3 companions and I dined at Populaire Modern Bistro in South Coast Plaza on 2/21/24 and I ordered the prix fixe menu. We bought a bottle of wine separately. The PF menu was $65 per person and well worth it. Everything was spectacular. The blending of flavors with the heirloom carrots was unique. I'm not normally a huge fan of tartare normally, but it was really flavorful. The beef cheek was melt-in-your-mouth tender and even the rice pudding - which I can normally take or leave - had some wonderful, unexpected flavors. Don't be fooled by the "bistro" label. This was definitely a cut above the normal bistro fare of steak and frites or Croque Monsieur.Our server was warm and efficient. She was friendly enough to stop and talk but took her cue from us, which was much appreciated. The location used to be part of the Corner Bakery chain. It was remodeled in part, but it's in South Coast Plaza mall so not a ton of atmosphere. Once you taste the food, you won't care!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast, Prime Steak Tartare, Rice Pudding
John Shanghainese American
Very delicious Italian coffee?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Val Riley
The food was AMAZING, the Croque Madame delicious, Ladies Who Lunch salad was super size and stellar, Spanish octopus so flavorful! Our server was really great and cheerful. I took off one star on Atmosphere because the music was not only loud but terrible and not appropriate at all for a lovely French bistro. Listening to MC Hammer and Billy Idol whilst I try to enjoy a Parisian lunch just didn't set the right atmosphere at all. A little French Cafe music please!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cristina Weekes
Service is above and beyond. Curtis shared his passion for the menu which contains many gems. The duck breast with puréed beets, octopus, and French onion soup toast are extraordinary! We will definitely be returning.
Located next to Macy's at south coast plaza on the 2nd floor. The food is really good. Portions are on the smaller side and the menu selection isn't the biggest. Worth a try.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Kris Takasuka
Delightful meal. Amy made the experience wonderful. We had the crab salad, octopus, onion soup, and rice pudding.Parking: Ideal parking is between the Macy's Men's store and Macy's on the Bear street side.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Octopus
Aram K.
We went there on a Friday night and made a reservation but it seems like on most weeknights you don't need too. The service, first and foremost, was really what stood out - our waiter was amazing and checked in just enough and was attentive just enough. The food was amazing - we for the ratatouille which was so so good. Then we shared the duck and burger which was also phenomenal. We ended the night with dessert - we got both of what they offered and the rice pudding was just a tad bit better and would definitely get again. Honestly this was exactly what we were looking for - it wasn't too busy but the ambience was so nice and we just thoroughly enjoyed our night. We will be going back!
Mary H.
Had an enjoyable brunch here! Ordered the eggs Benedict and my partner got one of their salads. We also got a couple passion fruit mimosas. I'm a big fan of passion fruit so I enjoy this mix up from a regular mimosa! Service was solid and the ambience was nice. The food was good as well but not particularly memorable. Would not likely return but appreciated the experience we had!
Jeffrey Y.
Classic French Bistro with a Twist of Kitsch AmericanaLocated across from the rebranded Bucherer (nee Tourneau), this unassuming French bistro hides a quirky side as soon as you sit down and view the menu. Or check out the toilet for a tinkle. If ambiance were a place, this would be a fun stop on the train to Flavor Town...Came in on a Saturday around 5, and we got seated immediately. Windows have a nice view of the hallway because indoors. Our waiter Curtis was a delight. Never have we ever had such an enthusiastic server fully aboard his own restaurant's brag train! I mean, this guy told me they were trying to get a Michelin badge (I assume me means Bib Gourmand), and more importantly, he thought this was the best restaurant in the mall. Heck, he said, Knife Pleat, a Michelin-star holder, didn't hold a candle. But how is this place really? If a black and white pic of Ozzy, the well-placed urinal right by the door of the men's restroom, the cheeky Pulp Fiction reference with their only burger item, or Elvis on a bill plate, or the complimentary Bazooka Bubble Gum are any fair indicators of the kind of dining experience you will have here, well, you were probably dead wrong. Because dining here is an experience that may call you back for more...Ratatouille. Possibly scene stealer alert! This is not Moulin's tian Provençal or Disney's. But this is the real veggie stew. And man, the flavor is just so deep and phenomenal. It's recommended you eat with the toasted bread (which may be burnt to black a bunch or a bit), but a nice food hack awaits you with the Parker rolls... Definite recommend.Parker Rolls. Oh so buttery goodness. So fluffy and warm. Pair