Tuscan sandwich is da bomb and their cous cous salad is super yummy as well. BUT COME FOR THE PASTRIES FOR SURE. My favorite is the croissant with strawberries and cream. The cream is to die for. I would just like a huge bowl of that cream. But the balance of the flakiness of the croissant, with the heaviness of the cream, and the tart strawberries make for one of the best combos you will ever have. The cinnamon twists are delicious as well. -1 star for my super thick, not so soupy tortilla soup, though.
(4)
Cat C.
First time trying out this cute little breakfast place tucked in Fashion Island. What brought me to this place was the pictures of their pastries, specifically the strawberry croissant which was delicious! I also got the iced tea of the day which was pomegranate green tea. At first I only tasted green tea and asked the employees if it was indeed pomegranate. They said yes but that it's very light. The tea was good with the sweet croissant but I probably wouldn't get it on its own. Employees are very friendly and there are many tables for seating inside and outside. My friend got the pesto benedict. SO MUCH ARUGULA haha. It was good but the amount of arugula was sort of a turn off. All in all, will probably come back in the future for the pastries and tea!
(4)
Caitlin L.
This place is pretty expensive. I got an omelette and a cinnamon twist for later and it was almost $20. The omelette (french) came with toast and butter, no jam. However, the toast was a nice static to the omelette. The omelette had really overpowering goat cheese. I could hardly taste the sun dried tomatoes and avocado. I would not get this dish again. But the pastries look great.
(3)
Julian T.
A little pricey for a small breakfast plate or sandwich, but it was really good! Boyfriend and I just got over stomach flu and were looking for something to fill our (very small at this point) appetites. I got the French Omelette which is light, not too heavy especially since it is filled with spinach, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, and goat cheese topped with asparagus. Goat cheese was a little bit to much for me, but I still enjoyed it. Also was craving toast (also the only thing I ate while sick) and was glad it came with toast on the side! Boyfriend got the breakfast sandwich with croissant, he said it was good and he enjoyed it. Perfect way to start off our appetites! Writing this maybe 3 hours later and I'm still feeling full even though the plates were not that large for almost $12 per plate, but it makes sense located in Fashion Island - food was also quality over quantity. A good brunch location in Fashion Island. Would definitely come again for a lighter breakfast/brunch & a stroll through the outdoor mall.
(4)
Lindsay S.
When you arrive early at the mall, and you need some fuel before a day of shopping, this is the place to go. The best part is the baker rolling out dough for pastries as you wait in the cashier line. The service is fast and friendly, and the prices are reasonable compared to other upscale restaurants in Fashion Island. I like to order the turkey sandwich and an iced coffee. The sandwich has great flavor and will keep you satisfied as you browse the stores for that perfect outfit. They also have nice patio seating so you can people watch.
(4)
Isis Q.
My sister, a friend, and I dined here at 1:30pm. Incredibly crowded place for decent food. The only seats we could find after waiting 15 minutes were out underneath the sun. We were drenched in sweat by the time our order arrived. The friend and I had both ordered the Eggs Benedict. Although our dishes were visually very appealing, taste-wise we were very disappointed. The Smoked salmon tasted exactly like the ones you can buy from Costco (we love Costco's smoked salmon, but we kind of expected something different from a place that advertises fresh fish being delivered daily). The Hollandaise sauce had zero flavor (sadly, I'm not exaggerating). I've handmade this just once before for a culinary class so much respect if this had to be handmade but...it needs work. The two eggs were inconsistent with each other on both plates. One was very runny while the other was nearly cooked all the way. Overall, our Benedict could use more flavor.
(3)
Kira W.
All you need is a warm chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven. Your day will be made. As for the drinks...I've gotten an iced latte a few times here and have never been satisfied with it. It tastes like they use skim milk instead of whole milk without asking your preference, but I could be wrong on this one. Just seems a little too watery for my liking. Lunch is pretty pricey for an order then sit down place. It's decent, but for the same price you could be served elsewhere. Stick to the cookies and you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Jinnie N.
Delicious place for breakfast/brunch in a prime location to do some shopping afterwards!! AMBIENCE The location is EVERYTHING!!! Fashion Island is my favorite outdoor shopping center!!! It feels like such a nice get-away to dine at one of the restaurants there!! So relaxing!! Pan Du Monde is nestled near Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, and right next to Lululemon, which is one of my favorite stores!! Quaint table seating indoors and outdoors. There's also a long comfy bench seating along the side of the restaurant with nice plush pillows!! Sitting near the entrance affords you a beautiful view of the fountain outside through the big clear windows!! FOOD My husband and I will normally get one of the 3 entrees below. All of them are delicious!! French Omelette: 3 eggs, spinach, cheddar cheese (instead of goat cheese), mushrooms & avocado. Topped with seasonal vegetable & toast. Country breakfast: 2 eggs sunny side up, bacon, & rosemary potatoes Eggs benedict: Poached eggs with spinach, smoked salmon, & hollandaise served on potato cakes Cappucinos are awesome!! SERVICE Generally nice, but this last time, the girl at the counter was really snooty and snotty. I would take half a star off for this...humph!! The food comes out pretty quickly. You order at the counter, find a seat, and the server brings you your food. NO fuss with long waits, reservations, etc. when all you want is some yummy breakfast!! OVERALL I LOVE this place!!! If I lived closer, I'd come here every week!!
(5)
Joyce Z.
Great place for brunch! Pain Du Monde is in Fashion Island near Neiman Marcus and R+D Kitchen. I absolutely love breakfast food, and breakfast is served here until 3:00pm. I came with a group of 5 people for lunch on a Wednesday, and it was pretty difficult to find an open table. We had to stalk tables that were almost done eating. Anyway, the food was delicious! I ordered the Scott's Benedict ($11.75) and replaced the goat cheese with swiss cheese. Really really tasty breakfast but there was way too much arugula. The Parmesan croissant at the bottom was super flaky and crispy yummmm. My friends got the Fried Egg Sandwich ($11.25) and Country Breakfast ($11.75) which both looked amazing as well. I would definitely come back again when I'm in the mood for breakfast food. They also have lots of pastries that I didn't get a chance to try. Minus 1 star because of the price and unavoidable experience of dealing with some fashion island snobs.
(4)
Kimberly T.
I love their egg dishes here. I tried the Scott's Benedict and the Pesto Benedict. Overall, the flavors worked well together and the croissant they used on both dishes was very crispy and delicious! For the Scott's benedict, my only complaint was that the poached egg was overcooked and none of the yolk inside was creamy :( very disappointing but the taste made up for that and I still ended up loving the dish. For the pesto benedict, the eggs were not poached but rather done sunny side up style. This one was my favorite of the two. Would definitely recommend getting this one.
(4)
Giovanna F.
Dear owner: WHY is the Veggie sandwich $6 PER half? Seriously? Ironically it's the SAME price as the Turkey (only you get no turkey), but ALL of the other ingredients are identical. A $12 vegetarian sandwich?
(1)
Christie V.
Such a beautiful relaxed place to have brunch with you family. I came here on a Sunday afternoon and had a little bit of everything from their menu. We ordered the salmon Asian salad, cinnamon twist, raisin twist, 2 fried eggs, and an arugula prosciutto eggs Benedict. The Asian salad was very refreshing on this hot day and it's a pretty good size to share with another person. It comes with a peanut sauce that isn't too thick and noodles so you do not feel like you are skimping out on the carbs haha. The twists were great as well very flaky and not too sweet. I hate when pastries are overly sweet. The eggs Benedict was the star of the lunch imo. The portion is very large and so you should definitely share it with another person. Usually I do not care for eggs Benedict because I think an English muffin is too basic, but at pdm they have this flaky pastry almost similar to a flat croissant in place of the "English muffin". I did get their iced tea and felt that it was a bit too diluted, but still enjoyed it! After we finished our meal we all felt very light and didn't have a food coma like we usually do so that's a definite plus! It may seem always packed inside, but a table always opens up right away:)
(5)
Nicolette G.
This coffee shop is the best iv ever been to in Dana point! The food is heaven (seasonal salad so dank). Their chai lattes are amazing. The barista Mollie, is the sweetest girl ever, she was so patient and made my drink so well. Such a great worker!! PDM you rock
(5)
Evelyn T.
Soy hot cocoa for the win! Excellent service and beautiful ambiance at their tables just outside their location - - you can sit close to the water fountains or adjacent to the store. Their food and beverages are nothing short of fantastic. They are everything you want on a cold day. We find their drinks to be quite tasty. Loved the experience. Like! Big time! I hope to try them again during the holidays. My Mom really likes Pain Du Monde, also. The family favors PDM. Why don't you try it?
(5)
Bryan V.
I had just finished an amazing morning spin session at SoulCycle...when all of a sudden l developed a small appetite for breakfast. First thing I do is pull out my phone of course, and see what gems Yelp has to offer in the area this time. Pain Du Monde caught my eye. (Located in Fashion Island, right next door to LuluLemon, and across from Bloomingdales) I ordered the first thing that nabbed my curiosity, the Pesto Eggs Benedict, and I was most certainly NOT disappointed. Instead of a biscuit, they use perfectly toasted croissant and place the egg, prosciutto, arugula and drizzle the pesto sauce on top. Beautiful dish with both presentation and flavor. Friendly staff, overall great first time experience.
(5)
Jennice K.
I was not a big fan of the mango salad. I was expecting sweet and acidic taste but instead the dressing was too oily and I felt like my mixed greens were heavily marinated in non flavored oil. On the other hand, eggs and pests Benedict was delicious!!! The prosciutto meat, pesto, arugula and Parmesan croissant was absolutely perfect combo!! I highly recommend this!!
(4)
Shaefer T.
My friends and I had lunch here after kayaking/paddle boarding this morning. I ordered the Asian Salmon and Mango salad as a two halves combo. The salmon was cooked extremely well, and the bread was crisp. I loved the salad as well. The food came in really quickly also. The lady at the register also asked if I wanted complimentary water. That was pretty surprising to me, considering the state water conservation laws we have right now. After a morning workout we all left very content and in a "food coma" state. We walked around the mall to walk off the sleepiness. They even gave me a complementary chocolate chip cookie! I'm not gonna lie, I think it might have been the best chocolate chip cookie I've ever had. Also, it's dog friendly. I met a cute little pup outside who kept climbing on me to look at my food. Overall, great service. The food tasted amazing. If I'm ever in the area again, I'll come back here for sure--probably to try the Pesto Benedict.
(5)
Yolanda S.
Enjoyed an early lunch here, breakfast items available until 3pm. Enjoyed the Scott's Benedict and a chocolate/pecan cookie. Delicious cookie. Scott's Benedict was a little dry but I liked the croissant. The tomatoes and arugula balanced out the eggs and bacon really nicely. Will probably be back when I'm at Fashion Island next!
(4)
Tony C.
They have perfected two things: 1. Fish tacos. Don't know why but they have amazing fish tacos. Weird place to eat fish tacos but super fresh. 2. Almond Twist. Just order one and eat it. Simple. Delicious. I like how you order at the counter and they bring it to you. No frills. Can be a bit pricey but it's Fashion Island. Plus food is high quality.
(5)
Cathy B.
Top notch for breakfast -- very fast service with interesting twists on classic dishes. My over easy eggs were served atop roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts. And, friendly about making simple sub requests, especially when the request is reasonable (not taking the meat, so can you add a slice of toast). Friendly service, although it did seem that some of the younger, "cooler" staff were not that interested in working. For out-of-towners (like me), note that this is a little hard to find. Apple iOS maps has it in the wrong place at Fashion Island. And, you do need to go into the plein air mall to find it. I guess the restaurants wasn't willing to pay extra for signage on the driving loop, so, don't bother looking for assistance from that. It is near the Neiman's, next to Lululemon.
(4)
Sean B.
Came here to eat breakfast with a group of 6 friends, we all ordered at the same time but for some reason my wife and I didn't get out food with everyone else. After 45 minutes of waiting and asking, we asked to speak with the manager who was wholly unconcerned about the status of our order, and when j asked her what happened to our order she said "I don't know maybe you ordered it separately." When I told her we ordered on one ticket she literally shrugged and walked away. Eventually said came back and said something about running out of potatoes, which is odd because in the span it took us to get food, other people came ate and left. When we finally did get our food it was lukewarm and looked like someone threw food on a plate to get it out. On the positive side the atmosphere was nice and the rest of the staff was very polite and friendly but I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
Sofie D.
This is a kicked up version of "Corner Bakery." All the salads & sandwiches are fresh and tasty, although a little pricey. My favorite salad is the mango thai salad, it reminds me of R&D's chinese chicken salad but little lower in quality & price. What's truly amazing here are the baked goods. EXCELLENT cookies that are crispy on the outside and moist & chewy on the inside. And the almond twist is amazing, a must try.
(4)
Rick M.
Nice place, nice staff good selection and portions. First time here with my wife each had sandwiches. Nothing terribly spectacular but a nice place for a quick bite.
(4)
Mary M.
Their chocolate chip cookie although was sitting on the display arrived warm and chewy when we purchased it! Medium to large size cookie that was warm and fresh was absolutely delicious!
(4)
Charlie M.
Love this place. The fashion island location is busy but the line moved fast and service was very efficient. Unlike others, I can't speak for the coffee and pastries, but the salads and sandwiches are sooo good. We had the Tuscan Chicken sandwich and the Mediterranean salad with Hummus and everything was fresh and so delicious!
(4)
Chris L.
Best coffee in Orange County, bar none.
(5)
adam m.
A great lunch sandwich place. And I love to top it off with their "coco-loco" cookie, a very hearty and delicious cookie.
(5)
Omar M.
Great moderately priced and non-greasy fare at Fashion Island. Very classy setting for working, meeting friends or resting after a long bike ride. Great outdoor patio as well.
(4)
Robert F.
They have excellent iced tea. Hot chocolate whipped cream was great. Indoor and outdoor seating. Service was good.
(5)
Will W.
I've only tried the desserts here. The chocolate croissant is one of the best around here. Almond croissant was a bit too sweet. Chocolate cookies was also good. It's thick though, almost like a mini-cake.
(4)
Tiffany H.
Talk about a diamond in the rough! The coffee here is mediocre but the cookies, croissants, and almond twists are amazing! When I first came here I couldn't believe such a bakery would be in the food court of a mall! Only in the OC...
(5)
Teresa M.
The absolute best oatmeal cookie I have ever eaten. Perfectly seasoned with a touch of cardamon, I believe, and moist. It's seriously a meal in itself. The tuna sandwich is absolutely fantastic on any of their amazing rolls, and the couscous salad is perfect.
(4)
Stephanie R.
Ok, I'm here all the time and I must say that their coffee is some of the best! It's strong, but not bitter and it blows away Starbucks any day of the week! I might even prefer it to Peet's since it is so smooth! They make all of the pastries on site throughout the day so they are always fresh. I love their oatmeal. They give you little cups of brown sugar, cinnamon, and sliced almonds to top off your oatmeal which automatically is topped off with fresh cut strawberries! A little pricey here, but worth it! Service is friendly and they often remember what your preferences are, so your coffee is ready by the time you get to the front of the line!
(4)
Ivana Y.
Almond twists and raisin cinnamon twists, people. The pastries have just enough flake and are imbued with incredible sweetness that will start your day just right. With a nice cup of coffee of your choice, THIS is the breakfast of champions. Or snack. Whichever you prefer. You must, must try the twists. Everything else is extra.
(5)
Jessica H.
The line is always 410928719283741293871023741023974 miles long! Why would anyone take the time? Do they sprinkle their sandwiches with crack? I have yet to find out. I just don't have the patience.
(2)
SMP M.
The food is good here, I had not had any of the lunch items before and it was delicious. I had the fish tacos which I highly recommend. The food is good but be prepared for very slow service. We were there for over an hour and a half because the salmon on my friends salad was undercooked so we sent it back. It took over 30 minutes for it to come back out... food good -- service slow -- so as long as you have time for a leisurely lunch you will enjoy eating here..
(3)
J. J.
Great breads, great location, great decor with a nice inside & outside seating. I love their cranberry wheat bread. (not sure the exact name) I usually get a regular coffee and add some soy milk which not many places have. I've never experienced this place to be so packed with people but the place seems to be doing very well. People usually come to get things to go so I never had a problem finding a table. Pain Du Monde is the place to rest during shopping in Fashion Island.
(4)
patrick B.
I no longer work in Fashion Island but the friendly staff that greet me every morning will truely be missed, esp Marguerite and Beth. Thank you PDM for providing me with my caffeine and sweet tooth fix for the past 4 years.
(4)
Marianne G.
I love places like this. When I used to travel a lot I made sure to visit the non-Starbucks. Not that there is anything wrong with Starbucks other than the fact that they are everywhere and the employees correct your every order when clearly I'm ordering the name of the beverage straight from their menu. But I digress... I visited PDM a couple times located where a Starbucks used to be! Now that I've discovered it I'm going to really miss it when my office moves to Cerritos. The coffee...just the regular coffee is just delicious. I'm a milk no sugar kind of coffee gal so the taste of the actual coffee is really important. A large regular coffee for $2.50 is just delicious. It's hot and steamy and just molten liquid gold. At one time I did order a chocolate croissant (prior to my no-wheat diet). I came across this place because Pascal's (in the same lot) was not open yet. The croissant was gigantic. GI-GAN-TIC. Normally when one comes across a chocolate croissant of that magnitude there is just a little drop of chocolate in the middle. But not this guy. This guy had chocolate nearly all throughout the inside. I'm a fan of PDM. I think more people should go to it so they can grow and have more things on their menu. I have yet to try their salads but from the looks of things...it won't disappoint. Go! Now! Delicious coffee is in your horizon!
(4)
Jack L.
tasty but somewhat pricey. Their Iced Chai Latte was very delicious thou. Also try to sit outside, the ambiance is pretty nice.
(4)
Alex J.
This place is pretty awesome really good atmosphere with really good music playing (jazz and oldies). first off the beverages were awesome. my girlfriend got a regular coffee and it was pretty good. i had the orange juice which, from the taste of it, was freshly squeezed. i would HIGHLY recommend the orange juice because it was the perfect ratio of orange tart with sugar (or the natural sweetness) and it was really balanced. the food was great too. they apparently have different specials there everyday and on the day i went it was the roast beef sandwich. this roast beef sandwich was delicious and it LOOKED great too! each entree came with a small chocolate cookie which was also good. the portions are pretty large too. the only thing i didnt like is that the bread pretty much ripped up the roof of my mouth, but as far as i know i havent learned the right way to eat sandwich brad with such a crisp crust. the place is also kinda pricey for what it is TL;DR: good food, good drinks. good atmosphere. kind pricey for what they serve (15 dollars per person)
(4)
Beth G.
Ordered fresh fruit and a side of scrambled egg whites this morning. The eggs came and looked like two fried eggs without the yolk. I mentioned to the server that I ordered scrambled eggs and that was not what I was served. She took it back and returned with the EXACT same eggs cut up to look like 'scrambled'. which they did not. Would never order food there again and found it insulting to be served the same food like I would not notice AND very overpriced. If you go, stick to the coffee and baked goods.
(2)
Tom V.
I love the PdM on Bristol St., so I tried out the Fashion Island PdM. Very busy at lunch time. It can take a bit longer. They may forget your chocolate chip cookies (they forgot ours).. but the food is good. The portion @ Bristol's PdM seemed to be a bit more satisfying. Overall, the server was nice... altough the service was a bit slow, due to how busy the cafe was. The food is good. The tuna salad is MY FAVORITE..just an f.y.i. they use SOUR CREAM and mayo in the tuna salad. So if you avoid dairy, you may want to avaoid the tuna salad. It's really delicious however. I'll definitely go back.
(5)
Joshua G.
Just wanted to say the coffee here rocks. Forget Starbucks for a day and enjoy a good cup of Jo.
(4)
Mark G.
If you're visiting the fashion mall here in Newport Beach, there are a dozen or so choices for lunch. I choose Pain Du Monde because of their fresh bread (I recommend the Rosemary). Also noteworthy is their version of the Arnold Palmer (half iced tea and half lemonade). The reason I'm giving them only three stars on the back of their delicious sandwiches is that their Greek Salad was not good at all. Bottom line: good service, good sandwiches, bad salads.
(3)
Audrey L.
CHAI TEA! SBUX and PDM in one day- but loving PDM's chai w honey.
(4)
Vanessa N.
I go to fashion island all the time, but have never heard about this place until my sister told me that she wanted to eat here. I was there yesterday for the first time and everything I got was delicious! The coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and cookies were amazing! I can not believe that I have never eaten hear before!! I am definitely going back soon!!
(5)
Cassie P.
Remember when giant muffins were the rage...B.C. (before cupcakes)??? This is where I got mine. Giant, fluffy, calorie laden muffins. YUM! My fave is the cranberry. I ate these all through my pregnancy (12 years ago) without any guilt!
(4)
Andrew P.
Longer lines, but good service, good food. We ordered the pesto and eggs and Tuscan Chicken sandwich. Both were really good. The pesto and proscuitto got a little salty though. We also ordered a cafe au lait which I'd skip on next time. Little pricey, but it is Fashion Island.
(4)
Alesha G.
I love this place!! Had lunch there the past two days for the first time. I have been to Pain Du Monde for their baked goodies but never for the food, and clearly i have been missing out. My fav is the Turkey Club. But I will be trying much more items on the menu. Everything looks so good and healthy! A must try!
(5)
larry s.
PDM cookies are the bomb! Larger than actual hockey pucks and almost as dense--but I like a hearty cookie! The Chocolate Pecan is my favorite. The Oatmeal Raisin is a good balance of oats, raisin and spice. Mom loves their Macroons. Haven't had their real food since they moved out of the food court at FI, back then it was fresh, tasty and a decent value. I liked their sandwiches because for me it all starts with the bread. Their new digs are styling and a lot quieter than the eco-chamber of the FI food court aka basement.
(5)
Thomas D.
Cinnamon Twists hot out of the oven? Need i say more? Best cinnamon roll anywhere.
(5)
Dakota R.
The staff is super nice. I'll give you points for that. But I took away points for always being so slow to follow through with orders. I like the soups, but it will take 10 minutes for them to bag it up for you. Huh? I like the salads, but I dont like that it takes them 25 minutes to get the order together. Ugh.
(3)
Tiffany V.
I've had the banana nut muffin every morning for a week and it is the best muffin ever. I never really eat muffins or cookies so I'm glad my friend gave me one of these babies.
(5)
Liting F.
I really like this place. the chocolate chip cookie is flipping amazing, especially when it is out of the oven. all the drinks are really good too. their hot chocolate is made from ghiraradelli chocolate and it's rich, but good. you should also try their ham and chesse croissant, its very filling. i usually share with someone. the only thing is that i can't find another location and i'm really sad.... good for my waist line
(5)
Sarah H.
My review is biased because going to pdm became my ritual when i used to work at the mall. For days when i felt a little blah, my pick me up was the chai tea with soy and the almond twist. I still haven't found a place that can make chai tea better than PDM. It might just be my imagination. i just recently came for nostalgia reasons after years of being away and found out that they are no longer in the food court. Everything is still as good as i remembered it.
(5)
Kate C.
If you are stuck at Fashion Island and would rather eat in a quick bite in the food court versus a pricey restaurant, than this is your best bet. Great salads with fresh ingredients. I recommend the greek salad with chicken (get the dressing on the side). My mother-in-law is a big fan of the coffee and sweets. Note they close down their kitchen earlier in the evening then the other food spots in the mall, so get there early.
(4)
Ryan D.
I have been getting coffee at PDM every week day morning for the last few years. Very friendly staff that gets you in and out pretty quick with a smile. As of recently they have pulled all the SPLENDA® Sweetener out of their stores and are now ONLY offering organic sugars. I know it is minor to some, but when you're use to fixing up your coffee a certain way for years and one day you go in and you're unable to fix it up as you normally do makes me want to go get coffee somewhere else. I'm just not a fan of feeling forced into using something that I don't want to use. I have tried the organic brands they offer, but don't really care for them. Hopefully they will return to using SPLENDA® Sweetener and I will return to being one of their happy customers.
(4)
Delena T.
Coco loco is the way to go! Amazing treats for the family and fresh ingredients you can taste. Among my favorites are the seasonal salad and turkey sandwich. Free mini cookie with your meal :).
(5)
Courtney V.
Their fish tacos are a must. They're so good and fresh! Their chicken tortilla soup I just had was horrible. I swear I had the bottom of the pot too, it was all chicken. And the chicken was soooooo dry. The broth was so good, but my bowl of chicken didn't leave much room for any broth. If it had been good chicken, well maybe thEn it would be okay. The service here is a hit or a miss. I've encountered two rude people. One a guy, the other a girl. Whatever. They'll realize one day how far that tude will take them.
(3)
Ahmed A.
The food is good but the service isn't that good. I will recommend this restaurant only for breakfast.
(4)
John S.
This place sucks. I've been here 4 times and EVERY time they are out of half the stuff on their menu! No ciabatta bread, no ahi, no salmon, no soup, no teas, it's ridiculous. Change your menu of you can't handle having enough supplies to meet demand!
(1)
Christina Z.
I heard this place's coffee was the bomb from a colleague - BITTER AS HELL OW MY POOR TONGUE DIED :( If you're into burned/bitter coffee, this place is for you! Maybe their food items are better?
(1)
Siranush H.
I've been here a few times now and haven't been disappointed. They are located across from Bloomingdale's. There is indoor seating with a patio that also extends out to some tables set up in front of the restaurant. It's great because you get to people watch, sit by a nice fountain and during the holidays you're facing the big Christmas tree. They are open quite early, 6:30am, 7 days a week. They have freshly squeezed orange juice, great tasting coffee and plenty of pastries to choose from - my personal favorites are the croissants (plain, almond chocolate, etc.) . They have good breakfast options, I had the spinach omelette with avocados and a side of toast and asparagus that was tasty. Fast and friendly service and a great place to have breakfast early in the morning.
(4)
Tom I.
I come to this place at least once a week. I love their cinnamon twist that is to die for. I love everything about it. Service 5 stars Price 5 stars Atmosphere 5 stars Quality and quantity 5 stars Overall 5 stars
(5)
Deb G.
This was an awesome find for dinner! I chose the two halves combo with the Bozeman Bacon sandwich and the Mango Chicken salad to go. Ok, so when I finally sit down to eat, it's like two dinners in one! The Bozeman Bacon sandwich was a chicken, bacon, and avocado sandwich on a delicious roll, with some kind of soft cheese spread. Awesome, although I would have put on a little more cheese to counteract the drier ingredients. Seriously, I could have stopped eating right then. But no, I plowed on to the salad. Loved the fresh veggies on the salad - cucumber, mango, carrot, jicama(?), and nice lettuce. To be honest, I ignored the chicken and noodles because I was so full. The only thing I didn't love was the Thai peanut dressing - is try something different next time. For $15, this was a reasonably priced, giant meal!
(5)
Nijole T.
I came here wanting to get some baguette. Not here, this is a coffee and sit down lunch/dinner spot. Fine, I'll get coffee. I had the blended mocha, super huge at just over $5, I am sure enough sugar for the whole week. Took awhile to get and when I did the coffee tasted bitter and burnt, even through all the mocha and sugar. Returned it and got the caramel blended, much better. Service was very nice, the place is cute and it is by far the biggest coffee I have ever had, good deal for sure. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but it was A-OK for sure.
(3)
Grace C.
Pain Du Monde: French for "bread in the world" according to google translate. I prefer to think of it as just a pain in the youknowwhat! Trying to find a place to sit and enjoy your meal/snack here during their weekend "brunch" hours is definitely a pain, but that just lets you know how popular it is... PDM is a great little cafe nestled inside Fashion Island. They serve some absolutely delicious pastries as well as sandwiches, soups, etc. You can choose to have a full meal or just a snack, either way you will be left satisfied. Some of my favorite items during "brunch" are... Turkey Sandwich (only available after 11am?) Fried Egg Sandwich on Croissant Chocolate Chip Cookie Almond Twist Croissant (EVERY kind they have, Seriously!) They also offer fresh squeezed orange juice along with various coffees and teas. Don't let the long lines make you stay away... It moves fairly quickly and the food is tasty enough to make you want to come back for more :D
(4)
Zoe C.
