Playa Mesa, the upscale Mexican restaurant that anchored a stretch of East 17th Street in Costa Mesa for eight years, closed its doors last Saturday. The restaurant was run by Newport Beach’s Lounge Group, the hospitality company behind several other bars and restaurants along Orange County’s coast.
According to Orange County Register, Playa Mesa’s owners did not give a reason for the closure, thanking customers in a statement for their meals, celebrations and memories at the restaurant. Playa Mesa was founded by Mario Marovic and Andrew Gabriel, whose Lounge Group portfolio also includes High Horse Saloon, Madero 1899, Stag Bar + Kitchen and Blackie’s By The Sea.
Wild Goose Tavern, another Lounge Group concept next door on 17th Street, remains open. The newspaper’s dining critic, Brad A. Johnson, reviewed Playa Mesa positively in 2018, praising its menudo, tres leches, cocktails and pork chop al pastor. Sourdough & Co. plans to open nearby in Costa Mesa, according to the sandwich chain’s own website.
A Sister Concept Already Went Family-Friendly
Playa Mesa’s closure follows the same fate for its 17th Street sister venue, The Country Club, which closed this past May after eight years, as reported by Back Bay Buzz. That venue, once known for scratch cooking and late-night music, is being fully converted into a family-friendly restaurant, ending its strict 21-and-over nightlife format…