Mariposa

Mariposa is a wonderful restaurant at the top of Neiman Marcus. It gets pretty packed so a reservation is recommended but not required. You start every meal with a small glass of complementary chicken broth and popover pastry with strawberry butter. It is one of the most incredible starts to a meal and hints at the quality to come. The dishes are delicious and healthy, with the salmon tacos, the tuna tartar, pasta puttanesca, and the seafood tower being clear standouts.

The real star of Mariposa is the service, specifically our server Richard. More on that below. Food options and quality were standard for the area, but we were started with complimentary popovers with strawberry butter and consommé which impresses from the start. Outdoor seating on the balcony was exactly what we were looking for, understated, quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of Fashion Island. Our server Richard was a rare gem. He is clearly an actual professional server who understood the perfect balance of helpfulness and ability to give diners space. He was able to anticipate our needs and made our dining experience exactly what we wanted it to be. We had a party of just two, an adult and child, we were not wearing flashy designer clothing and had a modest meal, yet Richard chose to provide us with service I would hope to get (but sadly am not guaranteed) while spending quite a bit more at finer restaurants. This kind of service just isn’t standard anymore and when it is provided it is worth calling out. I would definitely come back here for Richard’s service alone. One minor gripe, the interior is undergoing some construction so there are very large screens to hide the dust. The result is an atmosphere that is less than elegant if you’re trying to impress your dining partner. Easy solution, eat outside which was our intention anyway.

Hands down one of my FAVORITE places to come when I’m here. The service is TOP NOTCH and VERY welcoming. The owner is absolutely AMAZING, I can not speak enough volumes about him!!! And the food, it’s delicious and full of flavor without ever disappointing each time I come. You honestly can not go wrong coming here and enjoying everything this place has to offer including the view!!! This place will always be my go to whenever I’m in town and thank you guys for always providing a phenomenal experience!!!

Came here for dessert and drinks and it was a great experience. The staff were all super friendly, the food was delicious and the place was gorgeous. The drinks were amazing. Not a bad price and great flavor. The bread and sweet butter thing was amazing. That was quite a surprise. We got the pecan ice cream thing and the soufflé which was delicious. It was perfectly baked and just perfect. This is a great place to chill and enjoy the atmosphere. We will definitely be back and can’t wait for the cooler weather to enjoy the outside seating. Highly recommend this! It’s on the top floor in mens section in Neiman Marcus. It seems tiny from the store but was surprisingly spacious once we got in.