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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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

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

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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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

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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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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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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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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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

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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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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We were really excited about this restaurant and felt pretty disappointed by the end. Our server was great, he was on it. Our food was very mediocre and the portion sizes/amount of food was not okay. We ordered the Roasted Bone Marrow, which barely had anything. Then we got the Brussel Sprouts that were supposed to have maple bacon and gorgonzola, but didn't have any. My husband ordered the Pistachio Crusted Halibut, which he said tasted good but the size of the fish was tiny. I ordered the Lobster Roll and when I took the lettuce out, there wasn't enough meat to fill out the bun. Very disappointing! read more

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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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

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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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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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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The restaurant was dirty seats not cleaned and stained. Food was okay. I probably wouldn't go back

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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This place was absolutely amazing. We came to celebrate the new year and my husband's birthday. It was our first time here we ordered the omelette substituted the bacon for mushroom and spinach, which was amazing. Then we ordered the chicken and cinnamon pancakes roll, which was out of this world. The service was great. The ambience was perfect. The food was delicious. We will definitely be coming back for more with family and friends. . read more

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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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Super nice spot in Irvine, the food was delicious! Our servers name was Bailey she was awesome we didn't have to ask for anything , she was so sweet and knowledgeable about the menu. She recommended the Thai curry sea bass and as a person who's picky about fish it was amazing! Ask for Bailey as your server , she's amazing! read more

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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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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Omg the food is so freaking good, I sat at the bar the bartender Alan was so sweet and super helpful with his suggestions, he suggested I get the lavender lemon drop and the shrimp linguini pasta both 10/10 recommend! Definitely will be coming back , thanks Alan! read more

I read about The Goldfinch in several reviews of OC's top new restaurants and I made reservations for my next trip to Irvine on the way to Segerstrom. We arrived just before happy hour ended so we were able to get an order of drinks in just in time. The bartender and server made sure to give us their top recommendations and get our drinks to us immediately. The location is great in an area with several other good restaurants. The atmosphere is fun and lively with one whole side of the restaurant lined with windows allowing for lots of natural light. The food and drinks were very tasty so we'll be back to try more. read more

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First time there. Loved everything they have. Food is great, service is great! I will definitely go back again read more

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Tasty Bites with a Great Drink Selection Ambiance - There are plenty of seating options (booths, tables, bar) - You could make a reservation in advance though you probably don't really need one during the weekday unless you really want a preferred area Food - We ordered a bunch of apps because they looked amazing: SPICY TUNA CRISPY RICE STACK was amazing, the rice was so crispy and the tuna was so fresh, it wasn't spicy at all SWEET POTATO FRIES cause why not, crispy as well and tasty BRUSSEL SPROUTS were amazing, we special requested no bacon but it was still super flavorful BONE MARROW had so much meat on the bones! The veggies with it really cut the fat well and paired nicely. FURIKAKE CRUSTED SEABASS caught my eye for my entree and then it was a great way to tie all of the apps together. The portion was the perfect size and I loved the unique cooking style they did with the furikake Drinks - They have several options for non alcoholic cocktails and can make a few of the cocktails non alcoholic - I ordered something from their seasonal menu and it was really good, you could tell they took the time to make sure all of the flavors blended evenly and didn't leave a bitter aftertaste - I would come back just for the drinks itself! read more

The Goldfinch - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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I happened to come across the pictures I took when I treated my best friend for her birthday here a few months ago. I realized I didn't get to post my Yelp review then so here you go. Excellent food, service and ambience. The Goldfinch is located where the old McCormick & Schmick's was. The portions are quite generous as was the menu selection. We shared the following: Calamari with Lemon Basil Aioli - lightly breaded, tender and very good. The other sauce was a regular marinara. Gorgonzola and Granny Smith Apple Salad with Garlic Shrimp - wonderful romaine with candied pecans, dried cranberries and dijon vinaigrette. Picanha - been meaning to try this cut (top sirloin cap). Sometime ago I read that Picanha is the highlight at any Brazilian BBQ so finally got to try one here with chimichurri sauce and it did not disappoint. The meat was tender and perfect at med rare. Served with arugula salad with parmesan on top and garlic fries. Highly recommend! read more

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My friend planned a Sunday birthday brunch here and it was the perfect place for a group! The indoor area is very upscale trendy and opens up to nice sized patio where we were seated. My friend and I were coming from an hour away and hit traffic so we were running late (which the birthday girl knew about). When we arrived and told the hostess we were with a birthday group, she was extremely rude, telling us our friends had been there for almost an hour. We were 30 minutes late and already felt bad so the hostess didn't need to make is feel worse. Plus they weren't busy and needing our seats at all either. Luckily our friends were enjoying drinks and catching up so they didn't care. Other than the hostess, service was great! I ordered an espresso martini which was delicious! My Chilaquiles were super flavorful. The French toast was huge and easily shareable. Everyone else enjoyed their drinks and meals too (I didn't want to be the annoying person taking pics of everyone's dishes though). Overall great place for brunch. Theres a parking lot connected to the building and the restaurant will validate your ticket. read more

The Goldfinch - French toast - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Fantastic dinner! Everything on the menu looked great, but we made our selections with several helpful recommendations from our server Alexandre. Everything we had was just outstanding, from ube painkiller and purple rain cocktails and the goat cheese stuffed artichoke flowers appetizer to the maple glazed double pork chop and pistachio panko crusted halibut. Just a short walk from the Hyatt House; we will definitely be back next time we're in the area. Not inexpensive nor super quiet but if you're ok with that, you won't be disappointed. Located next to 40 v3 (250KW) Tesla Superchargers, plus Tesla destination chargers and ChargePoint chargers too, just off the 405, about a mile from the John Wayne (SNA) airport. read more

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Food was yummy! Classic fancy breakfast food. Ambiance of the restaurant felt more high end/classy. Would be a great place for a nice weekend brunch/celebrating a special occasion. read more

The Goldfinch - Eggs Benedict - New American Near Me - Irvine, California

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Ambience 10/10 Drinks 8/10 Service 10/10 Food 7/10 I would say more of 3.5 stars but I rounded up. Came here not too hungry so we did a few apps. The bone marrow was the best of it. Some bites of the Brussels had flavor and others were lacking. The pork belly skewers were not cooked well. One skewer was cold and chewy. I didn't bother touching the rest. The pistachio tiramisu was okay. It wasn't great but it wasn't horrible. read more

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