This is a good place for a decent meal and a nice selection of wine. The wine we got was excellent and very reasonable price for bottle. The service was engaging. I did like my salad especially and the mussels were solid with white wine and herb base. We had nice conversation and were not rushed so I would go here again for a nice evening meal-i would also go by myself too and enjoy their wine selection and a small bite.
(3)
Steve B.
I wish I could eat there every day! Everything I've ever had has been fantastic. Alan the owner has a way of making everything a little different, with great results. The man has real talent. I have to admit, some pairings didn't sound like they would work together, but the results are always fantastic.
(5)
Jennifer E.
great service, fresh yummy food. The meyer lemon dessert was amazing!
(4)
Gerry S.
The rating is a composite of 12 years of eating here, most of it ending about 5 years ago. Maybe 20 times; 3 of these occasions I was hosting a group of 8-10. We've recently started going there again more regularly. We've had issues before, almost all of them involving hapless staff. The problem is *high turnover*. Chef Alan is apparently there for lunches, though not in the kitchen, and sometimes on weekends. Once the dishes, not mentioned as spicy on the menu, were way hot. They were good though. I mentioned it to the server and was told the current chef was new and tended to over-seasoning. Not much of a reason. These were anomalies and most meals were exceptionally good, most staff stellar. But it happens: servers come and go, and bitching--to management--is always key. We were there last night and our server was Cindy. Very attentive and friendly. I asked, and she told me she'd been there 4 months. I'd recommend the place to everyone who hasn't been taught to roll over for bad waiters. The menu is always creative. Going to a place like this for mac-and-cheese and a burger is a waste of time money and energy.
(4)
Derrick B.
I absolutely love this place. It's perfect every time we go and the staff is amazing. The waiter even remembered us from our first visit two years ago and knew we sat at the same spot. The food is beyond explanation. Not only in presentation but in taste. The chef sources some of his favorite ingredients from other countries especially for his restaurant. It's very telling of what your experience will be like when the owner / chef is preparing your dishes. You're stupid if you don't try this place. Let's not forget their wine list if you're a fan of the vino.
(5)
David H.
My wife hired them to cater my 60th birthday on the boat for 25 people. The staff, food, and service were simply amazing! Thanks to the Golden T for making the night so memorable!
(5)
Rachel R.
My boyfriend took me here on a surprise date. He told me to get dressed up and he wore a suit. We got there and the restaurant is pretty small but it's cute. We were overdressed though. No one else was in a suit. The waiter was very nice and helpful with the menu. He offered to take my jacket and hang it on the coat rack so it didn't drag on the floor. We got the mac and cheese as an appetizer. It was really good though I am glad it wasn't my my course. I ordered the ribeye scallopini and the bf got the salmon and then we traded half was through. The scallopini was amazing, it was in a rich delicioud sauce and had mashed potatoes underneath. It was a big piece as well. The salmon was also good but much smaller and I didn't love the sauce as much. The head chef Allen came out during the meal and greated each table, you could tell many were regulars. When he got to our table he put his hands on my shoulders and was practically giving me a shoulder massage, it was awesome! We didn't get dessert but I think we will next time. We will definitely be back!
(5)
Jane W.
I love this place! Good service fantastic food! You hear on those cooking shows how you can taste all different flavored & the complexity, well this is the first time I felt like that's the kind of food I had! Bravo!!
(5)
Tim H.
I have never wrote a review in the years I have been on Yelp, but this was so bad that I felt it was my duty to stop someone from spending good money on this place. Worst Experience I can ever remember! 35 minutes for our drinks. 50 minutes after we sat down they brought us a piece of bread each. Well over a hour till we got our food. They never brought our appetizer, but what was worse was the server telling us he just forget about it when we were one of four tables in the restaurant. Then he apologized for the wait saying that they had a large catering order so that just "happens sometimes". To add insult he said he would make up for it by giving us a dessert. He brought a tiny scoop of ice cream in a cup. You really feel like they could care less about you because they don't. Also, they were out of the beer we ordered, and when we ordered the swordfish he said it was a typo and it was actually Salmon. After it taking so long we kept asking for the check saying we were late and had plans. He dropped it off and never came back. We had to leave cash just to get out of here. It was worth not having change to leave this place. I can't believe anyone goes here. The food was actually decent but the service was so overwhelmingly bad that it ruined the whole experience.
(1)
Maureen H.
To both of you and your amazing staff....we could not say enough about the service, beverages and of course the food at our wedding. People are still sending emails and talking about the food. No one can decide what was their favourite, funny that even though it was FREEZING...people LOVED the sorbet! From the bottom of our hearts, you made our day complete.
(5)
Casey A.
STOP! 1 star?? No way. ZERO STARS. Leave. Do not come here. Not sure if it was the mold on the ceiling. The lipstick on the drinking glass. Them telling me 20 minutes after I ordered they were out of filet mignon. Or 10 minutes later they had no beer. WORST FOOD AND RESTAURANT IN NEWPORT BEACH. Worst service. Everything. Do not ever ever come here. UPDATE: Post review, I got the meanest, berating message from somebody at Golden Truffle. WOW! Not just horrible food and service, but bad people work there, too? Do yourself a favor. Never come here. Ever.
(1)
Don Q.
Unbelievable food! Try the tamales. The best I've ever had!!! 5 Stars!!!
(5)
Brant D.
Amazing food every time we come here. Why isn't it standing room only! Raspberry Duck was out of bounds tonight.
(5)
Lauren T.
The food was good, the menu a bit of an odd mish mash of stuff, I am sure they are trying to be avaunt guard. The food was fresh, all prepared there and tasted very good. It was very expensive. They have a great selection of wine by the bottle but not by the glass. And the menu was just too all over the place, sausage with sauerkraut, lobster guacamole. I really liked the room we sat in, it had a nice ambiance.
(3)
Gail R.
I was very surprised - shocked actually. People raved about this restaurant and its food so I had very high expectations. The food was beautiful but to be honest, it looked much better than it tasted. The hearts of Palm small bites was lovely. Just the right amount of acid and heat! The macaroni & cheese however was a dud. Despite being beautiful, it had very little flavor and was watery - as in macaroni almost floating. The oxtail was good but the greens were bitter bitter bitter (and not in a good way) and the red bean & rice side was bland and cold. My friend ordered the cheeseburger, which we both thought would be amazing... Eh. No seasoning. And the fries - crispy and just warm. We were there late, so maybe it was the hour. Chef Alan had left so maybe it was the chef. I'll go back and try again when Chef Alan is in the kitchen - lunchtime - but I'd be hard pressed to recommend this place.
(2)
Michael X.
We didn't enjoy the food here at all - I had the mac and cheese and my wife had a salad with chicken (add-on). The salad was $10 bucks, reasonable, but we were also charged an additional $10 for a few pieces of mushy chicken. That's outrageous - even if the chicken was good, which it wasn't. My mac and cheese was rather flavorless. Our sever was unable to answer even basic questions about the menu. Pricing issues aside, we won't be coming back as there are much better options in the area.
(2)
Pattie M.
Not super fancy and the only reason I stopped in was because a very good friend (a true foodie) once mentioned that it is one of the best food preparations in this area. True that. Wedge salad with blue cheese dressing was the best I have ever had. The dressing was over the top yum. Was treated to the avocado with lobster and it too was quite good. One of the specials was the monk fish prepared with olives and a lemon butter sauce. All delicious. I will return and recommend to others.
(5)
Alex S.
Bought a glass of wine. Small glass and one of the weakest pours you'll get anywhere. Heard someone else complaining about the same thing for a shot of tequila. Insult added to injury, 16 samolians for it. Won't be having drinks there anytime soon.
(1)
Lourdes B.
I've been driving by this place for at least 12 years. I think I heard once that it was good. My boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. It was Saturday night around 9pm when we walked in and there was one other couple there. The server said it was busy earlier..mmmm. The service was good , pleasant experience. I had the fish which I would say was flavorful and my partner had the chicken , he thought it was good. I don't know that I would go there again but I'm glad I tried it once. The food was decent but maybe a little over priced in my opinion. I didn't think there was much atmosphere maybe because it was empty. I would say if your curious like I was try it once and see what you think.
(3)
Lauren B.
Saturday night at 8 o'clock and NO ONE but us were in there. Chef Alan is known for having fresh ingredients and innovative food, however this weekend the food was lacking. The size of the dishes were too large, everything smothered in heavy sauce, the truffles were hard and the deep fried oysters were really briny. I want to support our local chefs and small restaurants instead of the HUGE italian restaurant next store that had a long wait, for what? I ask... for food that looks like "'Olive Garden." It's a shame that our dinner wasn't better. I feel concept of the dishes are great and whoever was excuting themjust wasn't very good at it. Such a shame. Corkage 15 -- killer wine list btw.
(3)
Casey K.
Alan is a great chef and all around nice guy. I highly recommend you try his restaurant and all the delicious delicacies he has to offer.
(5)
Jacob B.
I live in Los Angeles but when I'm in Orange County I make it a point to dine at Golden Truffle. They never disappoint. The food is exceptional. I would put this restaurant up again any top restaurant in California.
(5)
Sam L.
Based on the restaurant wk prix fixe menu (aka crap quality food, fine dining portions.) No breadbasket. A server will come by and place one small piece of ordinary bread on your plate. I thought that was unusual. Course 1: Heirloom tomatoes drenched in olive oil. On the plate were different types of tomatoes I never knew existed. Too oily to eat it on its own. Would have been nice if they toned down the oil or maybe added some salad leaves to the dish. Course 2: Chicken flauta. Tasted like something from the frozen section of the grocery store. Filled with just plain non-seasoned chicken inside. Bland. Course 3: Chicken Jidori. This was the only dish here that was decent. The chicken breast was very moist inside and covered in some type of bbq sauce. Served on a bed of mashed potatoes. My friend's fish dish was appalling. The fish wasn't fresh and had a very unpleasant fishy odor/taste. The 'lemon' risotto that came with it was disgusting- tasted like how lemon scented dishwashing soap smells. Course 4: Beignets. Two very small donut holes soaked in banana puree. The beignets were cold. Service was mediocre. Valet $3. One interesting feature of this restaurant is that the entire menu changes daily. However, from my experience during restaurant week, I will not return. $40 sounded like a steal for a 4 course meal....except not for one here! I'd much rather spend $40 for a one course meal at a better restaurant.
(2)
Stephanie J.
To quote Jim Carrey after spending quite some time stinking up the bathroom in Ace Ventura, "DO NOT GO IN THERE!" Poor food, service, etc.
(1)
Bianca C.
Customer service at the GT is fantastic. My friend and I like going on culinary adventures and are still developing our palettes in many respects. The wait staff was so great with helping us pick a wine that would pair well with our meals. The food was fantastic and the presentation was beautiful. Great portions and very flavorful, but not too rich! This is a great spot for date night!
(5)
Bill Z.
YES YES AND YES!!! We had only three appetizers: - Lobster Guacamole. The presentation was GREAT and the flavor followed suit! Highly recommend this, if it is on menu. The chips that came with it could not have been more fresh. This was so big we took half home. - Pickled shrimp w tomatoes and peppers. Delicious! - Last but not least, the beets with smoked salmon. Another insanely tasty dish, that was big enough for leftovers. 100% guarantee a return here. The service is great as well. See you again soon!
(5)
Michael M.
For true Foodies and Wine Enthusiasts this is hands down the best restaurant in OC and perhaps all of SoCal and here are a few reasons why: The menu changes daily, everything is fresh and of the highest quality, as a direct result the passion Chef Alan has for the food, They have themed events like Soul Food Wednesday, Soft Shell Crab Week and a killer breakfast every last Saturday of the month.. I recommend joining there email list to stay current with upcoming events. Also, try the Prix Fixe menu with Chef for lunch or dinner... Put the menus down, choose a number of courses and enjoy the ride with wine pairings. On that subject- The Wine list also is a hidden gem and Letia can pair wine and give recommendations with the best of any sommelier. The list changes frequently and the Private Dinning Room is also a cellar with a surplus of highly allocated items that are not going to be on any other list locally. Best catering in the business also.. Alan and Letia are both amazing people personally and have more combined food and wine knowledge then Wikipedia. Check this place out for sure for sure!!!
(5)
Eric G.
