I met a good friend here for dinner. She loves to try new places also.
The decor of this restaurant is much better than it's exterior would seem to promise, as it's located in a strip mall. It's not very big but has a nice ambiance. There is a bar that will seat 10-12 and then small tables throughout. A good place for a date, too. The service was excellent and the waitress was very friendly and knowledgeable.
Every other Wednesday they do a wine tasting with a wine maker. I was happy to hear this as they are the only So Cal restaurant I know of that serves Dutcher Crossing wines - one of my all-time favorites. You can do a flight of up to 4 whites or 4 reds or mix-and-match. Their by-the-glass selection was a little smaller than I expected for a pretty extensive overall list.
My girlfriend and I split a 4 item cheese plate (they also have a salami plate) and the selections were good, served with honey, toasted baguette slices, nuts and grapes. She paired this with a red wine flight and I did a white wine flight. Then we each had a salad. I had the roasted beet salad with goat cheese which was excellent (although had I realized it had a dressing on it I would have asked for it on the side. I must not have been paying attention to the description) and my friend had the heirloom tomato salad which she said was delicious. These aren't really main-course sized salads, but they're perfect if you have an appetizer first. I had a glass of the Miura Pinot that I'd tried from my friend's wine flight - it was very good. Then we split a dessert of peach cobbler which was also very good along with a cup of coffee and tea.
The prices here are definitely OC. 2 wine flights, 1 split appetizer, 1 split dessert, 2 salads and 1 glass of wine and coffee and we topped out at $98 before tip! For me, this makes this a once or twice a year place to eat. I will go back and see how much the wine tasting is, but it won't be somewhere I can afford to go very often. Good food though!
This review is for the bar area only. Â We wanted a glass of wine before our movie so decided to stop in here and what a great idea that was. Â People who work here are down to earth and very friendly, I was almost sad we didn't have more time for dinner but we will be back to indulge another time. Â Good wine selections and very decent prices.
Review Source:Since my last review, I've been back over a dozen times. Business lunches, dates, group dinners and more, and all have been highly enjoyable. The food is good, wine and beer selections are good, and the owner Jamie is always available to greet you and make you feel welcome. Prices seem to be rising a bit (or portion sizes falling), which is the reason my rating has gone from five stars to four, but this place is still a must go! Try the flatbreads and the daily specials.
Review Source:Every dish we had was fantastic. My husband started off with a half of the wedge salad, which would be a full wedge at many other places. The portions are a good size. He followed with the burger which he raved about. I had the pork chop. When they brought it to the table I thought there was no way I would be able to finish it. It was big! However, it tasted so good I ate the whole thing!
Review Source:Food Quality/Taste = 5 stars
Ambience = 3.5 stars
Service = 4 stars
Price = 3.5 stars
Reservations = 3 stars
Let me explain. My wife and I have been here a few times now. Since it is relatively the only "higher end" eating establishment in the Foothill Ranch area, there really is not much competition.
The front entrance is misleading. It is in a "strip mall" building with Starbucks, a beauty salon, and a Wahoos. Once inside, we expected a little more when reading reviews, but it isn't bad. The tables are a bit tight together and there is one large floor to ceiling window that they absolutely need to cover with a curtain. It is completely bare and exposes the parking lot and passers by going to the Starbucks. Totally diminishes the atmosphere if you get seated at the tables nearby.
Food is top notch. We have had several different dishes now and have not been disappointed. Crab legs are excellent; meat dishes are very tender; salads are also nice. Some of the dishes are heavy on the seasonings if you like that sort of thing (which we do).
Wine list is excellent. Prices are also comparable to other nice bistro type restaurants although some of our friends find the prices way too high for what you get. I just think they need to expand their seating area and make it more comfortable.
My only negatives:
On our second visit, they messed up on my order and we had to wait for them to cook another plate. So my wife's was obviously sitting under the heat lamp the entire time. The waiter acknowledged it and apologized. It happens.
Although the waiters have been fairly good and helpful, the hostess/greeter not so much. In fact, that is why I rate "Reservations" at 3 stars. You have to call ahead to make reservations for some reason, even though all 3 times we have gone the place was only 1/2 full. Upon entering, the greeter ignored us for awhile and then tried to give us a speech about how we had to wait for a table as there was nothing available yet. Â What? And to make matters worse, when we called to reserve a table, they said that they would have to "squeeze" us in at a certain time because of the sold out reservations unless we wanted to eat in the bar area. Again, very few other customers showed up until well past 20 or 30 minutes into our meal. Maybe a lot of no shows? But all 3 times?
