- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
118 Degrees
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Live/Raw Food Vegetarian, Vegan, Live/Raw Food [Edit]
2981 Bristol StSte B-5
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 754-0718
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 9 am - 9 pm
Sun 10 am - 8 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
393 reviews for 118 Degrees
Review Highlights
-
"Apple cobbler - i was blown-away at how good this was." In 32 reviews -
"I got the pesto stuffed mushrooms deeeelicous." In 11 reviews -
"We shared the Kale salad - and it was delcious." In 19 reviews
Loading...
- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
393 reviews in English
-
Review from Amy D.
Los Angeles, CA
5/2/2012
YES! It's raw and one of the few BALANCED menus I've come across as a vegetarian.
Most places use way way way too much SOY (in my opinion you shouldn't eat any, but that's mine)
And the raw foodists go overboard on the nuts. Way too much unpoly fats....toxic to the liver, fyi
However this restaurant is so awesomely balanced and does it just right.
All the dishes are very tasty particularly the panini. They sprouted bread is thick, hearty and very filling.
WHAT A PLEASANT SURPRISE.
ps, their cook book is A+, made the bread at home and it comes out perfect :)
sooooooooo good. -
Review from Mandi S.
Long Beach, CA
5/16/2012
I got the groupon - I had always wanted to try this place and they offered a full day of meals. The food tasted good, I have to admit. but the customer service was poor for first timers. When I left I didn't know what was in the bag (ingredients, etc) and one item ended up leaking all over the other ones because the bag tipped a little in the car - I didn't know it wasn't secure.
Although there was a list of the menu items in the bag, there was no real education with regards to the potential of this diet should I want to continue, or what order to eat whatever in...there could have been more follow up to encourage me to come back, because I was definitely open to it.
All in all the food wasn't bad, but the parking was, and unless I need to change my diet, meh.... -
Review from Jeanie D.
Irvine, CA
5/4/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I went here after having a great experience with a raw vegan place a few days earlier. I was very excited as the raw vegan dining experience is new to me. The restaurant decor is artsy as you would expect for a place at the Camp. Parking sucked.
I ordered the burrito and it was just okay. It was like a salad wrapped in a supple green wrap. The sauce added all the flavor in the dish. My husband chose the brunch which included 5 courses. It started with a caramel banana, it was good, smothered in caramel like sauce, dried apples and cinnamon. The second and third courses were the red bell pepper soup and zucchini pasta, they were okay, they were more on the bland side for flavor but the pasta has good texture. The fourth course we the pizza, it is nothing like the pizza, the only way I describe as is interesting- the base was some sort of fruit? For dessert and final course, it was the apple cobbler, it was amazing, perfect balance between sweetness and tartness. The price is kinda steep for what the were offering. The brunch by far was the best deal- it came with ALOT of food.
I'm indifferent about this place, I'm not sure if I would ever choose to come here, but if someone wanted to go, I wouldn't oppose. -
Review from Alex D.
Long Beach, CA
5/20/2012
118 degrees is a nice restaurant option for the raw foodist and vegan health conscious eater looking for cuisine in the OC. While the food does tend to taste the same over the course of their dishes -- their approach is balanced -- not too much nuts, no processed soy which is just as toxic as meat. Their raw mexican dishes are the best of the lot. Their mushroom apps, great. Green juices great. The desserts tend to overdo the nut basis as most raw foods do -- extremely dense. If you're traveling to the South Coast Rep for theater, this is a must do for health foodies. Good times.
-
Review from Sachin M.
San Clemente, CA
4/28/2012
I came to this restaurant with my vegetarian friend a little while back expecting an interesting dining experience. I was right, but not in a good way.
The restaurant atmosphere was nice. It felt comfortable with raw wood apparent, concrete floors and dim lighting. There was some neat artwork on the wall. The wait staff was very good and they really like to talk to the customers.
The food on the other hand, although nicely presented, was difficult to eat. We both ordered noodle dishes. Hers was with a kale salad, mine was served with a spicy orange sauce. Seeing how vegan food needs to be a little more satisfying, both dishes had to include a lot of olive oil. By the end of the meal, I felt stuffed, but a little weird. Later that night, I was still tasting olive oil.
I'm open towards new types of food, but I don't think I'm sold on raw food. Maybe ordered we ordered the wrong dishes? -
Review from Christopher B.
Irvine, CA
5/24/2012
This place is top notch. The food is really gourmet. Even non-vegans love it. It's a little pricey but well worth it.
-
Review from Chloe L.
Irvine, CA
5/13/2012 Seated via OpenTable
I think these type of establishments are better off if one has had experience with raw and vegan food. I haven't, and even though I ate most of what I ordered (some fusion salad) I felt rather ill afterwards.
-
Review from Shawnee M.
Corona del Mar, CA
5/15/2012
Worth the wait! If you have a few minutes to spare for lunch and want to live on the wild side, try raw! Sauces are amazing, environment relaxed. Your skin (and body) will look so good!