with the Ratatouille. Or just eat with the salted butter as you please. But definitely order.Spanish Octopus. Tender and super flavorful. Cucumbers add a nice reprieve to the intense flavor. Recommended app.Escargot Ebelskivers. Concept is sound. I love the Apple aebelskivers from Solvang, I love takoyaki, I love escargot. But these turned out dry in the middle, lacking the signature flavor from a buttery garlicky escargots de Bourgogne. What I was hoping to get did not materialize on my plate. So forgettable, in fact, I almost forgot to include it in my review. Sadly, do not recommend. Casarecce Pasta. Wow! Server swears these are real San Marzano tomatoes in the red sauce. And I will delightfully pretend that is true. That combined with the smokiness of the chili oil and the creaminess of the homemade ricotta are a fantastic combo. Mix the cheese and enjoy each savory and slightly sweet bite of this pasta entree. Recommend with enthusiasm.Royale with Cheese(burger). If John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson like it, so should you, right? I mean, they got their likeness drawn into the menu. But is it worth the center stage hype? One of the key deciding factors of a good burger is moisture because a dry burger is just not good. And many restaurants serve dry burgers, which is disappointing. But dry this burger is not. It's totally wet. Oftentimes, the offending ingredient is the bun, being just so horribly dry, if sucks up any moisture that the rest of the burger might have had. Here, the brioche buttery bun serves as a fine pallet for the inner layers. The burger itself is a good piece of prime steak, though I am not sure a Chateau cut really got to shine as well as it should have here. Sadly, the bulk of the moisture was just wateriness from the sauce. I call it sauce because that is what the Saint Andre cheese and the roasted and too wet onions produced. I know what the chef was doing, and while I can appreciate the concept, the explanation on the menu created a certain expectation that was not fulfilled. Granted, the patty was juicy and tender, no doubt, but any flavor beyond that just got overwhelmed by the watery sauciness of the cheese and onions. Cheese, my friends, should never be watery. For the French, it's sacrilege, because cheese to the French is as important a pillar of their cultural identity as wine is. Had the cheese rati
Patricia L.
Best service! I was quite impressed with the staffs, always carries with a smile and very attentive. The ambiance is very good.The food was delicious. Please try the preset menu $65 with 4 courses of meal. You can't go wrong with it.
Came here for a nice dinner for myself. Food was great. The servers were attentive and friendly. I sat outside enjoying my food. It felt like being in Paris.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast
Leah D.
Located right near Saks in beautiful South Coast Plaza. Been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now and love how it's tied to popular culture. The menu has a fun picture of a Royale with Cheese, homage to Pulp Fiction. Lunch offers a prix fixe menu, $33/person. I ordered the salad as an appetizer, beef short rib for entree, and a rice pudding for dessert. Also oredered the Royale with Cheese and Beef tartare a la carte. Beef Short Rib - sooo tender. delicious and perfect portion for lunch. would recommend. Rice Pudding - one of my favorite dishes. Very light, just sweet enough, with strawberries on top. I would order this again. Royale with Cheese - called their "best seller." Unfortunately, I've had better burgers elsewhere. Way too much sauce! The bottom bun was practically soaked, and it made it so messy to eat. Does not come with a side of fries, but rather a heaping pile of pickled onions on top. I would not order this again. Also asked for my burger to be cooked at medium, and it came well done. Beef tartare - Cheese crisps were delicous. Tartare itself was well-seasoned and a great portion. Would recommend.
Grace D.
Populaire's Ratatouille is literally one of the best things I've ever eaten - can't wait to go back and try more of the menu. Service was genuinely welcoming and enthusiastic too!
Jason Tkaczuk
Duck entree, steak, and chocolat dessert were near perfection. Appetizers were very good as well. Service was very attentive and friendly. The owner, Nick, came out and chatted with us at the end. Perfect place to go for an excellent yet laid back meal in
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast, Chocolat Cremeux
Ida C.
I came here with a group of girlfriends for my birthday celebration. Service: perfectly on point. They were great with suggestions and always available to refill drinks or answer questions. They were friendly without being too overbearing.I liked that the atmosphere of the restaurant was verychill and not super crowded. The decor was subtle and relaxing to look at. It was upscale without feeling stuffy.The food: we had the pre-fixe menu and everything on it was delicious. The server also has great recommendations as well if you don't want to go the pre-fixe route. The price is decent for the food quality and ambience. I would definitely come back again.