MMM...PdM is that good I've been here countless times and each and every time my meals are excellent! My all time FAV is the Grilled Salmon, perfectly crisp on the outside and flaky inside. Moist, Delicate, Flavorful If your in the mood for breakfast, I also love the French Omelette. Egg whites, spinach, goat cheese, mushrooms and avocado topped with seasonal veggies. SOOO GUUUD Believe me PdM is a solid winner! Fresh delicious upscale food.
(5)
Cindy L.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet...it's nestled in the corner of Fashion Island next to Bloomingdale's and is such a cute cafe. I always have the turkey sandwich on rosemary and it's never disappointed. They make it with REAL turkey and this amazing smoked gouda -- my favorite cheese! It's also served with either a side of couscous or salad. The couscous isn't my favorite, because I'm just not a fan of the texture, but I love their vinaigrette. The espresso served here is also good with a little bit of cream. I think if you're in the area, Pain Du Monde is a great lunch spot, but be warned it certainly isn't cheap. For two sandwiches and triple/quad espressos the total came out to almost $40. That's fine, considering the location, but I could easily make the sandwich myself for a fraction of the cost -- but where's the fun in that! I will and have come back!
(4)
Mary M.
Location is nice- near the fountain And great outdoor seating. They have an array of pastries and croissants. I ordered the Parmesan Benedict: poached eggs, tomato, arugula, goat cheese on a parmesan croissant. It was delicious and visually appealing. Also, the cashier was very helpful. If you are craving breakfast in Fashion Island, try it out!
(4)
B W.
This place was good but not '$61 for two people and a toddler' good. Very overpriced for decent food. Everything we got was certainly good but I just didn't feel like it was good enough to justify the prices. We did the fried egg breakfast sandwiches, bowl of fruit, side of potatoes, and two lattes.
(3)
Teagan T.
High expectations of this place since it's in the more wealthy area and in fashion island. I got the veggie panini with rosemary buns (I recommend getting your sandwich with that) with a combo mango salad. Panini was decent but too much oil on the veggies (or olive oil they drizzled on the bread ?). Mango chicken salad had NO mango! I didn't realize that until 2 days after I ate there!! Why? Because I have a weird memory system. Anyhow, chicken was too dry and thin ..and small. The salad itself was good but again, where is the mango? Afterwards got their pastries, the cinnamon twist and strawberry croissant. Cinnamon twist tasted too artificial for some reason. A little too sweet. I could have made better. Strawberry croissant is okay,not terrible but not worth it. One of the Asian waitress there.. Was always rude to my friend and I (we're both Asian as well) and giving us attitude. We thought it was just how she is but then witnessed her being very friendly to the white customers. Besides that she was the only waitress we got to interact with so service is bleh. Won't return as well. Seems like a more French style Panera bread, but with a little more class.
(3)
Beatriz M.
Read my first review of this place & I still believe it all, but I feel that I was too easy on them when it comes to the customer service & experience aspect of this place. There are a few girls that are awful. They have crappy attitudes & treat you like you are inconveniencing them for asking for a cup of water. There is zero eye contact from them & no smiling whatsoever. My experiences on the days that these girls are working is bad, I don't enjoy my food & I really regret paying any of my hard earned money to this business. On the flip side, when the right girls are there I am so happy to spend 15$ on a sandwich plus a drink plus a pastry!! Some training needs to happen here, sometimes when there are this many bad employees it usually means that it goes all the way to the top, I hope not. I really hope they read my review & attempt to change the way they treat their customers. By the way, something I literally just noticed.. I watched a girl leaving the kitchen to take food to someone, she had a giant smile on her face & had just responded to a person in the kitchen- they had been laughing- the moment she got near the customer the smile came off. These girls hate them jobs & it's way to obvious! Sorry for the 3 stars. Food is amazing but this issue should be taken care of.
(3)
Tom J.
Visiting around 1:50pm 6/13/15 Beautiful Mediterranean salads best salads ever a little pricy but it is worthy quality and quantity both are good Why people crowded here
(5)
Randal C.
Great selection of baked goods. I had the apricot scone and it was delicious! The capuccinno was also tasty.
(4)
Diana Y.
Came here for lunch on MLK Monday. Most people still have work so it was not too busy. One random and werid thing I would like to point out, this place has a French name and french pastries but there's a huge poster or picture of John Wayne covering the walls and the interior is decorated like old west. For the food I ordered the pesto benedict, it was only around 11:30 and they said they ran out of the parmesan toast for this dish so I had to just get it with regular grain toast. Also got a ham and cheese croissant. The croissant was a major disappointment. I actually should have known better because it didn't even LOOK good. Croissants should be buttery and flakey and I could see neither and none of that was in the actual taste of it either. The pesto benedict was much better. It was an over easy egg (although some pictures I saw show poached, lack of consistency I guess) on top of thick proscuitto and toast and pesto, all topped with arugula and parmesan. Everything was well balanced and complimented each ingredient well. The salty proscuitto with the fresh salad and crunchy toast and creamy egg. So it was a hit and miss on the food. I do love the ambiance of Fashion Island, there's a good amount of seating both indoors and out and you can have a relaxing meal watching the shoppers go by.
(3)
Ellen C.
The almond twist here they're so well known for are a bit overrated and subtle for me. Their pecan twist though is amazing and I would definitely go back for seconds if I didn't have to worry about the belly fats and thunder thighs. The prices aren't cheap though ($3.50 for a twist) but that's to be expected considering where it's located. Servers here are appropriately nice but not friendly. Great place to get a bite, some coffee and do a little walking though. Especially in the early morning when the mall is more deserted.
(3)
Jasmine W.
wanted a place to get some work done and the fashion island folks directed me here. cute place, fast service - if you sit outside you have access to the complimentary fashion island wifi and the relaxing sounds of the fountain. a bit pricey - $13 for a tuna wrap with couscous (wrap was decent but couscous was dry) and cookie (nothing to write home about). paying for the venue, good place to catch up with a friend
(2)
Christine T.
Quick, easy, good. Fast, friendly service and the oatmeal was yummy!!! Located inside fashion island, right next to Lululemon and across from Bloomingdales. Sit outside and enjoy the Southern California sunshine!!! Don't forget the fresh squeezed orange juice!!!
(4)
Ariana R.
I periodically drink coffee here because all their flavors are fresh and they offer almond milk as a substitute. However the pastries and cookies were stale yesterday and didn't sit well with my stomach. The 3 stars are for the coffee and the reason why not the 5 stars is because the tables were messy and clean and stale desserts.
(3)
Mirja B.
Best place on the "Island" for coffee, brunch, lunch and pumpkin muffins :-) Friendly efficient staff and good amount of tables in- and outside.
(4)
Kris A.
Ordered my favorite twist and choc chip cookie with a latte. My morning is complete. Took it with me and sat at the fountain in front. The breeze, the food and the sound of the water was bliss.
(4)
Nora H.
Okay so I started coming here about a year ago and my first experience was amazing, I had the french omelette and cinnamon pecan twist with a chai latte. Throughout the span of this last year I've ate here maybe 20 times, and it has progressively gotten worse and worse. The staff really is not friendly, I've only ever encountered one nice person there and she was a lovely older british woman. Other than that, all the girls there think they're too cool for school and give you the cold shoulder. Even while you're ordering they are passive and distant, not welcoming at all, they don't even smile! So my last visit was the last straw and here's why. The woman taking my order was the rudest woman I've ever encountered in my life, she was rushing me, giving me attitude and even when I asked for her recommendation between 2 dishes, she responded "I don't know, just pick one". Yeah, so anyway I ordered my pecan twist and omelette. I sit down, cut my twist in half and find piece of dark thick hair about 4 inches right in the middle of the twist......yeah gross. I go to the front, explain what happened to the woman, she just stared at me for 5 seconds and said "okay so what do you want me to do?" and I said I want a new twist and with so much attitude she grabbed another twist and said "here". Next my chai latte was cold and barely had any chai, it tasted like dirty water. Second my omelette was cold, the plate was dirty, the fruit is came with was spoiled, and there was barely any vegetables. I don't know what happened to this place but it could be so much better.
(1)
Kanghwan W.
The almond croissant... I love almonds, I like them raw and unsalted. You'd never find a time in my car when there isn't a batch of almonds in the glove department. I would say 1/20 almonds you get this fragrance that comes out. The croissant captures this flavor with its mix of sugary, butter, and crispy pastry. Their coffee is not bad as well. Smooth and mild (if u get it black). Any time in in the mall, I'll stop by for a short break - always worth it. You won't disagree.
(4)
Adri O.
I Love The eggs Benedict!!! The orange juice fresh and delicious!!! The coffe, everything!!!This is a very good place to spend! Fresh bread is superb, the atmosphere very friendly and excellent service! Highly recommended!
(5)
Kevin J.
Solid 4 stars for this place. Friendly in the front so liked that. Ordered the fish tacos. Comes with three fish tacos on a nice warm taco with Chipotle sauce and some spicy sauce that's very very good! The burnt lemons did me no good....just decor I guess. But the fish was perfectly grilled. Couldn't taste the fishiness too much. Perfectly grilled and the sauces go well. It was around 15 bucks tho. That's too steep. Wouldn't order that one again. 5 bucks a taco? Haha no... But if it was about 8 bucks I would of given this place 5 stars.
(4)
Katrina N.
If Pain taste this good than PLEASE lemme have it! (Yes i'm lame) Was having a run around the newport area and happened along this fine establishment. Cute outdoor seating with a fresh, cute indoor decoration. I find it strange and a bit of an oxymoron that a French type restaurant is into John Wayne, YEE haw! This is a casual go-up-to-order-and-pay-for-your-food type of place and so we got: Pesto Eggs and w smoked salmon benedict Even though these two dishes were similar, they stood out in their own way. The Pesto eggs was fresh because of the salad and I loved the cheese roll instead of an english muffin. The roll was so crispy, flakey, and fragrant with the pesto sauce that I wanted another order of just the solo roll but I did not see it on the menu. The smoked salmon was different in that the benedict sat on a potato cake. The fried po cake was dressed and really crispy. The dish included a side of hollandaise sauce and I'm glad that the benedict wasn't completly drenched w it. The hollandaise sauce was lackluster and wasn't needed at all in the dish. Will be back!
(4)
Cuc N.
Service is good. The girls that work there are so nice and they always have a few plates of samples of their sweet goodness! Today they had samples of their chocolate chip cookies and blueberry muffins. Their almost twist is a must! It's the perfect amount of sweetness and the texture of its crispy flakes is perfect, topped with the sliced almonds on top!! Definately get an almond twist to end your breakfast, brunch, or lunch Pesto and eggs is healthy yet mouth watering. They had no more of the usual bread so we replaced it with the whole wheat today which still made it really good. The eggs were done with the egg yolk still runny, which is my personal favorite way. The arugula or spring mix was mixed with some kind of light sauce or dressing. Thee was also some kind of ham that added a hint amont of salty. The pesto sauce blends all of the items together. Highly recommend The eggs Benedict with smoked salmon was pretty good!! Instead of bread, it was some kind of hash brown or potato thing that served as a base and was in a circular pie kind of shape. The eggs were yummy and the hollandaise sauce was pretty creamy, but a bit too buttery and oily for my taste. I could see the sauce separate from the butter, which for me, means there was too much butter I highly recommend their omelettes! All look clean and fresh, which is important for you healthy wan eaters! You just order at the cashier and self seat yourself! The workers bring the food out to you! Indoor or outdoor seating; both are e enjoyable :) My second favorite place for breakfast/brunch! I still love pain du quotidien the most
(5)
Diane R.
The Mediterranean salad is amazing! I've had a few other dishes like the chicken tortilla soup but I always go back to my salad. If you want a great chocolate chip cookie, look no further. As far as service, they can sometimes be slow but I've generally never had a bad experience. Nothing to keep me from coming back. :)
Excellent. Friendly gals at the counter. Really yummy food. Pricey but well worth it. Clean well maintained bathrooms.
(5)
Farah H.
Pan du monde: I hope you know that I am giving you a 5 for the sole purpose of your ALMOND OMG LORD HAVE MERCY ON ME TWIST (almond twist). I have been gluten free (severe cramping and indigestion associated, though I do slip sometimes) for three years now. However, when peer pressured to try the almond twist-- and though I'm not a fan of pastries-- I was a believer! The Dietitian in me wanted to know how many calories were in this piece of marzipan tasting cloud in heaven...but you just have to trust and indulge that it's worth every sore calorie. Besides my passion for the almond twist, pan ud monde doesn't disappoint with any sandwiches and salads. Friendly staff, delicious food, awesome location. Looking for lower calorie options? I ordered the seasonal salad, substitute salmon, goat cheese and dressing on the side. I ordered a couple of lemon wedges and squeezed that on my salad- there's no need to dress a plate that is as colorful and flavorful as this dish is. Enjoy!
Great customer service. The food is healthy and fresh. Easy access from the parking lot too.
(4)
SoCal G.
Food is way overpriced with unfriendly customer service at this location. You stand in line to order, they give you a letter as your number and then they bring your food out to you. They brought my food but didn't bring my friends food out. We were sitting in their patio and were really hungry so we eyed any time an order was coming out. After waiting a long time, we found that it was just sitting on the counter. No apologies or anything. Just cold food sitting on the counter. Pastries I got the chocolate and almond cinnamon twist. The cinnamon twist was crispy and quite tasty. The chocolate croissant was pretty average for $4 but there is plenty of dark chocolate inside that makes up the for denseness and lack of flakiness and fluffiness. Breakfast Eggs Benedict on Parmesan twist bread. It is basically shredded potatoes and Parmesan cheese shaped into the shape of a 5" round biscuit. Portion was small for my hubby. Hollandaise sauce was yummy though. Overall a disappointment for the cost and awful customer service. I've tried their other locations and the service and food quality was much better.
(2)
Jason A.
As any Francophile knows, "Pain Du Monde" means "Pain of the World." I'm going to extend it a bit and say that finding a table here is a "pain in the ass." I've been at this particular Pain du Monde several times, and I don't think I ever had a seat at a table here! From a business perspective, that's great. But from the customer's end, it does irk me a bit. Therefore, whenever I want to get a coffee or some other beverage, I end up having to take it to go. And considering that I don't really take food out to go unless it's a life or death situation, I would rather keep putting off trying the food until I can manage to find seating here at PdM. So far, I'm batting a thousand with the half dozen visits I've made so far. There is outdoor seating, however, the weather may not necessarily be permitting (it actually rained the last time I visited), or it's already full of people and their dogs enjoying the iconic Southern California weather. I don't blame them, I would probably stick around for a bit if I didn't have anything pressing on me. From the drinks that I've had here so far, I have to say that my favorite is the hot chocolate. It's simple and brings back childhood memories of me visiting my relatives. It tastes uncannily like the hot chocolate that my aunt used to offer me when I was a little kid and brings me back closer than other hot chocolate I've had in other establishments. They use an iPad and card reader as a point-of-sale, so I'm able to take full advantage of emailing my receipt to myself. It's a win-win. Less paper that I have to carry around and less receipt tape that PdM has to stock up on. I'm sure eventually I'll be able to try the food here, complete with a seating experience! But until then, come and grab a drink on the go as you explore the rest of Fashion Island. It just might trigger a memorable moment for you, as it did with me.
(4)
Jeri N.
Decided to grab a bite to eat at PDM for Monday lunch. Came out with a turkey sandwich - freshly carved Turkey slices with gouda, avocado, arugula, and tomato. You get to choose what kind of bread for the sandwich (ciabatta, white, whole wheat, croissant, etc.). I decided to go with croissant - it was a delicious choice - buttery, flaky and soft. There is a choice of two sides: couscous or salad. The chocolate chip cookie was a nice added bonus to round out lunch. Staff was nice, friendly, and service was quick. Pricing is high for what it is but it's about average for fashion island area. Saw quite a few things I want to try...Will be back again!
(4)
Diane C.
Been here several times for lunch since my husband's office is down the street. Staff are always friendly. Over time, I've ordered pretty much everything from the menu. My husband does tend to still to the egg salad sandwich. The only thing that's kind of negative...the soups do tend to be slightly salty from time to time. Other than that, it's all pretty good.
(4)
Jane A.
I came here twice in the last month and I had to jump on the review wagon. I absolutely love Fashion Island and PDM has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants because of their clean and quality ingredients. Their fish tacos are pretty good! And I also tasted my friend's order of the Southwest Chicken on the jalapeño cheddar roll. The roll is not spicy and doesn't have an overpowering cheese taste to it. The guacamole is very tasty as well. I usually order a salad. I have tried the Seasonal Salad and I love it. I have them take out the cheese though. I have also had the Mango Salad, which is very filling and delicious. Very light and fresh! And don't forget the chocolate chip cookie!! It comes with each meal. My cousin recommended the Coco Loco cookie, which I have yet to try. But definitely will be going back. As for the service, on my first visit there was a hair in my Seasonal Salad, which I found before I took my first bite. They replaced it without question. Both visits, the service was good and they were friendly. Clean bathroom too!
(5)
Crystal B.
It's not fine dine, but it has a charming little serving system, it's efficient and delicious. Great place for a Sunday Brunch. There was a period I came every Sunday and tried everything on the brunch menu Highly recommend the salmon Benedict, oatmeal is also great, pesto chicken sandwich is not bad either. A must have is always there freshly juiced OJ! order it every time. Def. go!
(4)
Eric S.
Stop in while shopping. Great foods and pastries. My girlfriend and I had the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich and the Pesto and Eggs. The Tuscan Chicken was good, but nothing that blew our minds. The Pesto and Eggs on the other hand... wow. Try it! Enjoy.
(5)
Christine R.
This is a great place to stop for a quick bite to eat while shopping, especially if you have your dog with you. The food is delicious, and you can get a half salad and half soup. Their Chicken Tortilla soup is my absolute favorite. The tortilla chips come out nice and crispy, and I love the chunks of avocado!
(4)
Don K.
The service at this very busy Fashion Island "pdm" is very good. They really try to be helpful. The food is Okay as well. Expensive? Yes, but what else is new in Newport Beach. After several years of visiting "pdm", before and after they moved out of the Food Court, I shall go no more. It is always dirty. Inside tables with dirty dishes can linger for ever. Food and napkins on the floor are not picked up. Bathrooms are not cleaned nor serviced on a regular bases. The condiment table is always dirty. Cleaning is simply not a priority in this establishment and I am afraid to look at the food preparation. Outside as well; dirty dishes galore (outside appears to be serviced by Fashion Island staff). Food and all else on the floor not being picked up. Tables wiped occasional but not cleaned. Birds are having a grand time eating and pooping. No shortage of food for the birds so as they say "this is for the birds". Further more, if you want to spend a quite hour outside, forget it. People constantly repositioning the metal chairs with deafening, nonstop noise that will wear you down after a short while. "pdm" dose not believe in putting some rubber stoppers on the chair legs. For my money, too much on the down side. Don
(2)
Trina D.
Grace C. and I decided to meet Saturday morning with our dogs at Fashion Island. Even though, Fashion Island is dog-friendly, there are some restaurants that are not. We found out that R&D Kitchen does not allow dogs on their outside patio. However, next door at Pain Du Monde, we found the patio to be very dog-friendly. So we took turns ordering. I was really impressed with the menu. Organic this and fresh that. They serve breakfast until 3pm. They also have sandwiches, soups, pastries, coffees, teas, and fresh juices. Hmmm. I settled on scrambled eggs with bacon and a small iced tea of the day (raspberry). The tea was unsweetened but they have simple syrup or a variety of sweeteners at your disposal, which I found very cool. The eggs & bacon plate came with 3 perfectly cooked asparagus, jam, half a delicious croissant, and not spicy hot sauce. It looked scrumptious and tasted even better. I was quite content with my brunch. Grace ordered a half salad (BBQ chicken) and turkey sandwich on a croissant. The portion was quite large. We couldn't imagine ordering a whole salad. DON'T unless you plan on sharing. The puppies were also content because they have dog treats at the counter for your pooch. Suki stole Maggie's treat since she turned her nose at it. Suki can be such a glutton sometimes. I'm definitely a fan of this place! I can't wait to come back to try their pastries and coffees too.
(4)
Jen T.
I cant believe I havent written a review for PDM! Bad me! I always talk about PDM in my other reviews... I am always here. I am always here for one reason. CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. This is by far my favorite chocolate chip cookie place and my heart will always remain with PDM. Geez...I sound like a lunatic. Other than their cookies, I have tried their almond twists, fruit tart, macarOOns (with and without chocolate), their other cookies and sandwiches of course. Cant go to PDM without trying their sandwiches and..chocolate chip cookie. hahaha. I really like their macaroons and it is pretty massive. Almond twists are whatevers to me and the price is a huge factor on how I feel about this pastry. I do like their oatmeal raisin cookies, but sometimes I am just looking for something semi sweet and simple. Their chocolate chip cookies are not too sweet and perfectly cooked IMO. My all time favorite sandwich is their pesto turkey with a side of their couscous. They are the reason why I decided to make my own couscous because I became obsessed with it. I got one of my besties hooked on the sandwich! The sandwich literally melts in your mouth after a bite. I have tried the albacore tuna sandwich and nothing special about it. Also had the curry chicken sandwich and very, very flavorful! Also another great sandwich to choose from! I couldnt thank my friends more for introducing me to PDM. I know the manfriend absolutely adores this place. My compliant about PDM is that its overpriced. What isnt in Newport Beach? Its about $15 for a sandwich that includes a side and a small cookie. That almond twist I mentioned earlier...$5. I guess you get what you pay for... I am not sure if they have been increasing their prices over the past year.. I have encountered the cashiers ringing me up differently for cookies. I figured it was just a mistake. No biggie. Enjoy! :)
(4)
Vy P.
The almond twist is to die for! Other great pastries and breakfast options, as well. Splendid atmosphere for a quick get together in the mornings or afternoons.
(4)
Darese S.
Extremely disappointed with the food and service today. This place has great muffins if you get them fresh. I usually love the French omelette however this time toast was not toasted well. Eggs somewhat runny. Last time was served with small cookie and this time not? The girl said they don't serve with breakfast. They are actually just inconsistent. I've ordered salads, sandwiches, and depending on the day if your lucky, you'll get the cookie your suppose too. Sad because it's something so small that could of made my experience today a little better. There are so many other options here at the same price point and lower. I will not be back here soon. I'm so very disheartened and disappointed with pdm today. :(
(3)
David S.
My first time here. The food is subpar and the service is awful. We ordered the potatoes but they were completely under cooked. The hash browns were burnt, but cold. To top it off, it took them 45 minutes to bring our food. When we finally complained, they seemed not to care at all. The manager was extremely rude. I will never come here again.
(1)
Kuan Y.
I used to come here every morning for some pastries and coffee. This place is fly infested. At first I was not too bothered. I mean, it's common to find flies once in a while. But something happened that made me realize this is a serious problem in this store. First, on several occassions, I see flies landed on uncovered pastries on display. Once I planned to get a chocolate croissant but I changed my mind immediately when I saw a fly lying on a chocolate croissant lazily... very relaxed, obviously they've been treated well here. Another account was finding a dead baby fly body on the coffee cap when I was served with coffee. This made me throw out. This apparantly shows the flies takes where they store their wares as their sleeping dens and I dont know how many more places in this store that we dont see breed flies. Please, if you are reading it as a store owner I seriously plead you to do something before someone gets sick. If you are a customer thinking about going there, there's a starbuck right around the corner.
(1)
Raegan C.
Love the food here and enjoy coming here for lunch. We come here often. Today's experience was interesting. Took an interestingly long time for our food to arrive at our table. When my food came out, it was not what I ordered and the girl who took our order told me I was the one at fault. What happened to the customer always being right? The second time the food arrived at the table, the order was wrong once again. We had gone over the order the first time the wrong order ended up and the table. It was turning into the lunch from hell. Now that we've been here over an hour and still have not eaten. Two other girls handled the situation more maturely and they ended up refunding our lunch. The reason why they are receiving more than one star is because they actually did something to handle the situation and the food was up to par as per usual.
(2)
John L.
Dear Pain Du Monde in FASHION ISLAND I am ready to change my review when this stops. This location has done this to me 5x..... Yes 5 times. I go to meet friends (in my 40s not a teenager) at Fashion Island location and get there 15 minutes until closing and they never want to help... Yes never. I ask for a Caramel Latte and the response is sorry the espresso is cleaned for the night. For the love of God can you close at 10:30 like Starbucks? Bad taste in mouth from employees smug attitude and kicking down the starting gates to go home. S.O.S
(1)
Marina I.
I come here every time I shop at Fashion Island because I can never get enough of the Mediterranean Salad. The salad contains lettuce, olives, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and artichokes topped with feta cheese. On the side there's some pita bread and delicious hummus. As if that weren't enough, it also comes with your choice of either chicken or salmon. I definitely recommend the salmon bc oh my LORD it is wonderful. They also give you a small cookie for dessert :) Their wraps and pastries are great as well! It is a bit pricey and the service is okay, but I can never stay away.
(4)
Clarice T.
Great place to have fresh delicious breakfast in fashion island. Great outdoor seating where you can sit with your dog and relax near the fountain. Nice indoor seating as well. They have a great take on traditional breakfast classics like their version of eggs Benedict on pesto hash instead of an English muffin. The potato was cooked perfectly. That also have a pesto and eggs which was prosciutto pesto and arugula. Delicious and savory.
(5)
Ian R.
I went to this place because a good friend of mine works there and he told me it was really good. He was right! I had a really good omelette and an almond pastry, along with other pastries I took to go. Everything is made fresh daily and you can taste it! The service is great! The servers are all in good spirits all the time!
(5)
Sheila H.
Stopped by here because I drive by it on my way home most every day. Not very exciting food. Coffee was meh, so was the food- really oily. I probably wont ever go here again.
(2)
Ruth K.
Love this resaturant but tired of them allowing "fake" service dogs...into the restaurant. This week the very healthy man with the white dog allowed it to sit on the table, where someone else would be consuming their meal later. Real service dogs don't behave this way. For the sake of customers and especially for legitimate people with disabilities, please stop this practice and don't be afraid to ask people what service their dog is trained to provide before allowing them inside a restaurant.
(3)
Amanda H.
What an awesome little place!! They have delicious pastries, all fresh and lots of selection. I ended up ordering eggs Benedict on top of a croissant. Their food was delicious and fresh. Not sure about someone's review about being FORCED to leave tip. IT IS AN OPTION on the Ipad app to leave a tip, of which you only SELECT an option if you want to give a tip. They would never FORCE you! The staff was really friendly, especially Naira!
(5)
Mel H.
This is way awesome than I expected!! I knew there was a French cafe in Fashion Island and I wasn't sure if it was this one or Le Pain Quotidien. I will be back!! It's right behind the Canaletto Italian restaurant caddy corner from Neiman Marcus. I'm so glad I stopped by in here anyways. The staff here is so friendly and the pastries are sooo good!! *Cranberry Scone - super super soft!!! Scones usually have kind of a hard flaky texture. This one is more like a muffin. It's so soft and buttery :) * Oatmeal Raisin Cookie - tastes just like homemade! Sweet! * Muffins!! Pumpkin Spice, Carrot, Blueberry. The pumpkin spice definitely has a spice to it! It lives us to its name which I like. I don't like I when some muffins say "spice" when it doesn't taste like it at all. But this one def is delicious!! * Cinnamon Twist: it was "hard" and "crunchy" than I expected while still flaky like a pastry. But nevertheless, super cinnamony and almost like eating a cinnamon roll!!! Could def eat it any time!! * Fish tacos: comes with 3 tacos. Fish is so juicy and tasty!!! WAY better than Wahoo's or Rubio's or any other fast food place. These fish tacos are the REAL deal. Plus it's pretty large and very filling for 1 person. Can def share it.
(5)
Sarah S.
