We made a reservation through opentable. When we arrived Saturday for brunch, there was no table set up for us. Service was very slow. Food was really bland and lackluster. My Mushroom + Egg pizza was soggy and bland. I loved the sunny side egg which helped to give some flavor to the pizza but I had to season the pizza with salt and pepper! The Frittata was healthy and light. The Eggs Benedict with the prosciutto and tomato was good although under-seasoned. The Margarita pizza was under-seasoned and soggy. The Salmon pasta was under-seasoned and lacked in flavor. My Blood Orange Mimosa was overpriced at $11 for a tiny serving.
Overall, food was very bland and under-seasoned. It was pricey as well. I also did not like that flies were flying all over our food the entire time and we were sitting indoors! We would not recommend.
Like the other Camp places, this place has a nice vibe and atmosphere. Service is good and waiters/waitrsses knowledgable and helpful. I don't recommend sitting on the back patio, however, the street noise is too much.
Look, the food here is good, made with fresh ingredients, but uninspiring. Typical goat cheese, pear wine friendly appetizers. The best thing was the foccicia and chile verde dip. That was unique. I did like the sausage pizza, but I've had better. Crust was a bit bland and not as crisp and chewy as other top pies in the area. Toppings were fresh and tasty though. Pielogy actually makes a better pizza for half the price, which brings me to the main issue I have with Ecco.... value. Me and the old lady had one appetizer, a pizza and four glasses of house pinot and the bill came to almost $90.00! If this place wasn't so overpriced, I would've likely given it 4 stars given the overall charm/vibe, service and the freshness in which they approach their food.
The Camp is full of cute, hipster places and Ecco is no disappointment.
Our book club has met here a few times, since The Camp is close to our members who live in south county. We book our reservations through Open Table and our table is always ready for us when we arrive.
I could rant about parking at The Camp, but if you have been there before, your rant is as good as mine. Just show up early in case you spend lots of time trying to park.
Once you park, this is a fun spot. Ecco is located at the end of the walkway, sort of hidden in a cozy place. I love the tiny gazebo-type area outside the door where I can sit and wait for people in case I happen to find parking sooner than later and find that I have time on my hands.
Inside, Ecco is somewhere between trendy and romantic. Lower ceilings and darker colors make it feel less like the huge, open OC places that seem to be opening up. Ecco feels comfortable and is always busy when we show up on Wednesdays.
I have enjoyed the half chicken, the pork chop, and the New York steak. My gal pals like it here, too. The food is always prepared well and we find that the service is friendly and efficient. As a bonus, the wine list leaves me with decent choices by the glass.
Call ahead and reserve a seat, or use Open Table through Yelp. Show up hungry. Enjoy.
We had a party of 19 last night on the patio for an 18th birthday party - everything was great! Â We ordered 2 family style pastas, 2 family style salads, 4 pizzas and 4 mac n ' cheese sides (for the kids but everyone ended up eating everything) and it was just enough! The manager and staff were very helpful and accommodating. We had ordered a cake from Black Market Bakery (also at The Camp - delicious!!!!) and there was a cake cutting charge (I think $1.25 per person - the servers were slammed right when we were ready to cut the cake so I had to cut it myself - bummer, but not a big deal they had everything set up and ready to go.) Can't wait to go back for happy hour!
Review Source:They make Sazeracs with absinthe here. I'm already a fan.
A friend an I came here for a late night bite and some drinks. The weather was a little warm, so we wanted something with outdoor seating, so I thought we should check this place out since she had never been to the Camp before. All was good, we got seated right away, we got to sit outside, but then the heat lamps were up full blast. Luckily we asked to sit farther away and weren't stuck next to the incinerating heat.
Everything here is in sharing form. Everyone raves about the pizza, unfortunately I had that earlier in the day and didn't want something as heavy. I almost instantly regretted my decision once the tables around us started getting their pizzas delivered. They are a good size and they have a variety of different flavors to choose from.
We got:
Housemade meatballs: These little suckers came in an order of three surrounded by a good amount of marinara sauce topped with grana pandano cheese. The meatballs themselves were moist and you could easily break through them with a fork. Order a side of their bread to consume the remainder of the sauce. You wont regret it.
