First time at this Irvine location, as I've had the Rancho Cucamonga location twice. The food here was really good. Our table ended up getting the calamari and deviled eggs to start, both of which were good. The only thing I would knock about the apps were the portion size compared to the price, specifically for the calamari. The portion was pretty small and was about 20 dollars. The quality wasn't any better than any other chain restaurant, so I don't think the price was justified based on the quality, but it was good nonetheless. For entrees, our party got a variety of dishes, including the shrimp pasta, the salmon sandwich, the brisket, the burger, and the chicken parm. From what I heard from everyone, the food was great and there were no complaints. Again, the only gripe was the price vs quality of food. The price being paid, you would expect some sort of fine dining experience and quality, especially if you order from the house specialties section of the menu, but the quality was just good, nothing outstanding that would warrant a fine dining price. If the prices were lowered to match the actual quality of the food and service, then I would give 5 stars, but overall, it was just an alright/good experience. Parking at the Spectrum can be a bit tough, depending on the time of day. I'd recommend parking in the large structure and then walking. It is between 5-10 minute walk from the large structure. read more

Pricey spot in Irvine! After tax and tip, this plate of salmon was $50... yeah I can't say that that was great value. Maybe 3oz max, good if you're trying to be on a diet! Service and vibes were excellent though, though I can't imagine it was worth paying that much for! read more

Paul Martin's American Grill Irvine Spectrum - Salmon - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Have not been here for a long time g time. My husband was attracted by their new offer of taco Tuesday. $3.00 taco, the meat was very taste but each time the quantity of the meat was different. Some has plenty of meat and some has less. A famous restaurant like them should have quality control. The happy hour steelhead sandwich is pretty good.l but the fish seem very thin and small. Don't know if the regular manual has the same quality? The Cobb salad also very tasty. Like the location and the atmosphere here though. read more

Paul Martin's American Grill Irvine Spectrum - Steelhead Salmon - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

We wanted to give Paul Martin's another try so recently came back for dinner. It was a great decision. My husband ordered the braised short rib with mashed potatoes and I had the salmon with brussel sprouts instead of mashed potatoes. Everything was delicious. We thought the server forgot to give us a sharp knife for the short rib but it was so tender, my husband was able to shred it with just a fork. Loved my salmon. The brussel sprouts was amazing. It had some small pieces of pork, I think. Was so perfectly seasoned. Took a very long time for the foods to be brought out but service was generally good. There was a birthday party in the other room and restaurant was partially full on a Sunday night. read more

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We came here for the first time to celebrate a special anniversary and it was fantastic! Our server (I think her name was Fanny) was so attentive and really made our celebration extra special. She checked on us often and made sure everything was great. We came in before 1130am and it was nice and quiet, and right around 12, a lot more tables started filling up. We enjoyed the environment, nice but not too formal, intimate but not dark, diverse mix of patrons- some couples, and some office teams, but also families with little kids, and there's a menu just for lunch, which is a good option if you don't need a full dinner entree, but it looked like the dinner menu was also available. We found plenty of options on the lunch menu, which had a mix of chicken, burgers and fish - all quite reasonably priced for this type of restaurant. We started with the Ahi Tuna Lettuce Cups - so fresh and just the right amount of sweet and savory - this was definitely a highlight. Ordered the Pineapple mocktail, which had a nice mix of fruit and ginger, and for entrees, we ordered the halibut and the portabello mushroom burger, the fish was a perfect size portion and just the right amount of flavoring and salt level. The mushroom burger was also delicous, I like that it wasn't fried, which is sometimes the case, it was cooked in minimal oil, and quite filling. We finished our meal with the butter cake dessert with ice cream and it was so amazing and delicous! Overall, we had an awesome experience in every aspect - as far as upscale casual restaurants in Orange County, this one ranks among the top ones. Special thanks and SHOUT OUT to our serveer Fanny for such a wonderful experience! read more

