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    Fennel Kitchen & Bar

    4.4 (653 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

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    FENNEL KITCHEN & BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Fennel Kitchen & Bar

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    BRAISED Lamb and Barley Risotto
    Mo M.

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

    Ambience
    Kshama P.

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

    Barley Risotto & Lamb Chops
    Jennifer H.

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

    Fennel Burger
    Rishi C.

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

    Aalia S.

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

    Brunch- Delicious Fennel Bowl

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

    Baklava Waffles
    Yena W.

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

    Shabi M.

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

    Protein Bowl made vegan - no croutons cheese and added chickpeas and falafel
    Michelle L.

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

    Chicken Kabob Plate
    Lauren S.

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

    Salmon Bowl & Appetizer Trio
    Jana H.

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

    Fish is delicious
    Elisa G.

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

    Protein Bowl

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    Page 1 of 17

    Fennel Kitchen & Bar Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Fennel Kitchen & Bar

    Are there gluten free options?

    Yes! I'm gluten intolerant and they have lots of good, healthy yummy options.

    How much is the corkage fee?

    The corkage fee is $20 per bottle.

    Is it dog friendly?

    They have some outdoor seating in the front/the entry of the restaurant. I don't see why pets won't be allowed there since it's completely outside (practically sidewalk).

    Do you serve alcohol yet?

    Yes, they do!

    Is there loud music?

    No the music was really calm relaxing atmosphere

    What type of food do you serve?

    Mediterranean fusion. 👍🏼

    Will you be serving wine and beer?

    Per other guests comments (who'd asked about it), the restaurant is awaiting receipt of their liquor license so they can serve adult beverages.

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    Food is good, service was okay, speed was disappointingly slow…read more I get that these places make their food to order so I expected a wait, but they have the word "express" in their business name so I had a false expectation. Needless to say I sat there waiting for my two to-go orders for what felt like an eternity. A lot of people flowed in after me and they were all just waiting, it was weird since it was empty when I walked in and then seeing 6 tables of people with no food. I thought I ordered the cheaper lunch special of chicken koobideh and beef koobideh, but he punched in the full portion instead. I didn't really mind as it just became extra food for dinner. But I feel like if someone is going in at the beginning of lunch time, they would be looking to order lunch menu stuff? I guess I can't expect people to do what I my logic would do. The two koobidehs is pretty much the same thing I order at any of these places because I prefer ground meat that's tender and juicy and this place did not disappoint. They were cooked to perfections with just a little crisp on the meats. Not much else to say since I only had a basic meal....meals

    We had it to go, so I can't speak much about the dine-in experience, but I will say the service…read morewasn't the friendliest. We ordered the combo beef and chicken plate, the beef gyro plate, and two falafel on the side. The falafel didn't look impressive, but they were surprisingly excellent--moist, flavorful, and honestly better than Sababa's. I'll definitely order six next time. The gyro plate was solid, not overly greasy or heavy, and the seasoning was just right. I wasn't a fan of the hummus, which had a bitter aftertaste, but my partner liked the tanginess, so that may come down to personal preference. On the combo plate, the chicken stood out: juicy and tender. The beef seemed to be a leaner cut and was a bit dry. I'd probably skip this particular beef kebab next time and try a different one. The saffron rice and grilled tomato were a nice complement. The plate also came with jumbo naan, served warm and smelling amazing, definitely a highlight.

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    Hatam Restaurant

    Hatam Restaurant

    3.7(926 reviews)
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    At the time of this review, Hatam Restaurant is rated 3.7 stars on Yelp. That, to me, is criminally…read morelow for the place. I'll explain why, starting now. First off, walking in, you'll be greeted cheerfully by reception, where you'll then be directed to a table, in this tall ceiling-ed place that will change your life, just you wait. The service was 10/10. All of the wait staff has been kind and attentive. I can't fault them for that at all. The place is decorated very interestingly, in a way that some may consider antiquated, but we all say the same thing about those Chinese/Vietnamese banquet halls, so really, who cares? I always get 2 things, as I find it very consistent and the best combo for maximum enjoyment. I get the mast o moosir, which is a yogurt dip with shallots. This is a wonderful appetizer on its own, but the key here is to get yourself a kebab. I'm very partial to their koobideh, as I find the taste and texture to be the best I've probably ever had. The beef grain is perfectly tender, but not too homogenous, and the flavor is pure beef and those Persian spices. The rice is always fluffy, adding the butter is delicious, and don't forget that sumac! Come by Hatam, because I KNOW you need to try this!

    Shout out to our server Pouya for making last night memorable. Having out of town guests can be…read morefun, and when they specifically requested Persian Food we called and decided on Hatam. Persians are very picky and judgy when it comes to their cuisine. Everyone is a chef and of it doesn't bring back the nostalgia of your childhood at grandmas it doesnt pass the test. I judge a place based on their koobieh. Lets be honest, if your koobieh sucks, Houston we have a problem! Tonight, I decided to order the lamb shank with baghali polo, along with a family style appetizer consisting of mast-o-khiar, hummas, kashkeh-bademjoon, salad shirazi, and a side of mausto-mousir. My cousin ordered Tahdig for the table with different toppings. Everyone at the table ordered Soltanis, Chicken Barg and other options. Lets talk about ambiance: when you enter you are greeted by ornate art, calm atmosphere and fresh flowers. Love the lighting, its soft and inviting. Pouya our server was kind and friendly. He single handedly helped manover a "game of thrones" type style between my cousin and myself trying to sneak in our credit-cards before the meal even started so it would be taken care of ahead of time. The persian bill paying struggle is real. IYKYK. Lets just say, this girl won that one against my guy cousin with the parents watching dinner and show. Hehhee. The highlight for me was the bread ,butter,onions served first. I was hungry and the bread was made in house and fresh. It was warm, soft and paired well with the onions, and butter. I ordered more throughout the meal to eat with the mausto-mousir ( shallot and yogurt dip). Hands down out of the appetizer, the tahdigh ( crispy rice), khashk bademjoon ( eggplant dip), cucumber dip, shallot with yogurt dip were the stars of the night. The beef shank with Baghali polo was top on my list. The dill/lima beans rice paired well with the lamb shank. It was tender, tasty ( didnt have a gamey taste, or smell) and that says something for a girl born here. Kids like me born here, usually dont touch lamb because of the gamey, smell . So eating it at Hatam was a great experience for me. I would order this again. Our family had a great night out in a chill environment, devoid of any triggers for me that may have caused some health issues and it was a needed break. The ADA parking and easy access is also appreciated. Overall, I would recommend Hatam. I found out from my mom, that Hatam has also been the "go to" caterer for her parties so, that says something about quality of food and meeting expectations my mom has in place.10/10 Please note doing 1/2 salad and 1/2 rice will be $3.00 extra.

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    Hatam Restaurant
    Hatam Restaurant - Two orders of beef Koobideh "family style" to go. Comes with rice, bread, onions, soup, butter, and sumac.

    Two orders of beef Koobideh "family style" to go. Comes with rice, bread, onions, soup, butter, and sumac.

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