Solstice in Irvine is such an underrated spot for date night or a bougie girls' dinner. It's a seasonal kitchen and bar, so the menu changes every few months, but they keep their most popular signature dishes year-round. I love that there's always something new to try while still having my go-to favorites. The ambiance is chic and sophisticated without feeling stuffy, and the cocktails are stunning. The Golden Sassy cocktail has actual gold glitter swirling in it, which makes it as photogenic as it is tasty. The Lavender Lemon Drop is another great pick if you like something bright and refreshing. We started with the Spicy Tuna Tartare, which had the perfect kick. The Roasted Half Chicken came with an addictive sauce that made the dish stand out. The Braised Short Rib was the showstopper -- it arrives with a dramatic smoke presentation and is fall-apart tender. My personal favorite was the Seafood Risotto, a seasonal dish that's creamy, savory, and bursting with flavor. We ended with the Butter Cake, which was warm, rich, and the perfect sweet finish. Parking is easy since it's in the Boardwalk complex with a free parking structure when you validate at the restaurant. read more

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Came for brunch and it was so delicious! The customer service was great too! Everything we ate was so yummy!

Had the chicken sandwich and it was awesome. Great service from Brandon as well. Will be coming back read more

Solstice - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

We came here randomly, it's tucked into all these businesses. Parking can be validated for the parking garage though. Wasn't busy but it did get busy at the end of our dinner. You can choose to sit outside or inside, they have a nice bar too. Service was great, they always checked up on us. Seemed like upscale service at a laid back environment (but perfect for date night). DO NOT SKIP on the MUSSELS! It was so good! I got the bolognese which was good and my husband got the lobster bisque? We don't remember but he was not a fan. We would come back because we enjoyed the ambiance and want to see the rotating menu. read more

Solstice - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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This is the strangest place I have ever eaten. You might even say bizarre. You get the feeling that the staff is staring at you. I'm talking about you while you eat. They lack friendliness, professionalism, and social skills. And when they bring you the bill, you would think you would get at least a "thank you" but you don't nor do you get eye contact or a smile. If you ever had a fantasy to know what I was like to be treated like a cockroach, this is the place to find out. read more

1st time here! Great service! Ah all cocktails are house made from scratch. Details and quality of food is spectacular! I would totally recommend this place for hit dates and important celebrations! Make sure to try their mezcal drinks! read more

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Very nice 'social/happy hour.' Excellent wines by the glass at quite reasonable prices. Pleasant upscale atmosphere. We were well taken care of at the bar. Convenient parking structure with validation. Mostly slider menu at happy hour. Tasty but a little more variety would be appreciated. Definitely going back! read more

First time visitor Located in the broadwalk Parking structure available with validation for dinner Upscale dining: group outing and date night - easily shareable dishes for multiple options Indoor and outdoor dining available Reservations might be recommended Wine beer seasonal drinks available Impeccable service from all the servers and food runners attending to our table of 14 Parker roll warm and fluffy with some Type of honey butter Short rib croquette little pillow mound Malbec short rib soft tender flaky with whip potato and the mushroom risotto rich with micro green spinach and other texture item tender buttery cooked perfectly Overall service was wonderful, environment was engaging, and quality of food was memorable. read more

Solstice - Malbec short rib - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Restaurant is in a business park, but it's nice and pretty! Parking has validation from the restaurant! We were here twice. The first was for happy hour, which by the way is a GREAT happy hour. The second was for a full sit-down meal. The ambience is gorgeous, the service is nice. The server for the table next to us was just absolutely great with their young boy. The cocktails are delicious. The food is mostly good. It was a bit too salty or a bit too heavy. One of those "just the slight bit" but it made it hard for us to finish the plate. Still, I'd love to come back and give it another try. read more

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We dined there for our first time. Taylor, our server was awesome! The meal was great! We will definitely be going back. The entire experience was exceptional! read more

We had a great experience here at Solstice. Starting from the moment we checked in for our reservation until the end. The place is modern and very trendy and has a great atmosphere! On our reservation, we requested the patio but it happened to be a hot day and we changed our minds and wanted to dine inside instead and they obliged without hesitation. We were seated after a couple of minutes and greeted by our server Bella. She was wonderful! Great demeanor. Another server took our order though and she was a bit harsh the way she talked to us. Seemed to be in a hurry and a bit short when we asked questions. But Bella came back to us to serve our food and she was amazing! Everything we ordered was very good. We had the dougnuts, Beet Salad, the Lump Crab Benedict, customized omellete, and the PBLT sandwich. All were spectacular! Salad was fresh and very refreshing. The benedict was very tasty and you can really see and taste the lump crab. The omellette would probably be my least fave of all but it was still good. The pork belly on the PBLT sandwich was tender and flavorful and went great with the tomato jam and the crispy sourdough bread. I also ordered the hibiscus drink and it was so refreshing. I would Love to come back and try other items on the menu. read more

