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

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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

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

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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

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I finally got to try this new place in Orange. Overall I gave it a fair rating and here's why. Pros - nice ambiance, nice food variety, updated eatery for Orange Cons - Reservations preferred, only 2 chairs by front entrance to wait for seating, parking, very slow service, not friendly greeters at front desk, food not prepared as requested and deliverer did not know which one was cooked to order (we ordered the same meal but cooked differently). It's also VERY dark in there so you may need your phone light for the menu and pictures. (Thus a few pictures are dark) The banana dessert was great (10/10) and the couscous that came with the salmon plate was a 10/10. The appetizer feta plate was delicious but a tad dry (8/10) It's worth checking out but I would hope they would work on a few of the mentioned issues to upgrade the dining experience. read more

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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

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Stopped in to this spot on New Year's Day for a quick appetizer. They have complimentary valet out front. The pretzel and the Wagyu pigs in a blanket stood out to us the most so that is what we got. The service was great, and the ambience was extremely cute and modern. We were in and out quickly with our toddler which we appreciated. The pretzel bites were awesome, they even came with a mini fondue broiler. So cute! The pigs in the blanket were also good, but I'm not going to lie. We were very influenced by the word Wagyu, not realizing it meant Wagyu hotdog. I guess we should have realized that, but we didn't so just an FYI so you don't do the same! read more

Culinary Dropout - Wagyu Pigs in a Blanket - New American Near Me - Orange, California

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I so want to love this place... I really do. Love the vibe. I have now been 3x, for a happy hour, brunch and most recently dinner. The drinks and the food are underwhelming. The service is okay. For a restaurant that says it has a great bar, any not invest in better glassware? The glasses are small and thin.. I guess to give the appearance of a large pour. I like the feeling of a beefy glass with a large ice cube. BTW, no large cubes either. So I stuck with beer. Peroni on tap was a nice surprise, I must admit. Now for the food. I cannot recall what I had for brunch, so it was clearly underwhelming. The most recent visit, we started with the potato chip and onion dip appetizer. The dip is great. But the chips were cold and greasy. So disappointing. For dinner, I had the Mongolian short rib. The concept with the short rib, rice, bok choy and egg was appealing. The meat was very tender. However, the meat was over sauced and the sauce itself it way too sweet. My fiancé had the fish and chips. Fish was hot and crispy... but it tasted like it was fried in old oil. The fries were meh.. and while not cold, they were not hot. We also had to ask the sever twice for malt vinegar. It arrived, late. Why wouldn't they just automatically bring it or at least ask if you would like it when they drop off the fish? I'm really hoping this place can be better... but it was packed and always seems to be very busy. I am likely not going back any time soon . read more

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

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So much to choose from. What I love about this place is the ecclectic menu. It's not really Asian fusion but more of a blend of many different worlds. It's as if your local sports bar collided with an Asian restaurant. It's got great vibes and really good food. We tried a few things and all of them were good. Parking is a nightmare in Orange these days, but they have complimentary valet parking which is a blessing! FOOD: Terrific. I got the Ma...The Meatloaf and it was terrific. Loved the perfect glaze on top and the meat was savory and rich without being overwhelming. A great portion. Too bad the potatoes (which were real and not from a mix) were not as big a portion. Pretty tiny amount, but it still filled me up. The Mongolian Short Rib was amazing. The glaze was scrumptious and the meat was tender and tasty. The crispy onions could be a side dish on its own. So good. Kind of disappointed in the lack of desserts, but still the menu was large enough to satisfy everyone. SERVICE: Terrific A+ service - from the valet guys out front to the servers inside and everyone in between. It felt like dining among friends instead of restaurant and client. COST: Very reasonable. About $30 per person - less if you order burgers. Chips and dip are a great shareable. Will definitely be happy coming back. read more

