This was my first fine dining experience at The Hobbit, and it will not be my last! My best friend Dave and I enjoyed their winter cocktails list. I had the Pear of Fellow Sophisticates enjoyed at their cellar. The culinary experience was memorable! We started with the amuse-bouche, three perfect bites. Their chef crafts a selection of bite size hors d'oeuvres to start off our dining experience. We had lobster roe cavatelli for the first course, followed with the roasted quail for the second course. During the intermission, they provided a sorbet to cleanse our palate. For the main entrée, my best friend and I selected the beef wellington over the walnut crushed halibut. It was savory, delicious, and had a wonderful creamy flavor! For dessert, we had a decadent chocolate ganache tart. The ambience and atmosphere were inviting. The servers and sommelier were helpful and knowledgeable. This was a memorable experience! read more

Came for a team Christmas dinner and had a great experience! Reservation was easily made through Open Table and we were pleasantly surprised to be put indoors in a nice private room instead of outdoor seating. Dinner is $92/person and comes with complimentary champagne. The reservation starts at 7PM but they tell you to come at 6:30PM so you can check out their beautiful wine cellar while they prepare the hors d'oeuvre course. Course #1 Hors D'oeuvre (5/5): loved sampling all the little bites of deliciousness! Course #2 Smoked Salmon (4/5): salmon was cooked perfectly. Course #3 Prosciutto Stuffed Pork Loin (3.5/5): started to get full so I only ate one but it was good. Course #4 Filet Mignon w/ Foie Gras (4/5): I was excited for this dish but was a little disappointed to find out the foie gras was in a ravioli form rather than on the filet. Still tasty though. Course #5 Chocolate Almond Cake w/ Pumpkin Ice Cream and Pepita Brittle (5/5): loved everything about this dessert! Overall a very nice and luxurious dinner experience. Service was on point and all the food was cooked perfectly. Courses were good for the most part but I wasn't particularly blown away by any of the dishes. Still a great place to go for a special occasion! read more

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This place offers a unique dining experience with excellent waitstaff & unique food that is incredibly good! The appetizers in the cellar are SO good, too. This place offers the BEST champagne I've ever had, & very good wine, too, of course. Highly recommend read more

As I'm new to the area I wanted to find a local restaurant for my wife and I to celebrate our anniversary at and came across The Hobbit. Plan ahead, way ahead as this restaurant is booked months in advance. The wife and I wanted to find a place that offered an experience. We have been to a few restaurants that did a fantastic job at offering an experience. Most have been in LA and have been extremely expensive. The Hobbit's price point is not bad at all. The food was good but their wine pairing was even better! It doesn't come included but I recommend that you get it! It makes the dinner so much better. The wine that they served wasn't your cheap $20-30 bottle of wine ( I looked each wine up.) They also serve the wine in good quality Riddle glasses. I learned about the importance of good wine glasses years ago in Napa. And their glasses don't disappoint. Overall a f drastic experience. 4 hour long dinner. Highly recommend it. I was told that they will be changing things in September so get in now and again after the change. If the food get a little better I would say that it would rival some Michelin Star restaurants that we have been to. I plan to come back in a few weeks again. read more

Our anniversary dinner couldn't have been more special. This place is truly an experience with excellent service. We arrived there for cocktail hour, before the 6 course meal began. We had a little time to just enjoy each other and the quaint and intimate house. We also got a small tour to the wine cellar that was pretty epic. The dinner progression was executed perfectly and at a timely matter. We truly enjoy the experience and we will definitely come back. Thank you again Hobbit for making our anniversary super special. I highly recommend! read more

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They serve one of finest meals in Orange County. This is our family special event go to i.e. birthdays, anniversary. My wife took me here for my first time when we were dating, I was hooked. The menu changes so it never gets repetitive. The wine cellar is like going into King Solomons mines with all they have. The have some of the best pre dinner appetizers around. The servers are well versed in the food, drinks, recommendations. You will never regret a dinner here. read more

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Visited The Hobbit for a birthday celebration and had a fabulous time. It is a unique experience where the food and wine is the show! In the cellar we had appetizers and champagne. I loved the artichoke jalapeño spread but all were wonderful! The remaining courses were upstairs in their dining room. We chose the wine paired dinner which was 65 more a person. Basically, each of the entrees was paired with a different wine. This was great. I especially loved the Pinot from New Zealand ( see picture) paired with duck (I normally don't eat duck but it was delicious). The service was amazing and the entire evening was fabulous! Highly recommend! read more

