The bartender named Rafa was really personable and friendly he came up and introduced himself, asked for our names and shook our hands. He made us feel comfortable asked us what we were up to and what food and drinks to try. He made sure we were served even after we left the bar. He refilled our waters and checked in with us! The pretzel and cheese fondue was amazing! read more

Beautiful restaurant in the heart of the orange circle. Restaurant has its own lot with valet service. There's also street parking that you can pay for. The staff were very friendly and welcoming. Our waitress Katie was great and helpful with recommendations. We loved the decor and the atmosphere was chill and romantic. Love the music and different styles of art work around the restaurant. Our food was all delicious, ribs fell off the bone just as I like it. Flavors were great! My prime rib dip sandwich was made to perfection. Restrooms were very clean and designed beautifully. We will be coming back. Highly recommended. Priced well for really great tasting food. read more

See all

First time here, and unfortunately it will probably be our last. They were out of at least five menu items, which was disappointing right from the start. The ambiance was nice, but honestly, that's what you're paying for. The food itself was bland, overpriced, and tasted like frozen bar food. The deviled eggs tasted like they came straight out of the freezer. The nachos were mostly chips with a pea-sized amount of meat, a tiny squirt of nacho cheese, beans, guacamole, and sour cream. The pasta, which our waiter highly recommended, was also disappointing and lacked flavor. Overall, the atmosphere was the best part of the experience, but the food didn't come close to justifying the price. Ps the waiter basically disappeared..... during our dinner.... read more

See all

Culinary Dropout is located in the Old Towne Orange area. This lively gastropub provides an inviting environment for happy hour. There are a few TV screens throughout the bar area and comfortable pub style cushioned seats. For parking, there is a nearby parking lot, which I believe requires payment. There's also street parking with signs indicating payment is needed as well. Pay attention and do not park near the homes as permits are required. Our service was attentive overall. The staff who came to take our order was just okay, but the nice touch was when the barista came to introduce herself, just because. We ordered from the happy hour menu on this outing. For drinks, they offer a simple but diverse variety of beverages to choose from. Our small group enjoyed the classic margarita, beer, and wine. For food, we kept it simple and ordered things that we could share. The nachos were okay and nothing that special. I would skip it next time. The tortilla chips weren't good. My favorite appetizer was the soft pretzels and provolone fondue. The pretzel was fresh, soft and doughy, and it had a nice texture with the right amount of salt. I'm not a huge cheese fan but the flavor of the provolone cheese was light and yummy! We had a few pieces of pretzels left and I couldn't let it go to waste. We asked if we could get some fresh fondue to go and they provided this without any extra charge. So nice! Our least favorite appetizer were the gochujang brussels sprouts. I normally love brussels sprouts, but I didn't like how it was deconstructed and the actual brussels sprouts reduced down to overcharred leaves. It was too burnt for us. I would definitely return, but try different appetizers next time. read more

See all

I was so excited to get back to Culinary Dropout after being blown away by the location in Scottsdale, AZ. We had a reservation and were seated right away. The front staff and our server were amazing and brought a smile to every interaction. The wait staff works very well together and stayed on top of the service all night long. We started the meal with several appetizers and they were paced out perfectly, allowing us to enjoy each one individually. We started with the Wagyu Pigs in a Blanket. I was a little disappointed with this one, as it didn't seem to taste like any others I've had before. The mustard sauce was delicious, but I had higher hopes for the app. Next came the bacon wrapped shrimp and these were incredible! The corn bread stuffed inside was an excellent touch and the sauce complemented the dish very well. We finished the appetizers with the Feta and Tahini dip and this is a must try! It had so much flavor and was so creamy! The bread is charred a little to pull it all together as well. Moving on to the main dishes, we ordered the salmon, 36 hour ribs, and Mongolian short ribs. The salmon had a nice crisp to it, but didn't have much flavor. The couscous and corn base was very good, but there didn't seem to be enough of it to lift the flavor of the salmon. We were told the 36 hour ribs would fall off the bone, but that was not the case. They were still very tender and packed with flavor, just not quite what we were hoping for. We did get the mashed potatoes with it though, and those were insanely good! Definitely recommend! Finally, the Mongolian Short Ribs were awesome! The best entree by far and balanced so well with the sauce and vegetables in the bowl. 10/10 dish for sure! Overall it was a great experience and an awesome restaurant to share a meal with loved ones. There are televisions with sports at the bar in case you're looking for that vibe as well. Happy hour is 3-6 Monday-Friday and includes appetizers and drinks. While a few dishes fell a little short, I would still love to go back to try a few of their other available options! read more