-
Review from Amanda P.
4/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
You need to have an open mind before coming here if you've never eaten raw vegan food before. Many people think that raw + vegan = plain, boring, sad salads, but there's far more than salads here, and the food is anything but boring. My non-vegetarian husband declared his dinner the best meal he'd had in an Orange County restaurant.
We used a Groupon for two entrees and two desserts. There was absolutely no problem with using it, and because neither of our entrees cost as much as the maximum allowed on the Groupon, our server even gave us our appetizer for free. Our server was excellent. We liked the dishes he recommended, and he was friendly and quick to check back with us.
We ordered the "fried" avocado tacos, and of course those who've eaten at Seabirds will wonder if these tacos are the same thing. Other than the fact that both have a wedge of avocado with a crispy coating, they're completely different dishes. 118 Degrees' tacos are served on a flat, cracker-like shell (more like a tostada than a taco), which are topped with spinach, corn, and julienned cucumber and drizzled with sauce. We loved them.
The julienned cucumber was also in The Baja, which I ordered, along with other veggies atop a spicy shell (somewhat like a bigger version of the appetizer). It was all topped with guacamole, salsa, and some spicy chipotle sauce. There was also tahini "cheese" spread on the shell, but I couldn't taste that very well with all of the other flavors involved in this dish. Though it was good, it was VERY spicy--too spicy for me to finish, though I tried, and I gave our nice waiter a heads up that I'd definitely be needing more water. My husband had the sweet corn tamales, which I'll be getting next time. The corn "mash" (as he called it) was perfectly sweet, and it came mixed with marinated mushrooms and with a salad on the side. Because this is raw cuisine, the tamales weren't firm like traditional tamales, but they were delicious.
We had the apple cobbler and the chocolate ganache for dessert. I wasn't a huge fan of the apple cobbler--it's made with dehydrated apples, and I didn't particularly like the nutty crust or the vanilla topping. But I really loved the chocolate ganache. Again, if you want huge quantities of food, you would look at this dish and say, "That's it?". It's two little rectangular pieces of fudge-like chocolate, topped with strawberries and drizzled chocolate and vanilla sauces. But this is a really, really rich dessert. What looks like a small serving is actually plenty.
It would be a little pricey to come here without a Groupon, but we really enjoyed it and we were impressed with the creativity of the food. I'm sure we'll be back for special occasions. -
Review from Yuki G.
Los Angeles, CA
4/22/2012
This review is based on only 1 dining experience but you can be sure that I will be going back.
I've been shopping at the Camp complex for 8 years but I never once went to 118 Degrees. I just was always eating at the other vegan restaurant there. I always wanted to try 118 Degrees, but somehow, it just never happened until this month.
Lunchtime on the weekend, a decent size crowd but plenty of empty tables. I walk in and don't know what to do because no staff greet me and there's no sign to indicate if one is supposed to be seated or seat yourself. So after awkwardly standing there and looking at the staff for a clue, someone finally tells me that another staff will be with me. Mind you, the other staff are just talking amongst themselves. It puts me off but I really want to try the food. I am seated, I look at the menu, and it's all good from there.
The waiter explains things like I'm from another planet after I answer no that I've never dined there. I understand a lot of people don't know what's in raw vegan food and I appreciate the details so I didn't interrupt him to say I already knew. I mean, he might offer some useful details and I don't want to miss that.
The food was good. The portions, especially dessert, were larger than expected. I've been very strict with my diet of late and not eating much but still, that was a huge dessert. I was absolutely stuffed walking out of there. In fact, I should've paid my waiter to roll me out to my car.
What I didn't like about the place was the acoustics. It was terribly loud in there. I couldn't even hear myself think. I was overwhelmed by everyone's conversations. in fact, I almost completely lost it and got up to complain to the very annoying old ladies next to me. It's really, really hard to enjoy your food when people are talking about their bowel movements after eating at 118 Degrees, getting up to have their friend check their pants size, etc. I just ate there at the wrong time and at the wrong table. But seriously, why do you have to talk about feces so loudly when dining???
Beware that Umami Burger has opened in the complex. After walking out of the restaurant, I almost vomited from the smell of beef. Normally it doesn't have that effect on me, I was just so stuffed. -
Review from Katie F.
San Clemente, CA
3/27/2012 1 Check-in Here
First I will start by stating that I waited a day before writing this so I could make sure it was as accurate as possible and not just an angry post dinner rant.
My friend and I were very excited to try this restaurant and had a reservation for last night. Upon arrival we were told to seat ourselves, ok fine no big deal. Little did we know we sat in the wrong section, our waiter Robert was HORRIBLE. I have never received service (or should I say lack of service) like this before. He had no personality, was not attentive AT ALL, rude and condescending, I can't believe he even has a job. Here were the "highlights" (sarcasm) of the night;
He first asked us if we were there for the Groupon and we said no we didn't know there was one, he replied "oh well" and walked away. Ummm... are we supposed to leave?!
