There are not enough stars for this establishment. My wife and I have been coming here for 9+ years, prior it was called Playground 2.0 and run by Jason Quinn (The Lime Truck and personally the epitome of a Michelin Star chef) and Justin Werner (Porch and Swing and a genius in the kitchen). Now Justin runs the show and Jason handles the establishment next door, Detention, now a semi-private restaurant/lounge/upscale bar. If you are looking for a fun, unique, enjoyable dinner engagement full of smiles and banter than I highly recommend Trust 2.0. Come hungry and with a good attitude and you will be in for a fantastic evening. Come early and stop by Detention, next door, for some world class speakeasy craft cocktails that you find in a special hidden bar in NYC, Tokyo, LA, or anywhere else but not something you would expect in Santa Ana. The bartenders are some of the best in the area and classically trained in their craft. Truly a special place... read more

We went to the Trust Dinner Party for our anniversary and it was one of the coolest food experiences. Upon arrival, we were offered champagne with nuts and olives to snack on while waiting for all the guests to arrive. Each course was shareable between 2 people and it was more than enough food. Every dish tasted amazing and chef Justin had a back story for what inspired him as well as where the ingredients came from. It was very intimate but social at the same time. Sitting at the bar listening to the stories from the chef and interacting with everyone there felt like a real dinner party. After dinner we also got access to Detention and I am convinced to get a membership. 10/10 read more

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Had been to many Playground 2.0 dinner over the years, but since Covid had just not been back. This is by no means a bad place to get some food, by a long shot, but for the caliber and price it unfortunately just felt like an imitation, and so it gets an OK from us. I'll try to keep it to a few notes: - This is a bit of a weird one, but the chefs describing the dishes were rehearsed to the point it was off-putting. We've been here before, I mean, how many different ways can you describe a dish? But this was more than that, this was like a scripted performance including memorized quips and banter. A chef describes the dish to one half, and everyone can hear it. Then another chef describes the dish to the other half. That would normally be fine EXCEPT they each were saying the same anecdotes and little wordplay jokes, that made it all just feel... fake. Or, inauthentic. A McMansion of an experience. And because that up close and personal authenticity is sort of the point of these single seating bar experiences... it impacted it to a degree that we don't think we'll be back. Which is a bummer. - Also a weird one for us, we love salt, but almost everything was crazy over seasoned. It was actually insane, to the point we could not take more than a bite or two of one of the dishes. Should've said something probably. - No stars deducted here but IMO it's just too much food. We were leaving bites on a plate, then leaving half a plate full, then only taking a bite or two of the later dishes and we still felt sickly full that night and next day. Maybe we're just getting too old for this ****. There's still a lot to love here, and the food is still largely great, but for us the overall experience now is just 3-stars "OK". If you've never been to anything like this before you'll love it. read more

Beware- I tested positive for Covid and did not want to expose our party or their staff. The restaurant can sell my $250 ticket off the waitlist but would only issue me a credit? That's ridiculous read more

Edit: No walk ups, go to the playground website to reserve and pre-pay table in advance. We have been diehard fans of Playground and were super excited to celebrate our anniversary at 1.9. We had a freakin blast! It's a generous 12-course meal served in 4 drops, with equally generous pairings of wine and spirits, which they continue refilling over and over. I have no idea how the original 2.0 was like. Ours was held outside with the tables pretty far apart due to Covid, which kind of lent itself to both feeling like you're part of the party with some nice privacy as well. As soon as we are seated someone came around with a cocktail and that set the tone. I loved how they introduced all of the staff members who were really warm and friendly and came around to all tables. Really great vibes!! The food was awesome with many highlights throughout the meal. Each trio of dishes came from different parts of the world...from provinces in China and UK by way of Australia and Mexico, as examples. We loved the feeling of traveling to different places through the food It's actually an insane amount of food and drink, especially for two people, almost like a gourmet mukbang. And it's so good you can't stop eating! The chef comes out and explains the backstory of every dish, which we enjoyed. It was $200 per person all in, which was a big value considering the number of courses, the multiple pairings of alcohol and seemingly endless refills, the fantastic service, gratuity and the quality. Lastly, Chef Jason personally greeted every table, had a conversation with everyone seated and told some pretty funny jokes. I was at the 8:30pm seating and I have also been at Dough Exchange pretty early in the AM and he's also there, making everyone feel welcomed. Dude deserves a medal for the amount of care he puts in for everyone coming through the door, morning till late night. Perfect place to celebrate anything- first nice post-Covid meal, birthdays, anniversaries, date night, getting a job. I'm already looking forward to my next time back! read more

