Favorite fine dining / Michelin-star restaurant in OC! Can't say enough great things about it! A super intimate, upscale-casual (smart casual vibes with no enforced dress code) restaurant located in the third-floor penthouse of SCP. The space feels intimate because it's on the smaller side, and they thoughtfully stagger reservations so the dining room never feels overcrowded. You can be seated in the main dining room, on the outdoor patio, or on the indoor patio next to the penthouse shops. I come here at least once a year for my birthday because the staff are genuinely warm and make every guest feel special. They clearly care deeply about hospitality and creating a true culinary experience. Honestly, the entire team is top-notch, but on our most recent visit, Kara took especially great care of us. She remembered our preferences, made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed without needing to ask, and made my birthday feel special while also giving my husband and me space (I dislike when wait staff at smaller restaurants hover - they don't do that at all). The way the staff serves, takes orders, clears, etc. is like a really well-rehearsed dance - they want everything to be paced, smooth, and efficient (without feeling forced or robotic) and it really makes a difference. The food is delicious and beautifully presented, with thoughtful attention put into every detail of the flavor profile and color palette. They NEVER miss. I love how they refresh the menu a few times during the year to showcase seasonal ingredients while still staying true to the restaurant's overall identity. They also have a selection of dining experiences - I always go for the 3 course prefix during lunch and the portion sizes and timing of each course is perfect. Also highly recommend their afternoon tea on Saturdays. Couldn't find a more luxurious afternoon tea experience in OC! I genuinely hope they continue to do well! It's a pleasure to be a guest and feel pampered for a special day or an elevated casual meal with friends/family. Will be back many times in the future! read more

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Came here 11/5/2020 Pricey for small servings but it's an upscale restaurant so I guess it should be expected. Definitely will be back for the dessert at least... and maybe the tasting menu. Apple (vanilla panna cotta, tatin, earl grey crumble, granny smith: compressed & gelee, green apple sorbet): You gotta come here for dessert. This was phenomenal. The earl grey crumble was delicious and plays well with the sweet tartness of the granny smiths. I'd say the component that felt out of place was the compressed pieces; they tasted like an fresh apple version of tandra which was too sweet and the layers meshed together. Main diver scallops (cauliflower, romanesco, capers, lemon confit, crostini): The scallops were so juicy and perfectly seared on the top. The cauliflowers were good but lackluster. The server told me there's cauliflower puree on the bottom which was yummy. Lemon confit who? There was an essence of lemon but nothing very present. Crostini was essentially like mini plain croutons. Wild Alaskan halibut (braised & fermented fennel, castelvetrano olives, preserved lemon): Only tried a bite of the fish and fennel. The fish was very nicely cooked and the crust on top was delightful. The fennel was sour due to fermentation but I didn't particularly enjoy it. read more

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I didn't know about this place until I was invited to dinner -- a 2-Star Michelin restaurant right in South Coast plaza. Everything about the place is posh and elegant. The wait staff was extremely attentive and, of course, the food was fantastic. As a genre, this kind of fine dining is not really my style. For example, when I order a scallop dish, I expect more than 1 scallop. But this is the thing. And that 1 scallop was perfect. I just wish I could have had a couple more. Presentation is everything here, and while I looked most of it, I did find the ice sculpture for the little can of caviar a but over the top. Not only that ... It actually got in the way, making it harder to scoop out she caviar. One thing though, I did find some of the other dishes a little underpowered ... They could have had more bold flavors. Still, a great experience over about 3 hours. read more

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My boyfriend and I did the afternoon tea menu on Valentine's Day at Knife Pleat and it was a very upscale experience. They require you to prepay for the meal when making the reservation, including tip which I thought was interesting. The afternoon tea set comes with a variety of savory and sweet bites as well as your choice of tea, which can be changed at any time. I opted for the rooibos tea whole my boyfriend tried both the oolong and the green teas. They were all very fragrant and a great pair to the food! My absolute favorite part of the meal was the chicken barquette, which was essentially a chicken salad with curry on puff pastry. It blew my mind and I talked about it for the rest of the day! I also really liked the lobster eclair and the chocolate crunch. I think this was overall a great experience, definitely pricey for what it is but great to try once in your lifetime! read more

