The Playground

Bar, Eatery

220 E 4th St
Santa Ana, California, 92701-4644
United States

(714) 560-4444 | map
playgrounddtsa.com
PLACE STATS
Average:
4.28
Reviews:
2
Ratings:
8
pDev:
10.75%
View: Place Reviews
Recent ratings and reviews.
Ratings by SwillinBrew:
Photo of SwillinBrew
Reviewed by SwillinBrew from California

4.08/5  rDev -4.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4
Came here with OCbrewfish and when we walked in, we knew we liked this place. It's right in down town santa ana on a street that's just like a downtown TJ market place... fruit carts, pinatas, pan dulce, hay buay cabrones! In the art village vicinity.

It's on a corner lot with large glass walls so there is a nice open and lit feeling inside. The bar is straight back as you walk in with dining tables situated about the interior. We came in between the lunch and dinner crowd and there were about 4 couples in the dinning area.

The dining space is a bit austere with concrete floors, high ceilings and higher than average tables and chairs. A bit industrial, no nonsense and sustainable (can you say that about a place?). Rather quiet and mellow when we were here but probably cause we were between the lunch and dinner crowds and i dont think many people know this is open yet. Lots of potential here and i'd like to see this place when it's crowded.

The wall behind the bar is all chalk board so there's a lot of writing and funny sayings and doodles. I hadnt seen that before, a whole wall of chalkboard. On top of that ware 15 taps, the tap list, the bottles available and a plasma tv as well. On the right wall is what is going to be for dinner. We got there at around 2p so the dinner menu wasnt ready or written yet. They get their food fresh daily and were still determining the menu, now that's cool. It's written when the day's menu is finalized.

Anyway we saddled up to the bar and i had a Taps doppel bock then a double bastard while OCbrewfish had a black market brown then a ballast point tongue buckler. Let me say the tap list and bottle selection was phenomenal... but that's not surprising as Jarrod, from Bruery fame, is in charge of libations and you could tell.

Some of the bottles you could order were knuckle sandwich, RR salvation, melange 3, rodenback grand cru, mikeller nelson sauvin brut, and well there were around 40-50 bottles and i just cant remember the others right now. But i was impressed. Well, we were served quickly and chatted with Jarrod most the whole time, cool fellow.

For food we both ordered the hand cut fries and they came with this tasty curry mustard and they were sooo good. I also had the turkey confit sandwich which i'll order again. They confit the turkey in duck fat and it was very flavorful. I saw they had bone marrow on the menu at one time and i want to come back for that.

Prices are a little higher than the average bear, but well warranted with their quality of ingredients... so reasonable in my book.

I think they've only been open for a month or so and i'll be coming back. (you can also bar hop to Chapter One after, which is 3 short blocks away... i prefer The Playground with it's robust beer selection)
Jan 04, 2012
More User Ratings:
 
Rated: 4.24 by pinballplayer from California

Dec 09, 2015
 
Rated: 4.25 by aoampm from Hawaii

Sep 10, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Scottie_A25 from Tennessee

Aug 22, 2014
 
Rated: 5 by Mumbles720 from California

Jul 29, 2014
 
Rated: 3.75 by Rollzroyce21 from California

Jun 12, 2014
 
Rated: 4.25 by berlinabb from California

Feb 26, 2014
Photo of 9uns
Reviewed by 9uns from California

3.7/5  rDev -13.6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 3.5 | food: 3.5
I loved this place the first time around, but doesn't seem to be as consistent as their neighbor, Chapter One. I can definitely see how some would find this place very pretentious, but I think the chef/owner just takes pride in his food/service and just wants you to enjoy the food the way he had intended us to enjoy it.

Beer: Rotating draft list is always chock full of decent beers to pick from.

Food: The Playground Burger is really good when it's cooked correctly. The first time I had this burger, I fell in love with the place. The wagyu, chuck, ribeye patty was nothing short of amazing. 2nd time I had the burger, it tasted as if the chef had accidentally popped the salt off of their shaker when seasoning the patty, the burger was just unbearably salty. 3rd time was better, but still not as good as the first time around.

Service: No comment on service, hasn't been amazing nor has it been lackluster.

Price: Typical "gastropub" prices; on the steeper side.

Notes:
- Playground does NOT open on Monday's.
- You cannot customize the Playground Burger. Patty is cooked medium rare and from my understanding, that cannot be changed.
Oct 16, 2013
The Playground in Santa Ana, CA
Place rating: 4.28 out of 5 with 8 ratings