THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Golden Truffle Awards

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Golden Truffle Restaurant Review:

Chef-proprietor Alan Greeley has been cooking up innovative modern American cuisine before the term was even invented. Known in OC as a chef to the region's top chefs, Greeley is wildly passionate about using the finest and freshest international ingredients and seasonal local produce. Hopefully, you'll catch the restaurant on a day when chef Greeley is in, otherwise your experience might be a different one altogether. The Golden Truffle is actually more of a catering business, so foodies are lucky to have this Costa Mesa restaurant open several days a week for lunch and dinner. Don't expect slick décor; the boldly pastel-hued interior is rather outdated. But do anticipate gracious service, classic cocktails and an extraordinary wine list, which is hand-picked by Greeley. Order off of the daily changing menu or go for Greeley's off-the-cuff prix-fixe offerings. Each dish has explosive yet subtle flavors, such as the house-cured salmon with a Fuji apple hash brown and arugula-infused olive oil. At lunch, try the sweet shrimp green goddess salad or the cheeseburger and fries with house-made ketchup. For dinner, Alaskan halibut comes with a roasted tomato-coconut milk curry and creamy lentil potatoes; the bratwurst sampler dons chile cheese sauce and horseradish. Don’t be surprised to find exotic items like alligator, oxtail or sweetbreads on the menu. Among desserts, expect treats like the light chocolate mousse with sweet vanilla bean ice cream.