Culinary Dropout - 36-Hour Pork Ribs - New American Near Me - Orange, California

I had a great time at CD, but I would suggest they address a few issues first. My pretzel knobs were extremely cold, so I had to request them to be reheated. It's understandable that pretzels can be cold, but how can I add mustard to a cold pretzel? Fortunately, they rectified the situation. The service was excellent. I had two attentive servers who assisted me and my husband with everything we needed, including the Knicks game. Everything turned out perfectly! read more

Culinary Dropout - Yummy in a glass - New American Near Me - Orange, California

See all

We stopped in for a beverage and snack while waiting to attend a wedding reception. It was our first time so we really didn't know what to expect. We were pleasantly surprised that it wasn't too noisy - but we had arrived just before the rush, because it started to fill up as we were there. They had a nice selection of drinks and snacks. We got the cheese tray which seemed a bit spendy for the amount we got (see pic) - and housemade chips with onion dip. Since I'm cutting back on carbs, I asked for celery and carrot sticks so I could have some of the onion dip - a cup of carrots and celery sticks was four bucks. The items on the platter were tasty, and we had expected the chips to be warm, but they weren't. And the onion dip was ok - very mild - almost couldn't really taste the onion. We'll definitely plan to come back to try their entrées. Just be aware that prices are a bit on the spendy side, two appetizers and three drinks came to $85 - and supposedly we were there during Happy Hour. read more

Culinary Dropout - $35 for this platter - it was good but kinda spendy for what you get - New American Near Me - Orange, California

See all

We wanted to check out Culinary Dropout for some time. Finally decided to come here to celebrate a birthday. We made reservations for a Saturday afternoon. They offer valet parking but we decided to do the paid lot across the street instead. Upon arrival, we were seated promptly on the patio towards a back corner. We brought our little pug with us, so patio was perfect. Our server came and passed us our menus. She gave us a few recommendations and gave us some time to review the menu while she would bring us our waters. The menu itself wasn't too extensive. They had their main offerings as well as brunch items. They also had a wide variety of drinks. We really like the ambiance here and the restaurant itself is very nice too. HOWEVER, this is where we have to start subtracting the stars. Sadly, our server was not the most pleasant. She took a long time to get back to us as well as giving us some attitude when we asked her for more waters because she had forgot to give us enough. The sun was starting to beat down on us so we asked her for an umbrella. She said she would ask her manager but after 20 minutes, there was no progress. We had to ask the hostess for help, and the hostess was able to move our tables within minutes. The hostess ALSO brought us our food during this process because our server was too busy hanging out with a friend. As for the FOOD, it took awhile to come out. We ordered the pork ribs, deviled eggs, and smokehouse hash. The ribs were decent. The sauce was good and the meat was pretty tender. The fries were fine, nothing special. The deviled eggs were our favorite. We really like the flavor and definitely recommend that item. As for the smokehouse hash, we found a piece of hair in the egg yolk. We asked to remove the item from our order as we did not want to wait another 20 minutes for the hash to be remade. Towards the end of our meal, our server brought out a slice of birthday cake. She dropped it off with much attitude. We were taken aback by her treatment. Nonetheless, the cake was seriously the BEST item that we had here. Love the flavors of vanilla bean with chocolate sauce. Overall experience with Culinary Dropout was pretty disappointing. The food was not bad, but the experience couldn't be more lackluster. Finding a piece of hair in our hash kind of made it awkward. On top of that, our server giving the impression that she was too good for her job and then falling short in every aspect of our dining experience... However, we do want to give kudos to the hostess who picked up the slack. She also did an impeccable job helping us. We do love the ambiance of the restaurant, but its just not enough for us to come back. read more

See all

I came to check out Culinary Dropout by coincidence. I was doing some tests with a doctor and it was around the area. So decided to order for pick up from here. Thanks Timmy for writing a review about this spot! I had the plate of fried chicken after the doctors lol as a treat to myself. Haha, probably not the best choice but at the time I just really wanted it. The pieces were large and the mashed potatoes had a nice light gravy on top. The coleslaw was also good. Next time if I have time I would like to sit down and enjoy it. The interior looks modern and comforting. read more

