If you're looking for good food, calm environment, and friendly service - this is the place to be! I walked in and instantly felt calm. You get that indoor outdoor feel with clean lines and greenery. I was there before brunch so alittle quiet, which was nice. I was seated in the patio so I can enjoy the fresh air. My server promptly greeted me and filled my water - options for still or sparkling. She recommended the chicken and waffles, so that's what I went with. She was a great server. Very nice, attentive, and had good suggestions. Everyone walking by smiled at you... really felt like they wanted to be there. Food did NOT disappoint! Everything was crispy (hate soggy fried chicken), light, sweet, and savory. The chicken was seasoned well and the waffles were light and fluffy. The syrup added just enough sweetness and the seasonal pears were a perfect tart balance to each bite. I would definitely recommend this dish. There was a variety of things to choose from, including drinks - alcoholic and not. Appetizers, salads, and even dessert. I will definitely be back to try more things. One thing I will mention, you park behind the building in a parking garage. It is complimentary for the first 2 hours. When you come out of the garage, the restaurant is directly to the left or right of you. Hope you guys check Solstice out! read more

Solstice - Fried chicken and waffles - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Love this new gem in Irvine Service 5 out of 5 Our server Destiny was the best!! Professional, attentive, and on the ball. Even when it was super busy and food was coming out slowly she would give us updates and keep us well stocked with water and drinks. She remembered our orders, drink preferences and would apologize if things were mixed up and immediately fix it. Manager came over and introduced himself and made sure we were happy. Overall we were so happy with service that we booked Mother's Day there at the end of our dinner meal. Ambiance 5 out of 5 Indoors and outdoors - great seating, decor and vibe. For such a new place there was an energy and buzz to everything. Love the sprig of rosemary they put on every place mat to remind you of the seasonality of the menu. Food & Drinks 4 out of 5 Love the emphasis on seasonality and showcasing things in season - in everything from the appetizers, salads, entrees, drinks and dessert. In general many of the entrees were heavy on the salt and not very hot. We had the short rib, salmon and crab cakes. Crab cakes were lukewarm, extremely salty and too bready (like 60/40 ratio of stuffing to crab), especially for the price I was expecting more lump crabmeat. Short ribs were tender and good - but it's hard to mess that up. The pomme purée under the short rib was room temp, like the sous chef plated the sides too far in advance of the protein. Salmon was the only entree that was perfect - seasoning and temperature. For apps we got the mussels and Parker rolls - which was a nice combo, since you can dip the rolls into the broth. The house made spice butter was a nice touch but the rolls again - were not piping hot but just semi warm. Sooooo sad bc those would have been awesome sizzling out of the oven. Mussels were perfect! Drinks - so many to choose from but love the simple format. The way each drink is version controlled is smart - it encourages you to be a repeat customer to see what the next version of a drink will be. Tequila 2.1 was bomb - went down easy and you can down three before you knew what hit you. Whiskey 5 had the nice smoke presentation but lacked depth. Even the non-alcoholic drinks were stellar. The lemonade was awesome. They even have large format cocktails for more than one person. Desserts - best part of meal. We had the doughnuts - you can taste the coffee and spices on the donut and the salted caramel sauce kicked your teeth in with flavor. The strawberry yuzu butter cake was the highlight of the evening. Unexpectedly light, it was so delicate and refreshing - heaven. Overall we can't wait to go back to try brunch and happy hour. Parking is easy in the parking structure and restaurant validates. read more

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I have been to Solstice twice. One as a party of 4 and the last time with party of 16 for an anniversary dinner. Both experiences were exceptional. From the servers at the tables the bar keepers and the support staff. Solstice has a fantastic drink menu and delivers on drinks on or off the menu. From whiskey, mezcal, vodka drinks, they were all exceptional. I generally don't order mixed drinks at restaurants but Solstice is one of my few exceptions. With the anniversary party, the head server Tyler was absolutely wonderful. With a party that size, we put a lot of demand on Tyler and his support, which were true professionals. The food was great as always and they were accommodating with options for gluten and allergy free for a few in our party. I look forward to coming back and maybe just eating at the bar next time. read more

