Pinot Provence

I last ate here maybe seven years ago: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Was nice to see some celebrities. Food was awesome. People working there were awesome. Wine list was really long. Very charming décor– some of which was shipped from France. The OC Register in «Patina’s Pinot Provence closing after 18 years» (June 11, 2015) has some information about why the restaurant closed. Basically not enough customers. It is interesting to think about the fine dining market that PP once competed in. The marketing and merchandising involved in order to sell sustenance for such high prices. The fine diners. The bourgeois among them. Their special occasions. The love people have for food. The restaurant workers.

This was a one star brunch… But the place is super charming and the server was so nice. BUT the kitchen was a comedy of errors.
First issue: when I notified the busboy that the coffee was cold he responded that it was ‘brewed today.’ Classic!
2: The exotic fruit salad came out dry… Was ‘supposed’ to come with a vinaigrette.
3: I ordered the sunny side eggs but they served the Croque Madame. I ate it anyway and it was fine. Bacon was limp though.
4: They were out of the French Toast! French restaurant out of their signature item, hmmm.
5. The granola was chewy, not crunchy. The chef confirmed this was ‘as intended’ but I find that hard to understand.
The Manager Mark was real professional and responsive to our concerns… So we look forward to coming back and trying again!

I came for a business lunch on Friday. Only a few of the tables were taken. This was a good indicator of the quality of what was to come.
I had the Spa menu, and my colleague ate a la carte. Everything was ordinary; nothing was good.
Across the street is Marche Moderne. There, for the same price, you get a truly exceptional meal! I wish I had gone there…

This place is ok. Kind of expensive. I got a bottle of sparkling water and it was just under $ 10. Okay bread basket, I had the mixed salad and truffle Mac and cheese side dish for dinner. I liked both, the portions were more than enough for one person. The salad wasn’t anything special, and I liked the Mac and cheese because it was made out of macaroni noodles. Mostly I don’t think the food quality is worth the price.

I want to start off by saying I was really excited to try this place since they offered foie gras AND escargot. I ordered foie gras, escargot, and French onion soup.
The foie gras was surprisingly a really nice portion. 2 thick cuts. But it was covered in berry and mustard seed jam… And the menu says it also has black beans on it– however we couldn’t see it. The waitress (who was very nice) tried to explain it to us, but we weren’t buying it… Not that it was a big deal! But I’m just sayin… It wasn’t there. Also… The foie gras was clean… Too clean. I couldn’t taste much of anything except the jam! It was served with a few fancy slices of toast. FYI– it’ll cost you $ 2 extra dollars for 4 more pieces. We also asked where it came from, she said she would ask the chef and get back to us. She got back to us. The foie gras came from New York. Period. Now, we weren’t trying to be pretentious… We just thought it would be worth asking since we found out the best comes out of Hudson Valley… Ok enough about the foie.
Escargot was served in a round bowl… Not the typical plates they usually come in. It was barely warm… And don’t get me started on that. Anyway– it was just ok.
French onion soup however– was piping hot. I’ve had better.
Bottom line… I won’t be coming here again. I left feeling really disappointed… We went over to AnQi for a nightcap and I wished we had eaten there instead.
2.5 stars from me.

You really can not go wrong with the Patina Family of Restaurants. This particular one is located inside the gorgeous Westin hotel. I had the privileged of coming here twice & having some amazing eats. The amazing La Belle Farms Foie Gras Melted in my mouth like I was back in the streets of Paris’ Gastromic eateries. The black rice chai broth complemented the buttery-​ness of that liver so well & the refreshing sweetness of the Bartlett Pear Sorbet was heavenly. The spiced Spanish Marcona Almonds gave it that amazing texture of crunch it needed. The Maple roasted Kurobuta Pork Short Rib is not for the faint of heart. The perfectly cooked fall of the bone, melt in your mouth sinfulness came with an apple carrot crémeux ravioli, crisp & refreshing shaved apple & celery, & finished with Perigord truffle butter. If your an avid Pork lover & see this offering do yourself the favor & order it.
Their Wild Mushroom Risotto offering was perfectly cooked that the creaminess wasn;t so heavy or needed an addition to a heavy cream sauce. Seemed liked the starch form the rice did the trick. I really enjoyed the Parmesan Frico pieces inside the risotto which added a nice layer of texture to the earthy flavors. For a refreshing drink I had their Plum Passion Black Iced tea. It was oh so good I wish I had the recipe to make that at home. Service was impeccable both times I have come. This place is a definite celebratory restaurant or just to treat yourself to an amazing gourmet meal.

