Pom & Olive

We love Mediterranean food, but too many of Orange County’s Greek restaurants feel like clones of one another. Costa Mesa’s Pom & Olive had the potential to be a little different: It has the physical trappings of a more upscale Mediterranean experience, from plating to decor. As contrasted with many lower-end Greek restaurants, which are at best modern and colorful, Pom & Olive’s dining rooms feel somewhat like visiting a financially comfortable but not filthy rich grandparent’s house – pleasantly decorated, but not opulent.

On a positive note, everything we ordered was plated just as nicely as the restaurant’s official photographs, a rarity. However, there wasn’t actually much of a difference in flavors or quality here compared with other local Greek places. Two of our entrees – three lamb chops and two koobideh beef and chicken kebabs – were pretty good, each served with a nice lentil and raisin-laden rice, but nothing was intensely flavored. Baklava was only a tiny slice, but probably the most compelling-tasting item of the night.