Il Girasole

Review summary

1. D

   David VIP

   Greater Boston14 reviews

   4.0

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   Delicious but….a little too loud and extremely modest portions. The Dungeness crab appetizer was delicious however was no larger than 3 small bites and had the diameter of a silver dollar. Very “thoughtful” presentation but very little portion for $32. My wife and I really enjoyed the hamachi crudo, and you can tell from the picture they really are putting in the “extra mile” effort, as if they were practicing for a Michelin star. My bass was delicious but again, a tiny portion. I think the burrata salad was the only dish where the portion made sense with the price. Finally, it is a fun ambience however the louder music made it hard to speak because everyone’s voice was louder trying to bear each other above other tables and the music. Small portions, kind of loud, and delicious.
   

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2. H

   Hannah

   Orange County1 review

   5.0

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Perfect date night spot! Loved it and will most likely be coming back :)
   

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3. C

   CK

   Orange County3 reviews

   3.0

   Dined 6 days ago

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 3
   4. Ambience 3

   The food is good but the portion is a bit small and little pricey.
   

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4. J

   Jack VIP

   Orange County11 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 8, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Food was excellent. Will definitely return again.
   

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5. S

   Stacie VIP

   Orange County2 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 8, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Delicious food, impeccable service! We've already booked our next reservation!
   

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6. M

   Marianne

   Los Angeles1 review

   4.0

   Dined on March 5, 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   It is a nice place, the restaurant is brand new and has vibrant and stylish atmosphere. I went for a quick lunch to try their offering for OC Restaurant week. The service was good, I felt welcome. For appetizer I had crudo Hamachi and it was very fresh, I would have liked it to be just a tad more seasoned but overall - great presentation and it tasted good. For entree I had pasta with guanciale and it was very flavorful - a little too al-dente for me, but again, it is a matter of preference. The desert was wine-poached pear and it was fabulous - both taste and presentation were great. Overall pretty decent experience.
   

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7. s

   sarasongbird VIP

   Orange County25 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 5, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Wonderful new addition to OC’s excellent food options. Il Girasole offers beautifully prepared and served meals and a lovely wine list. Can’t wait to go back.
   

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8. A

   Amy

   Orange County68 reviews

   5.0

   Dined on March 3, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Il Girasol is a gem! We tried the restaurant week tasting menu and it was wonderful. We started with the consigliere cocktail which was perfectly crafted, balanced and delicious. We had the hamachi crudo and beet salad starters both fresh and very good. For the second, we had the gnochetti and the risotto. The kitchen knows what they are doing! The risotto was perfect- just exactly Al dente and well seasoned - exactly as it should be but rarely is. We both loved the duck breast main course. The duck is aged and then seared to perfection with a fabulous fennel crusted crispy skin, a tiny layer of unctuous fat and a tender meat layer that was exactly medium rare. They share a pour of true demi glace around the duck and you are in culinary heaven. Dessert was an amazing pavlova and fresh fruit- so good. The price for this feast was extremely reasonable- honestly an actually terrific deal! Service was personal and personable- a lovely experience we look forward to repeating!
   

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9. OT

   OpenTable Diner

   Chicago1 review

   5.0

   Dined on March 2, 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   I had high expectations for this restaurant and it 100% exceeded them! Great service, unique and chic design, relaxed dining experience. Highly recommend!
   

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10. A

    Allison

    Orange County10 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on March 2, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4

    So glad I got to try this place, finding it from OCRW2025! The paintings inside are soo cute & service is top notch!! We were the first ones in with a reservation so not sure why we got the seat next to the restroom but oh well. We went with the 3 course deal for $35 and it was delicious! Everything was light, fresh & tasty. You won’t leave feeling over stuffed with is nice! The humachi was fresh and presentation A+. My seabass was also crispy & fresh and loved the veggies. My friend also really enjoyed her pasta dish. We got both desserts and tried both! Chocolate flourless cake was very decadent and soft! The poached pear was freshing and more my liking but both amazing! Totally worth trying! Highly recommend!!
    

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