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Had afternoon tea here and food was absolutely amazing! Best savory items, better than The Ritz in London and all other tea places in SoCal. And sweets were ALL delicious and perfect bite-sized pieces. Suggestions for improvement: (1) cucumber sandwiches don't need jelly-like substance, it would've been better without it (2) should add scones, esp since price is so high (3) need sugar cubes, didn't like the raw sugar packets that we got (4) would be so much better if they used nicer, prettier teapots and tea cups. (5) tea choices were mediocre and they were out of few selections. They hit a homerun with the food but everything else was subpar, especially our waiter. read more

We had to prepay for our meal when we made the reservation. It was quite pricey but I've heard such good things about this Michelin rated restaurant that I wanted to try it, and am I glad I did. Amazing experience and so perfectly executed in terms of service and food. The restaurant is beautifully decorated and very comfortable. We came with the family for a birthday celebration and it was definitely memorable. From the moment we walked in until the end of the meal, everything was perfectly choreographed. Each course was beautifully plated and served at the same time by 4 servers for our party of 4. It felt like a show everytime they brought out the next course. Each item was so delicately made with fresh and colorful ingredients. Everything was so delicious and luxurious. Bravo Chef Tony Esnault for an amazing meal! read more

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My wife and I came here for a celebratory meal and we loved our experience! The hostess welcomed us warmly and asked to choose where we wanted to sit. So we sat on a comfortable sofa, looking out at the elegantly and comfortably designed restaurant. We chose the 3 course pre-fixe lunch for $95. We were served an amuse-bouche, which was a champagne, gooseberry, and cashew served in a jar. Yummy! For our first course, I ordered the Shima-aji (avocado, trout roe, gooseberry jus) and my wife ordered the French white asparagus with celery, brioche, and chives. Both dishes were sensational! Unique flavors and textures, and beautiful plating that worked perfectly. For our mains, I ordered the Japanese seabream with artichoke, radish, and "jus de cuisson," and my wife ordered the Tajima Wagyu with porcini, delta asparagus, and fayot sauce. Again, both dishes were superb and so beautifully plated that they looked like artwork. My seabream was light and very fresh, and my wife described her wagyu as one of the best she has ever tasted. And I would agree. For dessert, I got the Lous XV (hazelnut, Granduja chocolate with fluttering gold leaf on top), and my wife ordered the chocolate (Tonka bean, gavotte, opaline, yuzu sherbet). Again, both were amazing and stunning to look at. My dessert was super rich and indulgent, and my wife's was almost like a mousse after she dug into it. At the end of the meal, we were served delicious mignardises: lemon saffron macarons, pear liqueur, and mint leaf. (The only very minor nit: in the fine print at the bottom of the menu, it says that you have to request a baguette with beurre d'Isigny upon request. We didn't see that until too late. And our server didn't ask us. If she did, we would have said yes.) All the staff at the restaurant were very friendly, helpful, and professional. They also have a cabinet of vintage cooking items that are worth a look We really had an amazing dining experience here. For a special treat, we will return. (FYI, it's a one-star Michelin restaurant, and it's easy to see why.) read more

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An elegant and stylish restaurant that serves high quality French food! And we were happy to try its three-course set lunch menu. Every item was meant to savor if possible for a lifetime. To start, the Champagne with gooseberry and cashew was uniquely crafted, almost playful! The Shima-Aji and French Wine Asparagus were so good they had to be made with the freshest ingredients. It was just hard to let go! For the mains, the Japanese Seabream and Tajima Wagyu were definitely our favorites. The wagyu steak was juicy and so tender it had to be savored slowly! And last but definitely not least, for the dessert the Louis XV a hazelnut cake was beautiful, light and nutty. The Chocolate and Yuzu Sorbet was a nice touch to end a wonderful and satisfying meal. Service was warm and staff described each item from start to end. This is a beautiful restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. A memorable meal! read more

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I took my mom to Knife Pleat for afternoon tea, and we had a lovely experience overall. Afternoon tea is available on Saturdays only from 11:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. and costs $115 per person (plus an additional charge if you would like to add caviar). They serve an assortment of savory and sweet bites (15 total when I went) and a variety of teas (you don't have to commit to one and can change flavors throughout the experience). The presentation was gorgeous and I enjoyed most of the bites (my favorites were the gravlax salmon and tomato tartelette). As expected, the service is excellent and the interior is modern and tasteful. The only recommendation I have in terms of service is to ask people whether they want to switch teas before providing refills. I started with the Sencha and was hoping to try a different tea after one cup, but my cup was refilled before I could say anything. Finally, $115 is certainly more expensive than other afternoon tea experiences, but I thought the overall experience was worth it (at least to try once). I hope to come back in the future to try their lunch/dinner! read more

