Circle City Tavern

Tried them out for the first time. Atmosphere was great, John was very friendly and personable. Explained the drinks, how he makes and decides on them. Made good recommendations. Drinks were great. Food was very good and tasty. Highly recommend them. Glad we have a good new restaurant/drink spot in Corona.

FINALLY Corona has a fun and unique restaurant that isn’t a cookie cutter basic chain restaurant. Drinks great! Atmosphere great! Service was good I’m sure it will be great once the crew gets their feet under them! I’m sure this is going to just get better and grow into a Corona favorite!

Ana Vargas

This has got to be one of my favorite restaurants/pubs ever - not just in Corona! My husband and I have eaten here a few times now and every single time has been amazing. From the appetizers to the desserts - oh and let's not forget the drinks! The atmosphere is super chill, they have plenty of seating, and the staff is always really friendly. The first time we visited (pretty soon after they soft opened), we sat at the bar and got to listen to the owner explain where some of the food comes from and how he chooses quality and it does not go unnoticed - all is absolutely stunning. By now - we've probably tried 6-7 different cocktails, the nachos, BBQ Burger, pretzel, fries, California burrito, and the beignets. I've overheard some people saying it's on the pricier side - but for the quality of food and drinks you are getting I would say you are getting a steal! This place is on tier with another favorite restaurant of mine in OC that is Michillen recognized. 10/10 would recommend - I wish all the best for this place!

Larissa Cordova

Nice, clean, great atmosphere (music not too loud, football games on, and people talking not too loud either.), great drinks! The bartender was quick for as busy as it was and she was nice. She made the drinks perfect where they weren't overpowering with the taste of alcohol and you can actually taste each bite of the mixes. The caviar was great but I already ate before I got there so definitely need to try the food especially when I saw they have a lamb burger. Other people's food looked good haha.

Sandra Scubla

A friend recommended this new spot, and I’m so glad she did! It’s great to see Corona continuing to update the area — I can’t wait for the rest of the businesses in the shopping center to open. We stopped by for an early Happy Hour on Thursday and enjoyed the loaded pepperoni pizza, cheeseburger, fries, and a variety of delicious drinks. Everything was excellent! The General Manager was wonderful — even though the team seemed short-staffed, they handled everything seamlessly. Thank you for the great experience — we’ll definitely be back!

Jesus Mejia

My Wife and I decided to have lunch here and everything was Top Notch. For appetizers we went for the black Garlic Chicken Wings, they have an amazing flavor. I choose the Chicken Sandwich and it was very crispy, flavorful and good size. My wife got the BBQ Wagyu cheeseburger and that was a very tasty burger. The drink selection has a good variety with quality spirits to choose from. We will be back, thank you for Circle City Tavern for a Great local experience.

Joel Sabas

Man, this place has some good stuff! Both drinks and food! They have a full weekly happy hour menu and one of those items is a must try, the miso butter grilled cheese sandwich. Miso compound butter with basil and cilantro, smoked gouda, aged provolone and hot honey drizzle on sourdough. With a side of skin on fries makes a perfect combo with a beer! Small locally owned and definitely a hidden gem! Highly locally supported! Service is top notch and is love the ambiance. It's really chill and laid back.

Meghan Dooley

We had Kanaan who was awesome as a server. The food and the drinks were very good. We had the chicken tacos, kids cheese, pizza, kids, butter noodles, garlic noodles, the steak sandwich, the fish and chips, and the beignets. Everything was tasty. The garlic noodles are Al dente so if you don't like a crunchier harder noodles and keep that in mind. The steak sandwich was amazing. The fish and chips were good. The beignets were good, although I wish they had an option where they were just plain and not chocolate filled. But otherwise everything was very good. The drinks were amazing and we will definitely be coming back.

Peter Browsing

Went to circle city with the kids . They had the grilled cheese and fries. My older one said it was the best grilled cheese she has had . Looks like it was a grilled cheese on Texas toast. And the fruit that came with it looked fresh compared to other places where the fruit is pale. I had the zucchini and artichoke sandwich. It was amazing . I don’t know if I would have normally ordered it , but it was recommended by the owner and it really hit the spot . It was filling and delicious. At first , when looking at the menu, I thought the price was a little too high . But after I got the sandwich and fries. You can taste the freshness. It was definitely worth the value. It had lemon ricotta , which was a nice change to the standard aioli . Update 1/15/2026 : I’ve been back a couple times since my last post. But they recently changed up the menu. Had the beet salad. It is a must have! My wife was stuffed , couldn’t eat anymore , then this came out, we finished the whole thing. It was balanced , fresh, and so delicious!