Went here for lunch and it was amazing. Had a Caesar salad and risotto with black truffle. This is one of the best Chefs we have in the OC. I'll be back for sure
(5)
Michele M.
Wow. We have been coming here pretty regularly for a year or so, but tonight's experience prompts me to write. From the moment we walked in I felt like I was getting the whole movie star experience, from the great table in the private room, to the absolutely incredible service (headlined by Tom, but including everyone) which actually prompted me to ask at one point if they realized that we were not professional restaurant reviewers. Chef Greeley is an adventurous cook who always has a surprise up his sleeve, so every trip is an adventure at the Golden Truffle...even after all these years.
(5)
Tom C.
We ate at this restaurants many years ago didn't go back until last night. The food was very good but the ambiance is somewhat dated and could definitely use a refresh, while the service was on the slow side. The highlight of the meal was the split pea soup (I'm a split pea fanatic and I try it anywhere I can find it... this was one of the best ones I've tried). Smoky, thick and with a large piece of skin-on ham hock swimming in the broth... yum! The food makes this one of the better dining locales in OC, but you'll have to overlook the shortcomings to truly enjoy. We'll be back, but probably not too frequently.
(4)
Dan H.
One of those restaurants I take for granted I guess as I have not paid a visit in a year or two. It is such a great relaxing spot for fine dining as there isn't any BS pomp and circumstance. Just a cool bistro vibe with always spot on service, and one of the best Chefs to ever grace the OC dining scene. In fact before all of the recent "celebrity chef" madness started there was The Golden Truffle's Alan Greeley, Pacal's Pascal Olhats, and the now defunct Gustaf Anders as the OC pioneers of fine and creative dining. I have dined here often since its opening 20 (?) years ago, mainly for business lunches and a few special occasions. In fact it was here that I took my then wife for our 15th wedding anniversary. It was that fateful night that we had our last...ahem...disagreement that led us down the road to divorce. I should ask Alan to mark that table with a bronze plaque. OK ok, the food. Alan changes the menu daily with whatever he finds the freshest that day. He uses French, Spanish, Caribbean, and Asian influences in his preparation and execution. You will rarely find a chef that can pull all of this off as well as Alan. Love this man, and this is definitely one of my all time favorite restaurants. On my recent visit I chose the "Boston Bibb, Tomato & Real Gorgonzola" salad. That dressing with "Real Gorgonzola" was amazingly flavorful. The man even kicks up a salad to a never before seen level. For my entree I went with the "House Cured & Smoked Berkshire Pork Chop, Potatoes, & Riesling Red Cabbage." WOW again. First off, this chop was a monster. It gave me two more than satisfying meals, yes it was that big. A wonderful smoked flavor, cooked perfectly so it was nice and juicy, and a bit salty from the curring process. The red cabbage paired very well to counteract the chops saltiness. Also pairing nicely was the 1/2 bottle of 2007 Hendry (Napa Valley) Zin. What a meal. I remember this to be a more expensive restaurant in the past. Bad memory or just a sign of the times? That monster chop with the sides was only $25, and the salad $8. The wine list is reasonable as well with some great choices. Many other 1/2 bottles besides my Hendry, which I believe was around $27. So for that next special occasion, or the perfect place to kick off bachelorhood you can't go wrong here. Hell, at these prices stop in any ol' time. Thanks again Alan for a superb meal, and I promise to make my next visit sooner than later.
(5)
Sara L.
This restaurant has been around for years, but we did not become fans until the last year. My husband is a foodie and is in mergers and acquisitions. He has been treated to many fine dinners. We love the guacamole with lobster. We just had the Jidori Chicken with quinoa and leek last night; it was delicious. We also shared the Chinese Chicken Salad with carrots, cabbage and ginger soy dressing -- this is one of my favorites. We had the mint sorbet earlier in the week; it was wonderfully refreshing. It is not cheap but worth it. Sometimes we grab a burger at the bar with a good wine or beer; this is a deal and sooo good.
(5)
Matt H.
I took my girlfriend to this restaurant on Valentine's Day for an eloquent dining experience. I knew the price was above average but was very surprised with the service. After ten minutes of being seated (restaurant less than half full) we ordered the Chardonnay and Merlot. My merlot was very smooth and had a great taste. However, when served the "Chardonnay", my significant other realized it was in fact Sauvignon Blanc. I won't go into detail of how we have traveled and been wine tasting from Napa Valley all the way to Australia, but being in our mid 20s I'm sure the waiter did not think we had any wine experience whatsoever. Anyone with common wine knowledge can distinguish a clear difference between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. When we politely suggested we might have been mis served, our waiter took a spoon, dipped it in her already tasted beverage, tried it himself, and corrected her by saying "No, this is our house Chardonnay". Unacceptable. Even if we were completely incorrect in our assumption, he should have apologized, brought over the bottle of Chardonnay, and repoured the glass in front of us. This might sound a little much, but for a $125 meal for two (before tip) I think that would have been a completely reasonable way to handle the situation. The food ended up being very satisfying and of quality but as far as being known for their wine, this establishment was more of a let down and more than anything... OVERPRICED.
(2)
Michael K.
Don't judge a book by its cover. The food was AMAZING. The menu is extremely unique and artistic. The service was great as well. I would recommend this to anyone and its worth every penny!
(5)
Jiri C.
I have driven by this place many times , but never ate here before. The staff is friendly, and makes you feel comfortable . I have ordered the Jidori chicken, which was tasty. Had a glass a wine with that. Overall had a good experience and would recommend the place.
(4)
Elizabeth S.
Wow! Great service, comfortable but classy! Left the place next door because I couldn't get service and walked in to this little gem!
(5)
Norman B.
Probably the best restaurant in "The OC!" No, strike that... in ALL of SoCal - - - but please DON'T go here - - - I still want to be able to get my favorite table! The food is about as fresh as it can possibly be, as the Chef/Owner sources from literally around the world (New Zealand Abalone and John Dory, Tahitian Swordfish, Mussels from Prince Edward Island, Black Truffles from France, Prime Nebraskan Beef - - - you get the idea) and super fresh veggies from local Farmer's Markets. The Chef is a Past Master of the culinary arts. Imagine a Monet, Van Gogh, or Picasso in the kitchen banging those pots & pans around - - - that's what you get at the Golden Truffle. He comes up with mind-blowing combos of foods & spices that are rarely found anywhere else. The wine & champagne list will impress you, too. Some great boutique & hard-to-find wines here, but not pricey at all. They don't gouge you like some places do. Service is friendly & attentive; and never stuffy. I've been going here for over 15 years, but I'm just a "newbie," as some regulars have been dining here for over 30 years! (The busboy of over 10 years told me so!) Reservations are always a good idea, especially on the weekends. So, go to the Golden Truffle if you must, but please DON'T take my table in the "Wine Cellar" dining room! : -) Norman B.
(5)
Mike D.
Just a really odd experience. We were the only customers when we arrived (I was with my parents for a birthday dinner). The interior is shockingly outdated but not in a hip trendy kind of way, more of a 1980's retirement home kind of way. We were waited on fairly quickly but we were still the only people on there. The menu is also a bit of a flashback but everything sounded really good. Finally more customers - and the '80s retirement home vibe is getting stronger. These people have clearly been coming here for years and they brought their own wine knowing it was free corkage night. Oh look! A young couple! Oh wait, they looked in and took off. Finally my food (yeah, it took a while). Braised short ribs were very tasty. My parents said theirs was also good but everything was just so heavy. That didn't stop me from getting the creme brulee which was pretty average. Overall good food if you're in the mood for a good old fashioned heavy meal. Odd setting, decent service.
(3)
Jennifer C.
You know what is worse then a 1 star experience? Writing the restaurant an email letting them know of the experience, in an effort to avoid a terrible review on YELP and getting ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE FROM THE RESTAURANT FOR OVER THREE WEEKS. I was trying to avoid reviewing 1 star for this restaurant but they have not taken any effort to return my email with a simple, "we apologize for your terrible service" which is lackluster and unforgivable in this service driven industry. What they would have been apologizing for: - The server taking over 20 minutes to get me and my boyfriend dinner menus or taking any drink order and upon getting to our table he complained about being 'so busy' and rushing us through the ordering process. From the get go - we were OBVIOUSLY a burden. - The server basically shooing us off when we tried to get his attention to order a drink with a "ONE MOMENT PLEASE!" until the bartender (who saw what a terrible reaction the server had) came over to apologize on his behalf to take a drink order for us - The server talking terribly about a party in the side room (cussing about the clientele) for me and my boyfriend to hear...after what hearing what the server had to say about the customers in the side room, I will never book a party here. - While asking about an ingredient in the salad (which was chicken and was clearly not stated on the menu that the salad had chicken in it) our server replied with a "Mmm hmmm" while whisking past our table, not stopping to help answer our question - The bill for two people to SHARE with 1 drink was $75 (even with a terrible tip to the server)...we shared an app, salad, entree and side. For that much for two people, I expect better service - BOTH my boyfriend and I felt ill that evening (me) and the next morning (him). I can only blame it on what we ate because it was the same type of food poisoning. Do yourself a favor and don't WASTE your money here. They don't care about you or your patronage to their ancient restaurant where they only care about their regulars. Head across the street to EAT CHOW or any of the other new, hip restaurants that care about your business and earning you as a repeat customer.
(1)
K S.
Used to go there frequently but avoided for many years. When chef Greeley is not there food is prepared poorly. Today decided to try again. Greeley was not there. Food tasted well but not for healthy eater. Swordfish and John Dory dishes were over salted and with too much butter. Lobster guacamole and cod hand roll were very good. Complimentary ahi appetizer was over salted. Helper Manny was superb in taking care of you. Service was good. Wine selection was confusing. Dessert was nothing to write home about. We shared lemon tart. Big and buttery. After all it is French cuisine but chef used to have more California and Caribbean influence and lighter fare. Those who are not watching calories or butter and salt content would enjoy this food but rest of us who prefer lighter texture and flavor are going to be disappointed. After getting home we felt stuffed even though we were sensible in ordering. We will go there again, perhaps, in 2016.
(3)
Sean S.
I've never had a bad experience here and the food has always been very good. I've had really good salads, pasta dishes and seafood here. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and the service is friendly. The pricing is also competitive for the menu. I would not hesitate to come back.
(4)
Colin K.
With the Zagat food rating what it is (27/30), I really expected better. The lobster/avocado bruschetta was surprisingly bland. The duck confit was cooked properly and had a crispy skin, but left a bit to be desired for the price tag. The broiled lobster was so smothered in avocado (sensing a trend here?) that it took away a lot of the freshness you would normally taste with a lobster that was swimming 20 minutes prior to consumption. This is (probably) the only time I will ever mention "ambiance" in a review. The place is falling apart. The baseboards are exposed and cracked, the bathroom sink is about six square inches and 47 years old, and the entire place really shows its age. They need a makeover, but I doubt they have the funds available-- there were all of four other people dining on a Saturday at 8pm.
(3)
Nicole S.
The food was very interesting and different; I had a beet salad with truffles; then pickled shrimp, squid, and tuna; and lastly beef with a version of tamales. Most of it was very tasty and new to me, and others was a combination of flavors which I did not expect, and I am not sure about if I liked it. Anyways, the restaurant is cute, and staff was friendly and attentive.
(4)
Katherine L.
Came here for Restaurant Week. Service started out a bit slow, especially when serving the bread. However, the bread was warm sourdough and especially delicious. The fixed menu consisted of heirloom tomato salad which was refreshing and palatable, a chicken entree, and flautas. I wasn't a huge fan of the flautas, but the chicken was edible. The dessert, cinnamon beignet, was just the right size. The only complaint was the sheepshead fish I ordered. It didn't taste totally fresh and left a fishy aftertaste in my mouth that lasted hours. The highlight of dinner here was the French-pressed coffee.
(3)
Monique L.
