Tried Goldfinch on a Sunday. The food quality was great. We started with the shrimp, lobster, and melon salad. It was so light and a refreshing. I regret sharing it. For my meal I ordered the prime rib. The portion was huge! I loved the horseradish cream and the au jus served on the side. I think we dined between shift change because the bartender took care of us. I didn't mind but he did seem to be the only person working and he was running around. May try this place at a different time of day to see if the service is better. read more

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This was a pleasant dining experience, the space was an immaculate indoor/outdoor blend with multiple patios. The staff was incredibly friendly and catered to our needs. I found it difficult to classify this restaurant. On its surface it is New American cuisine but I would also add a touch of Asian Fusion. I had the Poke bowl which was good but the next time I go, I was intrigued by the Pho burger. Two of my friends tried it and said it was good. In a world where most New American restaurant menus are carbon copies of each other, I have to give credit when I see something truly unique. read more

Great food, excellent service. There were six of us in our party, and we were all satisfied with our meals. We started with cocktails, and the waiter was very helpful. Blackberry margarita was ordered by several people and they both loved it. I had an amaretto sour, which was excellent also. I have some dietary restrictions so I could not taste everything, but my Table mates loved everything they ordered. I had a New York steak that came with asparagus and thick cut potato wedge fries. It was excellent. Others at the table had pasta, the chicken pot pie, a burger, and two other steaks. And everything was enjoyed. The waiter was very attentive, and food runners were quick and pleasant. We were headed to an escape room after dinner and they were able to get us in and out pretty quickly without feeling rushed. We hope to return soon. Parking was free with validation. read more

Chose this place for my birthday. Was excited from the photos online. Upon entering the hostess was wonderful she greeted us and acknowledged my birthday. The aesthetic of the restaurant was beautiful. Wasnt full of people yet. Party of 6 sat (two kids 5,10). Our server (Nicholas) seemed bothered that he had to serve us. Just wasn't a good vibe initially. Mildly sarcastic and not in a good way. I asked for my daughter's breakfast to be altered. He was hesitant to say the least. To quote "I'll have to type that all in" when I asked for scrambled eggs no sauce. The food came incorrect with none of requests we asked for. He brought the 5 year old orange juice in a glass cup and I had to ask if we could have a plastic cup with lid like the small children we seen across the way (again it fell like I was bothering him). Overall, I felt like I was the inconvenience and not the guest at all. I will not return because of this situation. And can I just say that my friends and I believe in good service and it's rewarded in a generous tip. We tipped mediocre because of how we were treated; but I have a feeling the server made an assumption that we were not the type he wanted to wait on and treated us accordingly. He tried to be nice towards the end but it was just too late. All other servers that stopped by were more than happy to help and offer what we needed. I'm not sure what the disconnect was with this waiter Nicholas. Food: prime rib wasn't good. Potatoes are amazing. Fries great! Pancake was undercooked. read more

The Goldfinch - Bar - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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I would never recommend this location to any of my friends, clients nor colleagues. First off, the service we had was TRASH from our servicer, Nicholas. He was full of sour attitude, he did not want to be at work, had not a single smile to share and basically had this superior attitude that did not want to help us. This review is absolutely specifically targeted towards the pathetic excuse for "food service." The hostess was very nice and pleasant, but it all went downhill after that. Secondly, the food was mediocre at best. I hardly ever add salt to my dishes when I dine out, but good lord has this place ever heard of FLAVOR?? Well, this critique will only be applied to the orders Nicholas got correct. My friend's daughter's order got screwed up not once, not twice, but 3 times! This was after Nicholas snapped at us complaining he needed to unfortunately type in the order details. I don't understand what's hard about making a plain avocado toast with toast, avocado and bacon for a kid. I would expect an establishment of this caliber to have an ordering computer system that makes it easy to apply specifics on an order, especially if you serve KIDS! Hello? Needless to say, we all hated our experience. The food was a waste of money. I wouldn't literally had a better brunch at IHOP, DENNY'S or even HABANA down the street. read more