Came here for OC restaurant week in March 2015. First course, I got the burrata & heirloom tomato salad. The saltiness of the anchovies & prosciutto balanced well with the creamy Burrata & fresh chunky slices of tomatoes. Second course, I got the albacore salad. Salad was tasty but I wish there was a little more albacore. I finished my meal with Panna cotta & berries. It was luscious and perfectly made. I enjoyed my lunch and felt that $ 20 was well worth spent. The only hiccup was that service was slow and our waiter was not as attentive. It was hard to wave down anyone.

I reserved Pinot Provence via the Unilocal/​Open Table app a couple weeks before I knew my parents would be in town and in conjuction with tickets to Guys and Dolls at the Segerstrom Center next door.
Marsha and Bob deserve fancy dinners and theater tickets on me. Why, you ask? Because Susanne D. circa 16 years old gave them each quite a few gray hairs. I’ll leave it at that *wink*
We very smoothly handed the car over to Westin valet ($ 6 with validation) and went into Pinot Provence through the lovely hotel lobby to meet a 6pm reservation. Upon being seated, the waiter seemed a little annoyed that we had brought a bottle of wine; Quote «We have that on our menu»
Oh, you do? I got mine for $ 26, how much is yours?
You get the picture. Either way, YAY for free corkage.
I very clearly told our waiter right off the bat that we had to make the theater at 7:30. That did nothing to expedite our experience, which was incredibly frustrating. Especially because the restaurant wasn’t busy at all.
I didn’t think I’d leave Pinot Provence and hand them a 3 star review… because the food was stunning. The service was just that disappointing.
My boyfriend wasn’t offered a soft drink refill. We requested additional toast points for our foie gras… that took at least ten minutes to reach the table. The service was so poorly timed that although Brandon had ordered the 3-​course prefix he had to tell the waiter to skip bringing the dessert course. The waiter offered a weak solution, «Do you want it to go?» No. We wanted our meal in a timely manner.
With regard to the food, BRAVO Chef. I will change my rating to 5-​stars if you personally show me how to make that stunning French onion soup. It may be the best I’ve ever tasted. 5 out of 5. Delicious. Absolutely perfect.
Foie Gras was a bit of a surprise, coming out cold… I guess I should have read between the lines as it was billed as a «terrine». Either way, beautifully done. Just needs to be served with a better foie to brioche ratio.
My father had the salmon. Perfectly crisped on the outside and tender on the inside. My mother’s duck was cooked medium rare and tasted amazing. Boyfriend had the lamb, which was also cooked to exacting standard with a nice, tangy tzaziki sauce. My halibut was also cooked well and was delicious.
I also had to slap my own fork away from the truffle mac and cheese before I got uncomfortably full. #innerfatkid
Based on the food alone, PP would have received 4 stars from me. The service was so incredibly lacking I couldn’t muster more than a three.
You’re walking distance from the theater! Get it together, service staff!