Ricotta Gnocchi: These little dumplings came stuffed with cheese and again swimming in marinara. Though I used my bread a little bit, I was able to spoon most of the sauce into my mouth with the little pieces of pasta. This came with fresh mozzarella and the sauce was a little spicy. I had to drink some water with it and my nose began to run just a bit. I would definitely order it again.
Roasted Potatoes: These were cooked in rosemary, garlic and fresh herbs. Think of them more as little hash browns with good seasoning. They were crispy and not at all greasy. They too tasted great with the sauce. Though the portion doesn't seem huge, it seemed like a never-ending dish.
House bread: This was a $3 upcharge, but it was worth it. It comes out in a basket, served warm and crispy on the outside. It comes accompanied by a spicy pesto spread in lieu of butter. I really liked it and would definitely recommend it as a side. It would be even better if it was free ::hint hint.::
The ambiance is great and they have a good cocktail/wine menu. Parking can because it's the Camp, but all and all, I'll definitely be coming back to explore some of the other items on the menu. I hear brunch is great, too.
Tucked away in a corner of The Camp. Nestled in between an array of hipster vegan fashion, trendy wine bars, and eateries we have a little love called Ecco.
The nature surrounding this establishment helps add to the cozy feel you get when you enter. Now yes, it is on the pricey side but you get what you pay for and what you pay for is delectable gourmet bites and the BEST Blood Orange Mimosa I've ever had...well actually I don't even think I've ever had one but damn this one is SO DELICIOUS.
Now if you come here there are a few suggestions I recommend since I feel like a fatty fat fatterpants and have tried a LOT of things on their menu.
Here goes:
1. MAC AND CHEESE. Don't act like you don't love this classic dish and here it literally tastes like you are getting fatter with every creamy delicious bite. TOTES WORTH IT. Plus its a small side so don't feel so bad when you clean house and the bowl is empty...
2. Breakfast Pizza: What is that you say?? Eggs on a pizza?? Why yes two loves come together to form a perfect combination of gourmet eats. TRY ONE. You won't regret it.
3. Ecco Burger. Man I love a good hearty, tasty burger and they definitely deliver.
If you wanna save some monies then I suggest coming here for their keg & eggs which is around $24 and you get Any brunch menu items and unlimited brewskies. But I always substitute for mimosa hold the juice because I'm a lush and I don't care who knows it!
To round this review out I think it is an absolutely perfect place to take a date! So take a hint boys....
Overall was just an okay experience.
First off, service left a lot to be desired. Our waitress was pretty absent a majority of the time. Â
The food itself was just okay. I have an issue with people claiming to use a wood fire oven yet your pizzas are undercooked and have no remnant char that comes from a very high temperature oven. The pizza was mediocre for sure and nowhere near the quality of Mozza or Ortica.
The pasta also left a lot to be desired. Portions were alright, but nothing too unique or exciting like what is coming out of the kitchens in some of LA's or Sf's Italian restaurants.
Was also pretty damn expensive for the quality of food.
Overall another disappointing Italian restaurant in Orange County. Nothing bad by any means, but could be a lot better for sure. No desire to come back.
Not Italian at all
We came here after our hike at top of the world park we had an appetite but even with that said the food wasn't all that great. I ordered parpadelle bolognese I thought this was a safe dish, thought wrong the sauce wasn't meaty enough, it was kind of runny. I ate it because I was hungry and it wasn't horrible. I would give this place another try but I would definitely choose something else like maybe a burger. Our waiter was great he serviced us with a smile and was attentive, as a matter of fact the entire staff were nice.
I literally fell in love with the burrata cheese salad. Â
To begin it is served antipasto style has the most incredible creamy burrata cheese I have ever eaten. Â The burrata is accompanied by arugula, sweet sliced pear which are drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette, a few thin slices of prosciutto and crunchy thin slices of bread. Â My only complaint is each time I've come and ordered the salad it comes out differently and sometimes on a different sized plate.
On a recent visit I came with a group of about six people. Â We enjoyed the burrata and the grilled artichoke for appetizers and shared a few pizza's - it was all excellent. Â
I enjoy their food and the atmosphere but I beg you please don't change the burrata salad, it's my favorite!