Saw this place on Instagram and TikTok so I wanted to try it out. On social media this restaurant appears a lot larger and nicer. I assume if you go at night the lighting will change the vibe but lunch is very casual. You have to park in the structure next to the multiple restaurants and they will validate your ticket for you. Ordered: - beet salad (7/10) - Brussels sprouts (8/10) - fish tacos (8/10) - short ribs (6/10) The beet salad was as good as it gets and I mean that in a plain way. It's nothing amazing or extravagant. Short ribs were in the drier side which I didn't care for. Fish tacos and sprouts were pretty good! Service was good and drinks were good so nothing to complain there. You can have business lunches here which I noticed was very common read more

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I've been waiting for awhile to try this place out and my sister's high school graduation was the perfect opportunity. I reserved for a party of 6 at least a week in advance and 3 days prior i called to inquire about decorations. I arrived 30 minutes earlier than the reservation time in order to decorate and had a few choices of which table I wanted. I decided to go for the indoor table. I should mention the easiest parking would probably be the parking structure right next to the restaurant, but make sure you get validation because parking is pricey. I only paid $5 for 3 hours whereas it would have been $17 without validation. Anyway, I was helped rather quickly by our waiter for the day, Alex. Half of the party arrived on time so we went ahead and ordered drinks and appetizers from the happy hour menu. They have a good happy hour menu, $4 off appetizers and some drinks before 6pm on weekdays. We ordered a variety of appetizers to share for 6 people and although the second half of the party came late, right before happy hour ended, we were able to still order a handful of drinks at the happy hour price. The drinks here are decent, but the Raised by Wolves cocktail was probably our favorite. For entrees we ordered a variety of things from the prime subs, mahi tacos, halibut, tomahawk steak, and shrimp and lobster pasta. I was on a good buzz honestly so everything tasted good. Lol for the price you're paying, it has to be delicious and I remember it was. My family really enjoyed the tomahawk steak. Pictures show pretty much everything we ordered. We ended our night with creme brulee and fruit cobbler desserts. My sister even received a chocolate cake slice with ice cream and a candle. To top off the meal, we were offered French pressed coffee, hot or iced. Our server Alex was very sociable with my party, including my parents and siblings. He helped make our night a memorable one and we appreciate it! It was worth the money spent. I can see myself coming back. Its a nice place for an intimate date. I would definitely try other items when I return! read more

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Alex is the best server , ask by name not even close , the restaurant is nothing without an amazing server read more

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Beautiful lounge with good food and drinks! It was a nice area to lounge and chat with my friends. It has a more casual atmosphere, while the interior felt more upscale. We enjoyed the Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice stack. read more

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Recently went here after seeing the good reviews on instagram and yelp. Unfortunately, this place is overhyped. On a Friday it was nearly empty for good reason. Service was good everyone was nice. The food however is not good and over priced. I had the short rib which was okay not very tender and not the best I've had. Also tried some of the pistachio crusted halibut which was really over cooked and dry. Drinks were okay . It was a very okay experience. Wouldn't come back. They validate and you can park in the structure . read more

The Goldfinch - Braised Short Rib - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

First time at this restaurant. Went on a Friday afternoon and it was easy to get a table and caught the tail end of happy hour. The flow of the place is nice and they have nice booths. The service was good and very courteous. The food was interesting. The calamari was excellent. It was cooked perfectly and tasted great. I walk away with great insight after eating that. I have tried this dish at a lot of places and this was the best so far. While this place does an excellent job at cooking the food what I notice is there is lack of seasoning on the main dishes. Mash potatoes had no flavor and that could be by design. Their shrimp and lobster linguine was cooked perfectly, but it was missing flavor to really define the dish. It had the perfect amount of seafood and the pasta was cooked perfectly. The quality of the food is great and the presentation was also good. The reason for three stars is due to how I rate restaurants. 5 is for Michelin level quality. 4 is for definitely a place to have in rotation. 3 is average with room to improve. The place has potential for sure. While the cooking is good I just wish there was more seasoning. Will try this place again in a few months. I did enjoy my meal and the quality of the service. read more

The Goldfinch - Shrimp and lobster linguine. - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Really beautiful restaurant with great service. Considering the type of restaurant and the location, the prices are very reasonable.

