The Hobbit

I have been trying to come to this restaurant for 10 years and I finally secured a reservation. We finally came yesterday and had a nice dinner, - we enjoyed the 6 courses, champagne, wine and a cappuccino. Definitely enjoyed the ambiance and I appreciate they have a strict dress code. We were given the opportunity to walk around and meet the chef and have a nice conversation with him. I love the history of the building and the hobbit story and of course the wine cellar, along with the nice patio and additional seating and deck upstairs. Our waitress was "Joelle" who was so sweet and efficient but all the wait staff seemed to do an amazing job making sure we had drinks, food, a clean table and silverware. Everyone was very attentive and friendly and the place was immaculate. I really enjoyed all the food, the salad with the crunch rice and the sorbet (OMG) SO GOOD and of course the Filet was so good cooked to perfection. I also liked how the plating was of course pretty and everything seems so intentional and paired well together. I'm not a duck fan although the duck dish was better than I anticipated. I'm pretty boring with trying new foods but here made me feel more adventurous because the food was so beautiful. I booked this place for my husband who is a MAjOR foodie and he really enjoyed this dinner. I enjoyed the food as well! We will definitely come back as I want to try their spring and summer menus.

A Disappointing Experience at The Hobbit - Sadly, Not Worth the HypeI had been looking forward to dining at The Hobbit for a long time. Friends had raved about it, online reviews were glowing, and our expectations were high. This was meant to be a special night out, so my wife and I dressed up, arrived early, and started with a cocktail in the basement lounge. The ambiance was lively, and the service started off strong--things were looking promising.Unfortunately, that excitement quickly changed once the meal began.The Three Perfect Bites amuse-bouche was an uneven start. Two were enjoyable, but the third was underwhelming. Temperature and texture seemed off--they weren't crispy as they appeared, and they landed somewhere between warm and cold.The Japanese Hamachi Crudo had a flavorful apple drizzle, but the scallop didn't seem properly prepared. The next course, which I honestly can't even remember if it was lamb or something else, was dry, lacking in flavor, and entirely forgettable.The palate cleanser, a sorbet, turned out to be the highlight of the night. That alone speaks volumes.For the main course, I opted for the filet mignon, while my wife had the lobster-glazed cod. My steak was cooked well, and the sauce had some flavor, but the accompanying potato cake and mushroom were both dry and uninspired. It felt like something I could get at a mid-range steakhouse--not a restaurant of this caliber. My wife's cod was equally underwhelming, lacking the richness or complexity you'd expect from a fine-dining seafood dish.Dessert was another letdown. I had read that we would be served some sort of date cake with hazelnut, but instead, we received a chocolate tart with meringue and raspberry--a disappointing substitution. Like much of the meal, it failed to impress.For $150 per person plus an 18% mandatory gratuity, the cost came out to just over $900 for four people. While we knew it would be an expensive evening, the price was far too steep for food that didn't meet expectations.The staff and ambiance were great, but unfortunately, that's not enough to bring me back. There are far better fine dining experiences in LA and Orange County--and even more memorable meals at much more affordable restaurants. While I'm glad to say I've been here once, I wouldn't recommend The Hobbit, nor would I return.For those considering a visit, I'd say--manage your expectations, or perhaps, choose another spot for your special night out.

You know it's going to be a good dining experience when the bread arrives buttery and delicious!! Dining at The Hobbit in Orange was an unforgettable experience. The tasting menu was thoughtfully designed and expertly prepared. It started with a delicious amuse-bouche, followed by highlights like the Bang Island mussels in saffron broth and the sausage-stuffed quail with a tangy pomegranate glaze and rich brown butter jus.For the main course, the cote de boeuf was cooked to perfection, paired with a creamy root vegetable gratin and flavorful braised red cabbage. The walnut-crusted halibut was also excellent, served with celery root puree and a delicate lobster foam. p (our table's group favorite)Dessert was a decadent chocolate ganache tart with hazelnut praline and toasted meringue. Every bite was memorable, making this meal truly special. Special thanks to Andrew for being awesome and helping take some great photos for our group!

I recently dined at The Hobbit for a friend's birthday and it was an unforgettable experience. It's a 6 course pre-fixe tasting menu and the entire meal lasted about 4 hours. Each course was perfectly timed and beautifully presented. We had 3 bite sized appetizer, Japanese Hamachi, Roasted Quail, Sorbet, Beef Wellington, and Medjool date cake. Everything tasted amazing except the date cake. I wasn't a big fan of it. The atmosphere is elegant and there's a dress code, so definitely come prepared and avoid being underdressed. We missed the cocktail hour at 6PM because we were too caught up in conversation. I'll definitely go back next time to experience the cocktail hour. Overall, it's a unique and memorable dining experience. Highly recommended!