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My wife, son, a couple of friends and I had lunch today (Saturday) at Culinary Dropput. From start to finish, the experience was utter joy. Cory was our server and he shattered all expectations when it comes to customer service. I can't remember the last time I went to a restaurant and wondered how high of a tip is actually too much. They have complimentary valet but I opted to park in the structure down the street knowing full well we were going shopping afterwards. When I joined the table 10 minutes later I had missed the first round of excitement but I wasn't left disappointment. Apparently, they don't offer Iced Coffee and one of our guests really wanted cold coffee. Eventually Cory brought hot coffee with a cup full of ice. It was the best he could do but he didn't stop there. Mid-meal, Cory came by with an Iced Coffee from BLK Dot down the street delivered by door dash. That is Zappo's level service right there. We tried the deviled eggs and the whipped feta tahina as our appetizers. I thought the eggs were alright but the Tahina was amazing. It excited the tastebuds on many levels between the sesame flavor of the tahina, the creaminess of the feta, the taste of freshly diced mint leaves and the texture of the fresh sourdough bread they served with it. I had the Roasted Salmon. My wife went with the Chop Salad, one guest chose the pub burger while another had the butternut squash and Kale salad. My son ate some french fries. Almost all of us polished off our plates. The guest who ordered the pub burger ate half and took half to go. Considering she is a vegetarian 99% of the time, I consider it a win that she even ate 1/2 a beef burger. For dessert, we went with the Carmelized banana bar. We opted to split it 4 ways. They even brought a birthday candle for my wife and a scoop of vanilla ice cream for my 4 year old son. It was an absolute delight to spend a Saturday lunch here! read more

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Absolutely loved the ambiance and service at this restaurant. All the hosts and servers were so friendly and gave out good recommendations! My favorite appetizer was the pretzel bread with cheese fondue! I would highly recommend. As for all the other dinner items, they were all very tasty. I ordered the meatloaf and loved their sauce and mashed potatoes. I do have to say though the broccolini to me was a bit too salty so I couldn't finish that. read more

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

I'll be honest, we were intrigued by the restaurant name while walking through the Orange Circle and knew we wanted to come back and try it. We finally made it back on New Year's Day for a late lunch. We made it just in time for happy hour so it wasn't too busy. It also meant that we decided to just order, primarily, off the happy hour menu which was excellent!. We ordered: Crispy Brussel Sprouts (7/10) Crispy and flavorful. We actually would've liked more crisp (slightly overcooked to our preference). Soft Pretzel and Provolone Fondue (7/10) Good pretzel and provolone grated with a candle. Simple and effective. Pork Belly Nachos (9/10) These were fantastic. So much flavor and they spared no expense on the toppings. Chips weren't just a throw in either as they were very good as well. Wagyu Pigs in a blanket (7.5/10) As good as pigs in a blanket get. Nice rich "piglets" inside a fluffy "blanket " And we haven't mention the friendly and helpful staff. We had 4 little ones, who had missed their nap...so it was all needed for our party... All in all great experience and can't wait to come back! read more

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Wow love this new addition to the neighborhood! Such a fun and lovely place even at lunch time. Open and airy with tons of seating. Staff is very friendly and welcoming. Our server Justin was very attentive and let us linger at the table for a long time We both had the chicken Cobb salad at his suggestion and it was delicious. Very large portion and super tasty, especially the deviled egg on top. There is something for everyone on the menu so multiple trips are in our future! read more

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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

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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

We parked in a neighborhood which had a 2 hour limit. Parking can be tricky since it's a busy area. We ordered two cocktails which were around $16-$18 -- expensive, but expected when you go to a nice restaurant. For food we ordered the mongolian short rib and the katsu sandwhich. We wanted to try the prime dip but they were all out, unfortunate since the restaurant had just opened. The short rib was flavorful and the katsu sandwhich was not bad. For dessert we ordered the mud pie which was more of a rich chocolate mousse than a coffee mud pie flavor to me. It's so rich that sharing with 2-4 people is best because we couldn't eat that much of it. Overall the food was okay. I'd come back just for drinks & some appetizers and the atmosphere. It's a very aesthetic restaurant and our server was really knowledgeable, attentive, and kind but I wish the food matched the quality and price. read more

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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

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Came in on a Monday night to celebrate a birthday and ended up having a great time. The vibe at Culinary Dropout is lively but relaxed and easy to settle into, even on a weeknight. The katsu sandwich was crispy, rich and the flavors were spot on! the Brussels sprouts were a big hit for us, perfectly charred and hard to stop eating, and the house salad kept things balanced. Huge shoutout to Tony, our bartender for great energy, dialed-in cocktails, and he surprised us with a complimentary dessert for the birthday mom. He really took care of us. Friendly service, solid food, and a fun atmosphere. We'll definitely be back when in town! read more