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My friend and I went during Happy Hour and we have mixed feelings about the experience. We first got seated and ordered the $18 combo. It comes with the selected main course and drink of your choice. I ordered a Cucumber Refresher with tacos, and my friend got the Raspberry Martini with the Steelhead Salmon Sandwich. We noticed a few things about the service. It was a little crowded during Happy Hour, and it seemed like there was an event, but the drinks took a while to come out. Our server didn't really come check on us during our meal as well. He came by once to double check if we wanted to order anything before Happy Hour was over. Otherwise, it was almost impossible to waive him over for issues with our food or asking for the bill. The drinks. We both agreed that the Cucumber Refresher needed to be mixed a little more since the first few sips were straight vodka, compared to the martini which was nice. The food. My steak tacos were great and I thought they didn't need any adjustments. A great addition to their menu. My friend's food however, had pieces of steak on her plate. She is sensitive to red meat, and there were small pieces hidden in the fries that come with her plate. We were surprised by the cross contamination. Once we finally got our server's attention, he apologized for the cross contamination and would offer to let the kitchen know for future reference. He did not offer to remake my friend's meal, or comp any part of our bill. As for the bill, we didn't realize it's not $18 flat. It could be more depending on the drink of your choice. We explained our confusion since the offer on the front of the menu says $18 sandwich or tacos with any drink. It did not say that certain drinks would cost more. We weren't upset or anything, just confused and a little surprised by our overall experience. read more

Paul Martin's American Grill Irvine Spectrum - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Really enjoyed my lunch experience at Paul Martin's. The family and I decided to meet here for our usual Sunday lunch family time. It was perfect. It was the day of the World Cup finals and it was great to learn they had a bar that was playing the game. It wasn't too loud or crowded. We enjoyed a nice family lunch. The food was delicious and our servers were professional, friendly, and patient. Parking, however - and like everywhere else at Irvine Spectrum, is a bit of walk. The hubs dropped us off at the door and went to the parking garage. read more

Paul Martin's is always a good choice if you need a big reservation for a celebratory occasion. Every Paul Martin's I've been to is modern and elevated inside, while also feeling welcoming and inviting. Perfect for a special occasion. Food-wise, I'm shocked that the quality is this good at a larger American chain. The brick chicken is always a hit. So tender, juicy, flavorsome, and delicious. However, the price isn't low for what comes on your plate, which is to be expected here. The only bummer is the wait times. The service is friendly and attentive, but the kitchen always seems to be understaffed. We waited a little over an hour for our food after ordering. Not the worst thing when loved ones surround you at your table. But if you're hungry, you should mentally prepare to wait. read more

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One of our favorite casual eats at Irvine Spectrum. Service is attentive, and food is good. We always start with the salt & pepper shrimp appetizer. Kids meals at $9 are great value and includes entree, refillable soft drink, and ice cream for dessert. I got the $15 bottomless mimosa since the glass of mimosa is $10... bottomless is great value. Our waiter was so sweet and brought a blonde brownie with ice cream for my son's birthday celebration. Thumbs up for food, value, and service! read more

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Superb American restaurant with an extensive menu and delicious food. The braised short rib was melt in your mouth tender and the burger was well balanced with juicy beef and fresh vegetables. The interior is beautifully decorated with a large entrance area and plenty of seating. The bar has a few small TVs to watch sporting events. The staff are very friendly and helpful. Great place for any celebration or date night. read more

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I've been to Paul Martin's main dining area a few times in the last years, but I recently went back for the Happy Hour. It was great. I enjoyed the food, service and atmosphere. read more

Love happy hour at Paul Martin's! It's such a great deal and the food quality is great too. The bartenders here are super attentive and make excellent cocktails. It's a very spacious restaurant inside as well. read more

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The Cobb salad was excellent. It was first time for that menu item. Parking is available in lots within the spectrum for free. The lot across the street from the restaurant is outside the spectrum and a pay lot. Service is always good. read more

Great spot for a relaxed lunch. The outdoor patio seating was nice --spacious, covered, and with a really nice breeze that made it especially enjoyable. The quinoa bowl with salmon was delicious and definitely the highlight of the meal. The burger was good, but not particularly memorable. Overall, a solid place to try for lunch, especially if you can grab a seat outside. read more

Paul Martin's American Grill Irvine Spectrum - Quinoa Bowl with Salmon - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

