Marche Moderne

Without a doubt--the BEST Fine Dining Restaurant experience in Orange County. When we have a special occasion or feel like treating ourselves special, my wife and I head to Marche Moderne. Our last visit was amazing--as usual, but different. This visit we did the tasting menu and the wine pairing. And while a Michelin-worthy meal like this doesn't come inexpensively, for our wedding anniversary--it was perfection. We started at the bar and our bartenders are just the best. Attentive, great listeners and superbly talented and professional. The hostesses are very friendly and courteous, which sadly in Orange County, you don't always encounter. (On too many occasions I've arrived to find hostesses who believe they are doing me a favor and the thought of a warm greeting with a smile is JUST too much to ask!) But not at Marche Moderne. VERY well dressed, friendly, courteous and efficient hosts and hostesses who GET IT. And make the start of your dining experience a wonderful beginning. The waiting staff have been at Marie for YEARS. And their attitude and professionalism show. True waiting PROFESSIONALS: Highly skilled, friendly, attentive and assuring the quality of every aspect of our meal. (AND THEY KNOW THE MENU). Then the star of the occasion the food which is always superb, full of amazing flavors, great subtle nuances when needed and always prepared perfectly and served as it should be: hot and fresh from the chef's hands. Kudos to all of the chefs in the kitchen who put on an amazing show in the open kitchen and also DELIVER consistently...each time we've been to Marche Moderne. The wine pairing was well selected, though I wish I had asked for a substitute for one white selection. I'm a red wine drinker, and while it would not have been as perfect for the pairing--I just prefer red. OVERALL, always a Michelin experience for a restaurant that INEXPLICABLY does not yet carry a Michelin star. I know you will enjoy.

This restaurant was amazing! The entire front-of-the-house team is personable, professional, and attentive! Our server was knowledgeable, made great recommendations, and impeccable service! Every bit of food was delicious and high quality! We were there to celebrate my birthday, and this restaurant was just what I was looking for excellent food, a well-selected wine list, top-notch service, and a great ambiance. I highly recommend this well-operated restaurant!

Wonderful French restaurant, impeccable service and food. I will be back, several menu items I didn't have room to try that look great, like the veal cheeks and morels. I had three two-scallops appetizer and black cod, both perfectly prepared. And I had several fresh clams that were the freshest I've ever tried. Recommended.

We were immediately welcomed by a host at the door. We chose to sit at the bar and enjoy some after dinner drinks. Beautiful setting with several private tables. Our bartender was wonderful and attentive. Drinks were not consistent. My friend ordered the same drink twice and it was sweet one time then bitter the next. It can be a little loud to hear each other talk when it gets busy. Looking forward to enjoying a meal there too.

I was pleasantly surprised at how good everything tasted. The flavor from start to finish was there on every dish. Started with the charcuterie board with meat and cheese, definitely the way to start out your experience. The filet was full of flavor and the sauce was amazing. Dipping the fries was great. Limoncello was dessert was the perfect way to wrap up the evening.

Best Chic French Cuisine at Marche Moderne. The ÉPIS BREAD & Butter Board Sel Gris and cucumber and ginger beer spritz are great starters. Recommend the BLACK MISSION FIGS Charred Fig Salade, HOMARD FLAMBÉ AU COURVOISIER & QUENELLE DE SAINT JACQUES and The FILET AU POIVRE. For dessert recommend the CHOCOLATE SOUFFLE CAKE.A wonderful way to end our evening.

This restaurant was impressive. I've eaten at a Michelin starred restaurant in Paris, and I think this restaurant embodies much of what I loved so much while visiting. The food is familiar yet interpreted so beautifully. The cocktails are spot-on. The bread, as many have reviewed before me, was simple but delicious. I had the Five Course Menu and was delighted. My husband built his own five courses and was very pleased. I think it's safe to assume most everything will be a good choice. The wait staff was attentive and friendly. My only complaint was the temperature of the restaurant was a bit warm.

My husband and I had a lovely birthday dinner on a Sunday evening. There was a smaller crowd so no worries about covid, although I was slightly disappointed that the staff was not masked. Besides that, the food, service, and ambiance were all top notch. There was a lot on the menu we would’ve loved to have, so we will definitely be coming back! Epis bread: I was hoping for something more flavorful. It was fine and very tasty, but the butter could have used more seasoning. The bread was fresh and moist, though. Tasting menu: I ordered the tasting menu with cheese pairing. The 4 courses were all excellent, and the 5th (dessert) I swapped out for another dessert with a $2 charge for the change. The 1st course was a tuna sashimi and veal carpaccio. Beautiful, bold presentation with an interesting mouthfeel — lots of different textures and flavors between the tuna, veal, gelee, and crispy capers. The 2nd course was a life-changing Dungeness crab with veloute. The veloute came piping hot in a separate cup, which was excellent for sipping. Dungeness crab is a personal favorite of mine so I was very excited it was on the menu. It did not disappoint! The 3rd course was the scallop. The fennel leek compote added nice flavor, although the kumquat wasn’t very noticeable. Overall it was still tasty and had nice presentation. The 4th course: steak, truffle, gnocchi, lobster. This was a very rich dish! The sauce was very flavorful and added a lot. To be honest this was probably my least favorite — it was fine, but nothing spectacular. Cheese plate: Before the dessert came a cheese trio with some candies pecans and preserves. The hard Dutch cheese was a bit bland for me. The truffle Boursin was excellent, as was the blue cheese (which we paired with a Sauternes, so it was extra tasty). The 5th course we selected the panna cotta. It was creamy and not overly sweet, which was great. Overall nothing special, though. My husband opted for some oysters, steak tartare, and steak au poivre. All three were excellent. The Kumamoto oysters were delicate and refreshing, and paired nicely with the two sauces. The steak tartare was tasty but not anything noteworthy. My husband raves about the steak — he loves a good rare steak with a nice sere on the outside, and they delivered beautifully. The potato fritters that came with the steak were divine! Overall this was an excellent dinner and we would love to come back again!