Delicious Mediterranean fare. Fresh, healthy innovative combination of flavors. Friendly and accommodating staff. Lovely ambiance. We love this restaurant! read more

Our first time here, and what a wonderful experience! Our server, Claudia, was absolutely lovely. She was attentive, knowledgeable, and had so many great recommendations. We started with the roasted potatoes as an appetizer, then ordered the Latke Waffle & Eggs from the brunch menu -- phenomenal! The Rose Berry Brioche French Toast was pure magic. Seriously, a must-try! To finish, we had the roasted cauliflower and chickpea bowl with added beef koonideh, which was delicious and satisfying. Everything was flavorful, beautifully prepared, and made even better by the wonderful service. First visit, but definitely not our last! read more

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This was the fourth time that I have eaten at Fennel Kitchen & Bar. I love the atmosphere and decor, the food and service. Jacob helped my friend and I today and was so attentive to our needs and details of our order. He made an excellent suggestion with a vegan version of the salmon bowl. It was so delicious I have already been at Fennel with my family a few times before, and every time our experience was outstanding in all aspects. Keep up the good work read more

I was in the area and was looking for a new place to try. I had this place bookmarked so I decided to come. They asked if I had a reservation which I didn't but I was like the 2nd guest in. It filled up a bit more by the time I left. I specifically asked for ice water but only got cold water. I did ask for a cup of ice then and was able to get it. I got the salmon Mediterranean wrap with the spicy sucha and it comes with a side salad. It took a little bit to cook but it was worth the wait! The side salad was nice with big pieces of Parmesan cheese. The wrap was refreshing with the kale and the salmon was good. I liked the pickled cucumbers in the wrap. The spicy sauce wasn't really spicy but tasted good on the wrap. It was a good lunch. No lunch specials, just their regular menu. SYOY! read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Salmon Wrap - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

Finally tried this restaurant after it being on my list for some time. It wasn't busy at all on a Thursday night. They do have a happy hour 3-5pm but we missed it. Food was great. Potatoes croquettes 10/10 Lamb chops with risotto 8/10 Pesto hummus 10/10 Charcuterie platter 10/10 Fries 9/10 Mango mule mocktail 10/10 Other things pictured I didn't try but everyone enjoyed their dishes and drinks. Service was great and the ambiance was lovely with wood and green plants. Felt very earthy and grounding. Would definitely return! read more

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This was my first time at fennel, but I went with a friend who goes at regularly. I love the menu because the food is very healthy. My friend chose the salmon bowl and really liked it. I got the apple and beet salad and it was delicious. As a starter, we had the cauliflower with dates. I've never seen or heard of that before and it was delicious. It was a nice place to have a business meeting. The volume in the room was fine. Our server Jacob was excellent. He even suggested that I have my salad tossed light with dressing on the side because I didn't know how much I would need. I will use that recommendation frequently. I will definitely be back. read more

Overall, for a fancy-esque lunch/dinner in the laguna/aliso neighborhood. You can reserve ahead online via OpenTable. There is free parking in the lot shared with Panda express and other shops. Went in on a Friday, found a reservation 15 mins ahead amd got seated promptly. They were busy so would recommend making a resy, doesn't hurt. Service was prompt, friendly, and so welcoming! The space is designed a bit to feel indoor/outdoor, but is all indoors and covered. Food and beverage wise they have plenty of options to suit different diets. We ordered some vegetarian and pescatarian dishes. Tried the spicy falafel wrap that comes with arugula salad (3.5/5 - tad bit dry), salmon plate that they gracefully swapped the bulgur with broccoli for me (3/5 - a bit flavorless but cooked well), garlic potatoes (4/5), saffron martini (4/5), ohm fashioned (4.5/5), and a pom marg (4/5). We also asked for the baklava cheesecake (3.5/5) and love cake (2/5 - skip, very dry or get with a scoop of their icecream) slices, such large portion sizes on everything including desserts. read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Ambience - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

Came here to reunite with a childhood friend, and this was the perfect spot for a reunion. We shared the hummus with pita bread and veggies, which is always a good starter. I ordered the barley risotto and lamb chops. A generous amount of food, as I was able to take half of it to-go. The lamb chops were perfectly cooked and I was thankful that it wasn't gamey. The barley risotto was new and different for me but it wasn't bad. Service was fantastic all around. Everyone was kind and attentive. It was a nice place to catch up with some comfort food. :) read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Barley Risotto & Lamb Chops - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

