This restaurant is located inside South Coast Plaza (2nd floor, a few shops down from Macy's). We…read morecame for lunch on a weekday. Reservations were made, but they weren't necessary. I ordered the Croque Madame. It came as an open-faced sandwich: a thick piece of toast with rosemary ham, Gruyere cheese, and a sunny-side-up egg on top. I'm not sure what spices they used, but it was a tasty brunch-type dish. And very filling! The dinner and weekend brunch menus look seriously delicious. Service was friendly and attentive. The casual, relaxed vibe was a pleasure and a recommended place to stop in and experience if you find yourself shopping at South Coast.

Great food. Even on a Friday night, it's not busy at all, but don't let that deceive you…read more My girlfriend and I got the steak and the fish. I think the fish might be a seasonal; it was definitely new. It was cooked and seasoned to perfection. The snap peas that accompanied the fish was also crispy and well seasoned. The steak was good too. The steak pairs with the sauce, so the steak itself is not really seasoned. But, the sauce more than makes up for it. I think that's how it's supposed to be eaten anyway. Bread was mid though. Cute vibes for a date spot overall before or after a walk around the mall.

First time dining at Bouillon and the food was really delicious…read more Service was good. Atmosphere is casual and more like a French bistro style. The only part of dinner I didn't like much is the Bordeaux wine I ordered. French baguette/butter basket was very good, French onion soup was amazing, and the steak au poivre was cooked perfectly and very delicious. Besides the wine I would order all of these again. Dessert: chocolate soufflé, it was very good but I think we were too full from the dinner to be able to really enjoy this very rich dessert. Next time Weill be trying something lighter after a steak dinner. Overall a pleasant experience and will definitely be back.

Bouillon Moulin looked very promising in its reviews and photos. We were very excited to enjoy a…read moreweekend lunch after seeing the menu online. There were plenty of tables available when we walked in on a Sunday and were seated immediately. Wanting to try a few things, our party of four ordered: * Corbeille Pain et Beurre Francais $5 - Who doesn't love French butter? 4/5 * Le Steak Tartare $23 + egg yolk $2 - One of the main reasons we came and their version was not exciting. 3/5 * Ratatouille $8 - Again, their version was just okay. It's more of a stew and a tomato-heavy one. 3/5 * Escargots $14 - We always love escargot, but definitely needed more bread to enjoy all the butter. Do note that their version has almond and hazelnut in their butter. We did end up ordering another one. 4/5 * Terrine de Campagne $12 - The duck and pork pate was just okay again. 3/5 * Tartare de Saumon $17 - This dish was simply salmon, avocado and mayo and reminded us of something we would get at a Japanese restaurant. 3/5 Overall, we were just underwhelmed by the whole experience - from the food and the service. I honestly don't remember much about the service as it being just fine. I had really high hopes for this place, and even checked out the dessert menu in search of a better ending. Instead, we just got desserts from their sister bakery next door. Perhaps their entrees would have been a better choice.

We visited with friends for a post-birthday celebration and couldn't have picked a better spot…read more The food was delicious from start to finish, and the service was impeccable. Our server, originally from Northern France, was incredibly kind, attentive, and knowledgeable. A perfect place for good food, great company, and memorable moments. Definitely coming back!

Delicious brasserie style food, can't go wrong with anything here. The portions felt a little small…read morefor the pricing. The service was good. Dessert appeared over priced so I went to Susie cakes nearby

Everything went well Actually I could have stayed there…read moreall day. The atmosphere, Staff, Food. You walk through Ayers Hotel where you are greeted with great smiles and great energy on through the courtyard and to Le Chateau with beautiful wood accents and decor. A wall with the looks of a home library. Very welcoming and the staff are very personable, a hint of humor to set the mood. We were there on a Sunday about 3:30 pm, just us and three other people. Their Tea needs no sugar and can't quite remember the what fruit to taste it had but it was very very good. My Wife had chicken and really loved it. I had the fish and chips. I love fish and chips with tartar sauce, lemon, vinegar, hot sauce. Biting into the fish before dipping was better than good it was so delicious at the end I realized I never dipped into my concoction the batter had a good crunch with a hint of I want to say Butter but couldn't quite make out what it was It might be a hidden gem for word of mouth locals only but nevertheless I had to tell you all about it because it was a very very good time all around! I hope you all give it a shot!?