Culinary Dropout - Front - New American Near Me - Orange, California

See all

This is a fun new place in Old Towne Orange. It tends to get busy on weekends so plan accordingly. The staff is very friendly and accommodating and I love the contemporary chic vibe of the place. We started with two to mango and sweater weather for drinks. For our appetizer, we picked the pretzel and fondue. Our shared main is the 36 hr pork ribs. For dessert, we got the apple monkey bread. Two to Mango- You get a bit of titos vodka to start. The orange and guava fruit bases make it sweet and refreshing. Pineapple high noon seltzer finishes the flavor palate and you get what's left in the can on the side. Sweater Weather Sangria- This is a cozy winter blend sangria with spiced peaches that are also fun to eat once you're done with the drink. You also get passion fruit, apple brandy, lemon, and redwine. Pretzels and Provolone Fondue- This was a great way to start the meal. You get soft pretzels fresh from the oven and a rich, creamy provolone fondue for dipping. 36 Hr Pork Ribs- You get sweet and spicy jalapeno molasses sauce. Meat is tender and fall off the bone. Served with a side of fries and coleslaw. This was a shared main and they were kind enough to split our dish with no extra charge. Apple Monkey Bread- What a satisfying end! You get a hot skillet of sweet and wonderfully spiced monkey bread. The apple flavor is strong and carried the dish. Finished with creamy vanilla ice cream. Great experience overall! read more

See all

Have not visited in a while due to over visiting when hey first opened. In my opinion it is still one of the better places to have a quick work lunch in the circle. Came here for lunch with a co-worker and the food is still on point and delicious. Finally tried the squash salad with steak and it might be my favorite salad now giving Fanny's a run for the money on their Moroccan Salad with Salmon, which i can eat daily. The portion on the squash salad seems a little small, but it is tasty. Staff is friendly, and come to check on us to ensure we were taken care of. The space is an elevated gastro pub? like the booths and the dark space. We tried the devil eggs with truffle oil and the banana bar for dessert. I would definitely get the banana bar again and again. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Orange, California

See all

4/5 -- Overall, I had a great experience here, especially with the fried chicken dinner. We ordered it to share, and they were kind enough to split the entire meal in half for us. Each plate still came with all the sides and fixings, and it honestly still felt like a full meal for both of us, which I really appreciated. The fried chicken was delicious! Well seasoned and definitely not dry. The coleslaw helped cut through the heaviness of the meal, which was a nice balance. The biscuit was a little dry for my taste, but they do offer honey on the side, which was a nice touch. The mashed potatoes were easily my favorite part though, super creamy, garlicky, and really flavorful. My only complaint is that I wish they gave more gravy. We also tried the Mongolian short rib bowl since it was one of the popular dishes our waitress recommended, but it just wasn't for me. It was very sweet, and there was so much sauce that it made the rice a little mushy. The vegetables were actually great though, the bok choy and broccolini were cooked well and still had a nice crunch. But overall, the dish leaned too sweet and soft in texture for my personal preference. I'd definitely come back for the fried chicken dinner and to try some of the other items! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Orange, California

Long wait but amazing waiters! Be prepared to wait at least 30 minutes longer than the estimated time the front desk staff give you or make reservations in advance and be prepared to wait at least 15 minutes longer. Food: - Rigatoni: pasta was al dente, best dish of the bunch! Great flavor with tasty chicken and spinach - Brussel sprouts: almost deep fried? Very crunchy, interesting fusion of flavors with gochujang spices, adds a kick - Fried chicken: chicken had good crunch, almost too much, similar to korean fried chicken flavoring, chicken needed brining; biscuit buttery, mashed potatoes were watery - Wagyu pigs in a blanket: couldn't really tell that the meat was wagyu, but decent; puff pastry had good flavor and texture - Asian crunch: good salad Service/Ambiance/Seating: - Mari was an AMAZING waitress! She was very helpful, sympathetic and kind the entire night - free valet parking - large interior with seating inside and outside on the patio read more