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What took us so long to come here? We had an excellent evening at the "If the Spirit Moves You" cocktail pairing dinner. Jarred Dooley put together some magical cocktails and the 2.0 chefs took us on a food journey from Spain to the Caribbean to Japan and to the American Steakhouse. My favorite dishes were from the Caribbean, there were chicken oysters with jerk sauce and the ceviche. I didn't even know what a chicken oyster was until this very moment. Another highlight was a crab handroll which was brightened with sweet little unexpected strawberries. The attention to detail with the drinks, down to the glassware was impressive. My favorite drink was the old fashioned which was fat washed with Wagyu beef fat- sounds insane and it was, in the best way. I would be remiss if i didn't say how much Jarred and the chefs made this experience special. They were all so friendly and thorough with their explanations of the cocktails and the food. I will definitely return and try out a different theme in the future! read more

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Had dinner here last night with another couple. It was AMAZING! There are plenty of reviews that detail every last thing, so I won't even get into it. My question before going was, will it be worth the $200 ticket? My answer is ABSOLUTELY. We went to the Ultimate Steak Dinner. 12 courses, which includes fresh bread, 5 cuts of meat, 5 sides, and a dessert. PLUS a cocktail at the beginning, 4 glasses of wine, and one dessert beer. The price includes tax and gratuity. WORTH IT. We really loved everything. All of the sides were so unique and interesting. The wine pairings were perfect. The staff was incredible. It was such a fun dinner! The chefs were interacting with us and talking to us about anything and everything. It really felt like hanging out with friends. My advice? Spend the money, book a reservation. Listen to awesome music, eat some of the best food you have ever had in your life, and have a great time! read more

Trust - Ultimate Steak Dinner - Tapas/Small Plates Near Me - Santa Ana, California

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The food, the staff, the setting...10/10. Make sure you are good and hungry because the 12 courses will fill you to the brim and though you will be SO full you won't want to stop. Each dish is amazing and epic. read more

It lived up to the hype and then some. Food was amazing. Not sure though pictures will do it justice. Service and conversation with staff was also amazing. They can sure dish out the food and the wit, but I especially loved that they can take a joke or two back. Love to banter and I got that and more. Thanks Jason and team! Food was plentiful too. Was surprised to find we were able to pack some to go. After twelve or so courses, you will be stuffed. Quality of the meat was over the top too. Our night was the Ultimate Steak Night and they only use salt to season the meat. That way you get to taste the quality of the meat and compare across the various cuts. I wish I could remember them all, but I can't. I do know I loved the short rib and last course - Japanese wagyu. It was melt in your mouth amazing! I will go back. Only thing i didn't like was waiting in the main Playground restaurant. Not sure I want to try the main restaurant. Service was a bit obnoxious. They don't serve main stream liquors, probably to support smaller batch distillers, but they have an attitude about it. Just say why you don't carry them and offer us something else. I thought it was just me, but the bartender did the same thing to another couple and they felt bad asking question after question about what was available. For me, no Jameson no problem give your best Irish whiskey. No Macallan? No problem, what's your best single malt scotch. The other couple had to go on for a while until they were able to order something. read more

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We had a great experience here the other night. I found this place and made a reservation online for my wife's birthday. It is on the pricey side but definitely worth it as she is a foodie. Even for a guy like me who doesn't care much about fine dining, it was a very pleasant change from the usual high-end restaurant with obnoxious servers and subpar service. The 3 chefs and the lady who explained the drinks in great detail were awesome and welcoming. We tried the "dinner party" and it felt like one. No pressure on anyone to eat anything they didn't want. Just one suggestion to announce and explain each dish to the group as a whole and not to segments of the guests at a time. I think that would give the dinner and guests a sense of sharing an experience together. read more

highly recommend this spot! I absolutely love the concept behind this restaurant. you can sign up for a themed dinner (I went to the "ultimate steak dinner") and get surprised by chef justin. no menu before or after the meal; you just trust him. the meat was exceptional (my favorite was the short rib) but honestly what impressed me just as much were the sides. the salad was extremely refreshing, eggplant was crisped to perfection, and the creamy potatoes were to die for. an extra plus is that every item was gluten free except for the dessert and the bread (and the gluten free substitutions were, dare I say it, even better)! the only caveat is that there is a shared plate of meats, appetizers etc for every 2-3 people so not great if you're a germaphobe . it's pricey but it's definitely worth it in terms of portions and taste! will definitely be signing up for more dinners here! read more