I must say, I am so glad I came in for lunch! The menu changes every day so you can constantly come and try new things. The price is fairly reasonable, some pretty expensive items @ $32 and some more reasonable entrees @ $14. We started with the PEI mussels to share (I know, who orders an appetizer @ lunch?!) and they were really good and enough for two to share or 1 for lunch. The broth was smooth and salty. I had the veal liver with onions and bacon. It was really tender and flavourful and while I really enjoyed it, it was a little heavy for lunch because it came with mash potatoes. My husband had the lamb and pastilla enchilada's that he really enjoyed. Midway through the meal, the chef sent out some amuse bouches for us, his take on a soup and sandwich combo. A crispy boat with anchovey, egg and pickled carrots sitting on top of a glass of virgin bloody mary. (check out my pic). The bloody mary was really good and I was so sad when it was done. I can't wait to become a regular here!
(4)
James N.
Good, but not great meal. Went on a Saturday night, but the restaurant was sparsely attended. Shared a smoked fish plate appetizer. It was a wonderful dish, with generous portions of superb smoked sable and smoked salmon. The dish also had potato salad, pickled herring, fresh anchovies and some quick-pickled cucumber. At $16, this generous mound of fishy goodness was a steal. But it would have been more appropriate for a Jewish brunch with bagels than an appetizer. We next had salads: I had the grilled octopus on arugula. The octopus was tasty from being nicely marinated and grilled, but it looked tired and dried out. A splash of EVOO would have livened it up. The tomatoes had separated from their skins, also giving a tired appearance. And there was too much arugula for the dish, making it seem more like a little bit of octopus and old tomatoes on a big heap of arugula--which is what it was. The other salad was beets with some chopped olives, which was nice but not superb. In spite of the poor attendance, the restaurant was out of the duck breast. I settled for the braise of short ribs. The meat was of good quality, but it lacked the tenderness and richness I would have expected for short ribs. The sauce was overly salted--quite briny in fact. The mashed potatoes were good. Dessert, although called pot au chocolat, was more of a big chocolate truffle on creme anglaise with some raspberries. It was tasty and rich, but not pot au chocolat. The wine list was interesting and well priced, The wine was served too warm for a red. Service was OK, although I had to ask to have the candle at my table lit. The decor of the main room of restaurant was dated and haphazard. Ditto for the decor in the restroom. Dining in the wine room wasn't bad, albeit a bit chilly. In summary, this is one of the many good-but-not great restaurants in Costa Mesa. For a better dining experience at a similar price point, try Onotria or the Old Vine Cafe.
(3)
Adeline A.
What an amazing surprise the restaurant was. THE MOST AMAZING pickled fish, WOW. The service was great too.
(5)
Russel M.
Very Eclectic Food
(4)
marc v.
We never went past appetizers. Give this place a shot.
(4)
Jesse M.
The Golden Truffle looks like a hot spot from the early 90's with decore resembling some fancy bistro Blanche Devereaux would have met her fellow Golden Girls. And that's where the brain melting insanity begins. The paper doilies, inconsistant front of house staff, and mid-week tumbleweeds only add to the flavor of this nostalgic Newport gem. The Golden Truffle gets back to something most restaurants in Newport Beach forgot about: food. This place is unapologetically run by a guy that gives a damn about it. You should probably let that sink in for a second. Just because a place is fancy, with a nice wine list and a perfectly rested filet does not mean they give a damn about food. Even if the place is expensive, has a big kitchen staff with impeccably fresh ingredients and artistic plating, that still does not mean they give two farts about food. Those places are doing their jobs, and they do it very well, but in the end they are just that- a job. This guy at Golden Truffle is making food that comes from the heart, for people who want to eat out and feel something more then just full.
(5)
Heidi B.
I ate here about 2 months ago and was not impressed with the ambiance nor the service. The ambiance was horrible, the bathroom was dirty and the service was absolutely awful. I have heard great things about this restaurant, so I was quite surprised to be so disappointed. There were only 2 other parties in the restaurant on a Friday night! The menu needs to be updated with more health conscious choices. My food was not that exciting and basically just smothered in a heavy cream sauce with mashed potatoes. I had even asked for no cream sauce! Well, too bad... I won't be going back there again.
(2)
Jamie B.
This is my favorite restaurant in all of Orange County!!! For true foodies who don't care about "the scene" at most local "fine dining" establishments this is the place to be. An ever changing menu and a incredible variety of lesser known not overly pricey wines never disappoints. This is not the place to go if you want perfectly timed service or have a movie to go to. I go to enjoy my evening- not rush through my courses and have a enjoyable evening with my husband. I have always had good service and like the fact that I never got the sense that the server was rushing to turn my table. The servers seem to have a knowledge/ appreciation for the cuisine as well as the wine pairings. I recommend signing up for the email list and attending some of their wine dinners. We have met some really cool people at the shared tables and discovered some incredible new favorite wines. They also offer a really affordable prefix menu midweek called soul foods, it's a incredible value for those open to trusting the chef with your dinner options. I also had my birthday party here a few years ago in a side room and the manager worked with me to create a amazing menu in my budget with a few options for friends with dietary restrictions. It was a great experience and I would do it again. Casually elegant and a wonderful evening.
(5)
Rick C.
The Golden Truffle can be one of the best restaurants in Orange County when the owner Alan is cooking. He is a master chef and entertainer. Unfortunately, he's not at the restaurant very often (anymore). it's really lost its appeal over the last several years. We used to go twice to three times per month. Now, however, we might make it once every three or four months. It's just not the same anymore. Come back, Alan! Your customers are waiting.
(3)
Vanessa F.
I was pleasantly surprised and how good the food and service were at this establishment. It is not the trendiest of places, but the food and service were so beyond my expectations that I will definitely be returning again. The Golden Truffle has been one of those restaurants that I've driven by for the past 10 or so years and have thought, I gotta check that place out one of these days. I figure Valentine's Day is a good day, and although they are usually not open on Sundays, they were for this special holiday. We arrived at 7pm and the restaurant was half-empty. This was not a good sign to me, because what fine-dining restaurant is not packed on this day? But the host was friendly and we were sat right away. They were offering a pre-fixe dinner that evening for $85. For appetizers they were offering a choice of smoked salmon, steak carpaccio or chicken wrap. Being that I'm pregnant, I reluctantly had to select the cooked chicken wrap. Chicken is kinda boring to me and I usually don't order it in restaurants because it can sometimes turn out dry. To my surprise, this appetizer was amazing. It was a combination of fried chicken, avocado and lettuce rolled in a soft tortilla. It was very refreshing, the chicken was very moist, and a great starter. I could not shut up about how much I liked it. My husband ordered the smoked salmon. It was a very generous cut of fish, and my husband said it did not taste fishy at all. We were both pleased at the start of our meal. For our second course my husband and I both ordered the shrimp tostada. This was also very good and reminiscent of shrimp tostadas you get at authentic Mexican restaurants. For my entree I ordered the broiled salmon with spinach and champagne buerre blanc. This was quite literally the best salmon I have ever had. I've made a dish similar to this at home, but I tend not to go for the ocean salmon because it's usually too fishy for me. But this salmon was fresh and tender and almost tasted like it was poached in butter - so delicious. My husband ordered the 24-hour braised shortrib. Another large portion that was so tender you only needed a fork to eat it. We were really full by this time so we opted to take the remains of our entrees to go. I was really excited for leftovers the next day! For dessert, I ordered the Meyer lemon shortbread butter tart with homemade Madascan vanilla ice cream and a decaf cappuccino. Although the butter tart was superb, the ice cream was the star of this dish to me. Just plain vanilla, but I wanted more! My husband ordered Juan's raspberry-blackberry cheesecake. It was golden brown on all sides and you could tell they made this in-house and that it did not come from a box. I think I would order this again if I saw it on the menu. All the waitstaff was extremely friendly. The owner gave us each a chocolate truffle to finish our meal. I was truly impressed by the freshness and quality of the ingredients at this restaurant. It seems the menu changes depending on the season, which I think it great, because you'll always be able to try something new here. Such good food warrants a return visit, and I will definitely be back. It was a great Valentine's Day dinner.
(5)
Kristin M.
Went for lunch around 1 on a Weds. Kinda quiet and sat on the patio. Server was very nice and gave good suggestions. We ordered 2 apps and a salad to share. Both apps were of good size and our lobster salad was superb! We could not eat all of our food, the portions were very large and we will certainly go back. I'm glad that I didn't keep in mind the other reviews that were slightly negative. Regardless of the ambiance, we were there for the food and each others company and it was perfect for us.
(4)
Scott B.
Ate dinner on a Friday night at the bar with friends. Awesome wine selection. The wilted spinach salad with soft boiled egg and bacon dressing was one of the best salads I've ever had. The fish entree and chocolate desert were very good, but not Alan's exceptional standard. Will definitely be going back!
(4)
Rae G.
After going to dinner here with my partner, we both gave it a resounding "meh". Nothing stood out as particularly outstanding, and nothing was terribly bad. We were sat very quickly, but then waited 15 minutes to order, which seemed odd since there were only two other tables. We ordered a salad and some small plates and then waited over 30 minutes for the food to arrive, we started joking that they clearly had to go catch the lobster in the bay because it took so long. The food was good, but not great, I had the lobster tacos and found the flavor completely overwhelmed by the tartar sauce, which was a huge bummer. The spinach salad was amazing as was the octopus. Overall, we were just underwhelmed for the size of the bill at the end of the night compared to the uniqueness and the flavor of the food.
(3)
Dan J.
This is one of our favorite places to go. I have had many diff dishes here as the menu evolves and is always a pleasant surprise. We love Alan's personality and flair. He always remembers us even if it has been some time since a visit. Thanks Alan you gave us memories and after all that what life is about !!!!!
(5)
Beth H.
This place is amazing: 1. Absolute BEST Bloody Mary I've EVER had...EVER!!!! Served with a skewered olive, tomato and a HUGE, fresh shrimp. So good I had TWO!!! 2. Elton's Meat Pie....Warm, satisfying, flaky crust, sauteed celery....heaven 3. Kielbasa/sausage...brimming with flavor, spices and juicy. Yum. 4. Bacon...good but not fantastic. But I still love bacon. 5. Duck fat, wilted spinach, tomato and Gruyere cheese omelet. WTF? What genius thought this up? I'd like to do unspeakable things to him. With duck fat, of course. 6. Scalloped potatoes served with my omelet. OMG..creamy, soft, crispy on the outside goodness. 7. Lemon Butter Tart - amazing. Lemony, tart, not too sweet, buttery, flaky crust. Melt in your mouth good. 8. Little Cinnamon/Churro Type Balls (forgot what they were called) with Vanilla Lavender Ice Cream...I don't even know what to say. And I don't like dessert. Warm and crispy on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside, but not squishy. The ice cream was the perfect compliment. 9. BEST Bloody Mary - EVER!!!!!!!!! I love you Duck Fat. I love you Bloody Mary. Let's set up a Threesome soon.
(5)
Linda A.
We had high hopes for this restaurant we sought out based on a recent magazine review, BUT, we had a bad experience for lunch this week. First, the swordfish was on mashed potatoes instead of linguine as the menu said, then, the chicken breast was NOT COOKED through! There is no excuse for that in a fine dining restaurant. The place is a little dated and in a strip center housing tattoo parlors and a sex-toy shop. Skip it.
(1)
Kate S.
Golden Truffle catered my boyfriends sisters wedding reception and they did a fantastic job. Since the bride is a chef, they had to be perfect, and they did not dissapoint. think I went back for like....4th's. The appetizers were awesome- I did not have all of them but tried the lobster cevice, prime rib and avocado rolls, olive skewers, and a white fish/citrus appetizer. All were excellent and unique. Dinner was braised and shredded lamb, awesome assorted cheese, lettuce cups, salad with balsamic glaze, grilled fish, assorted bread, and Swedish Meatballs (the groom is Swedish). All were delicious and there was plenty of food. For dessert, they had lemon curd bars (sort of like lemon bars- awesome), chocolate dipped mangoes, watermelon sorbet bon-bons, chocolate dipped strawberries, and cupcakes. The perfect ending were the sliders that were brought out at around 11PM- just about the time everyone was drunkenly grinding on the dance floor. They were grilled with cheddar cheese on top as well as carmelized onions. Absolutely the most awesome drinking food, hands down. Overall I know they are pricey, but they did a great job and people were raving about the food.
(4)
Christina S.