We came here a few nights ago to have dinner at the bar and watch the basketball game. Â Everything was fantastic! Â The drinks were good, our server Michelle was very nice and attentive, and the food was great. Â Here's what we had and I recommend:
--Appetizers: Â Burrata, Eggplant Caviar, Grilled Artichoke
--Dinner: Â Ricotta Gnocchi, Flat Iron Steak (they cooked it perfectly)
I have been here before and really enjoyed their food and service, so they just keep continuing to impress!
The food was alright, but the service was a real disappointment. My friend ordered the baby greens salad, which was supposed to include pomegranate and gorgonzola cheese, among other things. Instead, the waiter brought her a totally different salad (the only similarity with what she ordered was the baby greens, all the toppings were different). My friend kindly pointed this out to the waiter but said it looked good so she would keep the salad. No apologies from the waiter, he actually seemed very annoyed that she pointed out it was a different salad than what she ordered. He said she must have gotten an outdated menu and the salad had changed. She'd actually had a conversation with him when ordering about leaving the gorgonzola on the side, which should have cued him in that there was some issue since the salad she actually got did not have gorgonzola. Also, I couldn't find anything similar to the salad she actually got on my menu either, so not sure if all their menus are "outdated"?
Alright food but nothing special, and since service was lacking this will keep me from coming back.
Went there on a Wednesday for dinner/happy hour. Â Thank goodness we got there before they opened, because once they did their happy hour crowd filled it up fast! Â We enjoyed appetizers, pasta, pizza and dessert (as well as drinks). Â All was delicious and the service was good (especially considering the crowd).
This is also a good place to go for drinks if you are early for your reservation at the Old Vine Cafe. Â :) Â That is how we first ended up here a while back and enjoyed the bartender so much that we promised to come back.
Promise kept.....and we will be back again.
I am italian, and very picky on italian food. This is the best pizza I had in OC, awesome crust and ingredients. I truly recommend it! And if you want to do the real italian experience take a simple margherita...I know it sounds very minimal, but trust me this is the REAL pizza, few ingredients and keep it simple.
Review Source:The White Pizza is the move here.
Okay okay, there's more to say, but anyone glancing at these reviews needs to know that. I got the idea from Laina A.'s review and I am so glad I went with this! I made an OpenTable reservation for a Friday night and we were seated immediately. I immediately loved the atmosphere of this place -- open, airy and modern but with the warmth of wood & candles.
We ended up with two pizzas on the table - the white pizza (5 stars) and the sausage pizza (3 stars). Their crust is probably my favorite crust of all the neapolitan-style pizzas I've tried. Chewy, but not charred at the edges and not too soggy in the middle. This combination seems remarkably difficult to achieve, and I love that Ecco has it down! I had a glass of wine with dinner, and my companion opted for an old fashioned - although beware, I was informed that they don't seem to have bitters and so although they did what they could, it was a little off.
A little pricey for what you get, so not the kind of place I'd make a regular stop...but when you're in the mood for specialty pizza or have the right occasion, Ecco is a good choice!
Keep in mind, this is a review for brunch, not for dinner. Â I want to go in for dinner but have not been in yet. Â Some friends and I were at the Camp and instead of waiting 30+ minutes for a table at the Old Vine, we walked right in to Ecco for brunch. Â The two big differences for me: full bar and smaller menu of brunch items. Â Toss in TVs over the bar for the sports deprived if you want to add a third reason.
First the full bar. Â They make a good Bloody Mary. Â I like to drink. Â I like to drink during daylight hours. Â So sue me. Â A Bloody Mary on the weekend is usually a good sign that I am starting things off well, or things started off very poorly and it is time for a correction.
As for the brunch menu, they have the highlights, some egg dishes, good looking french toast crepes... but not the huge diversity of breakfast-y items you can get at the other place. Â On teh flip side, they have more lunch type things. Â I had a very nice pizza as an example. Â My friends split an egg dish and were perfectly satisfied.
So good food, good drinks, reasonable prices, and no 1/2 hour waits for brunch... what else could you want?