Stopped by for lunch today and had a great time! Fennel is located across from Panda Express, there's a ton of parking nearby. They have indoor and outdoor seating, and the restaurant is really bright and has a nice vibe. I loved the modern feel mixed with all of the greenery inside. Service was solid considering we came at an odd time; they were a little understaffed and things got served a little slower than I'd hope, but the staff was super nice and communicative which I appreciated. On the food front, I tried the Fennel Cheeseburger and the Potato Croquets, and both were excellent. The burger was definitely the star, and I would absolutely recommend trying it some time. It was super flavorful, juicy, and an all-around great burger. I'm glad it came with a salad because it was quite rich. The croquets were very tasty too, the burger was just SO good. Overall, this is a great spot for lunch, and I would love to come back and try their brunch menu too. read more

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We went last night and had a great experience. To start we ordered the appetizer dips. My favorite was the tzatziki. The eggplant was pretty good too. We also got lentil soup. This was a miss . Very little flavor in the soup and most of the time lentil soup has some lentils blended. This is more of a broth lentil soup. For my main, I got the beef kebabs. It came with rice and some vegetables. I didn't care for the pickled onions and the regular white onions were a little bit undercooked. The meat was a bit drier than most Mediterranean kebabs I've had. We had great service though. We were seated outside so I can't really tell you the vibe. It was packed around 6:00 PM. read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

This is a beautiful Mediterranean restaurant serving breakfast lunch and dinner, all delicious, with good coffee and fresh squeezed juices, located in the bustling Aliso Viejo Town Center. For all the restaurants in this center, in my opinion, Fennel is the best dining option if you want a sit down restaurant. Everything I've ordered thus far has been excellent, fresh, tasty, never dry. The service has always been extremely accommodating and the one time I've been disappointed in my original order selling out and having to wait too long for the final dish, they went out of their way to make sure I was given extra fries (which are excellent) and extra things to dip my heaping scoop of hummus into. Don't skip the cocktails, or really any of their handmade drinks. I cannot not get a cardamom latte at brunch, and it's so fun picking which cocktail to get to unwind with whatever dinner entree I go with (usually the salmon bowl). They have large tables so larger groups are welcome. I always see corporate type people having working lunches here, or families out for a nice dinner. This place is almost always quite full, but I still feel like they are slept on and under appreciated. read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Baklava Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

The food was excellent, the happy hour wine (a French Pinor Noir from Valala winery from the Loire Valley) I really enjoyed. I had the Barley risotto & lamb chops and my friend had chicken kabob plate. It was our first time and we both agreed we would definitely come back. The restaurant was pretty full and everyone's plates had nice sized portions of food. It was a little pricey, but due to the restaurants that surround this one, it's understanable, since they could get away with it. read more

We came here for Father's Day and we're luckily able to get a table. It was very busy inside. We ordered the cauliflower with the dates. It was absolutely delicious. Other people at our table ordered the spicy falafel wrap a salad and soup. We are vegan so we got the protein bowl and got things that were not vegan like the croutons and cheese not added, and then we added chickpeas and falafel. The bowl was a little dry, I preferred the roasted cauliflower and chickpea . I definitely would get that one again. My one complaint is that we ran out of water multiple times it was hard to flag down anybody to refill our water and then we also had a hard time getting a box and then getting the check everything just took a long time. I understand that they were busy. Parking is very easy lots of parking around and it's near the movie theater, which is nice. Inside is cute and we liked the decor. However, it was very very noisy. I wish they had a little bit more sound absorption measure so it was easier to talk to people at the table. The staff is very friendly and very helpful. Would highly recommend coming here for dinner again. read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Protein Bowl made vegan - no croutons cheese and added chickpeas and falafel - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

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We dined at Fennel and really enjoyed the food and great service, our waitress was especially kind and helpful. We liked the cauliflower with dates, beet salad and salmon bowl, though the salmon is always slightly inconsistent in texture. We did find date seeds in the starter leftovers, which was a bit concerning so they should be more careful with removing them. read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

Jacob is a fantastic server. Food was great, clean restaurant great ambience overall perfect experience.