Came in for date night on a Friday and were pleasantly surprised that we could make same-day reservations and were seated right away. There's plenty of parking in the center's structure, and they validate, which is a big plus. The service was outstanding--our server was attentive, and the food arrived quickly. I had the lobster and shrimp linguine, which was absolutely delicious: creamy with a touch of lemon, and both the shrimp and lobster were cooked to perfection. My husband ordered the Picanha, which came with chimichurri and crispy fries--he loved it. We ended the meal with the seasonal berry cobbler, warm and tangy, topped with vanilla ice cream. It was the perfect finish to a fantastic meal. We'll definitely be coming back soon! read more

The Goldfinch - Berry cobbler - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

This place was definitely a good experience. The server was attentive, thank you Gigi! The food came out quickly, there was enough space and our group definitely enjoyed their time. I ordered the linguine with shrimp and lobster plate and it was delicious! My boyfriend ordered a fish plate, Pistachio Panko Crusted Halibut and I want to come back and order his plate next time!! The food prices are in the higher end which was the only down side but the food was worth it! read more

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Had this spot bookmarked for a couple years and finally got the chance to go. It was just as good as I was expecting. I loved the interior, it was modern but also warm. Our server was attentive and helpful with recommendations as well. I tried the braised pork, shrimp and lobster salad (not pictured) and calamari. The braised pork was soft and juicy. Their shrimp lobster and melon salad was surprised and honestly quite refreshing. The calamari was good but not the best I've had. Definitely a good place for a date night or for getting drinks with friends/co workers. read more

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We had a reservation and seated as soon we arrived. We had brunch and they didn't disappoint. We all had something different. Everything was exceptionally good. Great cocktails too!!!. Out server was prompt and attentive. The resturant was was open and inviting. Thank you for a wonderful meal. read more

Came in for dinner on a Thursday. The restaurant was not very busy, so service was attentive and the overall volume was modest. The decor was really nice, with a modern feel. We had a couple of specialty drinks which were really delicious. The food was great. We really enjoyed everything we ordered and would enjoy coming here again. I would come again for a nice lunch or dinner date. read more

Ambiance- 5/5 Very cute and modern decor and pleasant setting for a date or business dinner Doesn't seem quite as appropriate for a loud family dinner with lots of kids but it probably depends on the day/time Service- 5/5 Server was friendly and attentive It was my first time there so he was patient in recommending a cocktail and answering questions about some of the dishes Food- 4/5 Poke wraps- 3/5 we got this as a shared appetizer It comes deconstructed and you make your own lettuce wraps. Fish was mediocre, avocado was a nice touch but the warm rice didn't really go with it and was better on the side in my opinion. Would have been good with a bit of mango salsa or diced fruit and yuzu maybe I'd skip this if you're a die hard sashimi person Mussels-5/5 Great size mussels (some places they are tiny and not cooked well). Broth was delicious Perfectly cooked and decent portion (it's technically an appetizer) Comes with two pieces of bread Would definitely recommend this Friend got the grilled steak salad- looked good. He seemed to like it. Ordered it medium rare and it looked like it was the correct temperature Drinks-5/5 Wabbit season- generally tend to go for vodka based drinks and mules but wanted to be a bit adventurous and tried this one (bourbon base) and really enjoyed it. Not too sweet but pleasant with the egg whites Forgot the name of the drink he got but I tried it and it was good but I preferred my cocktail. (Base is Japanese whiskey) I'd definitely return! I'd love to try the fish and tomahawk. read more

The Goldfinch - Wabbit season - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Goldfinch is amazing! The Spicy Fries Burger was perfectly seasoned, and the tartare was delicious. It's busy at lunch, but worth the wait! Nice Restaurant. read more