I have to concur with a previous reviewer that The Golden Truffle has good service and it is not a trendy spot. BUT.. the food makes up for where they lack in design. Honestly, I do have to admit that I don't like the interior. Next time I shall dine outside in the patio because I really was not digging the "Golden Girls" late 80's floral wicker furnishing. It looks like they have never redecorated this place since they opened which I have no clue as to how long ago that was. But being optimistic I was going to put aside the lack of taste in design and just try it out. I got off late from work, was starved and besides I have been wanting to come here for some time now so alas here I was. The service is outstanding! The hostess was attentive as was my waiter. I started with a glass of wine. Something that the waiter suggested and I ordered the Jidori Chicken. If you are cheap and fret over a $23 entree then put you mind at ease they do have what they call the "Utility Menu" a few selections of entrees that are under $15. The Jidori Chicken was the best I have ever had! I loved it. The veggies that came with it were so good as well.. OK, so I noticed that they had Vanilla Creme Brulle on the menu.. I also ordered a cup of early grey- lavender tea... Sigh.. t Both the tea and the Creme Brulle were so good. i was left to feeling like a glutenous asshole after. I will for sure come back.. The food is that good. The service is great.. I walked out including tip at $58 and some change... I know.. I can be expensive!
(4)
Oscar p.
One of my favorite restaurants. It is a small, cozy restaurant right off the 55 freeway. The service was excellent. The food was delicious and fairly priced. Definitely an eator's delight!
(5)
Charlie F.
If you ever drive down to Balboa Island off of Newport Blvd, you're bound to pass by a restaurant with a giant gold awning. The Golden Truffle, owned by Chef Alan Greeley is a true "hybrid/fusion" restaurant with influences from the Caribbean, France, Asia, and Spain. Chef Alan is truly an artist at what he does, his creativity shines from each dish. The very best thing you can do is when come to the restaurant, ask if Chef Alan is there. If he is you have him make whatever he wants. It'll be dishes that aren't on the normal menu, just whatever he thinks of impressing you with that day. The problem here is that Chef Alan does not always cook. He's always there for lunch, but more often than not he's at a catering event at night. The waiters/hosts don't seem to know when he's working at night either. Whether they are lying.. or they truly don't know, either one is quite vexing. So for your viewing pleasure I have two trips to the Golden Truffle. One.. where the hostess told us he was working when we made the reservation but in fact he was not.. and Two where he was working. First meal, Dinner... no Chef Alan. The waitress promised us the quality was up to par with Chef Alan, of course the real big difference is everything is off the menu for this meal. $55 prixe fixe for 5 courses, one dish wasn't on the menu. First dish, Chicken liver marinated in chicken broth. clayfood.blogspot.com/20…
(4)
Jen B.
Pricey Eats, but truly a delight! If you can afford the menu, go with the prix fix. I've ordered the short ribs several times and they still linger in my memory. Dessert choices are pretty good. Lacks a decent interior, but wait staff and owners are very knowledgeable and friendly. No corkage fee on Wed!
(4)
Brian S.
Here's some advice for coming here. Give the chef, Alan, some parameters of what you like or anything you really don't like, then let him cook for you. Strange looking food items may show up, but he's got me to try things I would have never ordered, and hes an amazing chef. I love his comfort food, but really anything goes here, just sit back and let him serve you. As for atmosphere, what you see is what you get. Come here for the food...
(5)
Elliott F.
Five of us went there last night. Never again. The food was just OK but the service was so horrible that the meal was ruined. The waiter was incredibly bad. He left the dirty dishes on the table, I asked for water which he never delivered He acted like he was doing us a favor by serving us. He delivered the first two entrees and didn't serve the other after until after we were finished with the first ones. I had to ask three times for the check. For $320 it was overpriced and annoying.
(1)
Suzanne H.
Had dinner with 6 people last night -- good food!! Starters of lobster guacamole and deviled eggs great. But service was a disaster - the restaurant was not at all crowded but one guest waited 15 minutes to get a simple drink of vodka and soda; while the waiter knew nothing about the simplest questions on the wine list. He then took dinner orders for 3 of the 6 guests, was confused about the salad order, so went to another table to take their order and deliver their wine. We finally had to ask the owner if he would have the waiter return. All in all, a strange night but tasty food. Can find good other places - would not chance the sketchy service again.
(3)
Danielle L.
The Golden Truffle is a good restaurant. Does it currently warrant all the gaga reviews Yelpers have given it? No. It's quaint. I found the style to be more Southern European (think small town Italy) than eclectic. It was great to see their wine selection laid out plainly, and the walls are decorated with news clippings and other artifacts. There's a nice patio outside, too. Parking is difficult on a Saturday night, so come prepared to circle. The wait staff was polite - both young, and old, and generally prompt. But nothing extraordinary. The food was good but not jaw-dropping. I did like the fried potatoes which accompanied my cheeseburger. The duck tacos were definitely the most unique thing we sampled, and pretty good at that! I think I would have given The Golden Truffle more stars if it hadn't so massively overhyped. It's good, it just ain't that good.
(3)
Alicia F.
The food here isn't bad, but it's certainly nothing to write home about.
(2)
Ali M.
two stars for not charging us for the drinks we had, as they told us they basically didnt have any food left. at 7pm, they ran out of the daily specials, and the place wasnt crowded? we ordered 2 salads, they only had enough to make one. ordered lobster and crab something, they ran outta lobster, so its all crab they didnt have any diet coke? and they reccomended a certain dish, and they ran out of that too. so we just asked for the check, and told ud to try agan another day. first impressions are everything!!!
(2)
Diana L.
Went for my birthday and had one of the best duck confit dishes I've ever tasted but all the food was great. The whole experience was incredibly sweet and just exactly what I wanted. Definitely a place to check out for a nice, relaxing, tasty meal.
(5)
Rahmat K.
Every time I walk into a restaurant, I'm always weary of whether I'm going to feel comfortable eating there. As soon as my foot stepped through those front doors, I really, really wanted to turn back around and go to del taco or something. But the lady at the front said hello and asked if we wanted a table. I was trapped. However, I'm glad I didn't turn around. We had a great lunch. My gf and I argued about something before we went in which made things even more awkward but because the service and the food were so wonderful, our attitudes quickly changes and we were feeding each other pieces of our meal :)
(4)
Stacey E.
A true culinary experience!!! Each morsel was fresh, exotic and plain out yummy. I wish I could give it 10 stars!!!
(5)
Chris W.
I've been going to the Golden Truffle for about 3 years now and have NEVER been disappointed. Chef Greely is inventive, fun and respects his customers. The service is always great and we will continue to return to this restaurant as long as we live in Orange County.
(5)
Vanessa B.
i have been a regular of this place for many years and my parents followed alan to this place. i have a couple of dishes i recommend. the duck tacos are delicious and always arrive with plenty of duck in them. they include a fresh tomato salsa and corn tortillas. yummy. when they have the american tasting menu, i recommend the hierloom tomatoes with fresh gorgonzola and also the handmade onion rings with fresh pineapple ketchup. another thing i recommend is the sushi hand roll, it's awesome. i am anxiously awaiting "the golden truffle favorites menu" which is happening july 14th to the 18th. they are having jerk chicken, tomatoes with gorgonzola, pot roast, fried smoked chicken and duck tacos. the service is awesome and this place should stay in costa mesa forever. alan is very friendly and a very nice man. i know this because when i was a kid i took a children's cooking class. this place changes with the times and i never get tired of the new items.
(5)
Lauren C.
VIP like service... They even gave us a free appetizer. Very nice and attentive staff! Great time! Food was unique.
(5)
Kevin J.
if the chef was there every night, it would make for an amazing dining experience... but when the subs are in, the food is just average. my advice... call ahead and find out if the chef/owner is in. if not, dont even bother. you'd be better of saving your money.
(3)
S A.
I do appreciate that they get the freshest ingredients and change their menu daily, but then RESPECT those fresh ingredients. Case in point: I had the Prince Edward Island mussels which were recommended by the chef and staff. The broth was so completely oversalted, I could have been eating any kind of ordinary mussels. I think because the butter they have at the restaurant is salted butter, the cook didn't have a handle on the seasoning. Usually, I love to sop up the broth, but I was doing everything I could to save those mussels from drowing in it. If anyone has read other reviews I've written, I've complained about oversalting before. I am sensitive to it, but in both cases, it made the food almost inedible. The bread was great, the mutton meatballs were delicious, but for the price, I think you're better off going elsewhere.
(2)
Stu S.
Valentines Day; broken heart. We had reservations for four on Valentines Day, at 5:30 in time for a 7:30 show at OC PAC. We asked the waitress if we would be out by 7, and she assured us we would. It was all downhill from there They would not modify their menu at all, not even salad dressing on the side. They muffed the appetizer course: brought three, fourth never showed up. One salad became a soup, and no one ever came by, or could be flagged down to fix things. And that was dinner. The main course still had not shown up at five minutes to 7. The wait staff was entirely disorganized. A neighboring table got their salads after their main course. We ended up paying for half of four meals, at our insistence, because we had to go. It took forever to negotiate the bill and make payment, and in the end we paid $136 for a packaged dinner roll, a confused appetizer course, and a confused salad/soup course. After the show, we came home and made pancakes. Better and cheaper than the Golden Truffle. I would NEVER go back. They were totally disorganized, and the restaurant was not full. They were completely inflexible, the service was awful, the food was mediocre (what we received) and the attitude stunk.
(1)
Erica W.
This is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Costa Mesa. While the decor is a bit odd and doesn't exactly feel like a $$$ restaurant, the food is 5 star. The menu is very eclectic and offers dishes you can't get anywhere else. The last time my husband and I ate here we had an amazing spinach salad with warm bacon dressing and I had a filet of sole and my husband had curried goat. On New Year's Eve last year we ate the best meal of our lives here. Chef Alan offered a Prix Fixe menu for (I believe $65/person) including a glass of champagne. I remember every course vividly. My 1st course was a shrimp cocktail with the largest gulf shrimp I've ever had and homemade spicy cocktail sauce. There were enough shrimp in this dish I could have just ate that for my meal, but this was only the beginning. My 2nd course was a rich and flavorful maui onion soup topped with a puff pastry baked to perfection, 3rd course was duck and yummy creme brulee for desert. Service here is outstanding, the sommelier is awesome and knowledgeable. He remembers every person's first name at the table and well as every order without writing a thing down. He also seems to know the details of how each dish is prepared, what's the most fresh and recommended on the menu. The wine list is impressive, too. Yes, this place is a bit pricey, but totally worth it. You'll leave feeling completely satisfied and stuffed.
(5)
Amy C.
The restaurant is oddly decorated. The waitress was fantastic. The wine list was good. The food is eclectic. But nothing had a wow factor that would have me going back.
(3)
Coryne S.
We did not have extremely high expectations for the Golden Truffle, we had stopped by on a whim, not knowing the area very well. However, after entering, we assumed that we would have a pleasant and tasty lunch given all the awards and accolades displayed. Disappointing is an understatement, in terms of food as well as service. Our server was initially extremely friendly and attentive, until the restaurant started getting busier and the "regulars" started coming in . . . then it was as though we didn't exist. We were one of the first tables in but the last to order. Although he kept apologizing, somewhat insincerely, there was no action behind his words. I could go on and on about how annoying it is to try and pretend to be enjoying time with friends when you're being ignored by the waitstaff. Granted, the gentleman who brought us bread and refilled our water, did so with a big smile and if it wasn't for him, we would have withered away and died before finally getting our food. The food could have easily changed our minds about this establishment, however, it didn't. A friend ordered the onion soup which was described as having a touch of cream, but it seemed more like cream of onion soup. I ordered the duck meatballs with mushroom tortellini and marinara sauce . . . what I got was duck meatballs in an overly salty vegetable soup, completely covered by two deep fried pasta circles. Where were the mushroom tortellinis?! Another friend ordered the butterfish which was served 10 minutes after the rest of us were halfway done with our meal. Although it was a sizeable portion and perfectly done, it was described by our server as being accompanied by a tomato confit which turned out to be fresh grape tomatoes. The desserts, which were posted on a whiteboard, had initially captured my attention, but after being treated as second class citizens and being let down by the food, we just wanted to get out. Easier said than done . . . we asked for our check then waited and waited. Finally we chased down our server while he was at the register, we handed him our bill and payment, then had to wait yet again before he finally completed our transaction. Maybe you have to be a regular to really appreciate all that the Golden Truffle has to offer.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet, Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Deborah H.