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First of all, I am not new to fine dining. I have at least 1 fine dining per month on average and I've had many Michelin restaurants in San Francisco, LA, Seattle and NY. For most of them, I feel like my overall rating correlates with yelp rating. But for this one, it's really an exception. We booked food from chino farm dinner. 1. Seat is very narrow and squeeze. This space can barely keep your comfortable, you have to huddle yourself up in order not to touch your neighbor. 2. Most of the dishes are served in one container for 2 people party. This makes you and your peer very awkward. Sometimes for some basic, normal restaurant, they will split the dish and put them in two bowls for you to share. 3. TASTE: very horrible. Extreme salty or oily. Food quality is bad, most of them are normal materials, even my mom's home cooking is better. 4. No respect for food. Chefs prepare food with bandAid on their finger, no glove, no masks. And I even saw a chef taste our food in the pan before it is served. When they picked up noodle from the pan, soup are splashed everywhere, very messy and dirty. I am not looking for those delicate, carefully organized French/Japanese dish layout, but please at least wipe the bowl before serving. I feel sick after this dinner, I really regret this experience and wish I hadn't have it. read more

Wonderful experience. Can't wait to go back. Loved how all of the courses were explained to us directly from the chef.

Finally had the opportunity to attend Chef Jason Quinn's "Ultimate Steak Dinner" at Playground 2.0. I had been to his other restaurant, Playground, several times and always enjoyed the food. I'll start by saying that Playground 2.0 was one of the best and tastiest dining experiences I've ever had! Playground 2.0 offers multi-course tasting dinner events, and it's located right next door to their main restaurant, Playground, in downtown Santa Ana. There is a big parking garage around the corner, and the attire is business casual. Playground 2.0 is shaped in a semi-circle, for lack of a better word, and it seats about 18 people. Everyone has views of the Chef and team members creating the delicious dishes. The dinner themes vary. In addition to the Ultimate Steak Dinner, they also have a Farm-to-Table dinner, a Fish Market dinner and another one called "Trust", where you just show up and trust that whatever they serve you is going to be amazing (and I'm sure it will be)! Being the carnivores that my husband & I are, we signed up for the Ultimate Steak Dinner. Pro Tip: you need to make reservations ahead of time, as they seem to be sold out 1-2 months in advance. There are 2 seatings a night - 6:00pm and 8:30pm. The Ultimate Steak Dinner provides each guest with different cuts and styles of beef, accompanied with various sides and paired with different wines throughout the evening. The minute we walked in, we were served a glass of wine, and then the dishes just came one after the other (see photos of all the food we ate). The meats were so tender and all of the sides were spectacular! The wines paired very well with each dish, and the dessert was incredible, too! Perhaps one of the best parts of the meal was the opportunity to interact with the Chef Owner, Jason Quinn. He is so friendly and he's extremely talented when it comes to his craft. The total cost for the meal was $150 pp, and that includes the food, pairings and tip! It's totally worth it. Trust me. read more

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What an amazing experience. Great food and great conversation with chef and staff. We highly recommend for foodies and those looking for a great eating experience! read more

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The food great! We did a takeout, can't say much the place itself. But the service was nice and we are gonna order again for sure!

Very good. Plus lead guy was pure entertainment. Excellent food and had a blast. Was there for our friends 70th. Birthday bash. Ty

Amazing meal yesterday with Chef Jason and "Dimples" Tyler at seafood and steak night!! Wasn't sure what to expect but got to meet new people by sharing serving bowls with them and we were treated to a well rounded food and wine experience! The chefs were full of energy, feeding off the patrons, who were in turn imbibing freely of the alcohol. Definitely enjoyed the late seating! Loved the opening salad and toro plate. The fresh king crab paired exquisitely with the certified wagyu beef (along with a certificate!) never had a "cheesecake" dessert like this! My advice, go to this dinner hungry, with an open mind to try every dish and enjoy the company around you! We will be back!! read more

Chef Jason Quinn appears to be the consummate bon vivant w/ a wide range of interests not just in the culinary realm, but in other fields such as history, culture with a matching rapier wit that seems to flit from subject to subject at supersonic speed.  Staying stationary for too long may be the source of ennui for this intellectually peripatetic personality.  So just as a warning, be prepared to be peppered quickly in rapid succession w/ the first 4 cold appetizers that come out in a whoosh.  Of course, you don't have to feel compelled to gobble down the food just to keep up.  I stayed at my turtle pace since I wanted to savour the food since Chef Quinn's samplings are worthy of contemplation. And one can catch up when he starts to cook the main dishes since that slows him down to a more stately pace.  1) Pa Amb Tomaquet: Traditional Catalan dish which can also be found at Jose Andres' Bazaar is grilled bread in buttery olive oil & herbed tomato puree.  It's sort of like an Italian Bruschetta. I used the Pa Amb Tomaquet to sop up the premium olive oil left over from the following dishes for even richer effect.  2)  Boquerones: A tapa from Al Andalus/southern Spain where anchovies are gutted & cleaned, brined then set in vinegar. Later olive oil is added which mellows out the acidity as well as herbs to modulate the slight fishiness.  The golden yellow glow of olive oil was a nice touch.  3)  Conserva de Vongole, Ostriche, Cozze:  clams, oysters, mussels poached in olive oil w/ admixture of garlic, peppers, Italian parsley. The texture is mushy, chewy, meaty. Subtle addition of the herbs lightens & freshens the flavours of this collection of the phylum Mollusca.   4)  "Basura"/trash: Skin of ocean trout was fried to a crisp which Japanese Sushi chefs would call "Sembei"/crackers.  Odd scraps of the ocean trout was made into a Tartare dressed w/ fresh cucumber, apple spiced up w/ Yuzu Kosho-/Japanese citrus zest & chiles pureed. This follows the Snout to Tail movement in which nothing is wasted.  Respect the animal that died so that we can eat.  Very admirable. This dish reminded me of the Hawai'ian Lomi Lomi.  1-4a)  Fino Muy Seco Jerez:  Fine dry sherry w/ a bit of a nutty, possible almond bouquet. Tastes of a bit of smokiness, light acidity, astringent, oaky, lightly sour to refresh the palate. Rest of the meal is described in the previous review below. read more