The Goldfinch - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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The good: - great location - trendy decor - very nice and sweet front of house/hostess - nice, honest waiter (person taking our order & giving menu advice) The bad: - food sucks (been here several times, the food just isn't good at all) - service staff is lost/disconnected (food took forever and the servers went on a tour of the entire restaurant and tried to serve our plates to almost every single other table in the dining room before they finally came to ours. It was like watching a bad comedy) - they apparently don't validate parking like the other restaurants Summary: - come here for ambience if you live nearby and just can't be bothered to travel any further - don't come here for the food read more

We had an amazing experience at The Goldfinch--it's a very thoughtfully-designed place, from the menu (with great seasonal options) to the decor (as others have mentioned, a modern upscale-casual blend that would be perfect for business meals). We were extremely impressed with the cocktails and the fried calamari (not pictured). The calamari was probably our favorite, followed by the salmon and then the knife and fork burger. Our server, Moises, was excellent and made great recommendations! read more

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Wonderful food, service, and ambiance! The prices were a bit steep for lunch, but we are in Irvine. The quality of food seemed really high. The only issue was the temperature of the restaurant, since the doors were open. It became a bit hot for my party. read more

The Goldfinch - Menu - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Decided to have dinner in Orange County on a school night and I found this place in my Yelp search (plug ) Parking lot is both self park or valet but I self parked and yes they do validate for 2 hrs. Had I paid attention they close at 9 I woulda gotten there earlier but I closed the place! Needed more time honestly because I was having a good time We ordered some apps like Brussel sprouts and tuna tower and goat cheese artichokes I also ordered a chicken sandwich which was filled with mashed potatoes which was a trip but it worked! The food was good and the service was great The ambience is fine dining but not much that you don't feel under dressed if you aren't business dressed lol read more

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This place has a great vibe and was full of peoples from different walks of life on an early Saturday evening. The seating is comfortable. For you fellow plus-sized peeps - the main chairs have no arms and the booths are surprisingly roomy and comfy - you won't need to squeeze in - hooray! Drinks were beautiful and flavorful but very weak. I can't drink a half a glass of win without getting tipsy and my cocktail didn't affect me at all. We started off with the artichoke flowers which were rich and yummy (but I hate when appetizers come with an uneven number of bites - there were five of these...). We had the filet mignon (very nice although the baked potato fries lacked flavor), the picanha (best of the bunch - delicious! I don't even like arugala but this was baby arugala and very tasty), and the shirimp and lobster linguine (also nice and light). The food was really delicious. Dessert is where they lost a star. The raspberry chocolate cake was really more of a regular chocolate cake with a very small raspberry drizzle on top. The creme brulee was very good. But the berry cobbler was terrible. It was mushy and has absolutely no crisp to it. It was more like berry bread pudding than cobbler. Really terrible. The wait staff was very friendly and welcoming. There was no wait with our reservation. It's a little hard to find as the parking garage points you to an exit where it says Goldfinch will be to the left but....without further signage, we couldn't find it that way. We had to go back to the garage and go out on the main street side to find it. Wish that had been a little clearer. But they do validate the parking so for us, it was free (we were there about 90 minutes). I'd come back but I'd skip dessert. read more

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For the price, the food was very mediocre. Our server was excellent! Except for possibly a drink at the bar, we'll likely not return.

This is a hotspot in Irvine. The food is delicious. The service is so good, our waiter, Alex made us laugh. He was so funny. He entertained us and he was always on point with his service coming by to make sure we had plenty of drinks, Plenty of water, plenty of everything he was great... It's a gorgeous little restaurant. The parking is in in the parking structure behind the restaurant. Very easy to navigate. They do validate a portion of your parking fee. read more

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Went here for a friend's birthday. Happy hour drinks were great and the food was pretty good too. Loved the beet salad! The staff were friendly, and I'd definitely come back. read more

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I saw a shrimp pho burger on the menu and had to try it. That is what drove me from the few good options that I had near my hotel. Delicious! The restaurant is large, open and stylish sitting on a corner with great outdoor seating and even if inside, feels airy and outdoorsy. The pho burger is crazy good and very inventive. They could bottle the pho aioli and sell it! Highly recommend this place as I have no doubt, everything is of high quality and delicious. read more