3 companions and I dined at Populaire Modern Bistro in South Coast Plaza on 2/21/24 and I ordered the prix fixe menu. We bought a bottle of wine separately. The PF menu was $65 per person and well worth it. Everything was spectacular. The blending of flavors with the heirloom carrots was unique. I'm not normally a huge fan of tartare normally, but it was really flavorful. The beef cheek was melt-in-your-mouth tender and even the rice pudding - which I can normally take or leave - had some wonderful, unexpected flavors. Don't be fooled by the "bistro" label. This was definitely a cut above the normal bistro fare of steak and frites or Croque Monsieur.Our server was warm and efficient. She was friendly enough to stop and talk but took her cue from us, which was much appreciated. The location used to be part of the Corner Bakery chain. It was remodeled in part, but it's in South Coast Plaza mall so not a ton of atmosphere. Once you taste the food, you won't care!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast, Prime Steak Tartare, Rice Pudding
Very delicious Italian coffee?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
The food was AMAZING, the Croque Madame delicious, Ladies Who Lunch salad was super size and stellar, Spanish octopus so flavorful! Our server was really great and cheerful. I took off one star on Atmosphere because the music was not only loud but terrible and not appropriate at all for a lovely French bistro. Listening to MC Hammer and Billy Idol whilst I try to enjoy a Parisian lunch just didn't set the right atmosphere at all. A little French Cafe music please!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Service is above and beyond. Curtis shared his passion for the menu which contains many gems. The duck breast with puréed beets, octopus, and French onion soup toast are extraordinary! We will definitely be returning.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Octopus, Duck Breast, French Onion Soup, Rice Pudding
Located next to Macy's at south coast plaza on the 2nd floor. The food is really good. Portions are on the smaller side and the menu selection isn't the biggest. Worth a try.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Delightful meal. Amy made the experience wonderful. We had the crab salad, octopus, onion soup, and rice pudding.Parking: Ideal parking is between the Macy's Men's store and Macy's on the Bear street side.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Spanish Octopus
We went there on a Friday night and made a reservation but it seems like on most weeknights you don't need too. The service, first and foremost, was really what stood out - our waiter was amazing and checked in just enough and was attentive just enough. The food was amazing - we for the ratatouille which was so so good. Then we shared the duck and burger which was also phenomenal. We ended the night with dessert - we got both of what they offered and the rice pudding was just a tad bit better and would definitely get again. Honestly this was exactly what we were looking for - it wasn't too busy but the ambience was so nice and we just thoroughly enjoyed our night. We will be going back!
Had an enjoyable brunch here! Ordered the eggs Benedict and my partner got one of their salads. We also got a couple passion fruit mimosas. I'm a big fan of passion fruit so I enjoy this mix up from a regular mimosa! Service was solid and the ambience was nice. The food was good as well but not particularly memorable. Would not likely return but appreciated the experience we had!
Classic French Bistro with a Twist of Kitsch AmericanaLocated across from the rebranded Bucherer (nee Tourneau), this unassuming French bistro hides a quirky side as soon as you sit down and view the menu. Or check out the toilet for a tinkle. If ambiance were a place, this would be a fun stop on the train to Flavor Town...Came in on a Saturday around 5, and we got seated immediately. Windows have a nice view of the hallway because indoors. Our waiter Curtis was a delight. Never have we ever had such an enthusiastic server fully aboard his own restaurant's brag train! I mean, this guy told me they were trying to get a Michelin badge (I assume me means Bib Gourmand), and more importantly, he thought this was the best restaurant in the mall. Heck, he said, Knife Pleat, a Michelin-star holder, didn't hold a candle. But how is this place really? If a black and white pic of Ozzy, the well-placed urinal right by the door of the men's restroom, the cheeky Pulp Fiction reference with their only burger item, or Elvis on a bill plate, or the complimentary Bazooka Bubble Gum are any fair indicators of the kind of dining experience you will have here, well, you were probably dead wrong. Because dining here is an experience that may call you back for more...Ratatouille. Possibly scene stealer alert! This is not Moulin's tian Provençal or Disney's. But this is the real veggie stew. And man, the flavor is just so deep and phenomenal. It's recommended you eat with the toasted bread (which may be burnt to black a bunch or a bit), but a nice food hack awaits you with the Parker rolls... Definite recommend.Parker Rolls. Oh so buttery goodness. So