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What an amazing experience! The food and drinks were great. We came here on swine night, wine pairing. Will definitely come back. read more

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TLDR: Would I come back? Probably not. Should YOU try it? Absolutely! We came here on a Friday night for the Trust Me dinner. This small restaurant is nicely situated in a really happening area with a low-cost parking structure just across the street. It only seats about 18 people and all of their seating is at the countertop where you can see all the action and interact directly with the chef and his team. The meal includes an alcohol pairing and, for the most part, your glasses are never empty! The staff was friendly and attentive; the Chef was clearly passionate about good quality food. The entire experience takes about 2 hours. The menu is ever-changing as the Chef likes to use ingredients that are fresh and in season. That said, what I had will probably be different than what you will have. There were some definite highlights but also some definite disappointments. The biggest disappointment was, sadly, the steak. We were really wrestling with whether to do the Ultimate Steak or the Trust Me dinner. On this particular night, I was so relieved to have not chosen the Ultimate Steak if what I had was a preview of that. The steak was tough and, overall, not that good. I checked in with the couple next to us, and they agreed. That said, there were also many amazing dishes with such a mix of flavors and textures. There was a corn pasta that was deeelish! And a kouign amann that was sublime (if you don't know what that is or how to say it, don't worry! I didn't either. But now I know and if I find it again at some other bakery, I'm ordering 10!) Overall, it was a good experience and worth a try. read more

All I got to say is...what an amazing experience!!! You have book and pay weeks in advance online. The menu changes all the time, but you can check online what menu will be featured and on what days. I wanna say the dinning place seats about 20 guests. The seating is all arranged around the open kitchen where you can watch the chef and his co-chef cook up the meal. The head chef starts with an intro explaining the featured menu. When we went, it was surf and turf. He goes on to explain each course and the fresh ingredients he uses and how it's prepared. To start, we got a refreshing cocktail, I totally forgot what it was, but it was good! It wasn't too sweet or over powered with alchol. So the plates were served for every 3 guests to share family style which I thought was pretty smart! A great way to mingle and talk to others. Each course is paired with wine to compliment the dish. And the guy working kept refilling your glass, which is always great! We got a salad, I forgot what it was called, but it had quinoa, which I'm not a huge fan of, but the way the chef prepared it, it was crunchy. Which I didn't know quinoa could be crunchy and it was delicious! The salad also had raisins and pistachio with a creamy vinaigrette dressing. Next course was a Blue fin tuna, or also know as Ahi. It was served with some kind of sauce with crunchy puffed rice thingys on top. It was SO good! After that we had a fish, geez, I forget what kind of fish it was...some type of sea bream...it was a white fish with crunchy skin served with a butter and I wanna say parsley sauce. The fish was so moist. Along with the fish was served a leek (i think it was leek, I could be wrong.) puree with some crunchy something on too. That was also good too! Next was a few different cuts of meats. The best one I remembered was the A5 wagyu! That thing literally just melts in your mouth! The chef prepared with just salt! That's it! There was no need for some fancy-schmancy sauce to ruin the flavor of the beef. It was kick you in the mouth good!!! But just when you thought it was done, out comes the most freshest, reddest king crab legs (already out of it's shell, for easy eating) drizzled with butter!!!! As the chef put it, "Once you eat this crab, you'll NEVER wanna eat buffet crab again!" Which was totally true! Then out comes what the chef called filet mignon of, I think it was celery root...or was it something else??? Either way, it was good, but by then I'm getting stuffed. After that came out some potatoes topped with 10 year aged cheddar mixed in with some type of Chile to give it a slight kick at the end. It was also very good. And for dessert, chef served up a super moist, light, burnt on the outside for flavor cheesecake. I wanna say it's comparable to Japanese cheesecake. By the end of the night, I was extremely stuffed! I had to stand up so the food would make its way down. We had guest from out of town (Hawaii, also where we're originally from) who was joining us. Who said they had a great time! The Chef doesn't only have a great talent for cooking but he also interacts with the guest by talking to them, which is a nice and unique way of dinning. Arriving to this restaurant, I had no expectations or anything. All I know is when I was leaving, I was pretty impressed and would highly recommend dinning here!! read more