Great experience at the goldfinch this evening. Our first visit and will certainly not be our last. Our server MOISES was fantastic made some wonderful suggestions. We had the appetizer of artichokes with goat cheese and a beef salad. For our entrées, we had the ribeye which was excellent and thepecan crusted halibut. Everything was excellent. I will say that.Nohe was very attentive and made sure we had evrything we needed ! Thank you. Annie wait for our next visit. Martini was on point. read more

The Goldfinch - Beautiful - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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My friend and I went to Goldfinch around 4:30pm on a Tuesday evening. I had no idea there was happy hour during this time, so it was an added bonus knowing that we came in on time to take advantage of the happy hour menu. We were seated at a booth in the main dining room, and it was quite elegant. I got the vibe that this was a go-to spot for professionals after work. Service was excellent overall. Our food came out incredibly fast and all at once, and our server was amazing and attentive. We ordered several things off the menu, such as the goat cheese stuffed artichokes, steak tartare, spicy tuna crispy rice stack, and calamari. I was pretty satisfied with what I had though a couple of dishes were certainly more standout than others. The goat cheese artichokes were fine, but it would've been cool if these had a crunchy texture or a bit of sweetness to break up the flavor. The calamari was fairly basic. I liked that the batter was light and how they included slices of jalapeno and red chilis. However, the pieces of squid were tiny. I would skip on this appetizer for next time. The steak tartare was great. It came with a topping of egg yolk so be sure to mix everything well. Loved the flavor of the tartare, and I felt that its quality was nice. We were told that the spicy tuna crispy rice stack was part of the seasonal menu. Due to its popularity, the dish made solidified its place on the permanent menu. I could totally see why. This was my favorite appetizer that we shared. The crispy rice had a great crunchy texture. The mixture of the flavors - from the unagi sauce to the house-made spicy sauce - was like a bite out of my favorite specialty roll. It also had a good amount of spicy tuna and sliced avocado on top. For dessert we got the seasonal fruit cobbler and the pistachio chocolate tiramisu. The fruit cobbler had a nice blend of strawberries and blackberries, and the crust was beautifully caramelized. Wish the crust was thicker and there was more of it. I absolutely loved the tiramisu. I'm not a huge fan of tiramisu to begin with, but I loved how unique the flavor was and the thickness of the custard texture. I got a couple of drinks, which were made very well. Purple Rain was a refreshing gin cocktail, and their Cold Brew Martini was a strong but smooth espresso martini. read more

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We heard about the Goldfinch through IG as the new modern restaurant to try. The parking situation is ok, even with the validation we still had to pay for the parking. The interior is super clean and modern, and the staff were so welcoming. They gave amazing recommendations and we were so appreciative of the staffs knowledge of the menu. The food was flavorful and good! I wouldn't say it was the best I've ever had but for the price and vibe, it was average to little above average. Even though we shared most dishes, we were still full by the end. Overall, a fun date or double date place for a fun night. read more

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This spot is perfect for special events or big parties. They can accommodate last minute bookings. I ordered the Picanha and this was the perfect entree for me since it was served with arugula and a light dressing with garlic fries. It reminded me of steak frites. read more

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Goldfinch has been on my list of places to try and It did not disappoint! The ambiance is such a vibe with lots of seating indoors including table tops, bar seating and grand booths for groups - as well as patio seating with heaters! APPS// We heard rave reviews about the spicy tuna crispy rice appetizer and it was absolutely delicious!! 10/10. I would order again and would try more apps as they all sounded so good! MAINS// my husband ordered the lobster roll with garlic fries. The fries were crispy and the lobster was fresh and tasty but could have used lemon on top. Still rate a 10/10 I ordered the sea bass and it sat on a bed of noodles with broth. It was very flavorful and the fish had a nice crust on top. I would do without the sauce on top, it didn't need it. Still 10/10 taste Our server Brandon was helpful and attentive with us the entire night! DESSERT// we ordered the berry cobbler which was absolutely amazing (not pictured) because we devoured it. 11/10 read more

