Leatherby's! I can't thank you enough for an amazing birthday meal. I came here late last year to kick off my 30th birthday celebration. I greeted in the most polite manner, given a candle to keep me company, and seated right away. We were treated with the utmost importance. All eyes and ears on us like we were celebrity guests. I had the opportunity to try their appetizer/happy hour menu inspired by the great Chef Ross. We started the evening with an order of Prince Edward Island mussels, Hudson Valley foie gras torchon, and scallops and a Peachy Pear Martini for myself. If you know anything about me, the first few selections are already foreign to me. For the past few years, I've dubbed myself a "flexitarian" - a vegetarian that occasionally dabbles in the world of carnivores and it's usually with something safe like turkey and chicken however none of those were to be found on their menu so I had to force myself to not think about the food I was about to consume. The martini gave me just enough liquid courage to start in safe mode with the scallops and work my way up to the adventurous plates. This appetizer is served on a bed of Israeli couscous mixed with peas and chorizo, shrimp, and two perfectly cooked scallops. The flavors created a wondrous sensation for my taste buds and I was eager to try the next plate but shied away from the mussels. Luckily for me, my dinner mates eagerly ate them up while I took some bread and enjoyed some of the leftover lobster coconut broth. Before the next adventure, Chef Ross came out to introduce himself (the highlight of my evening) and serve us a signature dish - the Maple Leaf Farms duck breast. It's paired with a side of mushroom risotto, caramelized blackberries, and we were lucky to get fresh shaved burgundy truffle. I surprised myself by announcing I was willing to try both the duck and foie gras even though every ounce of me was cringing and also watching the door for an PETA protesters considering all the controversy surrounding foie gras. Goose liver and a side of duck never hurt anyone, right? It was mind over matter after first bite. The sweetness of the fruit combined with the salty texture of the meat was a delightful treat and left me wanting more. I polished it off with the creamy risotto and a few bites of the Japanese Hamachi - which was seared with chili pepper, green apples, and jicama. We polished off our savory meals by nibbling on an assorted cheese plate that came with dried fruit and nut bread, honey comb, chutney, and candied walnuts. The night ended with a surprise birthday treat for Kristen (celebrating a belated birthday) and myself. My treat was the "not classic" New York Cheescake while Kristen was served the panna cotta with a pistachio chocolate bar. My "not classic" cheesecake fit its description. The texture was unique. Not quite dense as other cakes, but rather fluffy and creamy so that it's not filling. It was served with a strawberry froth, butterscotch crumble and fresh berries. As I blew out my candle, I made a wish for my beloved friends who arranged this wonderful meal, a wish for the new year, and life in my 30s. I am definitely ready to explore the unfamiliar, begin life anew, and embrace what the upcoming decade has to offer. I graciously offer my heartfelt thanks for my wonderful friends for arranging this meal and offer my kudos to the staff at Leatherby's and Chef Ross for making my 30th birthday an amazing and memorable event. read more

Obviously the steak was good but it wasn't great, as compared to comparable steak houses in terms of price.

This is my second time here and I've always left happy. The first visit was phenomenal. I dont remember everything we ordered but the I remember the scallops and dessert being mind blowing! The second time we visited was tonight. We made a reservation for 6pm. Showed up at 6:30 and was told that we missed our reservation due to being late but they still were able to accommodate us immediately since they didnt give our table away to anyone. For drinks my gf opted for an Allagash Tripel as it Allagash is by far one of my favorite breweries. It was opened and poured in front of us in a nice tall beer glass. I was in the mood for a good pinot, and they currently have two offered by the glass--- a meiomi and a la folette. I opted for the meiomi for now and probably will get the la folette another time. Both were good. The meiomi is on the jammy side and the la folette was a little earthier, both of which I like. For our dishes we got the octopus, a duck breast, and diver scallops. We loved all except for the octopus. For some reason it tasted a bit fishy and bland. I was able to eat it but my gf didnt like it. The duck and diver scallops were phenomenal. I would highly recommend both! Since they rotate their menus, I feel that both were created with the fall season in mind. Their executive chef definitely knew what he was doing. I loved our server. He was genuine and attentive. He also offered us more bread to go with our entrees. When he noticed that my gf liked the bread so much, he packed up mine (coz I didnt wanna eat too much bread) and added another one in a to go box in a little to go bag with a note saying "open for a special treat :)" he offered us dessert. I was pretty satisfied after our entrees that I didnt want anything too heavy so we opted for the apply tart and it was fantastic. Cafe Rouge, I'm a fan! read more