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This was our first visit here. Based on the previous reviews, we made a reservation for lunch for two of us. Unfortunately, the hostess who took the reservation was not friendly or helpful at all. Not a good start to our experience. We arrived and encountered the same hostess and determined her name was Logan. She was absolutely not friendly at all. In fact, Logan was not helpful, never smiled and was downright rude. The place was empty and there was only two of us. When I simply asked for a table with some privacy, she was clearly annoyed and offered a table directly next to the only two other patrons in that entire section. Our server made a good effort to save the day. His name was Gian Carlo and he was friendly, helpful and attentive. He saved this from being a one star review. We had the Lobster Roll and Crab Cake Sandwich. Both were just ok, nothing bad, but nothing special. Honestly, when the first person you come into contact with is rude, it ruins the whole experience. read more

I had such a wonderful day enjoying delicious food with great company in a modern and clean atmosphere. Since it's an open kitchen, you can see the cooking area clearly, and the spotless and well-organized space made the whole experience feel even more trustworthy. They mentioned that the menu changes with the seasons, offering new dishes depending on the time of year. Being able to try different flavors every season is quite impressive. We ordered the Iceberg Wedge, Steak Frites, and Roasted Half Chicken, and everything was truly enjoyable. The Parker House Rolls, served warm and freshly baked, and the Churro Spiced Ricotta Doughnuts with chocolate and salted caramel sauce were especially delicious. The food was so good that I ended up enjoying everything without taking as many photos as I planned--such a shame! The staff were very friendly, and the building offers two hours of free parking, which made the whole experience even more comfortable. Just bring your parking ticket, and the restaurant will validate it after your meal. read more

This food was absolutely delicious! The drink was WOW, combining flavors I wouldn't think to put together. The season risotto was warm, comforting, very fresh and full of flavor. I highly recommend this place. Took myself on a solo date & sat at the bar. Bar staff were very kind and checked on me plenty. read more

Solstice - Seasonal seafood risotto - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Restaurant had a nice look and vibe. Service was good. The solstice salad was quite large and shareable. Fresh greens, crisp and a nice light dressing. The steak frites was delicious. The steak was cooked perfectly medium rare, flavorful and melt in your mouth texture. One of the best we've had in the last few years. read more

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Solstice was a really wonderful place to celebrate my boyfriend and my's anniversary, and treat each other to a nicer meal. Their selection of seasonal dishes was really what stood out to me, because they did an amaznig job highlighting fresh, in-season ingredients like with the absolutely to-die-for beet salad. There were so many interesting flavor combos/touches, like the fried olives in the beat salad, or the citrus honey and hazelnuts with the whipped ricotta, that works beautifully together, and made the meal really one of a kind. The restaurant itself is beautiful, with the glass windows, the soft lighting, and the beautifully minamalistic little plants and decorations dispersed around the area. Our server was also very sweet, checked in on us throughout the meal, and always kept our water glasses full! We made our reservation online, which was a really easy system, including a reminder text the day before. I saw in some other comments that sometimes they celebrate special occasions with a card or something, and while I did indicate it was our anniversary, it was not aknowledged during our time there at all. Not a big deal, but if it matters to you, definetly tell the server directly! Overall, dinner at Solstice was a really special treat, and made for a lovely anniversary date. I would highly reccomend it to anyone looking for a higher-end dining experience, and especially would suggest you take a look at the seasonal dishes (indicated by the leaf on the menu!) read more

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Came here to catch up with my friend. Our waiter explained their menus change every three months as their stuff is seasonal and use fresh ingredients. I decided to try the Braised wagyu pappardelle. Pasta was cooked al dente just like how it should be. Flavors was delicious that I would get it again. My friend got the roasted half chicken. I tried a piece and the chicken was delicious and juicy!! The restaurant was cute and simple. I saw a big group that was in this open yet private section of the restaurant which I pictured having a nice dinner with a group of my friends there one night lol! Definitely a place to check out. read more

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Came by for my grad dinner, pretty close to UCI. They gave us complementary champagne and carrot purée for my grad! Service was great and friendly. They managed to squeeze us in without a reservation (party of 3). Food was delicious, definitely felt the care put into making them. I will say it was a little more pricey than I was expecting for the portion size and taste. Overall, I had a lovely grad dinner at Solstice :) read more