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Huge space, fun decor, crowded on a Sunday afternoon. Curbside pickup. Outdoor and indoor bar. Big TVs to watch sports. Inventive cocktails. I've been to other locations in Denver, CO and Dallas, TX. Always good, not exceptional. read more

I was looking for a place in the Orange/Anaheim area to grab dinner with a friend and came across Culinary Dropout during my search. I'm really glad I did. The atmosphere is definitely lively and can get a bit loud, making conversation harder without raising your voice. That said, I liked the interior and the dimly lit setting--it's a great spot for a fun dinner with friends. We ordered the chips and onion dip, the white truffle deviled eggs, and fried chicken entrées. Everything was delicious. I haven't had good fried chicken in a while, and this one really stood out--well seasoned and not dry at all. I'm still thinking about that onion dip. The service was great as well. We were checked on periodically, which made the overall experience even better. read more

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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

I had previously visited the restaurant while in Arizona and was happy to see one in the OC. The establishment was absolutely beautiful. It's like a throwback to the 90s. The cocktails perfectly made and the food was absolutely Yum Yum Yum! The service was great, the restaurant was busy but not once did I feel neglected. Our server made sure we were taken care of the whole time. The pork belly nachos were my favorite! We had a burger, pasta and a sandwich. All of it was delicious! If youre in the area give it a try, you won't be disappointed! read more

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I had been to the Culinary Dropout in Scottsdale years ago and Ioved it, so I was excited that one was opening here in Orange. I had a very different experience. The food has definitely gone downhill. We ordered several apps to share: the nachos, pretzel bites, and the wings. The nachos were sad - fast food quality. The wings were odd - I'm not hard to please with wings, so this was surprising to me. The pretzel bites were great though. I remember having them at the Scottsdale location, and they were just as good this time. The service was terrible. Our server took a long time to come to our table initially, which should've been our first red flag. After he took our order, he never came back! He didn't check on our table after our food was brought to us, and it took us forever to finally get his attention to ask for the check. We waited over 30 minutes until we finally got him to look at us. A different employee ended up bringing us our check - it was so strange. The restaurant wasn't even busy. It was at lunch time on a week day. The restaurant itself looks nice. We just won't be returning because of the poor service and lackluster food. read more

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We came on a Saturday afternoon and it was busy enough where it was packed with people but not enough that we had to wait for a table. The servers were a little friendly but I will give them a 2 star at best. We ordered the M.A.C burger, BBQ pork belly nachos, and their fried chicken. The burger was fine (3 stars), nothing more special than what I can order thru a drive thru. The BBQ pork belly nachos was a little dry and average (3 stars), something that you can forget about as soon as you are walking out of the restaurant. The best one we had then was the fried chicken and waffle (5 stars) as it was tasty and crispy. read more

Culinary Dropout - BBQ Pork Belly Nachos - New American Near Me - Orange, California

We came on a Wednesday around 5:45PM with a reservation just to make sure we didn't have to wait too long. We were seated outside but it was nice with the fire heaters. We ordered the Roasted Salmon and Mongolian Short Rib. The roasted salmon was delicious with great seasoning overall and good texture from the crisped Brussels sprouts! The Mongolian Short Rib was also good for the first few bites but the sauce was overwhelming for me and tasted too much towards the end. I'd love to see what their popular dish was since this was our first time here! read more

Culinary Dropout - Top: Roasted Salmon Sweater Weather Sangria Maui Wowie Bottom: Mongolian Short Rib - New American Near Me - Orange, California

Drinks here a delicious and had interesting selections. I did not get any food, except for an order of truffle fries. It was alright. Didn't taste like there was much truffle. But will give them a pass since it was last call and they were about to close. I sat at the bar and the service was great. The vibes seemed really chill. I would try this place again if I am in the area again for their entrees. Would read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Orange, California

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

Love this place! To start they have complimentary valet, game changer if you know how busy the circle gets. Inside is decorated kind of moody but modern, very nice! Customer service is amazing, our server Kaylen was wonderful and the manager David also did a quick check in. Drinks were very good! The tahini dip and wings were a standout. The wagyu pigs in a blanket were okay, could skip those next time. Overall loved the ambiance, service, and most everything we tried. read more