Knife Pleat - Afternoon tea ($115 per person, food shown is for two) - French Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Knife Pleat was a huge disappointment for me. Having dined in other Michelin-starred restaurants, I don't believe it meets the caliber at all for that honor in both food and hospitality. The dishes seem like they were going for extremely classic vibes, rather than inventive. Only a few components per plate, nice presentation, and sometimes thoughtful pairings of simple ingredients. A few stand out dishes for me were the venison, scallop, and beet custard. I loved how the fennel and squash made the scallop taste incredibly sweet. The savory caviar texture and smooth custard was phenomenal. All these plates felt cohesive and each component elevated the other. The trout roe and kanpachi tartlette was also a very strong start to the meal. But, the all other dishes just felt disjointed and lackluster. For example, the (barely cooked, tart) cranberry didn't go well with the venison or demi-glace. The sweet potatoes felt like an afterthought. The worst dish of the night was the champagne foam. It had a single grape (I counted!) cut in half at the bottom and a whole cashew. I have no idea what this was going for, but it tasted awful all together. The cheese course was a "truffle brie" that was no bigger than a tide pod and had a handful of undressed frisée. The taste/texture was nothing at all like brie or truffle. The ambience is dim and a bit stuffy. It tucked away on the quieter third floor of South Coast Plaza. We asked for the bread course to go with risotto as recommended to clean up the plate, but it was forgotten and brought several courses later. There were a few other inconsistencies (not refolding napkin after bathroom breaks, not refilling water, etc.). Also, weirdly, the chef visited every table personally to present a dish or say hi, but never even looked at our table once - we felt very unwelcome. Overall, it was bummer for a birthday meal and I will not be back especially at the whopping $900+ price tag. read more

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Of course, the service and ambiance was great. The sink in the bathroom is a bit slow. But it was gorgeous. Everyone was kind and thoughtful. The only thing I'd say is food, which sounds ridiculous. Everything was good, but maybe I expected too much because of the Michelin star? Or because I've been privileged enough to go to other Michelin one stars, but I thought the food was....pretty good. It was thought out and explained, but seemed....cold...very experimental in a 'I can so I will' way and less 'this sounds cool and good' way? In any way, The salad was my favorite. read more

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All around amazing experience. Service was 10/10 and even better by being synchronized with all good drops offs. At the end, the chef even invited us into the kitchen to observe set up and walk us around. Amazing experience read more

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Having a Michelin starred restaurant right in my backyard, I had to give it a try. The food and service were exactly what you'd expect at this level, refined and excellent. That said, the ambiance left me disappointed. The dining room feels a bit too sterile, and the lack of background music makes the atmosphere almost clinical. On top of that, the wait staff tend to linger nearby, which creates the uncomfortable sense that every move is being watched. It disrupted what could have been a more relaxed experience. While I respect the culinary quality, the overall vibe just isn't for me. I likely wouldn't return unless it's for a stuffy business dinner in which case I wouldn't mind the lack of atmosphere as it's a great back drop for serious conversation. read more

Knife Pleat - French Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

You go to a 1 star Michelin restaurant and you expect great, what we got instead was insane. From the welcoming into an impeccable restaurant, to the food, the presentation, and service out of this world, what a night! The four of us being "light" eaters we picked the "base" prix fixe and were not disappointed. All 8 dishes were better than one another. My fav being the white asparagus imported from France and the Wagyu steak, so yummy. The plating is "next level" by the way. We shall be back as Chef Tony and his crew deserve 3 stars in my book. Merci read more

We were talking about celebrating our New Year's Okuizome at a Michelin-starred restaurant. The food was even more delicious than expected, beautifully presented, and it made us feel truly happy. We will definitely come back. The ingredients were prepared with great skill and care. PS Next time, I would like to try the caviar. read more

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I've been to Knife Pleat for a dinner and a lunch service. It's located on the third floor of South Coast Plaza and completely surrounded by high end retail stores. For our dinner service, we had the choice of a 4 or 6 course meal. We definitely chose to have wine with our meal. Each plate had its own wine pairing and they were excellent wines. Any of the cocktails are a must. Every one I tried was well balanced. The atmosphere was great too. Open space with a few tables and it was not too loud for conversation. For lunch, you have the option to sit on the patio, but we were inside. Have a nice cappuccino or whatever espresso beverage you like while having a respite from your shopping experience. read more

