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"I LOVE this place. Whenever I come for lunch, they not only make the baby field greens salad or the halibut stuffed with lump crab made…" read more »
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Brunch was INCREDIBLE !
Reservations were made and that helped with not having to wait around like a lot of other folks. Bunches of folks looked so pallid and apathetic waiting for an open table that I felt sort of bad passing them all and cruising into a reserved table.
A very nice place to go for just about any occasion! There were birthday parties and other events happening. Plus a very attentive group of servers made this experience a full 5 stars!
Much better, personalized service compared to Gordon Biersch or BJs. Taps brunch gives you a choice of either champagne / mimosa or 2 pints of their handcrafted beers. I chose the Cream Ale and my girlfriend chose the mimosa...
Taps has the entire brunch scene on par with too much good food!
Seafood bar was very fresh (ask any Asian about how picky freshness has to be).
Hot breakfast bar was very fresh and creative - all egg dishes done just right, crisp applewood smoked bacon, fresh carved turkey, gravy and potatoes!
Carving station has great tri-trip, creme brule, and waffle/pancake bar!
The salad and fruit bar was perfect and healthy.
Smoked salmon, fresh deep fried calamari, ceviche, oysters and snow crabs were my favorites!
They are very kid friendly with their own low tabled stations too!
After 2 trips, I had that glazed look as my waiter: Joe said.
I called it "food coma" and we all laughed. My girlfriend went 4 times and finally she called it quits - unbelieveable since she weighs almost half my weight and ate more than my weight! Sort of like the ants who can pick up many times their weight - she is an ant that eats like a horse!
TIPS:
1. Just make sure you get a reservation in ahead of time for brunch - it is worth it ! Even call the same day - early in the morning to ensure you won't wait an eternity.
2. To avoid valets that may not treat your car the way you want, drive onto their lot and head on the left side to avoid valet because they will make you believe that valet is the only option when in reality they have self park.
3. Ask the custom pasta bar to make your pasta the way you want it - more clams than linguine just the way you like it!
People thought this was:
Based on "Taste of TAPS" menu. (ack, they don't seem to be doing it right now!! anyways, keep a look out for it 'cause it's amazing)
For $25 a person, Taste of TAPS is a customizable 3-course meal: your choice of appetizer, main entree, dessert, and a complimentary glass of Cream Ale (brewed onsite.)
Pretty much anything you order from the Taste of TAPS menu wins. I came here for my birthday 3 months ago; the staff kindly printed my name on top of the menus that went out for our table; they even gave me a free baked alaska dessert which is ice cream, meringue, and cake! That was the first time I'd ever had anything like that, so that was super suh-weet (haha.)
I prefer to get the filet mignon with shrimp scampi for my main entree, and I've had their shrimp ceviche for appetizer. The filet is 5 or 6 oz, pretty small, but really tender and juicy. The ceviche comes in a martini glass and has lots of shrimp and chopped avocado pieces in it--so delicious and such a huge portion; I had to take some home! The dessert was a sizeable creme brulee; someone posted a picture here--it's a good size. You'll definitely be stuffed.
Now for the cream ale: I don't drink at all, so the nuances in the brew were completely lost to me, not to mention I just gave my share to someone else. But I did sip it a bit and it's quite nice; it reminds me of apple cider more than anything. I guess you should probably ask someone else for a better description of the beer, since I have no bleeding clue about alcohol. It does come with your meal though and is non-refillable.
This location is nice in that there's multiple sections of the restaurant to sit at, like at the oyster bar around the TVs if you want to get rowdy, and there's quieter areas for couples, or the bigger dining room if you've got a bunch of friends, and even outdoor seating so you can see people driving on Imperial.
I can't wait till they put on this year's Taste menu! I'll be back!
People thought this was:
Brunch is good.
But the cream ale......omg. So good.
I'm only giving them 3stars becauce service was poor
i got swordfish doesn't taste good at all
The experience here is always great. I take my friends and family here for any special occasion. The staff is very attentive. I have never been dissapointed by any dish. My favorite appetizer there is the calamari provencal. My favorite entree is the Chilean sea bass with the sticky rice. I go for there great happy hour menu too.