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I eat here with my friends a lot.The main dishes are great and the drink pairings go well. Most places treat side dishes as fillers but they are just as good as the mains! Always a good meal and like how they make it simple, tax and tip included, all you can drink. I remember when they started and the Ultimate Steak Dinner was like $125!!!! I would be there every night lol Their Steak Dinner is higher quality meat and better value than all these "fancy" steak houses like Ruth Chris, Maestros, etc. Highly recommend checking it out if your in the area read more

Chef: 10/10 - great personality, quirky, witty humor Food: 9/10 - interesting dishes, unique flavors, creative culinary ideas that stem from the chef's personal experiences *The pastries they put out are pretty life changing Vibe: 9/10 - seating area can be a little cramped especially if you're at the ends but it feels like a true dinner party Sommelier/Drinks: 8/10 - not my favorite wine but I always end up throttling the edge between losing my shirt and losing my mind with drunchies read more

The entire experience from start to finish was amazing. Chef and his team were personable, fun and engaging. The food was intentional and delicious. Still thinking about the taste of the food a day later! Also loved the wine pairings. I recommend this experience for foodies and well honestly for people who just like to eat! Will definitely be back! read more

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My dinner at Trust was an awesome experience. I attended the dinner party inspired by Chef Justin's travels to Chicago. From the start to the end, it was such a fun night. The chefs and sommelier are interactive and rowdy, all while working hard to create amazing food. There were about 15 courses and several delicious wine pairings (they make sure your glass is never empty). They made sure to explain everything they put in front of me, as well as the inspiration for the dishes. The food was so well prepared! The first thing they put in front of us was their homemade Brioche roll with sesame seed and celery salt, served with nduja (a spreadable salame) and pickle infused butter. It was a take on the Chicago dog! So delicious! There are too many dishes for me to describe here, but my photos will describe all the courses. The diver scallop topped with carrot chips that had a dorito inspired seasoning was the best scallop I've had in my life. Perfectly cooked and melt in your mouth. I also appreciate that this is a meal that will fill you up- you won't be going home hungry, and you may need to pace yourself! (Also, most of the dishes are prepared for 2 people to share). I'm so excited to come back for another dinner party soon! read more

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The BEST!! Love this location as well as DTTN 2.0! The menu and beverages are always a surprise!

I felt a bit stand out for just giving 4 stars among all the other 5 stars reviews. But yet with the expectation and price, I truly believe that it could be better. And yet no one meal can please everyone right, especially when taste is a very personal preference. I came in with a private group, not that we know everybody, but we get to know people around us. So we didn't mind the fact that we had to share plates in groups of 3 or 4. But if I would have come by myself or with just 1 other person. I do think it does get awkward and inconvenience. That just a preference. But this is one of the most fun experience we had in terms with interaction with the chefs and food. Jason, the handsome and charming chef is super funny and I respect his view on food and culture. And not just doing a mix of fusion food for the sake of it. But to experiment and showcase what he can do with different ingredients. That also being said... Food you get could be very much experimental. During our visit, our theme has been around japanese fusion. And to me japanese food are usually very clean and subtle to let the ingredients showcases their favor. One of the biggest problem I had with my meal here was, few dishes are over dressed and drowned in sauces. The mix green versus the simple burrata with japanese seasonal plums ( ume) . I enjoyed so much more on the plums and burrata than the mix green even though there are lot more flavors in the mix green. The dressing was overpowering the premium ingredients he chose to use. Sam thing with his other tomatoes dish. I love the exotic tomatoes he pick for the dish but yet it's just too much sauce. And I don't think it compliment it well when it was over dressed. Other than that I have no complains to his food. His other dishes are well prepped , fun , innovative. Love how crispy he does the salmon skin on the yakitori japanese charcoal grill with the japanese charcoal. It is smoky and perfectly crispy. The smoke sashimi over quinoa was also very good with his homemade soy sauce ( which is light and gentle).the corn rib is a fun creative way of having fried corn. It gives a different view on what corn can do. And it's amazing! And of course the certified wagyu beef is melt in your mouth good. The duck breast is also simple and tender. For dessert, I like the lava pistachio cake more than the other sweets it come with. I like the warmth and not over sweet the lava cake is. Don't get me wrong, it is a great restaurant with great food. And the experience and interaction with the chef and just watching how food was prep and how freshly cook the food it is to you from the pan or oven, its amazing. But one thing I can't forgive is that the wine pairing was really off. When I am having the salmon I was served with a French red, while I am moving onto the beef course I still got a white that came after the French red. They did eventually moved onto a Alexander valley can to go with the wagyu beef. But not all of us like to finished the wine we had from previously, I wish they have a dump bucket for us to dump out the wine we don't like and move on together with the course that it came with. The wine pairing was all over the place and I am not a fan of the selection of wine that chose to with the course. So I think in that area that can definitely be improved. Overall, if you are looking for a different type and intimate type of dining experience, this is the place for you. For food and value, it's ok / great for OC but not the best compared to a lot of the options you can find in LA. read more

