Water Grill in Costa Mesa

Saturday, February 18, 2017

This was Margie's selection for her monthly dinner. The building was the old Scott's Seafood in Costa Mesa that closed last year after a really long run. Did not like to see it shut down, I always enjoyed eating there. I loved the ambiance. The Kings Fish Co took over the building and opened it up at one of their Water Grills. www.watergrill.com,

The renovations are beautiful but they lost the quiet of Scotts.  Hard surfaces, open ceiling with duct work.  Noise level was unbearable.  I would never go back. Too bad because the food was excellent. The noise level was so high that you had to put your mouth up to the ear of the person next to you . Not good for an enjoyable dinner. The wait staff had its ups and downs also.  We had one waiter that was very professional and acted it. The other must have been a part time college boy who was only looking for a job and did not care about what it was.

I ordered the Chilean Sea Bass and the fish was cooked perfectly. It was excellent but came on a bit of puree with a few nuts sprinkled on it.  That was all folks - sides were all extra. I ordered a side of Polenta with Fontina Cheese which was cooked in a cast iron ramekin. It also was excellent.  But three weeks ago I had Chilean Sea Bass at Fish Company in Los Alamitos and for the same money of the fish alone at Water Grill  I had the fish, special sauce and two sides at Fish Company. Same quality.

The one bright spot at Water Grill was no corkage. All the restaurants in the company umbrella have that same policy.

I brought a 2008 Clos Pepe VS, Sta Rita Hills, Pinot Noir. Not as good as the 07 or 09 but still a very tasty wine. I also brought a 2012 Huber, Sta Rita Hills, "Hafen" Dornfelder port.  I only got to taste about a fifth of the wines for two reasons. I will not drink oaky chardonnays and at one time the other end of the table (there were 12 of us) had all but 2 wines in front of them. I never saw what was brought because they did not move.

Other wines brought were:

2014 Evans Ranch, Sta Rita Hills, Chardonnay - very oaky
2015 Rombauer, Caneros, Chardonnay - did not taste
2012 Domaine Felines Jourdan, - Picpoul de Pinet, Langedoc - did not taste
2013 Foxen, Tinaquaic Vineyard, Santa Maria Valley, Chardonnay - did not taste
2013 Anthill Farms, Abby Harris Vineyard, Pinot Noir - did not taste
2015 Dr. Loosen, Blue Slate, Kabinett, Riesling - did not taste
2013 Wiens, Riverside County, Reserve Cabernet Franc - did not taste
2012 Schramsberg, Blanc de Blanc - also a winner
2014 Kosta Browne, Santa Lucia Highlansd Pinot Noir - nice wine but way to young
2013 Rombauer, Proprietor Selection, Chardonnay - did not taste
2013 Evening Land, Eola-Amity Hills, Oregon, Pinot Noir - typical Oregon Pinot
2014 Kosta Browne, Sonoma County, Pinot Noir - again way too young