52541 Tue Dec 17 20:59:57 -0800 2002 4 2 Los Angeles Area 0 268363 Parents have been there 3 times & really like it. Decided to go there before show Sat. night. Very friendly greeting / nice people. Pet Peeve #1 - Put the 5 of us at a table for 4 - we are not small people - dad & hubby are 6'2'. Realy crowded & husband has no where to put legs - stuff like this drives me nuts! Asked if they had anything larger & were told this was the table reserved for us - didn't see any bigger. Pet Peeve #2 - Owner, Noel, hovered & hovered & hovered - would be fine if he wanted to listen to someone other than himself. Everything was 'Turner this & Turner that - to ask a question, had to interrupt several times. Felt like a captive audience being fed the same old spiel. And I hate that too. Pet Peeve #3 - Waitress was very nice, but wasn't into listening - my mom finally had to yell 'hello in there' (& mom's not exactly a yeller,) when she was feverishly writing things down, just to get her attention - about the 3rd time we had to repeat ourselves to get her to listen. Ok. I'm getting carried away - The olive rolls are wonderful!!! The clams & mussels were in an incredible sauce. No clams to speak of, but the mussels were good. The Caesar salad has no taste - at all. My rack of lamb was to die for - fabulous & tons of it. Mushroom Potato Gallete was very good. Perfectly cooked small chops, but many of them. Daughters fusilli with vegetables was raw - not al dente, just not cooked for more than a few moments. Returned it & got it back right away - more cooked. Lobster pasta dish had no flavor at all - was dying to get that mussel sauce back & pour it over. When owner told about this, he suggested we asked for it 'spicier' next time. Said just wanted flavor, didn't neccessarily have to be spicy. Dad loved venison tenderloin, but very small & cold - I wouldn't order this. Great NZ wine list - reasonably priced. So, had a mixed visit - would go back for the lamb in a heartbeat, but no so sure about the rest. and I like people to listen when, in the rare instance, I try to talk to them or ask a question. Tue Dec 17 20:59:57 -0800 2002 0 torta basilica 1 268373 Where is this place? Tue Dec 17 22:37:04 -0800 2002 268363 0 Robin 2 268403 This looks like it.... Turner New Zealand 650 Anton Blvd., Costa Mesa 714-668-0880 Hours: Mon. to Thurs. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., dinner 5 to 10 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Sat. 5 p.m. 11 p.m., Sun. 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Wed Dec 18 10:44:46 -0800 2002 268373 0 WLA 2 268762 I was just curious about my new work place. I found this in the net. So, I'm gonna tell you. It's on 650 Anton Blvd. Costa Mesa. Very near the South Coast Plaza & the theater. I'm a cook there, I work in the broil station, it means I'm on charge of the famous rack of lamb, and many other dishes with veal, venison, salmon, roughy and even lobster & calamari. I love to cook Tue Oct 14 20:52:37 -0700 2003 268373 0 leonora miranda 1 268478 It's too bad you didn't have a great experience, and it's not like you can complain to the management about it. I've eaten there a bunch of times, and I thought it was great... have met Noel several times, and he was never overbearing with us... maybe he just liked you? I agree the mussels are fantastic and the coconut/lemongrass broth they serve it in is to die for. I've had the venison there, and loved it. I would really recommend that you try their salmon... really good, and they also have a really good salmon ravioli that my wife and I really enjoy. I think the table size issue is a potential problem there, as their space is shaped funny... long narrow room, but I've had very comfortable meals there with parties of up to 8 people, so I know they can accomodate. Oh well. Sounds like you enjoyed the food, and I do know that "front" manager Christy does check out this board, so I'm sure they will hear about it, but I would definitely recommend that you go back to check it out. Wed Dec 18 18:33:07 -0800 2002 268363 0 woo!