Dinner starts at 7pm but you can come at 6pm to go to the wine cellar area and drink before the meal. $150/per person for dinnerPrivate parking lotDress code: Men wear dress slacks and a collared shirt that buttons down the front. Most men will wear a jacket and/or a tie. Ladies, dress up, like a fancy Holiday Cocktail party. Not allowed for anyone: Denim jeans, polo shirts, shorts, tennis shoes or flip flops.We came around 6:40pm. We don't drink but wanted to see the cellar. There was no small h'odorves like before. I saw people pictures of small h'odorves being served when you go before 7pm. I guess new management changed and wanted to cut cost. The wine cellar has a lot of different wines. ***FYI: when they serve champagne, it's free ***The seating area is depending on how much is in your group. I liked ours since it was the brightest. We had 4 people in our table and our room is the brightest. The 2 people seats is in another room and is the darkest. There is also seating upstairs and in the wine cellar for bigger groups. We asked why it's called The Hobbit but is loosely translated to The Hobbit from Lord of the Rings. She said it's because hobbits eat 6 times a day and that's why there are 6 servings for dinner. And the closest Easter egg of The Hobbit is the tea box that has the design of Lord of the Rings. There is intermission before the main course. You can get up and see the building and rooms. You can talk to the chef/cook, you can take pictures, walk around, etc. You can go upstairs and see the small upstairs patio. They'll let you know when the main course is about to start.I liked everything they served. Between the main course--beef or halibut.... My boyfriend and I got 1 of each to try it out. I liked both, but the halibut is very unique. It's super buttery. I suggest to try the halibut. The beef is super tender too. So you can't go wrong with either or. The dessert, for me, is way to sweet. The hazelnut praline was too sweet for me. I couldn't even finish it. I got it to go. Service was superb, they would describe all the dishes when it's served to you. They kept refilling our water drinks.

We have come to the Hobbit for special events a number of times over the years. This time was the first under the new owners so we were curious how things would be. I'm happy to report that the best aspects remain and some freshening up has happened. They have converted the old upstairs bar area into private dining rooms and moved the pre-dinner cocktails to the wine cellar. Appetizers and Hobbit champagne are plated and served at your table now. I was worried about missing the old appetizers but fortunately they still serve the French sandwich during cocktail hour.The six course meal is very similar to before. They just change the menu less often.The dining room has been subtly updated with a little more contemporary look.Quality is still excellent and some of the kitchen staff are from before.Happy to report that the Hobbit is poised to continue another long run.

My boyfriend surprised me with reservations for our anniversary. It was such a lovely experience. The cocktail hour was in the wine cellar and it was so cool looking all of their bottles. There was a bar with cocktails to purchase. It was 5 course meal and we opted for the filet mignon main course. The service from the entire staff was tremendous. They have 2 rooms for seating, we were in the smaller room which was a more intimate setting.

It is always amazing to visit a new place where elegant attire is required to accompany your experience. Arrived dressed to impress. You are welcomed at the door and await your multi course dinner at the cellar where a team of knowledgeable mixologists are ready to prepare your drink to perfection or ready to assist you in the discovery of a fabulous bottle of wine. We opted for cocktails and I was happy to discover that my favorite single malts, some not very popular, were part of the bar selection. Friends were raving about the ambiance and the menu of specially prepared cocktails for the evening. The dinner was magnificent, every dish presented eloquently by the Maitre d' with special service selections for a friend that is vegan. I am not going to go in detail about the menu because I have a feeling that it changes constantly according to the season. The food and experience were amazing, we were a large group, I never felt rushed, and the intermission after a few plates and before the main course was a very clever part of the program. Highly recommended!

Had an amazing experience at this restaurant! We went for my uncle's birthday and they were extremely accommodating for vegetarian and other dietary restrictions. They did put us in a private room which was really nice, although it would've been nice to be closer to some other people since the music was a bit folky and quiet. All of the food was absolutely amazing (even though portions were small) and I actually left feeling not too hungry which I was worried about! The wine cellar and cocktail hour was also super unique and I loved that they help pick out a bottle. I would definitely recommend checking out this unique spot at least once if you are in the area.

Started the evening in the wine cellar with the 'Whiskey Warmup' and 'Pear of Fellow Sophisticate'. Great atmosphere surrounded by an exquisite wine selection for pairings during dinner. The Hobbit seated our party in a private room with access to a private balcony of which we took advantage during the intermission from the perfect bites and entrees of Lobster Glazed Black Cod or Prime Filet Mignon. Chocolate Ganache Tart and Lattes ended our evening. The staff were attentive, knowledgeable and engaging. The 4+ hours were one of the most memorable and enjoyable dining experience we've had in Southern California.