Once he came back I asked him for some recommendations and he told us "the Tamales are the best thing on the menu but sucks for you we are always really busy so were all out, so I guess maybe the lasagna and the curry wraps?" Ok... I guess we will get those, come to find out they are out of the curry wrap too! He again asked us if we had the Groupon. I responded "no but you keep mentioning it and now I feel like we are over paying for our meal" he walked away.
We finally settled on the Fried Avocado Tacos and the Lasagna. Both were delicious! I eat mainly raw so this was right up my alley.
He never checked on us and he continued to bump into my chair the entire meal...
Time for desert, something I love when dining out. I went to the ladies room and while I was in there my friend asked him what was on the Desert Sample Plate, he replied "you don't want that you want the Chocolate Mouse" she asked what was in it and he said, "I don't know it's just bomb" mmm don't you just love that bomb flavor. She said she was going to wait for me to see what I wanted and he said, "fine don't take my advice, whatever" and walked away.
We decided to take his rude advice only after over hearing a female waitress explain to her table what was in it. He brought it out with only one fork and then took a fork off someone else's table and gave it to me... ugh.
Again, the food was delicious! We cleaned the plate!
But... While eating desert he set the bill down as he was passing by. I guess were not getting coffee. We were paying in cash and Robert proceeded to hover around us while we sorted out the bill. This was the only time he paid us any attention our entire meal. I was holding the cash in my hands and Robert came up and said, "Can I take that?" I responded, "no thank you we don't need change" he kept going, "Oh did I bring you the bill, I don't see your money" UMMM SERIOUSLY?!?! He had just hovered over us watching us sort the bill, does he think I'm stupid. I told him "we are not done yet and we do not need change, THANK YOU" granted by this point both my friend and I were extremely irritated.
The bill was $42.33 and we left $44. I hope that Robert gets the point one day but after reading other reviews stating how bad the service is I'm not that optimistic. I was so excited to try 118 Degrees and honestly I will never go again. I own the cook book and I would rather make the food myself than pay a high price for the worst service. The only reason I gave this review even 2 stars is because the food was so good.
Food - 5
Ambiance - 3
Service - 0 -
Review from Charm N.
Huntington Beach, CA
4/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I'd give this 3 in a half stars. I got the zucchini pasta with pesto and mushrooms and tomatoes. I definitely didnt love it. Our waitress was very friendly and helpful. I had a glass of chardonay which was good. My date had another type of pasta i think he liked along w a glass of red wine which i tried and was good. I think one of my problems was I was a little caught off guard the pasta was cold (which all their food isnt cooked over 118 degrees or it looses its nutrients) so technically it was my fault for ordering pasta and not expecting it to be cold haha. But anyways i would probably try this place again now that my expectations are a little different. Definitely a different place, very healthy (everything is vegan) which is nice
-
Review from Nicole B.
Laguna Hills, CA
5/11/2012
118 Degrees was absolutely AMAZING. I am an adult living with multiple food allergies, and they were able to acomodate to 100%! In fact, most of their stuff was already fine for me to eat, but the few things I couldn't, they were willing to modify for me. I am allergic to almonds and they were very honest about the fact that it is shared equipment; thankfully that allergy is less severe than the many others. Not only is the food healthy, but it is incredibly delicious. For the quality of food, the pricing is remarkable. I had an appetizer and an entree and ended up taking home a to-go box.
I would recommend this place to EVERYONE. Allergy-ridden or not. Vegan or not. I cannot even imagine why anyone wouldn't love this place.
If I had the money, I would eat at 118 Degrees exclusively. Here's hoping I win the lottery ;) -
Review from Melissa J.
Irvine, CA
4/18/2012
Let me first say, I am not vegan, nor am I on a raw food diet. I do try to eat in a healthy manner, so had been looking forward to trying this place for a while, though convincing anyone to go with me was not an easy task.
The restaurant was full, though not slammed. Either way, we had a reservation and were not worried. Even so, service was still terribly slow.
Ambiance was odd: Not really warm and cozy, though not sleek and modern either. A little cramped and uninspired. This felt like a better lunch vibe than a dinner vibe.
Food was reasonably priced, I suppose. I don't really have any other raw food restaurants to compare it to. And our appetizer was pretty tasty: pesto rolls. My husband ordered the Baja, which was good, though not exceptional. I ordered the Thai fusion, which was one of the more expensive entrees ($19- and I didn't order it because it was expensive, but because it sounded interesting), but it was very, very bland. The only way I could conceive to fix it was to douse it with salt and several squeezes of lemon.
I think the only way I would even consider going back would be for a lunch trip and someone else paying. -
Review from Diana C.
Anaheim, CA
4/14/2012
Love this kind of dining with this kind of food and atmosphere (minus the skeevy waiters). This place...has potential. Kind of...Where's the salt??