My grandma loves coming to Fashion Island to get a nice ocean breeze. She also loves eating at PDM and I have grown to be fond of this place as well :) Seems a bit pricey but they have quality food and great service, so I definitely recommend. FOOD: Can't go wrong with the sandwiches (Tuscan Chicken) but my grandma loves the fish tacos there as well. It's savory and fresh! COFFEE & DESSERT: My mom always gets the coffee here as well as the desserts. She also comes here with her friends and chats for hours sitting in the outdoor seating area. Fun fact? PDM means Bread of the World in French. Hence, their tasty breads on sandwiches as well as pastries!
(4)
Emily C.
Whenever I come to fashion island this is my go to place to eat. Usually we get a sandwich to share if we aren't too hungry because it also comes with a salad and a small cookie. The sandwiches and other entrees are a bit on the pricier side, but they really are delicious and filling. My favorite one is the southwest chicken because of the avocado and many other veggies! Although about double the price of a regular sandwich, the ingredients are pretty fresh and the servings are not stingy. It can get pretty packed on the weekends but the line goes by fast. If there isn't seating in the inside of the restaurant, you can also choose to sit outside and the waiters will bring you your food. Service is usually great and efficient. I have yet to try the almond twist that everyone talks about, but I'm usually too full after my meal. They are opening another store in Irvine on Alton too!
(5)
Sarah D.
Love this place for breakfast or lunch or just a scone! Deliciousness!
(5)
Gregory B.
Horrible. We stopped by this morning for breakfast. The pastries looked really good, so I was hopeful about the breakfast plates. I order the fried egg sandwich, and I know the counter order taker perfectly understood what I asked for because we talked about which of the available sandwich breads I would have. My wife ordered the California omelet. The 2 latte's we ordered came pretty fast, but we're not too good, and lukewarm. We probably waited 15 minutes for the food, even though the place was about empty. When the brought it out to our table, something completely different from what I ordered was placed in front of me. I didn't feel like waiting another 15 minutes, so I ate it, even though it was a bizarre mixture of fried eggs, potato, bacon and Brussels Sprouts! Yuck, seriously, for breakfast?? While we were sitting there, saw them bring wrong order to another couple sitting right next to us. C'mon, it's not that hard, not that much on menu! 3 bites into her omelet, my wife found a long hair. You know how that peaks your appetite!! That's about it, a horrible experience, I think I will limit my eating here to maybe a pastry, but probably not that either
(1)
Juliane B.
Menu was a bit overpriced... $14 for a sandwich and $3 for a can of diet coke seems a bit steep to me... but I guess they can get away with it since it's in Fashion Island. I decided on the BBQ Chicken salad... which should have been called the Blue Cheese and Grilled chicken salad because there was nothing BBQ about it. The chicken was grilled plain, and if there was dressing, it was overpowered by the excessive amount of blue cheese crumbles that were on it. No BBQ flavor at all. Also, I think it had been sitting in the back a while because it took a while to come out and when it did the lettuce was soggy. Since I was really hungry, and I hate sending things back, I decided to just eat the chicken and call it a day. My boyfriend had a turkey sandwich and had no issues with it, other than it was overpriced for what he got. Definitely won't be going back again.
(2)
Allison L.
Bad customer service!! I've eaten here a couple times and every time it has been disappointing. The pastries are stale as they've been sitting out all day (with flies) and the food never seems to be hot enough. Today I was the only customer waiting for SOUP and it took over 15 minutes for them to give me the wrong soup. How long does it take to scoop soup into a bowl?? I wasn't greeted either or apologized to. The tortilla soup was thick and not even warm. I was too hungry and short on time to ask for something else, but I definitely won't be back and wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
(1)
H. L.
Pros: *location *line moves fast *attentive servers *food/pastries are delicious *everything made fresh Cons: *seating (very limited and people can be rude) *price (a bit pricey for the amount of food)
(4)
Berto W.
Irvine is in desperate need of more yummy breakfast places. Pain Du Monde does show some promise, but they really do need to fix a few things. 2.5 stars. Please Fix: Disinterested service characterized by a lack of hustle. We felt like our waitstaff wanted to be somewhere else. Bad coffee. Bitter and no foam in the soy latte. Disappointing croissant especially for a place called Pain Du Monde! Music bordered on irritating -- 80's saxophone, Sade, Uncomfortable high top chairs. Good Job: Yummy kids grilled cheese. Very good Santa Fe omelette. Basket of baked goods consisting of almond Danish and cinnamon roll was very good.
(3)
Matt H.
Had a meal there for first time yesterday evening. Chi pol fish sandwich was ok. Not a great value at nearly $14. Pastries remain awesome.
(3)
Danielle F.
This place gets crazy busy which is not surprising since it's kind of an ideal lunch spot right next to Lululemon. There are only two things you need to know about this place. 1) COFFEE with real cream! I didn't know "manufacturer's cream" even existed until I saw this sweet heavenly lumpy thick stuff. It is better than crack cocaine and is probably pure fat. No judgements. 2) Mango Chicken Salad - woooo - weeee that is a tasty sucker. I didn't know I liked jicama until that salad. I'm still working on hacking the dressing recipe so I can make it myself. It has noodles in it and chicken so you don't really feel like you're punishing yourself by ordering a salad instead of those frigging awesome carb bomb paninis. Excellent!
(4)
Kelly L.
I work across the street from Fashion Island so I am always looking to find something tasty for lunch. I have been here three times so far and each time I like this place more and more. Although this place is a little pricey, I think it's worth the money because of the quality of the food and the size of the portions. Pesto and Eggs: I decided that I wanted to have breakfast for lunch and it was DELICIOUS! The parmesan twist at the bottom was like a crispy, flaky croissant. There is a generous portion of prosciutto is salty, but it works well with the rest of the dish. The fried egg was cooked to perfection - the egg yolk is still runny. And lastly the drizzle of pesto and heaping mound of arugula added the right amount of freshness to the entree. Wraps - Bozeman Bacon: I like that all of the sandwiches can be made with a whole wheat tortilla. This wrap has their famous Mary's chicken that is always cooked perfectly. The bacon is thick and flavorful. The avocado wraps the whole thing together. Southwest Chicken: Another wrap that has their Mary's chicken in it. This has all of my favorite things in it - cheddar cheese, onions, red peppers and guacamole. Mediterranean Salad: This has all of the typical ingredients a Mediterranean salad should consist of - tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, onions, feta cheese + that amazing Mary's chicken. However, I did not really enjoy the the dressing so I probably would not order this again.
(5)
Cassy S.
Enjoyed the granola/fruit bowl and rosemary potatoes. Pastries looked fresh. Nice place to eat before the mall opens!
(4)
Annie S.
I was craving a fruit tart...and the one here is EXCELLENT!! Being a preggers lady, I am sometimes subject to cravings...and I had been craving a quality fruit tart for weeks! Luckily, my Elite husband recommended the Pain Du Monde at Newport Beach Fashion Island. The setup is kind of like Starbucks where you order at the front, but unlike Starbucks they have a menu with sandwiches, salads, and pastries!! After a day of walking around Laguna Beach, all we wanted was to sit down for some coffee and dessert. And we definitely got what we wanted!! We ordered the fruit tart, almond twist, and strawberry custard croissant. All 3 were amazing!! The drinks on the other hand were just okay...we had an iced tea, chai tea latte, and hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was a little too sweet and the chai tea latte was a little too bland. Otherwise, the patio seating was pretty nice being outdoors (but uncomfortable after awhile since there were no cushions). Also, based on the amount of people walking in and out, a couple people hit our chair due to the tight quarters. I would definitely come back for the pastries and fruit tart!!
(4)
Tamara M.
Excellent breakfast/lunch spot with a great selection of pastries, omelets, sandwiches, and salads. I love the French omelet with the goat cheese. Really good pastries. The cinnamon twist was really yummy. Prices are average for this type of place in Newport. $11-$12 average for the breakfast omelets. Salad and sandwiches are very good and fresh for lunch as well. The service is quick.
(5)
stephanie F.
Took 40 mins to get food. Super slow and the staff is stressed out. Not as nice an relaxing as it looks. Food was ok, but not for the long wait. Some people next to us started yelling about the wait and asked to cancel their food. It caused a scene and was awkward. Have been here twice and both times it's been slow. Also a little pricey
(2)
Laina A.
Bonjour Pain du Monde. Oh my, oh my, the delicious and incroyable breakfast pastries are a bit of heaven. You really get what you pay for here. Pricey but perfection. The cinnamon twist and the chocolate croissant are fantastic. The fruit is fresh and perfect . Staff is warm and welcoming. The place is always clean and neat. They have a nice outdoor patio to eat, where I imagine your dog is welcome. They have free treats at the counter in a jar for your four-legged friend, so they can also enjoy! Although I bet your dog is hoping you will share your goodies. The decor is very nice and some of the best and beautiful restrooms, especially for a coffee-type house. Pain du Monde is not just for breakfast though ... Lunch looks fabulous as well. I can see them making the fresh breads and rolls in the am, and there is a pleasing aroma in the air. They have plenty to choose from for drinks, excluding alcohol and they use a high quality expresso for those type of drinks. My mocha was hot and wonderful, and they actually stirred to mix my chocolate with my expresso before pouring the milk in, so I received just the right taste in every sip.
(4)
Jen L.
Came here for breakfast on a Sunday and surprised I never noticed this little cafe. It was crazy crazy packed with absolutely no seating. I had to have part of my party wait in line while I hunted for a table. The patio area is fairly small but you can sit far off outside of their immediate patio area. Waiting in line you get to see all of their pastries and specialties. I had a some type of Salmon Salad and Eggs Benedict. I also ordered some chocolate chip cookies to try them out. The food took quite a while to come out so if you are hungry then get a snack! The food here was quite decent and the prices were Newport prices, expensive! The patio is pet friendly which is a plus! I think I would rather go to another breakfast place because I just don't feel like waiting that long for my food or having to hunt down a table and stake claim to it. Especially when the food is expensive!
Great service ! Great Food! Excellent staff, we specially liked V, she was very kind and accommodating , just a pleasant individual. It's very obvious they all enjoy their job.
(5)
Anna P.
"Meeeh" at best. Yes, the atmosphere is nice and the location is absolutely fantastic(hence the 2 stars, not just one), BUT... Salads are pretty tasteless... yes, I understand that it's a salad. Yes, I understand that getting dressing on the side makes it different. But I get salads with dressing on the side everywhere. And other places seem to do a good job. Also, grilled chicken is supposed to be GRILLED chicken, not the "most heavily seasoned, but dry and cold" chicken I've ever seen.... The coffee that they use to make their lattes tastes burnt and the taste makes me think that they just put one load of coffee in the espresso machine and keep the hot water running through it and only get rid of the grounds every 4-5 drinks :\ Strawberry Croissant? Meh. Hard to eat, and really not worth the calories.
(2)
Sarah R.
The pastries here are fine. The service is wonderful. The almond twist was good, but not amazing.
(4)
Stella S.
Very good place for breakfast! Oatmeal is very tasty. Kids had sandwiches and soup and they loved it. The pastries also look great. Service is nice and girls have a smile on their faces. Next time bring my Mom for some oatmeal.
(5)
Debbie R.
If you love bacon, and you love sandwiches, the Bozeman Bacon is for you (especially on an empty stomach - amazing): Jidori chicken, red grilled tomatoes, Niman Ranch bacon, goat cheese and avocado on toasted ciabatta. Delicious. It's pretty much the only thing I get here (besides an occasional chocolate chip pecan cookie). Service is pretty standard and you check out on an iPad.
(5)
Yonnie Z.
My husband and I were hanging out at Fashion Island -- browsing some stores and came across this breakfast/brunch spot. I read the yelp.com reviews and decided to order the following items: (1) almond twist - soft chewy doughy goodness, filled with almond flakes and almond custard/cream in a croissant-like dough. it's hard to explain, but definitely good and I would get it again next time! 4 stars. (2) ham & cheese croissant - this croissant was huge, had a slice of ham + melted cheese inside. it tastes pretty good and kind of fancy. 3.5 stars (salty!) The place seemed pack when we arrived, and there was a line close to the door. We waited about 5-7 min in line before we go to the ordering counter. We didn't sit down to eat, but got both items to go and found a seat outside under the umbrellas to eat. :)
(4)
Genevieve M.
2 words. Fish. Tacos. I actually crave them. Fresh, flavorful, amazing. They also have great salads, sandwiches, soups, and.... COCO LOCO COOKIES! Their hot tea is also particularly good. Haven't tried their breakfast yet but its on my to-eat-list! Wish I knew the name of the girl that helped me when I was there last time so I could give her a shout out (young, brunette....brown eyes?)....SO sweet and helpful! Accommodated me happily with all my little requests!
(5)
Andrew T.
To be Frank with everyone i'm only giving 1 star because I was FORCED to enter a tip amount on their ipad register. Is tip mandatoryt for handing me a chocolate chip cookie?? I'm not sure if it was a malfunction on the systems end or not. but I was unable to complete my credit card transaction without entering a "TIP AMOUNT" and of course "0.00" was NOT accepted. So I was forced to tip 15% on a latte and a chocolate chip cookie. $1.75 in tip. LOL This situation happened to my friend as well. Tip is should never be customary at a coffee shop. YET, going to Pain Du Monde it is.. OH YEAH. the cookie and vanilla latte was really good!
(1)
Kristine L.
I have been going here for years. I always go for breakfast before shopping around Fashion island. everyone loves the almond croissant and the cinnamon twist, but I really like the chocolate croissant. Don't get me wrong, the almond and cinnamon are great too, but for me, they are too sweet for breakfast. I am dying to go back and try the sandwiches. The coffee is THE BEST. My favorite hands down. It's very strong but smooth with just the right amount of sweetness. I usually get the iced caramel latte or the iced mocha and they deliver every time. The atmosphere is also amazing..I mean it's Fashion Island. The service is good, nothing bad. Obviously I am going to go back...def recommended.
(5)
Robert G.
Easy: 1 star - numerous drink options and baked goods of exceptional quality* + 1 star - friendly, attentive, and informal counter service + 1 star - nicely finished, clean bathrooms, and a small outdoor seating area + 1 star - fair prices, irrespective of its Fashion Island address + 1 star - unique atmosphere and great people watching * I had a large chocolate chip cookie on one visit and an almond twist on the second visit, which was outstanding. All of the attributes were present in 2 visits within 2 days. If looking for something non-alcoholic to drink and a snack, look no further when at Fashion Island.
(5)
Joanna Y.
This place is delicious! Sure, the line is usually quite long and moves slow, but once you get your food, it proves that the wait was well worth it! I recommend the tuscan chicken sandwich, chicken tortilla soup, and BBQ chicken salad. All meal orders come with a small chocolate chip cookie. I also recommend their chocolate croissant, almond twist, and their cocoloco (i think that's what its called...) cookie. The pastries are big so they are perfect for sharing! It's right next to Lululemon and across from Neiman Marcus. Fashion Island is dog friendly, so bring your dog and enjoy a nice meal outside by the fountain :)
(4)
Grace C.
After the disappointment that was the Neiman Marcus/ Target high end designers joint venture, I needed to return my ENTIRE order to Neiman Marcus once it arrived at my house. Well from my house I have two options - Beverly Hills or Newport Fashion Island. I remembered that Trina D. mentioned that Fashion Island was dog friendly. So, since I would be all the way in OC to return my box of stuff, I said - hey lets go get lunch with our dogs! We were planning on going to R&D Kitchen, but after the snarky hostess told us that we couldn't sit with our dogs in the patio area unless they were service dogs, we just walked next door to Pain Du Monde and sat in *their* patio area. I got a 1/2 bbq chicken salad and 1/2 turkey croissant sandwich. Wow, talk about portion size. I don't know how I'd be able to eat an entire salad portion - because even the half was a bit much - WITH the sandwich half. There was quite a lot of chicken with the salad. The turkey sandwich was great. Apparently they roast their own turkey each day. I ordered a arnold palmer, but I should have not gotten a large. It was so big, I think I only drank half. Trina got some breakfast and the tea of the day - raspberry. Her breakfast was quite a decent size as well. After the disappointment of not being able to eat at R&D Kitchen, this actually turned out to be a better consolation prize than we could have ever imagined. We'll definitely be back for some more food!
(4)
Sandra R.
This is based on the mango chicken salad. The dressing of Thai Peanut sounded delicious but it was bland and boring. The chicken breast was dry. My husband however had the Sicilian chicken sandwich and it was delicious. I guess I would caution to keep away from the salads at this place.
(3)
Frank W.
I come here so much, I better write a review... The baked goods are the stars at this location (can't speak for the CDM location cuz never been there). Best Ham-and-cheese croissant I've had anywhere. I think it's the kind of cheese they use that makes it stand out. The chocolate chip cookies are awesome. AND the twists... oh those twists (drool~). The brunch items here are quite good too, such as the Egg Sandwich and Eggs Benedict. Pesto and Eggs were a bit salty, but the arugula helps balance it out. Still, not a huge fan (but I'm not a fan of pesto in general). Ironically, their coffee/espresso items are just ok. Iced drinks are enormous though, if you need lots of caffeine.
(4)
MiYun C.
The effulgent morning, a precursor to a lovely afternoon with very special friends. We dined like sovereignty and conversed with celestial happiness. Reflections included several "Two Halves Combos", Paradise Tropical Iced Tea and Mango Iced Tea. The Two Halves Combo is accompanied by a small cookie. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Salad - natural chicken (what is unnatural chicken?), organic romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, tomato, blue cheese, avocado and peanuts drizzled with their bbq ranch dressing - paired with the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich - Once again natural chicken with organic greens, roasted marinated red peppers, tomato, melted smoked mozzarella and fresh basil on ciabatta - Claimed to be served hot, but my sandwich was not hot, so I rectified the issue by warming my sandwich at home. The salad was over dressed, but delicious nonetheless. The sandwich brought upon wonderment, once warmed, the herbaciousness of the basil pesto paired with the smoked mozzarella and roasted red peppers were sublime. The tiny cookie was good, but it's for those who enjoy cakey cookies rather than chewy cookies. I prefer chewy cookies. The ambiance: A kind gentleman with his German Shepherd was enjoying his afternoon while chatting with us about his positive experience at Pain du Monde. As he was leaving he offers me his cushion to apply the the back of my chair, as the furniture is prepared with metal and it can be uncomfortable to sit back in the seat. I was very appreciative until my friends cautioned that I would be seen as the pretentious jerk who removed a seat cushion to buffer myself at the cost of another. Namaste!
VERY GOOD FOR BRUNCH! The French Omelette is sooo good. Im so impressed by this place, the food is so great and the prices are pretty low. Id definitely go to fashion island just to eat here! Make sure to try their cookies, Coco Loco is my favorite!
(5)
Michelle L.
One of my friends absolutely adores this place. Located in Fashion Island, it's a coffee shop surrounded by the riches and snobbery this whole mall offers. But it's a great place to catch up and immerse yourself in a book or what not. My boyfriend and I got the Almond Twist and Chai Tea. I'm not a fan of Chai Tea so I can't vouch for it at all except that it tasted like it was supposed to taste. The Almond Twist on the other hand was something special. It smelled great, and it tasted even better. It wasn't ridiculously sweet which I appreciated and it was big enough to share. It was a bit expensive, but I think it's worth it to share with someone. Check out the pastries! 4/5
(4)
Candice K.
Never have I ever had to endure such snootiness just for a fucking sandwich. But damn, is this sandwich worth having to walk through throngs of Mercedes-driving, designer-brand-flashing, kid-spoiling Newport snobs. THE GOOD. Bozeman Bacon: bacon makes the world go round (except for the Jews, I guess. I maintain they don't know what they're missing out on). Thick bacon and grilled chicken with rich avocado slices, creamy goat cheese spread, and grilled tomato, all on your bread of choice. Oh my. I've had this with the ciabatta and the croissant, and I would recommend sticking with a thicker bread like the ciabatta so it can more easily soak up all those delicious juices. Couscous Salad: yummy in my tummy! The couscous is perfectly cooked and well-seasoned with zesty Mediterranean flavors. If you're looking for an alternative to a traditional salad, this couscous is guaranteed to refresh your taste buds. THE OKAY. Fresh Tuna Salad: not really something that stood out, but it was good nonetheless. Maybe it would've been better with the croissant instead of the cheddar jalapeno. I would seriously recommend sticking with the "hot" sandwiches, though. Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie: each meal comes with a small cookie, of which I am not a fan. It's really cakey, and the flavor is not reminiscent of a traditional chocolate chip cookie due to the addition of an extra spice (nutmeg or cinnamon, perhaps?). I seldom ever advocate adherence to tradition, but the core ingredients that comprise a chocolate chip cookie are simply classic; I don't like too much deviation when it comes to my choco chip. THE BAD. The first time I came here, it took around 15-20 minutes for them to get our order out to us despite it being a rather slow night. The worker who took our order was super charming, though. The second time was much quicker; however, the workers seemed very stressed and weren't as attentive (e.g., one girl sounded agitated over the phone when I called to confirm store hours for a holiday, my cashier didn't ask if I wanted an orange slice in my water despite a nearby co-worker doing just that for another lady, and the girl who handed me my order was very gruff in demeanor). Also, they were out of chocolate croissants both times I went (at different times of the day). Lame. Other notes: this shit ain't cheap. A sandwich will cost you around $12-13. Also, if you do the Two Halves Combo, be warned that it does not come with a side salad (though it does come with the cookie).
(4)
Nicole D.
Fired up my laptop in search of a good breakfast joint near our hotel on Fashion Island. Yelp delivered again!! One of the best bakeries I've been to as of late. Pastry chefs working their magic right there in the cafe for all your viewing pleasure. Everything is fresh and of the highest quality. Step through those PDM doors and you will see what it's all about. The almond twist will leave it's indelible mark on my mind forever. So amazingly delicious! The softest, lushest dessert I've laid my lips on. Cinnamon, sugar, almonds and pastry come together in perfect harmony. Second to none! I also had the Poached Eggs Croissant, which my boyfriend watched me suck down with not a crumb to spare. Two poached eggs, smoked ham, parmesan and basil melded together on a buttery croissant. Utterly devine!! I carved out a big spot in my heart for PMD!!
(5)
Sophia V.
1/2 market fish sandwich + 1/2 dawn salad!!!
(4)
Milee S.
Wow, I love this place. I've been here twice, both times for breakfast. On my first visit, I got a egg sandwich with a bowl of fruit and a coffee. It was really good. So good that a year later I remembered eating here! This time, I got the chocolate croissant, the breakfast bowl and their flavored coffee of the day, creme brulee. The breakfast bowl is so delicious: low-fat vanilla yogurt topped with granola and a medley of fruits (I chose to eliminate the bananas, but kept the strawberries, mangoes, raspberries and blueberries). The creme brulee coffee was divine, and they had soy milk as an option to put in your coffee at the coffee bar! Yes, it's a pricey place (it is Fashion Island after all), so I dropped $13. But well worth it The other pastries looked so delicious that I was almost tempted to try a few more. Just a great place to have a leisurley breakfast.
(5)
Matt M.
Wow this place was good. My girlfriend got me the almond twist, chocolate croissant, and the pecan twist. The pastries weren't dinky like at other bakery's I've been to, and they tasted really good even after they sat through a car ride home and a couple hours while we ate dinner! My favorite of the three was the almond twist by far, but the other two were really good too! The almond twist just has a nice balance of flavors, whereas I felt that the chocolate croissant had a tad too much chocolate and was a bit rich for me, but it tasted really good with tea! I have to go there for myself to check out the service and the other dishes they have!
(5)
Hobo F.
Disappointed their Kids meal served Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, I expected more! Their almond twists were yummy, though. Everything else was average.
(2)
Michael C.
I came here for lunch and arrived early because I usually see it getting pretty crowded around that time. I first noticed they used iPads for ordering. It seem like a pretty cool concept. After I placed the order, I requested a receipt on the iPad but never received it. The cashier also disappear immediately. I didn't even get a chance to get a drink. I wouldn't mind it too much but they weren't even busy. I ordered the Albacore Tuna sandwich on a wheat roll. The sandwich was OK and a little bit too dry. Nothing impressive at all. I only ate half and didn't even have the appetite to finish the whole sandwich. I think the price of sandwiches and meals here are expensive for what you get. It was $13 for a sandwich and garden salad that didn't even blow me away.
(2)
Minhan D.
Almond twist. Hands down the best. Have had pastries from here on two separate occasions and it has been heaven each time. I've tried the pecan twist and the chocolate croissant, both of which were pretty damn good, but sorry guys, my fav's still the almond twist! Service was wonderful, too. My server was attentive, and was so nice for looking into the oven for new hot pastries. Thanks guy!
(5)
Cat H.
Wandered in here craving some breakfast prior to our shopping trip. We sat outside in the sun and enjoyed the lovely day. I ordered the scrambled eggs with seasonal vegetable (it was asparagus) which came with bacon, a cheesy croissant, and salsa. My friend ordered a beet salad, which was colorful and looked pretty yummy. Service was quick and it wasn't very expensive. I'd return again.
(4)
Isabel T.
Omg the breakfast sandwich is to die for. If you have seen the movie Spanglish, in it Adam Sandler makes this sandwich that literally makes me drool watching it on the screen - I feel like this breakfast sandwich is on par with that sandwich. Ok on to useful info - you stand in line and order at the counter (while standing in line you get to look at the amazing looking pastries, muffins, scones etc), you sit down and they bring you the food. The spouse got an omelet with avocado (don't remember what it was called). My friend ordered a side of potatoes which had mushrooms, brussels sprouts and onions (yummo). The iced tea was tasty too! Only reason it's not 5 stars is because its a smidge pricey (heck it's fashion island so not a surprise).
(4)
Anson A.
There is nothing painful with Pain du monde. Hands down my favorite fish taco in town, probably because of the fresh salsa and Chipotle mayo they use. The servers are very polite and provide excellent service. Lynn, the cutest server there, really went out of her way to provide me with the best service ever!
(5)
flo c.
PDM is our usual breakfast/brunch choice when we are at FI. The line can be a little slow because the cashier are in charge of getting a few of the items for you, such as drinks or pastries, but given the limited seating, it's probably a good thing they don't churn through the line very quickly. Service can be considered efficient, but they're certainly not the cheeriest, nicest staff ever. I've had the good fortune of getting here right when the cinnamon twists were fresh out of the oven and that was by far one of the best cinnamon pastries (or any pastry) I've had. Unlike many cinnamon-y pastries, theirs is generously filled with cinnamon and you can taste it in every bite. We also enjoy the chocolate croissant, which is drizzled with chocolate that's not solidified (unlike other places). As such, this can get a little messy. However, the chocolate filling is fairly abundant and there's a good chance you get chocolate in every bite. The salads here, in my opinion, are the highlights of the menu. They're much more interesting than one would think and even the simple beet salad has a lot of texture and variety to it. If multiple salads appeal to you, you can get two halves in the pick 2 combo. My husband swears by the tuna sandwich, which isn't fishy or too rich, and my uncle really likes the Tuscan chicken sandwich. These arrive with a little chocolate chip cookie, which is a nice touch. My husband has also ordered the smoked salmon eggs benedict, which is served on potato cakes instead of bread with the sauce of the side. The eggs are nicely runny and it's better to control the amount of sauce yourself. The only downside is that if you have a larger appetite, the portion (for the eggs benedict) can be considered to be on the smaller side. In the past, if your whole table wanted iced water, they would give you multiple disposable cups. Unfortunately, now if you're dining in, they give you a tiny carafe for the table (and that's if they remember to bring it out with your food). I think if they're going to do tiny carafes, they might as well have a water dispenser because the carafe is probably like 24 oz, if that. I would skip the fresh squeezed OJ. It tasted fine but it's like $5 for a tiny Dixie cup's worth. Save your craving for OJ for Jamba Juice.
(4)
Christina Z.