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I wasn't wowed. Sure, it's pretty to look at but my friend and I decided the wood looked IKEA-cheap. Service is very nice but in the glare of the bright lights and the light blond wood decor, it just seemed out of place. And the waiter only brought my friend a black napkin even though I was wearing black as well. My vodka tonic was pretty good. My friend found out later the glass of wine she ordered was charged an extra dollar from the menu price. Fishy. She also wanted the heirloom tomato salad from the tasting menu as her salad which they accommodated. The tasting menu is $40. They charged her $15 for her salad. Fishy. The heirloom tomatoes turned out to be about 8 tiny cherry tomatoes on a plate. I hope those were heirloom! I went for the organic lettuces salad which had a nice dressing. And a goodly amount of cheese for the crostini that came with it. I felt bad my enormous salad was $9 in comparison to what my friend got. She had the ginger carrot soup as her main which she pronounced as "pureed carrots- no flavor." I had the beef tenderloin which was admittedly a good steak. I liked the crust on it and it was a perfect medium, bordering on medium rare. I would have liked it a bit more medium rare through out. The sides it came with were outstanding but probably because of whatever fancy salt they used. Except, I didn't like the pureed pommes (potatoes) which tasted gummy to me. We didn't have time for dessert before the show and I'll probably never find out how good the pastry chef is because I don't intend to go back. read more

Having been here twice, I averaged the score for my review. My first experience was a 3, the heirloom tomato salad was good but some of the tomatoes were not quite ripe and a bit too firm. The salmon was fine but not particularly flavorful or impressive. My second trip there I got the tasting menu and this was a whole different beast. Leatherby's recently changed their tasting menu from six courses to four to suit a pre-theater crowd, makes sense given their location in a concert hall. My friend and I headed over there after a very long satisfying ambiguously gay evening of shopping at Bloomingdales. We got there around 10pm, way after the theater crowd and ordered the tasting menu. To our surprise the chef offered to prepare a spontaneous menu since he wasn't limited by time constraints. The menu consisted of: Amuse: Eastern Malpeque Oyster with Daikon Black Sablefish with Sweet Soy and Blue Oyster Mushrooms Alaskan Halibut with Spanish Chorizo and Venus Clams Intermezzo: Kyoho Grape Sorbet and Tahini on Toasted Brioche Roasted Duck Breast with White Truffles, Sweet Corn, and a Port/Foie Gras Reduction Snake River Farms Waygu Rib Eye Cap with Fingerling Potatoes Chocolate Fondant with Raspberries and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream This is the third Patina group restaurant I have been to and my last experience was even better than the dinner I had at Patina, the flagship restaurant. The restaurant has been open for almost exactly a year and has suffered some turnover in terms of chefs (Jessica L's review mentions Mark Gold who is no longer at Leatherby's), hopefully with a new chef there will be some measure of consistency in the quality of food. One bit of advice if you do go: arrive after the pre-theater crowd for the best dining experience. For a full reviews with photos: www.tangmeister.com/leatherbys read more

the happy hour at this place is intense... 2 dollar beers or 4 dollar wells, plus suuuuupser cheap deals on the bar food (elk burger, hell yeah) there are other sweet deals too, but you gotta check which day it's happening, because I forget. We got to try a little of everything, and everything was awesome. Elk Burger, of course, was amazing, scallops were ginormous, and melted in your mouth, along side the kick of their partner chorizo. The porkchop was just right, and the garnish of apples in truffel butter(i think) was so great, i stole both of them from our group. In addistion, head chef Don is a really cool guy. Ask him about bbq some time. read more

Disclaimer: This soul was here for Happy Hour. The prices are quite reasonable and there are some specials that make it cheaper. Now that that's done with, I can begin. So, 5:15pm. Parked in the lot next to The Westin. (For those unfamiliar with OCPAC, The Westin is immediately south of the repertoire) Pro tip: if it's not a widely publicized event (i.e. one night performance), and you're leaving after 8-9pm. Park in the Westin's garage. When you enter, you'll have to take a ticket. The signs show that the price is very expensive, but because you have a pro tip and you're leaving after 8pm, you won't have to pay. After 8pm, the gates open and the attendants leave. This = free parking. 5:30pm: Anyway, onto the restaurant. The bar, however small/intimate, is well decorated and the staff is very friendly and professional. We ordered to Santa Barbara wines: a red and a white. Because we're sitting at the bar, the drinks come very quickly, as well they should. We also order food. Thinking it's happy hour style portions, we order three plates: a cheese plate, the charcuterie (a meat/pate plate), and the Elk Burger. If you've been here before, you already know we ordered too much. Oh well! The cheese plate included a brie, a sheep's milk, a goat cheese, a blue, jarlsberg, and others. It also includes honey, dried apricots, and fruit compote. Delicious. Honey was the perfect amount. The charcuterie wasn't amazing. You don't get a lot of meat but you do get a large amount of pate. I'm not an expert so I can't chime in. It was smoky flavored but there was more than I could eat. On my next visit, I'd skip this dish. Elk burger - my dear elk burger. How dare you exist. Let's go through the ingredients: Ground elk. obviously. Carmelized Red onions Braised lamb belly. Wild boar bacon. tres leche cheese. grilled lettuce. topped with a over-medium duck egg. What I have just named is the most eclectic and fattening compositions that I have ever experienced assembled on a bun. The grilled lettuce is something I think that most people have not add. I say to you...you should. The only ingredient that I think puts the burger over the top (I know what you're saying..."isn't it already over the top?") is the lamb belly. The elk is very tasty on it's own (beware those who do not like gamey flavor). The lamb belly puts too much fat and excess into the burger. I ended up removing it after half the burger because I couldn't go on. With the lamb belly, the bacon becomes almost indistinguishable from the rest of the food. After removing on of the ingredients, I was quite satisfied. Give Cafe Rouge a try if you're headed to the theater. If you aren't then maybe you won't but you might want to try the elk burger, just to have it to say you've eaten Wild Boar, Elk, Duck, and Lamb all in a single bite. Are you sure you want to be able to say that though? read more

