French Restaurants near Irvine, CA

“If I could give more than 5 stars, I would! This restaurant is an absolute hidden gem and has instantly become my favorite restaurant in the world. Not only is it dedicated gluten free (a dream come true for me), but the food is so incredible you would never guess it’s gluten free.

From the first bite of the freshly baked croissant, I was in disbelief—it’s soft, flaky, and buttery, just like a Parisian bakery, only gluten free! The Popover Carousel came out golden and airy, topped with house-made jam and honey butter—heavenly. The Brisket Benedict with perfectly poached eggs and roasted veggies was rich and comforting, while the Steak Frites rivaled any fine bistro with tender hanger steak, chimichurri, and crispy fries. Every dish was beyond delicious.

What makes this place even more special are the owners, Laura and Michael. Their warmth and passion shine through everything—from the service to the thoughtfully sourced ingredients. Laura has spent 7 years perfecting her own gluten free flour blend and dough (which you can even buy to take home). Her breads, pizza dough, and pastries rise and bake just like traditional gluten dough—soft, crusty, and flavorful. She’s a true genius.

We went for brunch, but I cannot wait to come back for dinner. I’ll be dreaming of this place until my next visit. Run, don’t walk—you need to experience this!“

“Pastries ok but skip breakfast omelets. No flavor, potatoes cold and after spending over $35 for bfast for 2 they still charge $1 for hot water. Lost my breakfast business.“

“Mimi’s Café is the perfect mix of cozy and classy. The menu has a little something for everyone—from hearty breakfasts to fresh salads and comforting entrees. The food is always flavorful and served in generous portions, and their baked goods are a must-try (don’t sleep on the muffins!). The atmosphere is warm and inviting, making it great for family meals, brunch with friends, or even a casual date. The staff is friendly and attentive, which makes every visit feel special. Definitely a go-to spot when you want good food in a relaxed setting!“

“Yummy ! Every time we’ve been there it’s been really great. Good sandwiches and yummy. Coffee drinks“

“Great little spot ! The caramel coffee (iced) is just great! Loved the omelette as well ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️“

“Fine dining, excellent service, amazing food“

“The Duck Confit Spliff is a great representation of the Vietnamese & French cultures “wrapped” up all in one dish. And for a more traditional & fun way to eat it, you definitely have to use your hands. My only wish was for a little more duck in the spliff.

With the Ebelskivers, the concept was again brilliant. The garlic emulsion creates an intense garlic flavor but in a light and airy way. But like takoyaki, I wish there was more escargot in the batter to remind me more of that chewy feel from the traditional dish.

The surprise star of our meal was the Royale with Cheese. The wagyu had great flavor and char. And the sesame seed bun held up well for this napkin-required burger. But those pickles were amazing nuggets of necessity to add balancing acidity to the richness of the dish.

We definitely want to try the Duck Breast, the Spanish Octopus, and the Prix Fixe Meal on future visits. A final thanks to Chef & Curtis for the friendly service and explanation of the menu.“

“Un bout de France à Newport. Merci encore pour votre passion et dedication!“

“Amazing spot- serving probably the best burger I’ve ever had.. Again and again 🤤“

“Since I arrived as as student in NYC in 1983, simply the best. Per my father's suggestion.“

“Un bout de France à Newport. Merci encore pour votre passion et dedication!“

“Amazing Valentine’s weekend dinner! Six courses made for a most Indulgent Aphrodisiac’s menu created by Chef Tony. The plating was exquisite, service very attentive, and relatively low-carb, very copicetic with my diabetic precautions. The French Chardonnay we had enjoyed was lovely, paired well particularly with the scallop crudo, oyster and lobster dishes. It was also a pleasure to meet and chat with Yassmin, the co-owner and wife of Chef Tony. We are planning to dine here again, next time for The restaurant’s High Tea, which is offered on Sunday afternoons.“

“Fabulous dinner and ambiance plus the he most delicious Rocklet!!!“

“delicious food. all fresh ingredients. reasonable prices. outside dining is a beautiful courtyard with a fountain centerpiece - a tranquil oasis. the wait staff makes me feel welcome and at home. I have severe food allergies and the chef has been very accommodating.“

“This place was a great find! We loved it as soon as we walked in. The girls working are super sweet and very personable. They made great recommendations and didn’t disappoint. We went twice that morning when we found this cute cafe! We will definitely be back again.“

“Great ambiance! Very friendly staff that was very accommodating to my kids. Best part was the delicious food! We will definitely be back. 😊“

“our special place to celebrate excellent service Delicious“

“The team at Pandor made a fantastic Chocolate Croissant and Panini. The iced chai latte was ok in Flavor but not outstanding.

