OC Oasis — milk + honey

Twice this week, I've popped over to milk+honey. It's a bit of a trek (I have to take a freeway and a toll road to get all the way to Costa Mesa). But the last time I went to my usual haunt closer to home, neither of the two new girls behind the counter knew how to make a macchiato. So, there you go.

milk + honey is located on the edge of The Camp (which, along with The Lab, make up "The Anti-Mall"). It's the kind of humble, yet stylized independently-owned coffee spot I don't often find in Orange County.

Even though I usually go for a red eye, or straight espresso, I like their adventurous take on coffee drinks. The English Toffee latte made me smile and I plan to try the PB&J mocha next. They do the standard drinks well, too (Matt gave his macchiato the thumbs up).

Inside, there are only three small tables — not exactly ideal for lounging, though the sweet oldies and indie rock mix and stack of board games entice you to stay a while. (It was a little too crowded to take pix inside, btw.) Outside, there's a small "garden lounge" of sorts. A hodgepodge of sofas, tables, succulents and Christmas lights that all remind me of Austin's Spider House and reminded the girl sitting beside me of Berkeley.

The patio atmosphere is almost relaxing enough to make you forget that just beyond the wall is a busy corner gas station. (Almost.)

The last time around, I ordered the honey tarragon tuna sandwich out of sheer curiosity and I'm sorry to say it fell flat. The sweetness over-powered even the taste of the tuna and the tarragon flavor was lost completely.

Luckily, my cucumber-ade was exactly what I'd hoped for. It was the kind of mild and mellow drink you enjoy at a spa.

Maybe I'll stick to beverages here for a while, or at least, keep food orders as simple as a bagel.

As soon as temps start rising above 70, I plan to try some of their funky sounding cold treats — maybe the M+H Chai Delux, which is the bonkers-sounding combination of Japanese-style chai tea-flavored shaved ice with a NY cheesecake center, topped with strawberry, mochi, kiwi and almond slices.

If you're in Costa Mesa making an Ikea run, or doing some luxe shopping at South Coast Plaza or Room + Board, this is a worthwhile addition to your itinerary. It's just across the 405 from those big-box attractions.

Their site is down for a re-design, but their new hours are Monday-Friday, 7a to 9p and Saturday & Sunday, 9a to 9p.