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For a 1 star Mich. this is the worst service. Offers a reservation and texts a link. Wrong email. I call back. Put on a 5 min hold. Sorry we ahhh we dont have that time anymore ummmm. Are you serious. Out of 20+ Mich 1-3 visited this is one of the worst. read more

做事不必人人理解，做人也無需人人喜歡，願你能做自己的太陽，熱愛自己，也接受自己萬般的模樣，自信勇敢，保持善良～ 這家在 south coast 三樓的knife pleat, 是少數中午有開的米其林餐廳，環境超級優雅，服務態度也佳，他們的菜單經常會換，現在三道菜的course 是95 起跳，以米其林算是便宜的了，跟我每次都會選擇漂亮，有品味餐廳的師姐過來， 上菜光看模樣就是種享受了， 前菜鮭魚好吃， 主菜鴨胸很有水準， 甜點，草莓也太精緻了，美到我們兩個都不忍下手，來過幾次，之前麵包要錢，我記得以前朋友還覺得不值得，這次麵包居然是免費了呢，他們的調酒好喝， 又是小小的加分，不過，小費23% 直接加在帳單上了，要有心裡準備，預算寬裕的吃貨們，來過了嗎？ read more

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A dining experience that is second to none in OC. Food taste, quality, creativity, and attention to detail rivals the finest restaurants in Paris. Atmosphere is casual yet sophisticated, a perfect balance for a date night or friends and family gatherings. Tucked away on the third floor of South coast plaza, wish we had discovered it sooner! read more

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Knife Pleat is some fancy afternoon tea, located inside South Coast Plaza. Located on the second floor on the Nordstrom side. I ordered the Gen Mai Cha which is the only thing you need to pick for afternoon tea. I came here for a brunch with a party of three people. The service was on point and getting our tea pots filled with water now and then while chatting was pretty good. The sandwiches were a variety and also the sweets, were unique. read more

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Fabulous dinner at Knife Pleat, perhaps the most refined restaurant in OC. The Chef owner Tony Esnault is a protégée of legendary Alain Ducasse! This is very high level contemporary French food perhaps at two Michelin stars quality! I am a career Chef and worked in a Three Michelin stars so I know for sure this is above head and shoulders most one Michelin stars out there. The room is very comfortable and sexy, look at the collection of antique kitchen tools by the entrance. We were 8 of us and had the 9 courses dinner paired with the meticulously chosen wine pairing, it was just magical! The caviar presentation, the limited series and unique plates from France, all the mix of antique little side dishes and contemporary ones worked wonderfully. Definitely a very high quality place. Cheers read more

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A michelin star hidden away in south coast plaza mall. First off this place is a bit tough to find in the mall, it's on the 3rd floor which you can only access from one escalator in one corner of the mall. Give yourself some time to find it. Once you step inside, it's a beautiful, warm, inviting, atmosphere that transports you to a place where you'll totally forget that you're still in a mall. I came here on a thursday night and there were only a few other tables occupied. I received incredible service from every member of the staff. I can't say how it would be on a busier night, but I appreciated everyones knowledge, care, and expertise they put into answering my many questions. There are two set menus, the preview ($195), and the collection ($295). They are both approximately the same amount of food, the collection has mostly the same items as the preview, but with a few extras as well. The portions are smaller to accommodate for the larger number of plates. The wine pairing also has two options at $115 and $175 accompanying the preview. I appreciated the option to mix and match here to make things a bit more affordable. The cocktail menu had a bunch of great options and left me with a tough choice between the wine pairing. Even the non-alcoholic options were impressive, a house made non-alcoholic gin is certainly a cut above the rest. I would have loved to try every single one. I started with a cocktail, the current standard. Sort of a take on an old fashioned. I've had Michters rye before, but this whiskey was transformed to the next level. I wish I knew what the exact bottle was because I find it hard to believe it was the standard off the shelf Michters, but it was simply incredible. The housemade cherry cordial and rhubarb bitters kept things interesting with everything in perfect balance. I couldn't possibly talk about all the food and wine, but I'll share the highs and lows. Amuse bouche, a low, champagne foam I felt a bit too astringent and excessive, not complimentary to the gooseberry which was great. Black truffle was lost among the beet. Next, the veloute drowned the delicate caviar and made it hard to eat, would have liked to enjoy that separately or have it floating on something so it would be contained as a separate element. The mushroom course was fantastic! Morels were next level and the whole dish had such a concentrated mushroom flavor that was out of this world. It was paired with a beautifully earthy pinot noir with a complexity that perfectly matched the mushrooms. Halibut was beautifully cooked but stood distant from the sauce which was too loose to coat anything. The wagyu was the piece de resistance, highlighting snake river farms beef, I missed the cut, but I presume it was filet or something close to the loin. Out of this world flavor and texture accompanied by a variety of sauces including a foyot that was texturally to die for suspended like an egg yolk on the plate. Bread came after this which I felt odd, would have preferred it with the beef. Dessert was a fun variety of textures and flavors. The yuzu sorbet seemed like a strange combination with a chocolate mousse, but I very much enjoyed how the tart cut through the rich here. I don't often see ports on wine pairings, perhaps they're considered too sweet generally, but I love them. The tawny 20 year offering was not overly sweet and was a delicious accoutrement to the chocolate and caramel flavors present here. This meal was an incredible experience that I thoroughly enjoyed. Would love to return for another prix fixe, or at the very least, another craft cocktail. read more