it has the backbones of a beautiful restaurant, but it has problems. First of all, it's inside a…read morelittle courtyard that's designed to look like a little cobblestone bistro in France or Italy and it's beautiful and a beautiful place to sit down and have lunch. Which is why they should go all the way and not half ass it. Which means they should at least hire a classically trained chef to come in and train their cooks every once in a while, it's not having one there every day. The first time I had the French onion soup, they made it classic in the ceramic pots with the cheese, and the crouton baked in and the broth had a really good depth of flavor. But it was so salty it was like trying to drink ocean water. afterwards, all the other food just tasted salty and I don't know if it's because I ate so much salt or if it because everything else had too much salt in it. the next day I decided to try the French onion soup again and this time the saltiness was more balanced, but it was still a little bit much salt and lacked the depth of flavor, so it was not consistent. Possibly one of the most delicious things on their menu is a happy hour item that it's only available for three hours a day. Which is their shrimp tempura. What's despite being called temper is not exactly Japanese style. But it is very good fried fish and they should make it a main entrée and I can imagine many ways to elevate it like adding saffron to the batter to make it a Spanish or Persian style fried shrimp. Their menu needs a little imagination and inspiration because it's pretty generic with things like fish tacos, and Ahi nachos which you would expect to see that in every other California restaurant that has no identity. Their cooking technique and skills aren't exactly there. I ordered a burger with grilled onions and they just put raw onions, where a couple of them were slightly grilled when I asked them to redo it and do the onions Well done they sent me back burned onions. The hamburger patty was supposed to be medium medium well and it was well done and dry. These are very simple, basic cooking skills and if you don't know how to caramelize onions and cook meat medium medium well, you need to get your cooks some training. They coat their french fries and some kind of flour or seasoning and I don't like that. I asked them if they can just make plain french fries. I asked them if they can just cut up a potato and fry it just like that and they declined, they said it would take too much time. It takes all about five minutes to peel a couple potato's and chop it up and throw it in the fryer. this was at 8 PM on a Sunday night when they had no guests and they were not busy. The chefs did not want to make a fresh potato, they said that they're french fries are premade so these people are not chefs. These are cooks and I think the restaurant would be much better if they had an actual chef in there. As for their customer service, they are very friendly, but difficult to communicate with. I have been ordering room service from my phone and every time I try to order they don't understand anything I'm saying. I had to spend five minutes clarifying my room number and when I would say to the guy thought I was saying three and I tell him no, just 2. Like one and then two.. I even count in Spanish for him and he keeps thinking I'm saying three. It's so bizarre because I don't have an accent or anything and nobody ever confuses my words later on. I tried to speak to a lady from the restaurant. She just couldn't follow anything I was saying and she seemed very confused so you know they're a great stuff here but maybe they need to get someone with better communication skills at the front of the house.

I accidentally posted on my wrong account!…read more This place is amazing and BEYOND 5 stars. Knife Pleat at South Coast Plaza is one of the three closest I've found to a proper afternoon tea here in Orange County, and as someone born and raised in Britain for 20 years, I hope that's high praise! Haha! I've been at least five or six times now, and every single visit has been wonderful! The afternoon tea is beautifully done. The tiered stands are a feast: delicate finger sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, exquisite little pastries and macarons, all elegantly presented and genuinely delicious. The tea selection is excellent, and everything tastes as refined as it looks. What keeps me coming back, beyond the quality, is the service. They've consistently and graciously accommodated my allergies every time, which makes such a difference and lets me relax and enjoy the experience fully. The staff are attentive and lovely. If you're looking for an authentic, elegant afternoon tea in Orange County, Knife Pleat is the place. I can't recommend it enough, I'll keep coming back!

We were really excited to visit Knife Pleat in Costa Mesa for a very special occasion. We chose it…read morein hopes it would be a spacious, comfortable place to celebrate, and the setting felt like it should've been a great experience. However, the experience was unfortunately ruined by our server. Our server, Matt, seemed uncomfortable with, and at times frustrated by the questions we had about the menu. Every time we asked for clarification, he responded in a very short, irritated way, as if we were bothering him rather than simply trying to understand what we were ordering. At one point, Matt made a dismissive comment to the effect of: Well, if you like it, eat it, and if you don't like it, you won't--simple as that. The comment felt rude and unprofessional, especially since our questions were reasonable and we were trying to make informed choices. We left feeling genuinely unpleasant and disappointed, and based on the service we received, we don't recommend the restaurant.

