Cuisine:

• Others
• French
• Contemporary

Marche Moderne Description:
The culmination of the illustrious careers of chefs Florent and Amelia Marneau, Marché Moderne has a sophisticated yet inviting interior with its wood plank floors, high wood ceilings, cozy banquette seating, sumptuous fabrics and exhibition kitchen. The patio may be the jewel of the restaurant with Mediterranean touches like citrus trees and romantic booths for four draped with silk taffeta. OC's power elite, especially South Coast Plaza's head honchos and fashionistas, lunch here on the chef's surprisingly reasonable fixed-price menu. In the afternoons and early evenings, some come here to relax at the state-of-the-art wine tasting bar. Chef Florent is also known for his fresh salads (lobster, salade composée) and French-style tarts, which he bakes himself in the kitchen's roaring wood-burning oven. There's a good selection of French bistro classics such as moules frites, steak frites à l'échalote, artisan cheese, charcuterie plates and several interpretations of foie gras. Entrées, such as the braised short ribs with gnocchi, bacon and crimini mushrooms in a red wine sauce or the roasted Italian sea bream with sorrel, crème fraîche, capers and pomme frites, are full of enticing flavors. On Thursdays, you can enjoy an authentic Marseille-style bouillabaisse with fish caught the previous day in France. The crowning course may be dessert: don't miss pastry chef Amelia's creations, like a creamy caramelized nougat glacé with caramelized almonds next to a fresh-from-the-oven madeleine. Marché Moderne offers a lunchtime $20 three-course prix-fixe menu, which changes daily.


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