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I've been watching Hell's Kitchen for a few weeks & that's what made me crave a beef Wellington. Found this place on google after doing some searching & made the reservation. It's a 6 course dinner. For $55 a person, you can add a wine pairing list that goes with every meal! See pictures below to see what they served us that night :) Hors d' oeuvres: they were okay. There were a few things on the plate I enjoyed. I did give most of the food a chance but stopped when I ate some pâté liver on a slice of bread. That kind of ruined it for me. Scallop: I've never had a scallop before this & it was really good. Cooked perfectly & the noodles tasted great with the brown butter sauce. Usually I prefer my sauce to be thicker but it was so delicious I didn't even care. Pork loin: I really enjoyed this part of the dinner! Everything on this plate was delicious. I ended up eating some from my boyfriend's plate because it was that good. The gravy & the veggies were very tasty. Intermission: I was hoping they were going to have blackberry sorbet the night I went but they didn't & that was okay with me because the orange sorbet tasted so fresh ! The combination of orange & cranberry was to die for. Beef Wellington: this entree was the whole reason why my boo & I wanted to come to this restaurant. We had some expectations but in the end we were really let down with this course. I asked for my steak to be cooked medium rare & it was more rare than anything. I left a few chunks on my plate because it was so red. The mushroom duxelle was absolutely gross. I would compare it to cat food ! I lost my appetite after a few bites. Dessert: The chocolate almond cake was nice & moist. I hate pumpkin spiced anything but the ice cream was great. The peanut brittle on top was very tasty & rich in flavor. To end it, the dinner was okay. The experience was nice! Being able to get dressed up with my boo, enjoying some wine in a nice atmosphere. The waiters were very chill & knew their knowledge when it came to the wines we were drinking. It was an expensive dinner that wasn't really worth it since the main entrée was a let down. Thanks anyways ! read more

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First time here during restaurant week, and definitely will be back! The food was delicious, views spectacular (even on a foggy night), and the service was impeccable. My husband had the $75 crab topped filet, scallop appetizer and said it was the best meal he ever had. The cocktails were also amazing, and the cake! read more

I have heard so much about the Hobbit's seven course prix fixe experience. However, it wasn't til my pal Van D took me here, that I had the pleasure of dining here. I was surprised that not many of my Yelpies have been to this unique place that has been opened since the 70's. The Hobbit is on Chapman in Orange, a mile or so East of the 55. Appetizers begin in the wine cellar around 7 pm. However, you can go upstairs around 6 pm to enjoy a cocktail from the bar. There are a few lounge areas to sit around and chat. At 7 pm, you are treated to several appetizers including pate, tartare, mussels, savory phyllo as well as many others. During this time you can choose a wine from the expansive wine selection. We chose a Rioja from Spain ($135). Nonetheless, I saw wines as high as $2,500. As opposed to choosing your own wine, you can opt for the wine pairing while you enjoy champagne and apps. The Hobbit has a sommelier that can guide you through the wine pairings. Overall, the wine cellar experience was very nice: 5 Stars. Our first course was the wild caught gulf prawns. After eating a bunch of savory apps, the sweet prawns were nice on the palate. Coupled with the light rioja, this was a great way to start the meal: 5 Stars. Next came the lamb. This dish was a nice transition from sweet to savory. The meat was not gamey and the sides paired well: 5 Stars. The salad came in the middle of the meal and it was nice and tart to wake up your taste buds. I went to another fancy restaurant earlier in the week, and the chef also spaced the dishes with the salad in the middle. It was a very good idea: 5 Stars. After the sorbet and a 15 minute chance to get up and walk around, the filet mignon was served. This dish came with a truffle sauce. The steak was very good, but may have been sitting a while bc it was a little cool: 4 Stars. Lastly, the chocolate pecan crisp arrived (as if there wasn't enough food already). This finishing dish was a great way to calm your taste buds down after being stimulated so well through the previous courses: 5 Stars. Regarding the ambiance, The Hobbit is more a house vs a restaurant. You enter in and there a couple of parlors to dine in. The kitchen is to your right. Upstairs to the left is the bar and a lounge area. Upstairs to the right is a lounge area and a little deck to get some fresh air. As you enter the gate to the house, there is a patio area to relax and the stained glass window that is a popular photo opp: 5 Stars. Likewise, the service from the waitstaff was nothing short of exemplary. They were also super nice, friendly and helpful. The staff really made you feel at home and helped you enjoy the food: 5+++++ Stars. The Hobbit is a great place to have a unique dining experience. BTW, I believe dinner is less than $90/person. The price is super reasonable considering all the food and stellar service you receive. read more