Perfect post movie dining spot! We saw Wicked and were looking for a healthy option. This menu has something for everyone and is well balanced. The service was smooth despite multiple servers. The space is gorgeous modern with plants, unique lighting and warm woods. read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Chicken Kabob Plate - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

It was monkey hot once again and with our HVAC broken, I looked for a brief escape before I headed to our nice hotel up the hill. Unfortunately, their AC was clearly underperforming so it was not as I hoped, but at least it wasn't 89F indoors like my home. I think this may not be uncommon in public spots with this ruthless heat wave. SIDE OF PESTO HUMMUS and THIN PITA: -- not their usual pita, very thin and toasted and crisp, more like a cracker, not that good -- pesto hummus still solid RATING = A- CHICKEN PESTO SANDWICH: -- tasty ciabatta bread soft interior and firmer almost crisp exterior -- up to moderate pesto sauce at most -- I used leftover pesto hummus to improve it -- nice cheese choice and use of peppers -- lots of flavors going on -- chicken was grilled and for chicken breast it was good, dark meat would of course be better, thighs especially RATING = A STAFF are friendly and efficient. The GARLIC POTATOES sound good if they are thinner cut. POTATO CROQUETTES also sound good. read more

Found this as a recommendation in the AAA Westways magazine and it lived up to its review! The menu boasts a variety of delicious sounding options with fresh ingredients and great combinations. It is a great ambience with a lot of natural light and greenery. Was not super crowded on an early weekday evening, but got more and more crowded as the evening went. Service overall positive, but sometimes a bit slow and our waters stopped getting refilled after paying and continuing to sit and chat. FOOD -Fennel Slaw: I'm not a huge slaw person, but this was very tasty, not too much dressing/saucing, and flavors were great -Cauliflower & Dates: excellent! Flavors were so good and unique. Would eat this all day. -Appetizer Trio (fennel hummus, eggplant dip, and yogurt dip): excellent! All dips super tasty. -Salmon Bowl: excellent! Great ratio of toppings over rice and really good flavors. Would go again and would recommend! Thanks, AAA! read more

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The lamb and risotto were excellent, and the service was even better! Jacob was awesome: friendly, informative, and attentive. He made the experience that much better. We'll definitely be back! read more

The servers are pretty on top of things here. We didn't have to wait and went on a mid sunday late lunch. The ambiance is nice but we did get seated in the cramp window seat next to the door, even though there were plenty of open seats & it was bench seating on one side. The food was insanely amazing very rich in flavor. I got the lamb risotto & my kid got the salmon bowl. The salmon was perfectly cooked flakey with a nice tasty sear. The lamb & barley rissoto was flavorful but had a lot of grease (likely from the cheese of the risotto). The server recommended a cauliflower&date appetizer and it was a great way to start. Savory with pops of sweet from the dates. Arrive with an appetite, because serving sizes are abundant and this food sits heavy. read more

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Absolutely love Fennel! It is a jewel of a restaurant. Taking away two stars because their salmon bowl and apple beet salad now have runny/watery dressings. Dressing used to be rich and thick and unlike any other restaurant. Please bring back the old dressing! It was so much better than it is now. Charge more if you need to - stop adding water! read more

A Hidden Gem! I have tried a few different dishes here and every dish has been fresh, healthy and full of flavor! The staff is friendly and inviting~ Its a little bit of a drive for me but absolutely worth it!! I love this place! And its a unique, small family-owned business which I fully support!! read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Brunch- Delicious Fennel Bowl - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

Cute restaurant, good service. Food was good and big portions. They don't have fountain drinks, do only 4 stars.