This restaurant is like a seafood version of BJ's. Large in size & from the food I've tasted, just average. Such a shame too because I LOVE LOVE LOVE seafood!
Here we go --
Food (3 STAR AVG):
Crab & Artichoke Dip - It was okay but there wasn't much crab in there. 2.5 STARS.
Shrimp Scampi - It was done well. 4 STARS
Crab Stuffed Shrimp - Again, too much bread crumbs not enough crab but good nonetheless. 3.5 STARS.
Strawberry Shortcake - Good but can definitely tell it was externally bought and just taken out of the fridge. 3 STARS
Atmosphere:
Again, it's like BJ's! 3 STARS
Customer Service:
Pretty good but not amazing. 3.5 STARS
OVERALL, ROUGHLY 3 STARS. This experience wasn't the best but it definitely wasn't bad. I'd give them another try one day.
PS. Here's a tip on parking - When you turn into the lot, the valet is going to have a bunch of cars right in the front to block your entrance and in my opinion, try to trick you into valeting your car. BUT, there is self parking, you just have to drive to the left (on the opposing lane) around the cluster of cars and you'll see the general lot. =)
People thought this was:
They have excellent service and excellent seafood.
Everything is portioned nicely so you spend a lot but never leave hungry. Try to catch them when they're offering their "Taste of TAPS" special because you can try a bunch of stuff.
My favorite is the popcorn shrimp. I could eat those forever. Go for lunch and they make a sandwich out of it which is awesome.
We've eaten there several times and a couple times there have been some service issues but they've fallen all over themselves to make it up. Most recently, my wife noticed the potatoes in the clam chowder were very undercooked (crunchy!), and after we let our waitress know she said we could substitute for anything else. Popcorn shrimp please!
However the shrimp took longer than usual to get to our table (although we didn't even notice because we were already devouring our entrees) and one of the managers came over and apologized profusely, told us the shrimp would be on the house, and even offerred any dessert of our choosing. WOW. And we even stressed that we didn't even notice the shrimp was missing. I can't even imagine what they would do if the customer was actually upset.
Again, I can't say enough about what great service they have. Ask for Natalie (our waitress from the above incident) because she is awesome!
People thought this was:
Great Place!
I have never had a bad meal at Taps.
On my most recent visit I had a great goat cheese salad as a starter and for the main course some very tender beef short ribs with butternut squash ravioli. The flavors went together very well, and the sauce was delicious! I also had the opportunity to try the seared oysters, which were fabulous, as well as the mushroom barley risotto. Everything was great and everyone at out table enjoyed their food.
I have also been here several times for brunch and that is truly a sight to behold. There is SO MUCH FOOD!! the options seem endless. The seafood bar has salmon and oysters, as well as some hummus and one of my personal favorites, the roasted garlic cloves. Bananas foster and chocolate fountain are also worth taking stop at.
People thought this was:
Taps is pretty bomb. I came here for a lunch and always found pretty good food. This place doesn't believe in small portions, which is worrisome to all of you that don't want to eat that much; however, if you don't care about how big your portions are, then you should try this place.
I tend to order the Catfish Po' Boy Sandwich (the fish is beer battered deep fried) and an Irish Red to drink. Fantastic!
Taps is really good. Their raw oysters is the only raw oysters I'll eat. I always enjoy the bread they give you to, the dipping sauce is wonderful.
I love this place. The only reason I took off a star is that its a bit on the pricey side. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind pricey. I just feel that a lot of their menu items are severely overpriced. Their $24.95 3 course meal is completely worth it. Its one of the rare places that actually understands what medium rare is.
Their bar area is a lot of fun especially game nights. Lots of people seem to enjoy the beer and appetizers more than the actually meal aspect. Either way, if you're willing to spend money, you won't regret the food quality.
People thought this was:
I've driven by this place a thousand times, but never got a chance to try it out. Because of OC restaurant week along with the positive yelp reviews, I decided to finally try this place out. A 3 course meal for $30? I'm down.