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Wow- this is the ultimate dining out experience. It takes place in an old house. The bar is on the top floor and you can wander around and mingle in the various sitting rooms. Appetizers are served in the basement wine cellar before dinner starts. Everything is amazing, but don't fill up! There is so much more food to come. After a few courses, there is a break where you can walk around and sit on the patio. Then, they serve sorbet and a couple more courses. The service is impeccable and all the food is outstanding. We were here celebrating a birthday and it seemed like most other diners were as well. Definitely a place to come for a special occasion. read more

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This place was so cool! Get dressed up, and go enjoy it. Definitely a splurge of an event but highly worth it in my opinion. It is essentially an old-timey building converted into a small restaurant. you spend time upstairs in the bar area, the cellar with appetizers and wine, and the main floor for all the plates of killer food. It is an evening with 5 courses since Hobbits eat 5 meals a day. There is a set time you show up with everyone else who has reservations that night so all the courses are prepared together. There is an appetizer and cocktail/champagne hour beforehand with a ton of great finger foods in the wine cellar. and every bottle down there has a price tag you can buy. I opted for the wine pairing which actually gives you a different pour for every plate for dinner so I could try everything rather than buying one bottle, but hey you do you boo boo! but if you get the pairing, the sommelier comes around and describes why they chose that wine with that plate of food, so it makes you appreciate it a bit more! We were the youngest people there but hey we made the best of it and loved every second of it. We made friends with the staff and they are an absolute blast to talk to and hang out with. one of the great things I really enjoyed about this place was getting to know the other people who came that evening as well since everyone is getting there at the same time, it was a great social event! Every plate was dynamite. one of the best meals I have had in a loooong time for sure. They even offer you to go into the kitchens and talk to the chefs if you want and they are totally on board! Such a great experience would highly recommend it for any occasion at least once! read more

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Me and my girl had a romantic dinner here a while ago. Nice place to wine and dine here low key way without being near the water. We ordered some good gourmet food with several vegetables and steaks. Nice bass of seafood in the dinner. My first time at the Hobbit. I had sod of heard of them, but never had stopped by . Great staff and cool restaiurant, I could get used to this. read more

My husband and I tried to get reservations here for so long, but they always booked up so quickly. Finally, once quarantine hit and things slowed down, I was able to get a reservation for my husbands birthday. Our experience really made it clear why this place is was so hard to get reservations for - it's absolutely amazing! There are four courses, and each one of as absolutely amazing. Since it was a special occasion we opted to purchase the sommelier pairing and it was amazing. The sommelier is incredibly knowledgeable and very thorough in his explanations. His selections were awesome! We also toured the wine cellar with the sommelier and picked out a bottle of wine to take home. The cellar is immense! There are so many options to choose from and luckily the sommelier was very helpful in giving recommendations based on what we were looking for. The hors d'oeuvres platter presented a variety of delicious flavors and textures, with champagne. This was followed by the seared blackened ahi tuna which was also amazing! Lots of great flavors and the tuna was very fresh. The duck was delicious as well - very tender. The couscous and cherry reduction were a perfect compliment. Even the sorbet was amazing, and that was just a palate cleanser! The dinner roll was absolutely amazing as well, but I was already pretty stuffed at this point, so I didn't end up finishing it. Next time I'll definitely make sure I show up even hungrier so I can have my whole dinner roll and seconds! My husband and I both opted for the bourbon glazed strip steak and it was cooked to perfection with roasted veggies and mashed potatoes. It was absolutely delicious. There was a short intermission after this for coffee - we opted for espresso - and it definitely woke us up from our impending food coma. Finally, we were presented with dessert - a delicious chocolate pecan layer crisp with meringue and salted caramel. Dessert was absolutely heavenly! They also brought out a special additional dessert for my husband's birthday - the most delicious melt in your mouth chocolate truffles with some whipped cream. This truly is one of the best dinner experiences we've had in a long time! Definitely worth the price, especially if you compare it to similar style restaurants in LA. The staff were awesome as well and made sure all of our needs were taken care of. Honestly, this will probably be our go to for social occasions at least once a year moving forward. Absolutely 11/10 and 100% worth the price. read more

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Everyone was so friendly here, and the whole experience felt very fancy. One of the best restaurant to celebrate a special occasion. Everything tasted so good too, better than I could have ever imagined. read more

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Very high end special occasion fine dining experience. New ownership and head chef since Nov 2023. Only one seating a night Wed-Sun. Takes about 4 hrs to eat dinner. Perfect service read more

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Service is pretty good but food is far less than I expected. I don't think I will recommend to my friends.

