Came here with the GF on a Saturday night for a belated Valentine's Dinner. We were really looking forward to this as we have been to several Michael Mina restaurants in other cities and have not been disappointed.
This place is great. The design is akin to what you would expect in LA, SF or NYC. Great wine cellars greet you at the entrance, high ceilings, slick lighting fixtures...it's nice.
Tables are a little close together if there are only two in your party, so either try to reserve a booth or do one of my favorite tricks, which is to make a reservation for three and tell them there are only two of you when you show up (this way you get a table for four). We didn't do this, so were squished between other diners...
Service was fantastic. We love long dinners, frequently order only one course at a time so they don't rush us, but had no worries here. The staff was on top of things, but never tried to push us along to turn the tables. For example, my lady went to the restroom between the appetizer and the main course, and staff waiting to bring our dishes to the table until after she sat down. Very impressed. They clearly were watching and zoomed in literally the moment after she sat down. Nice touch not many places would do.
The food was equally great. We started with oysters and some champagne. Wonderful. Amuse bouche was a sip of cream of mushroom soup. Moved on to the Wagu beef carpaccio, which was wrapped around a truffled egg and brioche. Spot on delicious. Main courses included the filet with sweetbreads and the duck with fig compote. Both were very nice, but the earlier dishes stole the show.
This could have been a 5-star evening. My only complaint was the lack of dress code. This place is pricey. Dinner for two came close to $400 after tax and tip. The decor, food and service were all at levels that supported this price tag. However, mid-way through our dinner they seated a couple right next to us and the dude was wearing shorts. Seriously...830pm on a Saturday night and wearing shorts. Call me crazy, uptight, too particular, whatever. For a special occasion $400 dinner, I don't want the guy next to me wearing shorts. It's disrespectful to the experience. Now the restaurant may say "we're in a hotel and need to take care of people on vacation." BS...those people on vacation can simply walk upstairs to their room and put on a pair of pants. I really waffled on giving them a 3-star rating because of this, but the food and service were so good, I went ahead and gave them 4. However, while we will definitely be back one more time, if we see people in shorts on a Saturday night, the place will be off our list forever.
TO THE RESTAURANT MANAGEMENT: I am all for a good casual dinner...but don't charge what you do if you just want to be casual place...
So as not to end a review of an otherwise wonderful evening on a bad note, this place really is nice. Try them out...just please wear pants!
My husband and I come here for almost every special occasion and we always ask to be seated with Chris as our server! The service is always top notch and Chris makes dining here so fun. One of the best things about Stonehill Tavern (and other Michael Mina restaurants we've been to) is the "compliments of the chef". They bring by little appetizers that allow you to try new and interesting things.
I definitely recommend this restaurant to all my friends looking for a great dinner out. If you're looking for great food, great service and beautiful atmosphere, visit Stonehill and ask for Chris!
Hubby and I were so excited to come here because our first fine dining experience together when we first started dating was at the eponymous Michael Mina restaurant in San Francisco. Â We were staying at the St. Regis resort right before Christmas and it was going to be great to be able to have dinner without having to leave the premises.
Both of us were sooo incredibly disappointed by this experience. Â We've dined at many expensive, high end restaurants since that first Michael Mina dinner, but this is the most outrageously bad experience ever. Â
The service was so lackadaisical, it was basically non-existent. Â I don't really know why, and I wonder if it's because the restaurant is in the OC and people just don't ask for as much service. Â Anyways, we brought two special bottles of wine with us, one red and a sparkling to be had with our dinner. Â We knew about the corkage fee but the sommelier made a point of pointing this out (I thought in a rude condescending way). Â He should know if we have the kind of taste in wine as evidenced by what we brought in, then we were not rookies and he did not have to mention this. Â Anyways, we were willing to pay the $35/bottle corkage fee to be able to enjoy these bottles with our meal.
Dinner started out great with some champagne, amuse, and beautiful appetizers. Â My husband was very impressed by the special of the night which was a smoked prime rib, that was brought to your table to show in a big Le Creuset oven and whisked away to be plated. Â
Once our entrees came out, we were waiting, and waiting, and waiting for the Sommelier to open our wine. Â He had completely disappeared. Â We were also searching for our waitress hoping she could help, but she didn't even notice or come to check on our food. Â We hadn't taken a bite because we wanted to start with our wine pairing. Â FINALLY, after at least 10 minutes, we flagged down the waitress and she realized our wine hadn't been opened and she opened it for us... we were finally ready to eat. Â This isn't a big restaurant so I don't know what the deal was. Â The waiter for the tables next to ours was very friendly, attentive and really seemed to be going the extra mile for his tables. Â Our waitress and sommelier obviously were not. Â
So we're eating our entree...after a few bites hubby realized how overcooked his steak was. Â He asked for medium rare but it was somewhere between medium and well done after he cut into it in a few places. Â It was such an expensive steak at an expensive place, it was pretty ridiculous that they couldn't get it cooked to the correct temperature. He asked for it to be taken back, but decided not to get a replacement since I was almost done with my entree. Â I felt so bad! Â Thankfully our waitress handled this situation gracefully with the help of her manager.
Finally, as we are on to our dessert course, I realize that we might still have some of our sparkling left, and that it might be in the ice bucket next to the Sommelier stand.  It just didn't seem like we had consumed a whole bottle yet.  So  I ask hubby to check it out.  And lo and behold, it's half full still!  Still no sommelier to be seen.  And we had finished our dessert by that point, so we didn't have the bubbly to accompany it.  We were both so furious at that point!  It is unbelievable that a restaurant purportedly of this caliber, that charges $35/bottle corkage has a sommelier who not only does not pour your wine, but potentially causes you to lose half a bottle of wine that costs almost $70.  This was a very unsavory end to our evening.  My husband had to ask the corkage fees to be removed, it just didn't make sense to pay for service that was not provided.  All we wanted was to have a nice meal with good service and were willing to pay for it.  How hard is that??  Apparently that equation just doesn't work at Stonehill Tavern. Â
We are NEVER coming back and I highly question the standards of all other Michael Mina restaurants (which makes me very sad, when I compare it to our first experience it doesn't even hold a candle to it). Â I guess that is what happens when your empire grows and grows, you can't keep an eye on things like this.
Excellent service (thanks Angela), great food press presentation and the chef gave us wonderful freebies. For a five star hotel, I expected the restaurant to be snobby, the staff a tad condescending and small good portions. Not sure why I had this bias (maybe I was just hungry that day), but the Stone Tavern exceeded all my expectations. The meals were delicious (lobster salad and Filet Mignon get high marks), the presentation eye popping and the service wonderful. My wife felt extremely special and that is all I could ask for. A wonderful evening and worth the investment.
Review Source:i took the bf here a few weeks ago for his bday. i made reservations with opentable and requested a booth (as recommended by a reviewer) and noted that we were celebrating his bday. Stonehill Tavern is located inside the St Regis Hotel in Dana Point, hidden within a residential community. there is valet parking in front, which you can get validated at the restaurant. we were seated in a booth in the bar area. there were only two booths, a lounge area with couches and low tables. if you go a little further, there was the actual dining room, with what looked like close seating, louder atmosphere and brighter lighting. the bar area was pretty dark and chilly. next to our booth, you can look into a private room, with a long table to have larger parties. when we sat down, there was a card on the table that said happy birthday with signatures of some of the staff. (thanks opentable!) our waitress was very nice and polite, but i felt overall took way too long. we were there for 3 hours! the food was very good though, so if you're celebrating something, dont make any plans to be anywhere anytime soon after wards. by reading other reviews, i thought i could get a tasting menu, but apparently they dont have one. the waitress suggested to order one item from each course and that they could split it in two, and it would almost be like a tasting. so we decided to do that.