I came here for Sunday breakfast today and both my girlfriend and i ordered the eggs Benedict with salmon. It sits atop a shredded potato mountain instead of the traditional English muffin. The salmon was terrible. Extremely fishy tasting and inedible. We both putb the salmon to the side and attempted to eat the rest but it really wasn't very tasty at all. The presentation, on the other hand, was spectacular. We couldn't wait to try it. We also has a strawberry, custard croissant which would have been delicious if it wasn't a little stale. Probably will not return
(2)
Terry T.
5 stars for food: fresh and tasty 3 stars for service: fast but not that friendly or attentive 3 stars for price: expensive for quantity given
(4)
Dominique T.
Ordered an eggs benedict with smoked salmon. Client ordered the eggs, prosciutto pesto over croissant. Both were delish!! Beautifully presented. Loved that the benedict with hash brown instead of English muffin. Had an enjoyable time sitting on the patio on a beautiful sunny Saturday.
(4)
Kathy N.
Lovee this place! I always have to stop by pdm for an iced vanilla chai tea latte when I'm at fashion island, it's become a shopping ritual :p They also have the best cookies! My favorites are the oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip. The cookies are massive, and chewy, yet soft, and has just the right amount of crunch on the edges. Such a wonderful treat after a day of indulgent shopping! What can I say...? I'm a hedonist! Tip: if you're hungry after all that shopping, satiate your appetite with the Thai mango salad! Yummy and healthy, so you can still squeeze into those size 25, double zero (two sizes too small) jeans you just bought at Bloomys ;)
(4)
Rivan M.
I love this place they have good food and pastries. Breakfast is the best I love the fact that they have breakfast even after 11:00am.
(5)
Qui C.
My girlfriend swears by this place. She practically lives here. So finally, before she's leaving town, we had lunch here. It's a small cafe, with outside and inside seating, mostly for small 2 people parties. We ordered the Chipotle Caesar with added Chicken and the Albacore Tuna sandwich, with a side of cous cous salad. The tuna sandwich was a tad plain and underseasoned, but the roasted tomato gave it a special touch. The french bread that it was served with completely made the sandwich. The cous cous salad was also a favorite of mine - lemon to perfection! We also got the cinnamon twist, pumpkin spice muffin, and their coco-loco and chocolate chip cookies. All the pastries here are fantastic!
(4)
Rohlin A.
I had to drop the wife off at work the other day and brought the Chiefster with me. After I dropped the wife off, I decided to walk around Fashion Island. After about 45 minutes of walking, I decided to try Pain Du Monde on the wife's suggestion. The person taking my order was having a little trouble understanding me, so the placing the order took a little longer than usual. I ordered the egg sandwich on croissant which comes with fried eggs cooked to order (over easy if not stated), four strips of bacon, Gruyere cheese and two slices of tomato. There is also a small side of mixed fruit. I also ordered a small glass of fresh orange juice and a blueberry muffin. Everything was very delicious! The only problem I have is with a modest tip, my meal was $18 and I did leave full. The good part of paying this much is the quality and nothing was skimped on. There were plenty of blueberries in the muffin (can't tell you how annoying it is to have a muffin look great on the outside only find out there is nothing but cake on the inside), the mixed fruit was fresh and sweet and the oj was definitely fresh squeezed. I will definitely keep this place in mind for breakfast, I don't mind paying more if I think I am getting something for it.
(4)
Christen S.
Love love love PDM. Whether I'm grabbing a quick pastry or ice tea, or sitting down for an afternoon lunch, PDM never disappoints. Everything is always fresh and the people that work their are friendly and helpful. Their ice tea is my absolute favorite - so refreshing! For lunch, I love their half salad, half sandwich combos. Last time I was their I had breakfast - prosciutto, eggs, arugula, what's not to love?
(5)
Michelle H.
This is a cute spot in Fashion Island that is a cafe and a bakery. They bake all of their pastries in house and use really fresh ingredients as well. Since PDM has moved from the food court to their new location near Cafe R&D, there is a lot more seating and the ambiance is very cute rustic bistro. The salads, sandwiches, and drinks are all equally amazing, however, my favorite of favorites.... The two halves combo with the Seasonal Chicken Salad and a turkey sandwich on multigrain. The portions are huge (even if they are suppose to be "half" of the normal portion) and they are not stingy with the good stuff (i.e. cheese, avocado, and meats). Also, with every meal they include a mini sized version of their delicious chocolate chip cookies... NOM. Pros: -Everything is FRESH -Cafe eating area is SO CUTE -Good coffee drinks Cons: -On the pricey end -Gets a lot of traffic from surrounding corporate area during the week days -Food takes a little while to come up (regardless of the day/time)
(4)
Katrina H.
The first time I came here I had a hard time finding it (fyi it's behind the R & D kitchen) but when I finally made it, it was worth the hunt around Fashion Island in heels. I've only ever come for the baked goods and coffee and have yet to try anything from their lunch or dinner menu. One day, I'll sit down and order from their food menu. The place seems to have a loyal customer base. Every time I stop by, many of the tables are occupied which signifies that their lunch and dinner food items must be good. Since I work close to Fashion Island, I'll stop by this bakery for some coffee or baked goods. The chocolate croissant is amazing as well as the cinnamon twist. Everything is made fresh which is one of the reasons I love coming here. When I stop by during my lunch break, I can see them rolling out the dough and it's always pleasant to watch while they get my order. Also, their coffee is really good. I'm not too picky when it comes to coffee, but the moment I tried theirs, I decided that this is what good coffee must taste like. An overall quaint little place to stop by and get a snack. If you're out shopping in Fashion Island and craving some fresh baked goods, then I definitely recommend this place.
(4)
David S.
Extremely delicious BBQ chicken salads!! The coffees here are authentic, more Italian and less Starbuckish. That said, if you're used to Starbucks, you may not like what you get. The girls working here were very nice and offered to make my coffee drink taste how I wanted. Highly recommended place to dine for a low-key, healthy meal.
(5)
Erik B.
Pain du Monde is a classy coffee shop and restaurant (light fare) in the European tradition. The location is fantastic with a beautiful patio just outside and adjacent to the large fountain at Fashion Island. The decor is beautiful modern with an Orange County John Wayne theme (very cool) The service staff is exceptionally good. This place serves delicious pastries, made to order gourmet coffee, and awesome lunch good like their sandwich and soups. I especially enjoy the daily option of tortilla soup that's a real tasty take on the traditional mixed soup. Pain du Monde hires exceptionally friendly, happy, and cute young ladies who work the front counter. Their cheerful smiles and positive attitude is reminiscent of a Swiss village atmosphere, and is a refreshing contrast among the many plastic surgery induced permanent-frowns cruising around the shopping area. Be sure to stop by this great little spot in Newport area any time of the day. I may be on the patio enjoying the sunshine and appreciating the optimistic atmosphere that their experience creates.
(5)
Aerin L.
Great coffee, yummy oatmeal with fresh strawberries, bananas and almonds. Lovely atmosphere outside at Fashion Island.
(5)
Elizabeth H.
I am just rating the pastry I got from here today. I ordered a tasteless pumpkin scone, I will not be ordering that again. I was thinking it would be like a Starbucks pumpkin scone and this was terrible. There wasn't much taste and it wasn't really sweet. Needless to say, I will stick to Starbucks when I want a pumpkin scone. Oh, and I paid almost $4 for it!!! Can we say over priced?! What a waste! The other menu items looked good. Might try a sandwich next time, they seem to have better reviews on Yelp.
(1)
Kelly R.
Everything looks so good, but can you please please do something Aout the flies landing on your pastries?!? Just get a cake stand and cover them because that is seriously just too gross and being all fancy you should k ow better. Fail.
(1)
Patrick N.
Croissants that are so fresh, flaky, and buttery that they warrant 4 stars. Downside: pretty pricey.
(4)
Elyn Z.
The cinnamon twist was delicious. It was just out of the oven, delicately flaky and just the right crispness. With a cup of coffee it was divine. You will never find this quality of pastry at Starbucks and even rarely find it at bakeries. If you are in the area go to Pain du Monde to experience high quality french pastry.
(5)
Joe T.
Dude...get the almond twist. That was the most freaking delicious almond anything that I have ever had. Their salads are pretty good and huge as well. Prices are a bit steep, as you're in Newport of course...Happy eats!
(4)
Kimberly N.
OMG... Got a voucher from Fletcher Jones Mercedes (thanks guys!) for a free almond twist. IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!!! This was the best thing EVER!!!! I'm gluten free but some things are worth getting sick and this is it!! OMG... AMAZING!!!
(5)
Kristina G.
I always saw a long line here and I finally tried it over the weekend. My husband and I went to check it out because there is one opening up near our house. I got the Turkey sandwich with Tortilla soup and it was delish! The sandwich portion was perfect. Not too small or too big and the coup was a good cup size. My husband got the tuna wrap and it was a hearty portion as well. We were pleasantly surprised when we got our order and it each came with a chocolate chip cookie! SCORE! We ate everything and a dessert to share. Almond croissant with custard, strawberries and chocolate drizzle. It was the perfect finish, especially since we ended up with 2 desserts! :) I look forward to trying more from the menu when they open near me.
(4)
Dennis I.
Perfectly crafted almond twist and one of my favorite pastries in this world. The cappuccino was very good as well!
(4)
Austin R.
I'm a regular customer here, so I have tried most things on the menu. Right now I am a big fan of the Mahi Mahi tacos. I was skeptical at first since they are known for their salads and sandwiches, but they were amazing. I'm really happy that they have been expanding their menu. As for drinks, they have all of the holiday blends in. At most places you can only get peppermint or pumpkin spice. They on the other hand have gingerbread, cinnamon brown sugar, toasted marshmallow (my absolute favorite), and many more. The pastries are always a great treat. I would recommend trying the chocolate almond croissant, or lemon tart; but you can't go wrong with any of their pastries. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Most coffee/bakery shops just take your order, and thats the extent of it. Here they seem to really take an interest in their customers. The food is always prepared in a timely manner, and the drinks are made almost instantly. I tried LPQ, and I was not impressed. I felt I could make most of their items myself. Waste of money and time. PDM all the way!
(5)
Mimi C.
Pain du Monde (bread of the world) reminds me of Panera bread but with an emphasis on sweet goods.. and not as good. PDM is set up like Panera too.. with offerings of sammies, gourmet salads, breads, drinks.. It's pretty empty on a Friday night even though the restaurants around it seemed packed. Chocolate croissant and it reminded me of store bought croissants -- not flaky, inconsistent spread of chocolate, dry and bland in color (kind of a pasty white color). Had pieces of sugar on top.. meh. Also got the Vanilla Chai Tea Latte -- it was too sweet for me... but it was still pretty good and probably would've gone really well with a plain croissant. Friend picked up a regular latte but didn't really comment on it. Service was okay - I felt like they treated customers differently depending on how they dress (I was in sweats & sweater and felt like they were brushing me off). Lots and lots of seating with cute desert feel decor ... we snagged seats around the nice plushy chairs (we made hubby sit on the hard chair, tho...sorry honey!! =P) .. if you have larger groups, you can move the tables around.
(2)
Kristin A.
The short of it: - upscale version of Corner Bakery - Pastries are great! - Favs: Chocolate crossiant, twists The long of it: I've only bought pastries here and so far so good. Cookies are yummy, chocolate croissants are amazing, and the twists are delish! I definitely want to come back here and try the food, it looks really good and there's always a long line whenever I come. Beware certain pastries will sell out by the end of the day so if you were looking forward to that chocolate croissant it might not be there if you come later in the day.
(4)
Bruce B.
If there was more than 5 stars they would get whatever the number it went up to. Had 10 different items and all of them are off the charts. Salads, breakfasts, fish Tacos. Everything is just amazing.
(5)
Mrs. M.
Lovely little cafe joint. Came here for breakfast with the hubby. Nice presentation and good customer service. Real busy place. Food was healthy and good. Not so healthy were the danishes, but really above average! The almond twist is their best seller, and it was perfect....flaky, buttery outside and soft inside. Their strawberry danish was delicious, too! Coffee was alright. My husband enjoyed his fresh lemonade.
(4)
Luanna Y.
I can't get enough of this place! Egg white, spinach, goat cheese omelet - perfectly light, perfectly flavorful, perfectly fresh, perfectly PERFECT. The salad that comes with the sandwiches is really yummy. Love the vinaigrette that they use. And the fresh bread just MAKES the sandwich. Workers are super nice. Bathrooms clean. Cute outdoor patio. If you're lucky enough to get their twists fresh from the oven, you might just shed a tear or two, they're that good. Love. Love.
(5)
Krystal N.
Perfect spot to grab a light lunch and catch up with a friend! I was trying to find a place to take one of my visiting girlfriends and I decided on this place. You know that feeling...when you're worried if your dining partner will like the place you chose? Well, thankfully, we both loved this place! *sigh of relief* We split the special of the day which was some type of arugula salad. OMG, so fresh and delicious! We each also got a pastry. I got the almond twist and it was melt in your mouth good! The outdoor seating area is comfortable and a perfect spot to people watch. If you're already at Fashion Island, I would suggest coming here to take a little break and grab a bite to eat. Much better than most options located at a mall!
(4)
Moe T.
Anything coming fresh out of the oven from here is great. The almond twist is great but the one to get is the pain au chocolat when it's hot.
(5)
Royce Y.
OVERALL RATING = 7 / 10 the EATs: Tuscan Chicken Sandwich = 8 Chocolate Chip Cookie = 8 Seasonal Salad = 7 the DRINKs: Water = 9 ATMOSPHERE = 8 SERVICE = 7 APPEAL = 7 A fancier and more expensive version of Corner Bakery with better service. Ordered the 2 halves combo. Comes with a small chocolate chip cookie. Nice. The Seasonal - Wasn't sure if I really liked this dish or not.. It's like they took little bit of everything from the Garden of Eden and through it all together with some dressing. Mangos, strawberries, greens, avocado, cilantro, beets, hard-boiled egg whites, nuts (i think almonds), roma tomato, Jidori chicken, and couple other things I couldn't make out but were definitely veggies. The champagne vinaigrette was very refreshing with a little tang. The ingredients were fresh. There was just little too much going on with the ingredients. Palate overload. The Tuscan - good quality chicken sandwich. If you're unsure about what to order here, this is a safe bet.
(3)
Giang L.
I'm only reviewing the twist. I'm also from LA so I don't know of many bakeries in this area. All croissants taste like cardboard after you've had a croissant in Paris. We came here for a meeting on Friday morning, so I believe everything was fresh out of the oven. Yelpers said to order the twist. The twist they serve here is so good, it's like a stretched out version of a croissant. It's the closest thing I've found to a croissant from Paris. I will definitely come back to try the other pastries.
(5)
Dan N.
I've never been a big person on salads, one of those items that if they're on my plate then I'll eat. However, Pain du Monde's Mango Chicken Salad I'll actually order and eat as an entree. Best part is the cookie, however, I think they got a little smaller than before.
(4)
Tesia Y.
It's almost dangerous how good their pastries are. Came in with high expectations for their almond twist and chocolate croissant and neither of them disappointed! Tried their Tropical Iced-tea, as well-- nothing too memorable, but still good. Almond twist: this is honestly one of the best pastries I've ever had. Tastes and smells heavenly.. and not too sweet! I'm obsessed with the subtle almond flavoring inside of the twist. Chocolate croissant: flakey on the outside, gooey on the inside. JUST how i like 'em.
(5)
Jackie N.
Beautifully chic cafe. My mom spotted this while shopping at Fashion Island and she just had to go in. At first, I was expecting so more sweets here like cakes and such. No luck but no complaint as well just some delicious pastries. I had ordered the Almond Twist which was divine. Expensive but tantalizing. Must get the Bozeman Bacon sandwich. It is out of this world tasty. The sandwich is a bit on the pricey side but it fills you up like no other. That sandwich was huge. The garden salad on the side was fresh and delicious so it was a win-win. Service and staff here was friendly. No much to report here. I would definitely come back here and would most likely be my go-to place while shopping at Fashion Island.
(4)
Jules S.
I went to try this place out early at 7:00am in the morning because bakers usually have the good stuff out early. Not so with this place. I felt like I got a load of yesterday's batch that didn't sell. Nothing was hot. The chocolate croissant that everyone raves about was just OK. It wasn't flaky enough, it wasn't hot enough, and the chocolate filling inside definitely was not moist enough. I was very disappointed with the chocolate croissant. I asked a pro baker I know what they thought of the croissant. She humbly said it tasted good, but I could hear the underlying tone in which I heard "I could make a better croissant than this". The scones though were pretty good. I got a apricot and rum-raisin scone for people to share. The scone tasted of yesterday to me, but was still good enough to say "yum". I didn't get any coffee here. I got my white mocha at the Starbucks next door. When I pulled into the Starbucks register I was immediately greeted with a 'thanks I'll take one of those', jokingly. Even though Starbucks sells their own pastries the employees agree that Pain Du Monde's is better than theirs. I'll give 'em that. $4.25 for a chocolate croissant though? It didn't blow me away. I'll keep searching local pastry shops for a truly flaky, moist, and delicious croissant. I'm in no hurry to go back to this place although the decor is pretty cool inside and outside. Great place to check out OC-lites.
(3)
Elysse P.
COCO LOCO COOKIE why are you so delicious? Newest guilty pleasure...
(5)
Elaine C.
I came in for tea and a croissant. It was ok and would have walked away if I didn't feel inclined to write them a poor review. The place was empty on a Tuesday evening, me and a couple (who got their meal free due to dissatisfaction). I had thrown my tea bag away and felt my tea was weak, I asked for another tea bag. They "had" to charge me the $1.95. I just heard the couple go on and on about how unhappy they were. I think a free tea bag would have saved at least one of the three people. Oh well... Poor management.
(1)
Jennifer B.
Love the cafe environment with great service. Food is consistently good. Have the BBQ salad as a wrap; it's delicious.
(5)
Anna R.
I ordered a Mac and cheese for my toddler and it took over 20 minutes to bring out! When I went to check on it, they scrambled to bring the order up and put the mac n cheese in the microwave! some fell on the prep table and the cook picked it up with his bare hand and threw it back on the bowl. Needless to say, i asked for my money back asap and i wont be going back to this place. Yuck!
(1)
David W.
One thing that always gets me- high ceilings. Lots of natural light with warm, dark color furniture brings life to those cold, foggy Saturday mornings. Alright world, its time to bundle up inside one of their amazing cinnamon twists and never come out of this beautiful cafe. See ya latte.
(5)
Alysa K.
The food at PDM is very fresh, light, and yummy! The beverages are also really great - their coffee, tea, and freshly squeezed orange juice. I always walk away feeling like I got a good meal, but don't feel heavy or too full.
(4)
Jessica T.
Addicted Until recently I had only drop by for their coffee and bakery treats--which on their own is highly addictive, but I had the happy occasion to eat lunch here with an old friend/mentor. Their menu is short and simple, but well rounded. I appreciate their 2 halves combo option and decided to try 2 of their salads for lunch. I ordered their seasonal and their beet. Both were delicious, only neg. was that their chicken was dry/over cooked. The produce in both salads were incredibly fresh and the flavors and colors were vibrant and appealing. I absolutely adore goat cheese, and I was happy to discover that PDM is not skimpy with their toppings and cheeses. The sweetest part of my lunch? It comes with a petite chocolate chip cookie-so cute! I also ordered their Tropical Iced Tea--tasty, but nothing out of the ordinary. I will definitely return to try other lunch items when I have time and luxury of having a leisurly lunch. Until then, I will continue to grab my caramel latte and almond twists to go. 4 stars for Baked goods, Coffee and Salads Pros: quick, fresh, and friendly, Cons: Inside Fashion Island-shopaholics beware. Also, their baked goods are made fresh daily, once they sell out--you're out of luck (good, but bad if you really wanted something they sold out of)
(4)
Christine A.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Pain Du Monde is a bakery that used to be in the food court where I would go for their amazing pastries & iced teas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been in love with their pastries for soooooo long & I've definitely been a faithful customer for ummm...15+yrs! And now, yes...now they finally have a separate location with tables & all! Yayyyyyy! Honestly, you can't go wrong here. Order any pastries, and you will be happy! I love their twists & croissants! They also have great french baguettes and pretty much everything else! So dreamy!!! Even for food, Yum!!! I especially like their tuna salad sandwich which is not salty at all! I just LOVE this place!
(5)
Megan K.
The Tuscan Chicken sandwich is my life... Such a cute place with great food and nice people!
(5)
Reza S.
Extremely disappointed with this place. Had the eggs Benedict and it was probably one of the worst Benedicts I have ever had. The food was cold and tasteless. The potatoes were frozen and not fresh. May be the cooks were having a bad day. Would definitely not come back.
(1)
Jordan E.
The salmon plate with mango salsa and ginger cilantro dressing is AMAZING! Whenever we head to Fashion Island, we always find ourselves at PDM. The staff is really nice, they have Coke in glass bottles and Mac 'n Cheese for the kiddos. Don't forget to grab a hot chocolate and cookie before you leave.
(5)
Andrea T.
First time here, stopped by because I needed a caffeine fix and didn't feel like going to Starbucks. Along with the coffee, I had the fruit and oatmeal. The fruit was super fresh and delicious. Another big plus was that in addition to soy milk they also have almond milk for your coffee for a little extra money.
(4)
Kevin L.
So yesterday I biked from Irvine to Laguna Beach (the workout itself was about 30miles in total) and this morning, I figured I would treat myself to something nice for breakfast - first thing that came to mind, Pain Du Monde. Since moving here to California, the single biggest thing I miss is cafes that sell not just coffee, but food. If that's what you're looking for, Pain Du Monde's the place to be. Lazy sunday morning at near Newport Beach... it was a great experience. What I Liked: The food and service. There's no denying, the food is amazing. I ordered the Egg Sandwich (Breakfast Menu) which is... basically as good of a breakfast as anyone would like to wake up to. Staked between two softly, fluffy croissants were the tender goodness of sliced tomato, thick juicy ham, cheese and finally, cooked to perfection over-medium eggs (just the way I like it! well, it's made to order) whose yolk ran lovingly with each bite. It was an amazing sandwich. Definitely what I needed this morning. Also, I die for their Almond Twists (as I have seen many other reviewers do too). It's a twist like you've never tasted before. Though, I guess my only critic may be to come later in the day - as opposed to 8AM. Usually when I swing by the cafe, the twists are fresh out of the oven. This morning, it tasted slightly "overnight" ? Regardless, credit given where it's due - it's this yummy baked delicacy layered with almond and sugary goodness and topped with crystalled sugar. The service: I was quite surprised, this morning, when the waitress delivered my food to me even when I sat away from the cafe (near the fountain). Service is always something that gets to me - it's very humbling. Props! What I Didn't Like: Well... I'll have to update on that later!
(5)
Reva S.
Delicious, gorgeous food. Yogurt with berries was spectacular, and a great egg dish, too. The server messed up my order, but made it right, and even though it took awhile for the replacement, the food was so good, it was worth the wait.
(4)
Count D.
I am never one to stay in the hotel and eat the crappy hotel breakfast (though the hotel I stayed in probably had a good one). No, I must venture out and find "that place" that offers something good if not unusual. That way, I get a nice walk in the bargain and find something new while I adventure out. I had a great breakfast at Pain du Monde in Fashion Island. Everything from my Pesto eggs on toast with arugula and parm to my delicious pastry twists was excellent. Service was brisk and friendly. These folks make seriously nice pastry! If you are in the area, it's worth the trip and well worth getting out of the hotel. I loved it.
(4)
Sharon V.
We stopped in to pick up a latte after lunch and the chocolate croissant was just taunting me through the glass case. We ordered our coffee and nearly paid before I blurted out....and the chocolate croissant, please. We sat at a nearby table while we waited for our coffee was being made. I couldn't resist taking a few bites of my croissant and it was flaky, buttery with just the right amount of chocolate. It was a bit messy but that's what napkins are for. ; ) When our coffee was ready, the guy who took our order brought our drinks to us. NICE service! I added my sugar in the raw and thought the coffee was pretty decent. Not amazing but pretty good. I'd come again for the chocolate croissant alone.
(4)
Niloo S.
This place used to be in the Bloomingdales food court and about a year ago moved across from Neiman Marcus and next door to R&D cafe. I love there cinnamon twists and almond twists. Great pastries. My dad got the pesto and eggs and it was DELICIOUS! It was two pieces of bread topped with prosciutto, 2 sunny side up eggs, arugula and pest. It was so good ! I got the breakfast bowl which is granola fruit and yogurt. I've also had there tortilla soup, it is so goooooooooood ! There coffee is good too and I noticed that they even squeeze fresh orange juice, I need to try it next time ! Good place for quick lunch or breakfast or pastry to go !
(5)
Amy N.
Delicious! It's a very nice place to eat fresh bakery and awesome salads and sandwich. I took the veggie grill sandwich with multigrain slice bread and it was excellent! I come from France and I can say that the bread was good and the coat cheese very tasty. For dessert, I had the almond twist and it's the best pastry I had in the USA. it is crispy outside and soft inside, you just want to come back again when you're done!
(5)
Wynn R.
Love it- Fast, clean, friendly and tasty- Love the Fashion Island location- Good menu choices- not overpriced- I had the Southwest Chicken sandwich on pepper cheese roll - Has awesome guacamole - yummy! So good- I can still taste it- My gf had eggs Benedict- Comes on stacked hash browns instead of bread- really good too! Yup! I say it's a sure bet!
(4)
Kristie L.
Food is delicious but the service here SUCKS. The staff are really snobby and definitely need some coaching on customer service basics. Right when my friend and I walked in there were a couple of people in line ahead of us - which was totally fine. However, once we got to the register to place our orders, the cashier didn't say a word to us and started doing something else. No greeting - complete cold shoulder. My friend and I felt like we were invisible to the staff. Like I said - excellent food but really poor service. Definitely was not a comfortable environment to be in.
(3)
Cindy C.
All I need in this life of sin is me and my...PDM Chocolate Croissant?! yep you heard me. I tried to stop myself at just one bite but before I knew it my chocolate croissant disappeared before my eyes and was comfortably sitting in my belly. It's light, fluffy, chocolate, just the right amount of sweetness. Which diehard chocolate fan could resist? I also really enjoy their variety of scones and southwest chicken sandwich. That warm chicken melted with cheese stuffed in a jalapeno cheddar roll was bursting in flavor with each bite in my mouth. Super delicious but super filling! PDM has the best pasteries in Fashion Island...maybe even all of Newport Beach!
(5)
M L.
Pesto, prosciutto and eggs on top of Parmesan twist bread. OMG. Perfect for a lazy Sunday while people-watching at Fashion Island. The cashier girls are snotty, watch out!
(4)
Vonetta Y.
After bearing a cross-country flight that involved being awake for an ungodly number of hours, I was famished and dead set on getting a fancy sandwich. Any sort of fancy sandwich. The bride & groom of the wedding we were attending told us about Fashion Island, so off we went to spend the afternoon before the wedding that night. I scanned the directory and found Pain du Monde or, as R kept calling it, Bread of the World. It was quite busy, so the only place we could find seats was right by the window. I imagine this would have been quite nice on an ordinary New Year's Eve, however, this New Year's Eve was FREEZING. And I say that coming from DC. But that didn't matter too much once the sandwich was in my hand. We got the sandwich combo with two different halves, one chipotle chicken and one chicken pesto. Both were delicious! Great pesto and chipotle sauces, and were filling without being overwhelming. I'd also ordered an iced tea lemonade, but given that it was raspberry iced tea, the combo tasted kinda weird. R had also ordered an iced tea lemonade, but they forgot the iced tea. The lemonade wasn't bad, but he insisted that it wasn't fresh squeezed. Shrugs. Our service was fine, aside from the drink mix-up. The only gripe I had was the price! Nearly $12 for a sandwich????? Woooooosa! I guess it's a California thing that my Washingtonian wallet was not expecting. Price aside, it was a great lunch.
(4)
Nicole B.