Outstanding! We had an absolutely wonderful time from beginning to end. When we arrived, around 6:40 or so, Andrew greeted us so warmly at the door and guided us to the upstairs bar where Alex was making the most delicious drinks! At exactly 7pm we headed down to the cellar for some hors d'oeuvres and champagne, made some friends, and about 35 minutes later went up to our table on the main floor. The next 3 hours or so we ate, drank and had a lovely time meeting the kitchen staff during the intermission. Every dish was absolutely delicious and the staff was super kind and courteous. read more

The Hobbit - Beef Wellington - French Near Me - Orange, California

This was by far the most amazing dining experience we've ever had. Everything from the food, the service, and the ambiance was superb. We went to celebrate a birthday. From the hors d'oeuvres to the dessert every course was deliciously prepared. The servers were friendly and accommodating. We got to meet with the chef and see the kitchen. It was incredible. I highly recommend this restaurant and dream of returning one day. read more

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Heard about this place for a while now and finally managed to get a reservation. It's located in a repurposed house. Very unique dining experience. It was intimate and the servers were very friendly. I loved all of the food we were served, even the appetizers in the wine cellar. Pricey, but definitely something you should try once read more

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First of all. If I could give 0 stars I would. So in January 2022 i began calling the Hobbit to make a reservation for April for my 13th wedding anniversary for me and my wife to go celebrate. I had left a few voice messages and eventually got a call back in late January 2022 saying they had a cancellation for April 2nd 2022 for two, so we took it. April 2nd comes around. We get a nearby hotel for the night since we live far away and arrange for kids to be watched. Turn up to The Hobbit at 6pm and we are not on the guest list.... The staff start scrambling and eventually the owner/head chef comes out to speak to us, after we have already been ushered outside of the restaurant while we wait. The owner/head chef's name is Michael Philippi. Well, from the second he came out he couldn't have been more unapologetic and condescending if he tried. He said there's nothing he could do and made out like it was our fault that his staff hadn't put us on the guest list for the evening. He became combative and rude but eventually said he would comp us a meal if we came back another time. He asked us to give him our contact information and that he would take care of it. Come to find out later he was just trying to get rid of us as you'll see.... After having our reservation forgotten and not noted properly by his staff the first time around, my wife suggested it be wise to have his promise of a comped meal for our HUGE inconvenience in writing. So we went back into the restaurant to ask for his promise in writing. Michael Philippi reappeared, even more rude and condescending than before. We asked for his promise in writing and he said "I'm not doing that". When I asked him why he wouldn't honor his word, he flat out said directly to our faces "I lied. I lied. What do you want me to do about it, I lied to you. Good night". And then he shut the door to the restaurant in our faces. So his promise was a total lie and he said it purely to get rid of us, with zero regard for the trouble/expense his staffs mistake caused us. Had we taken him at his meaningless word, we would have called back to rebook and would've basically been told to get lost. He is a lying POS. I have literally NEVER been treated so disrespectfully by the owner of a restaurant in all my life. We dine in fine restaurants all over the world and have never been treated like this. We booked a hotel, child care and arranged our entire weekend around our trip to this establishment for our wedding anniversary. And even though Michael Philippi's staff made the mistake in not notating our reservation, he treated us like dog waste and was disgustingly rude. Stay away from this pretentious place and the absolute A-hole of an owner, Michael Philippi. He has zero respect for his clientele and was extremely rude, to the point you could see him want to get physically aggressive. I've never experienced anything like it in my life. An absolute disgraceful way to treat potential customers who made reservations and traveled a long way to spend a lot of money at his establishment. I will never ever return and will be sure to spread the word to everyone possible about the disgusting and rude, combative and condescending treatment we experienced directly from the owner. And it was his staff who made the mistake! Not us!! I have proof we made the reservation in January 2022, but he didn't care. I mean the guy promised us comped meals to make up for his staffs mistake and when we asked for it in writing (as obviously by this point we couldn't trust him or his staffs word) he flat out said to our faces, "I lied. I lied. What do you want me to do about it, I lied to you. Good night". And then slammed the door in our face. Stay away. Save your money. The owner is an absolute pathetic and disgusting human being with zero respect for his patrons and is clearly arrogant and obnoxious. Acts one way in public but when he thinks no one is watching treats people like garbage. What a horrible human being and what a terrible way to run a business. I'll add a picture of the so everyone knows what this lying sack looks like. STAY AWAY!!! AWFUL. 0/10. read more

