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    Culinary Dropout

    4.3 (499 reviews)
    ModerateNew American
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    CULINARY DROPOUT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy
    Moderate noise

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    Steak frites and Mongolian short rib
    Tiffany M.

    Service was awesome! Restaurant was spacious and clean. Food was good. Had a little mishap with my food and they made another order. Did wish they gave an update though because a server took my food back and didn't tell us they were going to bring a new one out. They were very apologetic and did fix the issue, so I would still come back. The steak frites were good! The short rib was tender, but honestly a little too saucy and I love sauce.

    Pretzel bites
    Monica R.

    Stopped by here on a Monday afternoon and it was a pretty good spot. The inside of the restaurant was very nice and clean. Our server was very attentive and gave us a few recommendations on starters and drinks. The drinks were a bit weak and kinda sweet. The food was delicious. The pretzels were a bit dense but the dipping cheese sauce made them better. Overall a pretty nice spot for a quick bite and refreshing drink.

    Smokehouse Hash
    Ky-Anh H.

    Culinary Dropout is located in Old Towne Orange and serves brunch as well as a variety of cocktails, mocktails, beers, and tasty appetizers and entrees! There's complimentary valet, which is a nice addition to have. Our waiter was really nice, and all the other waiters that passed by were kind too in passing! I got the smokehouse hash personally to eat. Overall, I think the bowl was well balanced. The potatoes were crispy, albeit they were at the bottom which moistened them over time. The tortilla helped balanced each bite, and the pork was tasty! The veggies were all complimentary to each other, and the egg was an egg. The Asian crunch salad was really good, the few bites I had were all sweet and earthy, and had a good crunch to it. The watermelon spritz was like a nice watermelon lemonade, which was amazing for the weather today!

    Sift Pretzel Bites
    Cindy O.

    Very excited to have Culinary Dropouts in California now! This location recently opened up. I have been a fan for many years since they first opened in Arizona! I used to travel there for work a lot. Tempe many times, Gilbert and Scotsdale. Tucson (OG) remains my favorite location. We recently went to the Denver location where my family became fans! My favorite meni item is the Turkey Pastrami served on a housemade Pretzel Bun. No matter the location, always the delicious. My husband both ordered Old Fashions, very good. We ordered the Soft Pretzel Bites served with Fondue as an appetizer. We were here on a Sunday around lunch time and they offer both brunch and lunch. My husband ordered the Chicken; Eggs, and Biscuits off the Brunch Menu, excellent. I ordered of course the Turkey Pastrami Sandwich. My son ordered the Prime Rib Beef Dip Sandwich and we both shared halves! Excellent. The location is their smallest. Foe most patrons they will love the food and definitely a nice addition to Old Towne Orange. But if you frequent the other Culinary Dropouts, you will notice theybare missing the large patios with games, tables, couches. Very unique to the chain and adds to the vibes. Parking was a huge plus here. If you know Old Towne Orange, parking can be a huge challenge, even weekdays! They offer free valet parking! Valet weee very friendly! Our server was Kaylen. Very friendly, offered suggestions, and we talked about our love for Pastrami. She was also very knowledgeable about the other locations.

    Menu
    Tim A.

    My daughter took us to CD tonight. Here are some thoughts: -The service was outstanding--5 star! And the vibe is really good. -We ordered the potato chips with French onion dip to share. The chips were homemade--really, really good! -I wasn't super hungry, so I ordered the Caesar salad with chicken. The chicken was special! -My daughter got the MAC burger and LOVED it. This place is solid. Highly recommended!!

    Kayla A.

    Back again! For dinner. Justin was our secret and he was super sweet and attentive. We started off with the barbecue pork belly nachos. I decided to try the Fried Chicken dinner, my daughter ordered the Fish & Chips and my son opted for the Salmon. Everything was pretty good. The fried chicken was a little on the burnt side but still edible. Still love this place.

    Culinary Dropout
    Denise W.

    Saturday: Very good service. Wonderful ambiance at the high top table in the bar. We had chicken katsui sandwich which was really tasty. Also the Brussels Sprouts were seasoned with a delicious sauce. Mud pie for dessert. First time here and definitely will come back! Sunday: Well we came back here the next day for lunch. The salmon was superior and the prime rib beef dip was excellent. Several of the servers remembered us from last night. This is a friendly happy place. Feels good to enjoy the casual kind atmosphere. Thank you so much!

    The delicious strawberry torte
    Ricardo R.