Rob Golden

Had the Buffalo Wings. As a Wings snob, I can be a bit critical. However, CCT did a fine job with their offering. Just the right amount of heat, cooked just right. They don’t have Bleu cheese which is a rookie move, but not the end of the world. Everyone knows that wings are meant to be enjoyed with bleu cheese and NOT ranch. No Guinness in the house which was a shame. Prices are a tad expensive. Overall a decent place. Plenty of tv’s for sports, impressive bar, ample parking. Mari (hostess) was professional and accommodating with our request for a booth. Mellissa (waitress) was knowledgeable and attentive. Definitely check Circle City Tavern out, you’ll be glad you did.

Shon and Jess Thornburg

FINALLY Corona has a fun and unique restaurant that isn’t a cookie cutter basic chain restaurant. Drinks great! Atmosphere great! Service was good I’m sure it will be great once the crew gets their feet under them! I’m sure this is going to just get better and grow into a Corona favorite!

Leanna Bruce

Giving an all around 5 outta 5. Corona needed a place like this and I’m glad we have it. Drinks are amazing, service great! No bad food or fly issues. Will be back again. Glad they’re attentive, and customizable.

Ketan Patel

We went to try CCT, which opened recently, on a Monday, while visiting from out of state. The vibes were great. There is ample parking, ample seating, and a good amount of space out back for kids. Highly recommend the cucumber Negroni. It’s not a bitter as a regular Negroni, and it was a nice change of pace. The Oaxacan Old Fashion was smooth and could be dangerous! Didn’t get a chance to try the food, but saw the black garlic wings are highly recommended online. Next time we come by, I’ll definitely make sure and save space for lunch or dinner!

Cody Bates

Tried them out for the first time. Atmosphere was great, John was very friendly and personable. Explained the drinks, how he makes and decides on them. Made good recommendations. Drinks were great. Food was very good and tasty. Highly recommend them. Glad we have a good new restaurant/drink spot in Corona.

We are SO HAPPY that Circle City Tavern is here!!! The atmosphere is beautiful. The food is delicious (some items are better than others, as with any restaurant.) The staff is friendly and works hard to accommodate their customers. My group of friends and my husband and I have celebrated many birthdays, GNO, New Year’s Eve was a BLAST, Wednesday with live music is great, lunch is quick and enjoyable and any ol' night of the week never disappoints. Circle City Tavern has become one of our favorite new spots right here in our city! LOVE! LOVE! LOVE!

If you haven’t had a chance to go to Circle city Tavern yet, please go check it out. I’ve been here at least four or five times since they’ve opened and every time I’ve been there, it has not disappointed. The food is good, the drink drinks are unique, and the service is top-notch. Sometimes there is a little bit of a wait because they are that busy but I’ve never had a problem getting my meal without a reservation, and the staff is always doing their best to find a spot for me to sit. A special shout out to John behind the bar, he always makes a tasty drink, it’s good conversation, and has great pointers on items on the menu. Try the wings, the burgers, and the tacos. None of them will disappoint. I even had the opportunity to go in Sunday to watch a game and had some of the breakfast food, which was great too. Ambience is nice whether it’s for a date, a party with your friends, or just to grab a quick bite. It is centrally located to Corona and there’s plenty of parking. Try any of their signature drinks, they will not disappoint.

Jennifer Rodela

Darah was the amazing server that helped our party of 12 tonight. Our table was ready when we arrived, the appetizer was brought out within minutes and beverages were at the table in record time. Darah was attentive and took our dinner or quickly and all was served in a timely manner. The food was served hot and tasted great. I ordered the tavern burger that was delicious and was served with the best fries. We all share the binets that were served warm and with chocolate sauce and a.hint of cinnamon. For a large party everything went very smoothly. This was my fourth visit and it was the best.

This is a beautiful new restaurant and bar that opened in corona. We went to happy hour for drinks and shared appetizers. We ordered a craft beer and a cocktail. Drinks were very good. I had two of the same cocktail. The second tasted different from the first, so a little inconsistent but still tasty. Appetizers were solid. Their regular menu and happy hour menu had a wide array of choices. I felt the price point was fair for the portions given for happy hour. The aesthetic was very pleasing. Modern and clean bar area, a mix of booth seating and tables. I would recommend coming and checking it out. Happy to support our local business, especially when the food and drinks are good and the atmosphere fun.