1st course: Brewers Cheddar & Irish Red Ale Soup w/ Crispy Bacon, Chopped Chives & Sour Cream: Delicious! If you like creamed soups and cheese like me, this is a must have!
2nd course: Creole Surf & Turf w/ Grilled Filet Mignon Topped With Cajun Steak Sauce & Creole Style Alaskan Snow Crab Legs. Accompanied with Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Steamed Asparagus: The filet mignon was petite, which I expected to be since I did have delicious crab legs with HOT butter that never solidified throughout the entire dinner. The crab legs were fresh as expected coming from this establishment. No complaints on the filet mignon. I personally don't care for mashed potatoes, but how can you go wrong cooking mashed potatoes. The asparagus went well with the sauce on the plate.
3rd course: Vanilla Bean Crème Brule w/ Caramelized Tahitian Vanilla Bean Custard, Fresh Seasonal Berries and a Sliced Almond Tuile: Yum creme brule! I wish the creme brule was more creamier below the top hard shell. The sliced almond tuile I did not care for. The strawberries were sweet and went well with the dessert.
As far as service is concern, it was top notch. The area we were seated was a bit noisy since there were large parties surrounding us, but we were fine with it. I did wish they had more selection of wines by the glass to choose from, but that's just my expectation.
I would definitely come back here again. It's a shame that their daily menu doesn't offer the cream soup as an option.
$24.95 for 3-course meal fit for a Queen =) {--- ME!
Last night I shared a delicious, romantic dinner at Taps and because sharing is caring here I am to spread the word!
Usually a plate here is $20-30 but for $25 you can get an appetizer, main entree and dessert plus a glass of beer! What a deal! The server said the size was smaller but I beg to differ I was so full I had to take 1/2 my dinner home.
The free bread comes with this vinegar and olive oil dip is unique with a sweet sauce and bits of garlic and pepper flakes - ADDICTING!
Got the raw oysters- had to do it and glad we did~ it was small yet yummy.
My 3 course started with seafood ceviche- THE BEST I've had! Tons of shrimp and scallop I loved it!
Then my basil salmon came out cooked to perfection! Flakey but moist with a light smokey taste. Served on top of diced veggies and gnocci! (balls of soft dough)
The Ribeye was HUGE and again, cooked to perfection! Outside grilled with delicious marinated spices that dance in your mouth and inside was pink slightly bloody so with each bite the juices just gushed....really SO GOOD!
Then my creme brulee came out with strawberries...OMG....that's all I'm going to say...OMG!
Going on a late Thursday night we sat outside the patio by the fireplace and they play live music...I felt I was at a concert the band sounded great like pros =)
All in all I think my dinner at Taps was probably the best I've had in years...
WOw! That's a compliment ;)
People thought this was:
Not a fish eater at all so I always find myself ordering either the pork chops (hit and miss) or the rib eye here....this time around, the meat was cooked perfectly (I always order med rare) and they hit it just right...the meat was high quality and seasoned just right...came with a good helping of veggies and went down smoothly with one of their German brews...unfortunately, I couldn't sleep all night so I don't know if it was a combination of all that balsamic vinegar/bread I ate, combined with the spices on the steak, combined with the good brew that made me have hot flashes all night...nonetheless, it was all good going down! Definitely coming back!!! Brea needs more places like this!
People thought this was:
I've been to Taps dozens of times and it has never disappointed me. There aren't too many good seafood places around the area so Taps fits the bill nicely when you're craving some good fish. The restaurant has a nice parking area in the back along with valet parking for $5.00 Depending on which night you sometimes it's easier to just valet it instead of trying to find a spot.
The place itself is basically separated in 4 different areas. The first is the formal dinner room with nice tables and booths. It's spacious and a little more quiet than the rest of the restaurant. The second is a bar that you see in front of you when you walk in the front door. You can sit in this area and order the same food without sitting at the actual bar. The third section is the bar and lounge area. You can seat yourself and there's a big screen TV for games. Lastly, there's an outdoor patio area that is nice for brunch or lunches. You can smoke in the outdoor patio.