Service is only so so. Staff are not friendly, pay no attention to our needs. I had to call for water several times. Food is actually pretty good, but way over priced! Wine is ok, but not cheap, about the same as high end steak house. Yet decor' here is pretty mediocre and dated. The chairs are like IKEA chairs. So only go there if you are going to a show or concert. It really makes the process a lot easier. They have a valet parking and they will get you out fast, after the show. Be sure to print out a coupon from their web site. Sometime they offered 15%, which makes it somewhat bearable. IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO A SHOW OR CONCERT, WHY GO THERE??? WHY? There are so many places that are 100% better - within walking distance. read more

My, my...where do I begin? First of all, coming here during OC Restaurant Week on a Friday night to find it almost empty...definitely was not a good sign. Plus, it was freezing inside! Something about them not being able to control the temperature, which was set by the concert hall. That's unfortunate. I pretty much always ask the server for suggestions from the menu when I go to a restaurant the first time. In this case, the server proceeded to talk about the braised rabbit and seared duck breast and how you can only find these items in certain restaurants, in what I thought was a fairly condescending tone. Okay, I don't find rabbit that often, but hello? duck? That's pretty much standard on any nice American/French restaurant. As nothing really struck us off the a la carte, we went to the restaurant week menu. The first course is soup (tomato bisque) or house salad. But oh wait, the server just notified us there is no more soup tonight. It's 8:30 on a Friday on a clearly not-busy night. But ok. He then double checks with the kitchen and what do you know...they do have soup. So we get that. The soup was a little on the sour side, little plain, nothing impressive. For entrees, we had a garden vegetable ravioli and 10 oz pork porterhouse. The ravioli was nice - not really authentic italian, but I didn't expect it to be. It was tasty. The pork was also tasty with bacon and an apple & apricot glaze. However, the filet portion of the porterhouse was one bite. Maybe two small bites. Then comes dessert. The server really recommends this chocolate dessert - I think it was a chocolate cake. The other options - sorbet assortment, PB&J, and this apple biscuit (I think?) didn't sound so appealing. So we both get the chocolate cake. Two minutes later, the server says "out of the chocolate..what else do you want?" Come on. Are you kidding? The kitchen and server need to be more in synch, so he doesn't talk up the one dessert they don't have. So we get the sorbet and the biscuit dessert, which I've forgotten already. In all, I think the restaurant had potential. There's a lot of good reviews, and I could see how the restaurant could deserve them. However, not this night. Given that the restaurant is the Patina group's nicest in OC, and is in a concert hall...I was almost expecting the Patina OC counterpart. Having been to Patina, it doesn't compare. The restaurant should have taken their restaurant week menu more seriously - and be able to stock the few options so that they didn't run out at 8:30 on a Friday night. Seriously, the number of parties could not have been in the double digits this night, so I don't know what happened. Plus: No corkage. read more