I attended dinner at the Hobbit on Friday, 3/5, with a date. The venue is wonderful; they don't make em like this any more, with fantastic food, service and atmosphere. We had scallops, duck and Filet on the set 6 course meal. Started with Champagne, and enjoyed the $55 wine pairing set of 4 wonderful wines. The wine was unique and wonderful and even the music is contemporary for today, rather than the elevator music one might expect from this type of place. Kudos, as well, to GM/Chief Sommolier/Brand Ambassador Matthew for encouraging a fantastic environment, and for giving us a tour of the cellar and explaining the venue and its colorful history. Highly recommended. read more

The Hobbit - The meal begins official with a beautiful champagne flute. Gets the juices flowin' . . . - French Near Me - Orange, California

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Incredible experience the entire dinner. The food was amazing and the service was great.

Considering that I dined at this restaurant more than a year ago, this review is certainly overdo. Some of my fellow Yelpers have done a fantastic job in explaining the different aspects of dining at this restaurant from A to Z. So my review is not going to be detailing the dining experience as a whole. Having said that, I am going to raise some points that perhaps can be utilized by the management of the restaurant in future. The only part of my dining experience that I didn't enjoy at all was during the Hors d'oeuvre hour. I felt that I am in a fancy Costco setting where people are trying to get their hands on the free samples that are offered. In addition, only Toothpicks were available which you can imagine some people would be using them over and over again. I personally did not have any appetizers because of the chaos that I was witnessing. But what I can say is that the dishes that were served during dinner were delicious and beautifully presented. If you end up purchasing a good bottle of wine to enjoy with your dinner, you are looking at about $150 and up per person which is somewhat normal for an upscale dining as this one. I would say dining here at least one time is a must but I wouldn't see myself going back here anytime soon. read more

The Hobbit - Rose butter??? Lovely.... - French Near Me - Orange, California

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What an incredible experience! It was my first time and absolutely loved every single moment. From the wine cellar to the 6 course meal. The service was outstanding! Rafael was on point. He was so kind and made us feel at home. He was very patient and attentive even though they were very busy. He definitely took pride in his job and was the best sommelier I have met. I definitely can't wait to come back. read more

We have been dining at the Hobbit since 1978. We recently dined there with 7 (3 generations) family members. All of us had another incredible dining experience. The food, service and ambiance was outstanding. This was our first experience with the new owner Matthew and it's better than ever!! Kudo's to you Matthew! Gary B read more

my first review of the decade! this place is like 4.75 out of 5 stars. I've been eyeing this place for a very long time, and my wife took me here for my birthday. don't judge a book by its cover. This location doesn't seem like a nice restaurant is tucked away inside. you will need reservations to eat here, so plan ahead. Arrive a little early, as you can mingle with other people upstairs in the bar area. once 7pm rolls around, they will take you downstairs to the wine cellar, and serve you champagne along with some Hors d'oeuvres. there are alot to try, but pace yourself as you still have a 7 course dinner waiting for you. Some of the items that stood out were the artichoke dip and pulled duck on crackers. They also had beef tartare and roasted peppers. As for the prefixed meal, it was wonderful. they started you off with something light, like salad and quail. Midway, they will have intermission (during which you can check out the kitchen or go outside to enjoy some fresh air) and when you come back they'll serve some sorbet and continue on with the main dish. Make sure you wear something nice. the girls are wearing nice dresses and the guys are wearing suits or at the minimal nice button up shirts. There is no valet parking, you will just park it yourself in the back parking lot. I'll be back, and maybe i'll bring more friends so we can share a bottle of wine between us. read more