Came in again last night as this is one of costa mesas few places that serves food late. Ordered white pizza, burger and alfredo fries. Everything was delicious. The burger was a bit "meatloafy" but still very good. Upon entry there were many more people in the joint...glad to see that the place was mych more "happening" than the last time we were here.
Don was up to his usual heights in customers service. Made me one of the best moscow mules ive ever had.
We discussed our love of pisco and convinced other patrons that they should order some pisco punch.
I love the wood fired pizzas here...
I'll start by saying that I love unique thin crust pizzas and this place does it right!
We ordered 3 cheeses to start - two cow one sheep, nothing too over the top, though, I would've liked more accoutrements.
To drink I got the blueberry mojito (server's suggestion) which was ok.. it was a subtle blueberry flavor. For my second drink I asked the bf to order the Aviation while I went to the ladies' room. When I came back, he said that the server had suggested against it, pointing out that it was a bitter drink. Good lookin' out! I took her suggestion and ordered the Limoncello instead which was delicious and packed quite a punch!
On to the pizzas.. bf ordered the Prosciutto which was amazing!! Ahh so much prosciutto I was in meat heaven. And the mound of lightly dressed arugula on top took it to the next level. Unfortunately, my Guanciale wasn't quite as heavenly. The server had prefaced that guanciale is an italian bacon which might be salty, I said it was fine - any bacon is fine in my book. However, when I got the pizza, I couldn't find anything that resembled bacon, italian or otherwise, on it. Other than that, the pizza was ok, creamy with the caramelized onion adding a nice sweet touch. Loved the crust on both!
I'll come back for the Proscuitto and great service!
I am a die-hard fan for the not-so-ordinary pizza and bar place, so when I heard about Ecco, I was stoked! Â
The first experience was GREAT! I ordered the Margherita pizza (just like an authentic half-Italian girl would), and asked the server for his favorite drink. Â He brought back a very delicious and subtle drink that took me right into an episode of Mad Men. Â I wish I could remember what it was called though...
Anyway, the pizza came right on time and it looked amazing! Â I enjoyed every single slice and even picked up a couple of the crumbs when no one was watching.
My second visit wasn't quite as great of an experience, but still good. Â The pizza I ordered was the Ecco Pizza which was a bit underdone. Â It was not as crispy as the first pizza, and had a lot of chew and doughyness to it. Â The toppings were still wet which had made the dough underneath even more soggy.
I pointed this out to the waitress who did sympathize with me, but then walked away and never came back. Â I wasn't complaining to her for sympathy - I wanted her to see if she can make the order right.
I did end up tasting 4 other pizzas that my friends had ordered, which filled me up. So I am not complaining.
Overall, it was a good experience - depending on who is working the kitchen that night. Â I would go back again and take my chances.
I've been wanting to go to Ecco forever. Â Finally made it to happy hour last night. Â I had a glass of vino and the meatballs. Â Nothing spectacular, nothing to write home about--or to Yelp about! Â Everything about it was just OK. Â My friend had the mac n cheese, and it was decent, but once again, it was just...there. Â I want to ay something about the decor--but there really isn't any, it's pretty stark. Â Kinda boring. Â Their website says it's like walking into a Naples pizzeria. Â Uhh...not really. Â I was just in Italy, and Ecco doesn't compare to anything there. Â If I'm at The Camp, I'd rather go to Old Vine or Wine Lab--which is where you'll find me tomorrow.
Review Source:I love this place! The food is great, the staff is super friendly and the quality is consistent. Â This is a great lunch spot with really good specials. They also have a fantastic happy hour.
It would be 5 stars - but the parking is so rough...for lunch show up early - or use the valet!
Tired of the long wait for brunch next door, we peeked into Ecco's brunch menu. There was no wait so we decided to plop down and order linguini carbonara and pancakes with blueberries. LOVED the pancakes and since that accidental brunch, we run to Ecco when we have a massive pancake craving.
Restaurant is noisy even if it's not full (bad acoustics?).
Pancake with unlimited champagne ($24).
By the looks of this place, you would think it was a good place for dinner/drinks. The ambiance is great and the service is excellent! The food, however, didn't quite live up to these standards. We ordered the guido pizza, pear and burrata appetizer and the strawberry salad.
Pear and burrata appetizer: The burrata was def good and the arugula was a nice addition, but there wasn't enough of the balsamic drizzle. Not bad, but not worth the price.