Patina's Leatherby's Cafe Rouge found on the ground floor of the Renee &Henry Segerstrom's Center for the Performing Arts RULE for so many reasons... 1. They honored a former employee's empty promises. It caused us endless grief for the 3 months that we were trying to sort everything out. For a while there I thought I was going to have to write a disparaging review... but my faith in Patina as an institution was not in vain! 2. Lindsay Williams, the Special Events & Catering Manager for the wedding we did here was great! Very patient. Never lost her cool. She always answers all questions, even if you've asked it before and even if they seem stupid. 3. Team Captain and on-site Manager (I suck, I really wanted to give them a shout-out but I forgot their names. Bald dude? And the German dude...?) Well, they were awesome. They took care of as many issues as they could before trying me. 4. The food was awesome! * Great dates, gala apples and balsamic salad. * The salmon was cooked just right * The chicken was done but not overdone. It tasted great. For me, the best out of the three entrees. * The beef was good. * The truffle mashed potatos were awesome. * The asparagus were tender... and still had snap. * The crispy polenta was good. I am not a fan of creamy polenta so Im glad they made this one crispy. * The chicken tenders for the kids were not too tough. * Tuna tartare for hors d'oeuvres was muy excellente! My favorite. Thi was the standout for me. * The "shrimp and lobster roll" hors d'oeuvres was very good. * The caprese salad hors d'oeuvres was very good. * The curry hors d'oeuvres was very good as well. 5. The hors d'oeuvres was unlimited. Many other venues have a limit on the hors d'oeuvres. Ex. One of each kind of hors d'oeuvres for each guest. Not here. They made PLENTY. A guest can have as many as they want of any hors d'oeuvres as long as they had them. And they made PLENTY! I was gone half the cocktail hour and still managed to grab at least 10 towards the end. 6. The bartenders are quick and efficient. They knew there will be a rush of people so they pre-mixed the signature drink during the ceremony so it's ready to pour when the guests come out. 7. If you do your reception in the restaurant, Cake cutting, flatware, glassware, china, linens, chairs and tables are included. 8. All the staff are very nice and are all smiles. If they are too tired to smile, they are still very earnest and willing to please. I mentioned that there was a grouchy person from the Segerstrom personnel to one of the servers and she was shocked and wanted to make amends immediately. What?!?! That's pretty darned cool! 9. WE werent supposed to be throwing anything... but one of the groomsmen threw confetti EVERYWHERE during his grand entrance. The crew didn't even bother to ask us to clean up. They swept it up themselves. Very cool! 10. My couple wanted very good stuff but wanted to get deals so we kept asking for discounts here ways to reduce cost there... and Lindsay tirelessly worked with us until the couple was satisfied.. from beginning to end. SPACE: The space is limited. Please be aware that you CAN squeeze 110 guests in there with a dance floor and it turned out to be nice and cozy and the close proximity created high energy. But you will have a small dance floor and guests will have to scoot back and forth when other guests want to pass by your table to go somewhere. 100 might be best. PARKING: Some guests and vendors were able to get free parking somewhere. I don't know where! they said beside the restaurant. Been trying to figure out which of the 3 it was! read more

Went on a Tuesday night for a dinner meeting and it was pretty empty. That didn't bother us much though because it felt like the whole place was just for us and we really got to talk. The food was good but not spectacular. If it wasn't for the great service I would have given it 3 stars, however, the service was great so 4 stars it is! I had the house salad for starters. Tasted like an average salad. What I expected from a nice restaurant like this. My entree was their Sea Bass which I thought was very light. On the edge of being too light it was flavorless but it didn't step over that line. Dessert was my FAVORITE! It was a pumpkin pound cake with cream cheese frosting and pecan ice cream. OMG! LOVED IT! Not too sweet just perfect. Our server was great. He knew his dishes and he knew his wines. Made tons of great suggestions and was very attentive. I love the full glass walls of this place. Matches the OCPAC decor and you can see the different changing lights from the center if you sit at a table by the windows. Relaxing music and just a really great place. read more

There are 2 BIG pluses for Leatherby's if you are seeing a performance at OCPAC: 1) No corkage fee (woo-hoo). 2) $8 valet parking with validation (versus $20 for valet or the same $8 trudging from one of the lots). Women in 4 inch heels, take note. I've been here several times, and while the food isn't mind-blowing good, it is good. Parking only once and being able to wait until the last 5 minutes to hit the theater and down that last bit of champers or cocktail, nice. We brought one of our favorite sparkling wines on this last visit, a J Schram Brut Rose and the server immediately brought out an ice bucket and glasses (with no attitude). Both of us ordered from the $39 Pre-Theater menu, which includes a starter, entree and dessert. Salads were excellent, one beet/orange/forget what else/greens and another butter lettuce with walnuts/grapes/pear. Good bread selection as well. We both ordered the duo of beef short ribs- braised was just OK (I can do just as well cooking my own), but the grilled was excellent. Desserts were fine. One of us tried the sorbets- the watermelon with black pepper-interesting and a panna cotta. I don't think this is a destination restaurant, but if you are looking for a spot before a show, you can't beat this for convenience. And service is what you would expect from the Patina group-professional. read more

We came for dinner before the Book of Mormon show. I had the tuna crudo & chicken risotto. My husband had the beef tenderloin. We also had the chocolate banana dessert. It was all very delicious. However when I asked our server about a drink not listed on their 6-8 item long cocktail selection he redirected me back to the printed menu, answering that they can do anything listed on the menu. So don't try to order anything creative off of the menu. read more

I work close to this restaurant and have always wanted to try it out. I loved it, and I hope to go back and try out the happy hour next time. I hear there are great deals on drinks and appetizers! My favorites: Buffalo Sliders Salmon entree Flourless Chocolate Cake Beet Salad White Asparagus Soup (chilled) Apple Tarte Shirley Temples (I probably had 3 while I dined) I recommend parking either in the Parking Structure which is used for the Performing Arts Center, or parking across the street in the Avo's Bistro shopping center. It's a bit of a walk, but it is gorgeous to walk around that area and take in the architecture. I got to meet the executive chef, Don, and he was really polite and very enthusiastic about his menu creations. He made us feel so welcome. The waitress was incredibly sweet and very attentive. We had great service. read more