Will we go back? Of course. There are many other items on the menu that we are eager to try. The Foothill Ranch / Lake Forest area needs more places like this to increase the competition though.
Roasted chicken was undercooked according to our server. After waiting another 20 minutes for our entrees chicken was cooked but potato was cold. Free cookies for our trouble were hard and dark brown to slightly black on bottom. Won't be back. Skip this place. Rave reviews might be from their friends and family. Should have known when we walked in when the place was empty.
Review Source:Some mirror doors In between a deli and a Starbucks, looking like another small sandwich place. But once you get in there is a fancy décor restaurant, evening style, packed with a lot of customers (and that was on a Wednesday) and waiters moving fast all over the place. Really nice place, good food and you get all the attention from the moment you come through the door. Got the burger with fries, the others got a chopped salad, these were very good around $12. Most of the menu items are more in the $20 something line, we'll try those next time.
Review Source:I finally tried this place last night and I wasn't disappointed. In the boring land of South O.C., this place provides a loud, fun atmosphere that is so needed around here. Service was excellent and I enjoyed the flourless chocolate cake as I sipped my vino. My friend and I chatted with the owner and he couldn't have been nicer. Definitely going back.
Review Source:Just had lunch there and it was delicious! I tried one of their specials - the steak quesadilla & I ate every bite. They experiment with their specials the night before and select the best one. I liked the feel of the restaurant as well and everyone was very friendly and attentive!! Hope to be back soon.
Review Source:"Urban" turned 1 this month. Hopefully they (and I) will be around to see them turn 101. I have never had anything I did not enjoy. My go-to's are the burger (no bun, side salad), the minestrone sirloin soup and their pesto grilled cheese! Order all 3 and share with your date!
The wine selection is impressive. They can accomodate those who wish to spend big money on their beverages, as well as others (like myself) who enjoy a glass of Chardonay without paying for the whole vineyard. Not sure what to drink? just ask! The staff is well versed on their entire collection.
As for seating, they have a cozy restaurant area, but we prefer the high tables in the bar... Casual and very comfortable.
This has turned into our little gem. Thanks Urban!
While the food was very good, I think the quality was not up to par for the price. For the price, I expected better.
My wife and I shared an appetizer (2 prawns), then each had a steak (Rib-Eye & Filet), shared a desert (ice cream cookie sandwich) and washed it all down with one glass of wine each. The meal, with tip came to $150.
In general the quality of the food was good, although the risotto was over cooked and the rib-eye was excessively fatty.
Service was very good, but not great. The atmosphere, again was good, but not of the level expected for the prices being asked.
For the money, I would have rather gone to Mastro's, Flemings or even Hanna's in RSM.
If I had paid $100-$120 for this meal, it would have been more in line with the quality, service and atmosphere, IMO.
This place is great, especially considering the relative dearth of really nice sit-down restaurants in Lake Forest. They have a huge wine selection with a range in prices, as well as some craft brews on tap. Everything I've tried here has been awesome, regardless of the price. The burger, the tri-tip sandwich, and especially the crab legs are all out of this world.
A hint on the crab legs: pick up the bowl of butter and put it away; YOU DON'T NEED IT. The crab meat is so delicious that the butter actually dulls the flavor. You're welcome.
I never order dessert, but we decided to get some the last time I was here. I got the seasonal cobbler (apple and pear) and Sarah got the creme brûlée (as she does). I thought both were delicious, a sentiment backed up by our clean plates.
I ordered the LaFrieda Burger for $12. It is a blend of short-rib and chuck for the patty that is cooked to your desired temperature. It is then covered in aged cheddar, crispy onion strings, lettuce, dill pickles, tomatoes and special sauce. The burger comes with a choice of fries or a house chopped salad. I went with fries. The burger it self was was so moist that the juices were dripping all over the plate. The flavor of the meat was nothing but pure beef. The sour dill pickles really came through which I fully enjoyed. The crispy onion strings and lettuce added a nice crunch while the tomato added to the overall juice factor and a bit of sweetness. This was placed between two soft buns that were lightly toasted. The fries were thin, crunchy and season perfectly.