We had reservations at a different restaurant also in Irvine spectrum center, but that restaurant took over 50 minutes to even acknowledge we were there, so that led us to here, and I cannot be happier with how that decision turned out. We were greeted by an incredibly kind lady who was able to seat us within 10 to 15 minutes. They have a nice waiting area with couches so you don't have to be on your feet waiting like at other places in the area. We ordered their calamari to start - it was a bit salty, but the sauce they had was truly amazing. We also got their spinach-artichoke dip, and it was heavenly! The pita was warm and seasoned, and the spinach-artichoke dip was super fresh and obviously hot, which made the meal even more heartwarming. For an entrée, I ordered the shrimp tacos - the sauce was great, the shrimp was amazing as well, but I sadly couldn't finish it because I was so full from the appetizers already, so bear that in mind. At the end of the night, when we had already returned to our hotel, I came to the realization that I had forgotten my handbag at the restaurant! I called and was able to go back to the restaurant even though they were so close to closing; the same lady was at the desk and so was another gentleman, and they were both so kind, they asked a couple questions about what's inside the bag just to make sure that it was indeed mine, which truly reassured me at the attention to detail they put into this place and their care for their customers. If we're ever in the area again, I know exactly what place to go to! read more

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So Good!! Made a reservation for Valentine's weekend (Friday night, 2/13). We arrived about 2in early and only waited about 5min before we were seated. Server was fast to greet us and take our drink order. She recommended a few things from the V-day menu (my wife got dessert off that menu) but we ordered apps and entrees off the regular menu. We started with the cheddar biscuits, ate those up, delish! Also had the Brussels with bacon and I ate most of those myself. Brussels are a fav of mine and these were cooked perfectly with just the right crunch and sweet, bacony flavor. My wife ordered the Brick Chicken with mashed potatoes and I had the French Dip with Cajun fries for dinner. I tried her chicken and I don't even know how they got the skin so crispy but it was great. I added provolone to my sandwich and it made it perfect. The au jus was hot (temp, not spicy) and salty. This was a great meal! The service was fantastic all evening, friendly, progressional, attentive. Everything you want when dining out. Sitting in the lounge/bar area waiting for our table was a bit loud but it's right near the TVs and bar so it's expected. Once seated, we had space and even though we were seated at a table near the middle of the open area, we didn't feel exposed. Still felt like an intimate meal with just the two of us. Definitely recommend Paul Martin's American Grill! read more

Paul Martin's American Grill Irvine Spectrum - Brussel Sprouts with bacon - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Great place for happy hour!! It runs from Sun-Thurs 3-6pm and Fri-Sat 2-5pm for the bar/high seats only! So this doesn't apply if you are in the regular dining area. You can't beat $10 cocktails and fries that go for $4. Most of the other apps are $8-10 and the best deal is one of those entrees plus a cocktail/beer/wine for $18! The fries were sadly on the soggy side even when they were fresh. And the chicken wings are very heavy in the sauce which I wasn't a huge fan of. The shrimp tacos were the best thing I had. I can't see myself coming back outside of happy hour. Service was a little slow on a Wednesday night, but they seemed very busy and backed up at the bar. It took nearly 20 minutes for one of our drinks to come out. read more

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Met a few ex-coworkers here and it turned into a really solid night. We started with cocktails at the bar and took advantage of happy hour, which honestly felt like one of the better values at the Spectrum. Good drinks, relaxed energy, and easy to have a conversation. We moved into the dining room for food and shared a couple of appetizers. The spinach dip was very good and the buttered biscuits were hard to stop eating. I went with a Cobb salad with steak and it was fresh, filling, and better than expected. The space itself is really nice without feeling over the top. With how expensive some Spectrum spots can be, the pricing here felt reasonable and appreciated. Happy hour helps, but even the regular menu felt fair. Sandwiches and burgers especially seemed like a good value for the quality. Service was friendly, patience with us talkers and attentive the whole time. Overall, this is a great place to meet up, grab drinks, and actually enjoy the meal without feeling like you overpaid. I'd definitely come back. read more

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I have to admit, I have been here a few times & was not a fan. Thought the food & service was ok & over priced. But something changed... We went for happy hour in a Friday. Yes, happy hour prices on a Friday! The staff were very welcoming & friendly. Our server (Martin) was top notch & had THE best suggestions. Martin was very attentive - but not too in your face, very friendly, & caring. We sat in a high top booth. Really comfortable & great amount of space so you didn't feel like you were on top of each other. Now the food...the value AND the flavor. The deviled eggs were not dry & have a good flavor. I was not polite & ate most of that dish The salmon was also well done, not dry or overcooked. Ribs...wish I would've ordered more. I am not a big drinker but the night called for a slightly dirty martini. I was a bartender back in the day when I was in college, so I am slightly particular. Freaking amazing vodka martini. Perfectly balanced. Ok, Paul Martin's. You redeemed yourself & I will be back. If you are in need of a good happy hour, try this place out! Bonus: parking in the structure across the street was super convenient & easy! read more