2015 OC Restaurant Week Menu Review
If you’re looking for a romantic dinner for two, Pinot Provence is one of the OC’s best destinations for love birds to enjoy an elegant evening. The atmosphere is intimate and the food is divine. My boyfriend and I have a great dinner date here during OC restaurant week and thoroughly enjoyed our experience.
~ Appetizer ~
Burrata and Heirloom Tomato Salad: Arugula salad, white balsamic vinaigrette
–The sweet heirloom tomato combined with the creamy cheese and potent burrata made for a perfect bite, over and over again. Definitely, a great dish.
Hamachi Crudo: Avocado mousse, ponzu, pistachio vinaigrette
–This was a very elegant dish, but I was quite confused as it seemed very Japanese inspired. It didn’t seem to fit the French theme, but it was still tasty.
~ Entrée ~
Mussels Frites: Pei mussels, crème fraîche, fennel, garlic, white wine, Belgian fries
The amount of mussels included was sparse and I needed to eat all the Belgian fries to fill me up.
Flat Iron Steak Frites: Belgium fries, Cognac peppercorn sauce
–Between the two entrée courses, this was the better selection. The steak was prepared well and the side accompaniments made it a very balanced meal. Great dish!
~ Dessert ~
Panna Cotta: Fresh berries, vanilla cream Chantilly
–Creamy and smooth. A perfect way to end the evening.
Chocolate Fondant: Chocolate molten cake, caramel sauce
–If you love coffee, this expresso flavored cake would be choco-​holics dream come true.
Summary
Overall, a great restaurant serving beautifully plated food that also tasted as good as it looked. I would certainly love to return for a future occasion.

New spring cocktails are so delicious!
1. Peaceful diplomacy
2. Blush
3. Sazerac
Thanks Robert, as always.

Boosting this restaurant from 1 star to 4. I can honestly say that I’m glad to give this place a chance, and want to thank Mark (general manager) for the invite. The food we ordered was really good. All of it. I love cultural food, I love different as to all types and my experience here won me over many other French restaurants I’ve been to. Truly did.
The items we ordered:
Complimentary bread (Fresh and warm.)
Escargot (So good! Best I’ve ever had.)
Mix salad (Typical but good.)
Alaskan Halibut (Beyond delicious.)
Duck breast (Good!)
Truffle Mac n Cheese (Couldn’t be better!)
Truffle fries (Good.)
Service was good except for when we first sat down, our waiter asked if we wanted water (said yes) but never came back. We waited approximately 20 mins with no attention from anyone, then I had to ask a gentleman who was walking around with a pitcher for water. A bit confusing.
Another gentleman wearing a suit upfront was very welcoming and attentive. I didn’t get his name but I believe he has a beard!

One of my favorite places to grab a drink with the girlfriends. I usually hang at the bar. Robert, one of the bartenders, is awesome. He comes up with some very creative cocktails. The last I was there, Robert made my friend and I some Yuzu cocktail and refreshing pomegranate drinks. They were delicious.
Beside the good drinks and awesome service, the place is actually very cute. I have not had dinner here so I can’t say much about the food. However, if you are looking for a place to catch up with friends and get a good drink, check out Pinot :)
Had Seventeen Seventy Six made by Robert from their spring menu– delicious :). Raspberry. Ginger. Bourbon.

Love this place! I’ve been coming here for years but I tried their OC restaurant menu. For $ 20, the menu is well worth it. Their hanger steak is always cooked to your liking and is full of flavor. The only drawback to this place is that it’s so small and parking is limited. Make reservations early because they will turn you away.
They also have private dining room for small parties. We had my cousin’s bridal shower there and it was handled very well and everything turned out beautifully.

Came here for OC Restaurant Week. This is a great, romantic spot, located inside the Westin hotel. Valet parking outside as well, or park across the street at South Coast Plaza if you don’t mind walking.
Anyway, it was my birthday and I decided to come here for dinner. Service was great. The servers were really attentive, and a lot of times they would open a new bottle of wine every time we order another glass. Since it was my birthday, they gave us a lot of wine deals. Wines that normally cost over $ 30 per glass were discounted to $ 15. Really really good!
Appetizer: Salade d’Endive. Sweet and sour at the same time. Love it. My friend got the Hamachi Crudo. That one looks a lot better in my opinion. But the Salade d’Endive was good either way.
Entrée: Hanger Steak. Got this medium rare. Yum. Came with mash potatoes. The outside is seared, with the inside pretty tender.
Dessert: Chocolate Fondat. This is surprisingly good. Not too much chocolate. A bit on the sweeter side, but it’s ok to eat for someone who isn’t a sweet tooth.
Overall, servers were really chill. They were super attentive and professional. Even after we finished our meal, we just chilled there a bit to chat with friends. The servers did not rush us out. Definitely worth checking out!