 This burger didn't stand a chance. I devoured this burger in minutes and was full for the rest of day. I was so satisfied I wanted to nap after this burger. I am always looking for the classic all American backyard burger and the LaFrieda Burger nailed it. I could not have asked for anything more in between those buns and would not have wanted anything less. The chiefs at Urban Grill and Wine Bar got this right, plain and simple. I would easily recommend anyone near Urban Grill get over there and order this burger without hesitation because you will not be disappointed.
The Vegan Burger was delicious, as promised, though it will fall apart all over your plate.
Problem is, it will take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to arrive, and if you want some extra sauce, after the burger has arrived, you might wait another 5 mins before you get to eat.
Not that I went in for wine, but...Wine Bar? I didn't even see any wine in the entry room. Maybe it's in the back room, but not a part of the decor/atmosphere.
I've been by here several times in the past and finally opted to get out of the rut for lunch and try it. I had the Tri-Tip sandwich and herbed fries. The horseradish cream was a great compliment to the perfectly cooked Tri Tip. My wife had the Crispy Fish sandwich. The lime-chipotle aioli was slightly spicy and added a little zip to the fish. The portions were generous and a great value.
Our server and the rest of the staff were friendly and attentive. I'm glad we tried something out of the ordinary. It really was a great lunch. We'll certainly be back to try their dinners and some wine.
It's unbelievable how amazing this place continues to "up their game" while delivering on the qualities that brought me back in the first place. Tonight was a special treat because I was able to witness the wait staff not only deliver on the standard epic scale of quality I'm used to but I was also treated to a busy environment. Somehow they were able to coordinate among multiple staff and provide a personalized experience in which each server who came to our table (timely, mind you) knew everything that was going on while providing exactly what we wanted at each particular moment in our dining experience. Pro.
Review Source:Had dinner here about a week ago. Moving from Singapore where there is no shortage of nice restaurants, I found it hard finding nice smaller sized venues here in America. My parents were having dinner at Urban and asked me to come check it out.
I was happy to see that it was a small but pretty place. So tired of big places with too many people.
Our waitress was nice. I ordered the Vegan burger. It tasted a Tiny bit burnt but it was so good so that part doesn't even matter. My mom had scallops, but she sent them back because according to her It was too sandy- sandy in every bite. But they were very nice and let her swap her meal for a linguini with, I'm not sure what kind of fish, but she enjoyed that a lot more. My dad got a steak, also not too sure which one but it came with amazing scalloped potatoes and fried onions I think.
For dessert we had the flourless chocolate cake. I really enjoyed that. It was a nice dining experience. I would go there again.
The better half and I were looking over some of the restaurants participating in OC Restaurant Week and not finding anything to our liking, decided to give Urban Grill and Wine Bar a go.
If you are going to eat at this restaurant on a Friday or Saturday night, I would suggest making a reservation. Â Our reservation was for 7:00 pm (we were asked if we had a reservation upon arrival) and shortly after we were seated, there wasn't a seat available, even at the bar. Â The restaurant itself is very quaint and the decor is elegant. Â
The menu boasts a good selection of wines by the glass and the bottle, but surprisingly no dessert wines. Â There is also a decent selection of beers. Â Urban Grill has a Happy Hour that runs from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm everyday and offers:
Hand Crafted Draft Beers and House Wines for $5
Gourmet Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Pesto and Fries for $4
Warm Tri-Tip Sliders and Fries for $7
Panko Crusted Chicken with Chipolte Aioli and Fries for $5
Herbed Matchstick Fries with Dipping Sauces for $3
Rohlinism: Â Happy Hour offerings and their prices should make you happy. Â I think I would be very happy with these offerings.
Once we were seated we scanned over the menu and our server Amanda took our drink orders.  When she returned with our drinks, we decided to start with the Small Plate of Thai Chicken Flatbread <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=9YyDv_EBguKGkM9hxMq6Pw&userid=ax7SnXOTIpatbsmqHLqVow">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> which comes with Pepper Jack Cheese, Cheddar Cheese, Chicken, Shredded Red Onion, Cilantro, Spicy Soy Sauce and Spicy Thai Peanut Sauce.  This was a good effort, was true to Thai cuisine with the sauces and flavors and had a good amount of Chicken, Red Onion and Cilantro.  Where is failed slightly in my opinion is it could have used some more cheese and it was a little too crispy for both our tastes.  I wish the flatbread had been a little softer, but Amanda informed us the restaurant serves the flatbread crispy.
