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Marché Moderne

Marché Moderne Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant and décor: After years of being situated across the way from elegant shops in South Coast Plaza, Florent and Amelia Marneau’s beloved French restaurant finds itself across from the ocean, nestled against the undulating hills of Newport Coast. The surroundings couple fittingly with the venue’s indoor aesthetic, where the traditional elegance of white tablecloths and earth-toned banquettes meets vibrant lighting, retro-cool stone walls and a massive exhibition kitchen adorned by choice selections of charcuterie waiting to be sliced.

Likes: Elegant yet approachable setting; excellent wine list; attentive, knowledgeable service.
Dislikes: None.

Food & Drinks: One thing that’s stayed steady in the move is Florent’s skill in preparing French cuisine, as each dish presented is an exhibition of finely tuned technique, compositional purity and pinpoint balance. Start your journey with an indulgent butter flight. Second-course small plates such as the British Columbia scallops, toasted buckwheat butter jus and caviar; and the celery root potage, roasted hazelnut and stone crab ideally transition the palate from the beginning round of offerings. Mains like steak frites and coq au vin are well crafted, and they share space with Florent’s loving interpretations of classic dishes of OC restaurants of yore, from Pascal’s braised rabbit à la moutarde to Aubergine’s mesquite smoked duck breast. Pastry chef Amelia’s desserts are statement pieces, as delights like the chocolate cake with apricot stracciatella gelato and the panna cotta with mango compote and lime matcha tea streusel produce harmonious flavors and textures. The wine list features a wealth of topnotch selections from France and California, while the intimate bar crafts an array of sophisticated cocktails.