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This is long over due! I never got to finish this review so here it goes. Got treated to the Steak night with my boyfriend then fiancé now by our good friends 6/11/16. Sat in the middle, watched Chef Jason and Sous Chef Justin make our amazing meals for the night. Every single dish was made to perfection. All of the meat were mouthgasm! I definitely enjoyed every bite of it. About the unlimited wine - it was definitely flowing! We hope to come back SOON! read more

I finally had the chance to go to Playground 2.0 after having it bookmarked for several years! This intimate 18-seat dinner is definitely one to try! Chef Jason and his team make the whole dinner an enjoyable and delicious one. I came for the Ultimate Steak Dinner with a friend who LOVES steak. Good thing, because there was SO much steak served! We had 5 different plates of steak, as well as multiple sides and drinks/wine to complement the food. We ended with Japanese A5 wagyu, which was super fatty, tender, and delicious! The rip cap was amazing! (For the first few bites, before it started to taste too rich). The sides were also delicious . I LOVED the fresh pillowy bread and the quinoa salad! Also, the way the dinner is set up is that every plate is shared between 3 people, so if you're here with one other person, be prepared to share with a stranger. It was fine for us, as our companion was sweet and friendly. It's a nice way to mingle. There is a ton of food, so you don't need to worry about not having enough to share. My only gripe was that I mentioned it was my friend's birthday and that he would prefer a non-alcoholic pairing since he is allergic to alcohol. I asked beforehand if that was possible and was told that it was and they would make a note of it. However, they definitely did not make a note of it as they still tried to serve him alcoholic drinks. They ended up serving only two mocktails for the whole meal, one being ginger which is a flavor he generally dislikes. I felt like they could've improved the process and also least wished him a happy birthday. Overall, the food was good and the atmosphere was fun. You'll walk away feeling STUFFED, and you can even ask for to-go boxes if you feel like you can't finish the food. I can't wait to come try other dinners! read more

From the very beginning, these Chefs put together an amazing 15 course meal. We enjoyed every bite. This is definitely a fun, tasty, satisfying place to go on a special occasion or without one. It's an experience worth taking and a delightful evening. One word of caution... this is not an elegant dining atmosphere... it is fast. rapid fire dining, with a few f bombs thrown in so if that turns you off, don't go. If you can get past it, enjoy as it is one of the best in my humble opinion. read more

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Just left TRUST, and it was one of the best evening and meal we had. We were first timers but everyone else in this quaint kitchen had been before. We were a party of 5 and let me say it was sooooo worth the price. It was an experience! Chef Justin and his very highly accomplished team were outstanding. I had foods I'd never tried before and LOVED every single bit of the 23 course meal. The wine pairing was spot on too! TRUST me when I say make a reso and be ready to be blown away. Thank you for helping us start off the holiday weekend first class with a flair for fun. Merry Christmas read more

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What an experience. The chefs are so passionate and explain their dishes really well. You can taste the freshness in each bite! It's fun and engaging. They also do wine pairings with their dishes! We were sooooo full though by course 7 out of 13, so go super hungry. They also gave us boxes for whatever we couldn't finish, which was nice of them to do! read more

