The beauty of international travel is being able to explore culture through its food. I went on…read more2.5week trip to France last year and grew a new appreciation for the French cuisine. Once I return to the states, I was always on the lookout for authentic French food which I became a keenly aware pretty quickly is a rare find even in Southern California. I was relieved to stumble upon bouillon in Newport Beach. The name alone says it all and seeing a boulangerie around the corner quickly won my heart. Walking into bouillon felt like walking into cafe in Paris. From the signage, chairs and iron tables I was quickly transported back. Reviewing the menu, I quickly knew I was in the right spot and giggled with excitement. I ordered all my favorite straight away; escargot, steak tartare with frites (you must add the egg yolk!), lyonnaise salad (on the menu it's listed as Salade Frisée aux lardon, lyonnaise is a regional name but I know the ingredients), a bottle of Sancerre, soufflé and two espresso. The meal was fantastic, so elegant, refined but made with simple ingredients you can taste. The service was leisurely and impeccable, the waitress was so knowledgeable and welcoming. Most people in the OC are more familiar with the chain bakery Moulin which serves French quick fair but the star of the show is certainly bouillon. They have a fabulous menu for those that missing truly authentic or for folks interested to try new French meals . Great selection of wines from different French regions that are affordable (in France is not about the price tag but more on the region it grew from). Stop by for a quick bite or stay for the long French lunch / dinner. Bon appétit, et vive la gastronomie!

I enjoyed the atmosphere of this spot, it's very welcoming as soon as you enter…read more Service was super attentive and friendly. The food was great. We ordered: steak frites 2x, soufflé, beef pasta for $116. Overall, we had a very enjoyable dinner and look forward to returning.

I normally don't eat at French restaurants. Not because I don't like it, I'm just used to food from…read moremy culture. We also came here to use our rest credit. Our server who I forgot his name was super nice and attentive. My husband got chicken and I got duck and both dishes were delicious. We also got a Brie cheese dish as appetizer and it was amazing as well. The vibe and the decorations felt really welcoming and authentic. If we're in the area in the future, we will for sure come back.

Came in today to pick up two simple things and walked away frustrated by both interactions…read more First was a gift card. The lady who helped me - dark hair, really overly colorful eye makeup, and tattoos - processed the transaction but handed me the card without a receipt. When I asked for one, she spent a moment at the screen and then told me she couldn't print it because she had already closed out my tab. I was confused why 1) she didn't give me a receipt in the first place, then 2) she decided that was the only solution - to tell me it could not be done. After I asked her to find a solution as I needed a copy of the receipt, she finally asked her colleague beside her, who pointed her to the right place, and, voila, the receipt was printed. Leading with "I can't" is never the right customer service instinct, especially for something as basic as a receipt. I also tried to buy the butter they import from France. I stood at the case for several minutes with no acknowledgment. I finally walked over to the nearest employee (her name was Lucy) who was finishing up with a customer at the register right next to the butter section. I politely asked if she could help me when she was free. She looked at me, nodded, and said she would. Then proceeded to assist every customer who lined up behind that original customer without once glancing back in my direction. In fact, I had enough time to walk to the bakery, go through the entire gift card situation as mentioned above, and return to the butter section, and Lucy still hadn't looked over. I left without the butter. Moulin used to have fantastic service. I don't know where those regulars went, but two strikes in one visit, with two different employees, is hard to brush off.

Great find inside of the south coast plaza mall! After shopping, I was starving and needed…read moresomething within the are without wait. The place is nice and cozy, giving bistro vibes. There was only 1 server so it did take some time to be seated and to get my order in. I had the lunch coarse meal which came with carrot soup, duck entree, and dessert. Everything was delicious! Duck was very moist and well cooked. Definitely recommend!