Pain du Monde is located at Fashion Island. It's a bakery and cafe, and looks so cute and welcoming. I haven't tried the food here, so this review is solely for the desserts. All the desserts here are fresh and delicious. I highly recommend the cinnamon twist, almond twist, chocolate chip cookie, oatmeal cookie, chocolate croissant, and actually, everything else! Dessert with tea or coffee= bliss! The seating area is lovely, especially the outdoors. Must try if you're at Fashion Island and are craving something sweet!
(4)
Annie D.
I can't say enough about their pastries here. I'm going to make a very bold statement and say that their pastries are comparable to Parisian bakery and firmly stand by it. Oh... my.... goodness! The almond twist was flaky, buttery and baked to perfection! My only complaint was the service. The blonde who took my order had a foul attitude and acted like she didn't want to be there but considering that it was Newport Beach, I can understand if it was her parents that made her get a job.
(4)
Jan Y.
one day i came here cuz my sister likes to feed her kid cookies so that he can fulfill daily calories counts (hes seriously anorexic). i dutifully bought the cookie, then noshed on a piece. and another. then fiance decided to get in on the action. my one year old niece saw (and recognized!) the cookie bag and reached her chubby arms out for a chunk! we were in trouble! the cookie was so delish! before we knew it, the cookie was nought but a mass of crumbs, and i had to send joanna y. in for more :/ cookie obtainment fail. delish product though. and good service. price point could be better. you know me and price point :) we got this love/hate thing going on.
(4)
AB A.
Did not the coffee but I liked
(2)
Jonathan N.
Pain Du Monde has moved from the food court to in front of Bloomies and all I can say is "FINALLY." I've always thought in my head that PDM is wayyy too good for an average food court. TOO GOOD. I love the upgrade and the feel of the new restaurant :). So relaxing~~ and what a better way to relax than with great food? I can go on and on about the amazing scones, cookies, and other baked addicting goods, but I MUST pay my respects to the cinnamon twists, the mango salad, and the tuscan chicken sandwich. OH MANNNN. First of all, the cinnamon twists are to die for. I love them and I have yet to find something even worth calling a rival. The cinnamon twist's flaky puff pastry creates a perfect shell for the sweet cinnamon interior. Also, the cinnamon twists are great to buy for another day. I usually buy about 7 whenever I come. Just toast it for a couple minutes in the toaster and BAM. Deliciousness in your face! (or mouth). The mango salad was pretty mindblowing as well. I loved how fresh it tasted and the crunch of the salad was nomnomnom. I hate wet soggy greeeens. HATEE but luckily Pain Du Monde is there for me. :) Also, the tuscan chicken is quite fantastic as well. The chicken is spiced....uniquely lol. I can't really describe it.. but it was such a refreshing taste. SPEAKING OF REFRESHING, the colors of the salad and the sandwich made me so happy. The meal is pleasing to both your eyes and your mouth. TWOfer! :D My TIP: Get the two halves deal (you get two halves of any sandwiches/soups/salads) :). You also get some garlic bread and a cookie! :D Usually, some places give you itty bitty halves but this place is really generous. I actually thought they made a mistake and gave me the real order! LOL. Fresh, healthy, delish. Could you ask for more?
(4)
Rachel T.
Delicious! This place reminds me of a nicer Panera Bread. Still not really sure how to pronounce this place... just call it PDM. Oh my gosh, the Ahi Tuna salad is yums! The ahi is perfectly seared, and I love the mango and jicima (sp?) in the salad. I went back a few days later and had the Tuscan chicken sandwich which was also really tasty. Love the pesto flavor in it. It's a great place to eat with friends, or take your dog and sit outside on the patio and people watch. Such a nice place during warm summer days!
(4)
Priscilla P.
the pastries are good, though they are pricey. but everything else sucks. first, the girls who work here look bored and unhelpful. who trains them?! don't expect much customer service. the potato cakes that came with the smoked salmon was cold, as if they were made a while ago. the vegetarian omelet was bland and boring. but worst of all, i found a piece of hair in the arugula that came with the pesto eggs!! that is just absolutely disgusting.
(2)
C. H.
Best Soy Hot Chocolate I've ever had in my life. HANDS DOWN! Additionally, we're thinking the owners of this cafe must be related to John Wayne, as there are giant photo walls and framed photos from his movies all over the place. Kind of cool as a theme since, it really has no bearing on the food and overall decor except to add interest. Can't wait to get back and have another Hot Chocolate!
(5)
John L.
Been there a few times and it's been ok, but the most recent visit was disappointing. The grilled cheese was kind of hard and didn't have much flavor. The croissant seemed a bit stale.... maybe it was an off day.
(3)
Rob O.
From the location and decor of this place, I really had my hopes high. Kind of like those random mom n pops coffee/pastry places you find that surprisingly turn out to be AMAZING. This place isn't one of those. You are not greeted walking in, not even acknowledged. When it's your turn in line, you get a forced "can I help you" with a totally forced half smile. C'mon people, being cashier at a coffee shop isn't a hard job...your main duty is to put a smile on your face and greet people. If you have a problem with that or are annoyed by interacting with people, that's not the job for you. Anyhow, wherever we go my uncle usually orders a regular brewed coffee and asks if they can pour the cream first. That's his thing...for whatever reason he believes it tastes better. The same miserable-vibed blonde cashier acted so annoyed that she had to pour the creamer herself that he almost canceled his order. Her attitude was boarder line rude. I ordered what I always order...a hazelnut latte with no foam. 10 mins later I got what they call a latte. Well it's tons of foam. So I give it back, she takes it back there and eventually gives me back 1/3 a latte. I'm guessing there was so much foam in there that not much remained. So I take a sip..blahhhgh!! This place gas won the award for worst latte I've tasted ever! I've been drinking lattes for 20 years and in many different countries and this was by far the nastiest latte I've had. So I totally agree with the other reviewers on how bad the quality of the coffee is. I drank it for a few sips TRYING to like it so I wouldn't waste my money but just couldn't. Ya It was THAT bad. I tossed in the trash and head straight to the little cafe attached to Nordstroms called E Bar(espresso bar) where people were super nice, upbeat, positive energy people. The coffee and lattes there are amazing. They're fast too. Pdm not only isn't in the same ball park as ebar, it's not even in the same city. If you enjoy dealing with a cashier that acts annoyed by you, drink terrible coffee and deal with people that don't have the slightest clue on what it takes to be an employee at a coffee shop...pdm is perfect for you. Not to mention I've heard their salads are terrible too. If you want to walk into a coffee shop with the fresh smell of coffee and an equally fresh acknowledgement of your presence, go elsewhere. Honestly, I confidently believe that coffee/lattes ANYWHERE are better than this place. *Note to owners* When you hire people people, manners, smiling, being polite, acknowledging the customer, willing to do whatever it takes to please customer and simply being a people person must not be on your list of qualities to look for huh? If stuck up blonde with a bad attitude that's annoyed by dealing with people and gates working in customer service roles are the qualities you're looking for then you've succeeded. Otherwise, i suggest you take a second and realize that anyone walking through your doors is most likely local and we locals all know each other and share our experiences. You need to have a talk with your spoiled employees and show them what it means to be working in a "service" role.
(1)
Addy C.
Cute and friendly environment. Located at Fashion Island...awesome for a lazy and chill Sunday :)
(4)
Harry A.
I ordered with salmon .The salmon came out uncooked The waitress said she would get me a new one,She brought the same salmon chopped up in pieces as I gave her I todl the manger and she said that the cook should not have re-cooked the salmon and that I should have been given a new one cooked. she said she would take care of it ,but i am concerned that if that is a policy or not .I am not sure that is very sanitary ? The eggs my fiance' had were cold and they never gave the toast with the order. we had to go back wait in line to get the toast they forgot.I told the girl this is NEWPORT BEACH . How can you serve food like this ? I remain very cautious if I go there again.
(1)
Lila S.
Nice, cute French spot in Fashion Island to grab a dessert and stroll around with a pastry and iced tea in your hand. Customer Service is just ok, which is why I took off one star. The girl helping me was kinda short with me and didn't seem interested in answering my questions about the different pastries. She also kept talking to her co-workers as I tried to inquire about their pastries because they didn't have any dessert names placed on their plates of freshly baked items so I couldn't tell what each dessert was. . But wow!, chocolate croissant is great! Tasty and flaky. Their cinnamon twist is also excellent and moist and melts in your mouth! Everything is also always being baked fresh and brought out minute by minute. Stop by for a dessert!
(4)
Deirdra S.
Everything here is great! The owner is fr Montana w a great eatery in Orange County, Laguna Beach... Try the Fresh Ahà Tuna Specialty & for breakfast the French Omelette. They even give a cookie or pastry for free to finish off your meal delightfully :-) Love it! I spoke with the Owner & asked if he would please, please open one in Vegas - do not think it is going to happen - he said his wife will not let him... too bad for us... - if you are in Newport - make sure you check them out!!! your constant companion, ~deirdra
(4)
James T.
We always get their Tropical iced tea (plus you get free refills) and the coffee is not bad. The last time we rolled through here I had the almond twist because I overheard a few people in line raving about it...I would have to agree it was very good. Now every time we get in to Newport- the almond twist is a must. But, unfortunately today it was not to be...they were out, so i ordered a couple of the freshly baked chocolate chip cookie- it was warm and it almost made me forget about the "almond twist"....almost. and the everything cookie wasn't too bad either. We did semi luck out because the cookies were still warm....can't beat just out of the oven cookies! The cookies were about $2.50 each but they are pretty big cookies & so worth every penny! The line was long, but the 2 guys behind the counter was banging out the orders. Personally, I think they should have at least 3 people at the counter. Its a good thing those guys hustled...I can appreciate workers who can work as a team and not get rattled. Big PROPS to them!!!
(5)
Brutus L.
Okay so.. I loved the food the first time we went. But it has never been the same since. Always overcook my eggs, which I hate. I picked up food to go after a while of not going because the food was messed up last time figured I would give it a shot.. Once again the order was messed up, I wasn't far so I called in. They said to swing by and get a corrected order. By the way it was just pesto and overlooked eggs, nothing fancy, nothing substituted.. I picked up my order and got home to my (very) pregnant wife. When we opened the box it was terrible. Instead of the cheese crossiant they use it was an untoasted half slice of wheat bread, NO pesto, eggs were seriously almost raw (guess they didn't want to overcook them ) it was a blatant F you. When I called I tried to be Mr. Cool. Hey I realize the girl answering the phone didn't cook it and no one wants to be yelled at for someone else's mistake. Geeez.. I said hey I realize that cooks probably don't like getting food sent back and they rushed. She said yeah they don't and thanks for understanding, if you come in you can have a free drink" I just do not see how that fixes the problem but the fact that she agreed the cooks screwed my order purposefully is odd as well, but hey, it is something I will never have to worry about because I will never ever go back.
(1)
Victoria F.
went here after church with one of my family friends.. hmm.. foot was not bad, but not for the price! but that's what you get b/c of the location. either way, not worth the price.. would i go back, maybe.
(3)
Andy N.
This place is cracking! The must have items here are the Chocolate croissant and almond twist! I haven't been able to sit and each lunch yet but I hear the food is great. Make sure you have Darius helping you out here. When you visit Fashion Island make sure you stop on in. The cookies here are big! The fruit tart's are delicious and the atmosphere is welcoming. I'm craving some baked goods as well speak. Can't wait to come back here and eat again. Recommendation: Chocolate croissant and almond twist. I hear the tropical tea is great as well.
(4)
Faezeh S.
LOVE this place. Excellent breakfast and lunch spot! Their pastries are all fabulous.
(5)
Eugine Y.
Hi Sally, let me introduce to you, Mr. Right This Instant yelp.com/biz_photos/Dhyz… Get to know him. He wants to be your lover. Put this big boy in your life. Then in your mouth. Feel his firmness with both hands. Yes, both hands. Work your way around the stickyness. Nibble. Can you taste it? Giving you that cinnamon bracelet. And that instant face lift.
(4)
J J.
I love their cranberry wholewheat roll. They have good tea selection too with mighty leaf brand. Rasberry Iced tea, Coffee, and Latte are all good. Nice decoration with cozy seat. This place definitely keeps me away from Starbucks around the corner....
(4)
Monique W.
I love this cute little spot. The market fish sandwhich is to die for. Clean and smells delicious!
(5)
Sepide S.
PDM is one of my favorite coffee places of all the time, i am not a fan of their drinks, but they have the best baked good and the environment is warm and nice and they have pretty pretty people working there.
(5)
Sutten W.
This is my second time to PDM. I was able to go right up to the register and order my chicken tortilla soup and a diet coke. I asked for it "without the cheese on top". I was told "no problem". I waited, and waited, and watched, as customer after customer, complained about the wait and what was wrong with their order. There were plenty of employees, but they did not seem to know what was going on or who was in charge of what. So we waited. Finally, my order was ready. Surely, I thought, they could not have messed up my tortilla soup. All they had to do was dish it up and not put cheese on top. I took my order to go. About 10 minutes later I opened up the container to find a bowl full of broth, two pieces of avocado and one piece of chicken. Oh, and the cheese was on top! If you go here, stick to the pastries and whatever you do, don't ask them to customize your order!
(1)
Omar S.
This is a nice place to grab lunch, especially in Fashion Island. The sandwiches and salads are moderately priced, and the portions are generous. You can taste the freshness in the food, as well as the quality of the ingredients. Service is quick and friendly, but there can be a short wait during peak hours. There are tables to sit inside and out, and the decor and ambience are quite nice. Some delicious pastries and desserts can be enjoyed here as well, and the twist is particularly good, as indicated by other yelpers.
(4)
A B.
Overpriced. Everything was bland. Service was non existent. Very disappointed. Customers came in and out for the pastries, so maybe those are good. But the egg/salad/sandwich options? Mediocre.
(1)
Aden J.
Pain Du Monde has excellent restaurant food in a cafe setting. Their turkey sandwich is one of the best cafe sandwiches I've had in Orange County. PDM has a very cool and classy decor with several large, non-tacky photographs of John Wayne aka The Duke. Their iced tea is also excellent. PDM is slightly on the pricey side for cafe food. I believe I paid about 30 dollars for two sandwiches and two iced teas, but their food is well worth the price.
(4)
L P.
Nothing special
(3)
Chris K.
They're decent for pastries and coffee if you're already walking around Fashion Island, but the food is overpriced and underwhelming. If you're looking for a good breakfast/brunch place, drive a little further to Haute Cakes Cafe on the other side of Jamboree. Cheaper, tastier and way more food.
(2)
Irene L.
Yummy......The best sandwich in this area which I tried.And I like the enviroment that is very comfortable.If I go to fashion island I always choose this one for lunch.
(4)
Will M.
I am Will M. and I am a PDM addict. I have been since 1995 when I first sniffed that cinnamon powder and fell to the drug like power of the sweet, buttery, rich twist. My first time, it was served up hot,and aromatic. Ecstasy - I closed my eyes and inhaled the awesome smell till the counter person said, "Your change, sir." I took the12 steps - no, not the drug rehab program - but to my table. "Snap out of it, Will M", my friends said. Then, I did it - I dangled a piece of fresh twist in front of their noses. With one whiff, and dog-like bite they fell victim as well and are now also cinnamon twist addicts. Actually, pecan twist and almond twist, especially if warm, are equally addicting IMO. So, my friends and I often come up here after a round of tennis or morning jog. That way, I could eat these without being a Filipino Pillsbury dough boy. One thousand calories probably in one of these. Enough calories for Clark Kent to turn into Superman. The chocolate croissant are another favorite, but most of their pastries are tasty. However, pastries when not warm, are not as yummy but still good. If I get some to go I put it in a 300 degree oven for 5-10 minutes to get it warm, crisp, and aromatic through and through. They have some decent salads, soups, and sandwiches. I really like their fresh squeezed OJ. Years later, I am still hooked and come up a few times a month for my twist fix. They're in the new digs out of the food court. The counter guy today was Joey, super-counterman who really does resemble a young Clark Kent, He, like all the counter persons, are friendly, fast, efficient and even smart? Ha, the tip jar says, "Tips for counter intelligence" They do a decent job of keeping the tables clean. It might be difficult to get a place to sit inside, but there are lots of places outside if the weather is nice. Just beware how crowded this place gets during the usual peak times. There are lots of PDM addicts ravenously waiting in line.
(5)
Bianca S.
Best croissant I've ever had hands down!! Lemonade and iced coffee were good too, I will be back.
(5)
Poachedeggs g.
Le chocolate croissant! and various sandwiches Brunch 8am-4pm *note: Located in Fashion Island
(4)
Amanda T.
Was looking for a quick brunch spot on a Wednesday and true foods was not quite opened, so decided to try Pain Du Monde since it was nearby. Overall, it was a good experience. I had a cup of freshly squeezed OJ, french omelete and strawberry and chocolate croissant for around $20. The quality of the food is definitely top notch and the french omelete was a pretty large order. Strawberry and chocolate croissant was also good. As of now, I'm satisfied but not blown away but I'd venture back for another try and maybe upgrade them to 4 stars.
My go-to lunch place. There are only a handful of items I constantly order here - seasonal salad, tortilla soup (which is not really that consisten), tuscan sandwich and their iced teas (which are refillable). The tuscan chicken comes with a pesto spread that really adds a kick to the nicely cooked chicken. The chicken never comes out dry and is still good a few hours later. If you're looking for a salad, I would suggest the seasonal salad. This salad is on the sweet side due to the fruits and dressing. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. What really tops off each order is that each meal comes with a freshly made chocolate chip cookie. It's soft and so good, but it's something that will not taste good the next day, so be sure to eat it the same day. This place is always busy during lunch. If you're on a time crunch, it's best to preorder via phone, but make sure to check that everything is in there because I've had to go back many times because they forgot to add something or give me soemthing. Otherwise, I love coming to this place.
(4)
Freddy F.
Love their food but haven't been there too many times to try it all. I love that they bake their own breads and their almond glazed bread is simply the best! I must say that their food portions were a little small for me. Overall, I would certainly look forward to coming back for a light lunch soon. I give them a 4 instead of a 5 because the service can certainly improve.
(4)
MA N.
Very good food, the only problem was that it served cold.
(3)
Tina T.
First thing first, I will be coming back to PDM and Yelp to write another review update when I get something other than their inch thick delicious cookies. So here's how I knew about PDM. My Psych professor brought our class cookies on the last day of class for the semester...and then I was addicted. I have also been living in the Irvine area for 4 years and visited Fashion Island for the first time ever just to get a hold of PDM's chocolate chip cookies again. Unfortunately they were sold out of chocolate cookies when I came in today, but I opted for the Oatmeal Raisin...I'll say that it was destiny that the chocolate cookies were sold out. If they weren't, I wouldn't have had the thought of trying their Oatmeal Raisin cookies which ended up being even more delicious in their own way. Coming back here soon! With an even more open mind ;)
(4)
Katie L.
My current favorite here is the Grilled Salmon Salad...a bit on the pricey side but definitely worth the splurge. It comes with a cilantro sauce with a bit of a kick to it and a delish mango salsa to go with the salad. Pastries are good too...I've had the chocolate chip cookie (its a nice size, thick and I can taste the buttah!). Also good is the chocolate croissant (server will warm it up for you), fruit tart is just okay. I would like to try their breakfast menu next time, it looks delicious but have to get there before noon. The servers are quick, friendly and helpful. A big plus since this place is on the pricey side. I prefer to pay for good quality food rather than cheaper barely edible food (like what you would get at the food court in NB).
(4)
Daisy C.
Whenever I come to Fashion Island in the morning I like to stop in for a cup of coffee and a pastry. Despite being a small chain they make their pastries fresh which is a big plus. My favorite pastry is the almond twist... sometimes you can catch one coming right out of the oven, yum!
(4)
Michelle L.
The chocolate croissant they serve here is pure bliss. And it is a big croissant and decently priced The outer layer has a delicious crispy crunch to it and then you hit the soft delicious center and to balance it all...chocolate. I have yet to try the sandwiches but this is the place I love to go when I want a break from shopping at fashion island. (I have tried the twists but only find them ok...) And I find the line to do an order is way too long of a wait. If they were faster and more efficient I would give it a higher rating. Or I just happen to take my breaks on the busy times...
(4)
Nebs I.
I love this place not just because Im addicted to caffeine but because this place is actually pretty legitimate. The coffee is pretty good and definitely beats more mainstream coffee shops, you know what Im talking about. And you get free refills on reg coffee. What makes this place so good is that not only do they serve coffee and teas but they are also a bakery and have amazing pastries. I would say things like almond twist are definitely a go almost every time. They also have food like sandwiches and salads. They are a little expensive is the only con. But you get what you pay for in terms of quality. The place looks really nice and kept clean. The people that work there are chill. This place is a definite go.
(5)
Tim M.
The Bozeman Bacon is divine. It's the best sandwich I've had in years, since living in the bay area, goat cheese, avacado, Niman Ranch bacon, organic chicken, the flavors and their balance are perfect. I have always enjoyed their really friendly service, and almond or cinnamon twists, but the expanded and tastefully designed new location and the new sandwiches are wonderful. One slight downside is that it's a lot busier as a result, but it's still reasonable, especially on weekdays.
(5)
Sid A.
Nothing special, though I am glad to see the food here is healthy. We tried the Mango Chicken salad, and it was bland despite the mango...then the chicken was way over-seasoned too. I like the overall place, and the coffee/pastry selection is nice. I just think this place is a bit overpriced for the food you get here. Better off as a coffee place only, not so much as a restaurant.
(2)
Teena T.
2 Halves Combo all the way.. I always split this combo with a friend.. I have not had a bad experience here.. my current addiction is: Tuna sandwhich & BBQ chicken salad combo.. the pastries and cookies are yummy (you wanna cookie? go buy one here..) The tea is refreshing and size large is the way to go! Typing this up makes me want to have it for lunch now..
(5)
Bettina K.
Obsessed. I ordered the tuscan chicken sandwich with the side of couscous and it was amazing. The warmth of the sandwich and coolness of the couscous was delightful. The pesto on the sandwich is one of the most flavorful I've had in a while. My sister ordered the chicken tortilla soup, which was incredibly savory and spiced to perfection. I had to steal a few bites and well for sure be getting this soup next time around. The service was fantastic from the minute I ordered and I def feel like going back tomorrow, which is always a good sign.
(5)
Jerry Z.
Great food! Very fresh and healthy.
(4)
Amin G.
Very nice environment with good coffee, tea, pastries and delicious sandwiches and soups.
(4)
Nina R.
Great spot for a casual breakfast or lunch at Fashion Island! Food is always fresh. For breakfast I love to get their fruit and yogurt breakfast bowl with an iced coffee. For lunch I like their BBQ chicken salad. They give you a free cookie with your meal...which is nice in theory, but ithey're not worth the calories. They're just meh. Their baked goods and can be hit or miss...however, the twists are AMAZING. Seriously, some of the best things I've ever tasted.
(4)
N C.
Pros: - Excellent sandwichs - Fast services (in out 10 minutes during lunch rush) - Spacious outdoor seating area if you want to take a longer lunch Cons: - On the pricey side - Tuscan sandwich is terrible Must try: - Southwest sandwich
(4)
Lisa A.
I've been going here since I was young and love everything they make! Glad they moved from the food court to a bigger location. Their Tuscan Chicken Sandwich is to die for. As is their Chai Tea. They give you a cookie/fruit salad or couscous with your meal, which I love. Highly recommend going here.
(5)
Girl O.
BEST COFFEE IN OC! My FAVORITE is the Almond Twist!! The "everything cookie" is AMAZING. The only place in OC I will eat pastries - they are the real deal here. But most importantly, the coffee is outstanding. I like the location in Corona Del Mar and the new cafe on Bristol in Newport.
(5)
Laura J.
I forgot how amazing their twists are...but boy am I glad to have reintroduced them to my taste buds. I am sure my waistline won't be as receptive in the coming days =( I stumbled across their new location adjacent to cafe R+D and Lululemon. The last time I had anything from PDM had to be at least twelve years ago, when it was located in the food court. I love the clean and modern feel of the new cafe. It is pretty much the same set up...getting lured by the delicious pastries behind the glass and then ordering at the counter and finding your own table. When I was a kid I would get the cinnamon twist, but this evening I asked the cashier, which twist he preferred and he recommended the almond or pecan. I decided to go with an almond twist and soy latte for something around $6. I was a little hesitant to order the latte because I knew PDM was more well known for their pastries I didn't think the latte would be any better than sub-par. Boy was I surprised! The latte was very smooth, not bitter, and didn't leave any weird after taste. A perfect accompaniment to the almond twist, which must have been freshly made, as it was still warm. I told myself I would only eat half, but I couldn't resist, and plus pastries like that, just are not the same later. Go big or go home! Another plus, is the restrooms are clean and they have really good lighting. I ended up spending two hours studying and enjoying my pastry and coffee. It was never super crowded (I went around 5pm on Sunday). In the future I do want to try their sandwiches, muffins, and scones. Nom nom nom! I can't wait until my next visit. I only wish they had wifi...but I respect that it is a nice simple charming cafe.
(5)
Elyse M.
The food and service is normally good
(1)
Elsie F.
I casually walked into this place at Fashion Island because I was craving a warm drink and I figured it's an alternative to Starbucks so it has to be good. I love the modern/rustic decor! I'm a big fan of chai so I ordered their Spiced Chai Tea Latte w/ Soy (small=$3.50). They provide the option of Spiced or Vanilla. For me, the spicier, the better! It actually wasn't that spicy at all, but it was soooo good! The best chai tea soy latte I've had so far. Temperature was perfect too. My cousins ordered their Hot Chocolate (small=$3.50) and it looked really good, or pretty at least. But they all said it wasn't hot enough. I had a bite of their Oatmeal Raisin Cookie ($1.65) and it was pretty good. Pretty big cookie and it wasn't too sweet, which I like. I would definitely come back to try their other foods and bakery goods. I'm really looking forward to trying their Twists, which seems to be what's popular here. Too bad all the locations are only in OC.
(4)
Kyu L.
great desserts and pastries. excellent espresso drinks. a bit on the pricey side, but hey...everything in that area is booji, so dont bother going in to get an overpriced drink if youre gonna be complaining about it. wasnt able to grab any other "food" food from there, but from what i saw on other peoples tables, everything looked pretty good to the eye. service is friendly, and things are turned around pretty quickly. cool little spot to grab a drink and kill some time.....
(4)
Jamie D.
Just a little food court coffee place. Not much to say. They had some interesting-looking sweets, like carrot cake muffins with square tops instead of round ones. I got a chai tea -- your standard powder mix and milk. It had it's own little specific flavor to it. I think it was better than Starbucks'. The girl serving seemed very efficient. My friend and I were in a long line, and then suddenly all drinks were handed out and we were at the front ordering. I like the location cause it's a nice enough looking food court with lots of seating and there's a Barnes & Noble right across from it. Good enough for an after-work coffee date, although not super exciting.
(3)
Julie L.
Expensive for okay coffee, but it's almond twist was worth it. I expected it cold but oh, it was ooey gooey warm. The almond taste bursted through a flakey pastry. I felt so embarrased sitting in the luxury shopping center with crumbs all over me. I spilled a quarter of the pastry, in the form of crumbs, on the floor when I got up. I walked away quickly from my mess full. Perfect mix of chewy and flakey.
(4)
Christina B.
I hadn't had a truly great cup of coffee in a long time. I've been to Starbucks. I've been to Peet's. I've been to Kean. Every time, I feel meh. But when the mister and I were scooting around Fashion Island, I was just in the mood and Pain Du Monde smelled good. I am so, so glad! My faith in the existence of truly good joe is renewed. I ordered a medium latte with an extra shot and the balance was perfect, with an expert foam. The gentleman who took my order was very friendly yet professional, told me the total number of espresso shots would be five to ensure that's really what I wanted (I had waffled on the size for a moment before answering "um, medium?") and thanked me for the tip. All I had was coffee, but the pastries looked delicious. The mister said he adored their almond twist, though he was too full from lunch to get one just then. I would definitely go back for the coffee, and be tempted by all the Golden Brown and Delicious on display.
(5)
Ann B.
