My goodness, a fabulously delicious French Bistro in Orange County? In South Coast Plaza? Are you kidding me?

That would have been my response before Marche Moderne opened. And since I'm back in OC this week to visit the family, I figured I should finally give this place a try while I'm in town. And oh yes, thank goodness I did!

The bread and butter were a good sign of what was to come. The butter was nice and sweet, and the bread was soft and fresh.

And from here, on to the cheese course. Great European cheeses. Fresh fruit compotes. Perfectly baked baguette. What's not to love?

And then, I discovered the Alsatian Tarte Flambee. The caramelized onions added just the right amount of sweetness to perfectly complement the tang and tart of the creme fraiche and the cave aged Gruyere.


Oh, and how can I forget dessert? The lemon and blackberry souffle with ice cream wasn't exactly traditional, but my oh my was it delicious! I just couldn't stop eating it, as the fruity flavors kept me wanting to dig deeper into it.


So what's not to love about this place? The service was superb and very friendly. The food was bar none the best bistro fare I've discovered in Orange County. And for a chi-chi bistro in such a high-end mall, the lunch specials are surprisingly affordable. RUN, don't walk, to this place and give it a taste!



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Marche Moderne

3333 Bristol St
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 434-7900
www.marchemoderne.net