This is a good place for a decent meal and a nice selection of wine. The wine we got was excellent and very reasonable price for bottle. The service was engaging. I did like my salad especially and the mussels were solid with white wine and herb base. We had nice conversation and were not rushed so I would go here again for a nice evening meal-i would also go by myself too and enjoy their wine selection and a small bite.
(3)Steve B.
I wish I could eat there every day! Everything I've ever had has been fantastic. Alan the owner has a way of making everything a little different, with great results. The man has real talent. I have to admit, some pairings didn't sound like they would work together, but the results are always fantastic.
(5)Jennifer E.
great service, fresh yummy food. The meyer lemon dessert was amazing!
(4)Gerry S.
The rating is a composite of 12 years of eating here, most of it ending about 5 years ago. Maybe 20 times; 3 of these occasions I was hosting a group of 8-10. We've recently started going there again more regularly. We've had issues before, almost all of them involving hapless staff. The problem is *high turnover*. Chef Alan is apparently there for lunches, though not in the kitchen, and sometimes on weekends. Once the dishes, not mentioned as spicy on the menu, were way hot. They were good though. I mentioned it to the server and was told the current chef was new and tended to over-seasoning. Not much of a reason. These were anomalies and most meals were exceptionally good, most staff stellar. But it happens: servers come and go, and bitching--to management--is always key. We were there last night and our server was Cindy. Very attentive and friendly. I asked, and she told me she'd been there 4 months. I'd recommend the place to everyone who hasn't been taught to roll over for bad waiters. The menu is always creative. Going to a place like this for mac-and-cheese and a burger is a waste of time money and energy.
(4)Derrick B.
I absolutely love this place. It's perfect every time we go and the staff is amazing. The waiter even remembered us from our first visit two years ago and knew we sat at the same spot. The food is beyond explanation. Not only in presentation but in taste. The chef sources some of his favorite ingredients from other countries especially for his restaurant. It's very telling of what your experience will be like when the owner / chef is preparing your dishes. You're stupid if you don't try this place. Let's not forget their wine list if you're a fan of the vino.
(5)David H.
My wife hired them to cater my 60th birthday on the boat for 25 people. The staff, food, and service were simply amazing! Thanks to the Golden T for making the night so memorable!
(5)Rachel R.
My boyfriend took me here on a surprise date. He told me to get dressed up and he wore a suit. We got there and the restaurant is pretty small but it's cute. We were overdressed though. No one else was in a suit. The waiter was very nice and helpful with the menu. He offered to take my jacket and hang it on the coat rack so it didn't drag on the floor. We got the mac and cheese as an appetizer. It was really good though I am glad it wasn't my my course. I ordered the ribeye scallopini and the bf got the salmon and then we traded half was through. The scallopini was amazing, it was in a rich delicioud sauce and had mashed potatoes underneath. It was a big piece as well. The salmon was also good but much smaller and I didn't love the sauce as much. The head chef Allen came out during the meal and greated each table, you could tell many were regulars. When he got to our table he put his hands on my shoulders and was practically giving me a shoulder massage, it was awesome! We didn't get dessert but I think we will next time. We will definitely be back!
(5)Jane W.
I love this place! Good service fantastic food! You hear on those cooking shows how you can taste all different flavored & the complexity, well this is the first time I felt like that's the kind of food I had! Bravo!!
(5)Tim H.
I have never wrote a review in the years I have been on Yelp, but this was so bad that I felt it was my duty to stop someone from spending good money on this place. Worst Experience I can ever remember! 35 minutes for our drinks. 50 minutes after we sat down they brought us a piece of bread each. Well over a hour till we got our food. They never brought our appetizer, but what was worse was the server telling us he just forget about it when we were one of four tables in the restaurant. Then he apologized for the wait saying that they had a large catering order so that just "happens sometimes". To add insult he said he would make up for it by giving us a dessert. He brought a tiny scoop of ice cream in a cup. You really feel like they could care less about you because they don't. Also, they were out of the beer we ordered, and when we ordered the swordfish he said it was a typo and it was actually Salmon. After it taking so long we kept asking for the check saying we were late and had plans. He dropped it off and never came back. We had to leave cash just to get out of here. It was worth not having change to leave this place. I can't believe anyone goes here. The food was actually decent but the service was so overwhelmingly bad that it ruined the whole experience.
(1)Maureen H.
To both of you and your amazing staff....we could not say enough about the service, beverages and of course the food at our wedding. People are still sending emails and talking about the food. No one can decide what was their favourite, funny that even though it was FREEZING...people LOVED the sorbet! From the bottom of our hearts, you made our day complete.
(5)Casey A.
STOP! 1 star?? No way. ZERO STARS. Leave. Do not come here. Not sure if it was the mold on the ceiling. The lipstick on the drinking glass. Them telling me 20 minutes after I ordered they were out of filet mignon. Or 10 minutes later they had no beer. WORST FOOD AND RESTAURANT IN NEWPORT BEACH. Worst service. Everything. Do not ever ever come here. UPDATE: Post review, I got the meanest, berating message from somebody at Golden Truffle. WOW! Not just horrible food and service, but bad people work there, too? Do yourself a favor. Never come here. Ever.
(1)Don Q.
Unbelievable food! Try the tamales. The best I've ever had!!! 5 Stars!!!
(5)Brant D.
Amazing food every time we come here. Why isn't it standing room only! Raspberry Duck was out of bounds tonight.
(5)Lauren T.
The food was good, the menu a bit of an odd mish mash of stuff, I am sure they are trying to be avaunt guard. The food was fresh, all prepared there and tasted very good. It was very expensive. They have a great selection of wine by the bottle but not by the glass. And the menu was just too all over the place, sausage with sauerkraut, lobster guacamole. I really liked the room we sat in, it had a nice ambiance.
(3)Gail R.
I was very surprised - shocked actually. People raved about this restaurant and its food so I had very high expectations. The food was beautiful but to be honest, it looked much better than it tasted. The hearts of Palm small bites was lovely. Just the right amount of acid and heat! The macaroni & cheese however was a dud. Despite being beautiful, it had very little flavor and was watery - as in macaroni almost floating. The oxtail was good but the greens were bitter bitter bitter (and not in a good way) and the red bean & rice side was bland and cold. My friend ordered the cheeseburger, which we both thought would be amazing... Eh. No seasoning. And the fries - crispy and just warm. We were there late, so maybe it was the hour. Chef Alan had left so maybe it was the chef. I'll go back and try again when Chef Alan is in the kitchen - lunchtime - but I'd be hard pressed to recommend this place.
(2)Michael X.
We didn't enjoy the food here at all - I had the mac and cheese and my wife had a salad with chicken (add-on). The salad was $10 bucks, reasonable, but we were also charged an additional $10 for a few pieces of mushy chicken. That's outrageous - even if the chicken was good, which it wasn't. My mac and cheese was rather flavorless. Our sever was unable to answer even basic questions about the menu. Pricing issues aside, we won't be coming back as there are much better options in the area.
(2)Pattie M.
Not super fancy and the only reason I stopped in was because a very good friend (a true foodie) once mentioned that it is one of the best food preparations in this area. True that. Wedge salad with blue cheese dressing was the best I have ever had. The dressing was over the top yum. Was treated to the avocado with lobster and it too was quite good. One of the specials was the monk fish prepared with olives and a lemon butter sauce. All delicious. I will return and recommend to others.
(5)Alex S.
Bought a glass of wine. Small glass and one of the weakest pours you'll get anywhere. Heard someone else complaining about the same thing for a shot of tequila. Insult added to injury, 16 samolians for it. Won't be having drinks there anytime soon.
(1)Lourdes B.
I've been driving by this place for at least 12 years. I think I heard once that it was good. My boyfriend and I decided to give it a try. It was Saturday night around 9pm when we walked in and there was one other couple there. The server said it was busy earlier..mmmm. The service was good , pleasant experience. I had the fish which I would say was flavorful and my partner had the chicken , he thought it was good. I don't know that I would go there again but I'm glad I tried it once. The food was decent but maybe a little over priced in my opinion. I didn't think there was much atmosphere maybe because it was empty. I would say if your curious like I was try it once and see what you think.
(3)Lauren B.
Saturday night at 8 o'clock and NO ONE but us were in there. Chef Alan is known for having fresh ingredients and innovative food, however this weekend the food was lacking. The size of the dishes were too large, everything smothered in heavy sauce, the truffles were hard and the deep fried oysters were really briny. I want to support our local chefs and small restaurants instead of the HUGE italian restaurant next store that had a long wait, for what? I ask... for food that looks like "'Olive Garden." It's a shame that our dinner wasn't better. I feel concept of the dishes are great and whoever was excuting themjust wasn't very good at it. Such a shame. Corkage 15 -- killer wine list btw.
(3)Casey K.
Alan is a great chef and all around nice guy. I highly recommend you try his restaurant and all the delicious delicacies he has to offer.
(5)Jacob B.
I live in Los Angeles but when I'm in Orange County I make it a point to dine at Golden Truffle. They never disappoint. The food is exceptional. I would put this restaurant up again any top restaurant in California.
(5)Sam L.
Based on the restaurant wk prix fixe menu (aka crap quality food, fine dining portions.) No breadbasket. A server will come by and place one small piece of ordinary bread on your plate. I thought that was unusual. Course 1: Heirloom tomatoes drenched in olive oil. On the plate were different types of tomatoes I never knew existed. Too oily to eat it on its own. Would have been nice if they toned down the oil or maybe added some salad leaves to the dish. Course 2: Chicken flauta. Tasted like something from the frozen section of the grocery store. Filled with just plain non-seasoned chicken inside. Bland. Course 3: Chicken Jidori. This was the only dish here that was decent. The chicken breast was very moist inside and covered in some type of bbq sauce. Served on a bed of mashed potatoes. My friend's fish dish was appalling. The fish wasn't fresh and had a very unpleasant fishy odor/taste. The 'lemon' risotto that came with it was disgusting- tasted like how lemon scented dishwashing soap smells. Course 4: Beignets. Two very small donut holes soaked in banana puree. The beignets were cold. Service was mediocre. Valet $3. One interesting feature of this restaurant is that the entire menu changes daily. However, from my experience during restaurant week, I will not return. $40 sounded like a steal for a 4 course meal....except not for one here! I'd much rather spend $40 for a one course meal at a better restaurant.
(2)Stephanie J.
To quote Jim Carrey after spending quite some time stinking up the bathroom in Ace Ventura, "DO NOT GO IN THERE!" Poor food, service, etc.
(1)Bianca C.
Customer service at the GT is fantastic. My friend and I like going on culinary adventures and are still developing our palettes in many respects. The wait staff was so great with helping us pick a wine that would pair well with our meals. The food was fantastic and the presentation was beautiful. Great portions and very flavorful, but not too rich! This is a great spot for date night!
(5)Bill Z.
YES YES AND YES!!! We had only three appetizers: - Lobster Guacamole. The presentation was GREAT and the flavor followed suit! Highly recommend this, if it is on menu. The chips that came with it could not have been more fresh. This was so big we took half home. - Pickled shrimp w tomatoes and peppers. Delicious! - Last but not least, the beets with smoked salmon. Another insanely tasty dish, that was big enough for leftovers. 100% guarantee a return here. The service is great as well. See you again soon!
(5)Michael M.
For true Foodies and Wine Enthusiasts this is hands down the best restaurant in OC and perhaps all of SoCal and here are a few reasons why: The menu changes daily, everything is fresh and of the highest quality, as a direct result the passion Chef Alan has for the food, They have themed events like Soul Food Wednesday, Soft Shell Crab Week and a killer breakfast every last Saturday of the month.. I recommend joining there email list to stay current with upcoming events. Also, try the Prix Fixe menu with Chef for lunch or dinner... Put the menus down, choose a number of courses and enjoy the ride with wine pairings. On that subject- The Wine list also is a hidden gem and Letia can pair wine and give recommendations with the best of any sommelier. The list changes frequently and the Private Dinning Room is also a cellar with a surplus of highly allocated items that are not going to be on any other list locally. Best catering in the business also.. Alan and Letia are both amazing people personally and have more combined food and wine knowledge then Wikipedia. Check this place out for sure for sure!!!