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We've had the opportunity to join Knife Pleat for Afternoon Tea, Lunch and recently for dinner for my mom's 70th birthday and am pleased to report the quality of food and service remains consistent. You'd never know you were in a mall because of the elegant ambiance, the music, and the coordinated service. They've got well-made cocktails, a great selection of wines, and of course, the artistry in their dishes. We opted for the Preview Menu ($195pp). This menu featured a trio of amuse bouche. The ocean trout was the most visually appealing, with the Pretzel being the fan fave for flavor and texture, and the champagne gooseberry with cashews as a delightfully boozy and crunchy intro to the meal. The White asparagus soup (served cold) had a lot of flavor and the vegetables were cooked perfectly. The Forest Mushrooms with the barley, morels, and ramps was the first of the heavy-hitters, but def not overwhelming. Black Cod was substituted tonight with a Halibut that flaked so perfectly and was the right temp, accompanied with artichoke 3 ways? American Wagyu was cooked to a perfect medium rare and had one of the best jus I've had. We opted for the cheese course ($24 supplement) and this was served with a frisée salad and some toasted bread. (We also got the bread service that's available upon request at no charge). The Chocolate dessert was the perfect ending. It was like a chocolate bark, with mouse, and a yuzu sorbet and we were glad it wasn't too heavy like a cake. We ended the meal with a macaron, a fruit pate, and a signature chocolate star. All in all, a really memorable night with awesome service and incredible food. While it's not cheap, we've enjoyed each meal here and look forward to our next trip here. read more

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一句话：作为一个UCI留学生不推荐同胞过来吃这家餐厅。Knife Pleat, holding a michelin star rating, is located on the third floor of South Coast Plaza in the penthouse, right next to LV. Its location is superb. The ambiance is great, but the food doesn't quite live up to it. It's like a student who excels in one subject but has an occasional outstanding performance. The menu changes frequently, so your favorite dishes might often be removed, and on your next visit, you might be met with uninspired creative dishes. 1. Duck Undoubtedly the highlight and signature dish. I personally love the Orange Duck, which achieves a perfect balance of being tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The sauce cuts through the richness of the duck, adding layers rather than just being overly sweet. 2. Truffle Brie The presentation used to be more rustic, but a recent innovation has it shaped into a single block, and the portion has become smaller. Truffle lovers might adore it, but for me, it was a bit too salty. The accompanying side dish, arugula, was unseasoned, which felt odd. 3. Desserts I think the desserts are the real highlight here. I'd even recommend coming just for their afternoon tea set instead of a full meal. I especially recommend their smoothies made with seasonal fruits; they aren't the artificially sweetened kind you might stereotype in the US, but instead, they perfectly capture the natural aroma of the fruits! The complimentary petit fours (chocolate, macarons, dried fruits) after the meal are also delicious and thoughtfully made. 4. Beef The beef itself is decent, but the sides often change. Sometimes, the accompanying parsnip purée (the one that looks like carrots) is delicious, but when it's replaced with other options, the pairing becomes unharmonious. 5. Ceviche Incredibly light and fresh! The citrus and miso dressing creates a strong contrast in layers but also achieves a perfect balance. The fish has a buttery smooth texture! However, once I had a passion fruit version where the flavor was a bit too strong. In one sentence: You're better off just getting their afternoon tea menu, unless you feel the value of the dining experience is the chef coming to your table to explain the story behind each dish. read more