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Had a chance to try them out again. Their management / ownership has excellent customer service and is VERY KIND. This is a gastropub concept with California flair! Their Happy Hour is from 3pm-6pm. - Most items are slightly smaller in portion but offer a good value, and a way to taste alot of things without a huge commitment. Today was a great visit! Solo dinner for 1 ran about $70 + tip. - Their Iced Tea is best in class. It has some tropical undernotes with good TEA flavor shining through! Excellent no sugar option! I was told they make fresh brews of the tea constantly theoughout the day. It comes through in excellent taste! - Their House Salad for $6 is tremendous. So fresh, so delish. Not a single pc of bad lettuce. Everything was perfectly fresh. I had it with balsamic on the side. They dust it with this cheese (not sure if cotija or parmesan), but it is well balanced, mild in flavor and just the right amount for a delicious finish! #Brilliant salad! (Different kind of gem lettuces, cucumbers, a touch of tomatoes, heirloom carrots, red cabbage, etc.) It was so good I ordered a 2nd portion, with added onions. Absolute perfection. A great way to get your veggies in. If I had more room, I would have ordered a 3rd house salad! 5 stars! - Their Spicy (not really spicy) Korean Pork Ribs (from Happy Hour menu) with sesame slaw was perfection. Well balanced, flavorful and had a nice grill / char or almost wok-hei kinda flavor! It had authentic Korean notes! I would like to go back to have a FULL portion of this for sure! - Their Wagyu Pigs in a Blanket are unique weenies, covered in a puff pastry, topped with poppy seeds. It was accompanied by Creme Fraiche with generous amt of Chives! Overall the weiners are high quality, very good tender meat. Only downer: a little too smokey. Good portion though. - Ordered brussel sprouts not too crispy or burnt, but it came out too dark (had to protect my kidneys). They tried to accommodate me by boiling as part of the cook process, but it looked delish nonetheless. - Ordered a full portion of the sausage rigatoni. The pasta was cooked perfect to al dente. The sausage was good (a bit small in portion), but the dish was overly salted and had a strong (overpowering herby flavor). They accommodated me by boiling some more pasta, I mixed it in and it was WAY more balanced (evenly salted). I think it was missing the roasted mushrooms, mentioned in the menu. Service by Aleya was excellent. This place has great team work. Alot of people came to check up on me and offer assistance to see if I needed anything. Didn't valet today, I opted for street parking and had an enjoyable 2 blocks walk back to the car. Not sure if they are still in their soft opening phase: - But the hostess team needs some imrpovement. Even if the restaurant is 90% empty, they won't seat you right away, but make you wait. I wanted a patio seat. It was 30% full. She told me it would be a few minutes. Went to the restroom to kill time. Then when I got back they led me to a patio seat facing the parking lot. I asked for seating in the more empty area, facing the street. Waited some more and then got seated. FYI - The other patio tables by me were empty from 4:30pm to when I left (about 6pm). Scratching my head what there is to check and think about for delayed seating to SO MANY empty tables. Anyhow the beautiful sunset view wrapped this experience in GREAT GLORY!!! read more

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My apologies, this review is way overdue. Went here back in Match for lunch with friends. It was fantastic! Great atmosphere, easy parking, excellent service (shout out to our server Cory who took great care of us!). Food was delicious. Hubby had the ribs of which I snagged one. Tender, and not greasy. I had one of the salads that supposed to be done with kale but they were out. Ha! No worries as I don't like kale anyway and they out in the lettuce I requested. We were also treated to a complimentary appetizer. Their bread is delicious too! We can't wait to go back next time we are in Orange. Definitely highly recommend read more

Love love loved it. Our waitress was amazing. Came for my birthday and the card and dessert they provided were so wonderful. My food was delicious and the decor was super cute. Would return. read more