- Sea Vegetable Salad $8 (half portion): THEY SAY it's supposed to have dulse, cucumber and avocado with sesame seeds and teriyaki marinade. We didn't taste any sort of teriyaki anything. The entire salad was doused with oil and flavorless.
+/- Taste of Italy Sampler $14 (you get a little sampling of the three items below)
+ Portobello Mushroom: Cremini Mushrooms Stuffed with Spinach Pistachio Pesto. The pesto and sauce were delicious! Too bad there were only 3 mushrooms on my plate. Mm...that marinara and basil cheese sauce!!
- Topaz Pizza: Pistachio Pesto with Tomatoes and Herbed Italian Squash on a Sprouted Grain Crust (HARD like beef jerky). Served warm with Sun-Dried Tomato Topping, Chopped Olives, Marinara & Basil Cheese. Overall, it would have been better without the crust.
- Caesar salad: ?? SO THEY SAID...Maybe they have a different idea of what a Caesar salad is. I imagine at least romaine lettuce. What I got was spring mix with capers and avocados...I like avocados so I'm not complaining about that. I was just, surprised...not to mention my whole salad was soaked in oil. Yuck. If they had to substitute, it would have been nice to know. -
Review from Petti V.
San Clemente, CA
5/7/2012
I've eaten here 3 times and each time I'm blown away with how good this food is. THe servers are friendly and knowledgeable. My favorites are the Lemon Pesto Pasta and the to-die for Apple Cobbler. I'm so jazzed I signed up for one of their cooking classes and bought the cookbook.
-
Review from Kriss P.
Updated - 3/5/2012
My Uppie on 118
It's about time I fill ya'll in on how my 7-day detox went.
I waltzed into 118 to grab a healthy lunch to share with my coworker. On display was a sign listing their holiday specials. We've talked about doing the detox before with no real conviction but that day really sealed the deal because the $210 price tag was reduced to $99 (no tax btw). I had mixed emotions and needed to make up my mind right then & there because the offer ended that day. I mustered up my courage and insisted that I DESERVE IT!
Yup, I signed up to start my detox week as soon as the new year came to town. Pick up days are Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. So, I did just that! You receive some information to read up on the journey your about to embark on along with the first few meals of the program. How exciting. You receive all the meals you need until the next pickup time. Yes, the first two days are the hardest and I needed to supplement my meals with TONS of cuties (fresh mandarin oranges, duh) since I've been working out like a champ. Little did I know the mystery that was brewing.
The menu you're given during every pickup sounded great and their rendition was somewhere in the ballpark but of course people will have their own opinion on that. The food was fair to good as far as taste goes. I mean, what can you honestly expect from different versions derived from pretty much the same ingredients. You'll find TONS of leafy salads with a main player and nutty treats. That was pretty much the gist of the it. Personally, everything started to taste the same. You know, when you walk into 118 it gives off a certain raw aroma. Your meals will start to taste just how that place smells- good or bad thing.
You have the option of emailing the chef to better personalize your meal if you don't particularly like a certain component or are allergic to anything. I never really liked their sprouted bread but I sucked it up and never emailed in to make sure they didn't include it again in any future meal because I didn't want to be a bother. But please do what you feel is best for you and the money you put into this program.
SoOoOoOo... HOW DID I DO?? Well, if you must ask... I failed! Horribly. I was hungry and irritated throughout the whole thing. By the end of day 3 I started to supplement the meals with protein so that it didn't seem like an entire waste. Doing that made it much better and I actually felt full. In retro spec, being preggo during the 7 days might have been a little playing factor. Yes, that was the mystery and I would have never known because it was the VERY early stages of gestation.
Would I do it again? Ehh... maybe. I liked it because I had food prepared and some items were yummy. I guess I'll have to wait until this bun in my oven is done to give this place another try. Check out their site for more info on the foods they use and if it's something you'd like to give a shot.Listed in: Tasty Tongue Teasing, Three Star List, Going Au Naturale
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/28/2011
I am such a fan of veggie, vegan, organic, and YES, raw food restaurants alike. I don't hate... IN… Read more »
-
-
Review from Becky P.
Anaheim, CA
4/12/2012
It's my 2nd time here, the 1st time was for lunch & that was awesome. Dinner bleew me away. I had the Corn Tamales, w/c I was told was they're most popular dish. I was so happy I did coz it was delicious. Hubby had the lasagna, he hasn't really gone totally vegetarian or even vegan, but he enjoyed every morsel of that dish. For appetizer we ordered the Crispy Avocado, that was so good! For dessert I had the Apple Cobbler & hubby had the Choco Ganache, they were scrumptious!! Oh the 2X that I've been to this place, our service was great, even at times over the top.
We'll be coming back for sure!! -
Review from LeeAnn O.