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This is for afternoon tea ONLY: What does a one-Michelin-star tea look like? Small. Little bites full of flavor, not a single ingredient wasted. Start by selecting a single tea from a carefully curated list. The Grand Earl Grey is great, but the Jin Xuan Oolong is exceptional. The floral and fruity fragrance is unforgettable. Start with the sandwiches before you fill up on everything else. The Maine Lobster Eclair reminds me of the Red Lobster cheddar biscuit but elevated like 50 times over. All the sandwiches are open face so they can be extra pretty. Gravlax Salmon is a slick and meaty fish, bright Persian Cucumbers crunch across an herby cream cheese, and even the Radish & Watercress has some pop, with a dry and bitter radish to offset the thick slab of butter beneath. Lots of fun things, my favorites being the Deviled Egg with caviar, a Sunchoke tart, this gorgeous Lemon Cake a la Sansa Stark, and this amazing Cacao Pod of chocolate mousse with hazelnut and passionfruit. It's a lovely tea service that ends entirely too soon. It's beautiful but it's not cheap, and it's not those big, heavy potions you usually get, but I love how thoughtful it was. You appreciate every bite so much more, and even though it's a splurge, I'd gladly do it again. read more

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Overall: Outstanding tasting menu, great service and atmosphere. I'd go back a couple times a year as they change the menu seasonally. Nice before going to Segerstrom for a little culture and a night out. read more

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finally got to visit this restaurant after so many years! food was great, service was alright - the waiters did not seem to enjoy doing what they were doing, they seem rushed and no smiles on their faces, maybe it was a off night. it was a considerably relaxed setting, plenty of parking in the building for the mall. read more

Knife Pleat - French Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Everything was excellent taste besides salad, My favorite dish is scallop with 3 ways cooked parsnips, Squab leg and fig desert. Definitely will come back. Great chef read more

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The food was just okay--nothing particularly memorable or standout. What really disappointed me this time was the service. This was my third visit, and the first two times the service was noticeably better. During this visit, our wine was never poured for us and we had to refill our own glasses throughout the meal. We were offered bread service, said yes, and it never arrived--even after asking twice. We also had to ask for water refills. For a Michelin-starred restaurant, this level of service is disappointing and unacceptable. read more

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This weekends australian truffle menu was absolutely outstanding. If you're even remotely a truffle fan, I would rush to give this menu a try. I was blown away by the variety of ways the team was able to creatively use truffle to enhance each dish. It's really a bargain if you consider how much effort and thought has been put into each course. The service as usual, was on point and extremely attentive, without being overbearing which I liked. We also got lucky with it being not too crowded and was able to get some time to tour around the kitchen which was nice. Some standouts for me were the panna cotta ice cream with truffle, american wagyu and the roasted peach. The hearty truffles really brought out the flavor of items which would already be delicious on their own. I will be back for white truffle season. read more

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Came here for the Lunar New Year themed afternoon tea on Saturday, February 1. The staff was very nice and we sat outside which was really pretty. It wasn't cold at all and very quiet. Restaurant was about half full so not crowded at all and there was always someone to help pour tea. The food came out quickly and the teas were very good. I had the Jin Xuan Oolong and it really did smell like butter. Super interesting and smooth. Everything was pretty delicious especially the Cacao tart. The passionfruit melted in your mouth and the chocolate was deep and rich. Our least favorite was actually the Maine Lobster eclair. It didn't taste like lobster and the eclair was too dry. I think it would've done better on a baguette or brioche. The staff really made the experience come alive and were super friendly. I had a lovely birthday thanks to them. I'd recommend the afternoon tea and dinner to anyone looking for a good and delicious time. read more