(5)Eric G.
Went here for lunch and it was amazing. Had a Caesar salad and risotto with black truffle. This is one of the best Chefs we have in the OC. I'll be back for sure
(5)Michele M.
Wow. We have been coming here pretty regularly for a year or so, but tonight's experience prompts me to write. From the moment we walked in I felt like I was getting the whole movie star experience, from the great table in the private room, to the absolutely incredible service (headlined by Tom, but including everyone) which actually prompted me to ask at one point if they realized that we were not professional restaurant reviewers. Chef Greeley is an adventurous cook who always has a surprise up his sleeve, so every trip is an adventure at the Golden Truffle...even after all these years.
(5)Tom C.
We ate at this restaurants many years ago didn't go back until last night. The food was very good but the ambiance is somewhat dated and could definitely use a refresh, while the service was on the slow side. The highlight of the meal was the split pea soup (I'm a split pea fanatic and I try it anywhere I can find it... this was one of the best ones I've tried). Smoky, thick and with a large piece of skin-on ham hock swimming in the broth... yum! The food makes this one of the better dining locales in OC, but you'll have to overlook the shortcomings to truly enjoy. We'll be back, but probably not too frequently.
(4)Dan H.
One of those restaurants I take for granted I guess as I have not paid a visit in a year or two. It is such a great relaxing spot for fine dining as there isn't any BS pomp and circumstance. Just a cool bistro vibe with always spot on service, and one of the best Chefs to ever grace the OC dining scene. In fact before all of the recent "celebrity chef" madness started there was The Golden Truffle's Alan Greeley, Pacal's Pascal Olhats, and the now defunct Gustaf Anders as the OC pioneers of fine and creative dining. I have dined here often since its opening 20 (?) years ago, mainly for business lunches and a few special occasions. In fact it was here that I took my then wife for our 15th wedding anniversary. It was that fateful night that we had our last...ahem...disagreement that led us down the road to divorce. I should ask Alan to mark that table with a bronze plaque. OK ok, the food. Alan changes the menu daily with whatever he finds the freshest that day. He uses French, Spanish, Caribbean, and Asian influences in his preparation and execution. You will rarely find a chef that can pull all of this off as well as Alan. Love this man, and this is definitely one of my all time favorite restaurants. On my recent visit I chose the "Boston Bibb, Tomato & Real Gorgonzola" salad. That dressing with "Real Gorgonzola" was amazingly flavorful. The man even kicks up a salad to a never before seen level. For my entree I went with the "House Cured & Smoked Berkshire Pork Chop, Potatoes, & Riesling Red Cabbage." WOW again. First off, this chop was a monster. It gave me two more than satisfying meals, yes it was that big. A wonderful smoked flavor, cooked perfectly so it was nice and juicy, and a bit salty from the curring process. The red cabbage paired very well to counteract the chops saltiness. Also pairing nicely was the 1/2 bottle of 2007 Hendry (Napa Valley) Zin. What a meal. I remember this to be a more expensive restaurant in the past. Bad memory or just a sign of the times? That monster chop with the sides was only $25, and the salad $8. The wine list is reasonable as well with some great choices. Many other 1/2 bottles besides my Hendry, which I believe was around $27. So for that next special occasion, or the perfect place to kick off bachelorhood you can't go wrong here. Hell, at these prices stop in any ol' time. Thanks again Alan for a superb meal, and I promise to make my next visit sooner than later.
(5)Sara L.
This restaurant has been around for years, but we did not become fans until the last year. My husband is a foodie and is in mergers and acquisitions. He has been treated to many fine dinners. We love the guacamole with lobster. We just had the Jidori Chicken with quinoa and leek last night; it was delicious. We also shared the Chinese Chicken Salad with carrots, cabbage and ginger soy dressing -- this is one of my favorites. We had the mint sorbet earlier in the week; it was wonderfully refreshing. It is not cheap but worth it. Sometimes we grab a burger at the bar with a good wine or beer; this is a deal and sooo good.
(5)Matt H.
I took my girlfriend to this restaurant on Valentine's Day for an eloquent dining experience. I knew the price was above average but was very surprised with the service. After ten minutes of being seated (restaurant less than half full) we ordered the Chardonnay and Merlot. My merlot was very smooth and had a great taste. However, when served the "Chardonnay", my significant other realized it was in fact Sauvignon Blanc. I won't go into detail of how we have traveled and been wine tasting from Napa Valley all the way to Australia, but being in our mid 20s I'm sure the waiter did not think we had any wine experience whatsoever. Anyone with common wine knowledge can distinguish a clear difference between Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. When we politely suggested we might have been mis served, our waiter took a spoon, dipped it in her already tasted beverage, tried it himself, and corrected her by saying "No, this is our house Chardonnay". Unacceptable. Even if we were completely incorrect in our assumption, he should have apologized, brought over the bottle of Chardonnay, and repoured the glass in front of us. This might sound a little much, but for a $125 meal for two (before tip) I think that would have been a completely reasonable way to handle the situation. The food ended up being very satisfying and of quality but as far as being known for their wine, this establishment was more of a let down and more than anything... OVERPRICED.
(2)Michael K.
Don't judge a book by its cover. The food was AMAZING. The menu is extremely unique and artistic. The service was great as well. I would recommend this to anyone and its worth every penny!
(5)Jiri C.
I have driven by this place many times , but never ate here before. The staff is friendly, and makes you feel comfortable . I have ordered the Jidori chicken, which was tasty. Had a glass a wine with that. Overall had a good experience and would recommend the place.
(4)Elizabeth S.
Wow! Great service, comfortable but classy! Left the place next door because I couldn't get service and walked in to this little gem!
(5)Norman B.
Probably the best restaurant in "The OC!" No, strike that... in ALL of SoCal - - - but please DON'T go here - - - I still want to be able to get my favorite table! The food is about as fresh as it can possibly be, as the Chef/Owner sources from literally around the world (New Zealand Abalone and John Dory, Tahitian Swordfish, Mussels from Prince Edward Island, Black Truffles from France, Prime Nebraskan Beef - - - you get the idea) and super fresh veggies from local Farmer's Markets. The Chef is a Past Master of the culinary arts. Imagine a Monet, Van Gogh, or Picasso in the kitchen banging those pots & pans around - - - that's what you get at the Golden Truffle. He comes up with mind-blowing combos of foods & spices that are rarely found anywhere else. The wine & champagne list will impress you, too. Some great boutique & hard-to-find wines here, but not pricey at all. They don't gouge you like some places do. Service is friendly & attentive; and never stuffy. I've been going here for over 15 years, but I'm just a "newbie," as some regulars have been dining here for over 30 years! (The busboy of over 10 years told me so!) Reservations are always a good idea, especially on the weekends. So, go to the Golden Truffle if you must, but please DON'T take my table in the "Wine Cellar" dining room! : -) Norman B.
(5)Mike D.
Just a really odd experience. We were the only customers when we arrived (I was with my parents for a birthday dinner). The interior is shockingly outdated but not in a hip trendy kind of way, more of a 1980's retirement home kind of way. We were waited on fairly quickly but we were still the only people on there. The menu is also a bit of a flashback but everything sounded really good. Finally more customers - and the '80s retirement home vibe is getting stronger. These people have clearly been coming here for years and they brought their own wine knowing it was free corkage night. Oh look! A young couple! Oh wait, they looked in and took off. Finally my food (yeah, it took a while). Braised short ribs were very tasty. My parents said theirs was also good but everything was just so heavy. That didn't stop me from getting the creme brulee which was pretty average. Overall good food if you're in the mood for a good old fashioned heavy meal. Odd setting, decent service.
(3)Jennifer C.
You know what is worse then a 1 star experience? Writing the restaurant an email letting them know of the experience, in an effort to avoid a terrible review on YELP and getting ABSOLUTELY NO RESPONSE FROM THE RESTAURANT FOR OVER THREE WEEKS. I was trying to avoid reviewing 1 star for this restaurant but they have not taken any effort to return my email with a simple, "we apologize for your terrible service" which is lackluster and unforgivable in this service driven industry. What they would have been apologizing for: - The server taking over 20 minutes to get me and my boyfriend dinner menus or taking any drink order and upon getting to our table he complained about being 'so busy' and rushing us through the ordering process. From the get go - we were OBVIOUSLY a burden. - The server basically shooing us off when we tried to get his attention to order a drink with a "ONE MOMENT PLEASE!" until the bartender (who saw what a terrible reaction the server had) came over to apologize on his behalf to take a drink order for us - The server talking terribly about a party in the side room (cussing about the clientele) for me and my boyfriend to hear...after what hearing what the server had to say about the customers in the side room, I will never book a party here. - While asking about an ingredient in the salad (which was chicken and was clearly not stated on the menu that the salad had chicken in it) our server replied with a "Mmm hmmm" while whisking past our table, not stopping to help answer our question - The bill for two people to SHARE with 1 drink was $75 (even with a terrible tip to the server)...we shared an app, salad, entree and side. For that much for two people, I expect better service - BOTH my boyfriend and I felt ill that evening (me) and the next morning (him). I can only blame it on what we ate because it was the same type of food poisoning. Do yourself a favor and don't WASTE your money here. They don't care about you or your patronage to their ancient restaurant where they only care about their regulars. Head across the street to EAT CHOW or any of the other new, hip restaurants that care about your business and earning you as a repeat customer.
(1)K S.
Used to go there frequently but avoided for many years. When chef Greeley is not there food is prepared poorly. Today decided to try again. Greeley was not there. Food tasted well but not for healthy eater. Swordfish and John Dory dishes were over salted and with too much butter. Lobster guacamole and cod hand roll were very good. Complimentary ahi appetizer was over salted. Helper Manny was superb in taking care of you. Service was good. Wine selection was confusing. Dessert was nothing to write home about. We shared lemon tart. Big and buttery. After all it is French cuisine but chef used to have more California and Caribbean influence and lighter fare. Those who are not watching calories or butter and salt content would enjoy this food but rest of us who prefer lighter texture and flavor are going to be disappointed. After getting home we felt stuffed even though we were sensible in ordering. We will go there again, perhaps, in 2016.
(3)Sean S.
I've never had a bad experience here and the food has always been very good. I've had really good salads, pasta dishes and seafood here. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and the service is friendly. The pricing is also competitive for the menu. I would not hesitate to come back.
(4)Colin K.
With the Zagat food rating what it is (27/30), I really expected better. The lobster/avocado bruschetta was surprisingly bland. The duck confit was cooked properly and had a crispy skin, but left a bit to be desired for the price tag. The broiled lobster was so smothered in avocado (sensing a trend here?) that it took away a lot of the freshness you would normally taste with a lobster that was swimming 20 minutes prior to consumption. This is (probably) the only time I will ever mention "ambiance" in a review. The place is falling apart. The baseboards are exposed and cracked, the bathroom sink is about six square inches and 47 years old, and the entire place really shows its age. They need a makeover, but I doubt they have the funds available-- there were all of four other people dining on a Saturday at 8pm.
(3)Nicole S.
The food was very interesting and different; I had a beet salad with truffles; then pickled shrimp, squid, and tuna; and lastly beef with a version of tamales. Most of it was very tasty and new to me, and others was a combination of flavors which I did not expect, and I am not sure about if I liked it. Anyways, the restaurant is cute, and staff was friendly and attentive.
(4)Katherine L.
Came here for Restaurant Week. Service started out a bit slow, especially when serving the bread. However, the bread was warm sourdough and especially delicious. The fixed menu consisted of heirloom tomato salad which was refreshing and palatable, a chicken entree, and flautas. I wasn't a huge fan of the flautas, but the chicken was edible. The dessert, cinnamon beignet, was just the right size. The only complaint was the sheepshead fish I ordered. It didn't taste totally fresh and left a fishy aftertaste in my mouth that lasted hours. The highlight of dinner here was the French-pressed coffee.
(3)Monique L.