If you’re looking to wine and dine, especially for OC Restaurant Week, be sure to check out this cozy and rustic little spot next to the busy South Coast area! Their $ 40 prix-​fixe menu offered a good variety of choices with at least one in each course that I really wanted to try. The lineup tonight: Hamachi Crudo, Hanger Steak, and Panna Cotta.
Hamachi Crudo was pretty fresh and worked nicely with the ponzu sauce and vinaigrette, though they could have given a liiittle more of the avocado mousse. Still tasty though! The Hanger Steak was cooked to a perfect medium-​rare (as all steaks should be cooked, just sayin’), seasoned and paired perfectly with the sauce and yummy sides. (That creamed spinach tho…) However, the Panna Cotta was just alright for me, though I did like that it wasn’t too sweet or heavy — just not very impressionable. Overall, pretty delicious meal that has me in a total food coma right now.
But!!! Caution: if you’re ordering the salmon entrée, the bacon in your spinach garnish can be quite salty. I had a taste and it’s like eating a spoonful of greasy salt. Minus one star since I felt like not all dishes are made equal here and wished my friend had a better experience.
The service was very complete, attentive, and conversational. Not to mention hooking our table up with some wine deals (thx Jonathan!) and plus… Thursday’s have 50% off wine bottles!

Have reservations here and they’re making us wait at least 20 mins even though I see open tables. People who barely came got seated quicker, not happy at all. We were directed to the bar to wait and I wasn’t even offered any service whatsoever. Rude and that doesn’t go well with me because I was hungry.
After making my bf go and talk to the host, we were finally seated but my seat was full of bread crumbs and I was wearing a dress, nice. Since it was the day before Valentine’s it was a little crowded but not too bad and we had to order from the prix fixe menu which was $ 75 for a 3-​course meal.
First course was a poached quail egg on top of potatoe tartine. The potatoe and onions were pretty sweet. Poached egg came out perfectly. The serving however was tiny as hell.
Second course was a NY strip steak and short rib and it was the best. The creamed spinach on the side was delicious and lightly creamy which was ok with me. The NY strip was seasoned well but I only got 3 decent size of steak and 1 cube of short rib which was very tender and very well seasoned. I really wished that the dished were a little bigger for the amount we were paying at least on the entrée.
Third course was a chocolate cake that was very light and airy. Again, tiny.
Service wasn’t top notch, they kept switching my bf and my dishes around. The waiter wasn’t as attentive as he should have plus they didn’t bill us right, I get that it’s a busy night but c’mon. For the price we paid I expected much better. I did like the ambiance of the restaurant though. Other than that, this place isn’t for me.