The food here is pretty good. I really can't remember a time when I was unsatisfied with an order. As appetizers I'd recommend the steamed clams and seafood ceviche. The ceviche comes in a large martini glass with refillable chips. They're just enough to whet your appetite and not enough to fill you up too much. The clam chowder and cesaer salad are also good. For entrees I'd recommend any of the fish they serve. The fish that is available will depend on what's in season. The steaks are cooked well and tasty too.
A dinner for two with an appetizer and two entrees will probably run you around $65.00 with tax and tip. The service is very good and the bathrooms are always clean and that's a huge plus. They used to have live music on thursday nights but I'm not sure if they still have it. I definitely recommend this place for it's good food, great service and the the great location. Only 2 blocks away from the movie theaters in Brea. Definitely recommended.
People thought this was:
Went once again for brunch, and had a really good time. Taps has taken some recession adjustment measures, including getting rid of the live jazz band, reducing the amount of food slightly, and consolidating the various chef's stations into a combination of table order and one multi-purpose station. (If that doesn't make sense, the omelette chef's station, the waffle station, the creme brulee and bananas foster station, and the carving station are now just table-ordered omelettes and a carving station where you may also get bananas foster, creme brulee, etc., at the same place you get your sliced beef). Service was really excellent even for our large group. I have never seen champagne glasses refilled so quickly, and when there was a minor dispute with the bill, it was taken care of promptly in our favor.
People thought this was:
Love this place, especially for brunch. Brunch is live jazz, fresh seafood (including oysters,… Read more »
Taps deserves credit for being a shining star in the chain restaurant Mecca that is Brea.
I'll second everyone on the awesomeness of the bread and dipping sauce! It serves dual purposes for scaring away vampires (and make out sessions)--garlic like crazy!
The drinks were really good. I had the tropical sangria with fresh cantaloupe, white wine, and green tea. It was so refreshing and a great mix of flavors, especially with the green tea! There was another drink we tried, a cocktail that featured ginger beer--and it was also amazingly good.
The cooked California-style oysters were cheesy and delish--one of the best parts of the meal!
Of the entrees, I found the daily specials (Halibut with a buerre blanc sauce over blue crab mashed potatoes and Seared Ahi over rice with vegetables) to be my favorites. The ahi was just about the best seared ahi I have tried, and the accompanying jasmine rice was (suprisingly) memorably good.
The Drunken Mahi Mahi with risotto was a miss. The blackened seasoning was too salty on the fish, and the risotto was undercooked. The crab tostadas seemed out of place on the dish, and they crumbled into oblivion when you tried to pick them up and eat them... imagine crab and avocado tumbling into your drink... not exactly appetizing.
The desserts (complimentary baked alaska for a birthday and the chocolate souffle) were good but nothing to write home about. I prefer the souffle at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen or Five Crowns.
Taps is a place that is definitely worth of a second visit--and I hope to try their happy hour next time. I'd recommend it as a good place in the area for a date (the room is bustling though, so I'd say it's more a first date place than romantic anniversary date) or a great place to take the parents.
People thought this was:
What happened to this place?
July 09 visit: Out for a light and casual bite
-Fish and chips looks and tastes processed!!!
It used to be huge pcs of fresh fish beer battered light and crispy.
Now it looks and tastes like processed fish(all pcs look identical) with some funky batter...
-Mussels-was served all closed up!!!!
They took them back and basically broke the shells, added some heat and brought them back! I didn't really realize it at first until I saw all the broken shell pcs on the bottom.
-I can't even remember the appetizer we had...
At least the bread was still good.
My prior visit here for dinner was Nov 08 and it was not like this at all,
so I was more in shock. I had a friend who had the fish&chips and they were still great back then...what happened in those 6 months??
I'm scared to order their oysters and seabass now!!! waaa~
Service was poor..and all over the place!
Oh and it didn't help that we had 2 servers arguing about who gets our table...take it to the back and give me some service!
I'm giving them 2 stars b/c of all my past visits here were pretty good.
People thought this was:
After parking across the street and getting yelled at by the crosswalk post to "Don't Walk" we finally made it to Taps Fish House and realized why they are still busy on a Tuesday night even with so much competition in the neighborhood.