One of the best dining experiences I've had in a long time. Ever since the pandemic we always joke around about "service being dead". The price of eating out has soared through the roof while customer service has been on the decline. Not at solstice! From the moment we walked in we felt welcomed and felt warmth. Every staff member was so friendly and attentive. They put us at the best table in the house and with an incredible server named Connor who really knew his shit and told us exactly what we should expect throughout the dining experience. It's not just an eat and sit type of spot. It's a culinary ride where they create the menu based on the season so everything you order has the present season infused starting with very unique cocktails that were all very good. I had the whiskey 5 and my fiancé had the vodka 1 and 2 all which are just so good. The muscles, crudo, lobster gnocchi, and malbec short rib were great choices. Teegan was a really really good server as well. She made the experience delightful and pleasant. We hope to have her and Connor serve us for the next visit. They're both so attentive and really good at orchestrating a top notch dining experience. Highly recommend! read more

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This is hands down one of my favorite restaurants. Hand crafted and curated seasonal cocktails and menu items make coming here a unique experience each time. Servers are extremely knowledgeable about the menu items and know what to recommend. I've never ordered anything here that I didn't like and I'm always pleased with the way we're treated. Food is tasty, amazing quality, great presentation, and decent portions. Most recently, we got the risotto (always good), and the lobster gnocchi. Also the charcuterie board is so yummy and fresh. I like how they change parts of it depending on the season. Ambience is beautiful, not too noisy, great lighting for a nice dinner. Solstice is always a go to for me! read more

This place is one of the best in the OC! Great food, creative cocktails, and excellent service! I believe most of the reviewers complain about the places that do not keep the quality over the time. However, this place seems one of the exception! I have waited to write this review till making sure that I feel a similar experience during my visits. Additionally, I have pretty tried all items on the menu and experienced that this place don't disappoint you with quality even if it's rush days. Even though I like most of the items on the menu, I would like to highlight some of my favorite drinks and foods: Mezcal Cocktail 1: I highly recommend the mezcal cocktail that perfectly blend with Benedictine and charcoal. It s a colorful and delicious cocktail to start before the meal. Tequila Cocktail 2: This is one of my dessert cocktails serve with figs garnish. I can't say it's super sweet cocktail but it's a great alternate solution if you try to avoid dessert Branzino : I am a huge fan of European branzino. I will admit that the one I have at Solstice reminds me to one that I tried it Europe. It perfectly cooked and never serve with dryness( Note: I ordered four different times). They also perfectly goes well with sea beans. Short Rib: This is my other favorite item on the menu. All the time was served perfectly cooked. As well as the food, I must say that service team is amazing too! The front team is very knowledgeable and guide you well on your selections. However, I would like to mention that Brittany is one of the best always welcome us, and pay attention on details. read more

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Overall great place. Food good and fresh. I do think the food quality isn't quite as good as when we went the first time. Crab cake was cold and small. Ribeye had a lot of extra fat and gristle, along with being very thin. **They have added a 3% "Technology fee" with real small print at bottom of the menu. Don't like restaurants when they add the "junk fees". For a 3% technology fee, their app should work. Couldn't get it to unlock the reward. Couldn't get it to use the birthday reward. Manager manually resolved everything...but if you are going to charge a 3% "technology fee", it should at least work. Unfortunately I'm taking the stance that I don't like restaurants that charge junk fees, so I won't be returning as long as they have that. read more

Went there for a late lunch on Sunday. The restaurant setting is modern and wide open with good view on nice concourse embedded among high-rise buildings. Four star for the food for decent portion size, gorgeous plating and pleasing flavor. One star for the service and food waiting time. The gap between appetizers and main dish is unbearable 25-30mins which by no means is normal for any restaurant. To make it even worse, it's lack of service. Never once we were asked what we need during the meal and no explanation completely for prolonged waiting time. For everything we need, regardless it's a simple question or a request for water refill , we have to raise our hand high to grab server's attention. Hope this can bring restaurant management's attention and correct it accordingly to make Solstice a new beloved go-to restaurant in town. read more