Playground has been on my list of top places to eat for some time now. My girlfriend gave me the ultimate birthday present which was to dine at Playground 2.0! Some people wish for more money, cars, trips, but I get pumped when it comes to food and getting the experience to watch and interact with the chefs. She decided to sign us up for the Trust dinner theme. This basically means that there is no theme to the dinner and the chefs create dishes depending on what's available to them that day. Playground 2.0 is pleasurable to all the senses: sight, sound, taste, touch, smell. It's not just a "dinner", but rather an experience. Jason, Justin, Nick, and Trisha made this live action dining experience amazing beyond words. This dinner was $175 and includes the food, drink pairings, tax and gratuity. They served a tequila based cocktail, white wine, red wine, and whiskey during the meal. // FOOD // *Fresh bread with house made butter: The freshest bread you will ever eat! It comes straight out of the oven and onto a plate just for you. 3.5/5 *Wagyu tartare with fava beans and pine nuts: Perfectly seasoned and fresh. The pine nuts and fava beans at a crunchy texture to the soft, mushy texture of the beef. 4/5 *Roasted beet slices, cream, dried beet shavings: I've never had anything like this before. I love beats and this reminded me of a beet salad except it was paired with a cream instead of goat cheese. 4/5 *Butter lettuce salad with sherry shallot dressing, cranberries, pickled onions: Excellent and simple. The dressing was slightly tangy and packed a punch, but it went extremely well with the sweet and vinegar flavors from the toppings. 4/5 *Thai pomelo Dungeness crab, crab chips, baby tomatoes, trinity of herbs, avocado, fish sauce: HELL YEAH! I can eat this dish every single day! The delicate crab with the smooth avocado, crunch from the crab chips, freshness from the herbs, and sweet and fermented flavor from the fish sauce was phenomenal! 5/5 *Seared scallops: How can you go wrong with a perfectly seared scallop? Beautifully brown on top and the scallop was nice and tender. 4.5/5 *Reverse cauliflower, relish composed of capers, red pepper, olives: It was pretty interesting eating the root of the cauliflower versus the florets that I'm usually accustomed to eating. 3/5 *Aspragus in black truffle: It looks so simple, but the moment the black truffle hits your mouth it's an explosion of flavor. 4/5 *Broccoli in a ground butter soy emulsion: The broccoli is boiled then broiled to create a char then topped with crispy fried shallots. The soy emulsion was tangy and strong in flavor, but it was needed since the broccoli was simply prepared. 4/5 *Percebes with cream and potatoes: Percebes is also known as gooseneck Barnacle. I remember Andrew Zimmern eating this on one of his shows. I kind of wish it was served in a more simple way versus being drowned in cream and potatoes, but I'm glad I got to try it. 3.5/5 *Caramelized onions and root veggie: The most caramelized onion that I've ever had. It was cooked for so long that it almost looked like a puree and tasted like raw sugar. 3.5/5 *Lamb, Brussels sprouts, cucumber mint yogurt, pomegranate molasses: HOLY CRAP! This changed my life in so many ways. I typically hate lamb due to the gamey flavor, but Jason said this lamb does not have that gamey flavor since it is so young and has only had its mothers milk. The lamb was so tender and flavorful. It was cocked to perfection and had me craving more! I would come back if they have this on the menu. It was insanely delicious! 5/5!!! *Black garlic ice cream: He offered $20 to anyone that can guess the flavor so I tried hard to figure it out... First lick- tasted like whiskey. Second lick-tasted like coffee. Third and fourth lick did not taste like anything. Unfortunately, I could not figure out what it was until he told everyone. 3.5/5 *Bomb ass spongecake: It was covered in white and milk chocolate and topped with chocolate pearls. I thought the spongecake was going to be superb with a name like that, but it was hard and dry. 2/5 *Lilikoi marshmallow: AMAZING! I love the lilikoi flavor and infusing the flavor into a marshmallow is just genius. It's tart, sweet, soft, and chewy all in one. Great way to end the meal! 4.5/5 Overall, I was thoroughly impressed with the chefs knowledge, skill, and pure genius in creating the dishes. Some dishes were a miss, but the ones that were a hit definitely made up for any misses! The Thai pomelo salad and lamb were both out of this world! I still think about those two dishes even though it's been a few days. This is definitely an amazing dinner and show that everyone should experience! read more

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This is a very late review as I had dinner here in October for my birthday, and I just discovered that I never wrote one. The food here is so delicious that I just have to write one now. I don't exactly remember the names of all the dishes, but I do remember that I really enjoyed all of them. Just looking back at my pictures of all the food gives me nostalgia and makes my stomach rumble. Important Notes for people who have never been: 1. You are expected to shared a plate of food between 3 people. 2. Don't be late, because dinner service will start without you. 3. 2.0 is definitely not a place for picky eaters, as some dishes can really push you out of your comfort zone. 4. Be prepared to drink :) read more

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If you are thinking about coming here, just do it. Worth every penny. Every bite is incredible and paired with awesome wine. You will not be disappointed. TRUST me read more

Late to post this, but fantastic place. The experience is what it's all about. I have come here for many "theme" nights, but also special events and "trust" dinners. Expect a 17 course tasting menu by either chef Jason, or a guest chef featured for the evening. It's best if you book in groups of 3 as the dishes are served this way, or if you're up for making new friends, book however you please. My most recent trip was last week for the sushi/tempura/yakitori event, we're Jason put together all of the techniques and dishes that he had when he did his Asian sabbatical. The night started with a yellowtail and strawberry hand roll, all I can say is wow. The flavors went so well together; you wouldn't think that strawberry goes well with yellowtail, but let me tell you, it did. The evening was a combination of various sushi, tempura, and yakitori plates. Everyone ate the same dishes, just not in the same order, all throughout the night. There were many dry aged sushi courses, something I have never had before--amazing! All of the tempura plates were vegetables, but I have never had tempura that delicious in my life. We were served asparagus, potatoes, cauliflower hearts, and firecracker corn (my personal fave). Almost all of the yakitori was chicken-- had the most amazing chicken wings that night. All in all, come here for a fun night, great conversation, and a very intimate look into Jason's mind and techniques, as he displays his art right in front of you--if you're lucky, he will even serve you sushi right out of the palm of his hand. I highly recommend this place and I've been coming back again and again for the last three years. read more