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Reminiscing on the wonderful meal I had here back in Feb, before we were all quarantined. It has been two months since my visit and I still remember all the details, it was a lovely meal worthy of a review. We happened to make a reservation to have dinner with some friends without realizing it would fall on valentines week. When we got here we were pleasantly surprised with a special menu. Everything was perfect, the ambiance, table setting, cocktails, the service and of course the food. We were especially looking forward to the hors d'oeuvres and selecting our wine bottle from their cellar. As others have pointed out, this makes for a unique dining experience. Although the wine selection was great, we ended up trusting the sommelier and went with his wine pairing selections for our meal-we were not disappointed. Another great surprise was their cognac selection which we got to enjoy after our dinner. Overall, this was a very enjoyable experience. A. great example of fine dining in OC. We were glad we got to share it with our friend visiting from out of state. We will definitely come back to try their regular menu once the quarantine is over. Looking forward to that! read more

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What an incredible experience. An evening that goes down as a core memory. From the food to the staff as well as the ambiance. Perfection. read more

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Fantastic place!! Matthew the owner is great and takes pride in making the customer experience something to remember. Great attention to detail. Started in wine cellar and had an amazing apple pie cocktail. Amazing 5 course meal with an intermission to meet the chefs. Would highly recommended. read more

I read the reviews before going so I knew what to expect. The things that bothered people like the 18% gratuity, the long pauses between courses, the prices lol. All those things are true but for my party it was great. We always tip more so we just added more to the bill. We enjoyed the intermissions and exploring the restaurant. The upstairs patio was lovely as is the outdoor one. Time flew by but I suppose we had great company and conversation. The staff was gracious, the servers were attentive, the food was phenomenal! My favorite thing was a toss up between the martini that I can't remember the name to lol and the sorbet. My husband had the wine pairing and the port was the best I've ever tasted. Oh, the chef accommodated a gluten allergy as well so let them know ahead of time. Highly recommend! read more

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What an experience! We had been trying to get a reservation here for months - eventually my husband found a Thursday night that randomly popped up and he snagged it. So glad he did! We were able to find a sitter and enjoy this fabulous place. Everything is wonderful at The Hobbit, from the service, to the ambiance to the full multi-course meal and social experience. But especially the meal - the food is fabulous and I guarantee you'll have at least one item that expands your palate. Come prepared to spend the entire evening here. I believe we spent 3+ hours at The Hobbit. So it truly is a dining experience and not just a multi-course meal that you can rush through if you need to. An "intermission" is taken where you are invited to socialize with other guests and explore the historic home that the restaurant is inside of. Ambiance and attire is formal/dressy - but enjoy the opportunity to truly get dressed up. It's a very traditional place and it's a great excuse to get really fancy and break out those suit jackets and dresses/high heels. There is a small private lot in the back of the restaurant. If you have an opportunity to come here and the money to spend, I promise you this experience is well worth it. read more

Ate there once with my wife and friends - we had an exquisite time so we decided to go back there for a shared birthday and it once again loved uo to our expectations! I recommend it read more

The Hobbit is an experience all by itself. The previous reviews here are pretty spot on so don't need to repeat what's been said. I do want to say one thing though- bring someone you can have a marvelous time with through conversation or their company. It's quite an experience, really. Ladies, leave your hard to balance heels at home. You'll want to wear something you can go up and down the stairs in. Enjoy! read more

The food was amazing & service was excellent! Ambiance was romantic! Such a wonderful experience! read more