Things to know about this place. - self seating (may be crowded during peak eating times) - grab a menu, stand in line, and order when you reach the register Since I was visiting for the weekend and hadn't tried this place yet, I went ahead and ordered the two halves combo so I could try at least two items on the menu. I selected the Tuscan chicken sandwich and the mango chicken salad. The sandwich was made with fresh baked ciabatta bread which served the foundation of why I thought the sandwich was good. Usually I'm not a fan of ciabatta bread but because it was fresh, it wasn't tough, chewy, or hard. The salad was good too, not overly tossed with the dressing and contained cabbage and jicama for an added crunch. Although the meal was served with a cookie, standing in the line and looking at all the pastries tempted me in buying their popular cinnamon twist with the powdered sugar. My friend had a piece of mine and enjoyed it so much that she went ahead and got her own, if that means anything. Overall, good food and a cute casual atmosphere. I would come back. There are more menu items and pastries I want to try!
(4)
Burrito M.
Mmmmm.... Doing some window shopping at Fashion Island today, and noticed that Pain du Monde has a new location next to Neiman Marcus. On a whim, I decided to take a looksy inside and overheard the clerk telling another customer that a batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies were cooling on a rack in the back. I ordered one OF COURSE and it was warm, thick, chewy, gooey and delicious - they definitely do not skimp on the choco chips! I'll have to come back next time and take a tour of the rest of their baked goods. I dunno though, nothing beats a CCC fresh out of the oven...!
(4)
Retired B.
Great almond twists!
(4)
Hiep N.
This place is extremely overpriced and overrated. i'm not sure which is the lesser of two evils Starbucks next door or Pain du Monde. This place clearly caters to rich white Newport Beach snobs. I'd rather spend $2.00 on a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and $.25 cents on a fresh baguette. Doing so I would have enough money left over to repeat the same order for an entire week or I could buy one baked good at Pain du Monde. Apparently, they think they can rape local employees of the offices of Newport Center of their hard earned cash because of Pain Du Monde's convenient location.
(2)
Ming-Jou C.
My cousin LOVES Pain Du Monde. Everytime we meet up at Fashion Island, she has to go and get their cinnamon rolls. I have to admit, they are pretty damn good when they come out fresh. They're about $2.50 or so, and are huge, easily split-able among two, if not, three people. Their coffee is decent and they have tropical iced tea for about $3 for a large. The service is usually quick, even if there is a line, but the girls behind the counter always look a little disheveled. The area off to the left where they keep the napkins, forks, lids, etc. is always in disarray and you have to remind them that they're out of something. Other than that though, love being able to get a cup of coffee or tea without having to spend like $4 or $5. Yay for reasonable prices.
(4)
Sally S.
I come here to have breakfast with my grandparents and to people watch. It's pretty much always crowded so it's a lot of fun. Though I despise coffee it smells so good here that I sometimes want to try it. Everyone else thinks this coffee is way better than others. There orange juice is great. I always get the kids size though. I like the fruit for breakfast choice but I have to be completely honest it's always the chocolate croissant the first time I had it I was stunned by how much warm delicious chocolate was stuffed inside. There've beena couple of times it hasn't been as good. Its hit or miss with it mostly being a hit but it only took me the one time to get completely addicted. The cinammon twist is my other favorite which is impossible to eat for me it's huge and sticky! I usually need to take twenty napkins or to just shove huge bites in my mouth. This place does seem a little pricey for anything more than that. But it's a good place to sit and relax and grab a drink and a quick bite especially in the morning.
(4)
Franklin P.
This place felt like home. Easy going, good food and drinks. And the choice of pastries was awesome! Check out what I ate here! bit.ly/gDJuW1 Overall great staff, good prices, and amazing tastes.
(4)
utterly i.
Great place for Sunday brunch... Location wise. As for the menu, it was a disappointment to discover that the specialty salad dressing was fromage bleu... (blue cheese). It was advertised to be champagne vinaigrette. I am not the kind of patron to send back my food--my expectation is for it to be correct the first time. next time we will be at Le Quotidien on the other side of the complex.
(3)
Audrey L.
the more and more i come here, i wanna go back! their salads look yum
(4)
Todd H.
I picked this restaurant while I was in the area for the day based on the peoples comments here on Yelp. Nice place great pastries but just average breakfast sandwich. Like everyone else has said get the almond twist it is wonderful. Also a little pricey by about 10%, not a big deal but I was shocked that breakfast was over $30 for the two of us.
(4)
Sirinda S.
Of all the many bakery cafes at Fashion Island Mall, Pain du Monde drew me in because of the cute cafe setting and beautiful pastry display. The cinnamon twist was flaky, chewy, sweet, and spicy. Their cookies also looked amazing - the oatmeal raisin cookie was huge, hearty, and granola bar-like. Unfortunately they ran of the quiche right as I ordered it, but the french omelette with goat cheese and fresh veggies was delicious. Seating inside is a big tight as the tables are pretty close together.
(4)
Eva L.
I've been to their store once but i am addicted to their coffee. I love their coffee it smells great, it taste bitter but that bitterness will bring you back to the store again!! And with their Ham & cheese croissant is the best combination. The croissant is full of buttery smell, the texture is not too soft, and the size of the croissant is huge!! So try their sandwich as well!! By the way you can bring your dogs too!! =)
(5)
Yelping T.
Daily specials and tasty food in portions that you can actually finish - yes, please. Great place to grab a coffee, drink, or fresh meal if you are in the Fashion Island area... I'm sure lots go for the pastries, but the meals are delicious too!
(4)
Amy W.
I've been going here for years and I wish I could give it more stars than 5. I rejoiced when they moved from the food court to this bigger location. I've always gotten lunch here- Tuscan chicken sandwich (my favorite sandwich in the history of sandwiches!) with couscous. They even put a little choc chip cookie with your meal :]. Also, best chai tea latte (spiced) I've ever had. Soooo good. I had breakfast here recently and once again I was blown away. I got the french omelette and will be getting it again sometime soon without a doubt. I love you Pain Du Monde! Never change!
(5)
Sara B.
very bland food and staff. ordered two eggs scrambled and a blueberry muffin. will not be going back.
(1)
Ralph O.
We came here to pick up some baked goods, didnt try their food. We got the almond chocolate croissant and a coco loco cookie. The wife thought the croissant was the best one she ever had but it was pricey at about $5. I thought the cookie would have more chocolate from its name but it still had plenty. The cookie was good too and even bought a 2nd one.
(4)
OC Y.
Ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich. There was something missing in the taste. It was just blah. It needed a kick or something and the salad they served on the side was wilted and going bad with the black yucky stuff that takes place when lettuce leaf starts to decompose. Plus one of the girls behind the counter was really unprofessional and stressed out about another waitress or cashier who had possibly stolen money or something b/c she seemed to have voided out some transactions and she was griping about how p*ssed off the manager was, yadee yaya... I don't need to hear that stuff. It just shows how poorly managed your place is and how unprofessional you are when you're yapping about it in front of the customers. Also ordered the apple tart. It was ok but definitely not classical French apple tart. The pastry was nice, crispy and light and the apples were ok but what was definitely not French was that layer of marzipan or whatever creamy substance in between the apples and the pastry. That shocked me a bit and kind of ruined the experience for me. But others may like it if they've never had a real French apple tart.
(2)
Graham L.
Best coffee in orange county... Pastries are handmade and excellent
(5)
Jeannie C.
i absolutely adore this place~ in all honesty, back when it was down in the atrium court i rarely went but after they moved outside they seem to be getting a lot more business and attention. the thing that i love about this place is their service. you order, you sit down and within minutes, your order is out and ready to devour into deliciousness. they have awesome pastries (their chocolate chip cookies are so amazingly good!!! as are their almond twists) and a good lunch menu. I get their bbq chicken salad without bleu cheese and today i tried their southwestern chicken sandwich on jalepeno cheddar roll. it was absolutely delicious. i don't like their other sandwiches just because the bread is super hard and chewy. i'm sure they can substitute it for other breads but either way their food is good. i have yet to try their breakfast menu but it sounds very appetizing. all in all, it's an amazing little bakery. the lines may be long during lunch but they get in your orders quickly and the longest you have to wait in line is probably around 10-15 minutes. awesome place if you want to get food fast!
(5)
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Address :561 Newport Ctr Dr
Newport Beach, CA, 92660
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
Raymond H.
terrible food and service.
(2)Kalina R.
Tuscan sandwich is da bomb and their cous cous salad is super yummy as well. BUT COME FOR THE PASTRIES FOR SURE. My favorite is the croissant with strawberries and cream. The cream is to die for. I would just like a huge bowl of that cream. But the balance of the flakiness of the croissant, with the heaviness of the cream, and the tart strawberries make for one of the best combos you will ever have. The cinnamon twists are delicious as well. -1 star for my super thick, not so soupy tortilla soup, though.
(4)Cat C.
First time trying out this cute little breakfast place tucked in Fashion Island. What brought me to this place was the pictures of their pastries, specifically the strawberry croissant which was delicious! I also got the iced tea of the day which was pomegranate green tea. At first I only tasted green tea and asked the employees if it was indeed pomegranate. They said yes but that it's very light. The tea was good with the sweet croissant but I probably wouldn't get it on its own. Employees are very friendly and there are many tables for seating inside and outside. My friend got the pesto benedict. SO MUCH ARUGULA haha. It was good but the amount of arugula was sort of a turn off. All in all, will probably come back in the future for the pastries and tea!
(4)Caitlin L.
This place is pretty expensive. I got an omelette and a cinnamon twist for later and it was almost $20. The omelette (french) came with toast and butter, no jam. However, the toast was a nice static to the omelette. The omelette had really overpowering goat cheese. I could hardly taste the sun dried tomatoes and avocado. I would not get this dish again. But the pastries look great.
(3)Julian T.
A little pricey for a small breakfast plate or sandwich, but it was really good! Boyfriend and I just got over stomach flu and were looking for something to fill our (very small at this point) appetites. I got the French Omelette which is light, not too heavy especially since it is filled with spinach, mushrooms, sun dried tomatoes, and goat cheese topped with asparagus. Goat cheese was a little bit to much for me, but I still enjoyed it. Also was craving toast (also the only thing I ate while sick) and was glad it came with toast on the side! Boyfriend got the breakfast sandwich with croissant, he said it was good and he enjoyed it. Perfect way to start off our appetites! Writing this maybe 3 hours later and I'm still feeling full even though the plates were not that large for almost $12 per plate, but it makes sense located in Fashion Island - food was also quality over quantity. A good brunch location in Fashion Island. Would definitely come again for a lighter breakfast/brunch & a stroll through the outdoor mall.
(4)Lindsay S.
When you arrive early at the mall, and you need some fuel before a day of shopping, this is the place to go. The best part is the baker rolling out dough for pastries as you wait in the cashier line. The service is fast and friendly, and the prices are reasonable compared to other upscale restaurants in Fashion Island. I like to order the turkey sandwich and an iced coffee. The sandwich has great flavor and will keep you satisfied as you browse the stores for that perfect outfit. They also have nice patio seating so you can people watch.
(4)Isis Q.
My sister, a friend, and I dined here at 1:30pm. Incredibly crowded place for decent food. The only seats we could find after waiting 15 minutes were out underneath the sun. We were drenched in sweat by the time our order arrived. The friend and I had both ordered the Eggs Benedict. Although our dishes were visually very appealing, taste-wise we were very disappointed. The Smoked salmon tasted exactly like the ones you can buy from Costco (we love Costco's smoked salmon, but we kind of expected something different from a place that advertises fresh fish being delivered daily). The Hollandaise sauce had zero flavor (sadly, I'm not exaggerating). I've handmade this just once before for a culinary class so much respect if this had to be handmade but...it needs work. The two eggs were inconsistent with each other on both plates. One was very runny while the other was nearly cooked all the way. Overall, our Benedict could use more flavor.
(3)Kira W.
All you need is a warm chocolate chip cookie fresh out of the oven. Your day will be made. As for the drinks...I've gotten an iced latte a few times here and have never been satisfied with it. It tastes like they use skim milk instead of whole milk without asking your preference, but I could be wrong on this one. Just seems a little too watery for my liking. Lunch is pretty pricey for an order then sit down place. It's decent, but for the same price you could be served elsewhere. Stick to the cookies and you won't be disappointed!
(4)Jinnie N.
Delicious place for breakfast/brunch in a prime location to do some shopping afterwards!! AMBIENCE The location is EVERYTHING!!! Fashion Island is my favorite outdoor shopping center!!! It feels like such a nice get-away to dine at one of the restaurants there!! So relaxing!! Pan Du Monde is nestled near Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales, and right next to Lululemon, which is one of my favorite stores!! Quaint table seating indoors and outdoors. There's also a long comfy bench seating along the side of the restaurant with nice plush pillows!! Sitting near the entrance affords you a beautiful view of the fountain outside through the big clear windows!! FOOD My husband and I will normally get one of the 3 entrees below. All of them are delicious!! French Omelette: 3 eggs, spinach, cheddar cheese (instead of goat cheese), mushrooms & avocado. Topped with seasonal vegetable & toast. Country breakfast: 2 eggs sunny side up, bacon, & rosemary potatoes Eggs benedict: Poached eggs with spinach, smoked salmon, & hollandaise served on potato cakes Cappucinos are awesome!! SERVICE Generally nice, but this last time, the girl at the counter was really snooty and snotty. I would take half a star off for this...humph!! The food comes out pretty quickly. You order at the counter, find a seat, and the server brings you your food. NO fuss with long waits, reservations, etc. when all you want is some yummy breakfast!! OVERALL I LOVE this place!!! If I lived closer, I'd come here every week!!
(5)Joyce Z.
Great place for brunch! Pain Du Monde is in Fashion Island near Neiman Marcus and R+D Kitchen. I absolutely love breakfast food, and breakfast is served here until 3:00pm. I came with a group of 5 people for lunch on a Wednesday, and it was pretty difficult to find an open table. We had to stalk tables that were almost done eating. Anyway, the food was delicious! I ordered the Scott's Benedict ($11.75) and replaced the goat cheese with swiss cheese. Really really tasty breakfast but there was way too much arugula. The Parmesan croissant at the bottom was super flaky and crispy yummmm. My friends got the Fried Egg Sandwich ($11.25) and Country Breakfast ($11.75) which both looked amazing as well. I would definitely come back again when I'm in the mood for breakfast food. They also have lots of pastries that I didn't get a chance to try. Minus 1 star because of the price and unavoidable experience of dealing with some fashion island snobs.
(4)Kimberly T.
I love their egg dishes here. I tried the Scott's Benedict and the Pesto Benedict. Overall, the flavors worked well together and the croissant they used on both dishes was very crispy and delicious! For the Scott's benedict, my only complaint was that the poached egg was overcooked and none of the yolk inside was creamy :( very disappointing but the taste made up for that and I still ended up loving the dish. For the pesto benedict, the eggs were not poached but rather done sunny side up style. This one was my favorite of the two. Would definitely recommend getting this one.
(4)Giovanna F.
Dear owner: WHY is the Veggie sandwich $6 PER half? Seriously? Ironically it's the SAME price as the Turkey (only you get no turkey), but ALL of the other ingredients are identical. A $12 vegetarian sandwich?
(1)Christie V.
Such a beautiful relaxed place to have brunch with you family. I came here on a Sunday afternoon and had a little bit of everything from their menu. We ordered the salmon Asian salad, cinnamon twist, raisin twist, 2 fried eggs, and an arugula prosciutto eggs Benedict. The Asian salad was very refreshing on this hot day and it's a pretty good size to share with another person. It comes with a peanut sauce that isn't too thick and noodles so you do not feel like you are skimping out on the carbs haha. The twists were great as well very flaky and not too sweet. I hate when pastries are overly sweet. The eggs Benedict was the star of the lunch imo. The portion is very large and so you should definitely share it with another person. Usually I do not care for eggs Benedict because I think an English muffin is too basic, but at pdm they have this flaky pastry almost similar to a flat croissant in place of the "English muffin". I did get their iced tea and felt that it was a bit too diluted, but still enjoyed it! After we finished our meal we all felt very light and didn't have a food coma like we usually do so that's a definite plus! It may seem always packed inside, but a table always opens up right away:)
(5)Nicolette G.
This coffee shop is the best iv ever been to in Dana point! The food is heaven (seasonal salad so dank). Their chai lattes are amazing. The barista Mollie, is the sweetest girl ever, she was so patient and made my drink so well. Such a great worker!! PDM you rock
(5)Evelyn T.
Soy hot cocoa for the win! Excellent service and beautiful ambiance at their tables just outside their location - - you can sit close to the water fountains or adjacent to the store. Their food and beverages are nothing short of fantastic. They are everything you want on a cold day. We find their drinks to be quite tasty. Loved the experience. Like! Big time! I hope to try them again during the holidays. My Mom really likes Pain Du Monde, also. The family favors PDM. Why don't you try it?
(5)Bryan V.
I had just finished an amazing morning spin session at SoulCycle...when all of a sudden l developed a small appetite for breakfast. First thing I do is pull out my phone of course, and see what gems Yelp has to offer in the area this time. Pain Du Monde caught my eye. (Located in Fashion Island, right next door to LuluLemon, and across from Bloomingdales) I ordered the first thing that nabbed my curiosity, the Pesto Eggs Benedict, and I was most certainly NOT disappointed. Instead of a biscuit, they use perfectly toasted croissant and place the egg, prosciutto, arugula and drizzle the pesto sauce on top. Beautiful dish with both presentation and flavor. Friendly staff, overall great first time experience.
(5)Jennice K.
I was not a big fan of the mango salad. I was expecting sweet and acidic taste but instead the dressing was too oily and I felt like my mixed greens were heavily marinated in non flavored oil. On the other hand, eggs and pests Benedict was delicious!!! The prosciutto meat, pesto, arugula and Parmesan croissant was absolutely perfect combo!! I highly recommend this!!
(4)Shaefer T.
My friends and I had lunch here after kayaking/paddle boarding this morning. I ordered the Asian Salmon and Mango salad as a two halves combo. The salmon was cooked extremely well, and the bread was crisp. I loved the salad as well. The food came in really quickly also. The lady at the register also asked if I wanted complimentary water. That was pretty surprising to me, considering the state water conservation laws we have right now. After a morning workout we all left very content and in a "food coma" state. We walked around the mall to walk off the sleepiness. They even gave me a complementary chocolate chip cookie! I'm not gonna lie, I think it might have been the best chocolate chip cookie I've ever had. Also, it's dog friendly. I met a cute little pup outside who kept climbing on me to look at my food. Overall, great service. The food tasted amazing. If I'm ever in the area again, I'll come back here for sure--probably to try the Pesto Benedict.
(5)Yolanda S.
Enjoyed an early lunch here, breakfast items available until 3pm. Enjoyed the Scott's Benedict and a chocolate/pecan cookie. Delicious cookie. Scott's Benedict was a little dry but I liked the croissant. The tomatoes and arugula balanced out the eggs and bacon really nicely. Will probably be back when I'm at Fashion Island next!
(4)Tony C.
They have perfected two things: 1. Fish tacos. Don't know why but they have amazing fish tacos. Weird place to eat fish tacos but super fresh. 2. Almond Twist. Just order one and eat it. Simple. Delicious. I like how you order at the counter and they bring it to you. No frills. Can be a bit pricey but it's Fashion Island. Plus food is high quality.
(5)Cathy B.
Top notch for breakfast -- very fast service with interesting twists on classic dishes. My over easy eggs were served atop roasted potatoes and Brussels sprouts. And, friendly about making simple sub requests, especially when the request is reasonable (not taking the meat, so can you add a slice of toast). Friendly service, although it did seem that some of the younger, "cooler" staff were not that interested in working. For out-of-towners (like me), note that this is a little hard to find. Apple iOS maps has it in the wrong place at Fashion Island. And, you do need to go into the plein air mall to find it. I guess the restaurants wasn't willing to pay extra for signage on the driving loop, so, don't bother looking for assistance from that. It is near the Neiman's, next to Lululemon.
(4)Sean B.
Came here to eat breakfast with a group of 6 friends, we all ordered at the same time but for some reason my wife and I didn't get out food with everyone else. After 45 minutes of waiting and asking, we asked to speak with the manager who was wholly unconcerned about the status of our order, and when j asked her what happened to our order she said "I don't know maybe you ordered it separately." When I told her we ordered on one ticket she literally shrugged and walked away. Eventually said came back and said something about running out of potatoes, which is odd because in the span it took us to get food, other people came ate and left. When we finally did get our food it was lukewarm and looked like someone threw food on a plate to get it out. On the positive side the atmosphere was nice and the rest of the staff was very polite and friendly but I would not recommend this place to anyone.
(1)Sofie D.
This is a kicked up version of "Corner Bakery." All the salads & sandwiches are fresh and tasty, although a little pricey. My favorite salad is the mango thai salad, it reminds me of R&D's chinese chicken salad but little lower in quality & price. What's truly amazing here are the baked goods. EXCELLENT cookies that are crispy on the outside and moist & chewy on the inside. And the almond twist is amazing, a must try.
(4)Rick M.
Nice place, nice staff good selection and portions. First time here with my wife each had sandwiches. Nothing terribly spectacular but a nice place for a quick bite.
(4)Mary M.
Their chocolate chip cookie although was sitting on the display arrived warm and chewy when we purchased it! Medium to large size cookie that was warm and fresh was absolutely delicious!
(4)Charlie M.
Love this place. The fashion island location is busy but the line moved fast and service was very efficient. Unlike others, I can't speak for the coffee and pastries, but the salads and sandwiches are sooo good. We had the Tuscan Chicken sandwich and the Mediterranean salad with Hummus and everything was fresh and so delicious!
(4)Chris L.
Best coffee in Orange County, bar none.
(5)adam m.
A great lunch sandwich place. And I love to top it off with their "coco-loco" cookie, a very hearty and delicious cookie.
(5)Omar M.
Great moderately priced and non-greasy fare at Fashion Island. Very classy setting for working, meeting friends or resting after a long bike ride. Great outdoor patio as well.
(4)Robert F.
They have excellent iced tea. Hot chocolate whipped cream was great. Indoor and outdoor seating. Service was good.
(5)Will W.
I've only tried the desserts here. The chocolate croissant is one of the best around here. Almond croissant was a bit too sweet. Chocolate cookies was also good. It's thick though, almost like a mini-cake.
(4)Tiffany H.
Talk about a diamond in the rough! The coffee here is mediocre but the cookies, croissants, and almond twists are amazing! When I first came here I couldn't believe such a bakery would be in the food court of a mall! Only in the OC...
(5)Teresa M.
The absolute best oatmeal cookie I have ever eaten. Perfectly seasoned with a touch of cardamon, I believe, and moist. It's seriously a meal in itself. The tuna sandwich is absolutely fantastic on any of their amazing rolls, and the couscous salad is perfect.
(4)Stephanie R.
Ok, I'm here all the time and I must say that their coffee is some of the best! It's strong, but not bitter and it blows away Starbucks any day of the week! I might even prefer it to Peet's since it is so smooth! They make all of the pastries on site throughout the day so they are always fresh. I love their oatmeal. They give you little cups of brown sugar, cinnamon, and sliced almonds to top off your oatmeal which automatically is topped off with fresh cut strawberries! A little pricey here, but worth it! Service is friendly and they often remember what your preferences are, so your coffee is ready by the time you get to the front of the line!
(4)Ivana Y.
Almond twists and raisin cinnamon twists, people. The pastries have just enough flake and are imbued with incredible sweetness that will start your day just right. With a nice cup of coffee of your choice, THIS is the breakfast of champions. Or snack. Whichever you prefer. You must, must try the twists. Everything else is extra.
(5)Jessica H.
The line is always 410928719283741293871023741023974 miles long! Why would anyone take the time? Do they sprinkle their sandwiches with crack? I have yet to find out. I just don't have the patience.
(2)SMP M.
The food is good here, I had not had any of the lunch items before and it was delicious. I had the fish tacos which I highly recommend. The food is good but be prepared for very slow service. We were there for over an hour and a half because the salmon on my friends salad was undercooked so we sent it back. It took over 30 minutes for it to come back out... food good -- service slow -- so as long as you have time for a leisurely lunch you will enjoy eating here..
(3)J. J.
Great breads, great location, great decor with a nice inside & outside seating. I love their cranberry wheat bread. (not sure the exact name) I usually get a regular coffee and add some soy milk which not many places have. I've never experienced this place to be so packed with people but the place seems to be doing very well. People usually come to get things to go so I never had a problem finding a table. Pain Du Monde is the place to rest during shopping in Fashion Island.
(4)patrick B.
I no longer work in Fashion Island but the friendly staff that greet me every morning will truely be missed, esp Marguerite and Beth. Thank you PDM for providing me with my caffeine and sweet tooth fix for the past 4 years.
(4)Marianne G.
I love places like this. When I used to travel a lot I made sure to visit the non-Starbucks. Not that there is anything wrong with Starbucks other than the fact that they are everywhere and the employees correct your every order when clearly I'm ordering the name of the beverage straight from their menu. But I digress... I visited PDM a couple times located where a Starbucks used to be! Now that I've discovered it I'm going to really miss it when my office moves to Cerritos. The coffee...just the regular coffee is just delicious. I'm a milk no sugar kind of coffee gal so the taste of the actual coffee is really important. A large regular coffee for $2.50 is just delicious. It's hot and steamy and just molten liquid gold. At one time I did order a chocolate croissant (prior to my no-wheat diet). I came across this place because Pascal's (in the same lot) was not open yet. The croissant was gigantic. GI-GAN-TIC. Normally when one comes across a chocolate croissant of that magnitude there is just a little drop of chocolate in the middle. But not this guy. This guy had chocolate nearly all throughout the inside. I'm a fan of PDM. I think more people should go to it so they can grow and have more things on their menu. I have yet to try their salads but from the looks of things...it won't disappoint. Go! Now! Delicious coffee is in your horizon!
(4)Jack L.
tasty but somewhat pricey. Their Iced Chai Latte was very delicious thou. Also try to sit outside, the ambiance is pretty nice.
(4)Alex J.
This place is pretty awesome really good atmosphere with really good music playing (jazz and oldies). first off the beverages were awesome. my girlfriend got a regular coffee and it was pretty good. i had the orange juice which, from the taste of it, was freshly squeezed. i would HIGHLY recommend the orange juice because it was the perfect ratio of orange tart with sugar (or the natural sweetness) and it was really balanced. the food was great too. they apparently have different specials there everyday and on the day i went it was the roast beef sandwich. this roast beef sandwich was delicious and it LOOKED great too! each entree came with a small chocolate cookie which was also good. the portions are pretty large too. the only thing i didnt like is that the bread pretty much ripped up the roof of my mouth, but as far as i know i havent learned the right way to eat sandwich brad with such a crisp crust. the place is also kinda pricey for what it is TL;DR: good food, good drinks. good atmosphere. kind pricey for what they serve (15 dollars per person)
(4)Beth G.
Ordered fresh fruit and a side of scrambled egg whites this morning. The eggs came and looked like two fried eggs without the yolk. I mentioned to the server that I ordered scrambled eggs and that was not what I was served. She took it back and returned with the EXACT same eggs cut up to look like 'scrambled'. which they did not. Would never order food there again and found it insulting to be served the same food like I would not notice AND very overpriced. If you go, stick to the coffee and baked goods.
(2)Tom V.
I love the PdM on Bristol St., so I tried out the Fashion Island PdM. Very busy at lunch time. It can take a bit longer. They may forget your chocolate chip cookies (they forgot ours).. but the food is good. The portion @ Bristol's PdM seemed to be a bit more satisfying. Overall, the server was nice... altough the service was a bit slow, due to how busy the cafe was. The food is good. The tuna salad is MY FAVORITE..just an f.y.i. they use SOUR CREAM and mayo in the tuna salad. So if you avoid dairy, you may want to avaoid the tuna salad. It's really delicious however. I'll definitely go back.
(5)Joshua G.
Just wanted to say the coffee here rocks. Forget Starbucks for a day and enjoy a good cup of Jo.
(4)Mark G.