they have a large selection of wines but i ordered the Stonehill Tavern Moscow Mule, which was ketel one vodka, fresh lime juice, bundaberg ginger beer, muddled cucumber served in a copper mug! it was pretty tasty. nice and refreshing and didnt taste like alcohol (danger!). our waitress said that it is served in a copper mug just like how they used to back in they day. they then brought us some bread on a board with two different kinds of spread. the bread had melted butter on it already. one of the spreads was goat cheese infused with honey and the other with rosemary. they were both really good and mild. they also brought us tiny cups with a parsnip soup complementary from the chef. it was very airy and creamy.
we ordered the Tavern Canapes which was like a sampler appetizer. we ordered two (the portion is small, just like in a tasting). it came on a stone plate with burrata and olive tapenade on a crostini (creamy and salty), woodlands mountain ham (salty and savory), hand cut steak tartar (came in a cigar type crust), dungeous crab and avocado (a sphere of avocado with crab in the middle. so good!), and then a seared tuna with pear. it was all tasty, but i loved the avocado and crab the best. i would recommend eating it in the order from left to right. it seemed to be best for the palate with the heavier and oilier foods and to end with something lighter and refreshing.
we then got the beef carpaccio on the appetizer section. it came on an interesting plate. it had three sections of bleu cheese, almond gremolata, and petite greens with myer lemon. then a larger section with the thinly sliced beef carpaccio. it also came with a basket of bread. i forgot what our waitress said but it was suppose to be like a deconstructed sandwich. so to put each item on the bread and eat it together. the beef was so thinly sliced and so buttery, it literally just melted. all of the items together, was a really nice combination of creamy, salty, savory, refreshing, all in each bite.
we then ordered the Anson Mills Whipped Polenta from the "middles" section on the menu. they brought the polenta split already and then topped it with porcini ragout, sylvetta arugula and parmigiana regianno. wow the polenta was whipped so light, it was like eating a cloud. how did they do that? the mushrooms were nicely seasoned. it was a pretty small portion though as it was split, so i took my time with it.
then came the main dish. we ordered the Maine Lobster Pot Pie. they brought it out on a cart, pushed to table side. the pot pie was in a copper pot with a long handle, that they probably put straight into the oven to bake. it was covered with a thin crust which the guy cut carefully in half and split into two bowls. he then described what he was doing, as he split the lobster meat into the two bowls which included 1 3/4 lbs of lobster! it had the tail, claw and knuckle. he then topped it with the seasonal veggies and then the sauce. there was so much meat, that i got full and couldnt finish it all. the sauce was rather thin and the veggies and lobster meat was so fresh. it was not heavy like a typical pot pie would be heavy, but it definitely hit the spot and was a great way to finish it up.
we ordered the chocolate toffee bar for dessert but before it came out, they brought out a slice of 7 layer choc cake with "happy birthday" written on the plate (thanks again opentable!). it was good but the toffee bar was really good. it had powdered peanuts and coffee caramel. so good. complements of the chef, we were also brought raspberry sorbet to clean the palate.
delicious!
I'm not sure about their lighting. We were having trouble seeing the menu or the food.
My husband had the bone-in ribeye and it was fantastic. I had the braised short ribs and they were quite dry. The meal set is back over $200. No appetizers. Just a beer and a martini for drinks.
Food was good but just not sure about the value.
The great thing about dining at a Michael Minna restaurant is that your know what you're going to get - great ambiance, good customer service and fabulous food. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. The miso-glazed black cod is to die for. TAAAAASSSTY! Check it out if you're in the area.
Review Source:Easy 5 stars. I was lucky enough to be Anita L's guest for the chef's tasting menu. Our reservation was at 7:30 pm. We were seated on the patio and served a seafood sampler plate. Prior to that, they asked if we had any allergies. Anita did have an oyster allergy so good thing they asked. The seafood platter contained oyster, abalone, crab claw, shrimp and uni custard. It was beautifully decorated with seaweed and stones. Each bite was fresher than the last. It was served with a lavender tasting martini and a Moscow mule, both very nice. As the sun set, we were brought indoors for the remainder of the meal.
The ten course tasting menu was paired with either wine or an alternative cocktail. I went alternative.
First: ahi tartar- good, not knock your socks off, but the table side preparation was impressive. The heirloom tomato water with Ketel One shooter improved with each sip.
Smoked Salmon: A delectable morsel with all the right textures.
Three eggs: Least favorite but beautiful presentation. Uni custard, inside a chicken egg, with wasabi tobiko. Too sweet for my taste but nicely paired with sake, which cut the sweetness.
Day Boat Halibut: this was the best of the night. Served with pancetta, asparagus, green almonds and ramps, this was plate- licking clean (but I would never at Stonehill. This place is first class!!)
Maine Lobster Pot Pie: a mini version of their original, this was not as good as I had hoped. I wish they would let you eat the dish out of the dish it was cooked in so you could eat the crust from the side of the dish like a proper pot pie, rather than scooped and plated.
At this point in the meal, you get a choice of duck or wagyu sirloin. sirloin seemed to be the way to go. The most tender sirloin served with a cocoa/ coffee sauce and the broccoli was crisp and tasted like potato chips somehow. This is not your grandmas broccoli! The duck was nice too but the wagyu won.
Next course, a melted Camembert. A perfect bite, I could have popped 6 of these as a tasty hors de oeuvres.
Dessert was Raspberry Curd. This was a dainty yet delicious ending to a top notch meal. It was paired with a Black Rye Lager ""Chocolosaurus Rye."
This was not the end. A pair of petite ice cream cones arrived, filled with a creamsicle ice cream. Another course where I could have easily ingested 6 without blinking an eye.
The service was so knowledgeable and friendly. From the sommelier, to the waiter, host and everyone in between. This was an impressive meal all around. I would come back and recommend to anyone looking to celebrate or have a nice night out.
The waiter took our valet stubs and when we left, there was our car. Nice touch you say? Inside the car were muffins, wrapped in cellophane, adorned with a Stonehill Tavern ribbon.
Classy.
SERVICE: 5/5
-Excellent service our waiter was very attentive and our water was constantly being refilled
FOOD: 4/5
-LOBSTER POT PIE - delicious and the presentation is awesome. they bring out the pot that the lobster was cooked in and deconstruct/reconstruct it table side.
-BEET SALAD - this is not really a salad its more like 3 beets put on a plate. pretty but wasnt very appealing to my palette
DESSERT: 5/5
-HOMEMADE ICE CREAM - tried almost every flavor including the sorbets and all were delicious especially the creme fraiche and brown butter
-SAFFRON FLOAT - served w/ a warm cookie... sooo yummy!
-BEIGNETS - served w/ macallan butterscotch - these were ok
AMBIANCE: 3/5
-the inside of this restaurant is average. during the day it would be nice to sit on the patio because there is a nice view. the bathroom is a pretty far hike so ask someone for directions before you venture off on your own.
This was our first time at Stonehill Tavern. Admittedly, it is another one of those restaurants both recommended and hyped-up (more so in my wife's opinion) by our friends. We celebrated an early 2-year wedding anniversary a few nights ago.
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I made reservations via Opentable and requested a booth. It was definitely nice and private, as expected. I really like the ambiance of this place. Upon arriving, the wait-staff was very friendly towards us, greeting us and wishing us a "Happy Anniversary"
To start out, we ordered a couple of the "cheaper" wines - the Etude Pinot Gris and Michael Mina Surat. We're not really wine connoisseurs, so we didn't really know what we were doing or what to expect. Most wine ends up tasting the same to us at the end of the day. Of course, we've never ordered wine by the glass (or bottle for that matter) that's more than $15.
After ordering an appetizer (the Hamachi Poppers, which I'll get to soon), we were brought some of their rosemary/sea salt bread in a small little "Staub" cast-iron baking dish. This was pretty addictive. Our server was kind enough to bring out another one for us, and we ended up saving half of it for leftovers :)
Compliments of the chef, we were given this garlic soup [in a tiny cup] and cheeseball; all served on a tiny dish. The soup was pretty tasty - smelled super garlicky but didn't taste as such. This was a nice way to kick things off.