I'm gonna get stones thrown at me for this. I was looking forward in anticipation in taking my friend here for happy hour. What I ended up with was great food and excellent service but I was hoping that it would have been half of what I actually paid. The happy hour was discontinued. They were reworking some of the menu and some of the cocktails for the new happy hour. My fellow friends and yelpers had been gushing about this place. I had to try the fois gras. Wonderfully presented and just delish with the berries on the plate. I could eat an even larger plate of that stuff if I could. I also ordered the prosciutto plate. Meh. It was good not great. Caramelized apples, and Brie accompanied the dish providing great contrasting flavors and textures but I didn't really love this dish. The cocktail I ordered was complex mixture of spirits but I couldn't taste all the alcoholic flavors that were supposed to be in it. read more

Not a bad little spot if you are in the mood for a pre-performance drink or bite to eat and would rather not hit up a chain restaurant around the corner in your theater-going best. All the windows make for nice, inviting lighting and the decor is bright and simple. Be forewarned, however: should you be going to a matinee the waitstaff is minimal, so the time to be served increases significantly. Kind of a downside to a place that looks like it would have nothing but five star service. Also, they don't have a tapas menu--which I find odd. Might be something worth taking into consideration. In sum: If you're hungry, but not for a full meal, head across the street to TGIFridays. If you just want a drink, drop in. read more

Walked in and lucked out there was a cancellation so they seated our group of 2. The food was definitely tasty and fancy, but we missed the bigger portions from other dinning we've been too. Nice selection of wine. I had a Chardonnay from Santa Barbara that was wonderful and paired it with the raviolo. Did not fill up, but wasn't ready to drop more cash on the visit. Another day when I'm extra ballin read more

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Food quality = excellent That's the only positive Knowledge of dishes delivered to table was terrible, they were out of multiple wines and spirits and food dishes. For a Saturday night while multiple performances going on - it felt like their servers were annoyed people were eating and drinking - they had no excitement or energy. The energy and service to even get bread was awkward. Like I said - food quality excellent and everything else was lacking. read more

A wonderful way to dine before a show! We enjoyed a beautiful setting with warm fine dining service. The duck, ribeye and scallops were standouts while the octopus appetizer was scrumptious too. Sheri, their general manager made us feel right at home by visiting our table. Try the Manhattan or one of their fine wines. Great job Leatherbees!! read more

I usually eat here when I have tickets. I had dinner here tonight and was very disappointed. I had the filet with oxtail croute. It tasted like it was leftovers fried. The steak was fine. Nothing to write home about. The Caesar Gem Salad was good, but not enough fennel, just two shaved pieces. I also asked for bread, it wasn't offered. Usually the bread is quite good. All they had were wheat rolls. I requested white, but they had none. Overall I was not satisfied. I'm hoping this is a one time event. I've been eating here for many years and have never had a meal as poor as this one. read more

4.5 stars. Visit was May 16, 2013 We each had the 3 course prix-fixe Flashdance theme menu. For appetizers we each had "Up in Smoke" Smoked salmon, smoked quail egg, smoked potato,onion relish, crème fraiche, pumpernickel. This couse was wonderful. We each had a different Main Course. I had the "Working Man's Orchestra" of Braised beef short ribs, mushroom risotto, fava beans, truffle jus My date had "What a Feeling" a squid ink pasta, octopus affogato, laughing bird shrimp, capers, olives, fresno chiles. She rated this course 3 stars. I sampled this and preferred the short ribs plate. We each had a different dessert. "I Love Rock and Roll" - Baked Alaska, raspberry sorbet, balsamic meringue, coriander and mint syrup, pop rocks The other dessert was "Maniac" - Peanut butter, Nutella, marshmallow, banana and brioche sandwich, with chocolate sauce The meals were absolutely perfect in size. The prices were $60 with 3 wine pairings and $41 without. I had the wine pairings while she had ice tea. The restaurant is located on the first floor of the segerstrom Center for the Arts concert hall and has walls of glass so you can enjoy the view outside. Leatherby's is just a 2 minute walk to the theater and would be less than a minute to the concert hall. Loved that valet parking was only $10 (including theater parking after dinner). read more