Pizza: lacked flavor, needed salt. I've had better.
Strawberry and mixed greens salad: It was well dressed, but it needed salt. It was also very oily; the dressing did not taste like a vinaigrette. And when they say it has crispy onions, I thought they were fried but these were huge slices of RAW onions. Gross.
Ecco has verrryyyy good pizzas and pastas. I think that is their strength. It's located at the camp and is definitely one of those hip & trendy restaurants, but it delivers good food and service.
I ordered their blueberry mojito ($12) and it was good and strong and surprisingly came in a larger glass than I expected. I had the chicken rigatoni ($16) and this was amazing. The sauce in the pasta was very good and the sliced chicken with tomatoes and artichoke hearts were a great addition. Great service and atmosphere.
The only reason why this place gets minus 1 star is that their delicious bread with pesto sauce is NOW $3!! It used to be complimentary and i highly think that it should stay that way. It's worth the extra bucks though sooooo good and especially if you have a pasta dish with some sauce, great for dipping.
I just wanted some great pizza. Ecco served good, not great pizza. The crust didn't do it for me. I can find better pizza for cheaper elsewhere.
Their cheese-tasting platter was good, but also not great. I don't know, man...didn't do it for me.
The New York cheesecake was a little piece of heaven.
Overall: A-OK, just like a three-star rating.
I've only eaten in the bar but I love this place! It's gorgeous, trendy, and intimate. Don, the bartender, was super fun, answered all our annoying questions, and really took the time to talk to us and share stories with us. He was super excited about their cocktails and beer and sampled a few with us. Great place for brunch, girls night out, and late night drinks!
HH 3-7pm and fri and sat nights. I think starting at 9 or 10 and their open til 2am serving food!
I'm a big fan of The Camp in Costa Mesa. Â Every restaurant is delicious in its own right, and Ecco is no different! Â A charming atmosphere with multiple seating options plus ample space at the bar. Â The outdoor patio is a welcome option on a hot day with a cold beer.
The pizzas have a very thin crust, and a big bite of flavor! Â The sausage or the guanciale will not disappoint!
Came here for some drinks and appetizers recently. We grabbed a seat near the bar. The atmosphere here is lively which I like. They had the game up on the TV and even in the dinning section, there was a lot of conversation and people enjoying themselves.
We ended up ordering the following:
* Cheese and Meat Platter
----- Cheeses: Pecorino Toscano, Taleggio, Verde Capra - all was very good
----- Meats: Speck, Soppressata, Coppa - I enjoyed the speck. If you like prosciutto,, its just like a smoked version of it
* Housemade Focaccia Bread - very good!
* Beer Steamed Mussels - Take the bread from above and use to get grab the sauce! Yum!
* Calamari - Not bad
Overall, I enjoyed this place. Drinks are a little on the pricy side, but compared to some places it wasn't bad. Service was good and always had a drink in my hand. Reservations definitely helped avoid the lines. 4 stars!
Took a chance on this place to beat the brunch rush next door and didn't regret it! If you love to brunch a la bottomless libation of choice, I highly recommend the kegs and eggs special (any brunch entree with bottomless drinks).
Needless to say the mimosas were a flowin' and the food was pretty good... I had one of the frittatas and recalled enjoying it before my sobriety swiftly left me.
Would definitely go back again!
-Dinner review-
Great Vibe with a relaxed hip atmosphere!
Happy hour from 5-7pm, possibly every night...most likely Monday-Friday. But they do have late night HH 10pm-closing on Friday and Saturday. (HH includes food and drink)
Skip the pizzas, crust is not thin enough, bit more chewy for my taste. Ingredients is fresh, but not my style = 3 stars.
Salad is great: lightly tossed and fresh, enough to share with a party of four = 4 stars
Rigatoni Chicken is delicious as well, creamy with mushroom, artichoke, tomatoes = 4 stars
Overall, I would skip the pizza and try the other dishes. Wine, cocktails, and beer is available here! (Wine flights and some of the beers are on tap as well)
Ecco is located inside The CAMP, not visible on Bristol Street.
Bathroom is located outside. Service is attentive 3/1/2 stars).