Pandor is located in a shopping area on 17th Street in Costa Mesa. It's tucked at the back of the Parking lot with other good places to get food.
Pandor has fantastic baked goods and cakes. The staff is friendly and fast. It seemed like they were a little understaffed at the time I visited, there was a "stressed" vibe in the air.
The interior is functional, it reminds me of chain bakeries in Europe. Nothing too comfortable, the sounds echo inside the bakery and it makes one not want to spend too long inside. The outside seating area is neat, there's plenty of seating but it was all taken while I visited.

I love Pandors baked goods and the Lunch and Breakfast options are all fantastic as well. It would be great to update the interior to something more aesthetic and less echoing but, this doesn't take away from the outstanding produce!

Parking: Parking is plenty“

“Beautiful dining experience. The service and food were excellent, and we thoroughly enjoyed it. Dining at Hobbit was like being invited to a fancy friend’s home for a gourmet meal, warm, inviting, and upscale, with a touch of home. We will be back.“

“�¡Para esta fiesta de Navidad GANA 10.000 $ HASTA 100.000 $! FÁCIL, RÁPIDO Y SEGURO � ¿Necesita dinero urgentemente? Le ofrecemos soluciones a largo plazo, de 1 a 5 años al 7% de interés anual, par“

“The cheeseburger was AMAZING!!!“

“Great food, good service, friendly staff.“

“I ordered the Moulin Salad - chicken and pesto- excellent!“

“I love that place, it's my favorite, definitely its gastronomy and the bar, my God!!! ❤️“

“Love this place for breakfast very tasty menu❤️“

“todos los platillos están deliciosos y muy bien preparados, la atención es de lo mejor, y los muffins son deliciosos, recomiendo el de almendra. gracias por la atención Yoseli“

“The cakes and tarts are great, but unfortunately they don't have an oven and don't heat up their croissants! Which is a bummer because cold and stale aren't the best. But other pastries like mille feuille and lemon tart were incredible. Best mille feuille I've had in OC! There's no place to sit inside the cafe, but you can take your food and pastries to the general complex with portola etc, and there's lots of open seating spaces there“

“Un bout de France à Newport. Merci encore pour votre passion et dedication!“

“Got an invite to Club 33 from a friend of a friend. Lunch service. Bucket list complete.

They call a day before to go over details including dress code (lunch hours: jeans ok without rips or tears, tennis shoes ok if in good condition, no slide in sandals [they must wrap around the heel], no tank tops, and no bra straps showing [our friend wore a tank dress and her bra straps were showing so she put a cardigan on but the staff said all she had to do was take her straps off and tuck her bra straps into her dress]). You find out where the entrance is.

Upon arrival in New Orleans square, you ring the doorbell near an obscure door and are escorted into a tiny lobby, then out to an enclosed patio. Fresh cold or hot towels are provided as well as chilled water. The patio is beautifully decorated and you have a few minutes to relax in various wrought iron bistro sets and take photos. There’s a spiral staircase leading up to the restaurant where our group took many photos. There is an elevator for those unable to navigate stairs.

After 10 to 15 minutes you are escorted up to the restaurant. You are greeted there and brought to your table. The entire time being escorted you learn Disney history/trivia by the host and also rules (no photos of people outside of your party).

The dining experience—out of this world. They have an extensive cocktail and wine menu and serve those first, giving you lots of space to relax and enjoy. We walked out to the various balconies to take pictures over New Orleans Square after ordering our drinks. The balcony area is set up for tables for two—very quaint and romantic. The menu is a 4 course prix fixe menu with lots of options for the two vegetarian friends we were with. Each menu item and even drinks on the menu are extensively explained and come with a story of Disney’s history. They pace the meal expertly, never leaving you feeling rushed. The bread basket is incredible—soft, warm, fluffy, savory. Each dish was expertly created and left our tastebuds wanting more. The pictures and menu descriptions do not do the food justice. Even though you get dessert, they also give each guest two Club 33 macarons to take with you.

There is a members only lounge we did not see.

We stayed three hours. We were never asked to leave. They allowed us to take our time and enjoy ourselves taking photos and shopping for only-at-Club 33 merch in the entry lobby.

Truly, it was the whole experience, the uniqueness, the exclusivity, and the oh-my-gosh-I-can’t-believe-I-was-invited feeling that lasted in my heart leading up to the moment and still lasts today. °O°“

“Love, Love, Love ! ........“

“OMG, Best service ever!!!! The food was amazing!!!! Thank you so much Joslyn for making my night very special. Me and my family will be back.“

“I came here with my 3 daughters from Corona. I loved the atmosphere. It's outdoors, not a big line. Many dessert options to choose from. I had the chicken pesto sandwich. We most enjoyed the outdoor seating and having a relaxing time with our dessert and drinks.“