Came here for my friends birthday dinner. We started with the salmon crudo and rolls for the appetizers. They rolls came with an all spice butter and it was an interesting combination of salty and sweet. I didn't love it and would probably skip ordering these if I came back. Next was the salmon crudo over an avocado butter. You could tell they used really fresh ingredients. My only criticism was that there wasn't more! The best part of the meal was the main dish. I ordered the wagyu short rib. Rarely do I order dinner and finish everything on the plate. Usually there's some stray veggies left behind. That was not the case here! The meat was perfectly seasoned and it was so tender. The veggies and the mashed potatoes complimented the short rib beautifully. If you're looking to try a new restaurant, I'd definitely check out Solstice! read more

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The location of Solstice was really odd, at first we couldn't determine where it was, and then saw 2 flaming heaters working out front, that's the only way we were able to find it. The interior is super cute! What I did enjoy: Service was attentive- maybe a bit too much. Our waitress was sweet but doing too much. Spent like 5 mins giving a run down of the menu, which some may enjoy but we didn't. Food- food was great! I thought everything was executed very well with the exception of the biscuits- they were nice and crunchy top but the inside was not flaky or fluffy. It was heavy and doughy, slightly undercooked on the inside. I preferred the butter to the apple cinnamon butter. My friend got the PBLT and she said the way they cut and served the meat on the sandwich didn't make sense, every bite she took it was falling apart and sliding all over. Flavor was great though. Steak and eggs was yummy!!! No complaints flavor wise, they did advertise mixed greens as the side but what was served to us was sautéed spinach? So that was strange. They were also super weird about a request to swap out fries as the side. I think in Orange County you have to be open to substituting food/modifications. Drinks- this time around we skipped cocktails due to some lifestyle alterations we are accommodating at the moment, and I would come back to try some of them, but what I HATED was the WARM CAN of Diet Coke for $5! Seriously? I get it if they're not a traditional brick and mortar that offered fountain sodas but charging $5 for a can of Diet Coke that isn't even cold is wild to me. read more

Had a nice Father's Day dinner out on the patio. There was a bit of an issue with one of the entrees (steak temperature), but the staff wouldn't rest until they got it right. Our main server Emily was really good. Get the beet salad, it's excellent! read more

I have been here twice for lunch. The PBLT Sandwich was the best BLT style sandwich ever with the chili jam. The next time I had the chicken Cobb which seemed to have a fresh citrusy type dressing and light blue cheese which was good. Service was great, parking was easy and prices were reasonable. I want to come back for dinner :-) read more

My family & I have loved Solstice since it opened. But last night was a reminder of why! We hosted a private birthday dinner with 14 people and it. was. perfect. Tegan helped us plan the entire event start to finish, which included a custom beverage menu (SO fun! & they have incredible mocktails that allow everyone to join in the fun) & a ton of other wonderful details that brought everything together. The appetizers were awesome- we had everything from Tuna Tartare to Charcuterie boards. Entrees were amazing (most of the table ordered and raved about the filet and short-rib) and the desserts were to die for (ricotta donuts, fudge cake & butter cake) The food & ambiance is INCREDIBLE, but the thing that makes my family and I come back again and again is the people. Lots of restaurants have great food (although I would argue that Solstice's food is the best seasonal upscale dining you can find in the OC) - but the people set it apart;Tegan, Frank, Brandon, Hunter, Chris & more, always make us feel like family & take such good care of us. All in all, an amazing private dining experience which all of my guests throughly enjoyed! Good food, good people - what more could you ask for? read more

Solstice - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Loved everything about it. Food service drinks everything was amazing. I will definitely go back again. I went for brunch! read more

Solstice - Friends enjoying brunch! - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Gorgeous interior. Great attention to detail. Fabulous food and drinks. And they did a great job with recognizing our table food intolerances/allergies. It was very much appreciated!! xx read more

First time here ! All of you got to try this restaurant. Love the ambiance and excellent service of this restaurant. Parking is easy and restaurant offers Validation. All the dishes are really tasty. This restaurant reminds me of New York City. We will come visit again. read more