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I love coming here for the butter cake, which is the perfect sweet treat to end the night. It's a warm cake topped with mixed berries and vanilla ice cream, which makes for the perfect bite of tart and sweet. The portions are also quite generous, with enough to feed 2-3 people. The interior is elevated yet still casual, with plenty of table and bar seating. The hostess was also very nice, letting us get a seat even though it was close to closing. read more

Paul Martin's American Grill Irvine Spectrum - Butter cake! - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Been a while since I wrote a review for PMS as my buddy and I like to call it. Stopped in for lunch. Got the club sandwich with sweet potato fries. Always ask for a side of pesto aioli, it will take it over the top. Overall one of the better club sandwiches I've eaten. For apps I also got the salt and pepper shrimp shrimp which was excellent. The deviled eggs with bacon were okay. Service was good. read more

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One of my favorite Happy Hour spots. They have extended HH hours from 3-7pm and the food, drinks, and prices are great. It's always my go-to suggestion to meet at the Spectrum. read more

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My favorite restaurant handsdown! Just great tasting food. Great value! Great service. They do everything right. My favorite dish is the french dip sandwich but everything is yummy. Beautiful restaurant as well read more

Ate at bar Bar tender with glasses very rude Took long time for appetizers Service slow

Stop by here for the 1st time after a day trip to San Diego, Yelp it and so glad we did. We all had an amazing experience from food to service. The manager stop by ask us how we're doing etc.. and our waiter gave us complimentary desert. Strawberry Shortcake was the specialty our waiter recommended it was a pleasure dining here for our 1st but will not be our last. We will definitely be back. The place was hopping & super comfortable. read more

Paul Martin's American Grill Irvine Spectrum - Our complimentary Strawberry Shortcake. Beautiful.! - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Really great lunch! Fantastic service, clean restaurant, & amazing food! I got the sockeye salmon with mashed potatoes and it was delicious! Also, got the calamari & artichoke dip! I really loved everything :) I definitely recommend trying this restaurant. read more

Paul Martin's American Grill Irvine Spectrum - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Good time here during happy hour. There's currently a seasonal HH deal where you can get a burger/sandwhich with a cocktail/beer for $18. It was a great deal and I had a lot of fun with my friends catching up on holiday experiences and routine girl gossip. Burger tasted good and my old fashion was nice, smooth and not too strong. Very well made. We ended up ordering the butter cake and it's quite large and easy to share. We also got their decadent chocolate cake and added a birthday candle to celebrate. Overall good experience. Service was OK as we had to ask for refills on drinks and water several times. read more

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This place was exactly what I thought it would be when my sister chose this place. Overpriced mediocre food. There was nothing on that menu what jumped at me. It was your typical American Suisun. One of the uncle ordered a rib eye and I'm half I didn't do it. I got a burger to be safe and it was very-very mid!! Over all, it was the company. Staff were great though! read more

Came here for happy hour and was not disappointed. They have a great happy hour menu, and we got the ribs and margherita flatbread and the flatbread was filled with cheese with we loved! The ribs were hoisin so they were on the sweeter side, but still enjoyed them as they fell off the bone and had good amount of meat which you don't always find. Our server Richie took great care of us and checked on us periodically which we appreciated. The interior is pretty and inviting, can't go wrong :) read more

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The bartender was GREAAAAAT!!! Super nice and friendly. Curtis L was our server for the night. We were there for Happy Hour. Prices are great during this time. It was packed but not overcrowded. Everything was reasonably priced. Great looking restaurant. We ordered 1 OLD FASHIONED HH 8.00 1 GIN FIZZ HH 16.00 2 LEMON DROP HH 8.00 super yummy 1 CAJUN FRIES HH yummy 1 DEVILED EGGS HH 8.00 so yummy 1 LEMON DROP 16.00 so yummy 1 OLD FASHIONED 16.00 This place gave us a great time. I prefer here than the one in Manhattan Beach. They are more friendlier here and the drinks taste better here. Curtis really went out of his way to be great. He was making our drinks while handling restaurant orders. He was so attentive and did not ignore us when we asked questions. read more