See all

This large restaurant is located a block off Glassell near the Orange Circle. The interior feels semi-swanky with many tables and booths plus a cool bar. There is a lot of patio seating. We showed up for a late lunch and were immediately seated. Our server was excellent, very friendly and gave great recommendations. We started with an appetizer, whipped feta & tahini dip. The dip also had pomegranate seeds, apricot preserves, and "pistachio crunch' along with slices of grilled ciabatta on which to smear the dip onto. This was REALLY good and I highly recommend it as I thought it was the best part of my meal. I then ordered the crispy chicken katsu sandwich with a side salad. The sandwich used Japanese bread and added miso aioli, slaw, and hoisin sauce on the chicken. The bread was grilled a bit too much but was still crispy-good and held together well. The chicken was tender and the ingredients had good flavor, especially the bites with the slaw, but the crunchy coating (I don't think it was panko) was fried too long. The salad was fresh but bland until I spiced it up with a load of pepper. If there was dressing on it, it was tasteless. I'd rate the appetizer a 5 and the sandwich plate a 3. I'd definitely pick another sandwich or entree if I were to visit again. read more

See all

Great new spot near the Orange Circle. I like that it has its own valet. The space is much bigger than the other restaurants in the circle and is modern. It gives a little bit of Yardhouse vibes. It would be a good place to have happy hour and watch sports. The menu was extensive. My party enjoyed everything we ordered. The burger was the highlight for me. The patty was juicy and flavorful. The fries were delish. The ribeye cap was a bit spicy. The fish and chips were perfectly crispy and had a nice batter to fish ratio. The pigs in a blanket were a fun throwback dish. We really enjoyed it. Our server was nice and personable. She tried to explain the menu to us and highlight crowd favorites. We never had to ask for refills of our drinks. We will be back again soon. read more

See all

The staff was super nice and attentive. I loved that there was free valet what a nice touch. The vibe was nice yet casual. Didn't feel like I needed to dress up to grab a bite. My friend and I shared the turkey pastrami and fried chicken. The turkey pastrami was solid. The fried chicken was a bit over fried but still tender in the middle. It was a really good fried chicken but not the best I've had. The sides were awesome. Biscuit so flaky and buttery. Coleslaw perfectly balanced. Mashed potatoes super flavorful. I'm curious to try their dinner menu next time. read more

Culinary Dropout - Fried chicken half order and Turkey Pastrami Sandwich - New American Near Me - Orange, California

Near the downtown Orange area is this cute little restaurant. There is street parking and a parking lot across the street but also have complimentary valet. We came in without a reservation on a Thurs night. We were a party of 4 and we're seated very quickly. Our server was very sweet! She happily provided feedback on the menu and helped us sort out the options. We ordered a burger, the deviled eggs, Wagyu hotdogs in a blanket, fish and chips and the rib eye steak. All of it was pretty good. I asked for the fries extra crispy which made the hand cut fries better. The best part of dinner was their housemade ranch. It is delicious! Enjoyed the cool ambiance and good vibes! read more

See all

Came here on a weekday at around 4:15. All in all this place hovers around a 3.5. In summation: some quality elements but not a full home run. First of all LOTS of fun and tasty drinks to choose from. This includes cocktails, non alcoholic drinks, etc. Kicked it off with their deviled eggs and their pretzel. The deviled eggs were 20/10. Bury me in those. The pretzel cheese was good and the pretzels themselves were cooked perfectly but the pretzels somehow lacked flavor and needed some more salt. On to the entrees we did the katsu sandwich and the fried chicken plate. The stars of the show were the chicken and the katsu. The way they deep fried everything was to perfection! The katsu sandwich could have used more hoisin sauce as without it was a tad dry and the French fries were lackluster. For the fried chicken plate the biscuit was homemade but was okay as was the mashed potatoes. Finishes it off with the mud pie. The non decadent lovers need not apply to this one. It was a punch (in a good way for chocolate lovers) of fudge. All in all food wise there was a star of every plate and an overwhelming ness to it at the same time. Honestly this is the perfect place for cocktails and apps before a movie! (The theater is right above it). Service was a bit slow but they added more servers as the night progressed. We did a reservation but don't think we needed to but I recommend for the weekends. The ambiance is a bit loud and yet nice. Perfect for brunch with the girlies or a first date. PS they do live music on one of the weekends. Plenty of parking! read more

See all

This place is definately worth a try! Stop by and tried their fried chicken, campfire vibez cocktail and endless summer margarita. All were an absolute 10/10. The fried chicken was wellseasoned and was crispy and moist. Both cocktails had a good balance of flavor and spirit. The whole interior and exterior is a vibe! The also have outdoor seating which is nice for a warm day. Staff were friendly and attentive. Definately give this place a try! read more