The Goldfinch - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

Incredible food and great prompt service. Came in for an after workout lunch today with some workout buddies and we all loved our dishes. I got the Poki rice bowl. Super on point. Delicious, fresh, healthy and filling. Highly recommend this one. You can't go wrong. My friend got the Lobster Salad and he loved it even though it is a lighter dish. My other friend got the Steak Salad and she said it was super good. She highly recommends this salad as well. Our bartender server was super cool, friendly and gave prompt service. Also the manager Kaytee was very professional and nice to our group as she came by to say hello. We love the atmosphere of the entire restaurant. It's so well lit, nice marble granite bar tops, overall a very modern and classy place to come grab a meal at either the bar or the dining room and super clean. We will definitely be back to try some of their other dishes. read more

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I was originally going to give The Goldfinch a 3-4 stars because tbh, the food was just okay. But when we received two of our entrees that came out wrong, the server and manager on duty handled our situation with much grace and professionalism. We made reservations for a party of 7 at 7:30pm. We were seated promptly, with waters already waiting for us at our table. Our server was patient and knowledgeable as he recommended drinks, appetizers and upgrades to some of our entrees. The appetizers were probably the best. We got their meatballs and their calamari. Meatballs were moist and flavorful, and the calamari was crispy. My favorite were the crispy fried jalapeños in the calamari and the aioli - yum! I asked for a mocktail, which was one of their cocktails w/o the alcohol. It was pretty but too sweet imo. It was called, "So Much Drama." Half of our table got side salads, which were typical and nothing too special. My Wagyu Oscar (along with my coworker's) initially came out without the crab :( this was a huge mistake and we were really disappointed. The server offered to warm our plates as they cook and bring the crab on the side. That would've really overcooked our wagyu, so the manager came over and offered to replace the entire entree, no extra charge. She was so kind and nice and came over without a fuss. She took our messed up entrees, packed them in boxes herself and pretty much gave us a free entree to take back with us. After about 15 minutes, our new entrees came out with a huge mound of creamy delicious crab. Loved the broccolini too! We had a great dinner/business meeting overall, with ample space to relax and talk. Loved the chandeliers! read more

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The Goldfinch is the ultimate business district lunch spot. Wonderful service, not impossible to get into, food is delicious, price is slightly on the higher end of the dollar scale, not too loud, spacious, and it's nice without being too fancy. Here, the prime rib sandwich is the star, especially once it soaks up the rich, savory au jus. The accompanying creamy horseradish dip has just enough bite to also balance out the saltiness. Their fish tacos and lobster rolls are also great choices. The mahi mahi fish tacos boast a lightly grilled fish with a smoky char, cabbage for texture, and tangy sauce. The lobster is good quality, providing you with a reliable sweet and meaty experience in a pillowy vessel. They have some show stopper items like the full prime rib (not just sandwich) that sounds pretty incredible as well - there is plenty to try next time! And next time, this review will include pictures :). There is a parking lot on site and the restaurant validates. With well-crafted dishes, an accessible location, and sleek but inviting atmosphere, it's no wonder The Goldfinch appeals to business folks and casual eaters alike. read more

There was nothing that set this place apart from other like places. Everything was good but nothing was great. Salmon sandwich was good, garlic fries very good, cocktail was what you'd expect from a like priced item. Service was excellent and ambiance good too. read more

Fantastic ambiance. Great service. Upscale new American cocktail bar restaurant in Irvine at @thegoldfinchrestaurant . Food I tried: - Dublin Donkey (highly recommended. This is no joke. This will put you to the edge) - New England clam chowder - poke wraps - lobster roll - panko crusted mahi mahi fish taco - the knife n fork burger read more

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Avoid happy hour!!!! We went at 3pm on a Friday, only people in the restaurant at the bar top. A lady working there told us to "quiet down" because we were too loud. I get it if you are disturbing guests or bothering people. There was no one else there and this worker was working on a laptop in the corner. Safe to say won't return and happy to take our business lunches somewhere else. read more

Our First Time, But We Loved It! This was our first visit to The Goldfinch, and it did not disappoint! The atmosphere was warm and inviting, the service was excellent, and the food was absolutely delicious. We will definitely be coming back! read more

The Goldfinch - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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