So I'm finally getting around to reviewing Fall Restaurant Week. Getting reservations was easy enough (I am an advocate of OpenTable). Parking is always fun, because I've gotten accustomed to finding the cheapest spot on the block. Tonight, that would be the $5 flat rate over at Pinot Provence one block over at the Westin SCP. I failed to mention that I don't plan on eating there, just that I'm meeting friends at the hotel first. Hey, it's more tip for our server, OK? You know, maybe I should have some brekkie before I continue my chat about food . . .brb. (scrambling eggs, debating brown rice, heating tasty pork product...) Ok, much better. Now where was I? Oh, yes. Course One: Soup or salad? I have a bad childhood memory of corn, so I aim for the baby mixed greens, Granny Smiths, Gorgonzola and toasted pecans. The deal breaker (almost literally) were the sticky/chewy nuts. I spent so much time trying to look refined while working the CrazyGlue-like bits off my teeth. Where's the candid camera? Course Two: Surf or turf? Trying to keep my red meat intake in moderation, I go for the "good" fat and request their cedar-planked salmon. The accompaniment of Beluga lentils was well-thought out. The acid from my heirloom cherry tomatoes worked fine. However, I tasted a bit of cold towards the middle of my seafood. Undercooked. Doesn't happen often, but unfortunately I caught it. (Note: Companions LOVED their tamarind glazed bone-in short rib. It was a meat and potato lovers dream. The quintuple vegetable threat of sweet potato, butternut squash, cipollini onion, carrots, and mustard greens packed in the needed nutrition.) Dessert: Grown up or kiddie? Caramel creme brulee or PB&J bites. I went for the torched treat. I wasn't in a berrylicious mood, so while I picked at their flans, they happily shared the berries off my bowl. Not bad, but with two frustrating courses behind me, I wasn't wowed enough. Maybe that's what I get for not going off the standard menu? read more

Our pre-concert dining began with a lovely welcome from the Senior General Manager. The entire staff beginning with the hostess was attentive. We were overwhelmed when our awesome server approached our table and said, "May I take your usual photo?" Wow! My husband and I knew at that moment Leatherby's Café Rouge is awe-inspiring. We ordered Belgian Endive salads. The pomegranate and apple maple cider vinaigrette was paired beautifully with our Scottish Salmon with bacon shallot crust. The bread was served warm with a generous little bowl of butter. As we looked out the window toward at the remarkable Argyros Plaza, our desert arrived -- Black Forest Cake. We are looking forward to our next visit to this magnificent restaurant. read more

I took a group of people here, and the food was great. The drinks were wonderful, and the desserts were definitely fantastic. We went during the day, so it was very slow there. A little bit of business traffic from nearby lawyers and stockbrokers, but otherwise not busy at all. This is, because of the location, a theater dining establishment first and foremost. During the daytime, the glass and the use of bright glass everywhere was a bit much. My salmon was cooked perfectly, and our wines were wonderful. Parking is a challenge, but worth a trip here. read more

Restaurant is right next to performing arts center and it was convenient for seeing a play after dinner. Short ribs were great. Limited menu but definitely sufficient choices. All the food was good as others had salmon and sea bass. Service was excellent. read more

We have been season ticket holders for years and dine at Leatherby's before every show. The good news is that they remodeled and hired more staff so the service is better. The food servers are always very personable and professional. The restaurant no longer charges $5 for bread, and instead serve delicious popovers. The bad news is the new menu is ridiculously expensive (out-the-door price has doubled) and the quality of food has gone downhill. My biggest complaint is that the side dishes are now a la carte. So if one person wants brussell sprouts, they are paying for a portion that's supposed to serve 2 to 3 people. If one of your party doesn't like brussell sprouts for their side dish, then they are ordering their own and paying for a portion size that's supposed to feed more people. Since diners are there to attend the theatre performance, it's not as if a diner can take leftovers home. So there is a lot of food wasted. My recommendation for the restaurant is to get rid of the a la carte side dishes! It's a rip-off and a waste! One night we dined there with 4 people so we had to order two $12 vegetable side dishes and two $10 potato side dishes and there still was not enough for 4 people! These side dishes were in addition to the the $14 salads which need serious improvement and I wondered how can you ruin a salad? Added to those prices is the entree which consists of a very expensive, over-salted piece of meat. Fish entrees average $36 and steaks are $42 to $60. I enjoy a good steak and I'm willing to pay for it, but the meal did not match the prices. My recommendation to the restaurant is to bring back the fixed price menus! It was a good value for those of us who regularly attend the shows and keep your restaurant in business. To make matters worse, last night I ordered the sea bass. I barely made it through the show when I began to feel the effects of food poisoning. I barely made it home. Needless to say, I am so very disappointed with the new Leatherby's. read more

God I love this place before the shows start! I think it's a great stop to grab dinner-albeit, it's a bit pricey-and a few drinks at the bar. The bartenders are beyond friendly and inviting. I've never had a bad experience here, and even if they don't know how to make a French Margarita, they'll try and make something else if it's not up to par. One memorable experience I had is a prefix dinner before Swan Lake. The entrees were delicious, I think it was a butternut squash ravioli that just melted! I like that the chef is keen on seasoning and flavor combinations. You can tell that a majority of the people that dine here do so because it's conveniently located next to the center, but for those that come for the actual food, they know that it's notable. It's a little tucked away for my liking, but all of my experiences here were fantastic! read more