Ty greeted us and sat us right away for an early lunch at 11. There were no other customers. Ty…read morewas attentive throughout the meal without being intrusive. The decor was very cute with a more classical Parisian Blue and gold accents mixed with an eclectic mix of art from American musical icons. We started with chamoagne by the glass. It was the perfect balance if sweet and dry. Croque Madame. It was perfectly crisp on the outside. The saltiness of the ham and the creaminess of the cheese were very balanced. The bernaise sauce on the side was the best part to a really delicious dish. -highly recommend The pear endive salad was good. We added the chicken because we were not having a lot of other protein for lunch, but I feel it altered the ratio of dressing to salad. I don't typically like a lot of dressing, but something slightly more acidic would have balanced out all of the rich food we were having. The greens and fruit were delicious and fresh. I would try it again, without the chicken. -recommend if you are in the mood. The french Onion Soup was delicious. It does take awhile, likely because they are making it fresh, so factor that in for time. The taste transported me to Paris, 30 years ago. Such a classic recipie. -strongly recommend. Creme brulee - we were stuffed. We didn't finish our soups, the salad, or the Croque Madame.... so that could have factored into my impression on the creme brulee. It was good and very classic. It was what you think of when you think of a very traditional creme brulee. I wanted it to be exceptional, but it was good. The espresso paired perfectly. - recommend for Creme Brulee lovers. My friend ordered the rice pudding abd she lived it. She said the pistachios were sich a lovely touch. I would definitely return and order the Croque Madame!

Postino has become my go-to spot lately. Great deals, delicious food (the Bruschetta Board is a…read moremust), and an amazing wine selection. One of the servers, Bobby, told me about their subscription program- I highly recommend signing up to get a $20 bottle every month. He's also one of the friendliest servers around!

Great food! Wonderful vibe! Luis was wonderful, had amazing service, and was very attentive! He…read moreprovided us with the best service! very wonderful night overall!

This place surprised me with how good it was! We came on a monday night so it was not too busy,…read moreservice was quick and attentive and the food was amazing. The inside was intimate and good for a date night. We ordered the Filet Mignon with pepper sauce, the potato's for appetizer, and the Rack of lamb. We also got a Crème brulee for dessert! Everything we got was delicious and cooked PERFECTLY. I have never had such a good medium rare steak. Would recommend!

Food: - Salade Butcher: surprisingly tasty with whole mini…read moregem lettuce leaves topped with light comte cheese and crispy croutons, delicious and unique - Steak Frites: steak was served medium rare and was full of juicy though a tad though, it also came with a sauce a poivre which added an earthy depth of flavor, fries tasted freshly fried - Canard confit: the star of the show! The duck leg confit was tender and fell off the bone. The duck skin was skillfully fried with a perfect crispy texture. The country style vegetables were light and served as a perfect balance to the duck and didn't detract from the main event Service/ ambiance: - staff was helpful and kind, and even spoke French! - Parking: plentiful since this is located at the south coast collections plaza - they have both inside and outside patio seating

This intimate tapas restaurant really blew me away. Reservations are recommended due to the small…read moresize, but my friend and I came in on a weeknight at opening and were able to be seated. Our server was very warm and helpful. For two of us we ordered one heavier dish and 3 on the lighter side and I actually left pretty stuffed. The menu is always evolving so I'd love to return, but for this visit we started with the bread and ham butter. The bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and the ham butter imparted so much flavor. My favorite item that we ordered was the Galician Octopus. The thin slices were perfectly executed and the flavors underneath packed a punch. I would pass on the Gambas al Ajillo. While the shrimp were large, I found myself wishing that they had some char. The Summer Squash Salad was a perfect complement to the other dishes. I found the squash ribbons to be unique, the dressing to be light and fresh, and the inclusion of small bits of cheese to impart just the right amount of saltiness to the dish. Because we were celebrating my birthday, they gave us a complimentary slice of the basque cheesecake with a candle in it. Typically I'm not a big fan of this type of cheesecake, but theirs was wonderful and we ate the whole thing. I'm always appreciative when a restaurant does a little something extra for a special occasion. Extra props to our server because she noticed the gift that my friend brought for me and took it upon herself to inquire about the occasion and bring the dessert. It's those little touches that mean a lot.