Marlena is simply the best!! This is my go-to-location, and every time I go in to get lunch, I see…read moreher smiling face ready to help. Food is mazing, from lunch options to my favorite part...deserts. This location can get pretty busy for lunch but the staff is super fun and friendly that I don't mind waiting!! Marlena specially is super efficient and if you don't know what to order, her recommendations are on point!

We've had the chicken with mustard three times now and it was cooked thoroughly each time without…read morebeing dry. The mustard sauce goes really well with the mashed potatoes and broccolini. We tried the branzino as a side (which is priced pretty well). We also tried the beef bourguignon pasta. You can split one meal among three kids and the price comes out very reasonably. We got takeout, so I can't speak to the service. They use paper takeout boxes, which I appreciate because it means less mystery plastic to worry about with your hot food. The containers are lower waste and sturdy enough to hold up overnight. That's a huge plus for me, if packaging counts as ambiance.

Got the burger lettuce wrapped ($22) and it was juicy and flavorful with a good amount of fries…read more Others at the table got the burger too and thought theirs was a bit dry. The ambiance is super nice, right on the water and you can get a view sitting outside.

My friend and I came for dinner on a Monday night, and were pleasantly surprised by how quickly we…read morewere seated. The menu is online and you can order and pay through your phone, which is convenient. Our server was nice, but not super attentive to us, although we attributed this to how busy the restaurant was. We sat outside, and had a great view of the water. The Green Lasagna ($24) was quite good. The pasta is cooked well, and the blend of cheeses pairs super well with the pesto. The portion is a little small for the price, as you only get a little square. The Japanese Sweet Potatoes ($15) are definitely worth a try. They're cooked super soft and the sauce it is paired with is creamy and spicy, creating such a delicious combination. The grilled salmon ($27) was quite good, and the portion was pretty large. The yogurt sauce on top of the salmon made for a refreshing bite. We ordered a non-alcoholic aperol spritz and a non-alcoholic mimosa, as neither of us wanted to drink on a Monday. The aperol spritz was good, but nothing special. We think the mimosa had alcohol in it, as it had a strong taste of champagne. We decided not to drink it, but definitely double check your drink if this is something that concerns you.

Love this place. A long-overdue OC gem! Won't be long till you can't get a reservation. Vibe…read more Service. Food... exceptional! Thanks

Didn't know a restaurant like this could exist! Loved everything about it, EVERYTHING! Service,…read morefood, and ambiance. The place is gorgeous. As soon as you step in, it's feels lux yet quaint. It's a tiny restaurant, we didn't have reservations but thankfully got sat bc we arrived at 5pm. Service was impeccable. Someone in my party had gluten allergy and the server made suggestions to which dishes to get and which were easily made gluten free. - Squash salad: impressed. This was a new novel dish and I loved it. It had finely shaved zucchini like super thin flat noodles. There was shaved Parmesan cheese, hazelnuts, and the dressing was light and barely dressed. - Mushrooms: the onsen egg was perfectly runny and the mushrooms so savory. - Gambas: plump shrimp with yummy flavors. - Rack of pork: our fav! We asked what was in the sauce it was so delectable. We predicted fish sauce and maybe orange. The server went back and confirmed it was fish sauce! The chef has Vietnamese origins. This was so good, we cleaned the bone and licked the plate. - Cheesecake: only enjoyed by the gluten eaters. It was well made. I'm not a dessert eater typically but I found this wonderful. Not too sweet and decadent.