Excellent executive chef. Chef Ross Pangilinan executed every dish very well. Patina is lucky to have such a detailed chef. This is the best patina restaurant we've been to in terms of food. The portion seems a bit more fair. Still not standard, but almost tolerable. Please don't scold the chef for portioning a bit more. I know how CHEAP you patina owners are. 5 stars for the food. Again, very lame pre-made desserts from patina: Cheap, too sweet, and not home made. Hello, consumers are not dumb, they can tell the desserts are pre made. You simply can not serve mass produced cheap pre-made desserts at a high end restaurant. A simple dessert is fine as long as it's made fresh in house.1 star. read more

I went here during Happy Hour Week a while back. My friend and I had both noticed this place on separate occasions when seeing a show at the OCPAC. We arrived at 5pm and the place was empty. The crowd did pick up as it got closer to show time at the theater. We opted to have a seat at the bar to take advantage of the happy hour specials because the "lounge" seating looked far too inconvenient to enjoy the food. The "lounge" area had nice couches, but the tables were small; too small to fit the plates of food we were planning to try. We had the Buffalo Sliders (the thick slice of bacon made this slider unique), Duck Confit Crepe (just the right hint of spicy), and Cheese Course (included my favorite cheese: Humboldt Fog Goat Cheese). We also took advantage of $2 beer night (Wednesday). Please note that all the beers are bottled. The food here was excellent. I think this is a great place if you are having a gourmet foodie craving. Happy hour is definitely the time (and the right price) to fill this craving since the food was wonderful and left me satisfied. read more

We visited during beer week and they were serving tapas with the beer flight. Service was outstanding and the food was very creative and delicious. They should think about having a tapas menu permanently. read more

Leatherby's Cafe Rouge - Beer week with tapas menu - New American Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

We had a fantastic dinner there this past weekend. The food and service were great. Started with the French Trio which consisted of Escargot, Fois Gras and Sweetbreads which were just the perfect size. My husband started with a roasted red and yellow beet salad with goat cheese which was stunning and tasted even better. He had the prime steak which was perfectly prepared. For dessert he had the milk and cookies and I had the Il Flotante. It was a great end to our evening. We will certainly be back for more. Looking around at the other tables, I can see many more things on the menu to try that looked good. The food is presented beautifully. The atmosphere and music are lovely and the setting very comfortable. The staff are extremely helpful and attentive. It made for a very memorable evening. read more

This is the 2nd time my girlfriend and I have ate at Cafe Rouge. And this is the 1st time I have ever left a review of an establishment of any sort on Yelp, so you know the place must've been great. The food is outstanding and after eating at Niuport 17 last week, and Maestros Ocean Club a couple months back, I find this place to be the best. The food is cooked to perfection, the service is top notch and the drinks are delicious. Our server Rick did a great job explaining the process behind the chefs thinking, and the host(manager?) Dane is extremely friendly. The only con I have about this place, is that it does run a little pricey, but when your going to see a show at a place like Segerstrom it's fun to treat yourself to the whole %1 side of life. I look forward to my next time back. read more

Service was OUTSTANDING. Food was mediocre...salmon tasted fishy, mushroom soup had an "old oil" taste Dessert was very good. Convenience to Concert Hall wonderful. I would good back ONLY if I went to a concert/show, but not to just go eat there, to many other excellent restuarants in the area. read more

We've eaten at Leatherby's Cafe Rouge a few times before shows at the OCPAC and Segerstrom and usually have a great experience, but last night fell a bit short. Although we had a reservation well before our show time, we were seated at a tiny table in the bar area. Our server was nice, but less than attentive. We ordered the cheese plate as an appetizer but it was served at the same time as the soup and salad. When she came to check on us, I asked her what cheeses were on our plate, and she didn't know. She found another server who had "the list" and as he was pointing out the cheeses, he touched them. Eeew! The entrees were fine, but were brought out before we were done with the cheese. So we sent them back. My husband's risotto was tasty, and my beef two ways was just ok. The sauce for the cheek was sticky and didn't have a lot of flavor, and the other piece was on the rare side of medium-rare and I ordered medium. The server didn't come back and check on us and the maitre d' was actually the one who cleared our plates and brought us the dessert menu. The desserts were good, but very small, not big enough to share so we ordered two. With the lack of attention from the waitress and the noise from being seated in the bar, it just didn't seem like a dinner for two that cost over $150. read more

This is simply the best pre-theater restaurant that I know (not that I tried many). Locate across the plaza from the Segestrom Center, it is open for very few hours every day, the hours match the performance times at the center. The ambiance is excellent: huge panoramic windows open onto the plaza (the view cannot be ruined even by the horrible Connector sculpture in the middle of the open space). The food is great - not at the Michelin-level of greatness (for that you will have to go to the flagship restaurant of the Rouge's owner, the Patina), but way above a typical restaurant offering the "new" American food. In my experience, the food under chef Greg Stillman got better in the last couple of years, so it might be worth re-visiting. As it is typical for such venues, he menu is short, so meal time is predictable. Starting the dinner at 6PM for the 7:30PM performance allows plenty of time to enjoy the food; if you are the worrying type, starting at 5:30PM will allow you to relax completely. Service is attentive and efficient. The restaurant can fill up, so reservations are absolutely recommended on the weekends. All the luxury does not come cheap, budget about $80 per person for the dinner. read more

Came here for Valentine's Day and was completely blown away by the food. The flavors were out of this world and the service top notch!