After coming here Wednesday, I had to come back today since I was obsessing on the fish dish I took home. I ordered the fish again and it was as good as the first time so I wanted to give them a 5 star review again. This is a hidden gem in Aliso Viejo that is a MUST do!! Everything I ordered was perfect and seasoned so well and so beautifully presented! Rita is an excellent manager and her employees are great especially Kris! read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Fish is delicious - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

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Fennel is one of the best restaurants in South Orange County for Mediterranean food. The restaurant is bright and cheerful with an enclosed patio. The food is fresh and delicious, their protein bowl is by far my favorite dish. The espresso martini is good, they make it with Turkish coffee ice cream which adds a wonderful flavor. If you love dates, tuned to order their Medjool Dates which are served warm stuffed with walnuts and topped with chocolate. I've eaten there at least 5 times and I have never had bad service. Food 5/5 Atmosphere 5/5 Service 4/5 read more

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Service is fine, nice people, ambiance is fine .... Food? Mediocre at best. Their lemonade is what I enjoyed the most out of our lunch order read more

The food is super fresh. All the sauces are Housemade and absolutely delicious. Their chicken kebab is very moist and flavorful. Rice is buttery and fluffy. Lentil soup could be a little bit more flavorful. read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar blends contemporary style with a warm, cozy atmosphere. Their staff, equally inviting, are perfectly attentive; dropping by at the right times and helping with menu selections. Special appreciation goes to Claudia, whose thoughtful service elevated our meal! THE FOOD. - Appetizer Trio. You need this in your life! Earthy roasted eggplant dip with a hint of sweetness. Garlicky yogurt dip brightened by herbs & ribbons of cucumber. Creamy, herb-laced pesto hummus. Soft, fresh pita to dip in each sauce....the whole dish (especially the roasted eggplant dip) is highly addicting. - Barley Risotto & Lamb. Succulent lamb chops on a bed of soft pearl barley risotto, earthy mushrooms, and Parmesan shavings. Every bite feels hearty with warm layered notes that linger pleasantly on the palate. Highly recommend. - Kabob Plate. Juicy, well-seasoned ground beef skewers paired with fragrant basmati rice, tangy pickled and grilled onions, blistered tomatoes, and a smoky, flame-kissed serrano pepper. THE DRINK. - Baklava Clarified Punch. Exceptionally delicious. Its smooth, spirited base is layered with cardamom spice, honey, and finely crushed pistachios. A pistachio foam tops this cocktail. The flavors remind me of a decadent baklava dessert. Easily one of my all time favorite drinks... ever. Highly recommend. - Piñacillan. Refreshing yet rich -- sweet, tart, and gently smoky, with a pleasant ginger heat that lingers. Reminds me of a whiskey sour. THE PARKING. Convenient surface-lot parking right next to the restaurant. Parking is free. THE VERDICT. 100% coming back for their appetizer trio, barely risotto & lamb, and their outstanding baklava clarified punch cocktail. read more

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My friend took me here for brunch, and it was such a lovely experience! We came on a Saturday after a morning walk and we were ready to eat. The restaurant had a nice and warm ambience with all the sounds that a busy restaurant should have. The dining room is beautiful and has all the right touches of modern decor Our server was Lauren and she was kind and attentive and always checking on us and refilling our water and coffee. A lady who appeared to be a manager came to ask us if everything was ok. Very nice! As for the food, we ordered potato croquettes and the appetizer trio with pesto, eggplant, and fennel hummus. The potatoes were nice and crunchy, but a little bit much on the cheesy side for me with the filling. I'd prefer if it had a little more potato taste. the hummus came with pita bread and the eggplant was my favorite of the three. I would probably pass on the pesto hummus next time. We also had the apple beet salad. All the ingredients tasted fresh and delicious . Lastly, we had the Mediterranean wrap with pulled beef, which is their newest protein item. The beef was soft and very flavorful. We chose garlic potatoes as our side and these were the most unique and special potatoes I've ever had. The outside is super crispy while the inside exudes buttery softness that just melts in your mouth. This is a nice alternative to the normal french fries at most restaurants. Looks like they have daily specials and happy hour as well. See the photos for further details. We had a wonderful meal and it was a great time. I will definitely return and bring other family and friends! read more

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Amazing brunch at Fennel! Claudia was our server and she was very friendly and attentive. All of the food was incredible - my friends got the salmon bowl and lamb benedict, and I got the latke waffle with fried eggs. We also shared the seasonal salad which had blood oranges and grapefruit and it was excellent. They have indoor seating but given it's such a beautiful day we sat out on the patio and the ambiance was wonderfully refreshing particularly with our strawberry ginger lemonades. read more