We went here awhile back for their Trust dinner. Don't get me wrong...it was an exquisite experience but for the price and hype, I was expecting something more... The environment was fun and Jason, along with this team was very entertaining and personable. Why the 3 stars...I would give it 3 1/2...the food was nothing appealing to me-it somewhat reminds me of LSXO. Yes it was good but it was not WOW. Being that I have been to providence and other tasting menu in LA and other cities, I was hoping the food would be a bit more unique and flavorful. For the money, I rather dine at their Playground restaurant. I also dislike the concept that you had to share between three people...so let's say you are dining as two, well either someone else will be joining and sharing the dishes, or your party will be split, each person will sharing with another party of two. I love my food to myself or whomever I dine with...and most importantly, it's u comfortable to share with stranger. But with limited option of set menu and private chef interaction in Orange County, this is the best option. read more

What an experience! Came here with a few friends who had been raving about this place for the "Trust" dinner - and am I glad we trusted. The 2.0 is located right behind the Playground restaurant and is set for an intimate experience a small group of guests and the best chefs. Started with them introducing themselves, and giving as idea of what to expect - they had gone to the local farmers market, picked up the freshest of the fresh and used their imagination to prepare what we were about to eat. We were first served a warm piece of bread which set the tone of what was to come. Plates were served to share between each two guests - but plentiful. As soon as one plate would finish, before you could start wishing you had more, something even more delicious was served - leaving our palates in cloud 9. Ocean to farm, and everything in between - all delicious. I can't wait to come back for the Ultimate Steak dinner! read more

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Review #1100 goes to 2.0 Simply the best. My first visit was for Wanderlust: Indonesia. My group had an excellent time enjoying food that I've never seen before and in amounts that would put most eaters straight into food coma. My last visit was even more special. My friend Bob T. and his wife invited me to their annual holiday party where we took all 18 seats of the Playground 2.0 for the Ultimate Steak Dinner. We started off the night on the patio with a social hour of Moscato and Procecco provided by Bob T. himself! When The Playground was ready, we too our seats and our food adventure began. If you plan on coming to 2.0, know that each plate is served for a party of 3 for sharing. Also, everything is prepaid with alcohol, tax, and tip included. Awesome deal! To start we had the beef tartar with garlic knots. The bread was so good we decided to make beef tartar sliders out of the meal. The tartar was topped with crunchy buckwheat for extra flavor and texture. Next up was a starter appetizer of a simple salad. It had slow roasted shallots and the best croutons I've ever eaten. This salad was packed with flavor and I could eat this every day of the week. The next cut of beef was a Salt & Fire Hanger Steak. It was simply beautiful. All the steaks except for one were just meat, salt, and fire. It shows how good the meat is if that is all you need to make it great. This hanger steak is the best hanger steak I've ever eaten and I will forever be ruined for me by 2.0. Served with the hanger steak was a delightful heirloom broccolini and sofrito. On top were pickled shallots. All this was followed by an Imperial Wagyu Picanha. The Playground gets this meat specially ordered. It comes in a 3 lb cut and is only available at their restaurant. A wonderful cut of meat that is very popular in Brazil and it was reminiscent of a strip steak. The accompanying dish was roasted sun choke, sun choke in chip form, and fried Brussels sprouts. The next dish is a personal favorite of mine because I love to make it at home. It was an fantastic medium rare Steak Au Poivre. The cut is filet mignon and it was delectable. The cognac cream sauce compliments the beef perfectly. I must say it's even better than what I could do at home. Served with the steak was a roasted cauliflower dish covered crispy shallots. Very tasty. Next up was a piece or two of side skirt steak, which was really awesome. One of Jason's favorites and mine as well. It was served with lobster bisque Yukon mashed potatoes. Genius! The best was served for last. I single sliver of Japanese Miyazaki A5 Wagyu steak. It is the single best piece of steak I've ever eaten. A real treat. To close off the night we were served a warm chocolate brownie with hazelnut crumble and a hazelnut ice cream. It was the perfect way to end our night. The Playground 2.0 takes all the best parts of the Playground and lets the chef build their dish exactly they way they want to without compromise. The Ultimate Steak Dinner took beef to a whole new level and our dinner just kept getting better. read more

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