    Culinary Drop in Orange offers a great atmosphere, though parking is limited and sometimes requires paying across the street. The food overall was good the Brussels sprouts were deliciously spicy-sweet, and the crispy tuna rice had great flavor. The fried chicken was overhyped it really needed more seasoning and fresher fryer oil. The Strawberry Torte was excellent light, balanced, with torched meringue, lemon curd, butter-toasted almonds, and strawberry coulis. The price is reasonable, the watermelon spritz is refreshing, and the staff are fantastic. Honestly, everything was good, but a more consistent change of the fryer oil would make everything even better. I'd definitely return!

    Thao L.

    Thank you so much to the crew that took care of us last Tuesday! After doing some crafts at the nearby art studio, my party of 12 and I walked over at 9pm, hoping that it wasn't too unreasonable. Despite the late hour and the inconveniences of a large party, the staff there were accommodating and beyond hospitable. Every dish that came out was impeccable, and we all had the best time. They even gifted me an extra dessert (in addition to the one we picked out) for my birthday! We were all so impressed with our experience, and I already can't wait to go back for date nights! (i'm still dreaming about that monkey bread lol)

    Abandoned Cadillac
    Claudia N.

    After another hot day, we enjoyed dinner at Culinary Dropout. The complementary valet made parking easy. Our server recommended the Abandoned Cadillac, which was refreshing and a nice presentation. We started with the Soft Pretzels and Provolone Fondue. The pretzels were warm & soft inside with a touch of salt. I enjoyed the fresh flavors and dill in the Shrimp & Avocado Louie Salad although the shrimp was a little overcooked. We'll return for the friendly service, great drinks and variety on the menu.

    Menu- August 2026
    Gracela B.

    Was visiting daughter going to Chapman - Dodge and got invited to HH. This is a great find in Orange. Only tried HH and the options for food and drinks plus portions and prices were great! Can't wait to return to dry lunch and/or dinner.

    menu
    Mollie P.

    I'm in love with this place. Lots of parking (pay to park but they might validate? I didn't get to ask.) Lots of seating inside, loved the interior and the outside seating looked nice! Service was amazing, our server was kind, patient and so attentive to me and my friend. The food we ordered was fantastic, everything tasted amazing. I would absolutely come back here in a heartbeat.

    Mongolian Short Rib | IG @moniquedao
    Monique D.

    This place pops up on my DoorDash feed all the time, so I was excited to finally dine here in person. Also because we were hanging out at the Orange Circle and it was only one of the few restaurants around open on July 4th and there wasn't a wait. Unfortunately, the food was a bit of a miss. We started with the House Chips, which I enjoyed. They were large, crunchy, and paired nicely with the onion dip. They were a little oily, but overall still a solid appetizer. For my entrée, I was torn between the 36-Hour Pork Ribs and the Mongolian Short Ribs. I ended up choosing the short ribs and immediately realized I should have gone the other direction. The meat itself was very tender, and the flavors were bold, but the meat was overwhelmingly sweet. It was just too much for my taste. The highlights for me were actually the crispy onions and the green vegetables that came with it. My BF ordered the Roasted Salmon, and I thought it was the better dish of the two. The salmon had a nice crisp top while staying moist and flaky inside. Salmon can dry out so easily, so I was happy to see that wasn't the case here. The restaurant itself is beautiful and probably my favorite part of the experience. It has a nice blend of modern and vintage styles. The overall design feels contemporary, while the chandeliers add a unique character. For some reason, they gave me a slight Disney Haunted Mansion vibe, but in a fun way. Overall, I loved the atmosphere and enjoyed parts of the meal, but I'd definitely order differently next time.

    Generously large portion size for the appetizer brussels sprouts which were delicious

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - Culinary Dropout

    Is happy hour available all throughout the restaurant or only in the bar area?

    I was there recently and I believe HH is only in the bar and bar lounge area. There are pub tables in the bar lounge area which are comfortable.

    What is the parking situation?

    Hello! Monday - Friday for lunch we have self parking available on Maple & Grand. There is a… 

    Are there any gluten-free options?

    It depends on whether you need no cross contamination or this is more of a preference. There is a very limited option of items completely gluten free so I would recommend calling ahead to see if it something you would enjoy, but if it is a serious… 

    Is there a corkage fee for bringing wine in?

    Yes! $25 per bottle

    Is this an ok pace for kids?

    Yes

    Hi! Is the patio dog friendly?

    Yes, there was a beautiful German Shepard at the table in front of us on Friday.

    Are you open tomorrow?

    Hi! We are not open on Thanksgiving but will be open at 11am on Friday

    Do you offer any vegan options?