VERY, VERY POOR WAITER SERVICE. DELICIOUS SHORT RIB AND DESSERT.
I was so excited when my boyfriend surprised me with reservations here for Valentine’s Day. The prix fixe menu looked good, and I had my choices set even before we got to the restaurant. We were seated promptly at 8pm. The dimly lit restaurant looked pretty busy, and we (incorrectly) thought it was a good sign. Besides, the placed closes at 9pm, so it was clearing out anyway.
After sitting around for 15 minutes without receiving any attention, my boyfriend had to waive down a passing server for menus. The bread and the water came shortly after by the busboy/​runners, but our actual server didn’t come by for another 15 minutes. We ordered everything on the spot, including desserts. For a three course meal, it’s $ 75 per person before drinks, tax, and gratuity. I ordered the oysters, steak/​short rib meal, and strawberries and cream.
20 minutes later, my first course is served by our waitress. She simply places it down and tells us to enjoy. The plate is pretty — 3 oysters on a bed of white mush that deceptively look like mashed potatoes. Again, it was hard to see because it was so dark inside. The menu description didn’t mention any white mush in the oyster dish, so i took a bite of it just to see. EEEEKS! It’s a bomb of pure salt mash. My tongue shriveled, and even worse, my palette was entirely ruined for the night. I was horrified. When the server came back to take our plates away, I asked her what that mash stuff was. She said it was a mixture of egg white and salt, and NOT to eat it… that a lot of other guests have asked what that was, and they «sometimes put a TINY bit on the oyster for flavor.» Ummm, she couldn’t tell me this when she served the dish? For 5 star restaurant, something like that should be explained to guests, especially when it has been commonly asked about before.
Another 20 minutes pass, and the second course comes out. My palette was still very sensitive from the first course, but I could tell the short rib was very tasty. It truly does melt in your mouth. My boyfriend said his salmon was just ok — kinda dry.
By this time, we thought our whole night was ruined, and weren’t sure whether it was worth it to wait another 20 minutes for dessert. We were pleasantly surprised when it only took 5 minutes to arrive, and it was definitely the highlight of the night. The strawberries and cream, although very modest on the amount of strawberries (there were perhaps maybe 3 – 4 slivers of sliced strawberry), was packed with flavor. I loved the vanilla cake because it was generously layered in a coconut cream frosting. My boyfriend’s chocolate cake was also luscious and satisfying.
I understand for special events like Valentine’s Day, restaurants can get busier; however this doesn’t mean service should go down. At $ 75 minimum per person at an award winning fine dining restaurant in Orange County, one expects excellent food, ambience, and service. Unfortunately, only one of those criteria was met; with a prix fixe menu and strict reservations/​headcount, how and why should it take so long for food to come out? I would also suggest the servers become better trained on food explanations/​knowledge. I would never recommend this place to friends or family, unless you are just there for a quick dessert and drink.
Pro Tip: If you decide to valet in front of the hotel, it can be pricey at $ 18. However, you can validate the ticket at Pinot and only pay $ 6 (which we were not informed about by any of the waitstaff, of course). Thankfully, the nice valet boy asked if we dined there and ran inside to validate it for us.

I dined here a couple months ago and had a lovely time.
I started off with the Endive Salad that came with granny smith apples, blue cheese, candied walnuts and a light balsamic dressing. It was so light and delicious! I loved the tartness from the apples. For main I had the braised short rib. This was also good but not the best I’ve had. The chocolate molten cake for dessert was a perfect ending. Rich and chocolatey. It’s perfect to share this.
I also tried the Jackson cocktail made with a JD whiskey and iced tea. I didn’t like it so I switched to a Malbec. It was a good move. The malbec was delicious and had a nice dark chocolate aroma.
The ambiance and décor is lovely. Perfect for a date night or catch up with some friends. There’s both indoor and outdoor seating. They do bottomless mimosa & bloody marys on the weekends!
Parking: Valet at the hotel and be sure to get validation!

I can’t believe I’ve never written a review of Pinot Provence. The first time I came here was at least 4 – 5 years ago but since then I’ve been here many times (which is why I’m surprised I never wrote a review). I celebrated my birthday in 2011 here and again this year. The chefs have changed and it’s gotten better and better in the last few years.
The interior is somewhat dated, but if you can overlook that, the menu is stellar. Chef Alfonso Ramirez uses seasonal products and produce presenting really delicious fare that is not only creative, but often, outside of the box.
One of my favorites is the moules frites. If you want to stay within boundaries, there are salads to start but I like to go for the frog legs.
If chef is not too busy, why not leave your menu in chef Alfonso’s hands? Don’t even look at the menu! Just trust him to make your experience an incredible one.
On Thursdays, bottles are 50% off!