Before ordering dinner, my wife had several questions about the menu, Amanda effectively answered each question and made Laina's decision much easier.  She settled on the Grilled Chicken Cobb <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=0uchi8MgvjaznAxGVjRo8A&userid=ax7SnXOTIpatbsmqHLqVow">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> substituting Tri-Tip for the Chicken with Chopped Mixed Lettuce, Bacon, Tomato, Avocado, Bleu Cheese Crumble, Hard Boiled Eggs and a Red Wine and Bleu Cheese Vinaigrette.  I ordered the Lafrieda Burger <a href="http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=JI2E-WQy577lcIQ_WBUfdg&userid=ax7SnXOTIpatbsmqHLqVow">http://www.yelp.com/user…</a> Medium Rare which is a blend of Short Rib and Chuck Patty, Aged Cheddar, Crispy Onion Strings, Lettuce, Dill Pickle, Tomato and Special Sauce (Mayonnaise, Dijon Mustard and Ketchup) with Herbed Matchstick Fries.  Laina said her salad had a good amount of everything (she did need an additional side of dressing) and loved how everything tasted together.  She found nothing wrong with the salad and the dressing had just the right hint of Bleu Cheese, since the salad already had crumbles in it.  My burger was good and very juicy, although it was closer to medium, the flavor was still very good.  I noticed temperature seemed to be a problem, as a gentleman at another table had to send his burger back because it was under cooked (maybe we should have switched burgers?).  The sauce was barely noticeable, which is probably a good thing, it means the flavor of the burger can stand on its own.  The fries were warm and had a very nice flavor to them.  It is not the best burger I have eaten, but it is a very good offering and I would definitely recommend it to anyone eating at this restaurant.
For dessert there is a Yelp Check-in offer for a free Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookie. Â We decided to get the cookies to go since we were pretty full from the meal. Â I had the cookies (I ate both ... oink oink) at home I was surprised how all three of the flavors managed to come through. Â These were very good cookies!
Our server Amanda was very efficient and knowledgeable. Â She answered all my wife's questions and I don't remember having to ask for anything during the service other than the request for extra dressing. Â The prices were very reasonable for the quality and quantity of the food. Â I will definitely be back. Â The only other slight detractor is the location is in a small strip mall near the 241 on Portolo Parkway, which is kind of out of the way. Â If you do make the trek here, you won't be disappointed!
Have now had multiple dinners and lunches . The staff during the day is slow and forgetful took me three times asking for a straw for my diet coke.
Place wasn't busy there were three tables with people and that I included my husband and I . I ordered the tri-tip sandwich for the second time and it was not the same my bun was burned and the amount of the grilled onions and tri -tip meat was greatly reduced. My 1st sandwich I had was heavenly I hope they can work on training there chef to duplicate there original high quality . The two primary chefs were wine tasting while someone else cook. And the effort was below standard.
Over all dinner seems to be the best bet the waitstaff is far superior and the main chefs are at work in the kitchen so the chances of a fantastic meal is greatly improved .
Towards the end of OC Restaurant Week and hubby and I looked, and looked, and perused various menus for dinner Saturday night, and nothing stood out. Â Back to Yelp ...
I've had Urban Grill & Wine Bar bookmarked for awhile now thanks to Kelley U.'s review, so a reservation was made and dinner was had. Â Kelley came up with a winner! Â
Small, quaint, but very nice setting that was filled-to-the-brim with locals enjoying some good food and good wine. Â Service was great. Â Food was great.
Thai Chicken Flatbread was delicious, with great flavors and plenty of chicken, but too crisp for my taste. Â As a bit of time went on, each piece got colder and crisper, so it ended up being more like a cracker.
My Cobb Salad, was brimming with all the right ingredients, and plenty of fresh produce. Â
Free Chocolate Chip/Peanut Butter/Oatmeal cookie with Yelp check-in, judged very good by hubby.
A large menu, with quite a few choices that appealed to me, so I will be back.
They do have outdoor seating, but Urban is in a strip mall, so the view leaves a lot to be desired, looking out at parked cars is not so great.
Prices range from $13 - $30 for main courses and include salads/burgers/steaks/fish.