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Some of the finest dining in OC, and it's in a mall?! Yup! Located near Nordstrom, you take an escalator up to your dining delight. I celebrated my birthday here with a group of 12, and heard from a couple of girlfriends that this was the best dinner of their lives. The table had the four course dining menu with my chosen title on top, "Carla's 37th birthday bash". The meal was paid for in advance, with option to choose wine selection in advance as well. 2 diners were pescatarian, and had the cod instead of duck. I look forward to coming back for the 6 course dining menu! Service (5/5) As you would expect, service from beginning to end was superb. Greeted by a wonderful host to start, we were also able to meet the super talented chef, and our servers were fantastic. Our meals were brought out in a choreographed fashion with all food being placed on the table at once. Meals were explained in detail. Though our meals were already chosen, the servers helped us choose between their selection of drinks. FOOD (5/5) Wow, from beginning to end every dish was absolutely mouthwatering! Multiple chose multiple dishes as their favorite, meaning every dish was delicious and spoke to different people. Appetizer (5/5) (CHAMPAGNE cashew, stone fruitTARTELETTE dungenous crab, bottarga, wakame, PRETZEL sungold tomato, pimento cheese) A delicious set of light bites to start the meal. The fruit tartlet was a sweet and unique bite. SHIMA AJI (5/5) (belly tartare trout roe, miso vinaigrette) This was my personal favorite! Super light and fresh, I loved the citrus and miso flavoring. Not a drop went to waste. FOREST MUSHROOM (5/5) (barley, chanterelles, black trumpet, maitake parmesan) This was a close second favorite dish of mine for the evening. With barley as opposed to rice, it tasted very much like risotto with a twist. The mushrooms were cooked to perfection, and the dish had excellent flavor. CRESCENT FARM DUCK (5/5) (yellow plum, "pain perdu", turnip, duck jus) This may have been the best duck I've tasted in my life. Tender and flavorful. QUINCE (5/5) (soufflé, olive oil ice cream candied walnuts) A delicious well balanced dessert that everyone enjoyed. TARTELETTE, PATE DE FRUIT, CHOCOLATE STAR (5/5) A perfect little plate of dessert candy/bites. I loved the gold covered chocolate Michelin star! As a chocolate lover, this was my favorite. The restaurant also brought out a birthday macaron with a candle, a nice light birthday bite! It was actually one of the better macarons that I've had, perfectly chewy and not overly sweet. DRINKS (5/5) Our table basically ordered and tried the whole cocktail menu. All of the drinks were presented well and were delicious, many sweet options. read more

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I've been to Knife Pleat for several times over the years, and it has been a wonderful experience until tonight. We ordered the full tasting menu with wine pairing. The food is overly salted, but the worst part was that the sommelier didn't even bother to introduce the wines in the last few courses, and I also found a plastic wrap in the dessert. Given this is one of the most high-end restaurants in OC, the chef/manager didn't even bother to apologize. All in all, I don't think I'll be back again. read more

This review is exclusively for the service. WOW. I've honestly never experienced such poor customer service, it's really astonishing to me that this is a Michelin star restaurant. I actually tried to share my feedback privately but no one responded to my email, which I know is working because "Anna" responded to an event inquiry email. I came for the afternoon tea, which was a Christmas present to my mom. We had a reservation and were sat outside in the mall. No problem, but clearly someone forgot about us. We watched several other parties be sat and receive service while no one came to us with water or menus for over 15 minutes. We finally asked to be moved inside. It was another 10-15 minutes before we had to flag someone down AGAIN to ask to move inside. We're now about 35 minutes in when we finally get water, no menus. In fact, the waiter blamed us (suggesting we left the menus outside) when we asked for them. No, we never received them. The service from this point forward was fine but I can't help but feel that this was just not a stand out "Michelin star" experience. My mom has a crustacean allergy so couldn't have the lobster eclair. They replaced it with an extra cucumber sandwich. Fine but not really on the same level. The tea is served in the aluminum canisters you'd find at an airport hotel breakfast buffet, no individual pots. The champagne by the glass isn't included and the least expensive option is $37/glass PLUS auto-gratuity of 23%, making two glasses almost $100, on top of the $300+ tea. Frankly, if you're going to charge auto-grat - at 23% no less - the service should be warm, friendly, exceptional. This is just not at all what we experienced. We left feeling like this was an expensive experience that wasn't commensurate with the level of service one would expect. On top of everything, we were charged for something we didn't order. I normally like to give places the benefit of the doubt that maybe it was an off day. But when I emailed TWICE and didn't get a response, even just to say "sorry you didn't enjoy your experience," it's a bit poor. If you have an extra couple hundred dollar to blow and don't care how you're treated then fine, but if you're looking for a special experience then I would avoid this place. I could have dealt with being mildly disappointed in the food and ambiance if the service was exceptional but it wasn't and now I just feel screwed out of $400 when I could have taken my mom to any other place in LA and had a better experience. I would still appreciate someone reaching out to rectify this situation but its clear they're not interested in doing that. read more

I used Meta AI to give the table a more elevated look. I hope the next time we go to Knife pleat they use my suggestion. But if they don't, that is fine too. read more

Knife Pleat - I used Meta AI to add a white tablecloth and see it looks much better. Lol it is so much more elevated. - French Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