Laguna Niguel, CA
3/8/2012
I'm not vegan. I don't eat only raw foods. I'm not a health freak. But I can quickly recognize the difference when I nourish my body with healthy foods. Tonight was my fist time to eat at 118 Degrees, and I'm already a huge fan.
Matt, our server made the experience enjoyable by offering coaching on our food choices. The kale salad was magnificent.... I could eat it every day! The Pizzeta was unique and offered a fresh twist on a flat bread style pizza. The Buddah Bowl was over the top delicious, and plenty of food for two.
Never have I tasted healthy food that is so delicious. If you get sick eating here, it's because your body is already so toxic it can't handle eating healthy, living food that hasn't been striped of all its nutrients.
If you haven't been here yet, you must check it out.
I give this restaurant five stars because it's a hidden treasure in Orange County -- and a place everyone should try. And not just try, but make this style of eating a regular part of your lifestyle.
Check it out to find out for yourself. Make a reservation on Open Table... It's super easy! Your body will love you for being kind to yourself and for eating right! -
Review from Jared G.
Irvine, CA
Updated - 4/3/2012
Since we didn't get to use our groupon on the last trip, we had a reason to come back. This time, it was just me and the wife.
The service is still very European, but the server was great. He brought us over some plates that other people had ordered so we could see what was going out at the time. He recommended the marinated kale salad. That was very good. The kale had a little bite to it and the dressing was fantastic. I would recommend this salad to anyone, not just the health loving kale eaters.
I had a glass of an organic French Cabernet and I was quite pleased with it. Mmm, yes. On to dinner. I ordered the fusion "pasta" with Chipotle sauce and mushrooms and I have to say, that was one of the best things I've eaten in a while. The mushrooms were marinated to perfection and the sauce was actually quite spicy which is a super plus for me! The wife ordered the curry wraps which were also good. It had a little bit of a kick at the end though so watch out. For the curry itself, it did have an earthy flavor but it wasn't the typical Indian curry you would expect. Either way, very good.
We also ordered the apple Apple dessert again and with the pecan crust, it is very very good.
All in all, if you want a quick dinner, you should probably stay away, but if you want an involved dinner with lots of conversation and some delicious veggie dinners, this is the place.1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/31/2012
We went to 118 degrees with some friends who are certainly not the vegan type, but they decided to… Read more »
-
-
Review from Nicole H.
Garden Grove, CA
3/14/2012
My boyfriend and I are both adventurous eaters, so when we saw a Groupon advertised for dinner/dessert for two for $20, I immediately bought it. I have been a vegetarian for five years, so I'm pretty familiar with all the plant-friendly fare in Orange County.
This place: not worth the full price.
We shared the pizza. Vegetables on top of a nutty type of dough with nut cheese.
It was okay.
We also shared the tamale entree, as requested by our waitress. This tasted much better! A nice blend of corn and black-bean flavors.
Juice was good. Nothing special.
For dessert, we split the fresh fruit and chocolate spread. This was really delicious!
I like the ambiance of this place. There aren't many raw food restaurants around here. However, the food is very overpriced!
Super fast and amazing service! Reservations for dinner are required. -
Review from Ona A.
Rancho Cucamonga, CA
2/20/2012
Went day before yesterday with a friend, the waiter was high. He was so confused, told us it would take 20 min to sit and when a table opened up it did not click for him to sit us, we asked to seat ourselves another 10 min later.
We ordered the curry roll & the chipotle burrito to spilt. My friend really loved the curry roll and I loved the chipotle burrito. Although the sauces were gritty. I was happy with the prices too.
Fast forward 10 hrs we are both in full food poisening mode. I got the worst of it, we threw up for hours. Are they not sanitary?? Never going back, don't feel like throwing up like this again, stomach cramps, and the other end. -
Review from Kate V.
Long Beach, CA
3/8/2012
I can understand that when it comes to raw vegan restaurants, it will greatly depend on a personal taste and what one values and eats on regular bases. ALL raw vegans and vegans love it, a lot of all-eaters love it and there are always some who will never like it and that is just that.
If you are looking for a regular food substitute, like raw pizza that will be close to real pizza, then you will be disappointed. Not because it would not taste good, it does, I love it, but because people expect something that just cannot be. You cannot make a raw vegan pizza and make it taste like real pizza. Cannot be done!
But if you like culinary adventures, appreciate really healthy food and eat more than 1 course (in order to meet your calorie needs, one must eat more than 1 item), then you will be happy and enjoy each bite as a unique experience! Prices are not cheap, but the food quality is the best, the amount of preparation and freshness, that can only exist in raw food restaurants.
I have been a raw vegan for over a year now. I have a lot of food allergies and eating raw and healthy is the best for my body. But most raw vegan restaurants use unhealthy ingredients (soy products, yeast, too many nuts, etc) and I often end up having skin rashes from that food.
118 DEGREES IS THE ONLY 100% healthy raw vegan restaurant I have eaten at (and I have eaten at many)! I can have anything there and be ok, feel ok and be happy!