The Hamachi poppers came out and looked real fancy. The fish was  fresh and the aioli mixture was awesome. It had a slight kick of spiciness but was not overpowering at all. The "crispy rice" reminded me of tater tots, interestingly. It all worked together very well, and we both enjoyed this thoroughly.
For the main courses, we opted for the fried Jidori chicken for two (if you order half the chicken, they will end up pan-frying as opposed to deep-frying), and the lobster pot pie.
Yes, we pretty much went all out on this one; of course, with the expectation that we'd be bringing home a fair amount of leftovers, which we did.
That said, the Jidori chicken was good but not great. This one came wheeled out on a cart and looked pretty impressive. They had a cutting board with spikes that held the chicken in place as our server carved out the halves. The chicken was definitely moist  and I enjoyed the flavor of the skin, but I sort of wish they would have brined the chicken to enhance the flavor a little more. As I've said before, and will say again, brining takes chicken to a completely different level. I think I'm going to try brining chicken and deep frying it myself some day. I digress... as far as the overall plate, I did enjoy the presentation and flavors from the sauces. The truffled mac and cheese was pretty good, although I'm not sure what I was supposed to be expecting as far as tasting the "truffle." The brocollini was cooked perfectly and complemented the dish very well.
The lobster pot pie was pretty delicious too but not entirely as flavorful as I was expecting. Again, this dish came out on a wheeled cart and the server carefully extracted the contents of the pot onto a plate, which he presented very nicely. The lobster was cooked perfectly and the mixture of potatoes, onions, carrots, etc nicely melded together. The crust seemed a little hard to get through, but it was a nice contrast to the softer (but not mushy) veggies and starches. I have to admit that this was a pretty hearty dish. Just be prepared to what the current [and exorbitant] market price is on this dish.
By the time we were less than half-way through each dish, we were both stuffed and satisfied. We felt like pigs. They promptly boxed up our food and brought it back out in a shopping bag. Monday and Tuesday were glorious days - I brought the leftovers with me to work.
For dessert, we decided to try out the root beer float, which was interesting and satisfying. The chocolate chip and walnut cookies that came out with it were fresh and hot, and went well with the float. I liked the chocolate straws they put in the drink as well. Other than that, it didn't strike me as anything out of this world.
Complements of the chef, again: two tiny ice cream cones filled with [pale] ale-infused ice cream. This one was interesting. It definitely had enough of that signature bitter hops taste but it wasn't overwhelming and was surprisingly refreshing. I don't think my wife was really into this one; she's not really into beer though.
I would certainly recommend this place to any of my friends looking for a good, romantic, date place. It was nice hanging out and walking around the resort afterwards. Albeit, it was pretty cold out. Good thing we brought our heavy coats!
Additional note: the restaurant validates VALET parking  (normally $15) so we just paid a few bucks for tip. Just make sure you don't lose the valet ticket!
Stonehill Tavern is a contemporary style tavern at the St. Regis Monarch Beach in Dana Point overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The restaurant offers modern American cuisine, focusing on seasonal ingredients and featuring elegant tavern fare with twists on home-style favorites.
The first thing to recognize when first entering the restaurant is their huge wine selection stacked on shelves and a full bar!
Ordered white wine~~
Leitz Riesling Dragonstone 'Rudesheimer Drachenstein,' Rheingau, Germany 2010 (Refreshingly bright and slightly sweet, showing a bit of lint and kirsh.
$12.00 by the glass
I actually asked our waiter to recommend me a white wine that is slightly sweet, since I don't have a sweet tooth. He surely picked the right wine for my taste. I was sure pleased and requested for more thereafter. ;)
To start off with an appetizer, I decided to go with the Maine Lobster Risotto which includes rice, chanterelle mushrooms, parsley, and Asian pear. $27.00
I thought it could have tasted a lot better than what was served. The rice was overcooked/sticky/mushy and the lobster was a bit dry. However, for some reason I was feeling quite generous to not send it back possibly because the waiter was such a sweetheart. Now as I think of it, I definitely regret not requesting for something else since it cost me $27.00 for just an appetizer~! Sigh... -___-'' oh well...
For my main dish, I ordered the 8 oz Filet Mignon. $49.00
Two words... Suuuuuh good! :)
Lastly, to top it all off, the chef gave us complimentary dessert on the HOUSE! That's right.. on the HOUSE! It was very yummy even though I don't really eat sweet stuff much.
To end my review, the restaurant was a great place to dine and very much enjoyed the ambiance/view and well rounded service provided by experienced waiters. Not to forget, the food was excellent except the appetizer I ordered at the time. However, I'm sure not all their appetizers are disappointing. Would go back~~
Note:
*20% gratuity will be added to parties of 6 or more.
The restaurant is very nice. It's comfortable with great food, excellent service, and an extensive wine selection (with bottles ranging from hundreds to thousands).
The best part was the lobster fritters ($18). They came out like little hot dogs on sticks. The chef recommended drizzling lime juice, wrapping the fritters in a leaf of lettuce, and dipping in to the creme fraiche. It was delicious - my tongue nearly had a heart attack.
The duck my wife ordered wasn't cooked enough for her, so she sent it back. I noticed that when her dish returned, it was a completely fresh portion - not just cooked longer but all new. Nice touch.
I had the filet mignon ($49) which had a unique and very tasty crust on it.
As it was my wife's birthday, they brought out a very unusual little desert. No clue what it was called. Another nice touch.
I had a couple of perfectly made martinis and my wife had two glasses of wine.
PS - I had two martinis. They charged $3 extra per drink because I asked for two olives. That is really cheap. And my wife's wine was $35 per glass. Be careful when ordering beverages, they are EXPENSIVE!
Gf and I went to this place on a sat night .. Started with Stella and she had the champagne huge wine selection very few beers only saw about 6.. Off to the food .. Got the lobster risotto to start , I had the 18 oz bone in ribeye , she had the 8oz filet ( both med rare ) .. The lobster risotto had big portions of  lobster the rice was very hard .. Almost complained to take it back .. But did not, seeing how our waiter was very nice. Steaks came out about 15 mins later , perfectly cooked very juicy .
Skipped desert .. We were both very full . Few side dishes came out complements of the chef.
Total bill was 204$ without tip.
In closing 4 stars for the good food friendly service but for the very high  price I think they could have done better .
AMAZING! Felt like heading over to the St. Regis and I am in love!
First of all the ambiance is incredible. I love the walls of wine and the styling of the entire restaurant! Great place to bring a date or even to come with some friends. When we went it wasn't particularly loud, it was actually pretty low key. Loved the music they were playing, it was like they were using my iPod :P
Anyway, about the food!
What we ordered:
Baby Beets: I loved them! But then again I love beets so :P, but seriously it was different and had a light refreshing taste. $16
Steak Tartare: WOW! Such great flavor. I could have eaten this all night! $19
Foie Gras & Scallops: Another joy! This dish really reminds you what a scallop should taste like! $29
Miso-Glazed Black Cod: Husband's dish, he loved it! $38
Dover Sole: My mother's dish. It was actually a huge portion and she seemed to enjoy it. $MP
Snake River Farms Gold Grade American Kobe: This was my dish AND OMG I ATE ALL 8 OUNCES THAT I ORDERED! I wanted to keep eating because it was that incredible! What is nice is that you can customize the size of your steak from 4 ounces and upward! $MP
They also brought out a special from the chef, a little mushroom soup: It was far too salty for my taste.
Chocolate Souffle: It wasn't as good as I was hoping but it was okay. $12
Milk Chocolate Custard: TO DIE FOR! Loved it, ate it all, wanted more! $10
There you have it folks! An incredible evening! The service was what you would expect, fantastic. Food was timed perfectly and we never felt rushed.
Stonehill Tavern will definitely be part of my new favorite restaurant rotation!