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Cute spot! Had only been for brunch but went for dinner with some girlfriends and we had a lovely time. We all got the protein bowl because the table next to us ordered one and it looked delicious! We each tried a different protein: salmon, chicken, and beef; all great! Overall, the taste was great and you get tons of veggies and a generous serving, I just wished the food was bit hotter. It was warm at best and my preference is hot food. We started with hummus and it was yummy. We got mocktails but they were unfortunately out of the strawberry ginger lemonade. Our server Lindsay was very attentive and helpful, even with tending the bar as well :) read more

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Loved the cauliflower and date appetizer- so tasty! The eggplant dip and pita was also good. The beef kabob plate was delicious - flavorful, tender beef. The med wrap with braised beef was also excellent. The cucumber gimlet and fennel rose mocktails were refreshing. Friendly service! Enjoyed the outdoor seating! read more

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Cute restaurant in Laguna Hills. Stopped in for brunch but apparently that's only on weekends so we dived in for lunch. Service was pretty quick, although none of the food served was actually hot, just warm. We had the potato croquettes which were more cheese than potatoes, along with the cauliflower and dates which were amazing. My friend has the salmon bowl. It looked delicious but she only had a few bites. I had the kebabs and I was not pleased with my choice at all. The meat wasn't seasoned at all. It tasted like hamburger meat but so bland. The rice was seasoned well though. Overall the service was great. They were really attentive and quick. Oh, we also ordered the rose lemonades. I would pass on that next time. It wasn't sweet and you could barely taste the rose. read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

Jacob was excellent. Great. Good food. Wonderful. We go there a lot, thanks so much. Gotta write 85 characters ok bye.

Went late on a Monday shortly before closing. Staff were still very welcoming and accommodating which was appreciated. The place wasn't very lively due to the time and date we went, but they have plenty of indoor and outdoor seating along with a cool indoor "patio" that has glass windows which I loved and feel like it would be a vibe during the day. Anyways, I ordered the barley lamb and risotto which was pretty good! Lamb was cooked perfectly and so was the risotto, though admittedly the dish wasn't super flavorful. Even still, it was very filling and they use high quality ingredients so I was satisfied with the meal. Everybody else in our party loved their food. Would definitely come here again during the day to sit in the indoor patio and try one of their wraps! read more

Fennel Kitchen & Bar - Barley Lamb & risotto - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Aliso Viejo, California

Everything tasted mediocre. Salmon was undercooked (without being requested and then no apologies upon notified), rice was undercooked, even hummus was bad and you'd think as a Mediterranean restaurant, that at least should be the first thing they should make good. All the dips tasted off too. read more

Great food and ambience! I have consistently had Jacob as my server and he is great! Very attentive and personable.

Came here for brunch on Sunday at 1pm. It was raining but it was still pretty busy! The service is great and servers are friendly. Their black coffee tastes great and they're always coming around to refill. I ordered the Mediterranean scramble. It was ok. Veggies were undercooked and their potatoes were super greasy. The feta was my favorite part everything else was just ok. I definitely want to come back and try something else off the menu. The inside of this place is really pretty too! Overall nice place and will hopefully come back soon. read more

This was a very amazing experience! The spicy falafel wrap was perfectly balanced and the branzino was so excellently prepared and delicious! The service was fantastic! Our waiter Jacob was amazing! And if you want a cocktail, the One Night in Tehran will is a great choice. Absolutely amazing experience without question. read more

FOOD: This is the first time we came here and it was great!! The food was very tasty and flavorful! We got the Appetizer Sampler with the eggplant, pesto hummus and fennel hummus. Everything was good! I got the Chicken kabob plate which was delicious! The chicken was cooked perfectly and was juicy. My mom got the Fennel Breakfast bowl and said it was really good. My dad who has a sweet tooth got the Baklava Waffles and he enjoyed it. SERVICE: Service was wonderful!! Lauren was our server and she was so friendly and attentive! She answered any questions we had and made some great recommendations and definitely went above and beyond in service! DECOR/AMBIANCE: Really nicely decorated! A lot of plants around and wicker lighting. Has an island vibe and feel. Will definitely be back here when ales are in the area! read more

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