It's really hard to find vegetarian friendly fine dining so I really appreciate that Knife pleat had an all veggie menu for Fall/Winter 2024. However, execution was not so great. I got the 4 course flora menu and all the dishes were too much on the sweet side. Wanted something more savory and flavorful in at least one of the dishes but I left not really feeling satisfied. There was just no umami. By the time I got to the dessert course, I was not feeling it and just craved something salty (which was a shame because dessert was very good). Not worth the cost at all. Probably much better dining for meat eaters. Service was wonderful though. Our server was super friendly and attentive. The space is beautiful and we loved the patio seating. Just wish the food was better. Maybe I'll come for afternoon tea when I'm expecting more sweet offerings. read more

Knife Pleat - Flora menu (Fall 2024) - French Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

My GOODNESS how I could rave about this place!!! I came on a Friday for the 3 course lunchl, and this place was gorgeous (as expected), the staff were fabulous, the ambiance was overall excellent and the flavors of everything they gave me genuinely blew me away. The amuse bouche was a pana cotta flavored with champagne bubbles and it was genuinely one of the most interesting and tasty things I've eaten. That was followed by a sashimi trout entree I chose that had a gorgeous sauce; I don't think I've ever had trout as sashimi and it was absolutely delicious the way they prepared it! The second course I chose was a fried duck with potatoes and also was very unique and delicious! And the final course was their dessert, the one I picked was like a chocolate mousse with mint and other herbal flavors - I LOVED. They gave me some tea and a couple macarons after for my celebration and the final part of the meal was some chocolates including one that features gold dust in the shape of a Michelin star (since they have one ofc!). Overall this is genuinely one of the best Michelin restaurants I've been to, and for $95pp ($127ish with tax/service charge) I felt it was absolutely well worth it and would definitely eat here again/rec it to anybody looking for a delicious and upscale meal! Thank you again knife pleat staff, yall rock! read more

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My husband took me here for Valentine's Day, and I have to say, it was an absolutely amazing experience! I had only ever been to the third floor of South Coast for exclusive Louis Vuitton private showings, so I was beyond excited to try something completely different. Mind you, I was six months pregnant at the time, so I was a bit picky about smells, cautious about new foods, and not super adventurous -- but every single bite exceeded my expectations. The food was phenomenal! According to my husband, the drinks were spot-on. The restaurant itself is incredibly intimate, creating the perfect atmosphere for a special occasion. I've attached pictures of everything we tried -- and I can honestly say we didn't regret a single dish. Yes, it was our highest bill ever, but it was absolutely worth it. The service was impeccable; plates disappeared as quickly as they arrived. Every detail was attended to, making us feel truly taken care of. This was more than a meal -- it was an unforgettable experience. Highly recommend for anyone looking to celebrate something special in style. read more

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Best meal of my life! Brian is the best! This meal is amazing! We are here for our anniversary and every dish is beautifully crafted and amazing! The drinks are strong and the atmosphere is wonderful. This is the best place in Orange County for a special date night. We are drinking the smooth operator and the Knife Pleats version of a cosmopolitan. This restaurant is my favorite in Orange County inside of my favorite mall(South Coast Plaza). We are only on our third course of six and I'm in heaven. Thank you Knife Pleat for an amazing night and welcome to Orange County. Hope you get that third Michelin Star soon. Happy Yelping! read more

Knife Pleat - French Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

This is a Michelin star restaurant inside of the South Coast Plaza mall. It was a bit hard to find so had to look on the directory, on 3rd floor. I actually wasn't expecting a Michelin star restauarant inside of a mall. It's nicely decorated. We came for afternoon tea for my birthday. It's a prefixe menu for $115 per person plus service fee. I really wanted to try the ambrosia tea but sadly they said they were out but were nice that if I didn't like my tea I chose he would replace it. I chose the Japanese Sencha and turned out to be pretty good. Also tried the husband's rooibos bourbon and that was also good. He really liked his tea. A tier came out of savory and sweet dishes along with a platter of 4 sandwhiches. Of the sandwhiches the lobster eclair was the best. The others tasted regular. The sungold tart was also unique and pretty good. The desserts were very pretty. And for my birthday they decorated a macaron with a candle. It was very pretty. If you are looking for a traditional tea and scones type of afternoon tea tho they do not serve scones. The service was very good tho. Staff very helpful. For the price tho I'm not sure their afternoon tea is that special but I'm assuming their Michelin star worthy rating is likely for their dinner. read more

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