The host walked us to our table and offered us a choice between two tables after he saw the way I looked at the tiny table for two we were walking towards. I took his offer for the larger one so I could sit next to my honey and share his food. =) Our server gave us new silverware as we needed it and I swear we had a dedicated busser who refilled our waters every 5 minutes.
What we ordered:
1. Half Order of Rockefeller Oysters - Oysters are amazing! Definitely worth the 2 bucks and change each.
2. Clam Chowder- Tasted so smooth and rich. The flavor was not from seasoning or salt but from the broth. The best, just like our server claimed. Get the bowl because the cup is too small to share!
3. Cioppino- The Seafood was definitely fresh, but for some reason it was just a weird combo for me. The seafood lacked flavor but the tomato sauce was good.
4. Ribeye- The meat had good flavor but they presliced the meat! That makes it cold! Kevin says the proper way to eat steak is to cut each piece as you are ready to eat it. The potatoes had cheese on top and went well with the steak. The veggies were cooked well but lacked flavor.
And as a surprise because it was our first time there our server ordered us on the house their chocolate souffle that is served with chocolate sauce and whipped cream on the side. It was soooo good. The texture and flavor was perfect. Not overly sweet and so smooth. Honestly, I would go back just for the chocolate souffle!
People thought this was:
I went here for their Sunday brunch.
Oh my goodness, this was delicious! We ordered off the menu and got some tasty-ass breakfast deliciousness! (sidenote: there was a lot of champagne involved)
Kind of expensive, but you get what you pay for and it's totally worth it. Good for a splurge every now and again!
Location is great, in downtown Brea so you'll have plenty of stuff to do afterward to walk off all the calories you just inhaled!
People thought this was:
The Good: It's a nice and not too fancy place with experienced servers and chefs. The food was made very well and the oysters were just excellent. It's just a pleasant place to go drink from their wide selection of beer and eat delicious food.
The Bad: I just didn't really enjoy the dish I ordered (catfish on rice), but my girlfriend enjoyed hers. I guess I just ordered the wrong thing, which is why I will be returning.
Try: the Rockerfeller oysters. Wow. Their creme brulee and fruit sorbet are also very good.
Don't Try: the catfish. Personally, catfish meat isn't all that great because it's a little tough for seafood. Also, it was on top of rice, but also with a lot of black beans. No beans for me!
People thought this was:
I love it when a place has good bread to munch on as a starter. The olive oil and vinegar dip they have with it is the shit too.
Appetizer "blah" I got the "Cajun Chicken Egg rolls" "not good". The Swordfish that I had was encrusted in herbs but too oil-e, and my risotto was too salt-e, I tried my girlfriends salmon with gnocchi that was better.
Gonna go again to try other meals maybe they will win me over? Our waitress was cool and friendly that's another plus...
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MMMM OYSTERS AND CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE!!!!!
i think the oysters here were the best i've EVER. HAD. mmmmmmmm
the chocolate souffle was pretty bomb too
but my entree was...meh. some fish thing. not memorable at all.
service was great though!
Nice ambiance and relaxing atmosphere. Taps is also known for brewing their own beer, the cream ale blond was very good. I ordered miso marinated sea bass and it was good too..I've had better ones, just think it's not worth the price. The highlight is definitely the smore's we had ordered for dessert. It's not your usual table top camp fire, they actually have a server do a presentation where they pour liquor, chocolate ganache, graham crackers over the moundful of chocolate and vanilla ice cream covered in marshmallows, which they lit up on fire. Overall, the service and experience was good!
Used to be a major favorite for date nights. Seafood is the specialty here, but seems to have lost its edge over the past year.
They lost their main chef a while back, and they haven't kept the quality in preparation, or level of service.
Still worth a visit, but at the price charged, it should be better.
Good location for a dinner/movie/shopping night with the significant other.
Agree with all the kudos from the other reviews.
The wife and I enjoy hitting Taps early on a Friday…
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3.5 stars!