I must say, I am so glad I came in for lunch! The menu changes every day so you can constantly come and try new things. The price is fairly reasonable, some pretty expensive items @ $32 and some more reasonable entrees @ $14. We started with the PEI mussels to share (I know, who orders an appetizer @ lunch?!) and they were really good and enough for two to share or 1 for lunch. The broth was smooth and salty. I had the veal liver with onions and bacon. It was really tender and flavourful and while I really enjoyed it, it was a little heavy for lunch because it came with mash potatoes. My husband had the lamb and pastilla enchilada's that he really enjoyed. Midway through the meal, the chef sent out some amuse bouches for us, his take on a soup and sandwich combo. A crispy boat with anchovey, egg and pickled carrots sitting on top of a glass of virgin bloody mary. (check out my pic). The bloody mary was really good and I was so sad when it was done. I can't wait to become a regular here!
(4)James N.
Good, but not great meal. Went on a Saturday night, but the restaurant was sparsely attended. Shared a smoked fish plate appetizer. It was a wonderful dish, with generous portions of superb smoked sable and smoked salmon. The dish also had potato salad, pickled herring, fresh anchovies and some quick-pickled cucumber. At $16, this generous mound of fishy goodness was a steal. But it would have been more appropriate for a Jewish brunch with bagels than an appetizer. We next had salads: I had the grilled octopus on arugula. The octopus was tasty from being nicely marinated and grilled, but it looked tired and dried out. A splash of EVOO would have livened it up. The tomatoes had separated from their skins, also giving a tired appearance. And there was too much arugula for the dish, making it seem more like a little bit of octopus and old tomatoes on a big heap of arugula--which is what it was. The other salad was beets with some chopped olives, which was nice but not superb. In spite of the poor attendance, the restaurant was out of the duck breast. I settled for the braise of short ribs. The meat was of good quality, but it lacked the tenderness and richness I would have expected for short ribs. The sauce was overly salted--quite briny in fact. The mashed potatoes were good. Dessert, although called pot au chocolat, was more of a big chocolate truffle on creme anglaise with some raspberries. It was tasty and rich, but not pot au chocolat. The wine list was interesting and well priced, The wine was served too warm for a red. Service was OK, although I had to ask to have the candle at my table lit. The decor of the main room of restaurant was dated and haphazard. Ditto for the decor in the restroom. Dining in the wine room wasn't bad, albeit a bit chilly. In summary, this is one of the many good-but-not great restaurants in Costa Mesa. For a better dining experience at a similar price point, try Onotria or the Old Vine Cafe.
(3)Adeline A.
What an amazing surprise the restaurant was. THE MOST AMAZING pickled fish, WOW. The service was great too.
(5)Russel M.
Very Eclectic Food
(4)marc v.
We never went past appetizers. Give this place a shot.
(4)Jesse M.
The Golden Truffle looks like a hot spot from the early 90's with decore resembling some fancy bistro Blanche Devereaux would have met her fellow Golden Girls. And that's where the brain melting insanity begins. The paper doilies, inconsistant front of house staff, and mid-week tumbleweeds only add to the flavor of this nostalgic Newport gem. The Golden Truffle gets back to something most restaurants in Newport Beach forgot about: food. This place is unapologetically run by a guy that gives a damn about it. You should probably let that sink in for a second. Just because a place is fancy, with a nice wine list and a perfectly rested filet does not mean they give a damn about food. Even if the place is expensive, has a big kitchen staff with impeccably fresh ingredients and artistic plating, that still does not mean they give two farts about food. Those places are doing their jobs, and they do it very well, but in the end they are just that- a job. This guy at Golden Truffle is making food that comes from the heart, for people who want to eat out and feel something more then just full.
(5)Heidi B.
I ate here about 2 months ago and was not impressed with the ambiance nor the service. The ambiance was horrible, the bathroom was dirty and the service was absolutely awful. I have heard great things about this restaurant, so I was quite surprised to be so disappointed. There were only 2 other parties in the restaurant on a Friday night! The menu needs to be updated with more health conscious choices. My food was not that exciting and basically just smothered in a heavy cream sauce with mashed potatoes. I had even asked for no cream sauce! Well, too bad... I won't be going back there again.
(2)Jamie B.
This is my favorite restaurant in all of Orange County!!! For true foodies who don't care about "the scene" at most local "fine dining" establishments this is the place to be. An ever changing menu and a incredible variety of lesser known not overly pricey wines never disappoints. This is not the place to go if you want perfectly timed service or have a movie to go to. I go to enjoy my evening- not rush through my courses and have a enjoyable evening with my husband. I have always had good service and like the fact that I never got the sense that the server was rushing to turn my table. The servers seem to have a knowledge/ appreciation for the cuisine as well as the wine pairings. I recommend signing up for the email list and attending some of their wine dinners. We have met some really cool people at the shared tables and discovered some incredible new favorite wines. They also offer a really affordable prefix menu midweek called soul foods, it's a incredible value for those open to trusting the chef with your dinner options. I also had my birthday party here a few years ago in a side room and the manager worked with me to create a amazing menu in my budget with a few options for friends with dietary restrictions. It was a great experience and I would do it again. Casually elegant and a wonderful evening.
(5)Rick C.
The Golden Truffle can be one of the best restaurants in Orange County when the owner Alan is cooking. He is a master chef and entertainer. Unfortunately, he's not at the restaurant very often (anymore). it's really lost its appeal over the last several years. We used to go twice to three times per month. Now, however, we might make it once every three or four months. It's just not the same anymore. Come back, Alan! Your customers are waiting.
(3)Vanessa F.
I was pleasantly surprised and how good the food and service were at this establishment. It is not the trendiest of places, but the food and service were so beyond my expectations that I will definitely be returning again. The Golden Truffle has been one of those restaurants that I've driven by for the past 10 or so years and have thought, I gotta check that place out one of these days. I figure Valentine's Day is a good day, and although they are usually not open on Sundays, they were for this special holiday. We arrived at 7pm and the restaurant was half-empty. This was not a good sign to me, because what fine-dining restaurant is not packed on this day? But the host was friendly and we were sat right away. They were offering a pre-fixe dinner that evening for $85. For appetizers they were offering a choice of smoked salmon, steak carpaccio or chicken wrap. Being that I'm pregnant, I reluctantly had to select the cooked chicken wrap. Chicken is kinda boring to me and I usually don't order it in restaurants because it can sometimes turn out dry. To my surprise, this appetizer was amazing. It was a combination of fried chicken, avocado and lettuce rolled in a soft tortilla. It was very refreshing, the chicken was very moist, and a great starter. I could not shut up about how much I liked it. My husband ordered the smoked salmon. It was a very generous cut of fish, and my husband said it did not taste fishy at all. We were both pleased at the start of our meal. For our second course my husband and I both ordered the shrimp tostada. This was also very good and reminiscent of shrimp tostadas you get at authentic Mexican restaurants. For my entree I ordered the broiled salmon with spinach and champagne buerre blanc. This was quite literally the best salmon I have ever had. I've made a dish similar to this at home, but I tend not to go for the ocean salmon because it's usually too fishy for me. But this salmon was fresh and tender and almost tasted like it was poached in butter - so delicious. My husband ordered the 24-hour braised shortrib. Another large portion that was so tender you only needed a fork to eat it. We were really full by this time so we opted to take the remains of our entrees to go. I was really excited for leftovers the next day! For dessert, I ordered the Meyer lemon shortbread butter tart with homemade Madascan vanilla ice cream and a decaf cappuccino. Although the butter tart was superb, the ice cream was the star of this dish to me. Just plain vanilla, but I wanted more! My husband ordered Juan's raspberry-blackberry cheesecake. It was golden brown on all sides and you could tell they made this in-house and that it did not come from a box. I think I would order this again if I saw it on the menu. All the waitstaff was extremely friendly. The owner gave us each a chocolate truffle to finish our meal. I was truly impressed by the freshness and quality of the ingredients at this restaurant. It seems the menu changes depending on the season, which I think it great, because you'll always be able to try something new here. Such good food warrants a return visit, and I will definitely be back. It was a great Valentine's Day dinner.
(5)Kristin M.
Went for lunch around 1 on a Weds. Kinda quiet and sat on the patio. Server was very nice and gave good suggestions. We ordered 2 apps and a salad to share. Both apps were of good size and our lobster salad was superb! We could not eat all of our food, the portions were very large and we will certainly go back. I'm glad that I didn't keep in mind the other reviews that were slightly negative. Regardless of the ambiance, we were there for the food and each others company and it was perfect for us.
(4)Scott B.
Ate dinner on a Friday night at the bar with friends. Awesome wine selection. The wilted spinach salad with soft boiled egg and bacon dressing was one of the best salads I've ever had. The fish entree and chocolate desert were very good, but not Alan's exceptional standard. Will definitely be going back!
(4)Rae G.
After going to dinner here with my partner, we both gave it a resounding "meh". Nothing stood out as particularly outstanding, and nothing was terribly bad. We were sat very quickly, but then waited 15 minutes to order, which seemed odd since there were only two other tables. We ordered a salad and some small plates and then waited over 30 minutes for the food to arrive, we started joking that they clearly had to go catch the lobster in the bay because it took so long. The food was good, but not great, I had the lobster tacos and found the flavor completely overwhelmed by the tartar sauce, which was a huge bummer. The spinach salad was amazing as was the octopus. Overall, we were just underwhelmed for the size of the bill at the end of the night compared to the uniqueness and the flavor of the food.
(3)Dan J.
This is one of our favorite places to go. I have had many diff dishes here as the menu evolves and is always a pleasant surprise. We love Alan's personality and flair. He always remembers us even if it has been some time since a visit. Thanks Alan you gave us memories and after all that what life is about !!!!!
(5)Beth H.
This place is amazing: 1. Absolute BEST Bloody Mary I've EVER had...EVER!!!! Served with a skewered olive, tomato and a HUGE, fresh shrimp. So good I had TWO!!! 2. Elton's Meat Pie....Warm, satisfying, flaky crust, sauteed celery....heaven 3. Kielbasa/sausage...brimming with flavor, spices and juicy. Yum. 4. Bacon...good but not fantastic. But I still love bacon. 5. Duck fat, wilted spinach, tomato and Gruyere cheese omelet. WTF? What genius thought this up? I'd like to do unspeakable things to him. With duck fat, of course. 6. Scalloped potatoes served with my omelet. OMG..creamy, soft, crispy on the outside goodness. 7. Lemon Butter Tart - amazing. Lemony, tart, not too sweet, buttery, flaky crust. Melt in your mouth good. 8. Little Cinnamon/Churro Type Balls (forgot what they were called) with Vanilla Lavender Ice Cream...I don't even know what to say. And I don't like dessert. Warm and crispy on the outside, soft and doughy on the inside, but not squishy. The ice cream was the perfect compliment. 9. BEST Bloody Mary - EVER!!!!!!!!! I love you Duck Fat. I love you Bloody Mary. Let's set up a Threesome soon.
(5)Linda A.
We had high hopes for this restaurant we sought out based on a recent magazine review, BUT, we had a bad experience for lunch this week. First, the swordfish was on mashed potatoes instead of linguine as the menu said, then, the chicken breast was NOT COOKED through! There is no excuse for that in a fine dining restaurant. The place is a little dated and in a strip center housing tattoo parlors and a sex-toy shop. Skip it.
(1)Kate S.
Golden Truffle catered my boyfriends sisters wedding reception and they did a fantastic job. Since the bride is a chef, they had to be perfect, and they did not dissapoint. think I went back for like....4th's. The appetizers were awesome- I did not have all of them but tried the lobster cevice, prime rib and avocado rolls, olive skewers, and a white fish/citrus appetizer. All were excellent and unique. Dinner was braised and shredded lamb, awesome assorted cheese, lettuce cups, salad with balsamic glaze, grilled fish, assorted bread, and Swedish Meatballs (the groom is Swedish). All were delicious and there was plenty of food. For dessert, they had lemon curd bars (sort of like lemon bars- awesome), chocolate dipped mangoes, watermelon sorbet bon-bons, chocolate dipped strawberries, and cupcakes. The perfect ending were the sliders that were brought out at around 11PM- just about the time everyone was drunkenly grinding on the dance floor. They were grilled with cheddar cheese on top as well as carmelized onions. Absolutely the most awesome drinking food, hands down. Overall I know they are pricey, but they did a great job and people were raving about the food.
(4)Christina S.