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Me and my girl friends found Solstice through social media and decided to try it out for our girls night dinner. I would like to start off this review by saying our dining experience was amazing because of our server Daniel. He is one of the most honest and personable servers I've had in awhile and gave amazing recommendations. He deserves a raise!!! He was attentive and professional as well as polite and enthusiastic. I would recommend anyone coming to request him as your server!! 10/10 service from Daniel! When I come back I'd request him from now on. Solstice's menu is seasonally based and we happened to come one week after they changed to their Spring menu. This keeps things very novel and fresh to the season, which I absolutely love. Drinks: 8.5/10 I think the drinks selection was incredibly unique and extensive. I thoroughly enjoyed the Vodka 2 (lime and saffron) because it was not overly sweet and was surprisingly tangy, which is what I like in my drinks. Some of the drinks were a bit too sweet for my liking (the rum cocktail) but I would highly recommend the spiked coffee with dessert! It is a warm drink that is really delicious. Appetizers: 8.5/10 We got the rolls, solstice salad, and the tartare. I love the solstice salad, it's unique in taste and is very refreshing. The taretare was a table favorite. The rolls were good and had a unique spread that reminded me of the fall. I enjoyed it, but it was not one of my highlights of the night. Entrees: 9/10 Everything was packed with flavor!!! If you're going in a group the porterhouse steak is a must! It was cooked to perfection and was so flavorful, the chimichurri sauce was so good and had raisins to offset the saltiness and tang from the vinaigrette. This was probably my favorite of the entrees. The lobster gnocchi came in a close second! The pappardelle was great as well. It was a thick noodle coated in a thick meat sauce, it is on the heavier side of the dishes. I would have liked a little more bite to this or something to cut the richness. Dessert: 8/10 Daniel made great recommendations! The coffee donuts were good, but not the most spectacular. They were moist and crispy on the outside. I really loved the strawberry yuzu butter cake: it was moist, rich, but not overwhelming! We got an additional dessert as we were celebrating, which was really nice of them. TLDR: Daniel was a great server and will recommend the right drinks, food, and dessert for YOU. If there's anything you don't like he'll take care of it! read more

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The service and food were great. Cassidy is amazing and she made such a big difference in our experience. read more

Solstice - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Great food, impeccable ambience and excellent service ... this restaurant has it all. We came for brunch and ordered: - Apple Waldorf salad - Craft your own omelette - Buttermilk chicken and waffles Everything was delicious! I especially loved the restaurants's attention to detail with everything -- from the lovely decor to the beautiful plating of each dish, as well as the warm welcome and service we received from the host and server. And everything tasted fresh and balanced. If you park in the parking structure, you can ask the host for parking validation on your way out. read more

Solstice - Craft your own omelette + chicken and waffles - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Hosted a work team dinner here and had a wonderful end to end experience. Tegan was a huge help in organizing and ensuring we had options for all the dietary restrictions in our group. She even went so far as to make us a beautiful custom menu branded with our event title. Given the exceptional service my expectations for the meal were high and they still managed to blow them out of the water. From the tasty cocktails (I loved the beet Negroni!) to delectable food everyone was left with smiles on their faces. The only words of disappointment were of people disappointed they couldn't have tried more than one main course because they all looked so good. My wagyu short rib was cooked to perfection and paired with delicious cheesy grits. I can't wait to go back soon and would highly recommend to anyone looking for an ideal balance of service, ambience, and deliciousness! read more

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So glad this restaurant opened near by!! From the service, to the food and the atmosphere we defiantly will be back!! Mark, our server, was sweet and very knowledgeable of the menu! Looking forward to their weekend brunch. read more

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We decided to try this gem after resding about it in Orange County Register. We walked in and were promptly seated. The restaurant is very modern and absolutely gorgeous. Our server greeted us and gave us the low down on the drinks. I had the smoked whiskey and my wife tried the daiquiri. Both were great. The whiskey was really smooth and her daiquiri was sweet but more citrus. We had an salmon appetizer and it was delicious but my wife felt the lemon overwhelmed the avocado. I felt it was very refreshing. Dinner was amazing. I had the halibut and my wife had the wagu beef noodle. The waiter even brought us out a shrimp dish to try. We topped it off with the doughnuts and spiked coffee. This place is more than just a place to eat. It is truly a dining experience. Incredible food. Service and ambiance. You can't go wrong if you choose this place. We are definitely coming back! read more