Finally got to try Fat of the Land and they didn't disappoint. Located in the heart of Santa Ana -…read moreit's an intimate bar/restaurant with a friendly staff. Parking can also be found behind and on the side of the restaurant. Things tried: - Bread + Ham Butter: I didn't know what to expect - it started off just ok and grew on me after a few bites. Of the items tried this was my least favorite. - Apple Pear Frisée Salad: Loved this salad! Super refreshing and perfectly dressed. The balance of lettuce, pears and apples with the ham.. it just hit the spot. This is something I'd get again. - Galician Octopus - Another winner of a dish! Perfectly prepared octopus and the sauce - it was a party in my mouth. A definite must try! - Braised Mushroom: I was on the fence about this one but my friend picked it. It was surprisingly good. You mix in the onsen egg and it just works. - Rack of Pork - this is another winner of a dish! I will say it tastes even better as a left over. The pork was perfectly seasoned and oh so yummy! - bosque cheesecake: nice and creamy cheesecake and a nice way to wrap up a meal. I'm not a drinker, but they had an assortment of wines and beers. My friend quite enjoyed the beer our waiter recommended. All in all a fun dining experience - one I'd definitely repeat. And if you visit and are in doubt on what to try - definitely ask your server - they make great recs here.

Favorite fine dining / Michelin-star restaurant in OC! Can't say enough great things about it!…read more A super intimate, upscale-casual (smart casual vibes with no enforced dress code) restaurant located in the third-floor penthouse of SCP. The space feels intimate because it's on the smaller side, and they thoughtfully stagger reservations so the dining room never feels overcrowded. You can be seated in the main dining room, on the outdoor patio, or on the indoor patio next to the penthouse shops. I come here at least once a year for my birthday because the staff are genuinely warm and make every guest feel special. They clearly care deeply about hospitality and creating a true culinary experience. Honestly, the entire team is top-notch, but on our most recent visit, Kara took especially great care of us. She remembered our preferences, made sure we were comfortable and had everything we needed without needing to ask, and made my birthday feel special while also giving my husband and me space (I dislike when wait staff at smaller restaurants hover - they don't do that at all). The way the staff serves, takes orders, clears, etc. is like a really well-rehearsed dance - they want everything to be paced, smooth, and efficient (without feeling forced or robotic) and it really makes a difference. The food is delicious and beautifully presented, with thoughtful attention put into every detail of the flavor profile and color palette. They NEVER miss. I love how they refresh the menu a few times during the year to showcase seasonal ingredients while still staying true to the restaurant's overall identity. They also have a selection of dining experiences - I always go for the 3 course prefix during lunch and the portion sizes and timing of each course is perfect. Also highly recommend their afternoon tea on Saturdays. Couldn't find a more luxurious afternoon tea experience in OC! I genuinely hope they continue to do well! It's a pleasure to be a guest and feel pampered for a special day or an elevated casual meal with friends/family. Will be back many times in the future!

I was excited to try the Michelin-starred afternoon tea set at Knife Pleat, and it came to about…read more$150 per person after tax and tip. The presentation was pretty, and the staff here provided attentive service. Unfortunately, there were several fruit flies around our table, which made it difficult to fully enjoy the experience. I ended up leaving some of the food unfinished because of it, which was disappointing at this price point. I understand it's summer and these things can happen, but I expected a more polished environment from a Michelin-starred restaurant. Overall, the tea service was enjoyable, but the fruit flies took away from what could have been a memorable experience.

Went to Marche Modern a few nights ago. Our experience was outstanding…read more My very positive time, started out with Hostess, Priscilla. I spoke to Priscilla twice and each time, she was so friendly, helpful and professional. I had a specific seating request, and she made it happen for me! I was so appreciative. Our server, Jeffrey was equally outstanding. We were so grateful that he took such good care of us. Jeffrey was literally very passionate about working for Marche and the menu. He really loves his job! Let's talk about the food. My date wasn't very hungry. However, she loved her Caesar Salad. I had the scallops, and they were amazing! Thanks team, for making our dinner so special!

(10-scale, 1 worst, 10 best)…read more 3 Bread French Garlic Ramps 7 Scallops 2 Cordon Blue 3 OCR Fries 10 Caesar (special) 9 Service For the prices I would expect everything to be 7 and above. Disappointing.