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Solstice is tucked in a plaza with a bunch of corporate offices and event spaces. We made reservations for a Friday night and were seated immediately when we arrived. They have indoor and outdoor tables with heated lamps, and they also do parking validation. MUSSELS ROCKEFELLER ($18) - the broth was so good that we asked for a spoon to finish it. I also liked the additions of the lardon and the pickled shallots. 5/5 BRAISED WAGYU PAPPARDELLE ($36) - they make their pasta fresh daily and you can really tell. The noodles were great and the meat sauce was good. 4/5 MALBEC BRAISED WAGYU SHORT RIB ($40) - I thought the short rib was a little dry and could've used more seasoning. The portion size could've been bigger as well. 3/5 For drinks I got the whiskey cocktail 5 ($20) which was really good and smooth. It came out smokey and was really nice to drink. My second drink was the spring barrel aged cocktail ($23) which was okay and a little bitter. Our service was phenomenal from the moment we walked in. From the front of house staff seeing our special occasion note on the reservation and even giving a handwritten note for us, to our server giving us recommendations and making us feel welcomed, everything from start to finish was great. read more

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Perfect for a Birthday Brunch! Their seasonal French toast is strawberry yuzu made with thick brioche - so decadent and filling. Eggs are well cooked, which isn't always the case with busy brunch service. read more

I finally got to experience Solstice Seasonal Kitchen and Bar on Thursday, December 26, 2024. I dined here for lunch with a friend. It's an upscale, trendy spot with a modern design and floor to ceiling glass windows located in The Boardwalk, at the intersection of Jamboree and Dupont in Irvine. There's an adjacent parking garage and they will validate. What I love about Solstice is that the concept and menus is built around the practice of eating according to the seasons. We started off with the Short Rib Croquettes and then followed with the Grilled Chicken Cobb salad and Solstice Burger. The 3 croquettes (aji amarillo aioli, pickled red onion) were flavorful. The Cobb salad and burger were good, but honestly I didn't find them to be anything special. The vibe and ambiance are really what you're paying for. It's a cute spot for a date, lunch meeting or just to meet up with friends. The service is professional and attentive. read more

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A great oasis between all the towering buildings in the area. Visited for Easter brunch and service was very prompt and friendly. The design of the restaurant is modern, had a lot of natural light, and had a lively crowd, not too quiet nor too loud. We ordered the hummus for appetizer, Chicken and Waffle and Steak and eggs for entree, flourless chocolate cake for dessert, and Spring Barrel Cocktail for drinks. All of them taste excellent and well thought of presentation. The cocktail I would say was the highlight. Will definitely be back and try dinner service! read more

Solstice - Inside view - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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I went here in September 2023 and it was one of the highlights of that year. We made a reservation for dinner at around 7:30. It was every impressive the moment I stepped in. The restaurant felt very modern and classy and it had an open kitchen that we can look into. This reminded me a lot of the movie "The Menu" (just the fancy food part). Our waiter was Emilio, who just started working here when we ate. He was extremely professional and was knowledgeable about the menu. The physical menu itself was excessive (in a good, justified way) in its presentation. We were started off with a drink menu and I ordered the Un French 75. In the normal menu, we had malec braised wagyu short rib, cremini mushroom soup, ricotta gnocchi. and cheese, and a flourless brown butter fudge cake with a blood orange sorbet for dessert. The Un French 75 is a mocktail and it tasted pretty good. I don't remember for sure but I think it used lychee juice as its base. Before our food came, we got a sample of sweet potato with coffee that came in a pair of spoons. I was skeptical, but it worked and was delicious. The cremini mushroom soup is one of the best soups I've had in my lifetime. It's really good. It's rich, flavorful, and has a hint of sourness. Somehow it's both thick and thin at the same time. The gnocchi dish had a good texture and felt like a glorified mac and cheese. Somehow, it was both rich and light at the same time. The wagyu short rib same arrived with a table side smoke show. The meat was super tender. The vegetables were crisp, and the potatoes were good. It's so tender that I didn't even need to use my knife. It was very filling. Finally, the flourless fudge cake was delicious. It was very thick and dense, like most flourless chocolate cakes. The blood orange sorbet was very refreshing and helped balance the richness of the cake. Overall I had a fantastic dining experience and I encourage anybody who is looking at this restaurant to try it at least once. I also feel like sitting inside is a better experience than on the patio. read more

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Took the Wifey and family here to celebrate her 30th birthday, and we have (2) words to describe the experience. DUCKING AMAZING!!! Solstice staff took great care of our large party! The ambiance was amazing and the food/drinks were even greater! read more