If you're visiting the fashion mall here in Newport Beach, there are a dozen or so choices for lunch. I choose Pain Du Monde because of their fresh bread (I recommend the Rosemary). Also noteworthy is their version of the Arnold Palmer (half iced tea and half lemonade). The reason I'm giving them only three stars on the back of their delicious sandwiches is that their Greek Salad was not good at all. Bottom line: good service, good sandwiches, bad salads.
(3)Audrey L.
CHAI TEA! SBUX and PDM in one day- but loving PDM's chai w honey.
(4)Vanessa N.
I go to fashion island all the time, but have never heard about this place until my sister told me that she wanted to eat here. I was there yesterday for the first time and everything I got was delicious! The coffee, pastries, sandwiches, and cookies were amazing! I can not believe that I have never eaten hear before!! I am definitely going back soon!!
(5)Cassie P.
Remember when giant muffins were the rage...B.C. (before cupcakes)??? This is where I got mine. Giant, fluffy, calorie laden muffins. YUM! My fave is the cranberry. I ate these all through my pregnancy (12 years ago) without any guilt!
(4)Andrew P.
Longer lines, but good service, good food. We ordered the pesto and eggs and Tuscan Chicken sandwich. Both were really good. The pesto and proscuitto got a little salty though. We also ordered a cafe au lait which I'd skip on next time. Little pricey, but it is Fashion Island.
(4)Alesha G.
I love this place!! Had lunch there the past two days for the first time. I have been to Pain Du Monde for their baked goodies but never for the food, and clearly i have been missing out. My fav is the Turkey Club. But I will be trying much more items on the menu. Everything looks so good and healthy! A must try!
(5)larry s.
PDM cookies are the bomb! Larger than actual hockey pucks and almost as dense--but I like a hearty cookie! The Chocolate Pecan is my favorite. The Oatmeal Raisin is a good balance of oats, raisin and spice. Mom loves their Macroons. Haven't had their real food since they moved out of the food court at FI, back then it was fresh, tasty and a decent value. I liked their sandwiches because for me it all starts with the bread. Their new digs are styling and a lot quieter than the eco-chamber of the FI food court aka basement.
(5)Thomas D.
Cinnamon Twists hot out of the oven? Need i say more? Best cinnamon roll anywhere.
(5)Dakota R.
The staff is super nice. I'll give you points for that. But I took away points for always being so slow to follow through with orders. I like the soups, but it will take 10 minutes for them to bag it up for you. Huh? I like the salads, but I dont like that it takes them 25 minutes to get the order together. Ugh.
(3)Tiffany V.
I've had the banana nut muffin every morning for a week and it is the best muffin ever. I never really eat muffins or cookies so I'm glad my friend gave me one of these babies.
(5)Liting F.
I really like this place. the chocolate chip cookie is flipping amazing, especially when it is out of the oven. all the drinks are really good too. their hot chocolate is made from ghiraradelli chocolate and it's rich, but good. you should also try their ham and chesse croissant, its very filling. i usually share with someone. the only thing is that i can't find another location and i'm really sad.... good for my waist line
(5)Sarah H.
My review is biased because going to pdm became my ritual when i used to work at the mall. For days when i felt a little blah, my pick me up was the chai tea with soy and the almond twist. I still haven't found a place that can make chai tea better than PDM. It might just be my imagination. i just recently came for nostalgia reasons after years of being away and found out that they are no longer in the food court. Everything is still as good as i remembered it.
(5)Kate C.
If you are stuck at Fashion Island and would rather eat in a quick bite in the food court versus a pricey restaurant, than this is your best bet. Great salads with fresh ingredients. I recommend the greek salad with chicken (get the dressing on the side). My mother-in-law is a big fan of the coffee and sweets. Note they close down their kitchen earlier in the evening then the other food spots in the mall, so get there early.
(4)Ryan D.
I have been getting coffee at PDM every week day morning for the last few years. Very friendly staff that gets you in and out pretty quick with a smile. As of recently they have pulled all the SPLENDA® Sweetener out of their stores and are now ONLY offering organic sugars. I know it is minor to some, but when you're use to fixing up your coffee a certain way for years and one day you go in and you're unable to fix it up as you normally do makes me want to go get coffee somewhere else. I'm just not a fan of feeling forced into using something that I don't want to use. I have tried the organic brands they offer, but don't really care for them. Hopefully they will return to using SPLENDA® Sweetener and I will return to being one of their happy customers.
(4)Delena T.
Coco loco is the way to go! Amazing treats for the family and fresh ingredients you can taste. Among my favorites are the seasonal salad and turkey sandwich. Free mini cookie with your meal :).
(5)Courtney V.
Their fish tacos are a must. They're so good and fresh! Their chicken tortilla soup I just had was horrible. I swear I had the bottom of the pot too, it was all chicken. And the chicken was soooooo dry. The broth was so good, but my bowl of chicken didn't leave much room for any broth. If it had been good chicken, well maybe thEn it would be okay. The service here is a hit or a miss. I've encountered two rude people. One a guy, the other a girl. Whatever. They'll realize one day how far that tude will take them.
(3)Ahmed A.
The food is good but the service isn't that good. I will recommend this restaurant only for breakfast.
(4)John S.
This place sucks. I've been here 4 times and EVERY time they are out of half the stuff on their menu! No ciabatta bread, no ahi, no salmon, no soup, no teas, it's ridiculous. Change your menu of you can't handle having enough supplies to meet demand!
(1)Christina Z.
I heard this place's coffee was the bomb from a colleague - BITTER AS HELL OW MY POOR TONGUE DIED :( If you're into burned/bitter coffee, this place is for you! Maybe their food items are better?
(1)Siranush H.
I've been here a few times now and haven't been disappointed. They are located across from Bloomingdale's. There is indoor seating with a patio that also extends out to some tables set up in front of the restaurant. It's great because you get to people watch, sit by a nice fountain and during the holidays you're facing the big Christmas tree. They are open quite early, 6:30am, 7 days a week. They have freshly squeezed orange juice, great tasting coffee and plenty of pastries to choose from - my personal favorites are the croissants (plain, almond chocolate, etc.) . They have good breakfast options, I had the spinach omelette with avocados and a side of toast and asparagus that was tasty. Fast and friendly service and a great place to have breakfast early in the morning.
(4)Tom I.
I come to this place at least once a week. I love their cinnamon twist that is to die for. I love everything about it. Service 5 stars Price 5 stars Atmosphere 5 stars Quality and quantity 5 stars Overall 5 stars
(5)Deb G.
This was an awesome find for dinner! I chose the two halves combo with the Bozeman Bacon sandwich and the Mango Chicken salad to go. Ok, so when I finally sit down to eat, it's like two dinners in one! The Bozeman Bacon sandwich was a chicken, bacon, and avocado sandwich on a delicious roll, with some kind of soft cheese spread. Awesome, although I would have put on a little more cheese to counteract the drier ingredients. Seriously, I could have stopped eating right then. But no, I plowed on to the salad. Loved the fresh veggies on the salad - cucumber, mango, carrot, jicama(?), and nice lettuce. To be honest, I ignored the chicken and noodles because I was so full. The only thing I didn't love was the Thai peanut dressing - is try something different next time. For $15, this was a reasonably priced, giant meal!
(5)Nijole T.
I came here wanting to get some baguette. Not here, this is a coffee and sit down lunch/dinner spot. Fine, I'll get coffee. I had the blended mocha, super huge at just over $5, I am sure enough sugar for the whole week. Took awhile to get and when I did the coffee tasted bitter and burnt, even through all the mocha and sugar. Returned it and got the caramel blended, much better. Service was very nice, the place is cute and it is by far the biggest coffee I have ever had, good deal for sure. I wouldn't go out of my way to come here again, but it was A-OK for sure.
(3)Grace C.
Pain Du Monde: French for "bread in the world" according to google translate. I prefer to think of it as just a pain in the youknowwhat! Trying to find a place to sit and enjoy your meal/snack here during their weekend "brunch" hours is definitely a pain, but that just lets you know how popular it is... PDM is a great little cafe nestled inside Fashion Island. They serve some absolutely delicious pastries as well as sandwiches, soups, etc. You can choose to have a full meal or just a snack, either way you will be left satisfied. Some of my favorite items during "brunch" are... Turkey Sandwich (only available after 11am?) Fried Egg Sandwich on Croissant Chocolate Chip Cookie Almond Twist Croissant (EVERY kind they have, Seriously!) They also offer fresh squeezed orange juice along with various coffees and teas. Don't let the long lines make you stay away... It moves fairly quickly and the food is tasty enough to make you want to come back for more :D
(4)Zoe C.
MMM...PdM is that good I've been here countless times and each and every time my meals are excellent! My all time FAV is the Grilled Salmon, perfectly crisp on the outside and flaky inside. Moist, Delicate, Flavorful If your in the mood for breakfast, I also love the French Omelette. Egg whites, spinach, goat cheese, mushrooms and avocado topped with seasonal veggies. SOOO GUUUD Believe me PdM is a solid winner! Fresh delicious upscale food.
(5)Cindy L.
I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place yet...it's nestled in the corner of Fashion Island next to Bloomingdale's and is such a cute cafe. I always have the turkey sandwich on rosemary and it's never disappointed. They make it with REAL turkey and this amazing smoked gouda -- my favorite cheese! It's also served with either a side of couscous or salad. The couscous isn't my favorite, because I'm just not a fan of the texture, but I love their vinaigrette. The espresso served here is also good with a little bit of cream. I think if you're in the area, Pain Du Monde is a great lunch spot, but be warned it certainly isn't cheap. For two sandwiches and triple/quad espressos the total came out to almost $40. That's fine, considering the location, but I could easily make the sandwich myself for a fraction of the cost -- but where's the fun in that! I will and have come back!
(4)Mary M.
Location is nice- near the fountain And great outdoor seating. They have an array of pastries and croissants. I ordered the Parmesan Benedict: poached eggs, tomato, arugula, goat cheese on a parmesan croissant. It was delicious and visually appealing. Also, the cashier was very helpful. If you are craving breakfast in Fashion Island, try it out!
(4)B W.
This place was good but not '$61 for two people and a toddler' good. Very overpriced for decent food. Everything we got was certainly good but I just didn't feel like it was good enough to justify the prices. We did the fried egg breakfast sandwiches, bowl of fruit, side of potatoes, and two lattes.
(3)Teagan T.
High expectations of this place since it's in the more wealthy area and in fashion island. I got the veggie panini with rosemary buns (I recommend getting your sandwich with that) with a combo mango salad. Panini was decent but too much oil on the veggies (or olive oil they drizzled on the bread ?). Mango chicken salad had NO mango! I didn't realize that until 2 days after I ate there!! Why? Because I have a weird memory system. Anyhow, chicken was too dry and thin ..and small. The salad itself was good but again, where is the mango? Afterwards got their pastries, the cinnamon twist and strawberry croissant. Cinnamon twist tasted too artificial for some reason. A little too sweet. I could have made better. Strawberry croissant is okay,not terrible but not worth it. One of the Asian waitress there.. Was always rude to my friend and I (we're both Asian as well) and giving us attitude. We thought it was just how she is but then witnessed her being very friendly to the white customers. Besides that she was the only waitress we got to interact with so service is bleh. Won't return as well. Seems like a more French style Panera bread, but with a little more class.
(3)Beatriz M.
Read my first review of this place & I still believe it all, but I feel that I was too easy on them when it comes to the customer service & experience aspect of this place. There are a few girls that are awful. They have crappy attitudes & treat you like you are inconveniencing them for asking for a cup of water. There is zero eye contact from them & no smiling whatsoever. My experiences on the days that these girls are working is bad, I don't enjoy my food & I really regret paying any of my hard earned money to this business. On the flip side, when the right girls are there I am so happy to spend 15$ on a sandwich plus a drink plus a pastry!! Some training needs to happen here, sometimes when there are this many bad employees it usually means that it goes all the way to the top, I hope not. I really hope they read my review & attempt to change the way they treat their customers. By the way, something I literally just noticed.. I watched a girl leaving the kitchen to take food to someone, she had a giant smile on her face & had just responded to a person in the kitchen- they had been laughing- the moment she got near the customer the smile came off. These girls hate them jobs & it's way to obvious! Sorry for the 3 stars. Food is amazing but this issue should be taken care of.
(3)Tom J.
Visiting around 1:50pm 6/13/15 Beautiful Mediterranean salads best salads ever a little pricy but it is worthy quality and quantity both are good Why people crowded here
(5)Randal C.
Great selection of baked goods. I had the apricot scone and it was delicious! The capuccinno was also tasty.
(4)Diana Y.
Came here for lunch on MLK Monday. Most people still have work so it was not too busy. One random and werid thing I would like to point out, this place has a French name and french pastries but there's a huge poster or picture of John Wayne covering the walls and the interior is decorated like old west. For the food I ordered the pesto benedict, it was only around 11:30 and they said they ran out of the parmesan toast for this dish so I had to just get it with regular grain toast. Also got a ham and cheese croissant. The croissant was a major disappointment. I actually should have known better because it didn't even LOOK good. Croissants should be buttery and flakey and I could see neither and none of that was in the actual taste of it either. The pesto benedict was much better. It was an over easy egg (although some pictures I saw show poached, lack of consistency I guess) on top of thick proscuitto and toast and pesto, all topped with arugula and parmesan. Everything was well balanced and complimented each ingredient well. The salty proscuitto with the fresh salad and crunchy toast and creamy egg. So it was a hit and miss on the food. I do love the ambiance of Fashion Island, there's a good amount of seating both indoors and out and you can have a relaxing meal watching the shoppers go by.
(3)Ellen C.
The almond twist here they're so well known for are a bit overrated and subtle for me. Their pecan twist though is amazing and I would definitely go back for seconds if I didn't have to worry about the belly fats and thunder thighs. The prices aren't cheap though ($3.50 for a twist) but that's to be expected considering where it's located. Servers here are appropriately nice but not friendly. Great place to get a bite, some coffee and do a little walking though. Especially in the early morning when the mall is more deserted.
(3)Jasmine W.
wanted a place to get some work done and the fashion island folks directed me here. cute place, fast service - if you sit outside you have access to the complimentary fashion island wifi and the relaxing sounds of the fountain. a bit pricey - $13 for a tuna wrap with couscous (wrap was decent but couscous was dry) and cookie (nothing to write home about). paying for the venue, good place to catch up with a friend
(2)Christine T.
Quick, easy, good. Fast, friendly service and the oatmeal was yummy!!! Located inside fashion island, right next to Lululemon and across from Bloomingdales. Sit outside and enjoy the Southern California sunshine!!! Don't forget the fresh squeezed orange juice!!!
(4)Ariana R.
I periodically drink coffee here because all their flavors are fresh and they offer almond milk as a substitute. However the pastries and cookies were stale yesterday and didn't sit well with my stomach. The 3 stars are for the coffee and the reason why not the 5 stars is because the tables were messy and clean and stale desserts.
(3)Mirja B.
Best place on the "Island" for coffee, brunch, lunch and pumpkin muffins :-) Friendly efficient staff and good amount of tables in- and outside.
(4)Kris A.
Ordered my favorite twist and choc chip cookie with a latte. My morning is complete. Took it with me and sat at the fountain in front. The breeze, the food and the sound of the water was bliss.
(4)Nora H.
Okay so I started coming here about a year ago and my first experience was amazing, I had the french omelette and cinnamon pecan twist with a chai latte. Throughout the span of this last year I've ate here maybe 20 times, and it has progressively gotten worse and worse. The staff really is not friendly, I've only ever encountered one nice person there and she was a lovely older british woman. Other than that, all the girls there think they're too cool for school and give you the cold shoulder. Even while you're ordering they are passive and distant, not welcoming at all, they don't even smile! So my last visit was the last straw and here's why. The woman taking my order was the rudest woman I've ever encountered in my life, she was rushing me, giving me attitude and even when I asked for her recommendation between 2 dishes, she responded "I don't know, just pick one". Yeah, so anyway I ordered my pecan twist and omelette. I sit down, cut my twist in half and find piece of dark thick hair about 4 inches right in the middle of the twist......yeah gross. I go to the front, explain what happened to the woman, she just stared at me for 5 seconds and said "okay so what do you want me to do?" and I said I want a new twist and with so much attitude she grabbed another twist and said "here". Next my chai latte was cold and barely had any chai, it tasted like dirty water. Second my omelette was cold, the plate was dirty, the fruit is came with was spoiled, and there was barely any vegetables. I don't know what happened to this place but it could be so much better.
(1)Kanghwan W.
The almond croissant... I love almonds, I like them raw and unsalted. You'd never find a time in my car when there isn't a batch of almonds in the glove department. I would say 1/20 almonds you get this fragrance that comes out. The croissant captures this flavor with its mix of sugary, butter, and crispy pastry. Their coffee is not bad as well. Smooth and mild (if u get it black). Any time in in the mall, I'll stop by for a short break - always worth it. You won't disagree.
(4)Adri O.
I Love The eggs Benedict!!! The orange juice fresh and delicious!!! The coffe, everything!!!This is a very good place to spend! Fresh bread is superb, the atmosphere very friendly and excellent service! Highly recommended!
(5)Kevin J.
Solid 4 stars for this place. Friendly in the front so liked that. Ordered the fish tacos. Comes with three fish tacos on a nice warm taco with Chipotle sauce and some spicy sauce that's very very good! The burnt lemons did me no good....just decor I guess. But the fish was perfectly grilled. Couldn't taste the fishiness too much. Perfectly grilled and the sauces go well. It was around 15 bucks tho. That's too steep. Wouldn't order that one again. 5 bucks a taco? Haha no... But if it was about 8 bucks I would of given this place 5 stars.
(4)Katrina N.
If Pain taste this good than PLEASE lemme have it! (Yes i'm lame) Was having a run around the newport area and happened along this fine establishment. Cute outdoor seating with a fresh, cute indoor decoration. I find it strange and a bit of an oxymoron that a French type restaurant is into John Wayne, YEE haw! This is a casual go-up-to-order-and-pay-for-your-food type of place and so we got: Pesto Eggs and w smoked salmon benedict Even though these two dishes were similar, they stood out in their own way. The Pesto eggs was fresh because of the salad and I loved the cheese roll instead of an english muffin. The roll was so crispy, flakey, and fragrant with the pesto sauce that I wanted another order of just the solo roll but I did not see it on the menu. The smoked salmon was different in that the benedict sat on a potato cake. The fried po cake was dressed and really crispy. The dish included a side of hollandaise sauce and I'm glad that the benedict wasn't completly drenched w it. The hollandaise sauce was lackluster and wasn't needed at all in the dish. Will be back!
(4)Cuc N.
Service is good. The girls that work there are so nice and they always have a few plates of samples of their sweet goodness! Today they had samples of their chocolate chip cookies and blueberry muffins. Their almost twist is a must! It's the perfect amount of sweetness and the texture of its crispy flakes is perfect, topped with the sliced almonds on top!! Definately get an almond twist to end your breakfast, brunch, or lunch Pesto and eggs is healthy yet mouth watering. They had no more of the usual bread so we replaced it with the whole wheat today which still made it really good. The eggs were done with the egg yolk still runny, which is my personal favorite way. The arugula or spring mix was mixed with some kind of light sauce or dressing. Thee was also some kind of ham that added a hint amont of salty. The pesto sauce blends all of the items together. Highly recommend The eggs Benedict with smoked salmon was pretty good!! Instead of bread, it was some kind of hash brown or potato thing that served as a base and was in a circular pie kind of shape. The eggs were yummy and the hollandaise sauce was pretty creamy, but a bit too buttery and oily for my taste. I could see the sauce separate from the butter, which for me, means there was too much butter I highly recommend their omelettes! All look clean and fresh, which is important for you healthy wan eaters! You just order at the cashier and self seat yourself! The workers bring the food out to you! Indoor or outdoor seating; both are e enjoyable :) My second favorite place for breakfast/brunch! I still love pain du quotidien the most
(5)Diane R.
The Mediterranean salad is amazing! I've had a few other dishes like the chicken tortilla soup but I always go back to my salad. If you want a great chocolate chip cookie, look no further. As far as service, they can sometimes be slow but I've generally never had a bad experience. Nothing to keep me from coming back. :)
(5)Stephanie B.
Pain du Monde is an Orange County chain of bakery-cafés offering fresh and fast food, albeit not very modestly priced. I recently dined twice at the Fashion Island outpost while staying in a nearby hotel, because PDM is certainly cheaper than hotel dining! (Of course, how hard is that?) The Fashion Island location opens early - 6:30AM - which is perfect for we early risers. There is a tidy little café in which you may eat at laminate tables as well as a small patio. I would not say that the décor is particularly memorable - it's very brown with lots of wood - but it is a pleasant environment. I came by later in the day (before lunch), and the place was JAMMED. So, it is definitely a hot spot. Fortunately, there are few people in the morning, so my order was ready fairly quickly. On Day 1, we shared the crustless quiche ($9.45). If this was all that I had, I would be giving PDM two stars. Frankly, I can't believe that I went back after eating this little flavorless egg cupcake. It reportedly had zucchini and leeks, but there was so little that I could not taste it. There was a little goat cheese on the top, but VERY little. Frankly, it was just unseasoned eggs - not much to it. It was the two pieces of toast that were served with it that convinced me to give PDM another try. They were so fresh, crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, and had a hint of sour in the dough that any California bread lover can appreciate. There was also a little cup of mixed fruit - chopped strawberries and bits of mango - that was very good. So, why the four stars? Because on Day 2, I had the Pesto and Eggs ($11.45) which were OUT OF THIS WORLD. Two ¾" thick pieces of parmesan toast are spread with pesto and topped with prosciutto, sunny-side up eggs and arugula. This is a 5 star dish. The bread is so fresh and has excellent flavor as does the pesto. The eggs were perfectly cooked - solid (not dry) whites with yolk that oozed over the tender and salty prosciutto. The arugula brought a fresh and much needed peppery zing to a very rich dish. It is one of the best things that I have ever eaten. I also had a Tri-Berry Scone ($3). This was a-ok. I like the fact that it is really more of a muffin top - very rich and buttery - and topped with crumble topping. But, there are VERY few berries - like 6 berries in the whole thing. It was more like a plain muffin top decorated with a few berries in the center. So, 2 stars for the crustless quiche, 5 stars for the pesto and eggs and 3 stars for the scone. That sounds like 4 stars to me - all topped off with a good, albeit expensive, cup of joe (at $3). I will definitely come back for the pesto and eggs. FYI: The staff is generally welcoming and friendly. Fashion Island has oodles of free parking - park between Bloomingdales and Whole Foods for easy access (by Canaletto).
(4)Kehly M.
Excellent. Friendly gals at the counter. Really yummy food. Pricey but well worth it. Clean well maintained bathrooms.
(5)Farah H.
Pan du monde: I hope you know that I am giving you a 5 for the sole purpose of your ALMOND OMG LORD HAVE MERCY ON ME TWIST (almond twist). I have been gluten free (severe cramping and indigestion associated, though I do slip sometimes) for three years now. However, when peer pressured to try the almond twist-- and though I'm not a fan of pastries-- I was a believer! The Dietitian in me wanted to know how many calories were in this piece of marzipan tasting cloud in heaven...but you just have to trust and indulge that it's worth every sore calorie. Besides my passion for the almond twist, pan ud monde doesn't disappoint with any sandwiches and salads. Friendly staff, delicious food, awesome location. Looking for lower calorie options? I ordered the seasonal salad, substitute salmon, goat cheese and dressing on the side. I ordered a couple of lemon wedges and squeezed that on my salad- there's no need to dress a plate that is as colorful and flavorful as this dish is. Enjoy!
(5)Jennifer C.
Came here for a casual brunch on a Saturday morning. Order your food up front and take a number to your table (self seating). Indoor and outdoor tables available. I ordered the sunny side up egg, swiss cheese, and bacon (or you can choose ham) croissant. This was delicious! I loved it. It had a bit of arugula in it to balance out the heavy flavors. The croissant is soft, buttery, flakey, and baked fresh. You definitely have to eat this with a fork and knife... the runny yolk will get everywhere! Boyfriend ordered the 2 eggs, bacon, and potatoes plate. The potatoes were sautéed with mushrooms and brussel sprouts, which was a nice touch, but dude, easy on the rosemary, please! Definitely rosemary overload and we were getting it stuck in our teeth with each bite. I wasn't of fan of this dish. Plus the cooks did not know "basted" style of cooking eggs. We were disappointed. Those 2 dishes plus 2 cups of fresh OJ and a carrot pineapple muffin (delicious btw) ran the bill up to $33 something pre-tip.
(4)JL P.
Great customer service. The food is healthy and fresh. Easy access from the parking lot too.
(4)SoCal G.
Food is way overpriced with unfriendly customer service at this location. You stand in line to order, they give you a letter as your number and then they bring your food out to you. They brought my food but didn't bring my friends food out. We were sitting in their patio and were really hungry so we eyed any time an order was coming out. After waiting a long time, we found that it was just sitting on the counter. No apologies or anything. Just cold food sitting on the counter. Pastries I got the chocolate and almond cinnamon twist. The cinnamon twist was crispy and quite tasty. The chocolate croissant was pretty average for $4 but there is plenty of dark chocolate inside that makes up the for denseness and lack of flakiness and fluffiness. Breakfast Eggs Benedict on Parmesan twist bread. It is basically shredded potatoes and Parmesan cheese shaped into the shape of a 5" round biscuit. Portion was small for my hubby. Hollandaise sauce was yummy though. Overall a disappointment for the cost and awful customer service. I've tried their other locations and the service and food quality was much better.
(2)Jason A.
As any Francophile knows, "Pain Du Monde" means "Pain of the World." I'm going to extend it a bit and say that finding a table here is a "pain in the ass." I've been at this particular Pain du Monde several times, and I don't think I ever had a seat at a table here! From a business perspective, that's great. But from the customer's end, it does irk me a bit. Therefore, whenever I want to get a coffee or some other beverage, I end up having to take it to go. And considering that I don't really take food out to go unless it's a life or death situation, I would rather keep putting off trying the food until I can manage to find seating here at PdM. So far, I'm batting a thousand with the half dozen visits I've made so far. There is outdoor seating, however, the weather may not necessarily be permitting (it actually rained the last time I visited), or it's already full of people and their dogs enjoying the iconic Southern California weather. I don't blame them, I would probably stick around for a bit if I didn't have anything pressing on me. From the drinks that I've had here so far, I have to say that my favorite is the hot chocolate. It's simple and brings back childhood memories of me visiting my relatives. It tastes uncannily like the hot chocolate that my aunt used to offer me when I was a little kid and brings me back closer than other hot chocolate I've had in other establishments. They use an iPad and card reader as a point-of-sale, so I'm able to take full advantage of emailing my receipt to myself. It's a win-win. Less paper that I have to carry around and less receipt tape that PdM has to stock up on. I'm sure eventually I'll be able to try the food here, complete with a seating experience! But until then, come and grab a drink on the go as you explore the rest of Fashion Island. It just might trigger a memorable moment for you, as it did with me.
(4)Jeri N.
Decided to grab a bite to eat at PDM for Monday lunch. Came out with a turkey sandwich - freshly carved Turkey slices with gouda, avocado, arugula, and tomato. You get to choose what kind of bread for the sandwich (ciabatta, white, whole wheat, croissant, etc.). I decided to go with croissant - it was a delicious choice - buttery, flaky and soft. There is a choice of two sides: couscous or salad. The chocolate chip cookie was a nice added bonus to round out lunch. Staff was nice, friendly, and service was quick. Pricing is high for what it is but it's about average for fashion island area. Saw quite a few things I want to try...Will be back again!
(4)Diane C.
Been here several times for lunch since my husband's office is down the street. Staff are always friendly. Over time, I've ordered pretty much everything from the menu. My husband does tend to still to the egg salad sandwich. The only thing that's kind of negative...the soups do tend to be slightly salty from time to time. Other than that, it's all pretty good.
(4)Jane A.