Great place, nice ambiance, good food & great service. The turkey pastrami sandwich on a pretzel roll was delicious! The shaved prime rib dip sandwich was equally as yummy. Ordered the rainbow roll sushi & it was good but not our favorite of the entrees. It's not the type of place to expect superior sushi. I would recommend sticking with other items. The Asian crunch salad with added chicken protein was very good, has a kick, but didn't expect it to be a chopped salad Our server Isabel was fantastic! Nice little patio out front too. read more

See all

What a gem. I was in a search for a good place for lunch and of course Old Towne Orange popped up with a bunch of trending spots. I chose Culinary Dropout because the name was intriguing and because it was separate from the main Circle where parking and pedestrian traffic is chaos. CD had its own parking lot across the street on Maple and Grand, saving you from dealing with the parking machine. I came here with 3 colleagues and we all loved the food. To start, we had the feta and tahini dip as well as the onion dip. The feta and tahini dip was delicious; I could've probably eaten the whole thing if I didn't have to share haha. For our entrees I had the Mongolian short rib while my colleagues ordered salad and burgers. They raved about the burgers being one of the best they ever had. I liked my short ribs as well, but wished it wasn't drowning in sauce. I could barely see the rice. Ease up on the sauce and it would be perfect. The soft boiled egg was a nice touch. I will definitely be back to try those burgers and get the dip again. This seems like a great place to hang out during happy hour. read more

Culinary Dropout - Mongolian Short Rib* - New American Near Me - Orange, California

I just had brunch here with my family on Saturday and we had a fairly decent time. Parking is pretty scarce in this area so we took advantage of the free valet.. more on this later... The service was pretty decent, not too bad, but nothing exceptional and our food came out in good timing. The food itself was OK but I wasn't really impressed. Nothing really stood out. The restaurant itself is very pretty and I would love to go back and sit on the patio next time. Now back to the free valet, I have a jeep and the two front tops were off so when we got the car back, it was completely full with hundreds and hundreds of little tiny leaves all over the car in every crevice. Not really the valet's fault but just something to note for them if someone comes with a convertible or a Jeep do not park them under that tree. I spent 30 minutes vacuuming the whole entire car yesterday and it wasn't fun. read more

See all

They have their own valet service which is perfect for the area. We were a party of 4 I thought the food was ok. The portions were a bit small. Our waitress was really nice. My partner raved about the ranch so I had to give it a try and it definitely was good. The ambiance was cool and chill. Plenty of TVs read more

Culinary Dropout - White Truffle Deviled Eggs - New American Near Me - Orange, California

had such a great time here celebrating with friends! the atmosphere is lively and the place itself is a vibe! Sam was our server and he was awesome. we were a big group of 10 and he took good care of us! Fav part here? No need to split cards for the check! Everyone can pay for their portion via qr code and i thought that was cool. Great for groups who wanna split meals but don't wanna deal with the hassle! CD is a scratch kitchen so everything is made in house! i had the chicken katsu sandwich with truffle fries and the room service cocktail and i enjoyed both! I'll definitely be back here again! read more

We have a monthly "girls" day/night, etc. Just do it, it's good for your soul. What's a few hours of a day to reconnect with your besties? Anyways, we came here for one of them and we had a reservation. I hate looking for parking and will happily pay but, when I pulled in, it said complimentary valet! Score! The apps we got were all tasty, so were the drinks. The service was friendly and quick. Imagine some 40 something women catching up.... took forever to order our food. Most of us got a salad but, it was still a lot due to all the apps we ordered. I love variety so I prefer this! We agreed that we want to come back for dinner. Maybe on another girls day....depends on who's planning! read more

See all

Came back again for dinner and ordered the Steak Frites and Salmon. Soooo good! Service was friendly and quick. Culinary Dropout has definitely become one of my favorite spots in the Circle! read more

See all

Fancy, but not expensive fancy. Newer place with newer furniture and what not. Whomever drafted the menu is an artist though. A lot of great tasting food. We dug through the appetizers primarily ordering I think 5/8. All were fantastic. If I had to recommend just one of what we tried I would likely choose the wings, but that's just me. Our server was fantastic and her service was amazing, very attentive. Thank you all. Oh and complimentary Valet because why not! read more