A gastronomic star. A culinary delight. My husband and I came here for a Sunday evening late Valentine's date, and wow. Everything was so delicious. We split a couple of starters: the white bean hummus, and Parker House rolls with apple butter are perfect to share. The hummus had really lovely juicy confit tomatoes, and sumac was sprinkled throughout. The Parker house rolls were fluffy and warm and slightly sweet. For my entrée, I ordered the roasted beet salad and added avocado and chicken. He got the braised short rib pappardelle. I'm not a drinker, so I just opted for hot water with lemon. The food was delightful. I felt very full after finishing my salad, despite the lightness and brightness of ingredients-- the depth of flavor and quantity of protein was enhanced by adding the avocado and chicken. The zaa'tar lebneh made the whole dish, in my opinion. Husband devoured his pasta, he said it was perfectly cooked al dente. we thought we would take some of the food home. We were wrong. We devoured every bite. We wanted to lick the plate. Specifically, I wanted to lick my plate clean. He had a special seasonal cocktail, something with beets and whiskey, it was pretty. For dessert, we split the flourless chocolate fudge cake. Oh my God, that was amazing. We were not expecting tiny bits of raspberry coulis. The sprinkling of cocoa nibs were crunchy and delightful. The gelato was so, so good--creamy and cold. I love seeing little vanilla bits studded throughout. It was decadent, it was delightful, it was the perfect size for two. I'm extremely full, and I'm going on a very long run. But everything was worth it. We were so pleasantly surprised-- the restaurant is huge, bright and airy, and the tables are comfortable. They certainly thought long and hard about placement. The tables are different sizes, so as to accommodate dates, or large groups. The clientele were of a variety of backgrounds, and seated next to us was a super cute family with their high school aged kids. On the other side, we saw couples on first dates. I don't think this is a good place to bring newborns or toddlers. I would definitely go back. Our server, Cameron, was a sweetheart. He was very polite, attentive, and answered all our questions. I love that they validate parking. This is such a delightful find, and I bet their brunch is amazing. read more

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The lobster and shrimp roll is very good, it should be for like $28.00, the appetizers and butter cake for dessert very good as well. Open, big restaurant, farm to tale concept. Why not 5 stars? Because they had items on the menu that were not available. We went here for lunch, they just opened, how can they run out of food? I wanted the tuna salad and they didn't have tuna. Take it off the menu then. It is close to work so I will go back read more

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Located not far off the 405 this place is truly a gem. Interior is bright and clean with great service, a bar to sit at if that is your preference, plenty of tables inside and out and food that is truly fantastic! I went for the carne asada salad and was blown away at how well it was created. Plenty of dressing with steak cooked perfectly and don't miss out on the Parker house rolls as an appetizer... that rosemary thyme butter is perfect. Definitely coming back to try more menu items. read more

Solstice - Carne asada salad - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Excellent service from Sherry and the manager! They were so friendly and accommodating. Despite there being some large groups before us, we didn't have to wait long for our food to come out. It's a beautiful, modern interior design with great lighting for photos. Right now is their winter solstice menu. We enjoyed our dinner, especially the cremini mushroom soup (seasonal item). The pan-seared salmon was delicious and filling. I also got a great seasonal cocktail that Sherry recommended which was the Royal Kesar. Lastly, Sherry brought out donuts with chocolate and caramel sauce on the house for my birthday! Once again, excellent dining experience all around. Highly recommend! read more

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::3.5 Stars:: Parking: inside of Boardwalk structure. Parking is validated. Service: the host and hostess seemed a little disorganized when we arrived for our 8pm reservation. First we were told we would be seated at a high tablet then were taken to a regular booth table. However, our server was great! I didn't catch his name but he has a Spanish accent. He was enthusiastic, lively, and friendly! He made good recommendations. Food: Complimentary squash purée: light and palate cleansing Strawberry arugula salad: very refreshing specially with the pesto purée and elderberry vinaigrette. There was an ant crawling out from there... hubby stopped eating. The portion was super small! Roasted cauliflower: very flavorful but a little heavy with the olive oil. Pesto purée was a nice touch Waygu short rib: short rib was very tender but the meat was on the saltier side. The sauce was a little sweet by contrast. The mashed potato was quite rich and velvety Braised waygu pappardelle: pappardelle was quite fresh and red sauce wasn't too overwhelming. Definitely tasted homemade. Butter cake: I'd call this a "cookie cake." Not the best butter cake I've had. The cake was too dense and tasted like a thick cookie. I'd save the calories and skip this. The restaurant is esthetically pleasing. The bar and kitchen are open. Plenty of tables! It was pretty loud where we sat as we were placed next to a large party. The cocktail menu looked interesting at a steep price of $24/drink! This is a nice place to for a date or even girls night out but I wouldn't say the food is spectacular especially for the price. A 2 person meal will cost ya $126 before tip. read more