fluffy and warm. Pair with the Ratatouille. Or just eat with the salted butter as you please. But definitely order.Spanish Octopus. Tender and super flavorful. Cucumbers add a nice reprieve to the intense flavor. Recommended app.Escargot Ebelskivers. Concept is sound. I love the Apple aebelskivers from Solvang, I love takoyaki, I love escargot. But these turned out dry in the middle, lacking the signature flavor from a buttery garlicky escargots de Bourgogne. What I was hoping to get did not materialize on my plate. So forgettable, in fact, I almost forgot to include it in my review. Sadly, do not recommend. Casarecce Pasta. Wow! Server swears these are real San Marzano tomatoes in the red sauce. And I will delightfully pretend that is true. That combined with the smokiness of the chili oil and the creaminess of the homemade ricotta are a fantastic combo. Mix the cheese and enjoy each savory and slightly sweet bite of this pasta entree. Recommend with enthusiasm.Royale with Cheese(burger). If John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson like it, so should you, right? I mean, they got their likeness drawn into the menu. But is it worth the center stage hype? One of the key deciding factors of a good burger is moisture because a dry burger is just not good. And many restaurants serve dry burgers, which is disappointing. But dry this burger is not. It's totally wet. Oftentimes, the offending ingredient is the bun, being just so horribly dry, if sucks up any moisture that the rest of the burger might have had. Here, the brioche buttery bun serves as a fine pallet for the inner layers. The burger itself is a good piece of prime steak, though I am not sure a Chateau cut really got to shine as well as it should have here. Sadly, the bulk of the moisture was just wateriness from the sauce. I call it sauce because that is what the Saint Andre cheese and the roasted and too wet onions produced. I know what the chef was doing, and while I can appreciate the concept, the explanation on the menu created a certain expectation that was not fulfilled. Granted, the patty was juicy and tender, no doubt, but any flavor beyond that just got overwhelmed by the watery sauciness of the cheese and onions. Cheese, my friends, should never be watery. For the French, it's sacrilege, because cheese to the French is as important a pillar of their cultural identity as wine is. Had the cheese rati
Best service! I was quite impressed with the staffs, always carries with a smile and very attentive. The ambiance is very good.The food was delicious. Please try the preset menu $65 with 4 courses of meal. You can't go wrong with it.
Restaurantji Recommends
Came here for a nice dinner for myself. Food was great. The servers were attentive and friendly. I sat outside enjoying my food. It felt like being in Paris.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast
Located right near Saks in beautiful South Coast Plaza. Been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now and love how it's tied to popular culture. The menu has a fun picture of a Royale with Cheese, homage to Pulp Fiction. Lunch offers a prix fixe menu, $33/person. I ordered the salad as an appetizer, beef short rib for entree, and a rice pudding for dessert. Also oredered the Royale with Cheese and Beef tartare a la carte. Beef Short Rib - sooo tender. delicious and perfect portion for lunch. would recommend. Rice Pudding - one of my favorite dishes. Very light, just sweet enough, with strawberries on top. I would order this again. Royale with Cheese - called their "best seller." Unfortunately, I've had better burgers elsewhere. Way too much sauce! The bottom bun was practically soaked, and it made it so messy to eat. Does not come with a side of fries, but rather a heaping pile of pickled onions on top. I would not order this again. Also asked for my burger to be cooked at medium, and it came well done. Beef tartare - Cheese crisps were delicous. Tartare itself was well-seasoned and a great portion. Would recommend.
Populaire's Ratatouille is literally one of the best things I've ever eaten - can't wait to go back and try more of the menu. Service was genuinely welcoming and enthusiastic too!
Duck entree, steak, and chocolat dessert were near perfection. Appetizers were very good as well. Service was very attentive and friendly. The owner, Nick, came out and chatted with us at the end. Perfect place to go for an excellent yet laid back meal in
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Duck Breast, Chocolat Cremeux
I came here with a group of girlfriends for my birthday celebration. Service: perfectly on point. They were great with suggestions and always available to refill drinks or answer questions. They were friendly without being too overbearing.I liked that the atmosphere of the restaurant was verychill and not super crowded. The decor was subtle and relaxing to look at. It was upscale without feeling stuffy.The food: we had the pre-fixe menu and everything on it was delicious. The server also has great recommendations as well if you don't want to go the pre-fixe route. The price is decent for the food quality and ambience. I would definitely come back again.