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I always walk by this restaurant whenever I'm at the Spectrum but doesn't on a whim to try this place out and om glad I did! My friend and I had no reservation and we were told that the dining room was already full that day but the bar and the seating around it was open so we sat there. Service is the same and we could seat ourselves on any open table. I think we went during some school's prom night so I don't know if the dining room is usually full or not so just something to keep in mind. Restaurant was clean despite it being quite busy that day. Noise level is moderate. Definitely had to raise my voice a but but could still hear my friend next to me. Definitely not the place to go though if you're looking for a quiet dining experience. Regardless, service was quick and the waiter was very nice, but busy! Which is understandable. Food came quickly and was delicious! I got the Steelhead Salmon burger with sweet potato fries and my friend got the seafood pasta. We also had the deviled eggs for the appetizer which was amazing!! Highly recommend!! I'd definitely like to come back here and try some other items! read more

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I ordered food to go and they never made it I waited almost a full hour for a artichoke and slice of cheese cake. Then the delivery was cancelled I'm so upset. Now it's too late for me to get food somewhere else. Very unprofessional I am disappointed. read more

Ordered a gift card my mail. It was done incorrectly. Contacted the restaurant requesting a new gift card older. Called spoke to a gentleman who took my address and said he would mail it to me. Never did and still waiting. Didn't care and extremely sad. Wish the restaurant cared about the gift I'm giving my son soon. Terrible customer service. So disappointed read more

Nice restaurant at Irvine Spectrum but we expected a little more. Ambiance was very nice. Service was excellent. Just have to say with a party of 7, ages from 17 to senior, the food was just ok. We had burgers, sandwiches, Caesar salad and appetizers. Calamari was the best dish. Would not go back just because it's upscale pricing but just ok food. read more

Sunday, with a 5:30 pm reservation. The food was delicious. That said, Items arrived at a glacial pace. The restaurant was less than half full; so not sure why. The decor works hard to give a sense of a more refined experience but didn't deliver. I'd rather have had better time management than a useless metal weight on the receipt tray. With so many options available to us; this won't happen again. read more

Paul Martin's American Grill Irvine Spectrum - Line of sight from table. - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

At Irvine Spectrum, this restaurant was just a short walk away. I was dropped off in front to order in advance as we discovered happy hour was ending soon at the bar. However, It was a bit odd that the bartender only allowed me to order one drink at a time. We ended up ordering almost everything on the happy hour menu. It has a solid happy hr selection of both food and cocktails. Sunday-Thurs 3-6pm, Friday-Sat 2-5pm! Great spot to check out! The restaurant is clean, beautiful, and offers a lovely dining experience! read more

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We have visited Paul Martin's twice in the past month, and both experiences were fantastic. Our first visit was for my husband's birthday dinner; the food, service, and drinks were exceptional. They even surprised him with a complimentary butter cake, which was a lovely touch. Most recently, we stopped by for their weekday happy hour. The pricing is excellent, and the quality of the food remains high. Our servers, Mayra and Curtis, were incredibly friendly and gave us great recommendations. I'm honestly shocked this place isn't busier, as the value and quality are much better than most spots in the Spectrum. I'll definitely keep recommending this gem to friends and family to ensure they get the business they deserve! read more

Great deals for Happy hour! Relaxed environment at the bar and food and wine are good. I like the salmon sandwich but all the options are pretty good. Service is OK could be better. read more

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We came in just in time for Happy Hour on a Sunday (ends at 6pm). The restaurant wasn't very busy so we were able to grab a table at the bar. We ordered two appetizers: Queso dip & the Hoisin ribs. Also ordered some Street Tacos (chicken) and the Steelhead salmon sandwich, and a raspberry Martini. Unfortunately our main course came out before the appetizers, but we ate them anyway! The ribs were tender and tasty and the queso dip wasn't too bad but it definitely had too much green garnish on top! The tacos were good, and the salmon burger was just okay. The salmon needed more seasoning because the taste was pretty bland. There was supposed to be garlic aioli on the bun but I could only see a very small smear. I likely won't order this again. read more

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Came back for a Valentine's Day dinner and still very impressed! This is one restaurant that I will say "truly good and worth the money food"! The short ribs melt in your mouth and the asparagus was fresh and sweet. Service was excellent as usual. I like the fact that they had a few valentines specials but the regular menus are all available at prices reasonable to the kind of nice venue they are and the exceptional quality of food they offer. The cheese biscuits were heavily. read more

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