Finally got to try this place and we came for happy hour. It did not disappoint. They have several options for happy hour as far as food and drink drinks go. We were seated in the bar area and our server was attentive. We opted for the brussels sprouts, pretzel and fondue cheese dip, and the short ribs. I really enjoyed the ribs with the spicy slaw. Brussels were great as well. Great vibes! read more

See all

This was our first time here. We like the old town Orange area. We ate at higher tables closer to the bar and enjoyed happy hour prior to having dinner. The area around the bar is very nice and lively. The other restaurant areas away from the bar are very nice too. We had two appetizers. The Brussels sprouts were fantastic. The seasoning and how they were cooked made them quite tasty. We heard about the pretzels and they were excellent too. My entree was the Mongolian short ribs that include a vegetable. I really enjoyed it. Others had the steak sandwich and salads. All were very good. From the start we were served by Nikolina. She was really good as service was prompt, she knew about the food and was very personable. Overall, a great experience. In regard to parking, most of the areas are paid parking. The restaurant offered free valet. There is a small lot across the street and some street parking. We parked at the Lemon street lot which always spaces available, is free and is about 3 blocks west on Maple and Lemon. The old town area is a nice place to walk around. read more

So my experience here went pretty fine my dish that I ordered the steaks and Fritz was pretty good cooked to the way I like it and the truffle butter was really delicious. I mentioned them. I had a allergy to a specific item and they forgot about it and served us the item and then told us afterwards it's good. I didn't have a huge reaction, but that was the only thing that happened during my experience overall it's a limited menu and I probably would come back to here for the steak and Fritz but it's just a very limited tight menu with certain items. I just don't eat so it's a unique pallet. Great location architecture is nice. Service was great besides the allergic and food allergy situation. The brussels sprouts looked pretty fried. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Orange, California

See all

The most enjoyable experience. First time dinning and drinking here. We ordered the Brussels Sprouts and Tempera Shrimp Roll. They were both very flavorful. The service was great. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were attentive and quick with service. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Orange, California

See all

Came here for a work celebration and were given a space off to the side of the restaurant that had curtains to give our team privacy. The space was very cozy and included TVs, counter space for buffet style food, 2 large tables that fit about 15 people and a window wall to let sunlight in. It was the perfect space for our work group. Parking is also easy. They offer validation but there is plenty of street parking but would recommend coming early to snag a close parking spot. Cocktail: I got the Old fashion American Spirit. 10/10 very well made and very smooth. Food: fried chicken 8/10 - delicious flavor, but some of the white meat pieces were very dry Brussel sprouts: 9/10 - good flavor and would order again Fresh cut veggies and Hummus dip - 10/10 for the hummus dip. It was a little tangy and just a hit of heat. It was so good I took the leftover hummus to go Dessert: Mississippi Mud pie - this was dark chocolate mouse under whipped. I don't typically like chocolate because it is too sweet, however they used dark chocolate and it was very delicious. It is VERY thick chocolate mouse. I was disappointed that we didn't get to try more things at our work dinner. Everything tasted very good and was left wanting to try more, and so I would definitely come back to do that. read more

Another slam dunk for Culinary Dropout! We came to celebrate my birthday with a large party and they were just as amazing as the last time. Food- Service- Ambiance were all exceptional. Calling in to get a table for a large party can typically be a challenge and places like this but the hosts on the phone were SO wonderful and helpful as we tried to plan a date that could accommodate our group. Thank you to a great team, signed - your fan read more

See all

Food 4/5 Deviled eggs were good but nothing extraordinary. Prime rib dip was meaty and big. Banana bread was different good but a tad too sweet. Services 4/5 It was a Saturday lunch so it was busy, I can't blame the device to be a little slow. Drinks were a bit delayed also. Ambiance 5/5 Super cute inside, fun modern decor, does get loud. Reservations are a must. read more

See all

This was our 2nd visit to Culinary Dropout. Our 1st visit was a most enjoyable experience. We hoped for more of the same. We were greeted upon entering the restaurant. After being seated, our server, Larah, arrived with menus and took our beverage orders. The interior of the restaurant was open, airy and spacious. My wife ordered the Prime Rib sandwich, while I ordered The Pub Burger. Both orders arrived. The presentation was very nice, but the taste was flat out delicious!!! Sarah was most attentive. Good service and good food. It all makes for a nice, enjoyable lunch. read more

