Fennel Kitchen & Bar — Restaurant in Aliso Viejo

We just had the worst experience we've ever had at a restaurant last night. After waiting for approximately 20 minutes for a table, our party of 5 chose to sit outside because it was the first table available, and we were very hungry. We let the hostess know that we knew what we wanted and were ready order as soon as they were ready to take our order. The hostess was very nice, seated us and came back with utensils and napkins and let us know our server would be with us shortly. After about 5 minutes, she came back and said the server would be with us in 2 minutes. We watched her go inside and remind the server that we were waiting for him to come take our order. We continued to wait for another 10 -15 minutes for our server to come to our table. Once he arrived, he was clearly agitated and abruptly asked for our order. My wife asked if he knew that our table was in his section, to which he responded, “don’t poke the wrong bear”. He then added that he was having a bad day and that he was not a slave he was a server. He then said in a hostile manner “just give me your order”, and at that point our entire party got up and said that we would not be eating there, and his response was ”good, I didn’t want to serve you anyway”. I was so furious I went into the restaurant and asked to speak to the owner. The owner was not there, but the manager on duty came to assist. I told her that the server was extremely rude to us and that we had dined at that restaurant over 10 times and were shocked by the treatment we received from him. He then started loudly arguing with me in the middle of the restaurant, accusing my wife of being rude to him and again used the phrase that he was not a slave he was a server. To the manager’s credit she handled the situation very professionally and asked if I would come outside and discuss it with her. He followed us out the door and kept arguing, telling me he had been a server there since the restaurant had opened. The manager asked him to go back inside multiple times and finally said if he didn’t go back inside immediately, she would terminate him. Once he finally left, we shared our experience with Janelle, who managed the discussion with great professionalism. The server not only angered all of us but also scared my wife with his aggressiveness. It’s truly unfortunate how one employee can tarnish the reputation of an entire establishment. Won’t step foot in this place as long as that server is employed by them. Before this incident, this was one of our favorite restaurants in...

Walked in for an early Tuesday night dinner. The restaurant wasn't too busy. The Aliso Viejo plaza has been desperate for new and good food for awhile now, and Fennel could be a new contender.

First and foremost, the décor and ambiance is great. The restaurant is beautifully designed. It is clear that the owners have a pulse on great, contemporary design. Not to mention, they were playing Taylor Swift (even the deep cuts) throughout our entire meal, so I was a happy camper.

On to the food... We ordered the eggplant dip (2/5) as a starter. We figured it would be a typical babaganoush but the eggplant dip at Fennel wasn't as bright with citrus as it could have been. I would probably opt for a different starter.

For mains, we tried the salmon sandwich and the koobideh kabob plate. The size of the meals are generous. The salmon sandwich was better than anticipated. We enjoyed the pickled red onions on the side and the texture of the bread was unexpected. The salmon was surprisingly well-cooked and the saltiness of the feta help balance the sandwich. The koobideh was well seasoned (possibly verging on too salty for some) and cooked well. Both dishes are worthy of ordering again in the future.

The service wasn't bad, wasn't excellent. I overheard the table next to us talk about how they missed the servers from Panini Kabob Grill, which was the former tenant, because of how friendly and personable they were. I would tend to agree. By no means did we receive bad service but the server could have been more present/outwardly friendly since it wasn't a busy time.

I look forward to trying Fennel again in the...

Finally found a spot that can keep the entire family happy…from apps, to drinks to main course and dessert. Oh and the vibe!

The moment we walked in, I knew this place was going to be a hit. Much bigger than it looks from the outside—modern, stylish, and still cozy in all the best ways. It’s got that inviting, energetic buzz that makes you want to linger.

Jacob, our server, was incredible—he literally read my mind. I barely had to say a word and he nailed every single part of my order. That kind of thoughtful, intuitive service is so rare and really made the experience stand out.

We kicked things off with the hummus and pita, served with crisp, fresh-cut cucumbers and carrots. It was the kind of simple, clean starter that hits all the right notes—cool, creamy, crunchy, and full of flavor. The grilled Serrano chili added the perfect smoky heat—SO good.

The Caesar salad was tossed in a punchy house-made dressing and topped with the most delicious grilled, butterfly-cut chicken filet—charred, juicy, and cooked to perfection. My husband swapped the salmon for chicken in his bowl and didn’t miss the fish for a second.

What sealed the deal? Jacob told us the owners treat their staff like family—people want to work here, and it shows. Everyone was warm, dialed-in, and genuinely happy to be there.

Almost all the desserts are made in-house, and their ice cream comes from the best local spot in town. I didn’t have room this time—but I’m already planning to come back for brunch (I hear it’s packed for a reason).

Amazing food, impeccable service, and the kind of vibe that just feels good. This place...