Great restaurant! Came in last night and ordered dinner to-go. Got the Grilled Tri-Tip sandwich, Lafrieda Burger, and Chicken Artichoke Pasta. I always thought that the pasta had a very strong scent, but it tastes great. It's a classy place and you don't expect it in the area, but its close to home, where I'm comfortable grabbing a drink and sitting at the bar.
Staff was very friendly and nice. I'll have to come during happy hour next time!
Hmm...
To start, I was suprised this place existed in the little strip mall. The decor is nice, but the Gastro-Pub stylings feel a touch forced and a tad expensive for what you get.
Our appetizer consisted of the Mac N Cheese. $8 dollars for a bowl of Mac n Cheese? I don't think so. Not when the cheese sauce is the same sauce used in the Potatos Au Gratin served with my filet. Tasted like a mixture of velveeta with a heavy handed dash of cayenne. I didn't eat more then one bite of the appetizer, and only had one bite of my Potatos Au Gratin too. Yuck.
The french onion soup flavor wise was ok, not too salty, not too sweet, however the cheese on top appeared to be tossed on right before being brought to the table. I don't know about you, but one of the things I most love about French Onion soup is the bubbling, gooey, molten cheese typically found covering a hot bowl of yummy soup. No hot cheese. Soup was warm, not hot.
I will say, the one saving grace about my meal was the filet. Perfectly cooked medium rare. A great cut, with very simple flavor. A little salt and a little pepper. Maybe a touch more needed, but definitely erring on the side of caution with seasoning on a filet I find a good thing.
The asparagus that accompanied the filet were also very simple, but well prepared. Crisp and light.
Overall...would I come here again...um, maybe? It is very close to home...but I wouldn't drive out of my way to visit again. But yum, that filet was good.
Wow, who knew this place actually existed? I've driven past this strip mall dozens of times and had no idea. The ambiance is actually quite nice. The restaurant has a comfortable but open layout and there's a lot of interesting artwork to look at.
We started with the prosciutto wrapped shrimp. A nice smoky flavor with fresh shrimp but maybe the slightest bit dry. I had the special that night - a crispy pan fried halibut and it was great. Four 2 oz. pours for a wine flight is perfect for a weekday night. Enough to relax, but not enough to feel it the next morning. In my opinion, this grill is exactly what the Foothill Ranch/RSM are needs. Fresh food, good wine, decent prices and great service. We'll be back.
From the quick seating to the on-target advice provided by our server, this place should provide lessons in great restuarant service.
The experience was very relaxing. Â We started with a recommended bottle of the Bordeaux blend and the artisan cheese plate. Â We took our time eating and enjoying the atmosphere. Â Not once were we rushed into finishing or clearing the table.
For our main food, my husband had the Lafrieda burger (cooked to a perfect medium rare) and I had the tri-tip sandwich. Â The meal was tasty and pared well with the wine.
Dessert took the form of a chocolate chip-oatmeal-peanut butter cookie, free with our Yelp check-in. Â
Overall a good experience. Â I would have given 5-stars, but I think the pricing and the menu options need to mature a bit.
Unbelievably good for a store-front, strip-mall location and a true, neighborhood gem! First time there, it's been open for 9 months. The chef is the owner; very well done menu, presentation, and flavor. GREAT food, moderate prices.
The wine list is pretty good and cheap (by restaurant standards). Service was attentive and quick. Food came up right on time and was served very hot. Portions are good, with very large salads (meal-sized) for $8, so order a half portion salad or split it.
I ran into several friends by coincidence on my first visit and they agree with a 5-star rating. Very popular right now and very, very good food! Congrat's to the owner and staff on a fine establishment...keep it going!
This place is awesome!  My office had a lunch meeting catered by them and it was all over from there.  I got my fiancé to try this place for lunch with me and we ended up going back with friends for dinner that Friday AND returned again on Saturday for lunch... 3 times in one week!  It's that good.
Over the 3 visits we had the house chopped salad, cobb salad, tri-tip sandwich, scallops, crab legs, and halibut special... and maybe a cookie :) Â All were amazing.