Oh good for me! Â There's a Michael Mina restaurant right at our hotel.
This was the best meal we had on our OC trip, though Raya was very good as well. Â The food was outstanding, the service impeccable and the decor was hip and fun with glass walls of wine that reminded me of Aureole in Vegas.
There were a lot of good options on the menu. Â We did our best to put together a few of the dishes we had to have. Â Though, I would be kicking myself for not getting the signature lobster pot pie that I saw assembled tableside for seemingly every other diner in the restaurant. Â Not to worry, we still did quite well with the menu. Â Here's what we had....
Heirloom tomatoes-burrata, baby arugula, sunflower seed, balsamic reduction
Ahi tuna tartare-bosc pear, pine nuts, habañero-infused sesame oil
Tasmanian King salmon-gnocchi, morels, corn pudding, spring garlic vinaigrette
Sonoma County Duck Breast with Nectarine Compote and Marcona Butter
Warm praline profiteroles-meyer lemon, roasted white chocolate, huckleberry
Pumpkin sponge cake-maple and smoke ice cream, brown butter, mascarpone
We loved everything. Â The starters were light and perfect starts for us. Â The tuna had a great kick to it and was prepared tableside, it didn't last long. Â I enjoyed the duck and Kris was pleased with the salmon she had. Â Our desserts were a great finish. Â
An outstanding meal from start to finish.
Wowzers. Hubby brought me to the St. Regis a month ago for a babymoon (honeymoon for preggo women) and he made a reservation at Stonehill on our first evening there. Holy moly... Michael Mina sure knows the way to a woman's heart. FAT! - paired with excellent, friendly service.
Hubby and our friend ordered the tasting menu (or whatever the fixed menu bit is called). A month later (now), when I ask him whether or not what he ordered was tasty, he answers, "It was good, but I don't really remember what I had. I just remember it being very expensive." Hmm. But ooh, he does remember really enjoying his souffle... Hmm. Let's mosey this review on to me...
I'm all over the mixing of high-and-low when it comes to food, so when I saw lobster pot pie on the menu, animated hearts sprung from my eyeballs. It was a good call, because the dish was HUUUUGE. This is no regular pot pie. The server will wheel a cart by the table, and once he does, you'll notice a full on POT (not pie dish) with baked pastry dough on top. That piece of buttery goodness will get carved off the top of the pot and plopped onto your plate. *applause* And zheeeen?!? And zheeeen the server will scoop out your pot pie's innards. Innards that include an entire lobster complemented by a bunch of other pot pie goodness. Order the pot pie. You won't regret it!
Topped off the indulgent meal with s homemade rootbeer float and warm choco-chip cookies.
Was pregnant walking in. Doubly-pregnant (with a food baby) walking out.
Oh My Lord.
Sweet Baby Jesus.
This place is amazeballs. Â (Sidebar: I don't know if I should say amazeballs in my review because I feel as if it is on the way out)
I went on an awful date here, but I think that I was transfixed by the amazing food and cocktail to realize just how f-ing weird my date was. Â That is some good food and booze. Â
The bartender was very cool, and made us a bunch of drinks. Â This is when the gaslighting began, if you are following the personal story of this. Â
The steak tartare is simply divine. Â I like raw meat. Â I know, that isn't cool, but I do. Â It's one of the main reasons I am such a Francophille. Â Actually, everything on the menu was GREAT. Â So good, I thought a complete tool was funny and neat. Â I was entranced well with this food that I believe transference happened and I started liking a completely toolish individual. Â That is food worth paying top dollar for. Â
Can't wait to return without the pretension in tow.
I would give it a very solid 4 stars.
Started off by having drinks at the bar. Â They make a very good champagne mojito.
Service was excellent. Â I ordered the tasting menu with a couple of changes. Â There was some additional cost but I am happy that they allowed changes in the first place.
Appetizer - Lobster Salad - extremely good
Scallop - Â very good
Duck - ok
New York strip - very very good
Dessert - Beignets - very good
There portions for each course was perfect. Â I was very full after my dinner. Â Food bill $100. Â I think definitely worth it, I cannot wait til I get to go back.
My wife and I went here for our 5-year anniversary. Â I'm a pretty laid back guy - don't need a super posh atmosphere promoting some need to feel elite. Â Just need good food and good service. Â Stonehill Tavern knocked it out of the park. Â Classy, but not pretentious.
Get there early and have the bar manager extraordinaire, Tommy, set you up with a Blood and Sand (Johnny Walker and Blood Red Orange Juice). Â He'll tell you everything there is to know about fine cocktails and give you the heads up on the top notch menu items.
We got a seat next to the floor to ceiling windows to watch the sunset and ordered the Ahi Tuna Tartare as a starter, which was prepared table-side. Â Unbelievable. Â Then I ordered the Maine Lobster Pot Pie - yes you read that correctly - a pot pie with a full lobster in it. Â It was delectable. Â My wife got the Filet. Â Now, my wife is kind of a carnivore, meat snob. Â We've had steaks at pretty much every major high-end steak chain you can think of. Â And she said this was the best she's ever had. Â That, to me, was an eyebrow raiser.
For dessert, I got the Root Beer Float (remember what I said about not being pretentious?) and my wife got the cheese plate. Â I think I was so full at this point that I didn't get to experience the full ecstasy that normally accompanies it. Â But they were head-shakingly good.
The service was incredible. Â They were prompt, but not overbearing. Â They allowed us to take our sweet time and enjoy our special day, but were also nicely conversational and classy.
Will definitely come back.
From the moment I entered Stonehill Tavern I was made to feel welcome. The hostess Jenn was unbelievable.: kind, considerate & attentive - talk about going the extra mile! Â She would be an asset to any organization.
The food was lovely; staff didn't make a wrong move. Honorable mention goes to my waiter Christopher, who plied me with their delicious Louisiana cocktail.
Kudos to Stonehill!
We went here for our anniversary and expected great service, great food, and a great atmosphere. How's two out of three for a special night? Eh, not the best, but not the worst either.
Best: Waiter (Chris) was amazing, spectacular, and sensational. He was professional, far from haughty, and made our evening fun. P.S. I was a hostess and a server for a total of 8 years so I know great service.
Worst: The twelve year old hostesses. I specifically asked for a table AWAY FROM CHILDREN and guess what? She seated two rowdy brats directly beside us as we were sipping our first beverage. Who brings 2 and 4 year old brats to a fancy restaurant anyway? Oh, wait, I know! Rich people who don't care about quiet, romantic dinners for poor folk who decided to splurge.
Best: The chocolate souffle.
Worst: The amount of salt used in most of the food. We had the chef's sampler which was delicious, but overly salty for my taste.
Best: View at sunset...but, it was through a big glass door, with a weird half-shade, and a thick horizontal push handle that collided with the ocean's horizon as well. Oh well, I won't go there for a sunset view again I suppose.
Worst: The music. Oh my. It was bad; I would classify it as elevator music meets a few of the worst songs from the late 80's.
Best: The banquet room (or however it's spelled - it sounds like BANKETTE when they say it) for large groups. Yummy, warm fire place and cool interior decorating. We were allowed to hide in there for dessert after enduring two hours of yelling "football coach-like" diners behind us and the squirming bratty children beside us. Honestly, that was the best part of the night and I thanked my waiter for that because without it, I was never going to return. I had to have ONE moment of peace for $300.
The equation of the day: Â four people+one birthday = an excuse for total gluttony. Â And oh what glorious gluttony it was...slipped down to Stonehill Tavern on a lovely August night for a birthday dinner, looking for something a little different than our usual haunts. Â By and large, we found what we were looking for; not a full 5-star experience, but definitely a delicious excursion.
