NOVA Kitchen & Bar - Garden Grove, California

Blanca Amaro

Just wow! I took my sister here for her birthday and not only was the food amazing, but the service was spectacular! Nicole took care of us and made sure the experience was not only welcoming but very enjoyable from beginning to end. Definitely recommend the place not only because of the food but for the service as well.

Rosabell Marchese

Our experience at this Asian fusion restaurant was outstanding from start to finish. Upon arrival for our reservation, we were warmly greeted and promptly seated. Our server, Dennis, went above and beyond to ensure we had a memorable dining experience. As first-timers, he patiently guided us through the menu, providing insightful recommendations.
The food surpassed our expectations in every way. The calamari appetizer was perfectly crispy and flavorful, setting the tone for the rest of the meal. We opted to share several dishes, each one more delicious than the last. The highlight was definitely the chocolate cake with chocolate ice cream for dessert—a decadent treat that left us craving more.
The drinks were expertly crafted and complemented our meal beautifully. The restaurant itself was impeccably clean and tastefully decorated, adding to the overall ambiance.
Overall, we were thoroughly impressed with the quality of the food, the exceptional service provided by Dennis, and the inviting atmosphere of the restaurant. We'll definitely be returning soon and recommending it to all our friends and family.

My Le

We saw the $68 omakase all over social media and had to try for ourselves. I’m a firm believer of, you get what you pay for. I have to say, it’s actually spot on. Tasty, fresh, on the smaller side. I appreciate that it wasn’t a ton of rice.

You must rsvp through Open Table either Tuesday or Wednesday for 7pm. They wait for everyone to be seated to start.

We got 11 courses with an appetizer. Dessert is extra. My favorite has the *.

1. Chawanmushi w steam egg and eel- sweet, tofu texture
2. blue fin tuna from Baja
3. *Otoro w caviar chocolate powder - really good
4. Halibut - lawn leaf from Korea
5. Red snapper w Shishido pepper
6. Mushroom on crouton toast w balsamic (appetizer)
7. *Seared salmon w black bean sauce, pico de gallo
8. *Seared salmon w peppercorn - sweet buttery foam
9. Scallop yozu koshu and uni - salty like the ocean
10. Sweet shrimp from Alaska, fried fish egg, gold, wasabi - fishy needed ginger, really sharp tail
11. *Japan fresh water eel, green pepper, grilled, sweet
12. Dragon bowl roasted seaweed toro egg

For drinks, I got East Wind which was too sweet and I normally ask for a sweet drink. Then I got Kiwi-okyo which balanced it all out with a bit sweet and sour.

Parking is in the big hotel lot. Bring the ticket with you to get it validated.

Overall, I would come back if this was offered for lunch. Otherwise, if you can spend a bit more, I would recommend go elsewhere for bigger portions.

The biggest inconvenience for me was having to stand up, sit down each time to grab the sushi from the plate which was located in front of you at the bar. The height was too high. The plates was glued down so you couldn’t bring the plate to you. Because of this, I’m giving 4 stars.

Rosalie Soward

Always great service and AMAZING food here at NOVA. Our old stomping grounds from back in the day. This was Peppers night club! They did an amazing job with the decor, staff and especially food choices. The calamari is unbelievable! Never disappointed coming here with friends and family.

Carl Espi

Nova dropped a notch after our latest visit. The new corn dip was mediocre and lacked flavor. The Manila wagyu ribeye flavor profile was like a good filipino BBQ on a stick, but not to die for $74K. The Bangkok Breeze drink has no thai taste connection at all. Overall it was a dissatisfying dinner except for the brussel sprouts fried rice, and ok sashimi. Hopefully this feedback will make them aware and restore their yumminess.

I Kandi

Celebrated my bestie's birthday here in one of the private rooms. The ambiance and decor inside is beautiful. Very instagramable if you're into that. Food was mediocre, the restaurant tries really hard but every single dish just missed the mark. For example, the floating garlic noodles gets an A for presentation but it lacked any flavor and tasted like plain spaghetti noodles with 2 jumbo shrimp - not worth $24. New York steak, I ordered medium rare and my friend ordered medium well and they came out the same doneness, steak also lacked flavor - I used the truffle butter and didn't even realize there was truffle until I just looked at the menu right now. Service was hit and miss with some servers being super helpful and attentive and others not so much - I asked 3 different servers for a glass of ice - halfway through my meal before it was delivered.

If you have a big group party, this would be a great place to celebrate as the restaurant is large and can accommodate big groups.

Parking is in a large shared lot with the hotel next door. Validation available through the restaurant. Ladies, the parking lot surface is rough and uneven so beware if you're wearing heels.

Mark

We had a fantastic dining experience, thanks to our server Colin, who was attentive, polite, and quick to respond to our needs. He also made excellent recommendations, which really enhanced our meal. The restaurant’s modern décor and thoughtful lighting create a warm and inviting atmosphere, perfect for a memorable night out.

The staff went above and beyond, even offering to take photos for us without us having to ask. Our food was served promptly, and every dish was delicious. Bonus: they validate parking, making the experience even more convenient.

If you’re looking for great food, excellent service, and a stylish setting, this is the place to go. I’ll definitely be returning soon!

flynn rider

First, the hostess sat us down and gave our party of four only one menu. We later observed that she was quite content on giving everyone only one singular menu regardless of their party size. Secondly our waitress took 20 minutes to put in our order. But the cherry on top was that she was clearly sick, sniffling with a red runny nose and we ended up all getting COVID a few days later. I ordered the Schezwan Tofu and Veggies. What I got was a bowl filled with shredded carrots. There were a couple deep fried tofu. The mound of carrots weren’t even edible, as they were covered in carrot juices sour lemon juice and other unknown dressing. For those next unsuspecting victims to dine at Nova, I wish you luck.