Most raw vegan restaurants use way too many nuts, making me feel bloated. 118 degrees do not, they use them just enough to get that 'cheesy" flavor without overdoing it and overburdening sensitive systems.
However if you cannot tolerate raw garlic, then this may not be your place. My husband loves raw food and LOVES this restaurant, but his stomach cannot tolerate raw garlic (sensitive stomach lining) ..... he can find a few items with low garlic or no garlic, but sadly it is not enough.... so I come with my friends....
I have brought a lot of my all-eating friends there who ALL loved it, they raved about it!!! We all tried many dishes, which I think is the way to go. If you are 3 or 4 people and order several items until full, you will be in for a real food-art experience! -
Review from Shanti M.
Ashland, OR
2/27/2012
This place is hit-or-miss... some of the food is AMAZING and some of it really misses the mark. I've eaten here on several occasions and had completely different experiences each time. The worst experience was when we went for a dinner package just before Thanksgiving. For $40-something dollars each we got 4 different courses and something like 5 different wines to try. The wines were HORRIBLE and we didn't like half of the food. Better to go here when you can order individual items.
What to Order:
- any salad, they are DELICIOUS! All of them are so creative and amazing
- most of the appetizers; they are almost all large enough to be a meal
- nachos
- lasagna
- PESTO MUSHROOMS!
- all the desserts
Tip: sometimes they offer sales and coupons to their mailing list so if you like to eat here, sign up :) -
Review from Hanna L.
Cerritos, CA
2/26/2012
Stopped by this restaurant after getting some Milk and Honey, and thought it smelled pretty funny. Could not get over the smell at all, but thought "why not try something new, maybe it'll be worth the high price" I loved the concept of the place. Nothing cooked over 118 degrees, everything fresh and natural.
The waiter was very nice and recommended the Taste of Italy, and boy I wished I liked it but when it comes to taste...the pizza is not a pizza, not because they don't do cheese here, but because the flatbread they used made me feel like I was eating cardboard and the sauce and veggies on top of it didn't compensate for it. The Ceasar Salad, supposedly their best salad, tasted sour. The only plus was the pesto mushrooms.
Rather than feeling healthy and rejuvenated, I just felt hungry and unsatisfied. Not worth the money folks. -
Review from Jasmine A.
North Hollywood, CA
5/12/2012
Total negative 6 stars but had to fill a 1star in guys...This was the worst customer service if thats what they call it 2thumbs down.My very 1st Bad review.uhm I never felt racism but it exists here very horriable feeling .I make reservation inadvance night befor showed up w/my group of girlfriends parking the car. My BBF & I decided to walk in & be seated.The guy looked at us & said sorry but your reservation have been cancelled.No phone call & it's 4:30pm no considertion & it was emtpy Holy Crap..WoW really then he said u can order take out & eat outside anywhere.I thought this condescending,smart ass,rude,little Prick,so we told the girls to just walk N w/no reservation & they welcome them in as if white was Gold lolzz So we All were right There Racist...Discusting behavoir!! we Found a great Spot You'll definately enjoy it & will become a regular here "Au Lac Fountain Valley" so flavorfull & incredible dishes amazing,along with 5star service
-
Review from Sidney S.
1/30/2012
Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory -- Albert Schweitzer
Both expectations and memories are more than mere images founded on previous experience -- Samuel Alexander
Wow, reviews are all over the place here. I figure expectations have to be a part of it...not only expectations of what healthy food is but also expectations with what the proper temperature of food is too. So when a friend invited me to dinner with a Groupon she purchased, who had transformed her diet to be more raw, plant focused based on her experiences at 118 degrees, I was a little leery of what was in store and approached this meal with trepidation. As a committed carnivore I almost felt like I was cheating on Bacon by coming here.
I was wrong...at least about my meal.
We started of course with a bit of a hiccup...my friend's reservation was lost. Luckily there was a table for two available and crisis was averted :) Our server Casey was just the epitome of lovely, granola-crunchy earthiness with the requisite tattoo but also a kind, sincere manner that was very fetching. Be nice to her boys you can tell she is a sweet, caring person.
One thing that 118 degrees gets right is its wine program. A smartly chosen list with wineries who farm organically and sustainably; 118 degrees not only gives substantial pours but also serves their reds at the right temperature!!! Too many times, at even supposedly wine friendly restaurants, wine served at warm room temps. You don't serve red wine at room temperature unless you are in a f$&*ing European castle where room temp is in the low 60's. 118 Degrees understands that...nicely done!
My meal started with Thai Spring roll. A veggie crunchy take on this familiar appetizer, it came with a too subtle dipping sauce (Avocado-lime I believe) that was only enlivened with some Cayenne pepper. But the rolls themselves were tasty. My friends butternut squash soup though was not to my liking. Even my friend agreed it would be better if it was warmer.