I have to concur with a previous reviewer that The Golden Truffle has good service and it is not a trendy spot. BUT.. the food makes up for where they lack in design. Honestly, I do have to admit that I don't like the interior. Next time I shall dine outside in the patio because I really was not digging the "Golden Girls" late 80's floral wicker furnishing. It looks like they have never redecorated this place since they opened which I have no clue as to how long ago that was. But being optimistic I was going to put aside the lack of taste in design and just try it out. I got off late from work, was starved and besides I have been wanting to come here for some time now so alas here I was. The service is outstanding! The hostess was attentive as was my waiter. I started with a glass of wine. Something that the waiter suggested and I ordered the Jidori Chicken. If you are cheap and fret over a $23 entree then put you mind at ease they do have what they call the "Utility Menu" a few selections of entrees that are under $15. The Jidori Chicken was the best I have ever had! I loved it. The veggies that came with it were so good as well.. OK, so I noticed that they had Vanilla Creme Brulle on the menu.. I also ordered a cup of early grey- lavender tea... Sigh.. t Both the tea and the Creme Brulle were so good. i was left to feeling like a glutenous asshole after. I will for sure come back.. The food is that good. The service is great.. I walked out including tip at $58 and some change... I know.. I can be expensive!
(4)Oscar p.
One of my favorite restaurants. It is a small, cozy restaurant right off the 55 freeway. The service was excellent. The food was delicious and fairly priced. Definitely an eator's delight!
(5)Charlie F.
If you ever drive down to Balboa Island off of Newport Blvd, you're bound to pass by a restaurant with a giant gold awning. The Golden Truffle, owned by Chef Alan Greeley is a true "hybrid/fusion" restaurant with influences from the Caribbean, France, Asia, and Spain. Chef Alan is truly an artist at what he does, his creativity shines from each dish. The very best thing you can do is when come to the restaurant, ask if Chef Alan is there. If he is you have him make whatever he wants. It'll be dishes that aren't on the normal menu, just whatever he thinks of impressing you with that day. The problem here is that Chef Alan does not always cook. He's always there for lunch, but more often than not he's at a catering event at night. The waiters/hosts don't seem to know when he's working at night either. Whether they are lying.. or they truly don't know, either one is quite vexing. So for your viewing pleasure I have two trips to the Golden Truffle. One.. where the hostess told us he was working when we made the reservation but in fact he was not.. and Two where he was working. First meal, Dinner... no Chef Alan. The waitress promised us the quality was up to par with Chef Alan, of course the real big difference is everything is off the menu for this meal. $55 prixe fixe for 5 courses, one dish wasn't on the menu. First dish, Chicken liver marinated in chicken broth. clayfood.blogspot.com/20…
(4)Jen B.
Pricey Eats, but truly a delight! If you can afford the menu, go with the prix fix. I've ordered the short ribs several times and they still linger in my memory. Dessert choices are pretty good. Lacks a decent interior, but wait staff and owners are very knowledgeable and friendly. No corkage fee on Wed!
(4)Brian S.
Here's some advice for coming here. Give the chef, Alan, some parameters of what you like or anything you really don't like, then let him cook for you. Strange looking food items may show up, but he's got me to try things I would have never ordered, and hes an amazing chef. I love his comfort food, but really anything goes here, just sit back and let him serve you. As for atmosphere, what you see is what you get. Come here for the food...
(5)Elliott F.
Five of us went there last night. Never again. The food was just OK but the service was so horrible that the meal was ruined. The waiter was incredibly bad. He left the dirty dishes on the table, I asked for water which he never delivered He acted like he was doing us a favor by serving us. He delivered the first two entrees and didn't serve the other after until after we were finished with the first ones. I had to ask three times for the check. For $320 it was overpriced and annoying.
(1)Suzanne H.
Had dinner with 6 people last night -- good food!! Starters of lobster guacamole and deviled eggs great. But service was a disaster - the restaurant was not at all crowded but one guest waited 15 minutes to get a simple drink of vodka and soda; while the waiter knew nothing about the simplest questions on the wine list. He then took dinner orders for 3 of the 6 guests, was confused about the salad order, so went to another table to take their order and deliver their wine. We finally had to ask the owner if he would have the waiter return. All in all, a strange night but tasty food. Can find good other places - would not chance the sketchy service again.
(3)Danielle L.
The Golden Truffle is a good restaurant. Does it currently warrant all the gaga reviews Yelpers have given it? No. It's quaint. I found the style to be more Southern European (think small town Italy) than eclectic. It was great to see their wine selection laid out plainly, and the walls are decorated with news clippings and other artifacts. There's a nice patio outside, too. Parking is difficult on a Saturday night, so come prepared to circle. The wait staff was polite - both young, and old, and generally prompt. But nothing extraordinary. The food was good but not jaw-dropping. I did like the fried potatoes which accompanied my cheeseburger. The duck tacos were definitely the most unique thing we sampled, and pretty good at that! I think I would have given The Golden Truffle more stars if it hadn't so massively overhyped. It's good, it just ain't that good.
(3)Alicia F.
The food here isn't bad, but it's certainly nothing to write home about.
(2)Ali M.
two stars for not charging us for the drinks we had, as they told us they basically didnt have any food left. at 7pm, they ran out of the daily specials, and the place wasnt crowded? we ordered 2 salads, they only had enough to make one. ordered lobster and crab something, they ran outta lobster, so its all crab they didnt have any diet coke? and they reccomended a certain dish, and they ran out of that too. so we just asked for the check, and told ud to try agan another day. first impressions are everything!!!
(2)Diana L.
Went for my birthday and had one of the best duck confit dishes I've ever tasted but all the food was great. The whole experience was incredibly sweet and just exactly what I wanted. Definitely a place to check out for a nice, relaxing, tasty meal.
(5)Rahmat K.
Every time I walk into a restaurant, I'm always weary of whether I'm going to feel comfortable eating there. As soon as my foot stepped through those front doors, I really, really wanted to turn back around and go to del taco or something. But the lady at the front said hello and asked if we wanted a table. I was trapped. However, I'm glad I didn't turn around. We had a great lunch. My gf and I argued about something before we went in which made things even more awkward but because the service and the food were so wonderful, our attitudes quickly changes and we were feeding each other pieces of our meal :)
(4)Stacey E.
A true culinary experience!!! Each morsel was fresh, exotic and plain out yummy. I wish I could give it 10 stars!!!
(5)Chris W.
I've been going to the Golden Truffle for about 3 years now and have NEVER been disappointed. Chef Greely is inventive, fun and respects his customers. The service is always great and we will continue to return to this restaurant as long as we live in Orange County.
(5)Vanessa B.
i have been a regular of this place for many years and my parents followed alan to this place. i have a couple of dishes i recommend. the duck tacos are delicious and always arrive with plenty of duck in them. they include a fresh tomato salsa and corn tortillas. yummy. when they have the american tasting menu, i recommend the hierloom tomatoes with fresh gorgonzola and also the handmade onion rings with fresh pineapple ketchup. another thing i recommend is the sushi hand roll, it's awesome. i am anxiously awaiting "the golden truffle favorites menu" which is happening july 14th to the 18th. they are having jerk chicken, tomatoes with gorgonzola, pot roast, fried smoked chicken and duck tacos. the service is awesome and this place should stay in costa mesa forever. alan is very friendly and a very nice man. i know this because when i was a kid i took a children's cooking class. this place changes with the times and i never get tired of the new items.
(5)Lauren C.
VIP like service... They even gave us a free appetizer. Very nice and attentive staff! Great time! Food was unique.
(5)Kevin J.
if the chef was there every night, it would make for an amazing dining experience... but when the subs are in, the food is just average. my advice... call ahead and find out if the chef/owner is in. if not, dont even bother. you'd be better of saving your money.
(3)S A.
I do appreciate that they get the freshest ingredients and change their menu daily, but then RESPECT those fresh ingredients. Case in point: I had the Prince Edward Island mussels which were recommended by the chef and staff. The broth was so completely oversalted, I could have been eating any kind of ordinary mussels. I think because the butter they have at the restaurant is salted butter, the cook didn't have a handle on the seasoning. Usually, I love to sop up the broth, but I was doing everything I could to save those mussels from drowing in it. If anyone has read other reviews I've written, I've complained about oversalting before. I am sensitive to it, but in both cases, it made the food almost inedible. The bread was great, the mutton meatballs were delicious, but for the price, I think you're better off going elsewhere.
(2)Stu S.
Valentines Day; broken heart. We had reservations for four on Valentines Day, at 5:30 in time for a 7:30 show at OC PAC. We asked the waitress if we would be out by 7, and she assured us we would. It was all downhill from there They would not modify their menu at all, not even salad dressing on the side. They muffed the appetizer course: brought three, fourth never showed up. One salad became a soup, and no one ever came by, or could be flagged down to fix things. And that was dinner. The main course still had not shown up at five minutes to 7. The wait staff was entirely disorganized. A neighboring table got their salads after their main course. We ended up paying for half of four meals, at our insistence, because we had to go. It took forever to negotiate the bill and make payment, and in the end we paid $136 for a packaged dinner roll, a confused appetizer course, and a confused salad/soup course. After the show, we came home and made pancakes. Better and cheaper than the Golden Truffle. I would NEVER go back. They were totally disorganized, and the restaurant was not full. They were completely inflexible, the service was awful, the food was mediocre (what we received) and the attitude stunk.
(1)Erica W.
This is one of the best fine dining restaurants in Costa Mesa. While the decor is a bit odd and doesn't exactly feel like a $$$ restaurant, the food is 5 star. The menu is very eclectic and offers dishes you can't get anywhere else. The last time my husband and I ate here we had an amazing spinach salad with warm bacon dressing and I had a filet of sole and my husband had curried goat. On New Year's Eve last year we ate the best meal of our lives here. Chef Alan offered a Prix Fixe menu for (I believe $65/person) including a glass of champagne. I remember every course vividly. My 1st course was a shrimp cocktail with the largest gulf shrimp I've ever had and homemade spicy cocktail sauce. There were enough shrimp in this dish I could have just ate that for my meal, but this was only the beginning. My 2nd course was a rich and flavorful maui onion soup topped with a puff pastry baked to perfection, 3rd course was duck and yummy creme brulee for desert. Service here is outstanding, the sommelier is awesome and knowledgeable. He remembers every person's first name at the table and well as every order without writing a thing down. He also seems to know the details of how each dish is prepared, what's the most fresh and recommended on the menu. The wine list is impressive, too. Yes, this place is a bit pricey, but totally worth it. You'll leave feeling completely satisfied and stuffed.
(5)Amy C.
The restaurant is oddly decorated. The waitress was fantastic. The wine list was good. The food is eclectic. But nothing had a wow factor that would have me going back.
(3)Coryne S.
We did not have extremely high expectations for the Golden Truffle, we had stopped by on a whim, not knowing the area very well. However, after entering, we assumed that we would have a pleasant and tasty lunch given all the awards and accolades displayed. Disappointing is an understatement, in terms of food as well as service. Our server was initially extremely friendly and attentive, until the restaurant started getting busier and the "regulars" started coming in . . . then it was as though we didn't exist. We were one of the first tables in but the last to order. Although he kept apologizing, somewhat insincerely, there was no action behind his words. I could go on and on about how annoying it is to try and pretend to be enjoying time with friends when you're being ignored by the waitstaff. Granted, the gentleman who brought us bread and refilled our water, did so with a big smile and if it wasn't for him, we would have withered away and died before finally getting our food. The food could have easily changed our minds about this establishment, however, it didn't. A friend ordered the onion soup which was described as having a touch of cream, but it seemed more like cream of onion soup. I ordered the duck meatballs with mushroom tortellini and marinara sauce . . . what I got was duck meatballs in an overly salty vegetable soup, completely covered by two deep fried pasta circles. Where were the mushroom tortellinis?! Another friend ordered the butterfish which was served 10 minutes after the rest of us were halfway done with our meal. Although it was a sizeable portion and perfectly done, it was described by our server as being accompanied by a tomato confit which turned out to be fresh grape tomatoes. The desserts, which were posted on a whiteboard, had initially captured my attention, but after being treated as second class citizens and being let down by the food, we just wanted to get out. Easier said than done . . . we asked for our check then waited and waited. Finally we chased down our server while he was at the register, we handed him our bill and payment, then had to wait yet again before he finally completed our transaction. Maybe you have to be a regular to really appreciate all that the Golden Truffle has to offer.
(1)