The restaurant itself is nothing special... dark interior, exposed brick... art hanging on the walls... it's all just alright... and although I think a good dining experience is one part atmosphere and one part food, in the case for Urban Kitchen, the experience is the food! I've never had pork chops like this before... Â Thick cut, tender, and so much flavor that I honestlyI couldn't speak for a few moments after my first bite. And the Urban steak my wife had... almost perfect... I say almost because it could have been a tad bigger, as she only offered me a couple of bites and finished the rest.
Although I often rate the entire experience at Urban kitchen, in this case the food, coupled with great service makes this my new go-to spot for when I want a taste of AWESOME!
Absolutely delicious!
My husband and I went there for the first time on a Saturday for lunch.
Atmosphere:
Modern, dark, laid back. There weren't many people there-- only one other table when we arrived and then one additional showed up as we were leaving. They have paintings for sale on the wall. High, exposed ceilings painted black. There is a wine and beer bar, but unfortunately it is not a full service bar. The decor is modern but still warm. I'm not really sure what the other reviewer is talking about when he says there is a lack of decor. There are hand-painted trees and decor on the walls. My guess is he's just not into modern decor... but what would you expect going to a place called URBAN?
Service:
Our server was fantastic. Very friendly and attentive. She kept our drinks full and recommended dishes.
Food:
We ordered the cheese plate - It was delicious! Â It came with 3 cheeses, grapes, honey, and bread. Would have liked more grapes (we only got a tiny vine of 6 or 7 of them probably just to add color to the plate). Â The french bread was good but would have been awesome if it was served warm or toasted. All three cheeses were delicious though and we'd certainly order this again!
I ordered the Italian Sandwich. Â The sandwich portion was smaller than expected. The meat was sliced thick and the flavor of everything was excellent. It came with a huge portion of matchstick fries and a side of ketchup. Wow! The fries were great. I promised myself I'd only eat a few... but I just couldn't stop.
My husband ordered the tri-tip steak. It also came with a huge portion of fries. The steak was super tender and had great flavor. Couldn't believe this little restaurant made such a great steak! We weren't expecting that here.
All in all- Even though this was only our first visit, it has become one of our favorite places! We don't usually think to go to Foothill to eat, but we will definitely go here more often. Everything was delicious. We can't wait to try more of their dishes.
I drove past this place and my gf exclaimed, "Hey, I heard that's good. We should eat there!". So, when we drove back the other way, I stopped and we did. She's trying to say that I shouldn't review this place after only having lunch, but I think that makes no sense, so here we go.
There wasn't anyone inside when we were seated, save for a small group near the back. The decor is contemporary, with modern flourishes and some creative art (which I think was also for sale). Our server was a feisty lady - quick witted, had some spunk to her. I so rarely get anyone with a pulse, let alone a personality, that hers was refreshing.
We got a couple sodas to start off with, but they both came out flat as a board. The manager brought out two more... which were also just as flat. I advised the waitress we'd take a mulligan on them, so instead I got a beer and my lady stuck with good ol' water. Â
I never eat a salad for a meal when eating out. It just seems like a bit of a waste of money to me, plus I'd rather get an actual entree and have a small side salad. But today, I went with the Grilled Chicken Pear salad. Other than the obvious, it's got asparagus, cucumber, canided walnuts and bleu cheese, topped with a citrus vinaigrette. It was delicious, almost refreshing on a hot afternoon. My chicken was lightly seasoned, and it was good quality white meat. I thought they went a little overboard on the spinach, but I guess, you know, it IS a salad and all...
I'll have to come back for dinner sometime since most of the reviews I read were raves. Maybe their entrees are better? I liked my salad, don't get me wrong, but nothing about it said "you can't make this at home in 15 min". Still, great service can go a long way, and here it was nothing short of exemplary. I'll be back, with an update sure to follow.
Was staying at hotel by this place and went for take out. Â Loved the burger!!! Â Loved the beet salad. Â Went back the next night for take out again!
Highly recommend the food and the service is awesome. Â I watched the servers and managers and cooks as I waited for my food and I am very impressed.
I live up the hill from this restaurant, eat the Starbucks nearby at least twice a week and get my nails done at the salon next door, but I had not tried Urban Grill until tonight. It was my mom's birthday. I like to take her to restaurants we've never been on her special day, so we gave this joint a try.
The service was wonderful, from the moment we walked through the door. It was early on a Sunday night, and we were the only ones there for a while, but the staff stayed busy cleaning. I like that. I've worked in restaurants. I get it. They could have easily stood around chatting with each other, but instead were working hard while they waited for the dinner crowd. Many more tables filled up about 1/2 hour after we arrived and soon enough they were busy with customers.