Started at the bar with several of the inventive cocktails on the new menu, including the Moscow Mule, the Pimm's Cup, and the Nevada. Â (Also had a chance to try the Blood and Sand and the Aviation through the evening - all were delicious, fresh and vibrant takes on cocktail classics.) Â We were seated on time at our table by the windows, in time to watch a beautiful sunset while we enjoyed our appetizers: Â the deviled egg trio, lobster fritters, tuna tartare, and shrimp cocktail. Â The tuna tartare was delightful, although the bread served with it was oddly like toasted Wonderbread, and the lobster fritters were out of this world. Â Shrimp cocktail was large but without pizzazz, and we all agreed the egg trio was worth skipping.
Bread deserves its own paragraph: Â asiago cheese rolls and raisin rolls, all served warm, and the cheese rolls stuffed with melty deliciousness with frico-like cheese crust on the outside. Â My God.
For dinners we had: Â the lobster pot pie, Wagyu beef, bone-in ribeye, and the cioppino. Â Oh and 4 (yes, 4...I warned you...gluttony) side dishes: Â jalapeno creamed corn, truffle mac and cheese, bourbon baked beans, and grilled asparagus. Â The entrees were all delicious - and the added theatre of the served table-side potpie was great (a full tail, two claws, and one of the most delicious pastry crusts - for $72 it better be a darn good pot pie, and it was.) Â The standouts of the meal were definitely the Wagyu NY strip - we weren't going to order it, as the 6 oz size seemed a little petite, but wouldn't you know it, the chef was able to serve a larger cut than the one on the menu - and the side dishes, especially the jalapeno corn and the truffle mac and cheese. Â The steak was $10 an oz and literally worth every penny.
Had to have dessert - the milk chocolate custard was almost too rich to have more than a few bites (truly death by chocolate) but the root beer float was fantastic - served with the best and meltiest cookies I've tasted. Â Small peach ice cream cones at the end were a welcome addition although, having eaten our faces off, put us over the top. Â
Surprisingly, the coffee with dessert was one of the highlights of the meal - one of the best cups of coffee I've had in a long time (served in a  french press).
Service was friendly and efficient, if not overly solicitous, and by and large it was a great time.  The restaurant is sleekly elegant, but you really never forget you're in a hotel dining room - having traveled extensively I think I was the only one that really bothered (it is in a hotel, I know...get over it).  The wine list could use a little work, in my opinion.  If you're comfortable in the $150-$225 range you have a lot of selections but it's a  bit of a struggle under that to find a decent bottle, and when you're already paying top dollar for high end "tavern" food, that grates a bit. Â
Also, no tasting menu offerings or amuse bouche when we went - not sure if that was because the menu is in process of being renovated into a more casual experience, but it was missed.
All in all, the food was delicious and the experience a bit more refined - exactly what we were looking for. Â Having tasted a broad swath of the menu, you won't leave hungry, that's for sure. Â If you're in the area and looking for a new and gourmet take on comfort classics, Stonehill could fit the bill. Â An event restaurant it's not - and probably not someplace I'm immediately dying to go back to - but a solid choice for a good meal.
I really enjoyed everything about my meal. The restaurant is low key enough to be relaxing, but not so much to put you to sleep. The decor is modern, but not over the top and the service is professional but not snobby. And last but not least, the food is great, ingredients inventive but not overpowering, made up of classic flavors that melt in your mouth in a rich-tasting haze.
My mom and I had a nice relaxing Saturday night dinner in mid January. The dining room was partially booked with a few patrons at the bar. I'm not sure what the normal crowd is like here... tourists or just rich OC peeps, but it was definitely lacking the expected buzz. The decor was simplistic and modern, but with a comfortable warmth accented by seat cushions and pillows and nice wood paneling.
Our server was smitten with my mom's Spanish accent and made friendly, if not flirting conversation about Spain and his travels throughout.
We ordered the goat cheese salad to start which was a solid, dependable selection with a delicious goat cheese canape, fig and pine nuts. I ordered the Berkshire Pig and my mom the Monk fish. My pork was perfect. Simply prepared with amazing ham hock au jus and the most deliciously creamy polenta. I could have totally OD'd on that polenta. The pork was cooked absolutely perfectly. I actually couldn't understand how such a thick, yet small cut of pork could be cooked to such perfection.. i cut through it like butter and savored every moist, chewy bite. I remember my mom's dish tasting great, but i was so smitten with my own, that I seem to have forgotten about anything else. Dessert was also lovely, the Roasted Bosc Pear. I wouldn't say this blew me away, but it was delicate and light, especially the cardamom ice cream.
I know that yelpers have a problem with the prices here, but i'm not sure what one would expect from a St Regis Michael Minna restaurant. Dinner, 2 wine glasses each and dessert for two was approximately $200. I feel like that's fair, seeing as i can easily blow $100 on a Mexican dinner with margaritas anywhere in LA.
I would most definitely come back for another special occasion meal and am looking forward to a summer's night meal where we could possibly enjoy the grounds of the hotel.
I'm a big Michael Mina fan and Stonehill Tavern is my favorite high end dining spot in Orange County. The girlfriend, J, and I were joined by fellow Yelpers Charles D and Michelle L on this culinary adventure.
We decided to go with the tasting menu with the wine pairings. This was my first tasting menu at Stonehill Tavern. I'm usually a big fan of tasting menus because I feel it is the best way to fully experience a chef's talent and creativity. That being said our tasting menu didn't knock me over but it was still good. We had the same courses that Cheri G has in her review dated 5/27/09.
Caviar Parfait with a Champagne pairing.
This course was the size of an amuse bouche but bursting with a wonderful balance of salty, crunchy and creamy. As an added bonus J, who is a picky eater and doesn't like caviar gave me most of her portion.
Hawaiian Blue Shrimp with a German Riesling pairing.
The shrimp was nothing special but the dumpling and coconut soup it sat on top of was heavenly. The sweetness of the Riesling balanced out the southeast Asian overtones of the food.
Berkshire Pig Pork Belly with a Michael Mina Red Burgundy pairing.
Charles D described this dish as bacon pudding. Everything was salty and creamy and good. The wine was our least favorite of the night. I thought the Riesling would have gone better with this course.
Nebraska Prime Beef with an Alexander Red Cuvee pairing.
This was the best wine pairing of the night. The portions were rather small but I'd order this off the regular menu in a second.
Strawberry Mochi with a Quinelle of Green Tea Foam paired with Sparkling Sake
In all honesty this was a disappointing end to the meal. Mochi and foam wasn't what I was hoping for. Sparkling sake was a letdown too. I've always been blown away by the desserts at Stonehill Tavern but this one was a swing and a miss.
So why 5-stars after a less than stellar experience? The same reason you don't take LeBron James' MVP trophy away just because he didn't lead his team to the finals. Stonehill Tavern is still phenomenal and in my opinion the only destination restaurants in Orange County.
I was soooo thrilled they invited OC Happy Hour week. Â What better way to experience a posh place without paying the usual premium? Â Disclaimer: Happy Hour was still quite $$$.
My gal pals and I approached the St. Regis with trepidation. Â Will they be snooty? Â Where do we park? Â Self-parking? Pish! Â Valet, all the way, dear readers. Â No signs about how much the luxury of not having to park our own car would cost us. Â Memories of paying $40-$50 at some fancy hotels for valet cropped up but, ever the optimist, I resisted the feeling of dread and hoped for the best.
The valet very kindly directed us to Stonehill Tavern where we noticed the place was almost deserted on a Wednesday evening - bar & restaurant alike. Â We were handed the Happy Hour menu where we made quick work of deciding what we wanted to drink. Â Blood orange mimosas for two of us (delicious) and a Moscow Mule for one (refreshingly tasty).
Next came the food. Â In retrospect, we probably should have paced ourselves but we were all starving so we forged ahead. Â We ordered the following:
truffle popcorn: the ultimate snack...the truffle flavoring was obvious the popcorn was a decadent treat. They even sprinkled some grated truffled on top!
burrata crostini: fat dollops of creamy burrata atop toasted bread, crowned with a delicious heirloom tomato "salad" ; this was very filling and the portion was generous for the $11 we paid. Â
kushi oysters on a half shell: we were told one order had 4 but we were given six. Â the oysters were brinier than usual and one gal pal thought hers was...not fresh in the least which left a terrible taste in her mouth for a while.