    I had a Vegan Curry dish that was good. Not sure if they have anything else specifically Vegan.

    Is a reservation necessary? Just asking because from reading some reviews it sounds like people just stopped in. Not sure if it was fully needed as the proper time we wanted wasn't available.

    Hi, reservations are not required, we always accept walk ins! However, we are always happy to get a reservation set up for you to avoid potential wait times! If you are seeing issues with the time you’re looking for, you’re welcome to message us… 

    Can you make reservations?

    Hi Kim! We absolutely accept reservations, I'd be happy to get you situated with one! You can give us a call at 714-439-5566 or visit us on OpenTable!… 

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    Citrus City Grille - Bone-In Ribeye

    Citrus City Grille

    4.0(1.8k reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    What a perfect place for girls who lunch! Or was a warm day so we sat outside to enjoy the views…read moreand weather. The service was a little slow at first because of some miscommunication but once we had our waiter everything was fast and friendly. The food was so good! We had their Salmon with Salmon and Rib Eye plate, both cooked perfectly. We also started with perfect Lemon Drops and once we got dessert, Cream Brûlée, we got Espresso Martinis. I can't wait to go again!

    Whenever I'm in Orange, I walk past this restaurant. Once, on a Saturday, when I was thinking about…read moretrying this place out, the hostess asked if I had a reservation. Reservation? No. No meant no table. She told me it would be a couple hour wait when I could see there were tables available. I made a reservation this Sunday. Unfortunately, buffet brunch only. I could see the chafing dishes from outside, but decided to dine here anyway. There was a family sitting outside on the patio, but since it was warm outside, when the hostess asked inside or outside, I said inside. The waitress told me about the $59/person Sunday brunch. No espresso drinks, but it includes bottomless mimosas. Champaign with orange, pineapple, cranberry juice, or all three. Yes, all three please. Eggs are custom made orders by request. The brunch buffet had great options. It included, pancakes, waffles, French toast, crepes, pasta, potatoes, cod, chicken, meats, salads, pizza, fruit, yogurt, various breads, crème brûlée, and mini chocolates. My mimosa was perfect, since I poured my side juices in myself. The food all tasted great. My complaint is the eggs. I ordered two fried eggs. I had to remind her of the order because I believe the kitchen forgot my eggs. She made an excuse that they were busy. I don't think so, since I could see the three of them from my table. When I received them, they were hot and fresh, but the worst fried egg I've ever had. Ugly and runny. A fried egg should be the easiest thing to prepare. Disappointing. The entire time I was here, there were at most five parties. One was a large group celebrating a birthday. Not crowded on Sundays. No reservation required. I only had two separate plates of food and a plate of desserts. Unless you eat or drink a lot, the price of the buffet brunch is not worth it. In summary, service was good. My champagne glass was never empty. Excluding the eggs, all the food tasted great. I like the overall look of the restaurant. The Sunday buffet brunch is not my first choice.

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    Citrus City Grille
    Citrus City Grille - Bread Pudding

    Bread Pudding

    Citrus City Grille - Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

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    Sticky Toffee Pudding Cake

    The Peel

    The Peel

    4.2(153 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$$

    The Peel in Orange is one of my go-to spots! The food and drink selection offers plenty of great…read morechoices, and honestly, I've never been disappointed with anything I've ordered. If you only have one drink, make sure it's the Fade to Black--it's my personal go-to and definitely worth trying. For food, I usually gravitate toward their flatbreads, but you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. What really sets The Peel apart, though, is the service. Alan has always been incredibly helpful, friendly, and accommodating, and the overall service is consistently outstanding. It's a great place for happy hour after work, getting together with friends, or hosting events. I've had a few events there myself and continue to go back--and that says a lot. Highly recommend The Peel!

    So this place is inside Hotel Fera and there is a self park lot outside. Be sure you get your…read morevalidation. We came for breakfast on a Saturday am. It wasn't very crowded. It's a beautiful location with lots of windows and a nice outside view. As for the food, it's hotel food I feel like. May be good but over priced. It wasn't my pick so I came for the company. We sat in the back area which can accommodate large groups. Our server was good. They don't have lattes or speciality coffee drinks but you can get it from the coffee bar in the lobby and bring it in. I didn't get end up getting anything from here. My friends who got food said it was good. I just couldn't justify paying $22 for breakfast food. i guess if you are staying at the hotel, it would be good to try. However I don't need to come back.

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    The Peel
    The Peel
    The Peel

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    Culinary Dropout - newamerican - Updated September 2026

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