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

Took about 10 minutes for our waiter to find us. Someone did step in to help however they had run out of the feta appetizer at 4pm on Sat, so early. That said thy have only been open a week and are working things out. How started is not where we ended, it was a great visit. During our visit we got to meet CJ the man training the staff and he was delightful; took care of us throughout the night and helped us out with a complimentary dessert for our anniversary. Our pigs in the blanket ran a little behind and we were offered another app of our choosing. We did the pretzel fondue, it's fantastic. Pigs in the blanket I thought were solid. My next level hack/offering, get the wagu pigs in a blanket and the fondue and dip those bad boys in the fondue! Had some drinks as we waited for our reservation. The mules were good, the ginger beer hits a little hard, but great choice. During dinner I tried their signature whiskey/cinnamon/apple drink Campfire Vibes; it was excellent. My wife loved the Room service drink. Recommend both For dinner we were a bit full from the apps. I did the shrimp sushi tempura. It was fresh, great flavor, and hit the spot. My wife had the chicken salad. Fresh, dressing was great. We both agreed maybe the chicken had a bit of bitter after flavor. Maybe the only thing we tried we wouldn't do again. We capped the night with the mudslide pie. Nice flavor, I'm not a coffee guy and the espresso chocolate drizzle is nice, my wife loved it and I just did it without. The vibe was great. Got to meet the manager David who was very personable and shared a lot the restaurant. Very cool vibe in this place. Slower start but we were taken care of and are even planning on coming back next week as there is more want to try. The potential is there to be a perfect 5 as they get rolling, we'll be back. read more

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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

What an overpriced disappointment. The chicken was burnt!!! They only offer about 6 entrees I don't know how it can get messed up so badly. The cocktail and non alcoholic drinks are good and presented nicely. The fish and chips were good. I had so much hope because the ambiance is so inviting. The name is catchy. But I can see now that they truly were a culinary drop out. Maybe they should go back to school. Our meal was $80 and not worth it. read more

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Tried the nachos at Culinary Dropout and they were honestly so good. Perfectly loaded with toppings, great flavor in every bite, and nothing felt dry or skimpy. You actually get a solid mix of everything, not just chips at the bottom. The ingredients tasted fresh, and the portions were big enough to share (but you might not want to). Definitely one of those dishes you keep going back to even when you're full. The spot itself is really cool too with a great vibe and a fun addition to the Orange Circle. Service was quick and friendly, which made the whole experience even better. read more

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Food was amazing. We came out to celebrate my nephew's birthday. Everything from start to finish was delicious. KT was our server. She was amazing herself recommended a bunch of food pretty much everything. She recommended we got started with the Waiku pigs in the blanket. They were bomb. My son got the famous fried fried chicken that was bomb nephew and wife got their steak frites They scraped the plate. I got two rounds of mother Earth, California cream probably some of the best beer I've had in years. I ended up the 36 hour ribs. Not sure why it's 36 hours but they were definitely bomb so many great choices on the menu. we ended the evening with Apple monkey bread also was delicious. This was our first time here will definitely come back Great vibe ! read more

Culinary Dropout - New American Near Me - Orange, California

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The food was good. I'll say that. But this was one of the strangest and overall bad service experiences I've had. Made reservations for 5 people for my birthday. Sat us 20 minutes late at a 4 top with a fifth chair. Why make a reservation if you're going to squeeze us there when they had spacious booths to offer? And we know it was meant for 4 not 5 because our sweet server mentioned serval times she's not use to 5 people there. She couldn't remember a 5th water, place setting, or utensils. All of which took too much time getting to my poor husband. In fact his meal came out when the other 4 of us were almost done eating. Our server said we'd get dessert because of that. I told her she'd be comping his meal. He also got the beer he ordered after the rest of us finished our drinks. We had to flag her down several times to ask and she acted confused. Only stating I put in the order. It was a bottled beer. There did not seem to be any bus boys working. We could not get refills on water, and nothing was being cleared off our table. We were asking for the appetizers to be cleared. We had to flag people down to ask for our empty drinks to be taken off. In fact, we finished two cocktails and had two empty glasses sitting on our table each. Chaos. When we ask our server to clear our plates she acted very confused picked up one person's plate and put it on an empty booth behind us. I've never seen anything like that. This booth then became what seemed to be the bus station. This is when it got interesting. It was a lovely booth and two young gentlemen just kept piling up dishes. Then I'm guessing these were the bus boys. They continue to pile up dishes, sit in the booth, talk to each other, pour liquids into different cups and what we can only guess was strategize how to take the dishes away. It was one of the most bizarre things I've seen. A manager did appear briefly to apologize to my husband and then we never saw him again. I worked in a few restaurants and I've never seen a manager not on the floor on a Friday night. I would have gladly paid for a birthday dessert, but nothing was offered. I really wanted to love this place but again one of the strangest dining experiences I've ever seen. read more