I have only been here for Sunday Brunch so my review is only based on that experience. Went with 3 other couples and really had a great time. There is an over abundance of delicious foods. They have an omelet bar, eggs, bacon, sausages, crepes, french toast for breakfast items. They have an array of Italian items like, pasta bar, cheeses, meats, olives, caprese salad, artichokes etc. The best part was the fresh oyster and tri-tip!! That was wonderful. Some of the food did taste a little generic and frozen but that is usually expected at a big super brunch. If you are looking for a quality brunch than I recommend the Ritz or Mason Akira is Pasadena. Those places have a very limited brunch menu but everything is fresh but the cost is $$$. For a good time with a bunch of friends and good food this place is great!!
People thought this was:
Over the years, I've grown to dislike red meat, so this is a great place for me because they have excellent fish dishes. Even better than the main course, though, are the side dishes. My grandma used to get mad whenever I ordered rice, because she argues that they cost like $0.20 to make, but I really don't care because it's SO GOOD.
Their salads and other dishes are also huuuge. My mom likes the Jambalaya, and I like the wedgie salad.
My favorite is the Sunday brunch. Excellent made-to-order eggs, fresh oysters (yay) and bananas foster for dessert. Hooray! Is it sad that the best part of my meal is usually the dessert?
ok, this place is nice for Brea, Ca. Food is very good, service is either good or bad. I have been here 2x's now and it was fantastic the first time and just marginal the second.
Beer is pretty good, ambiance is nice, and prices are average to above average.
Food is delictable and can't wait to go to the brunch soon!!
In my quest to make a living, lead me to be in and around the Brea Area. As I passed by Taps around lunch I said "self how long has it been since I've been back to this place... around 4 years... wow I couldn't believe its been that long or remembered if the place is worth a shit? " Well I remembered that the chicks were hot and the beer cold but not anything of the food. I walk in just after lunch rush, not super busy.
I like to eat at the bar (quicker service) it started coming back to me I like this place clean friendly good service good food.
I had the drunken Mahi Mahi with tomato risotto very good I recommend it highly why did I wait 4 years to return?
Pros
Clean & friendly
Good service
excellent food
Good Portions
Cons
Pricey for what you get
People thought this was:
I really like this place. Let me say that this review is strictly based on my review of the Sea bass, oysters, and martini.
The sea bass was just o-k. There wasn't anything spectacular about it.
Now the oysters ( charbroiled my fav.) are so YUMMY!!! I think I should only order this when I go here.
The cantaloupe martini is delicious as well.
I've been here for a Sunday brunch, and wasn't very impressed. But then again I'm not a brunch person. So if you like brunch you may want to check it out. Keep in mind that the Sunday brunch is rather pricey.
People thought this was:
I love this place. I go at least once a year as they are in the entertainment book and they will let you use it for lunch instead of dinner as I work up that way.
My favorite thing so far is their Crab & Shrimp Louie Salad which is HUGE, however, it is also $21.95. They also have a fanominal oyster bar if you are into that kind of thing.
They are a bit pricey which is why I didnt give them 5 stars
People thought this was:
This place brings back wonderful memories. This is the place where I fell asleep in the parking lot after dinner on a date with who is now my wife! She still gives me grief over it everytime we pass by it. Anyhoo, the food, ambience, and service is all top notch. Unfortunately, so is the price. But it's worth it.
Ambience- Upscale and elegant inside. Relaxing and casual outside with a firepit and all.
Food- I've tried their pizza and scallops. Both very good. They brew a bunch of different beers, all excellent.
Service- Good service, but I expect a little more for a restaurant of this quality.
Definitely will go back, but not drink as much as I did last time and fall asleep in the parking lot! Speaking of parking, unlike LA, parking is a breeze behind the restaurant or across the street in a structure. Both free, of course.
People thought this was:
Love their bread and dip. Always excellent food and service. I still have yet to try something there that I don't like. Keep up the great work!!!
I came here for a office lunch. Everyone in our party were hungry and devoured the first basket of bread. We got a few appetizers, which were all delicious. I got the lamb chop. The portion was huge. =) It was made perfectly, not dry at all. yummy. The prices here are not bad, especially for the portions you get. The waitress was very attentive and friendly. They also brew there own beer, just fyi.
