wedding anniversary last night and we were not let down. We ordered their dinner for 2, 32oz ribeye, 16oz lobster tail, rice, black beans, guacamole, tortillas, pico de gallo, and some things I can’t remember after the best margarita I ever drank. Red O signature margarita highly recommended! The food was cooked to perfection and it was plenty for 2. Until next time Red O!

Came here for dinner with some friends and loved it! The ambiance is great, they have beautiful décor and they had live music the night we went. We started off with duck taquitos that were the best I’ve ever had. I got the shrimp enchiladas which were just okay, but my husband got the short rib enchiladas which were AMAZING! They are a must try! Great for date night.

Update from my previous review. I came here tonight with the hubby for a belated Valentine’s dinner and had a delicious meal. Franco, the manager, was super friendly and greeted us happily. Again, like my last visit, the chips and salsa got me! I’m not usually a huge salsa fan, but I really like the salsa here. Here is what we ordered:
Queso Fundido with Chorizo — ⁴⁄₅ — I love cheese, and this is what this appetizer is all about! The cheese was melted perfectly and served with tortillas. I preferred chips over the quesadilla though, yum! The chorizo added a nice flavor to it as well.
Camerones al Mojo de Ajo — ³⁄₅ — I love shrimp, which is one of the main reasons I ordered this dish. The shrimps were large and flavored well. I was hoping for the juiciness when biting into it, but they were a bit overcooked. The rice could have use a bit more flavor as well, but the spinach was tasty.
Jumbo Scallops Fideos — ⁴⁄₅ — My husband and I both agreed that the scallops were pretty amazing! They were super tender and cooked perfectly. We both really enjoyed the scallops. The angel hair pasta was a bit too al dente for my taste, and could also use a bit more flavor. The scallops were a 5/​5, and the pasta was a ³⁄₅.
Maine Lobster side — ⁵⁄₅ — Loved this! Like the scallops, the lobster was cooked perfectly! It has a nice char on the outside edge and had a delicious sauce added to it. The sauce was very buttery, and went well with the juicy and tender lobster.
Fried Sweet Plantains — I liked the sweetness of the plantains, and it paired well with the sour cream and cheese. This was almost like a dessert appetizer.
I really wanted to order a dessert, especially since I’ve been having a sweet tooth these days, but we didn’t get a chance to this time. Hopefully next time =)

This is an upscale Mexican restaurant with beautiful decoration. The entire restaurant is gorgeous. I think I have fallen in love with Spanish tile.
The staff are highly trained and professional. They provided excellent service.
They bring you a basket of warm chips with three different salsas which is a good starter.
For the foods, I ordered the lobster tail which was ok but not excellent. It was a little bit salty and it was not tender enough. We also ordered the shrimp with mojo. It was very tasty but I felt it was on the pricey side because it only had 5 pieces of shrimps with a big portion of rice for the price of $ 35.
Overall, I really enjoyed the dining experience at Red O. There is a beautiful courtyard and additional outside seating for large private party events. This place can easily accommodate a few hundred people.

Not impressed at all! My wife and I were escorted through the whole restaurant and finally seated outside of the building in there «outdoor patio» even though there was seating inside. Ambience Appetizers not bad. Chips and salsa
not bad. Food was not good. Bottom line… glorified and way overpriced Mexican food. How much does rice, beans and tortillas cost? Gimme a break!

I’M SO FULL! That’s always a sign that the food was good — and it was!
We’ve been wanting to try Rick Bayless’ Red O for a while now and finally had the opportunity to have Sunday brunch here. For starters we had the Classic Guacamole (3-​star), Shrimp/​calamari ceviche (4-​stars) and duck taquitos (5-​stars) and then ordered the shrimp/​lobster enchiladas suiza (5-​stars), the chilaquiles (4-​stars) and a kids chicken enchilada. For desert we ordered the churros that came with chocolate and caramel dipping sauces (3-​stars). We were pleased with all the dishes but especially with the duck taquitos, chilaquiles and shrimp/​lobster enchiladas… the service provided by Luis was also excellent!
We will definitely be back! I’m looking forward to sampling more of what Red O has to offer, including the dish Rick Bayless used to win Top Chef Masters.

I’ve been here three times for lunch and have thoroughly enjoyed each time. Twice was during Restaurant Week and the deals were pretty good. I went yesterday with a friend and while the food is good, it can be pricey. Maybe that’s why only a few tables were filled.
First, the place is gorgeous. It’s exotic during the day and I’m sure very sexy and romantic at night with a nice fireside patio outside.
They bring you a nice basket of warm chips with three different salsas to begin. Each are yummy and have a great depth of flavors. When I checked in on Unilocal I was surprised to find a free guacamole offer — sweet! It was creamy and delish and paired nicely with the salsas.
In terms of food, you can’t go wrong with any of the tacos. You get three with the order and each was very meaty. I opted for a salad with chicken and although the chicken was a tad overcooked, it was very tasty and filling.
A nice place to go if you’re feeling spendy for Mexican and want a nice ambiance.

I came here with my wife for restaurant week and was very impressed. The restaurant is very swanky and the service was impeccable. The portions were huge, even for restaurant week. For appetizers, I had the duck taquitos which I thought was creative, but wasn’t crazy about, but my wife’s salad was amazing. For entrees, I had the carnitas which was very succulent and had great flavor. My wife had the fish of the day. I don’t recall which type, but it was cooked perfectly. All in all, it was an amazing meal and definitely plan on coming back.