Alli C

This is a beautiful new restaurant and bar that opened in corona. We went to happy hour for drinks and shared appetizers. We ordered a craft beer and a cocktail. Drinks were very good. I had two of the same cocktail. The second tasted different from the first, so a little inconsistent but still tasty. Appetizers were solid. Their regular menu and happy hour menu had a wide array of choices. I felt the price point was fair for the portions given for happy hour. The aesthetic was very pleasing. Modern and clean bar area, a mix of booth seating and tables. I would recommend coming and checking it out. Happy to support our local business, especially when the food and drinks are good and the atmosphere fun.

The female bartender is excellent. She got every drink to perfection. We went there the next week and had the male “I believe the owner” bartender got 3 different drinks completely wrong. Terrible. The service was good on Wednesday when they had live music but a bit slow. They probably needed more employees that night. We’ve been there 3 times and the food was great! I’ll keep going back and if the owner is bartending, we’ll get wine and beer.

Lori Barrios

It gets four stars, because they advertise they are pet friendl. What they should state: pet friendly unless there is a private event outside In the back. Fortunately, they have a bar in the front at the parking lot, but our dog did not like the car traffic and I did not like the bright west sun in the summer.. The next time I went, I left my furbaby home and tried the indoor dining at the bar. Everything, including the music was great. The fries were exceptionally good.

Giorgio Cerboni

Went there for dinner Saturday January 24, with my wife, son to celebrate my daughter-in-law’s birthday The four of us were seated by the door which remained open along with the slide up windows as the breeze came in. After ordering the food arrived in a timely manner; however, the cold coming from the door didn’t make this an enjoyable experience. I called the waitress over and mentioned that the food was cooling down rather quickly and that I was cold even though I was dressed warm. She said she would check to see if she can remedy the situation. She came back with an unusual response to the fact that the closing the door would make everybody hot, considering everyone was wearing coats and I’ve been in many restaurants before this was a sincerely asinine response. We won’t be back anytime soon.

This is mainly a review about the food since our party of 4 did not order drinks*. Overall, the experience was not great. The food, while presented nicely, is extremely expensive for what it is. And at times downright awful, my friend ordered a seafood taco plate but what she received was the saltiest and worst tacos any of us had tasted in our lives, like, so salty it burned. The tortillas fell apart and were rubbery/mushy as well. Me and my girlfriend ordered the Argentinian steak sandwich to share, and again while presented nicely it was bad. The entire sandwich was cold, and the cut of steak was way on the fatty side for me, taste was good though. The fries were also good, but I just wish they provided more. The service was also not that great, our waiter only came once to fill our water glasses. They are so small you can finish them in two sips, and after I did that I had to wait 10 minutes for that first refill. After that she came and told us she was swamped with tables and then just left us a glass bottle of water to fill ourselves. Honestly, I would’ve preferred if they just left the glass bottle to begin with. The environment was another issue my party had an issue with, the hockey game on the tv was extremely loud and we could barely talk to each other over the game. All in all we paid too much for lackluster food that left our party so hungry we needed to go somewhere else after just to feel satiated due to these criminally small portions for the price.

thatbluflame

This is mainly a review about the food since our party of 4 did not order drinks*. Overall, the experience was not great. The food, while presented nicely, is extremely expensive for what it is. And at times downright awful, my friend ordered a seafood taco plate but what she received was the saltiest and worst tacos any of us had tasted in our lives, like, so salty it burned. The tortillas fell apart and were rubbery/mushy as well. Me and my girlfriend ordered the Argentinian steak sandwich to share, and again while presented nicely it was bad. The entire sandwich was cold, and the cut of steak was way on the fatty side for me, taste was good though. The fries were also good, but I just wish they provided more. The service was also not that great, our waiter only came once to fill our water glasses. They are so small you can finish them in two sips, and after I did that I had to wait 10 minutes for that first refill. After that she came and told us she was swamped with tables and then just left us a glass bottle of water to fill ourselves. Honestly, I would’ve preferred if they just left the glass bottle to begin with. The environment was another issue my party had an issue with, the hockey game on the tv was extremely loud and we could barely talk to each other over the game. All in all we paid too much for lackluster food that left our party so hungry we needed to go somewhere else after just to feel satiated due to these criminally small portions for the price.

miguel bocanegra

Possibly the worst first impression of a new restaurant I’ve been to. Went in on a Saturday night for dinner. Was told it was a 20 minute wait, which then turned out to be almost an hour. There are two other big groups that had reservations and they still had to wait. They were getting frustrated as well. I’m not sure if they don’t have a manager, but they are very unorganized. After finally being seated in almost an hour, they proceeded to tell me that the kitchen was backed up and it was gonna take more time still. The place was busy, but it was not packed to the point where they should be this backed up. If you cant handle a small Saturday rush you’re not gonna make it as a restaurant. The appetizers were good. The main courses were average, not worth it. The Caesar salad had Parmesan cheese, which gave it a weird taste. I had to ask twice for my drink and they still took a while to bring it out. Will I be going back? No! Will I be recommending this place? No! They still have time to turn around, but I can see what they have a lot of bad reviews. Save your time and money and go to another well established restaurant that has their service down.