We ordered the Mac and Cheese as an appetizer, based on the reviews I'd read on Yelp, and we were not disappointed. Very good! Ooey gooey cheesy and topped with bacon. Yum! I had the Skillet Steak and my mom had prawns over linguine. Both were delicious, although my mom found the prawns just a bit salty (but she says that about all restaurant food.) The steak was tender as butter and deliciously smothered in mushrooms and sauce. Good stuff!
I brought home the jambalaya for my husband, and asked them to kick up the spice to an 11 for him. He really enjoyed it. Of course, it wasn't spicy enough, but things rarely are for him.
All in all, I certainly enjoyed my Urban Grill experience and will be back soon! I definitely recommend it!
Well, you know me and wine. I was super excited to go here. When I walked in, it was basically - bring your kid to the wine bar nite. I was not expecting that, and although it is no fault of the establishment, I don't want to listen to obnoxious kids running about as I drink my wine.
So I had the wedge salad without onions. It was romaine lettuce nicely plated with candied walnuts, blue cheese and blue cheese dressing. And bacon. Bacon is a must for a wedge. The salad was vey tasty and nicely seasoned.
For my entree, I opted for the scallop small dish. Two plump perfectly grilled scallops with (mango?) chutney on a bed of rice. The chutney really complemented the dish nicely. My only request would be that there was a little bit more chutney, because I am a glutton and really enjoyed it.
Finally, dessert. The creme brûlée was the best I have ever tasted. Creamy and luxurious. If it was socially acceptable, I would have licked the plate. Literally. The crunchy sugar was perfectly browned. As a Yelper, that checked in, I got 2 free cookies that were the size of my head. But the waitress let me know that they are not normally this large.
It was pricer than i expected(a wedge will run you $8 bucks and a small plate with 2 scallops $11) but Overall, a quaint place with tasty food.
A peasant becomes fond of his pig and is glad to salt away its pork. What is significant, and is so difficult for the urban stranger to understand, is that the two statements are connected by an and not by a but -- John Berger
Foothill Ranch certainly isn't rural anymore but it is not close to being urban. Â However, it has an urban oasis with this cool, upscale eatery tucked away in a nondescript strip mall (which includes a Wahoos and Courtyard by Marriott). Â
I stopped in here for a late lunch with the Wine Thief after wine tasting over in Silverado Canyon. Â This hit the spot after a session of mediocre wine. Â This review is for lunch where they have a unique selection of small plate appetizers, salads, soups, entrees, and desserts. Â There is an interesting by the glass wine list and the reds are actually served at the right temperature (no lukewarm reds here which was much needed considering how hot it was outside). Â The menu could be described as Chic California Cuisine :) Â
We went with the urban flatbread, artisan cheese plate and garlic parmesan fries. Â Â With Yelp check in, we received two free cookies :) Â For wine, we went with glasses of Atrea (a Mendocino wine blend) and a Joseph Swan Pinot. Â The food was excellent with nice flavors. Â The only service hiccup was the cheese plate was dropped off without a description of cheeses (we guessed two out three, a Cypress Grove goat cheese and a Manchego). Â Otherwise our server was friendly and I think was even reading the Yelp tips we were leaving :) Â
The cookies were very good too :) Â
I look forward to coming back here for dinner. Â An excellent new option in the barren food wasteland of South Orange County!
Great food!
Came here for my brother's birthday lunch and had a great experience. There's a check-in deal for 2 free cookies, which I'm so bummed I forgot to claim. ):
We ordered the grilled tri-tip sandwich ($10), the lafrieda burger ($10.50) and the grilled chicken pear salad ($9.50). The sandwich and the burger were excellent - super tender, juicy and savory for both!! The crispy fries that came with each order were delicious as well. I highly recommend these.
The chicken pear salad was probably my least favorite of the bunch. It came with baby spinach, asparagus, candied walnuts topped with citrus vinaigrette. Personally, I didn't particularly care for the baby spinach - I felt it took away from the salad, as it was lacking in some needed texture/crunch. I really enjoyed each ingredient individually, but as a whole, I didn't feel that the salad came together for a harmonious flavor.
Overall, I had a great experience and would come back if I was in the area.
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