My entree was a Macadamia Nut Curry Wrap and again, the wraps were very good but the sauce needed a Cayenne Pepper pick me up too. But I was pleasantly surprised a how good the wraps tasted especially since plate appearance was that of hot enchiladas but temperature and texture were completely different. My friends fajita plate would have been better served a bit warmer and really didn't have much flavor regardless.
Dessert was truffle cookies for me...very good! Apple cobbler for my friend...wretched! Yuck!
So as you can read...four stars for my meal, with the great service and wine. If I had ordered my friends meal I would have been disappointed.
And that explains the wildly divergent opinions on 118 Degrees... -
Review from J B.
Anaheim, CA
4/19/2012
I not a vegetarian far less a vegan. The food here was quite good. Very healthy. Nice atmosphere and excellent service. We shared fried avocado's starter, sweet mustard salad and Florentine Lasagna, followed by the brownie. Everything was unique and quite good. The portions were surprisingly large, my wife and I could have easily done without the salad. I will be back. Parking is horrible (by OC standards, not by LA standards)
-
Review from Jenna D.
1/10/2012
I was on day 4 of my raw cleanse and needed a "night out"-- 118 and raw cocktails saved me. yes, to me drinking and cleansing is ok. makes for a cheaper date too.
portabello sliders with pesto, tomato and arugula. YUUUMMM. i could have had this as an entree.
tamales and guac-- my favorite, although the sliders are in close 2nd.
zucchini pasta with mushrooms and avocado- pretty good, not my favorite tho i would try something else
doing their 10-meal program this week, so far so good-- I'll update when i finish! -
Review from John B.
Long Beach, CA
4/7/2012
I have been here three times and have found the food wonderful, and have been raving about this place to my friends. The only hiccup is the service. Today there was only one other party in the restaurant and there were two servers and three cooks. I am not a picky customer but I expect good customer service. Most of the tables were not clean or prepared for new customers. I got a simple greeting and told to just sit wherever I liked. It took sometime to get a menu and then for someone to take my order. Talking on the phone and horseplay between the two servers was a higher priority than keeping customers in the restaurant pleased. One server sort of warmed up to me and finally took my order. The food was prepared and delivered in a reasonable amount of time and was as usual very delicious. Overall, the food merits 4 to 5 stars, while the service merits 2 since I feel generous at this moment. However, I am no longer excited about going again and it may take sometime before my memory fades and I decide to return to this restaurant.
Native Foods is just around the corner, and my experience there has always been favorable and pleasant, aside from the over-crowding which should reveal something to you about its popularity. I wanted to try 118 just to have something very exciting and different. -
Review from Sandy V.
Please excuse my ignorance but non of the food is cooked over 118 degrees. Its a "RAW Vegan" place. Sorry I didnt link the two and I should of done my homework, BAD SANDY NO DESSERT FOR YOU! Anyways I still think there is something about warm/hot food that appeals more to the tummy but I guess kills the nutrients. My lasagna was no where near 118 degrees..... more like 75.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
4/10/2012
Yay I am trying Vegan food for the first time. I gotta admit it was pretty darn good. So im a girl… Read more »
-
-
Review from Leanna F.
Fullerton, CA
3/1/2012
Bought the GROUPON for 2 dinners and choice of 2 desserts or drinks for $20. SO worth it, but I probably wouldn't have paid the $50+ for the meal regular priced. We shared the Dos Tacos and the Pesto Pasta which was made with Zuccini. The tacos were good, and the guac was good. They were difficult to eat and share tho. The Pesto Pasta was yummmmy and creamy. It was really filling probably because it was a creamy sauce. I kinda wish it was served hot, but I'm sure you could ask for it that way. I also wish it had a little crunch since the entire dish was mostly just the zuccini and a few mushrooms.
The desserts were also yum-in-my-tum. Got the dulce-de-leche and the chocolate ganouche. Dulce was really sweet, the chocolate was 2 small pieces served inbetween strawberries and it was thick (kinda reminded me of a powerbar...?) but at least tasted good and satisfied my chocolate urge. Plus I was able to take a hot yoga class not long after and I didn't feel stuffed. -
Review from Trang L.
Costa Mesa, CA
2/9/2012
I am not a Vegan/Veggie at all!!! My Sis-in-Law & I set out to find something for her Mom for her B-day.... Her Dr. had put her on this Vegan Diet for 2 months & poor thing didnt know what to eat. So here we are at 118 to try out some plates.
We ordered some small plates:
Fried Avocado Mini-Tostado --- had spinach, cliantro, corn, & fried avocado
It was very different but delightfully tasty
Olive Pizettas --- had olive Kamut crust w/ sun dried tomato herb marinara, mixed veggi, olives & basil cheese
This was unbelievably bursting w/ flavors
For a place that is totally hard-core Vegan, I was very impress with the flavors infused in each plates. Definitely come back when that Vegan craving calls. -
Review from Hieu V.