I took my fiance here for his birthday on a Wednesday night. I was just looking for somewhere we haven't tried and thanks to Yelp reviews we decided to try this place! So glad we did - the food was so great. I'm surprised to hear that this place is predominantly visited by the pre-theater crowd. I really think it deserves a wider audience. Since there was a show on Wed. night, my fiance and I plus one other table were the only patrons in there by 7:30. The hostess was very friendly upon entering the restaurant and the ambiance is very sleek and makes you feel like you're not in the OC. Here's what we had: -Green salad - very light and fresh with a delicious goat cheese crostini on the side. We mentioned we were just going to split the salad since my fiance had wanted the Australian Yellowtail app, but they were out of it. It was nice to see that the salad had been split for us which we didn't expect. -I had the Roasted Alaskan Halibut, which was phenomenal! I ate every last bite. It came with sweet corn and sugar snap peas topped with a delicious prosciutto chip and was very artfully presented. I can't remember the last time I had Halibut cooked that perfectly. -My fiance had the Three Step Beef Short Ribs which came with homemade gnocchi, peas and pea tendrils, carrots and brown butter sauce. The short ribs were so tender and had a very nice flavor to them, but I think my Halibut stole the show that night. For dessert I had a cappuccino which was great (and not doused with milk as so many OC places do) and we tried the "ravioli of fruits" which was very different and neat to see the presentation of, but it kinda tasted like a jelly donut...nonetheless, we cleaned the plate :) Overall, service was good, but there were a few hiccups - our drinks (I had a glass of Sauv. Blanc and fiance had a Martini) were slow to come to the table - we got them when we were half way done our salads and the waitress forgot my spoon with my cappuccino. Don't want to sound snotty, but when you're paying $30+ an entree and there's only 2 tables in the restaurant, stuff like that shouldn't take very long. The other crappy thing is parking since you have to park in the garage and pay $8 - maybe that's just show nights - I don't know, but I'm also unaware of any validation. Next time we'll find other parking options. Other nice perks of Patina Group restaurants is the no corkage and the birthday offer we used by signing up at their site. Nice touches. To sum it all up - definitely try this place out! We will be back! read more

We dined here on a Saturday night before a show at the performing arts center. It's so convenient for that (literally in the same building) that I'd certainly recommend it for theater goers. The restaurant has a very nice setting, with large picturesque glass walls and the whole center is breathtaking. Plus they have no corkage fee. As to food/service though, the service is not very professional for a restaurant that aspires to its caliber. Way too casual and chatty in a TGIF-sort-of-way. That's probably my criticism of the food as well. It lacked sophistication. Tasted okay, but not for a patina restaurant with a $75 tasting menu. We had a crudo of albacore with brutishly sliced cucumber on top to start; then a pasta dish with elegant and tasty stuffed pillow-like agnoli (I think) but where they were served uninspired; then "sea trout" which looked and tasted like steelhead to me, broiled and served with beets (as strange a combination to taste as to describe); then a unremarkable and fatty chop of lamb rack, followed by a large but boring chocolate tart-with-custard thing. none of the items were bad. They just weren't great. Everything was just okay. In my book "just okay" gets three stars. read more

We ate here for the first time before watching Jersey Boys at Segerstrom. We were always intrigued by the restaurant that's easily viewed from the theater's windows and the Executive Chef's biography also fueled our curiosity. Our party of 3 all elected to dine from the prix fix menu, which is specifically designed and named after the current musical in town. I also chose the wine pairings and all 3 glasses worked perfectly with every dish served. Since the menu we ate from ostensibly changes with the show of the week, I won't bother reviewing the specifics of each dish. I WILL say that they were all delicious and kept my tongue guessing with the variety of flavors that were released with each bite. For ambiance, the restaurant and its clientele can seem a little stuffy (a good percentage are likely donors to the theater) but bring good company and you'll be just fine. The prices, as you might expect, are a little on the pricey side. read more

This restaurant is right by Segerstrom Hall, very convenient if you're going to a musical. For the most part, the service and side dishes/salads were good. They are supposed to specialize in steaks, the meat was flavorful but way over cooked. We both ordered medium and both were well done (zero pink inside). Also, when we arrived they took our drink orders, my husbands was there in a timely manor, mine took over 20 minutes. I could understand if they were busy but it was 545pm and only about eight tables refilled at the time. My second drink, our waiter was over by the bar talking to some lady is, he looked my way and I held up my martini glass to get a second one. If I had not done this, I'm not sure he would've asked me if I wanted another. Over all our meal was fine but for $160 for two, I would've liked something more than fine. read more