We were served a dish that did not match the menu description. I ordered miso garlic noodles and was instead served garlic chili noodles containing peanuts. Regardless of menu, we ordered something that did not have an allergen, and were not informed that we were served a dish with an allergen. I have a severe peanut allergy and started feeling the beginnings of a reaction shortly after. We wanted to leave immediately to monitor my reaction. When we informed staff, they dismissed our concerns and said we were mistaken. We had to ask for the bill to be adjusted, and they only removed the cost of that one dish. We still had to pay for the rest of the meal. In the next two hours, my symptoms got progressively worse as anaphylaxis set in. My partner, fearing for my life after hives appeared on my throat and my breathing became labored, took me to the emergency room where I was treated. I am including an ER photo from the same night. The restaurant did not cover my medical bill. I paid it myself. This experience showed a serious lack of care and accountability regarding food allergies. They’ve already sent one person to the hospital and I hope they learn from their carelessness and do not send anyone else.

The food unfortunately is not good or worth the price they are charging. They have a fly issue as well. They enter the restaurant from having the doors open without fans to keep them away. Their beignets are the size of fries Oreos. Their Korean tacos say short rib but actually are flank steak that lack flavor in the meat. The fries are over salted. The fish and chips only come with 2 pieces of fish and taste like they were frozen… very chewy. This plate is also served with a curry sauce instead of ketchup? The sauce is good but why not have this with a curry taco plate. This place has potential but it’s lacking clear direction with way too many options that do not hit the nail on the head for the price range.

Wes May

We were served a dish that did not match the menu description. I ordered miso garlic noodles and was instead served garlic chili noodles containing peanuts. Regardless of menu, we ordered something that did not have an allergen, and were not informed that we were served a dish with an allergen. I have a severe peanut allergy and started feeling the beginnings of a reaction shortly after. We wanted to leave immediately to monitor my reaction. When we informed staff, they dismissed our concerns and said we were mistaken. We had to ask for the bill to be adjusted, and they only removed the cost of that one dish. We still had to pay for the rest of the meal. In the next two hours, my symptoms got progressively worse as anaphylaxis set in. My partner, fearing for my life after hives appeared on my throat and my breathing became labored, took me to the emergency room where I was treated. I am including an ER photo from the same night. The restaurant did not cover my medical bill. I paid it myself. This experience showed a serious lack of care and accountability regarding food allergies. They’ve already sent one person to the hospital and I hope they learn from their carelessness and do not send anyone else.

Beth G

The food unfortunately is not good or worth the price they are charging. They have a fly issue as well. They enter the restaurant from having the doors open without fans to keep them away. Their beignets are the size of fries Oreos. Their Korean tacos say short rib but actually are flank steak that lack flavor in the meat. The fries are over salted. The fish and chips only come with 2 pieces of fish and taste like they were frozen… very chewy. This plate is also served with a curry sauce instead of ketchup? The sauce is good but why not have this with a curry taco plate. This place has potential but it’s lacking clear direction with way too many options that do not hit the nail on the head for the price range.

Let me preface by saying we love Circle City Tavern. We have been many times. All have been great. We have had the best service and suggestions from John, Meredith and our first server who is pregnant from our first visit ever. This time, well this time was not the best. The food was great, nice portions, great flavor. We sat at the bar top, took 15 maybe 20 minutes to be treated by an middle aged lady who seemed to be in a bad mood. No expression on her face. Didn't introduce herself. No customer service. We asked where John was as he usually there and she was short about it said he wasn't working here anymore. Which is sad cuz he is the reason we come so often. (Plus shouldn't share that with guests) We asked for cocktails. My husband's old fashioned that he always gets didn't taste right, was watery and bland. The second one was way way to sweet. My margarita was overly sweet as well. When said she said that's how it's made. Just rude and can't make a drink. Probably won't be back for a while especially since John isn't there as he is the reason the cocktails always taste great. My husband would always finish with a carajullo but not last night. Disappointing. Sorry Circle City Tavern