Located inside the Westin hotel, valet parking is available in front for $ 3, but if you don’t want to pay the small fee, you can self park behind the hotel or across the street at South Coast Plaza. Since I had made a reservation at 7:30pm and was feeling lazy to walk, I used the valet service.
The interior is pretty dim and quiet, but I was dining with my brother for the evening so it was nice to talk peacefully without having to yell over the noise. We started off with drinks, or at least I did. They had this bourbon drink called Juliette and it was amazing! Very strong bourbon taste at the forefront, but sweetens out with a apricot aftertaste as it linger on the tongue. It was a really nice combo.
I had gone during Costa Mesa restaurant week and the pre-​fixe menu was a 3-​course meal. So for our starters, we started with a salad. My brother got the Burrata & Heirloom Tomato Salad. I thought the tomatoes looked like grilled peaches, but it was a balsamic glaze drizzled over yellow tomatoes. My eyes were deceiving me! The tomatoes were firm, refreshing and light and served atop a bed of arugula.
I went with Salad d’Endive because I wanted to try something new. Belgian endives, a few wisps of watercress, grapes, apples, smokey bleu cheese, candied walnuts and a light white balsamic vinaigrette pulled the dish together. Very light and flavorful, I loved the textural and palate contrast of crunchy /​creamy /​sweet /​sour /​bitter. Lots of things going on, but it was nice!
Brother decided to go with Salmon and it was cooked medium rare. Moist and delicate, the salmon took on a very buttery texture and the dish was paired with a confit of potato, spinach, Fresno chile, bacon lardons and harissa gremolata.
I chose the Flat Iron Steak Frites, cooked medium rare. The Cognac peppercorn sauce was perfect with so much depth and flavor, I wished there was more au jus to go around. The frites were crisp and thick cut.
For desserts, there were two options so we got both. Chocolate Fondant — chocolate molten cakes served with Chantilly cream and a caramel sauce. The chocolate was very rich.
The Panna Cotta dessert with fresh berries, a small scoop of vanilla cream Chantilly and a light drizzle of I want to say passion fruit syrup was very light and silky, a refreshing finish! What really WOW’d me was this brown sugar pop rocks concoction. It was surprising, but a nice ‘pop’ of flavor.
The food left an impression like it did a few years back. Everything was pretty on point and I have no complaints other than the ambiance. I thought it was way too dim for a Tuesday evening, but it’s a great spot to take a date or enjoy a nice conversation with friends without interruption. I’ll have to come back to enjoy their happy hour offerings! Frog Leg Fridays?! Oh yes. that sounds so yums! Until next time friends, stay hungry!

I kind of feel bad for Pinot Provence. Back in the day, this was THE restaurant in Orange County. The dining room bustled with well-​heeled diners, and the kitchen buzzed with creativity and virtuosity.
Nowadays, Pinot Provence is just a shadow of its former self. A revolving door of chefs have come and gone, and finely-​tuned staff have surely departed as well. But two things have pretty much remained constant at Pinot Provence: the French country décor and the free corkage.
The latter is the reason I continue to dine here. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the free corkage, I would choose to eat elsewhere. But don’t get me wrong; I’m not schlepping in some cheap supermarket swill. I’m bringing in some really nice wine (if I do say so myself). But I do expect the food to at least match the quality of the wine.
Today, I came here for lunch and was happy to see a $ 25 three-​course prix-​fixe menu. However, it was billed as a «spa menu,» which I assume means lower in fat and calories. No biggie, so long as the flavor is there. The Arugula Salad that I started with was not bad, but I was kind of wondering how the inclusion of blue cheese — not that I was complaining — fit into the spa philosophy. My Pan Roasted Chicken Breast entrée was actually quite yummy, but it was on the dry side. The Exotic Fruit Sorbet, on the other hand, was perfect in its simplicity and very refreshing.
In the end, I left feeling satisfied, but not terribly impressed.
To be frank, Pinot Provence is in sore need of an update. Personally, I’d like to see them become more like a bistro than a fine dining establishment, more dressed down and hip like République, or chic like Bouchon. Rip up that old carpet and get rid of those dated pillows. Bring in some light. Lay down some mosaic tile and make better use of the patio. Go farm-​to-​table and start making charcuterie in house. But whatever you do, keep the free corkage.