French fries: this sounds quite ordinary except it was served with truffled ketchup and a mindblowing truffle aioli.
The other portion of the happy hour menu was the sliders. There were four kinds and we tried all four. All were served on buttery toasted brioche buns (pics to follow shortly). Â Lobster roll, bbq pork belly slider, american kobe beef slider and ahi tuna nicoise slider. Â At $5 a pop, we thought it was quite pricey but after having tasted them all, it was definitely worth it. Â You can tell the best ingredients were used and a huge amount of lobster went into the lobster roll version. Â The pork belly was tender and coated with an appropriate amount of bbq sauce. Â
Service was excellent, everyone accommodating and warm down to the food runners/busboys. Â If we ever looked like we needed something, someone was there to ask if we needed something. Â This is impressive considering we were sitting in the bar area. Â
I'm tempted to go back soon, outside the confines of happy hour to taste the rest of their menu (and maybe have another lobster roll slider!) Â The bar was located on the inside portion of the facility but the dining side faced outside and provided a beautiful view.
The best part - valet parking was complimentary! Â We were so satisfied with our experience at the St. Regis/Stonehill Tavern that we tipped the valet more than we should have. Oh well!
I came here during Orange County Restaurant Week, a couple of weeks ago. Â When our server found out, he was practically non-existent the rest of our meal. Â I saw him once when he took our order and then at the end of the night when he brought out the bill. Â It didn't matter too much cause the rest of the staff was on top of things!
The restaurant decor is elegant and comfy. Â We came on a Friday night, so it was busy and a little loud. Â I enjoyed the resort, getting out and being pampered with great service. Â The valet recognized us as soon as we came out the front doors, remembered my name & literally sprinted to get my car! Â He was quite impressive!
The food was good, but it didn't meet my expectations! Â The asiago rolls are the bomb! Â I thoroughly enjoyed the root beer float. 1 scoop of Root bear sorbet sandwiched between 2 scoops of vanilla bean ice cream! Â Incredible!
Fabulous restaurant, service, food, and atmosphere. Out of all the choices for OC restaurant weekou we were glad that we chose this one.
We were seated in the one of the glass enclosed booths and counted ourselves lucky to be in one. If you go, request one of these rather than the back area. It is superluxe and quiet enough to have a nice conversation. Also, it is great if you enter food coma state (which you will) and need to lie down.
We will definitely be back, maybe not for an entire meal but definitely for appetizers and drinks. I want to make my way through all of the luscious cocktails.
From the napkin selection to the water offerings to the serving of food the service was phenomenal and right on par.
I came here for restaurant week at the request of one of my friends. Â It was a $40 tasting menu with 3 courses, plus an amuse bouche and chocolate bon bons. Â
The amuse bouche was a date stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon, drizzled with some sauce. Â There was a magical deliciousness to this bite which left us all wanting more and looking around to see if anyone was stupid enough to have not eaten their own portion yet. Â This was the best bite of the entire meal, but that is not to say that the rest of the meal wasn't enjoyable.
The appetizer I had was a carpaccio of big eye tuna with crispy potato and olives plus some herbs. Â I normally hate olives and had originally planned to remove them, but they were cut up and mixed on top so I just sucked it up. Â I couldn't even taste them because of the fantastic flavor of the tuna. Â It was fresh and flavorful and the herbs gave just the right amount of flavor.
The main course was a braised beef short rib with some veggies. Â The short rib was very tender and juicy, although it was a bit salty for my taste. Â Also, I wasn't happy with the fact that half of our table had ordered this dish and yet all of the pieces were noticeably different sizes. Â Mine was actually two smaller pieces instead of one larger piece. Â I immediately forgot about this though when I had a bite of the whipped mashed potatoes. Â It was loaded with butter and probably a heavy sprinkling of crack because damn those potatoes were good. Â We could not help but bogart our portions from our fellow diners who were foolish enough to order the other dishes which did not come with the potatoes. Â Even as one of us reluctantly offered a bite to someone else, the rest of us pulled our bowls ever closer. Â
The dessert was an apple crisp parfait with ginger ice cream. Â The parfait was pretty good, topped with a thin slice of dried apple and served in a glass. Â I personally don't really care for ginger so I avoided the ice cream a little, but the rest of the parfait was delicious.
The chocolate bon bons were nothing to rave about, just chocolate covered ice cream bits.
We all had some drinks, including the elderflower champagne cocktail, the mojito, and the wine pairing. Â The elderflower was the most popular. Â The waiter had suggested to me and I kind of thought that it was because it was a $19 cocktail instead of the lesser $16 cocktail, but he was right, it was delicious. Â I can't even explain the flavor, it was just sweet and amazing. Â Four other people ended up getting it as well because they just couldn't resist. Â The mojitos were also very good, and very strong. Â They don't skimp on alcohol here. Â The wine pairing was $25 and came with a white, a red and a liqueur. Â The white was nice and fresh, and the red was decent (although I prefer white) but the liqueur was definitely an acquired taste. Â It was dark brown and basically tasted like jager. Â Stick with the elderflower, trust me.
The service was very good, although the waiter was a bit pushy at the beginning because we took a while to order (hellooooo there were 9 of us) but otherwise everything went very smoothly. Â
Pros: Elderflower cocktail, amuse bouche, decent service
Cons: I'm broke now.
What it would feel like if Mozart could conduct a symphony or if the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sang "Hallelujah!" IN YOUR MOUTH. Â Came here for OC Restaurant Week, subsequently felt like I was getting away with murder for paying so little for such an amazing dining experience!
I tried not to have my impression of the food swayed by the complimentary valet service, the fancy pillows, the fresh flowers, the warm fireplace, or the shiny yet adorable pebble shaped salt and pepper shakers (I want them!). Â Alas, no matter how hard I tried, I could not resist falling in love with Stonehill!
The service is as good as it gets--amazingly attentive, warm, and personalized (special thanks to our gem of a server, Ashley!) Â Was immediately impressed with how they addressed me by name. Â The timing of each course was impeccable. Â The portions were excellent--my date and I were sufficiently stuffed by meal's end. Â I enjoyed the rock/alternative music-- The Pixies "Where is my mind" was the most memorable song--and I found the volume to be very appropriate and not "blaring" as others have stated.
Here's the rundown:
Champagne Mojito: Wow. Â Just, wow!
Amouse bouche of roasted fig, goat cheese and bacon: Fantastic.
Bread Basket: Â It's all about the cheese rolls!!!
1st course:
Bigeye Tuna Tartare: Perfectly seasoned.
Shrimp with coconut milk: The crepe may have been handcrafted by God.
Main Course:
Jidori Chicken, truffle mac and cheese: Tender and crispy chicken! Â Paired wonderfully with the mac and cheese!
Short Rib, mashed potatoes: I loved the chicken, but I have to admit, I was jealous that I didn't order this entree...it was SOOO tender!!! Â Pretty sure the memory of that first bite of short rib will call to me in my dreams. Â I'd give my first born to do that again!
Dessert:
Root Beer Float: As good as everyone says it is, and makes you feel like a kid again paired with the chocolate chip cookies! Â Impossible to eat this and not feel gleeful!
Apple Crisp: refreshing twist! Â Loved the miraculously thin-sliced apple chip on the top with a dash of cinnamon. Â
Complimentary dessert:
Bon bons-- milk chocolate with vanilla, dark chocolate with pistachio: Â Definitely worth finding some room to squeeze these little bites of heaven in!
Suggestions:
*Walk around the St. Regis before/after your dinner to soak in all the splendor! Â
*Request a booth or a table that is along a wall instead of a free-standing table... just a bit more intimate and comfortable.
*Order the champagne mojito and the root beer float.
