Chapter One: the modern local

The food was so amazing! We haven't been here in a while because the quality of the food was not great. They've made some amazing improvements! We went for a brunch and both had the steak and potatoes. The hollandaise sauce was amazing, and it wasn't overwhelming. Next time I'll ask for an additional side of the hollandaise. The potatoes were beautifully seasoned with lots of spices. I cleaned my plate, it was so good!! We'll be coming back more often. Our waiter was so busy but regardless, attentive. Enjoyed that lots of natural light came in from the windows.Again the food was so good! We bought the back a round of beers.

This is a tough review to leave, because my previous visits here have been solid, albeit that was before COVID changed everything for the service industry. Came here for a date night. Checked in with the hostess (made a reservation on OpenTable). She showed us to a bar table (I thought I had asked for a table in the restaurant area), and simply left. That was it. Didn't give us menus, didn't explain that it was a QR code, didn't let us know who our server was, or anything else. Simply said "Here you are" and walked away.As we sat there, I don't exaggerate when I say it took longer than 20 minutes for someone to come over and take a drink order. And the introduction was simply "Hey, has anyone been here yet?" When we explained that no one had, our server took our drink order, which proceeded to take another 20 minutes to make it to our table. The entire time of which, our water eventually went empty and we had to ask another passing server to refill it. About 10 minutes after our drinks arrive, we're nearly an hour into date night, and we haven't ordered food. I'm ready to pay for our drinks and leave, but we stay and we're eventually able to place a food order. We started with the empenadas, and Margherita flat bread. I'm not exaggerating when I say the empanadas came out lukewarm and soggy. The flatbread had definitely been frozen before it was brought out. We also get the steak salad, and the chicken Ceasar salad. The steak salad, to the restaurants credit, was very good. Meat was cooked well, the greens were fresh, and the salad was seasoned well and very well put together. The chicken Ceasar salad, by comparison, was a tragedy of iceberg lettuce, barely warm chicken, and stale croutons. I could literally pinch them and they would bounce back. I left most of it on the plate. The quickest our server was the entire night was when it came time to pay. This place gets an extra star because they clearly can make a good steak salad. I'm not sure why the rest of the execution falls flat, but unless I hear that this place has rebounded, I plan on staying away from here.

Checked in tonight as a Hospitality Ninja Student and Chapter One was seriously a Cave filled with so many Exquisitely Chic Lessons on what makes a Restaurant Top Shelf Authentically Charming and Uniquely Special!!Right when we walked in I loved the fun Welcome Mat and sign that invited my Professor Sitter and I to seat ourselves. I chose a nice Cozy clean and comfortably Chic booth and delighted in all the fun and boldly Bouncy and Nerdy Vibrations of the Cave! I love the Statements showing the Restaurant's support for the Arsenal Football Team, a Server wearing a hilariously Fun colorfully lit WWF Christmas Sweater, and Bookshelves encouraging a thoroughly Well Read Lifestyle ;0)Natalie was our Server and she completely blew us away with the quality of her Hosting! I told her I was a Yelper and needed her to sell me on the Best Chapter One Experience and she slayed through her Hospitality Soccer Hustle like a Champion's League Superstar! Natalie gave us an endless barrage of highly specific terrific Cocktail, Appetizer, Main Course, and Dessert Suggestions and made the whole Experience feel like a Well Engineered Disneyland Ride! Natalie playfully informed us about the interesting History of Chapter One and how it was originally a Bookstore, the Family Oriented Team Culture that Hosts insanely Fun and Classy New Years Celebration Traditions, and the Executive Chef responsible for all breathtaking Recipe Designs we got to enjoy that evening. I was curious about the Owner and Natalie pointed him out as a fully engaged and present Dining Room Guardian roaming around the Restaurant that evening!Hats off to the Owner for being so incredibly humble and being the most Intriguing and Effective Restauranteur I've seen in all my years of Yelping! The Design and Charm of Chapter One is so Tastefully Electrifying and big thanks to Natalie and Ryan for playing their Server Roles with such focused and responsible Professionally Chic Enthusiasm!!! And the Server with the NWO Throwback Christmas Sweater wins my Favorite Christmas Sweater Award for the Season ;0)You must try their Espresso Martini and Beef Empanadas and White Chocolate Souffle!!! Their Housemade Ketchup is incredible too and was my Favorite part of the Royale Cheese Gourmet Burger Entree. The Kitchen Staff and Executive Chef is seriously in top of their Professional A Game!!

GREAT First Date and any date spot. I met my future spouse here and hey maybe you can too. Ambiance is great. Menu is simple and delicious. Service is great. Restrooms could use an updated refresh but I can overlook it for now.

The food here is some of the best in Orange County. The presentation, taste, and service is that of a Michelin star restaurant. Branson is an amazing server who brings the soul of this place to every table. We went for brunch for OC restaurant week and will be back for every meal option.

Had fun for brunch with friends. Great food and service! Will be back again especially for the pozole!

Came for Succulent workshop, and had one the BEST Sangrias! Decided to try the lumpia, and it was delicious. Service was great. Our group was assigned one person to make sure everything went well, and they were on top of it. Super attentive & friendly. The parking in the area can get a little crazy, but there's a plethora of options.

Me and my cousins stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and it was our first stop ofMany around Santa Ana! (we are restaurant hopping). This was a great place to start! Waiter Branson was so attentive, friendly and funny! Loved the vibe here. Had the championship soccer game was airing and great beers on draft!

Chilaquiles. That is the main reason for our brunch celebration this morning. My daughter was in search for some good chilaquiles, and we definitely found some at Chapter One. I love that we were able to find reservations right away. Our waitress was so friendly, and took the best picture for us (score!). Other than that, they offered lots of great options for brunch.I'm a healthy bean so stuck to good old egg whites, toast and potato's (their toast was BOMB!). Hubbie really enjoyed his pork belly burritos and daughter said she would come back for their chilaquiles (she is picky with her Chilaquiles). And their duck fries were SO good.Overall a very comfortable restaurant for some good grub food and drinks. Excited to come back and try more options. Thanks, Chapter One!

Unhappy hostess? Was barely greeted by the brunette hostess and then she pointed to a booth, didn't escort us. She came by 5 mins later to drop off plates and flatware and didn't even look at us. Came in for restaurant week lunch at 2pm on Sunday and was told that they only serve brunch at this time, the restaurant week lunch is not available today, and we had to wait until dinner after 3pm for the restaurant week menu. The waiter was apologetic so that was nice. Music is a bit too loud. But then I realized there is a DJ over in the bar area. No wonder! It felt and sounded like a Thursday night at the Red Onion back in the 80s!Food: I highly recommend the steak and potatoes. The steak was melt in your mouth tender. Hubby had the bacon wrapped meatloaf and said it was delicious. Mimosa flight was good-bottle of sparkling wine and 3 glasses of different juices.