Vitaly is a wonderful cafe located inside The Camp in Costa Mesa. I was lucky enough to dine here with some co-workers for our quarterly meeting. The space is awesome! There is a cute espresso bar on the inside directly next to the gelato counter (which I was too full to indulge in…don’t hate me). Then, the kitchen is toward the back. In the middle of it all is a few tables for larger groups. Directly outside, guests can enjoy more patio seating, including seats around a fire pit, which I would love to revisit at dinnertime!

First, I ordered a Chococino-nutella and chocolate cappuccino because it just sounded too good and dessert before lunch is always a good idea! This drink was extremely rich and had a little less kick and a lot more chocolate than I’m used to, but it was delicious! I would definitely recommend waiting until the end of your meal to indulge in one of their specialty espresso drinks that way you won’t fill up before your meal.

We ordered the Cutting Board Delights tray for the table, and my was it BEAUTIFUL! Who knew salumi and cheese could look like art? Well, I did, but my dining companions were very impressed! The selection of meats and cheeses was perfectly diverse and just the right amount for the five of us to share before our meal.

We also shared the Capri-sliced Roma tomato, basil, Italian Buffalo Mozzarella salad. This has to be my favorite Italian salad of all time. The tomatoes were so fresh and the cheese was so creamy!

Almost all of us ordered the same pasta because it just sounded so good. The Porcini Mushroom and white Truffle Oil Fettuccine had the perfect ratio of parmesan to mushrooms to truffle oil.

I can’t wait to go back to try more pastas and the gelato flight! Next time, you are in Costa Mesa, take a detour from The OC Mix and visit The Camp!

For more information, visit http://www.vitaly.net/