*Cuddle up next to the fireplace in the bar area of the St. Regis afterward! Â Cozy, cozy chenille sofas!
WARNING: Life may just seem a little bit brighter after you eat here. Â Â GREAT for a date, GREAT for a special occasion, GREAT for food lovers... just GREAT in life, so make it a point to come here!
Orange County Restaurant Week(2.22.09~2.28.09) made this restaurant seemed more affordable for people like us~ the 3 Course Tasting Menu for $40.
Came here last night, and were warmly greeted by the staffs upon arrival. Our waiter Drew gave thorough presentation on items on the regular menu as well as their 5 Course Tasting Menu ($95), which at one point, I almost wanted to say "it's okay, no trouble going over everything, since we can only afford the $40 tasting menu", but didn't want to make ourselves look "poor", plus he was cute to look at~ : )
Following were what we had:
~Complimentary Bread Basket: Mini Baguette, Asiago Cheese Rolls & Onion Rolls(I believe) All the breads were served pipping hot, with perfect crunch on the outside and nice and doughy on the inside~
~ Date wrapped with goat cheese drizzled with balsamic reduction: Complimentary from the chef, it was a bite size, full of flavor, and luckily the goat cheese was very mild in flavor, since I'm not a fan of pungent cheeses.
~ Spot Prawns (BUTTERNUT SQUASH CRÊPE, COCONUT-CURRY BROTH) a very flavorful dish
~ Big Eye Tuna (CARPACCIO, FINGERLING POTATO CHIPS, KALAMATA OLIVES) the crispiness of the potato chips added a perfect balance to the delicacy of the thinly sliced tuna.
~ Tasmanian Ocean Trout (CAULIFLOWER PURÉE, MUSCAT GRAPE, CAPER RELISH) the trout had a perfect crispiness on the skin and very moist and tender on the inside. The muscat grape with caper relish added a sweet balance and freshness to this savory dish.
~ Prime Beef Short Rib (YUKON POTATO, GLAZED MIREPOIX, WORCESTERSHIRE) the short rib was very tender and flavorful, the yukon mashed potato were served in a cup which added a nice touch to the presentation.
~ Fuji Apple Crisp Parfait (CALVADOS SABAYON, GINGER ICE CREAM, APPLE CHIP) this was just an okay dessert for me, since I'm not a fan of cooked cubed apples.
~ Root Bear Float (SASSAFRAS ICE CREAM, WARM CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES) although I'm not a fan of chocolate, but these gooey and warm chocolate chip cookies with sprinkles of nuts were the perfect compliment to the cold root bear float.
~ Bite sized Chocolate Bon Bons: Complimentary from the chef, these cold treats were the perfect ending to a great meat!
We were completely stuffed by the end of the meal. Will be back if they've this kind of special offers again!
PS. the restaurant will validate for the valet parking. They aren't strict with dress code, so if you're in jeans, that's okay too!
The bf and I came here for our one year anniversary last January. We were recommended this restaurant because my friend works at the St. Regis.
First off, this place is gorgeous, and I love the dark atmosphere it gives off. We were seated at the banquette (though I'm not a fan of those), because there wasn't much other seating for just two. The service was excellent, although they only served bottled Fiji, not the Panna I like. -shrug-
The food -- my only gripe with it is that it's so expensive! I've had expensive food before, but.. this takes the cake. We got the lobster trio ($4-something!) for three tiny bites of.. SOME lobster. Then for my entree I got the steak (I can't remember the specific name) but it was about 6 oz for 55 bucks. The bf wasn't happy about the price, but I loved it! For some reason, I felt like it was the best steak I'd ever had.. not sure why. It just seemed to melt in my mouth, and that doesn't happen that often. My favorite part of the night was the dessert (as always!). We got the Root Beer Float and it was delicious! He makes saffron ice cream and drops it in the root beer, and it's soo good. Different from your average root beer float!
Anywho. The thing that makes it not a 5 (though it's not their fault) is the couple sitting next to us. They were old. And don't get me wrong, I love old couples.. it gives me hope about the people in the world, but these were SO RUDE. The old man kept staring at me and giving me dirty looks (not the pervy dirty but the bitchy dirty) and they would openly talk shit about the bf and I. I was so pissed off. It sort of ruined my dinner because they bugged me so much. They even referred to us as "those people," like.. asian. Ugh.
Well, all in all, I liked the food and the atmosphere. I might come back when I save up for a while (haha). But if I'm seated next to a rude couple again, I'm going to ask to move!
Brunch at the Motif was awesome, but never thought of eating here til I saw Elmo Monster's review. We came here for a special occasion. Plus, I wanted to eat at a Michael Mina (James Beard award-winning chef, the highest honor a Chef receives) restaurant.
--Drinks--
- Champagne Mojito ($16)
It's made with Flor de Caña rum, muddled mint, sugar, and lime. Mojitos are my fav drink. Most places don't make it right i.e. not muddling the ingredients. However, this one was made right. Yeay! Needless to say it was worth the $16.
They're easy to make at home. The key mojitos are fresh ingredients and good liquor.
- Lychee Gimlet ($13)
A drink mixed with Tanqueray 10, Cointreau, and fresh lime.
The lychee gimlet was okay probably because I'm not a fan of gin-based drinks. Hmm... maybe if vodka was used instead.
- Widmer Heffweizen ($7) Â Â
Flavorful and light with a slight hint of banana flavor.
--FOOD--
What we ate:
01. Basket of rolls (complementary)
In the basket were a mini baguette, wheat rolls and crispy cheese rolls. They were hot and steaming once opened. All were delicious, my fav were the cheese rolls.
02. Amuse bouche, a single bit-size appetizer (complementary)
A salmon sashimi on top of a thin slice of cucumber topped with caviar. One word -- yum!
03. Liberty Farms Duck Tasting Trio ($34)
On the plate is: 1) crispy duck thigh with green apple, peanuts, shallot jus, 2) roasted duck breast with candied ginger, almonds, and red plums, and 3) seared duck foie gras with honeycrisp apricots, and pistachio. The duck was tender and not dry at all. The duck trio was awesome!
04. Berkshire Pig ($37)
Paired with yellow carrot purée, wild arugula, and black truffle jus. The dish had two different cuts of pig, the loin roast and the cheek flanks. Both were prepared differently.
The loin roast was flavorful, tender, and had very little fat. The cheek flanks were the complete opposite - fatty, not too soft, but tasty. If you didn't like pig a.k.a pork. This dish will change our mind.
05. Â Salt-Baked Main Lobster (listed as MP, which was $85, single most expensive entree I'd ever ordered)
It was cooked with bacon risotto, sweet potato and lobster jus. After ordering, a server rolls a cart next to our table and presents the salt covered lobster. After the brief show, the lobster went back to the kitchen. Lobster was cooked just right and the rissoto was awesome. I make rissoto. The chewiness and flavor was great.
--DESSERT--
06. Lemon Panna Cotta ($12)
Paired with a citrus salad, kaffir lime sorbet, and nut tuile. It was exactly what we were looking for - different, delicious, and light.
07. Earl Gray Tea ($5 each)
Very fragrant smell and flavor, perfect with dessert. They use Imperial Court Tea.
08. Milk and dark chocolate bonbons (complementary mignardises)
Simple and yummy.
--SERVICE--
Our waiter looked like a cast member of The O.C, but he was crisp and professional. He knew everything about the menu word-for-word. Â
--AMBIANCE--
Sleek and posh contemporary feel. Neutral tones, warm woods, jewel-case booths, comfortable couches and dim lighting sets the mood. The place is very sophisticated, yet SoCal casual. The crowd is filled with good-looking people.
--PRICE--
It's expensive, but worth it for special occasions. The bill for two came out to be $285 plus tax and tip. If you'd break it down, food ~$168 and drinks ~$46. Main dishes are between $28-55 (outliner dish is the $85 lobster).