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This place checks nearly all of the boxes with very tasty food, a casual elegant ambience, and attentive service, Parking is in a structure and your ticket needs be validated, The price is high but not exorbitant considering we are still in a high/ inflation era. read more

Solstice - Inside dining area. - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Fantastic evening with coworkers here. Our server Brandon was a rock star. He took great care of the five of us making our dinner a great experience. The food was excellent and the vibe was very upbeat. Highly recommend it! Only picture I took was of a vodka Brandon recommended. read more

Solstice - Great vodka! - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Positive, corporate vibe when you walk in. Bartenders are friendly, super knowledgeable and on top of things. Food is delicious, especially the cheeseburger, yum! Seating is comfortable. Quiet enough for business talk but the hustle keeps it from being boring. Love Solstice! read more

This restaurant is located on the first floor of the business park/building. You don't have to valet, you can just go into the parking structure, and have the restaurant validate your ticket after your meal. The vibe from the restaurant is very welcoming, and great for large group as well as your special night out. We came here for birthday celebration, and the server was very tentative, and her recommendations were great! Majority of the food was great. If I had to name 1 thing that we noticed that was sort of odd, it would be that we noticed their tomahawk steak seem small compare to all other similar places for the price of $160.... read more

Wow, to the customer service and the food was outstanding as well. Love the ambience and the colors they have been using for the restaurant. read more

My go to place for business/lunch meetings; it's conveniently located in the plaza my firm is at and the service and food is dependable. Also helpful that they have a reward app as incentive to return. Service is always top notch - Brandon's exceptional and deserved a raise for his hard work. They do a great job of rotating in and out seasonal items and using produce that's in season. Ambiance always impresses my clients. Tip: there's complimentary valet, or you can park in the structure and get your ticket validated. If no ticket is dispensed or your ticket gets mangled, you can just hit the assistance button and they'll let you out. read more

Came here for a work lunch. Lots of natural lighting and open space. The service was great. I got an ahi tuna salad which was cooked well and flavorful. The water comes in glass containers. Fries were also tasty and are a favorite here. read more

A Hidden Gem in Irvine Solstice Kitchen & Bar is an incredible farm-to-table spot that feels like a hidden gem, but once you find it, you'll keep coming back. I always go for their Solstice Salad with double salmon--fresh, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. Their cocktails are next level, especially the Paper Plane and Last Word (a must-try if you're into Green Chartreuse). Desserts here are fantastic. The Tres Leches is warm and comforting, while the seasonal butter cake (apple when I visited) with gelato is rich but lighter than similar versions, making it easy to enjoy regularly. The hummus is fresh and delicious, and my kids love the burger and fries (adult-sized portions) and the fresh butter pasta, which is made in-house daily. Beyond the food, the ambiance is inviting, service is consistently great, and I love that you can see the open kitchen in action. Surprisingly, they're quite busy even on weekdays. Parking is validated, and while access may not feel obvious at first, it's actually quite easy. They also have a decent rewards program, which is a nice perk for frequent visits. If you're looking for a spot with fresh ingredients, great cocktails, and a well-executed menu, Solstice Kitchen & Bar is absolutely worth a visit! read more

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Tasty food and a pleasant setting. Watermelon salad is special, every entrees are good. read more

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No variety on the menu if you don't want short ribs ... disappointed in the drinks I ordered whiskey with Coke and when I got my bill, they charged me extra for the Coke. I've never seen on the restaurant in my life as when you order a mixed drink you ordered for mix string, not à la carte what a way with the customer off no wonder whether there's no gas in the restaurant. read more

Stumbled upon this gem for lunch on a random Monday - and was very pleased with our choice! They were just opening, but everyone was so friendly and welcoming. Validated our parking in the on-site structure as well. Located on the ground floor of an office building, in a pretty big sort of office complex - there's actually a cute little courtyard we walked through a bit first. Somewhat accidentally but very nice to enjoy the property. Other small eateries/cafes on site, outdoor meeting spaces, even some bbq areas. Cool spot to work. I ordered the grilled chicken Cobb, it was good - chicken was on the saltier end but lots of great flavors/textures otherwise. They do a Social Hour at the bar I'd love to check out if in the area again. Thanks Izzy for the great service! read more