If you're looking for a masterclass in how not to treat customers, ask for James at the bar. It took over 15 minutes to get a menu, and only because we finally asked for one ourselves. When James eventually acknowledged our existence, every question was met with a level of condescension usually reserved for people who ask if water is wet. We requested a manager, and James assured us he'd get one "when he got a chance." Apparently, that chance never arrived. Two hours later, still no manager. As for the food? It's fine. Not bad, not memorable just the same kind of fare you can get anywhere else around the Circle, usually with service that remembers customers exist. Thanks, James. You managed to make mediocrity memorable. read more

Came to the Orange location for a double birthday celebration. Placed was packed and buzzing with energy. Loved the decor inside and out. Great design choices in places others would ignore. Had excellent service, not intrusive or pushy at all. Definitely enjoyed her job. I loved that there were intentional, creative mocktails on the menu! I got the Vida Verdita. It looked like a healthy green drink when it arrived. It had jalapeño, mint, pineapple, cilantro and bubbly water. It was smooth but not as spicy as I had hoped. I even asked for it to be spicy but I think that was missed at the bar. Still delicious and fun! Would totally order it again. Big variety of food options to satisfy all types of tastes. We ordered two of the Soft Pretzels with the Provolone Fondue not knowing it wasn't a giant single pretzel. We all burst out laughing when a bowl full of palm size pretzel balls arrived. Despite the large portion, there were only 3 left at the end of the night. They were moist, soft and airy and nearly melted in your mouth. Not a dry bite like other pretzels I've had as appetizers. It was a delicious balance of salt with the fondue. I split the M.A.C. Burger with a friend and it was decent. Did not make an impression on me though but I probably should have ordered something more unique. Others in our party ordered the Turkey Pastrami sandwich, the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice sushi, the Asian Crunch salad and the Crispy Chicken Katsu sandwich. No one would let me take a picture of their food as they wanted to dive right in. Everyone raved at the freshness and tasty their meal was. I definitely ordered the wrong thing! We took our time with dinner and yet the place was still packed with guests and a line outside to be seated when we walked out. Fun and cool vibe of a place you definitely need to experience. read more

See all

Checked out this new place that only has been in business for 3 months but they are a branch with a lot more locations throughout the states. The new one in Orange is popping...a lot wait and glad we made reservation. They offer both indoor and outdoor seating and the decor is very modern vintage inside. They have tv for sports as well if you are sport fans. They have a very good drink menu and food menu with different things and price ranges (sushi rolls, sandwiches, steak, salmon, salad etc). I ordered a steak with fries and it's tasty and service was great and attentive. read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Orange, California

Culinary Dropout is a new gastropub in Orange serving comfort food with occasional Asian flairs. The name is a nod to the restaurant group owner, Sam Fox, who dropped out of college to start his business ventures. With a large, clean layout, this place offers comfortable, spacious seating with moody lights, and friendly, thoughtful service. The food is a little playful but refined, and the flavor combinations are generally on point. The Fried Chicken had a perfect crunch and juicy, tender meat. The accompanying coleslaw was creamy and well balanced, and the mashed potato was rich with gravy with a buttery tang. The buttermilk biscuits were pretty, but I missed the flaky, buttery texture that I normally love in biscuits. Their Pretzel Bites with Fondue was a classic, craveable dish. The pretzel bites had just enough salt and felt like an indulgent, cheesy, doughy dream when dipped in the fondue. Each bite was huge, and the portion was generous! The Kale and Butternut Squash salad was also nicely dressed and chopped with a great, balanced mix of dates, squash, kale, and cheese. It would be extra delicious with some crunchy texture. Their sangria with peach rather than citrus as the star was also really nice. Notably, the servers gave us two dishes of each order, separated, so that my partner and I could easily split the meal. We didn't even ask for this, and I thought this was so considerate and a testament to their awesome service. To top this off, proceeds for the day went in part to firefighters. It's great to support a business that gives back to the community. Overall, Culinary Dropout is a strong addition to Orange. I am looking forward to trying their Mongolian short rib and Ma Meatloaf next time. Another great place in Orange to have a date spot or even a group hangout. I would recommend giving it a try! read more

See all

The food was good. Ambiance over the top! Mud pie horrible. My husband ate it all. Not ice cream. Way too sweet and rich. read more