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Solstice is a hidden gem in Orange County that stands out against the usual hot spots for dinner. The restaurant itself was beautifully designed with a warm inviting atmosphere. The staff here went above and beyond to make our friend's birthday dinner memorable and enjoyable. The food was just indescribably delicious. Each dish was curated to perfection & absolutely nothing was boring or expected! Already planning to come back! read more

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What an amazing new restaurant in OC! Parking was easy- they validate. And a great location with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating options! Food: Crab cake Benedict - AMAZING Butternut squash grilled cheese - GREAT Drink: Vodka Cocktail 1 - SO GOOD. Definitely try this! Tequila Cocktail 1 - pretty good. Their ice had their logo engraved which was cool. Rum Cocktail - VERY GOOD - definitely recommend this! So unique and delicious! Not only were the food and drinks were SO DELICIOUS but the customer service was just AMAZING! The attention to detail they put into their ingredients and the atmosphere is impeccable. Our server Carly was a sweetheart! She patiently answered all our questions and gave good information about the ingredients. Not to mention the General Manager Katie Pavkov who came to personally greet us! What a wonderful restaurant- highly recommended if you are in Irvine! read more

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We came here a year ago and it was really delicious. We were here tonight and sadly the opposite is true. Both entrees were not good and the dessert was just ok. Then they demagnetized our parking ticket and we had to deal with trying to get out of the parking garage for 30 mins.... Even after going back inside to get it validated, again. We will not be going back. read more

Absolutely loved Solstice! Tried it out for dinner for the first time with the girls and had such a great experience. Our server Daniel was so helpful in helping us navigate the menu. He was refreshingly honest and suggested amazing choices for a family style dinner. Solstice has such a great concept regarding their seasonal menu with all items made in house. The attention to detail from the table setting, to the drinks, & to the food was very refreshing for OC. Solstice is a great restaurant for catching up as the attention to detail allowed us time to really relax and enjoy each other's company in addition to the wonderful meal. The highlight of the spring solstice menu was the house porter steak and the solstice salad! The porter was cooked to perfection with a refreshing chimichurri sauce on top. The solstice salad was very potent but in a good way if you're a garlic girl The Wagyu pappardelle is the perfect complimentary pasta to share with the steak. We really enjoyed the drink menu, highly recommend The French to start the meal light & fresh. Then ending with a spiked coffee to compliment dessert. We loved the strawberry butter cake, the condensed milk with yuzu topped it off perfectly. Overall Solstice is a very refreshing dining experience in Orange County and I would highly recommend Daniel as a server. The best time to go would be lunch for a bright and social meal or a very relaxing dinner. read more

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Beautiful Restaurant!! We Enjoyed Lunch In The Bar Area & Shared The Wedge Salad & The Filet Burger!! Very Good!! Relaxed & Nice Ambiance Here!! We Be Back To Try Other Menu Items & Desserts Too!! Amazing Menu & Amazing Service!! Looking Forward To Our Next Visit At Solstice!! ThankU read more

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Excellent food but I wish there were more vegetarian options. I had the wild mushroom risotto because that was the only vegetarian entree and it was very good. I would go here more often if they had more vegetarian food. The rolls melt in your mouth and the bar makes excellent cocktails. read more

My family and I ordered a charcuterie board and four dishes. The charcuterie board was adequate but not amazing. Definitely not worth the price but still decent if you like boards. The short rib fell apart in your mouth, it was full of flavor and smooth. The pommes puree was decent in my opinion, all I could taste was the butter. The chicken was nicely crispy and had a good flavor. Don't expect millions of spices on it but its simplicity is what made it good. The risotto was good but not great I would say. There are some things I would change to make it better but for the price it's good. Lastly, espresso Martinis are so subtle in a good way. Very good on the taste profile and the presentation. Friendly staff and great service, no complaints there. read more

This restaurant is absolutely phenomenal. Our waiter was so charming and knowledgable and made the experience so lovely! Then our food came and it was the most delicious pasta I've ever had. I wish I could have it every day, truly. I also love a restaurant with beautiful vibe. You cannot miss this spot when you're in town. read more