Red OHHHHHH. OHH is exactly what I said when I came here… when it was super windy. and I was placed outside on the patio. They had white sheets that blocked the wind from blasting in, which it worked, but made horrible noises every time the sheet flapped. OHHHH… shoot, freaking wind. So, I decided to move inside. My hunger buzz was almost killed by this but our server understood and was cool with it. Plus the ambiance is much more desirable to look at inside as well as the food that passes each table:
Goat cheese tamales: ⁵⁄₅ This was amazing. I assumed that it would taste dry from first glance cause the masa was thick, but it was light and sweet from the goat cheese. I licked my plate clean. Delicious starter dish.
Duck taquitos: 4.5÷5 yum! These small morsels pack big flavors and are delicious. The sauce was creamy and paired well too.
Carnitas: 4.5÷5 This came with fresh corn tortillas and a good serving of tender carnitas that only took a gentle bite to chew. Good solid dish.
Filet Mignon: 3.5÷5 I would of thought that this would of been a home run but the filet was extremely salty. It was cooked perfectly as requested, medium rare, but that salt man… bummer. Oh and the sauce has a good kick to it for those that like spice in their food!
Flan: ³⁄₅ This didn’t taste like anything to be honest. The chocolate cake crumbs are toasted and placed beneath the flan which gives it a nice texture, but the flan itself… yikes!
Our server, William, was really cool and personable. Great service, didn’t wait for my food for too long, and beautiful ambiance and décor.

I had high expectations for this place considering it’s a celebrity chef restaurant, but I was met with utter disappointment. In my opinion, the best Mexican food is dirty Mexican food from taquerias.
I came here for a work event and the restaurant accommodated me and about 150 of my coworkers. The drinks were fantastic! The skinny and organic margarita was great and so were the Moscow Mules!
The food on the other end was severely disappointing. Maybe they had an off day? Maybe the sheer volume of mouths to feed was overwhelming?
We started off with the corn and goat cheese tamales which were gross, but I’m not a goat lover in the first place. The short rib sopes were über salty! Imagine salty beef on crunchy tortilla chip flavored fried dough.
The salad was also disappointing! So soggy and flavorless! I had the sea bass entrée which was the worst! It was the driest fish I’ve ever had! No flavor whatsoever and super toasted! What a waste of a piece of fish :(
The flan with mint dessert was also a bust. I’ve had better Mexican flan from my boyfriend’s mother.
Overall, This place is not great for big corporate dinners. Maybe it’s a great place for smaller parties where they actually take time and effort into crafting each plate. In the end I can’t really complain too much because at least I didn’t flip the bill for this less than exciting meal.

Red O-​maahhhhgaaawwwddd… You are delicious!
First off I will start off with how beautiful this restaurant is. You walk in through these huge wooden looking double doors and immediately see alcohol beautifully displayed to your right and left… Along with the beautiful bar and lounge area. This restaurant is huge!
We walked in about 9:30, 30 minutes before closing on a Monday night. We were greeted by someone that gave somewhat of a dismayed attitude to have to seat us. Really pushed for us to sit in the bar or lounge and didn’t really offer to seat us in the restaurant side. We requested it so he had no choice really.
Thankfully, our server was amazingly attentive. He was very knowledgeable about the menu. Everything they use is organic! They also have an array of about 30 different salsas used within the menu.
Chips and salsa were brought to the table immediately and with the handy dandy Unilocal check in we enjoyed a guacamole on the house.
After that we ordered the following:
— Fresh Corn and Goat Cheese Tamales: a little sweet and nothing short of awesome. The salsa made it a bit spicy.
— 6oz. Petite Filet Mignon: everything is wood grilled. Cooked to perfection. I asked for medium rare and it was just right. Came with mashed potatoes and I added a lobster tail to make it a surf and turf. Absolutely mouth watering. Get in my belly!
— Enchiladas Suizas: looked amazing as well. Roasted veggies, cheese, beans…
We didn’t get any dessert because my pants couldn’t expand anymore but I must go back for the butter cake. Our server who used to work at Mastros says it is better than Mastros hands down. I will be the judge of that, sir.
2016 was supposed to be a start of my new year healthy me motto but that went out the window when I stepped foot into Red O.
Definitely one of the best restaurants in OC right now. Can’t wait to come back!

Rating is based on the food, not the overall experience or drinks. However, even then, it’s not a thorough assessment of their food as I only ordered the guac and ceviche. I wouldn’t recommend the ceviche to anyone. Taste wasn’t very good and I prefer regular salty tortilla chips over the sweet plantain chips that they used. Guacamole was just average.
Service was excellent. Our bartender was fun and had a bunch jokes… Got us good on her tequila recommendations though; be careful to ask prices with the recommendations. You might be ordering $ 20 shots without knowing, lol

Well this was really expensive Mexican food.
Cocktails are awesome, loved the Alacran Margarita with the spicy kick. Also had a little of my wife’s Summer Heat which was delicious!
On to the food …
— Classic Guacamole … seriously delicious, creamy chunky texture with just the right amount of lime juice and spice. Be sure to check in on Unilocal & you get a free one :)
— Ceviche Albacore, major miss, way tooooo sour with the lime.
— Braised short rib tacos … sooooo good, perfectly tender and the sauce was amazing
Definitely need to come here for happy hour.

Not worth the money… My filet was not cooked to order. Rare cooked to medium. Potatoes were good,
Onions were stringy and limp. We had a large party so the bill was over $ 2000. Would have expected the food to be cooked properly for the money spent. They also never refilled the chips and salsa. Big disappointment. Should have gone to Javier’s.