Great place to hangout with friends or a casual date. Plus, you can walk around 'the Camp' afterwards.
The Camp is one of my favorite spots in Costa Mesa! I came here one evening with my fellow yelper, Brandon T, who I hadn't caught up with in quite a while!
Thankfully we didn't come at a crazy hour, so we got seated pretty quickly at the bar top! I got the Chimay beer and the mac & cheese starter! The Chimay is a Belgian beer and a little on the lighter side. The mac & cheese starter had fontina, gorgonzola, and pancetta - it was all paired perfectly together! There is a point where the cheese becomes nauseous, but this was not the case! - in fact, I basically wiped the plate clean! Brandon got the brussel sprouts, which were doused with tons of garlic and bacon- I really liked them!
Overall, good ambiance, although a little too intimate for my liking - and okay service, but a little rude! If you are in the area, definitely stop by this place!
Sorry, Ecco just doesn't do it for me.
Perhaps we went on an "off" night, but I found the service to be less than stellar, and the food wasn't too great either. Â The purpose of going to Ecco was to celebrate a friend's birthday, and not only did they serve her her pizza underdone (sauce was running onto the plate) they also forgot the key component - squash blossoms! Â When my friend asked the waitress about this, she told her the pizza was cooked "al dente" and that there were squash blossoms on there (there most definitely was not). Â This was after a 30 minute wait as well since they informed us they were just super busy tonight and were oh so popular. Â Oh, and we tried to order my friend a birthday dessert and they were out of that too.
The pizza I ordered was just fine, not memorable. Â Ultimately I was most put off by the service. Â In the words of Stephanie Tanner, "How Rude!"
I had never been to Ecco before but I had heard great things about it. Â Chris K. and I were finishing up a drink at Wine Lab before we headed over to Ecco since we heard they were open late on Friday and Saturday nights. Â Ecco also has wine and a late night bites. Â We ordered a chianti and a cabernet along with meatballs and Italian corn dogs. Â The meatballs were pretty tasty in marinara and topped with slivers of parmesan. Â The Italian corn dogs were prosciutto wrapped in cheese covered in batter and deep-fried on a stick. Â Definitely a tasty bite if you're not too hungry but still want to snack. Â
There are flat-screen TVs in the bar area where you can watch games while enjoying a drink and a bite to eat. Â They also had the outdoor heat lamps going while the large door was open to the night air. Â We had a very attentive server who might have also been the bartender. Â Â Good service, great food.
When I tell you a salad is horrible, take it off the tab. This was the 2nd time I came here. The salad was more bland than a piece of paper. I told the busboy...he took it away, and said NOTHING. The waitress said nothing. I left a note on the receipt regarding my dissatisfaction and left my email. Never heard a word. This was two weeks ago. I will NEVER return and suggest you do the same!
Additional tips on this business??? Stay away!
If you are in search of some delicious gourmet pizzas, then Ecco is the place for you. Located at the Camp, it's a quaint little restaurant that has a very warm and romantic atmosphere to it.
I ordered the Diavola Pizza - crushed san marzano tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, mixed peppers, calabrese, grana padano, basil, chili oil. I was very tasty with the sweet tomatoes and the calabrese (salami) counter balancing the spiciness of the peppers and chili oil. Muuuuuaaaahhhh!
Their menu is always changing which can be a good thing and a bad thing i guess. The place is not cheap, but there is always a time to loosen more of  the money clip on a memorial meal.
Ecco is right.. It was so empty inside that I could hear echo's left and right. My gf and I came here for lunch earlier today. We were the only guests dining. The decor inside was very nice with a cool looking bar. The menu has pizza, sandwiches, pasta, and appetizers. The service was okay. It takes a little while to get your food here. I was getting a bit anxious and hungry. We ordered the half chicken plate and the sausage pizza.
The chicken had a green coloring with a chicken au jus. It had an apple cinnamon taste in the au jus sauce. It also came with swiss chard and beans. That was okay but I don't think it helped the dish. The chicken was tender but wasn't amazing.
The Sausage pizza was pretty good. The slices of sausages powered the dish. The dough was nice and easy to chew. It's a good pizza but I've had better.
Recommendation: Pizza