Solstice - Their braised wagyu pappardelle is one of the most wonderful meals I've ever had. - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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We have been going to Solstice since it opened but this is the last time. Our service was horrible- the waitress Maria hardly came to our table to check on us. The Thanksgiving meal was average. The bill had a 3% Technology fee???!!! Why are they padding the bill. The explanation we got is that its for their Ipads...WTF??!!! I will never be going back to Solstice. read more

Epic all the way around. It is apparent the training is top notch as the service was impeccible. The chef took very good care of our large table with ease. I can't say enough how the atmosphere and crew make you feel important. I found you because of a business dinner but I have found a special place that I would like to go again. read more

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Excellent spot for brunch! The churro doughnuts were great, and the breakfast burger was juicy, flavorful, and filling. The cocktails we got were excellent too. The servers were friendly and gave good recommendations. The environment was lively and well lit. read more

The restaurant has outdoor dining but no dog allowed. The whole broadwalk area is not dog friendly. The info on yelp was misleading.

Definitely a good place to try if you're in the area. There's plenty of parking in the structure and reservations are highly recommended. The service is great and the servers got our orders in a timely manner. Here's what we ordered: Braised Wagyu Short-rib: 5/5 Super flavorful and tender. The meat is easily pulled apart and has the perfect portion between the sauce and potatoes. The presentation is definitely fancier than the other dishes so it's a must if you're planning on coming here. Braised Wagyu Pappardelle: 4.5/5 Like the braised Wagyu short-rib, it's super tender and pairs well with the sauce and pasta. The pappardelle were a little too cooked for my liking and kept breaking off whenever I tried to pull it or separate it from the dish. The flavor isn't as strong as the short-rib but it's just as good. The flavor gets a little boring after a while but I would still get this again. Sweet Corn Ricotta Gnocchi: 3/5 It's not my personal favorite because there was just a lot going on in this dish. The truffle butter hits me first, then there's a lemony-acidic taste, and then it's very herbal with a hint of cheese at the end. It felt like all the different flavors were fighting each other. Un-tequila 1: 4.5/5 It's one of the best mocktails I've had in a while. It's super strong (in flavor) so it's something you should definitely sip on. There's a slight tartness to it but it balances the sweetness of hibiscus. You cannot taste any jalapeño which I appreciated but the toppings on this drink definitely confused my brain. I smelled the herbs and flowers but tastes something different so I wished they added a little less toppings. Blueberry Basil Spritz: 5/5 If you like lighter drinks like me, this is the drink for you. The blueberry flavor is not artificial and for once, it's a spritz that doesn't just taste like sparkling water. It's more like a fresh blueberry soda. read more

Visited on the super-bowl Sunday and immediately got seated. Beautiful place, garage parking and attentive staff. Ordered Solstice Burger, wagyu shot-rib and orange sorbet with the brownie. Burger was the best in Irvine and so was the ribs. Desert was delicious too. Had an amazing meal, will be back for sure. Expensive but good. read more

Smooth atmosphere and straightforward selection. There was depth in sauce and flavor. The ingredients tasted pretty quality. Service was on point. We just didn't feel the 'umpf' factor.. probably best for coworkers to hang out as opposed to a romantic date. Pumpkin soup and mussels were great. The wagyu had good balance of taste but on the chewier side (as expected of braised meat). The burger i was honestly disappointed by the patty. read more

We had a large party. I called about a week in advance, they were very accommodating. They knew the party would trickle in, and they were OK with that. We really liked the ambience, nice outdoor seating, as well as nice interior. They have a large happy hour selection. Food was OK, nothing spectacular. The deviled egg in mason jar had way too much relish. The drinks were very very good. Four stars for drinks and ambience. Parking is also validated. Great for groups. read more

Great food and Service. Would highly recommend. We had a party of 7 - Business Meeting - everyone made very positive comments

Visited Solstice for the first time for a usual date night with my husband and we were very impressed. The staff, atmosphere, service was impeccable. Our server made us feel welcome and was super cool! The food was delicious and they even brought out little dishes for us to try that were offered by them. The entire experience was awesome. I would definitely come back and highly recommend. read more

Solstice - New American Near Me - Irvine, California