Had dinner here. It was ok. Was not impressed by their fish. This seems better as a happy hour place. Theyre brews they make are good
come here for the sunday brunch.
it is best deal for your money.
get the beer rather than the cheap champagne.
People thought this was:
I thought was cheating on TAPS at Corona when I wen to this place, but the food was very good, I keep on craving for more.... and I was hungry and happen to be in the area.
I never ordered a cooked oyster in my life, but I was with my sister and her family and they want to order Grilled Oyster.....I was in trouble....I cannot decide now whether I like it raw or I like it grilled like this one....they are both sooo gooood that made it very hard for me to decided now....
This is a pricey place, but not when you are prepared to pay a price for a beautiful ambience (although I like the Corona ambience better) and quality food.
This is the second time I've been to TAPS, only different location this time, and I say that they never failed to deliver. The quality of food is consistent from starters to dessert. I will definitely keep coming back.
What in the World has taken me so long to finally review Taps? Aside from Yardhouse, I prolly hit Taps the most often in Downtown Brea. Mostly for Sunday Brunch. Definitely make reservations as the wait here can be up to an hour on the weekends.
Their brunch is incredible! Oysters, clams, at one time prime rib, although a few months ago meatloaf had replaced it (hey, we're in a recession), a chocolate fondue fountain, dessert station, and all the mimosas you can drink. A cool little jazz band plays inside the restaurant, I just wish I could pack more into my belly at such an early part of the day! Here's a tip - behind the oyster bar are a couple of cooks there to provide you with clams and linguine, they are often overlooked, but this dish is so good!
Their dinners are just as amazing. From their house bread served with a heavy garlic-balsamic vinegar-olive oil-chili peppers mixture to their jambalaya & sea bass, I have yet to have a poor meal here! Like previously mentioned in other reviews, request their chocolate souffle early and finish it off with an irish coffee!
The bar area on the weekends is casually hip. A little older than the Yardhouse crowd, but this is a good thing. You won't find the needed attitude adjustment, I-just-turned-21 wearing a Tapout T-shirt douche at this bar. Prolly cuz drinks are a little more pricey, but worth the stiff Belvedere & Tonic cost!
Service has always been quite attentive and friendly. Great for a date, great for a bunch of young professionals having dinner and drinks, and awesome for a family brunch. Can't wait to go back!
People thought this was:
My boyfriend & I went for the 1st time on a Sat afternoon. We love seafood, so we were excited to try this restaurant. The setup of the place is nice. The hostess was trying to stick us in a booth in the back behind a HUGE, crowded table of folks, but it was so hectic in that corner, she led us somewhere else better. The waitress was pretty nice, she came to our table a few times to check on us. The menu was rather small & it was hard to decide what to try & I don't mean that in a good way. We got the Cajun chicken egg rolls, which was the tastiest thing we ordered. Also ordered fish & chips, calamari, fried shrimp, & clam chowder. The soup was pretty good. The fry batter was nice & light, but the food wasn't that flavorful, I've tasted better.
I really don't have to come here again since it's not the cheapest place, so if I'm going to spend that kind of money, there are better places to go. If you've never been, you're not missing anything.
People thought this was:
I used to go to this place on almost a nightly basis when I used to work closer to it. Now it's a bit of a drive up to Brea just for dinner. Well, I can say I still enjoy it from time to time - except it has taken a bit of a dive in terms of selection, a few years back they got rid of a few dishes I really enjoyed, then they brought some of them back, but not all. The beer goes trough cycles, sometimes it's downright incredible - and other time it's just 'normal' - but considering how many times I've been there - probably at LEAST 50, and at least 98% of the time everything was excellent. I believe you would probably be safe trying it out if you've never stopped by. :)
Oh, only reason for the 4 stars is the inconsistency they went trough for a bit - I've been there at least 4 times since they seem to have 'settled' if it keeps the same, I'll probably update the review. I just never know with Taps - then again, maybe I've just been there too often and am looking to deeply into it. :)
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Brea, CA
Category: American (New)
Brea, CA
Category: Mexican
Brea, CA
Category: American (Traditional)
Brea, CA
Category: Barbeque
Fullerton, CA
Category: Steakhouses
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