--HOW TO EAT ON A BUDGET--
Everything here is delicious. It's difficult to omit dishes, but to keep the bill lower: skip the drinks, the lobster (it's very good, but the most expensive item on the menu), and dessert since you get a complementary chocolate bon bon mignardises.
Most of the portions are small, but if you have drinks, appetizer, main dish, and dessert you'll be full. Otherwise, the bigger sized portions would be the Kobe burger, organic chicken for two and the lobster rissoto. Â Â
--OVERALL--
Why go: Great service, ocean view, casual elegant vibe, and fantastic food. It was memorable -- one of my favs for a super-nice-foodie dinner. After dinner or before, stroll the beautifully manicured grounds of the St. Regis Monarch Resort. This place deserves a Michelin star.
I'm a huge fan of Michael Mina. That man has been a huge asset to the culinary world. Go visit his namesake restaurant in San Francisco, and you''ll know what I'm talking about. So, it was with slight disappointment for me when my dining experience at Stonehill Tavern did not fully live up to my expectations. I suppose Michael Mina (the restaurant) just raised that bar way too high for me. But listen, Stonehill is still a good place to visit and enjoy a nice meal. Just don't go in there expecting the best dining experience of your life.
The decor was modern, sexy, and chic. The food is delicious. We enjoyed MM's signature tuna tartare (prepared at the table with quail egg, pine nuts, and jalapeno oil for a little kick) and perfectly roasted duck breast for our first courses. I had the salt-encrusted baked lobster, which was phenomenal. My husband had the pork, which was outstanding. We drank a very reasonably priced half bottle of Château de Beaucastel Châteauneuf-du-Pape. For dessert, we enjoyed the beautifully presented Hazelnut Kit Kat with mocha ice cream and cocoa nibs. All our dishes were perfectly sized, flavorful, and beautifully executed.
The service was great. Christopher, our server, was wonderful so try and get his table. He knows his wine and he'll make you laugh. Everyone else was very friendly, especially the valet guys. When they offered us water bottles for the road, even though we were not guests of the hotel, I was impressed.
So, why not five stars?
The music. It was dreadful.
Don't get me wrong. I love the Doors. I love classic rock. But I don't want to listen to it full blast while trying to enjoy my lobster, know what I'm saying? If I wanted bar music, I'd sit at the bar. I get that they don't want a stuffy ambiance, but why not play some cool jazz music or other hip, yet subtle background music? If I can sing along to the words while eating, it's too loud and too obnoxious.
Damn, I sound old.
But, all in all, it was a good night filled with more hits than misses. And, Mr. Michael Mina, you'll always be a culinary hero in my book.
3.5 stars
Our fifth time dining here, and the scene was old hat to us. Â Reservations and securing one of their four coveted private booths was required. Â
Hits:
* Chris - One of the best servers, ever.
* Maine Lobster - Bacon and shiso-wrapped fritters, or as I refer to them "lobster corn dogs".
* Our table - Yeah, you wish you were sitting at our booth.
* Dessert - Molten chocolate cake. Â Salted caramel ice cream....mmmmmm
* St. Regis - Touring the grounds afterwards
* Sparkling water - A noticeably crisp import. Â Better than I can describe.
Misses: Â
* Champagne mojito - Two words that are better apart than together.
* Colorado lamb - Wasn't warned that they tend to cook on the rare side. Â Medium wasn't what I had expected. Â Sad.
* $5 soda - Really? Â Damn.
I'll go back . . . because now I know better.
I researched a bunch of places for V-day and finally decided on this place at the St. Regis Hotel in Monarch Beach. The hotel is very impressive and it's a good idea to show up early and stroll the grounds of the facility. The service from the moment we walked in was friendly and professional. I would definitely recommend Stonehill for  special occasion.
As usual, dishes are rated 1-10, 10 being amazing.
(9) $0 Bread
Near perfect, it can warm with softened butter. There was a French roll, a fig roll, and ciabatta.
(2) $0 Tazmanian Ocean Trout Tartare, Wasabi Tabiko, Pickled Cucumber
Extremely small, even for an amuse bouche. And just plain flavorless.
(7) $38 Liberty Farms Duck Trio - Roasted Breast, Crispy Thigh, Seared Foie Gras
I bumped this one up to a 7, just for the variety and I liked the trio idea (refer to menu available online). Â If you order them separately, I would go with the foie, then the breast second. All three were good, though.
(7) $85 Salt-Baked Maine Lobster, Bacon Risotto
This was the dish I was waiting for, a whole lobster baked in salt, presented at the table and taken back to the kitchen for final preparation. It was more theatrical, than substance. The lobster was a little tough and the risotto a bit bland.
(5) $51 Dover Sole, Phyllo Crusted, Dungeness Crab, Dijon Butter
A little pricey for my taste and a very rich sauce for fish. I've always wondered why hey don't do rich sauce for fish and now I know why. Just too overpowering for the fish.
I though the food was about average, especially considering the price. But the hotel and restaurant combined was just a great experience and worth it for a night.
Went here for dinner the other day
Ordered the tuna tartar, scallops in some kind of cream sauce, lamb shank, seabass and dover sole.
The tuna tartar had too much going on in flavor (as in mixing in too many things) that it tasted blah. The scallops were actually really good but there were only 5 mini ones. =( Lamb shank tasted like beef! Ugh, and the seabass..........what a huuuuuuuge disappointment. The dover sole was ok.....................
I wouldn't be back
They get three stars for atmosphere, service and the cheese bread that came out in the beginning. Other than that, it's not that great
When my boss rewarded me for a rough month with a dinner for me and my husband, it took me about three seconds to decide where I wanted to go: the St. Regis restaurant. I had been there once before with co-workers and remembered the desserts as being particularly decadent and knew my sweet-toothed husband would love it.
We went on a Friday night and were seated right away in a cozy booth with gauzy curtains, adjacent to the bar. Â Our server was pleasant, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable, and just a pleasure to be around for our six-course tasting menu (with wine). Â Since we know the bartender, our first round of drinks (a freshly muddled pomegranate cosmo for me, and a beer for him) were free, which was a nice gesture. Â
The tasting menu is pricey but so worth it for the opportunity to try things I would never, ever normally order -- caviar with creme fraiche and a potato cake; duck; ahi tartare. Â The other three courses were lobster in a curry sauce, Nebraska beef in a veal jus, and a chocolate cake with mini peanut butter milkshake. Â The beef, paired with a Swanson cab, was beyond amazing. Â I never wanted it to end. Â
Overall, I can't imagine a more perfect dining experience. Â Then again, my boss paid a lot for it, so this is definitely something we won't be able to repeat on our own dime anytime soon! Â But if you have a couple of hundred dollars a person to spend on dinner, I can't think of a better place to do it.
It's a rare occasion when MM disappoints. He has revamped Aqua into a beautifully designed yet comfortable, unpretentious upscale "tavern".
I had the delightful opportunity to dine at Stonehill Tavern thanks to my awesome cousin who is the Mama San of foodwhores. Braving a 2 hour drive down the 405 and the 5 during rush hour on a Friday evening, we had an incredible feast with our clients.
Menu Highlights:
Krug Brut
Krug Rose
Osetra Caviar Service
MM's Signature Ahi Tuna Parfait
Trio of Tuna: Deconstructed Nicoise Salad, Toro Sashimi & Tartare
Trio of Liberty Duck: Breast, Thigh & Foie Gras
Crispy Suckling Pig
Trio of Beef: Beef Caps, Short Ribs & Kobe Beef Burger (the brioche just melts in your mouth)
BonBons
We always over eat at MM establishments and have to cancel incoming courses. I'd suggest you enjoy every bite, and despite the dainty presentation, i guarantee you will be full from the rich & robust ingredients and flavors. breadbar supplies the yummy bread (don't miss out on the alpine rolls and ask them to warm them up for you!).
I'm looking forward to sitting in 405 traffic again, to get down to the OC.
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