I have wanted to try Marché Moderne since moving back to Orange County from San Francisco five…read moreyears ago, and after finally coming here for our fifth wedding anniversary, I genuinely regret waiting this long. I started with the Singe Germain, made with Monkey 47 Gin, St. Germain, crème de cassis, and lemon juice. This was easily one of the best cocktails I have ever had. It was so good that I ordered two more. My wife got the Rizière de Lychee, which seemed like their take on a lychee martini. The vanilla notes made it unique and really enjoyable, but we both agreed that the Singe Germain was the star cocktail of the night. One of our favorite appetizers at any restaurant is yellowtail crudo or hamachi, and Marché Moderne's version was incredible. The fish practically melted in our mouths, but the mango-yuzu-jalapeño sorbet on top was ridiculous. That sorbet could honestly be served as its own dish. Our only complaint was how quickly the whole thing disappeared. We also tried the grilled octopus petit plat. It leaned more Spanish than French to me, especially with the chorizo, and the potatoes and chorizo ended up being our favorite parts. We both tend to prefer cold appetizers over hot ones, so next time we will probably try the tataki instead, but the octopus was still very good. We ordered the bread as well. Despite all the reviews praising it, I thought it was good, but not necessarily life-changing. The real star was the butter with the big flakes of salt on top. For our mains, my wife ordered the Hokkaido scallops and I got the filet au poivre, essentially their steak frites. The steak frites was incredible. The sauce alone was enough reason to order the entire dish. The steak was cooked to a perfect medium rare, and the tableside presentation made it feel even more special. They first placed down the fries and salad, then brought over the steak in the sauce, transferred it onto the plate, and poured the sauce over the top. They asked whether I wanted sauce over the fries too, which was obviously an immediate yes. The fries were good, although I thought they could have used a little more salt. The salad surprised me the most. I originally assumed it was just there to fill out the plate, but the vinaigrette was fantastic and made it something I actually wanted to keep eating. My wife loved the scallops, which was not surprising because she is a huge scallop fan. The dish itself was somewhat bare, though. It was essentially a few scallops with sauce, so if we had not also been sharing the steak frites and several appetizers, I do not think it would have been enough for her as an entrée by itself. Lastly, we ordered the crème brûlée, and this might have been the best dish of the entire night. It came with berries and a hazelnut cake underneath. Because we were celebrating our anniversary, they wrote "Happy 5 Year Anniversary" in chocolate ganache next to it, which paired ridiculously well with the crème brûlée. That little detail also perfectly summarizes the service. Our server answered every question I had about the menu, asked what we were celebrating, recommended the incredible Singe Germain, and made us feel completely at home. Another gentleman came by to talk with us, and we casually mentioned that it was our fifth anniversary. They did not just remember that it was an anniversary. They remembered that it was five years and included that specific detail on our dessert plate. That extra bit of thoughtfulness meant a lot to us. My only small disappointment was the seating. I had heard that one side of the restaurant has a large window where you can watch the chefs cook, but we were seated closer to the bar and could not see it. It did not hurt the meal, but next time I would love to request a table on the kitchen side. My wife and I have eaten at Michelin-starred restaurants from California to New York City, including everything from one to three stars, and Marché Moderne has the makings of something truly special. The food was excellent, but the service and hospitality took the entire experience to another level. Overall, this was about a 4.7 out of 5 for us. We will absolutely be back, and I cannot believe it took us five years to finally come here.

Food and service were great. Went to celebrate a bday dinner. Table next to us (3 gentlemen)…read moredecided to have a conference call on speaker phone. It was beyond annoying. Lasted 30 minutes and I think they only ordered like one dish too. Restaurant didn't bother to say anything to them. That was a miss. Who does that. Smh. Maybe they are regulars but that shouldn't excuses them nor the restaurant to protect their ambiance and other dining customers.

What a magnificent restaurant in the heart of Costa Mesa! Plenty of parking spot and easy to spot…read moreon 17th street! Place is super chill and open format and I opt for the outdoor seating since inside seating can get Loud with a large table. We were greeted by super upbeat staff and just felt their energy was put into the food and drinks! We had the carpaccio, the octopus ceviche (onion rings were super crisp!) and the seafood paella. My friend wanted more seasoning which the staff gave us more pepper. I like the way the paella tastes and was able to have the jumbo shrimp with the juice on the side. Overall will definitely come back again and ran into other fellow foodies there so we know this is the place to be!

Octopus ceviche cooked well, Pork belly tacos good, Churros okay with more classic just crisp and…read moreno fruit filling. Had a jelly donut taste to it. Reservations probably recommended since it's limited seating and service was great!