Ontario, CA
1/15/2012
So my friends and I were doing some late night Geocaching in the area and happened to stop at a cache right in front of restaurant. While we were sniffing out the hide, a very awesome dude by the name of MATT walks out from the store and gives us a hand with the search. Soon, we learn that Matt runs the place. After a quick photo session with Matt and his fresh fruits, he heads back into the store and returns to kindly hook us up with some tasty treats.
Matt and his friendly attitude was the highlight of our night. We'll definitely return to say hi.
Rating: 10/10 -
Review from Erica M.
Newport Beach, CA
4/12/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Went here with my finace after buying the groupon deal. We've been trying to move towards more healthy eating, so it seemed like a good opportunity to see the extreme of healthful eating.
We were both a bit skeptical, but it was surprisingly tasty. I had the tamales and my fiance had the pesto dish. The tamales were *amazing*. The guacamole it was served with was really bright and delicious. I would order these again if I go back. The pesto was one of the seasonal dishes and was just ok. We finished with the chocolate brownie desert (subbed in by the chefs b/c they ran out of the other chocolate dish usually on the menu). Loved this as well.
I know there were a few complaints about servers from other yelpers, but we didn't have too much of a problem. For the most part the server was attentive and he was always super friendly and helpful, but at the end of the meal we did have wait forever to order dessert. -
Review from Jared M.
Long Beach, CA
1/25/2012
This is a very good restaurant. You can't go in thinking you're going to order a nice hardy steak or (my personal favorite) some carb-packed fettucini alfredo, 'cuz that's not what you're gonna find....
All the food is prepared without going over 118 degrees because that's the temperature at which a lot of nutrients in healthy foods are lost. The food is different, but everything has AMAZING flavor. I highly recommend the chocolate towers. -
Review from Molly B.
Huntington Beach, CA
4/10/2012 Seated via OpenTable
LOVE this place. If you are not familiar with raw/vegan cuisine then you need to come with an open mind, and maybe read a little about the raw philosophy so you know what you are getting yourself into. Everything I have had at 118 is delicious and gourmet. I would recommend this place to any raw-vegan or anyone looking for a superb healthy gourmet meal. It is nice enough for date night too! Love it.
-
Review from Elesha R.
hmm, ehh, uhmm, I wish it was good. I really do because im an enthusiast of the raw food, vegan, and fruititarian lifestyle. The same problem remains everytime I eat here and at other Raw food restaurants (like Au Lac :(...4/5 dishes i order are just too salty here.
. No matter what I order, there seems to be too much oil and salt. The overseasoning of the dishes masks the naturally vibrant taste of vegetables and and ruins the concept.. I rather eat cooked food that is not over salted (like Native foods next door) than raw food that generally too salty.
bento box (diff everytime)- included. burrito ( too salty and saucy) salad (oily) tomato basil soup (it was ok) and a pumpkin cheesecake (tooo much agave added)
buddha bowl - ordered it once it was good but i never ordered it again bc i fell inlove with the lemon pesto.
lemon pesto- it was also really good, never had this dish to salty.
best dish here - lemon pesto. seasoned perfectly and the juice bar is cool, the whole place is overpriced tho and I would rather eat at native foods or gypsy den.
the apple cobbler is alright too but still so concentrated and sweet. get the vegan peanut butter parfait at native foods its way better dessert! been hooked on it for 5 years now! -
Review from Steve F.
Huntington Beach, CA
1/5/2012
If I were a vegan adamantly opposed to cooked food this place would be MY place. But alas I am not. The food, for what it is, is very interesting and creative. The wife and I both tried "pasta" dishes, one of which was juliened squash, the other juliened zuchini. At the time both tasted great, but the taste unfortunately has followed me home and I continue to taste the garlic. Mine had a shitaki cream, which I think mainly consisted of pureed avocado. Obviously they do not use any dairy. We had tortilla soup, which one might call tortilla-less gaspacho. Not bad, but not really good. Kind of weird and luke warm. The desserts (we tried the fruit fondue and apple cobbler) were ok. The fruit included an under-ripe mango and some under-ripe looking strawberries. The cobbler was kind of good, in an uncooked way.
My favorite part of the night was when our waiter, who gave us an intructional about the health benefits of raw food, and then went out to grab a smoke. He then proceeded to stink up the dining room with his ash tray cologne. Ah the irony.
The service was not good, and for the prices I expect a little more. Seemed to be the groupon effect, where they look at you like a second class citizen for having used the coupon. Oh well by now we are used to that.
In summary, a neat concept, although I have made it this long on cooked food and my vegan waiter will probably live a long and emphasematous life of antioxidants and camel cigarettes. -
Review from Mikki A.
Laguna Hills, CA
1/8/2012
This place and True Foods in Newport Beach are my favorite restaurants!! We even took our GREEK mom who loves meat here and she LOVED it.
The food is so amazing and colorful and flavorfull. Amazing job they do.
Try it!!