The Hobbit - Dessert was amazing - French Near Me - Orange, California

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I've had this restaurant bookmarked for awhile now and finally had the chance to try it out tonight. I must say it was one of the funnest fine dining experiences I've had! Its location is random - off Chapman right on the main road across from a gas station and bridal shop. The Hobbit's approach is quite unique in that dinner is served in three "acts" (you can check their website out for more details). The bar and lounge area open an hour before dinner at 7pm. We were the first to arrive and it was nice to be able to explore with no one else around. This is when you really realize you're dining in an old home. The bar is in what used to be a bedroom and the other lounge area is the other bedroom with a bathroom in between. It's all very charming. You have some time to enjoy your cocktail before you're invited downstairs to the wine cellar for some champagne and hors d'oeuvres. This is also the time you can select a wine to have with dinner or choose the wine pairing. The hors d'oeuvres are set up like a communal free for all. Not the most elegant set up but all of it was delicious! I saved my stomach for this meal and had almost nothing to eat beforehand so it was hard to practice self control and not have more than a second helping. Two drinks in and my belly full of hors d'oeuvres and the real dinner hadn't officially started yet. Soon after, you're led back upstairs to the main dining area to get seated for dinner. We had prawns to start, a prosciutto, persimmon, arugula and endive salad, prime filet of beef helder and finished off with a fruit tart for dessert. Every course was well prepared and really good. The temp on the filet was perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the courses as well as the wine pairings selected by the sommelier. Between the salad and main course you have a moment to go explore the kitchen or enjoy the patio area. It was actually fun conversing with the other guests during this time. We were seated in the main dining room and it's beautiful, but because it's a larger room and the space is intimate it can get loud with the number of people in it. There's also a table for 6 right in the middle and larger parties always tend to be louder. It didn't really ruin the experience but if I ever returned I'd maybe request a table in the other room to see how the experience would differ. Overall, I found our evening at The Hobbit unique and relaxed for a fine dining experience. The food was plentiful and delicious and I thought the entire experience was well priced. The main course changes regularly so I'd love to come back and try something different. This would be a really fun evening to do with friends! read more

Cute restaurant, love the theme! All of the staff were very courteous.The main courses were very nice duck and filet mignon, other courses we're ok. I would've returned to this restaurant in the future but sadly I won't. I will say I was 10 minutes late to my rsvp, took the wrong exit on freeway (called ahead and let them know), they were fine with it. But right when I literally sat down the waiter came by and gave me a complimentary glass of champagne (part of the set menu) and my hors d'oeuvres. I felt so rushed I didn't have time to take picture of my table set up. Very big turn off for me! At least start with a glass of bubbly then the food. Secondly, he gave me my horn d'oeuvres and walked away. He didn't even explain what all the items on the plate were, as if I was supposed to know?? Not good at all. Another reason for me not returning was the wait time between courses. They are trying to serve everyone all together to have a hobbit/family feel but I was literally about to fall asleep waiting between each course. They even have a 15 minute intermission on the middle of dinner. Dinner started at 7 and ended around 10:25pm for 6 courses. Way too long!! I went to a Michelin star restaurant with 11 courses that was only 2 1/2 hours. Mind you this isn't Michelin star. I respect the theme but still, please serve me at my pace not the whole restaurant's pace. Lastly, the dining room was so loud with the other tables talking like they were in a concert it made my entire experience sour. Another main reason I won't return. I understand it's out of the restaurants control but something to note if you're trying to have an intimate dinner. The Michelin star restaurants I went to a couple days prior everyone talked very soft (convos stayed on their table not to the parking lot) and the environment / vibe of the place everyone knew to have common courtesy. Not here the people seemed like they wanted to have everyone know what they were talking about and didn't care about anyone else's experience. Sadly I won't return but I respect the efforts with the staff. read more

I've heard so many good things about this place and finally got to celebrate a friends birthday here. Th e hobbit restaurant truly is a full experience and I'm here for it. The service, quality and food was great. We came early during the cocktail hour and were able to get settled in before the hors d'oeuvres were served in the wine cellar. My favorite hors d'oeuvres was the ham and cheese croissant pull apart. When we were called for dinner we were seated and name cards were places for each of us. I appreciate amount of detail that went into making each guest feel special! We were served a set meal starting with seared driver scallop followed by duck confit. I'm normally not a fan of duck but they cooked it so well, you couldn't take the gamey flavor. Then during the intermission we were able to freely tour the house and even meet the chefs and walk through the kitchen. Once we were called back into the dining room, we were served a sorbet pallet cleanser. Then we're served beef en croute, Chilean sea bass, and ended with nova negra cake. It was amazing! The only reason I gave my review 4 starts instead of 5 was that my friend had found a blonde hair in her food. After letting the staff know they stated that they don't have a blonde staff working. However, while doing the house tour during the intermission we met the chefs one of which was in fact blonde. I wish they had apologized and apologized to my friend. Over all the experience was very special. read more

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Love this restaurant ... expect a very elegant dining experience. I look forward to visiting The Hobbit again after the upgrade/ renovation now that the owners retired. read more

Had a wonderful dinning experience. From the service to the food everything was delightful. We enjoyed moving around especially having hors d'oeuvres in the wine cellar. Surrounded by people you can choose to strike a conversation or not. The food was delicious. She had such a great time we order from here for a Christmas party at home and it was so good. We were able to order some bubbly as well. One of my favorites. read more