I came for brunch and was underwhelmed by the slow service and dry, bland food…read more While our server was friendly, the food took forever to come out and we barely interacted with any staff after our initial order. The brunch menu was limiting, with only a few egg dishes, sandwiches, and breads. The French toast and waffle were nearly $20 each despite the small portions and standard toppings. *French Toast: the worst item of the meal. The bread had no flavor or egginess and left a strange sandy mouthfeel. The interior was so dry that it soaked up all the moisture in my mouth. A poor showing for a classic French toast. *Waffle: the batter was slightly sweetened but felt too dense. The fruit was fresh, although nothing about the toppings or overall quality stood out. *Steak Frites: hanger steak topped with chimichurri and fries. It was supposed to come with bernaise sauce, but I did not receive any. The steak leaned closer to rare rather than the medium rare I asked for. However, it was still tender, and the chimichurri was vibrant and herbaceous. I wished more sauce had been applied, as the dish was a bit dry. The fries were decent, though I would have preferred more crunch. Given the long wait, I expected much more from the dishes in terms of flavor and execution. I was disappointed by how flavorless and dry everything was.

The first time I came here and ai find out they are closing in two weeks. That is really…read moreunfortunate as the place was adorable! We came because their entire menu is 100% gluten free- what a find! The staff were all friendly and there was a woman playing live music! Parking is easy as there is a garage and they validate. The food was all good, but the biscuit trio was perfection! Sad to see them go.

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.

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.

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.

I gave Postino Park Place in Irvine 3 stars. The location itself is a really nice, clean, and…read moremodern restaurant with a great vibe, but the overall experience was definitely a mixed bag. We ordered a bunch of bruschetta to share for the table, and while they were good, they were honestly lacking that real "wow" factor. For my main, I ordered the P.R.E.A.M. bowl and found it to be quite mediocre. It was pretty plain overall, and all of the vegetables inside were extremely undercooked. While the food was average, the service was pretty much zero stars. It was extremely spotty throughout the entire meal, our drinks were never refilled, and to make matters worse, they actually charged us for coffee that never showed up at our table. It's a lovely space with decent light bites, but the food execution fell short and the severe service issues really dragged down the experience.

First time here with my girlfriend, and Ivanna P. Was an absolute gem. We had great food, cold…read moredrinks and amazing service. We're new to the area and searching for our new watering hole. Ivanna was the convincer! See ya soon!

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

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 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.

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.

Came back to the restaurant and had above 5 star experience. Staff were super kind and food was so…read morefresh and so delicious. We came on a Sunday afternoon and there was a line to order but still very easy to find a place to sit. The manager, Ellie, was working the register and she was absolutely sweet and above and beyond friendly. We got: ~ Chicken Alfredo pasta ~ still my favorite chicken Alfredo pasta! Tastes more savory and cheesy than other Alfredo's I've had. It comes with cheesy garlic bread which is delicious. Highly recommend ~ American breakfast ~ very beautifully played and comes with a great variety of food ~ Matcha latte ~ Mango pastry ~ hard chocolate exterior with mango crème and a jelly/jam filling. Would highly recommend this, tasted like fresh mangos and so delicious

Pretty cute cafe spot in the District! I've been eying this place for a while because it's cute…read more The ambiance is truly great - very cute place to catch up with a friend. ITEMS I TRIED: - Santa Ana Omelette: pretty decent though I didn't love the sausage portion of it. The potatoes were nice and crisp. It comes with a good portion of avocado as well. Really loved the melted cheese that brought everything together. - Latte: with oat milk, loved the latte art! Pretty standard drink. PARKING: decent parking around the District though can get busy. SERVICE: thought it would be slow because they seemed overwhelmed and short staffed. However, food and drinks came out very fast. PRICE: decently priced, it was about $6.50 for the latte and $16 for the omelette. Overall, I was not blown away by the food, though it is decent. However, the ambiance is really cute and it's a great place to catch up and vibe with a friend.