I came here twice in the last month and I had to jump on the review wagon. I absolutely love Fashion Island and PDM has quickly become one of my favorite restaurants because of their clean and quality ingredients. Their fish tacos are pretty good! And I also tasted my friend's order of the Southwest Chicken on the jalapeño cheddar roll. The roll is not spicy and doesn't have an overpowering cheese taste to it. The guacamole is very tasty as well. I usually order a salad. I have tried the Seasonal Salad and I love it. I have them take out the cheese though. I have also had the Mango Salad, which is very filling and delicious. Very light and fresh! And don't forget the chocolate chip cookie!! It comes with each meal. My cousin recommended the Coco Loco cookie, which I have yet to try. But definitely will be going back. As for the service, on my first visit there was a hair in my Seasonal Salad, which I found before I took my first bite. They replaced it without question. Both visits, the service was good and they were friendly. Clean bathroom too!
(5)Crystal B.
It's not fine dine, but it has a charming little serving system, it's efficient and delicious. Great place for a Sunday Brunch. There was a period I came every Sunday and tried everything on the brunch menu Highly recommend the salmon Benedict, oatmeal is also great, pesto chicken sandwich is not bad either. A must have is always there freshly juiced OJ! order it every time. Def. go!
(4)Eric S.
Stop in while shopping. Great foods and pastries. My girlfriend and I had the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich and the Pesto and Eggs. The Tuscan Chicken was good, but nothing that blew our minds. The Pesto and Eggs on the other hand... wow. Try it! Enjoy.
(5)Christine R.
This is a great place to stop for a quick bite to eat while shopping, especially if you have your dog with you. The food is delicious, and you can get a half salad and half soup. Their Chicken Tortilla soup is my absolute favorite. The tortilla chips come out nice and crispy, and I love the chunks of avocado!
(4)Don K.
The service at this very busy Fashion Island "pdm" is very good. They really try to be helpful. The food is Okay as well. Expensive? Yes, but what else is new in Newport Beach. After several years of visiting "pdm", before and after they moved out of the Food Court, I shall go no more. It is always dirty. Inside tables with dirty dishes can linger for ever. Food and napkins on the floor are not picked up. Bathrooms are not cleaned nor serviced on a regular bases. The condiment table is always dirty. Cleaning is simply not a priority in this establishment and I am afraid to look at the food preparation. Outside as well; dirty dishes galore (outside appears to be serviced by Fashion Island staff). Food and all else on the floor not being picked up. Tables wiped occasional but not cleaned. Birds are having a grand time eating and pooping. No shortage of food for the birds so as they say "this is for the birds". Further more, if you want to spend a quite hour outside, forget it. People constantly repositioning the metal chairs with deafening, nonstop noise that will wear you down after a short while. "pdm" dose not believe in putting some rubber stoppers on the chair legs. For my money, too much on the down side. Don
(2)Trina D.
Grace C. and I decided to meet Saturday morning with our dogs at Fashion Island. Even though, Fashion Island is dog-friendly, there are some restaurants that are not. We found out that R&D Kitchen does not allow dogs on their outside patio. However, next door at Pain Du Monde, we found the patio to be very dog-friendly. So we took turns ordering. I was really impressed with the menu. Organic this and fresh that. They serve breakfast until 3pm. They also have sandwiches, soups, pastries, coffees, teas, and fresh juices. Hmmm. I settled on scrambled eggs with bacon and a small iced tea of the day (raspberry). The tea was unsweetened but they have simple syrup or a variety of sweeteners at your disposal, which I found very cool. The eggs & bacon plate came with 3 perfectly cooked asparagus, jam, half a delicious croissant, and not spicy hot sauce. It looked scrumptious and tasted even better. I was quite content with my brunch. Grace ordered a half salad (BBQ chicken) and turkey sandwich on a croissant. The portion was quite large. We couldn't imagine ordering a whole salad. DON'T unless you plan on sharing. The puppies were also content because they have dog treats at the counter for your pooch. Suki stole Maggie's treat since she turned her nose at it. Suki can be such a glutton sometimes. I'm definitely a fan of this place! I can't wait to come back to try their pastries and coffees too.
(4)Jen T.
I cant believe I havent written a review for PDM! Bad me! I always talk about PDM in my other reviews... I am always here. I am always here for one reason. CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES. This is by far my favorite chocolate chip cookie place and my heart will always remain with PDM. Geez...I sound like a lunatic. Other than their cookies, I have tried their almond twists, fruit tart, macarOOns (with and without chocolate), their other cookies and sandwiches of course. Cant go to PDM without trying their sandwiches and..chocolate chip cookie. hahaha. I really like their macaroons and it is pretty massive. Almond twists are whatevers to me and the price is a huge factor on how I feel about this pastry. I do like their oatmeal raisin cookies, but sometimes I am just looking for something semi sweet and simple. Their chocolate chip cookies are not too sweet and perfectly cooked IMO. My all time favorite sandwich is their pesto turkey with a side of their couscous. They are the reason why I decided to make my own couscous because I became obsessed with it. I got one of my besties hooked on the sandwich! The sandwich literally melts in your mouth after a bite. I have tried the albacore tuna sandwich and nothing special about it. Also had the curry chicken sandwich and very, very flavorful! Also another great sandwich to choose from! I couldnt thank my friends more for introducing me to PDM. I know the manfriend absolutely adores this place. My compliant about PDM is that its overpriced. What isnt in Newport Beach? Its about $15 for a sandwich that includes a side and a small cookie. That almond twist I mentioned earlier...$5. I guess you get what you pay for... I am not sure if they have been increasing their prices over the past year.. I have encountered the cashiers ringing me up differently for cookies. I figured it was just a mistake. No biggie. Enjoy! :)
(4)Vy P.
The almond twist is to die for! Other great pastries and breakfast options, as well. Splendid atmosphere for a quick get together in the mornings or afternoons.
(4)Darese S.
Extremely disappointed with the food and service today. This place has great muffins if you get them fresh. I usually love the French omelette however this time toast was not toasted well. Eggs somewhat runny. Last time was served with small cookie and this time not? The girl said they don't serve with breakfast. They are actually just inconsistent. I've ordered salads, sandwiches, and depending on the day if your lucky, you'll get the cookie your suppose too. Sad because it's something so small that could of made my experience today a little better. There are so many other options here at the same price point and lower. I will not be back here soon. I'm so very disheartened and disappointed with pdm today. :(
(3)David S.
My first time here. The food is subpar and the service is awful. We ordered the potatoes but they were completely under cooked. The hash browns were burnt, but cold. To top it off, it took them 45 minutes to bring our food. When we finally complained, they seemed not to care at all. The manager was extremely rude. I will never come here again.
(1)Kuan Y.
I used to come here every morning for some pastries and coffee. This place is fly infested. At first I was not too bothered. I mean, it's common to find flies once in a while. But something happened that made me realize this is a serious problem in this store. First, on several occassions, I see flies landed on uncovered pastries on display. Once I planned to get a chocolate croissant but I changed my mind immediately when I saw a fly lying on a chocolate croissant lazily... very relaxed, obviously they've been treated well here. Another account was finding a dead baby fly body on the coffee cap when I was served with coffee. This made me throw out. This apparantly shows the flies takes where they store their wares as their sleeping dens and I dont know how many more places in this store that we dont see breed flies. Please, if you are reading it as a store owner I seriously plead you to do something before someone gets sick. If you are a customer thinking about going there, there's a starbuck right around the corner.
(1)Raegan C.
Love the food here and enjoy coming here for lunch. We come here often. Today's experience was interesting. Took an interestingly long time for our food to arrive at our table. When my food came out, it was not what I ordered and the girl who took our order told me I was the one at fault. What happened to the customer always being right? The second time the food arrived at the table, the order was wrong once again. We had gone over the order the first time the wrong order ended up and the table. It was turning into the lunch from hell. Now that we've been here over an hour and still have not eaten. Two other girls handled the situation more maturely and they ended up refunding our lunch. The reason why they are receiving more than one star is because they actually did something to handle the situation and the food was up to par as per usual.
(2)John L.
Dear Pain Du Monde in FASHION ISLAND I am ready to change my review when this stops. This location has done this to me 5x..... Yes 5 times. I go to meet friends (in my 40s not a teenager) at Fashion Island location and get there 15 minutes until closing and they never want to help... Yes never. I ask for a Caramel Latte and the response is sorry the espresso is cleaned for the night. For the love of God can you close at 10:30 like Starbucks? Bad taste in mouth from employees smug attitude and kicking down the starting gates to go home. S.O.S
(1)Marina I.
I come here every time I shop at Fashion Island because I can never get enough of the Mediterranean Salad. The salad contains lettuce, olives, tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and artichokes topped with feta cheese. On the side there's some pita bread and delicious hummus. As if that weren't enough, it also comes with your choice of either chicken or salmon. I definitely recommend the salmon bc oh my LORD it is wonderful. They also give you a small cookie for dessert :) Their wraps and pastries are great as well! It is a bit pricey and the service is okay, but I can never stay away.
(4)Clarice T.
Great place to have fresh delicious breakfast in fashion island. Great outdoor seating where you can sit with your dog and relax near the fountain. Nice indoor seating as well. They have a great take on traditional breakfast classics like their version of eggs Benedict on pesto hash instead of an English muffin. The potato was cooked perfectly. That also have a pesto and eggs which was prosciutto pesto and arugula. Delicious and savory.
(5)Ian R.
I went to this place because a good friend of mine works there and he told me it was really good. He was right! I had a really good omelette and an almond pastry, along with other pastries I took to go. Everything is made fresh daily and you can taste it! The service is great! The servers are all in good spirits all the time!
(5)Sheila H.
Stopped by here because I drive by it on my way home most every day. Not very exciting food. Coffee was meh, so was the food- really oily. I probably wont ever go here again.
(2)Ruth K.
Love this resaturant but tired of them allowing "fake" service dogs...into the restaurant. This week the very healthy man with the white dog allowed it to sit on the table, where someone else would be consuming their meal later. Real service dogs don't behave this way. For the sake of customers and especially for legitimate people with disabilities, please stop this practice and don't be afraid to ask people what service their dog is trained to provide before allowing them inside a restaurant.
(3)Amanda H.
What an awesome little place!! They have delicious pastries, all fresh and lots of selection. I ended up ordering eggs Benedict on top of a croissant. Their food was delicious and fresh. Not sure about someone's review about being FORCED to leave tip. IT IS AN OPTION on the Ipad app to leave a tip, of which you only SELECT an option if you want to give a tip. They would never FORCE you! The staff was really friendly, especially Naira!
(5)Mel H.
This is way awesome than I expected!! I knew there was a French cafe in Fashion Island and I wasn't sure if it was this one or Le Pain Quotidien. I will be back!! It's right behind the Canaletto Italian restaurant caddy corner from Neiman Marcus. I'm so glad I stopped by in here anyways. The staff here is so friendly and the pastries are sooo good!! *Cranberry Scone - super super soft!!! Scones usually have kind of a hard flaky texture. This one is more like a muffin. It's so soft and buttery :) * Oatmeal Raisin Cookie - tastes just like homemade! Sweet! * Muffins!! Pumpkin Spice, Carrot, Blueberry. The pumpkin spice definitely has a spice to it! It lives us to its name which I like. I don't like I when some muffins say "spice" when it doesn't taste like it at all. But this one def is delicious!! * Cinnamon Twist: it was "hard" and "crunchy" than I expected while still flaky like a pastry. But nevertheless, super cinnamony and almost like eating a cinnamon roll!!! Could def eat it any time!! * Fish tacos: comes with 3 tacos. Fish is so juicy and tasty!!! WAY better than Wahoo's or Rubio's or any other fast food place. These fish tacos are the REAL deal. Plus it's pretty large and very filling for 1 person. Can def share it.
(5)Sarah S.
My grandma loves coming to Fashion Island to get a nice ocean breeze. She also loves eating at PDM and I have grown to be fond of this place as well :) Seems a bit pricey but they have quality food and great service, so I definitely recommend. FOOD: Can't go wrong with the sandwiches (Tuscan Chicken) but my grandma loves the fish tacos there as well. It's savory and fresh! COFFEE & DESSERT: My mom always gets the coffee here as well as the desserts. She also comes here with her friends and chats for hours sitting in the outdoor seating area. Fun fact? PDM means Bread of the World in French. Hence, their tasty breads on sandwiches as well as pastries!
(4)Emily C.
Whenever I come to fashion island this is my go to place to eat. Usually we get a sandwich to share if we aren't too hungry because it also comes with a salad and a small cookie. The sandwiches and other entrees are a bit on the pricier side, but they really are delicious and filling. My favorite one is the southwest chicken because of the avocado and many other veggies! Although about double the price of a regular sandwich, the ingredients are pretty fresh and the servings are not stingy. It can get pretty packed on the weekends but the line goes by fast. If there isn't seating in the inside of the restaurant, you can also choose to sit outside and the waiters will bring you your food. Service is usually great and efficient. I have yet to try the almond twist that everyone talks about, but I'm usually too full after my meal. They are opening another store in Irvine on Alton too!
(5)Sarah D.
Love this place for breakfast or lunch or just a scone! Deliciousness!
(5)Gregory B.
Horrible. We stopped by this morning for breakfast. The pastries looked really good, so I was hopeful about the breakfast plates. I order the fried egg sandwich, and I know the counter order taker perfectly understood what I asked for because we talked about which of the available sandwich breads I would have. My wife ordered the California omelet. The 2 latte's we ordered came pretty fast, but we're not too good, and lukewarm. We probably waited 15 minutes for the food, even though the place was about empty. When the brought it out to our table, something completely different from what I ordered was placed in front of me. I didn't feel like waiting another 15 minutes, so I ate it, even though it was a bizarre mixture of fried eggs, potato, bacon and Brussels Sprouts! Yuck, seriously, for breakfast?? While we were sitting there, saw them bring wrong order to another couple sitting right next to us. C'mon, it's not that hard, not that much on menu! 3 bites into her omelet, my wife found a long hair. You know how that peaks your appetite!! That's about it, a horrible experience, I think I will limit my eating here to maybe a pastry, but probably not that either
(1)Juliane B.
Menu was a bit overpriced... $14 for a sandwich and $3 for a can of diet coke seems a bit steep to me... but I guess they can get away with it since it's in Fashion Island. I decided on the BBQ Chicken salad... which should have been called the Blue Cheese and Grilled chicken salad because there was nothing BBQ about it. The chicken was grilled plain, and if there was dressing, it was overpowered by the excessive amount of blue cheese crumbles that were on it. No BBQ flavor at all. Also, I think it had been sitting in the back a while because it took a while to come out and when it did the lettuce was soggy. Since I was really hungry, and I hate sending things back, I decided to just eat the chicken and call it a day. My boyfriend had a turkey sandwich and had no issues with it, other than it was overpriced for what he got. Definitely won't be going back again.
(2)Allison L.
Bad customer service!! I've eaten here a couple times and every time it has been disappointing. The pastries are stale as they've been sitting out all day (with flies) and the food never seems to be hot enough. Today I was the only customer waiting for SOUP and it took over 15 minutes for them to give me the wrong soup. How long does it take to scoop soup into a bowl?? I wasn't greeted either or apologized to. The tortilla soup was thick and not even warm. I was too hungry and short on time to ask for something else, but I definitely won't be back and wouldn't recommend this place to anyone.
(1)H. L.
Pros: *location *line moves fast *attentive servers *food/pastries are delicious *everything made fresh Cons: *seating (very limited and people can be rude) *price (a bit pricey for the amount of food)
(4)Berto W.
Irvine is in desperate need of more yummy breakfast places. Pain Du Monde does show some promise, but they really do need to fix a few things. 2.5 stars. Please Fix: Disinterested service characterized by a lack of hustle. We felt like our waitstaff wanted to be somewhere else. Bad coffee. Bitter and no foam in the soy latte. Disappointing croissant especially for a place called Pain Du Monde! Music bordered on irritating -- 80's saxophone, Sade, Uncomfortable high top chairs. Good Job: Yummy kids grilled cheese. Very good Santa Fe omelette. Basket of baked goods consisting of almond Danish and cinnamon roll was very good.
(3)Matt H.
Had a meal there for first time yesterday evening. Chi pol fish sandwich was ok. Not a great value at nearly $14. Pastries remain awesome.
(3)Danielle F.
This place gets crazy busy which is not surprising since it's kind of an ideal lunch spot right next to Lululemon. There are only two things you need to know about this place. 1) COFFEE with real cream! I didn't know "manufacturer's cream" even existed until I saw this sweet heavenly lumpy thick stuff. It is better than crack cocaine and is probably pure fat. No judgements. 2) Mango Chicken Salad - woooo - weeee that is a tasty sucker. I didn't know I liked jicama until that salad. I'm still working on hacking the dressing recipe so I can make it myself. It has noodles in it and chicken so you don't really feel like you're punishing yourself by ordering a salad instead of those frigging awesome carb bomb paninis. Excellent!
(4)Kelly L.
I work across the street from Fashion Island so I am always looking to find something tasty for lunch. I have been here three times so far and each time I like this place more and more. Although this place is a little pricey, I think it's worth the money because of the quality of the food and the size of the portions. Pesto and Eggs: I decided that I wanted to have breakfast for lunch and it was DELICIOUS! The parmesan twist at the bottom was like a crispy, flaky croissant. There is a generous portion of prosciutto is salty, but it works well with the rest of the dish. The fried egg was cooked to perfection - the egg yolk is still runny. And lastly the drizzle of pesto and heaping mound of arugula added the right amount of freshness to the entree. Wraps - Bozeman Bacon: I like that all of the sandwiches can be made with a whole wheat tortilla. This wrap has their famous Mary's chicken that is always cooked perfectly. The bacon is thick and flavorful. The avocado wraps the whole thing together. Southwest Chicken: Another wrap that has their Mary's chicken in it. This has all of my favorite things in it - cheddar cheese, onions, red peppers and guacamole. Mediterranean Salad: This has all of the typical ingredients a Mediterranean salad should consist of - tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, onions, feta cheese + that amazing Mary's chicken. However, I did not really enjoy the the dressing so I probably would not order this again.
(5)Cassy S.
Enjoyed the granola/fruit bowl and rosemary potatoes. Pastries looked fresh. Nice place to eat before the mall opens!
(4)Annie S.
I was craving a fruit tart...and the one here is EXCELLENT!! Being a preggers lady, I am sometimes subject to cravings...and I had been craving a quality fruit tart for weeks! Luckily, my Elite husband recommended the Pain Du Monde at Newport Beach Fashion Island. The setup is kind of like Starbucks where you order at the front, but unlike Starbucks they have a menu with sandwiches, salads, and pastries!! After a day of walking around Laguna Beach, all we wanted was to sit down for some coffee and dessert. And we definitely got what we wanted!! We ordered the fruit tart, almond twist, and strawberry custard croissant. All 3 were amazing!! The drinks on the other hand were just okay...we had an iced tea, chai tea latte, and hot chocolate. The hot chocolate was a little too sweet and the chai tea latte was a little too bland. Otherwise, the patio seating was pretty nice being outdoors (but uncomfortable after awhile since there were no cushions). Also, based on the amount of people walking in and out, a couple people hit our chair due to the tight quarters. I would definitely come back for the pastries and fruit tart!!
(4)Tamara M.
Excellent breakfast/lunch spot with a great selection of pastries, omelets, sandwiches, and salads. I love the French omelet with the goat cheese. Really good pastries. The cinnamon twist was really yummy. Prices are average for this type of place in Newport. $11-$12 average for the breakfast omelets. Salad and sandwiches are very good and fresh for lunch as well. The service is quick.
(5)stephanie F.
Took 40 mins to get food. Super slow and the staff is stressed out. Not as nice an relaxing as it looks. Food was ok, but not for the long wait. Some people next to us started yelling about the wait and asked to cancel their food. It caused a scene and was awkward. Have been here twice and both times it's been slow. Also a little pricey
(2)Laina A.
Bonjour Pain du Monde. Oh my, oh my, the delicious and incroyable breakfast pastries are a bit of heaven. You really get what you pay for here. Pricey but perfection. The cinnamon twist and the chocolate croissant are fantastic. The fruit is fresh and perfect . Staff is warm and welcoming. The place is always clean and neat. They have a nice outdoor patio to eat, where I imagine your dog is welcome. They have free treats at the counter in a jar for your four-legged friend, so they can also enjoy! Although I bet your dog is hoping you will share your goodies. The decor is very nice and some of the best and beautiful restrooms, especially for a coffee-type house. Pain du Monde is not just for breakfast though ... Lunch looks fabulous as well. I can see them making the fresh breads and rolls in the am, and there is a pleasing aroma in the air. They have plenty to choose from for drinks, excluding alcohol and they use a high quality expresso for those type of drinks. My mocha was hot and wonderful, and they actually stirred to mix my chocolate with my expresso before pouring the milk in, so I received just the right taste in every sip.
(4)Jen L.
Came here for breakfast on a Sunday and surprised I never noticed this little cafe. It was crazy crazy packed with absolutely no seating. I had to have part of my party wait in line while I hunted for a table. The patio area is fairly small but you can sit far off outside of their immediate patio area. Waiting in line you get to see all of their pastries and specialties. I had a some type of Salmon Salad and Eggs Benedict. I also ordered some chocolate chip cookies to try them out. The food took quite a while to come out so if you are hungry then get a snack! The food here was quite decent and the prices were Newport prices, expensive! The patio is pet friendly which is a plus! I think I would rather go to another breakfast place because I just don't feel like waiting that long for my food or having to hunt down a table and stake claim to it. Especially when the food is expensive!
(3)roxy k.
Situated in the Fashion Island outdoor mall the food at this place is good. great lunch place. Casual type of café. the sandwiches were good. I liked this place. Although it is worth mentioning to the Ladies the bathroom hook for hanging your purse is too high up on the door difficult for us vertically challenged women it must have been constructed by a man I complained to the management about it. Other than that really enjoy this café.
(4)Cajun Turkey D.
Great service ! Great Food! Excellent staff, we specially liked V, she was very kind and accommodating , just a pleasant individual. It's very obvious they all enjoy their job.
(5)Anna P.
"Meeeh" at best. Yes, the atmosphere is nice and the location is absolutely fantastic(hence the 2 stars, not just one), BUT... Salads are pretty tasteless... yes, I understand that it's a salad. Yes, I understand that getting dressing on the side makes it different. But I get salads with dressing on the side everywhere. And other places seem to do a good job. Also, grilled chicken is supposed to be GRILLED chicken, not the "most heavily seasoned, but dry and cold" chicken I've ever seen.... The coffee that they use to make their lattes tastes burnt and the taste makes me think that they just put one load of coffee in the espresso machine and keep the hot water running through it and only get rid of the grounds every 4-5 drinks :\ Strawberry Croissant? Meh. Hard to eat, and really not worth the calories.
(2)Sarah R.
The pastries here are fine. The service is wonderful. The almond twist was good, but not amazing.
(4)Stella S.
Very good place for breakfast! Oatmeal is very tasty. Kids had sandwiches and soup and they loved it. The pastries also look great. Service is nice and girls have a smile on their faces. Next time bring my Mom for some oatmeal.
(5)Debbie R.
If you love bacon, and you love sandwiches, the Bozeman Bacon is for you (especially on an empty stomach - amazing): Jidori chicken, red grilled tomatoes, Niman Ranch bacon, goat cheese and avocado on toasted ciabatta. Delicious. It's pretty much the only thing I get here (besides an occasional chocolate chip pecan cookie). Service is pretty standard and you check out on an iPad.
(5)Yonnie Z.
My husband and I were hanging out at Fashion Island -- browsing some stores and came across this breakfast/brunch spot. I read the yelp.com reviews and decided to order the following items: (1) almond twist - soft chewy doughy goodness, filled with almond flakes and almond custard/cream in a croissant-like dough. it's hard to explain, but definitely good and I would get it again next time! 4 stars. (2) ham & cheese croissant - this croissant was huge, had a slice of ham + melted cheese inside. it tastes pretty good and kind of fancy. 3.5 stars (salty!) The place seemed pack when we arrived, and there was a line close to the door. We waited about 5-7 min in line before we go to the ordering counter. We didn't sit down to eat, but got both items to go and found a seat outside under the umbrellas to eat. :)
(4)Genevieve M.
2 words. Fish. Tacos. I actually crave them. Fresh, flavorful, amazing. They also have great salads, sandwiches, soups, and.... COCO LOCO COOKIES! Their hot tea is also particularly good. Haven't tried their breakfast yet but its on my to-eat-list! Wish I knew the name of the girl that helped me when I was there last time so I could give her a shout out (young, brunette....brown eyes?)....SO sweet and helpful! Accommodated me happily with all my little requests!
(5)Andrew T.
To be Frank with everyone i'm only giving 1 star because I was FORCED to enter a tip amount on their ipad register. Is tip mandatoryt for handing me a chocolate chip cookie?? I'm not sure if it was a malfunction on the systems end or not. but I was unable to complete my credit card transaction without entering a "TIP AMOUNT" and of course "0.00" was NOT accepted. So I was forced to tip 15% on a latte and a chocolate chip cookie. $1.75 in tip. LOL This situation happened to my friend as well. Tip is should never be customary at a coffee shop. YET, going to Pain Du Monde it is.. OH YEAH. the cookie and vanilla latte was really good!
(1)Kristine L.
I have been going here for years. I always go for breakfast before shopping around Fashion island. everyone loves the almond croissant and the cinnamon twist, but I really like the chocolate croissant. Don't get me wrong, the almond and cinnamon are great too, but for me, they are too sweet for breakfast. I am dying to go back and try the sandwiches. The coffee is THE BEST. My favorite hands down. It's very strong but smooth with just the right amount of sweetness. I usually get the iced caramel latte or the iced mocha and they deliver every time. The atmosphere is also amazing..I mean it's Fashion Island. The service is good, nothing bad. Obviously I am going to go back...def recommended.
(5)Robert G.
Easy: 1 star - numerous drink options and baked goods of exceptional quality* + 1 star - friendly, attentive, and informal counter service + 1 star - nicely finished, clean bathrooms, and a small outdoor seating area + 1 star - fair prices, irrespective of its Fashion Island address + 1 star - unique atmosphere and great people watching * I had a large chocolate chip cookie on one visit and an almond twist on the second visit, which was outstanding. All of the attributes were present in 2 visits within 2 days. If looking for something non-alcoholic to drink and a snack, look no further when at Fashion Island.
(5)Joanna Y.
This place is delicious! Sure, the line is usually quite long and moves slow, but once you get your food, it proves that the wait was well worth it! I recommend the tuscan chicken sandwich, chicken tortilla soup, and BBQ chicken salad. All meal orders come with a small chocolate chip cookie. I also recommend their chocolate croissant, almond twist, and their cocoloco (i think that's what its called...) cookie. The pastries are big so they are perfect for sharing! It's right next to Lululemon and across from Neiman Marcus. Fashion Island is dog friendly, so bring your dog and enjoy a nice meal outside by the fountain :)
(4)Grace C.
After the disappointment that was the Neiman Marcus/ Target high end designers joint venture, I needed to return my ENTIRE order to Neiman Marcus once it arrived at my house. Well from my house I have two options - Beverly Hills or Newport Fashion Island. I remembered that Trina D. mentioned that Fashion Island was dog friendly. So, since I would be all the way in OC to return my box of stuff, I said - hey lets go get lunch with our dogs! We were planning on going to R&D Kitchen, but after the snarky hostess told us that we couldn't sit with our dogs in the patio area unless they were service dogs, we just walked next door to Pain Du Monde and sat in *their* patio area. I got a 1/2 bbq chicken salad and 1/2 turkey croissant sandwich. Wow, talk about portion size. I don't know how I'd be able to eat an entire salad portion - because even the half was a bit much - WITH the sandwich half. There was quite a lot of chicken with the salad. The turkey sandwich was great. Apparently they roast their own turkey each day. I ordered a arnold palmer, but I should have not gotten a large. It was so big, I think I only drank half. Trina got some breakfast and the tea of the day - raspberry. Her breakfast was quite a decent size as well. After the disappointment of not being able to eat at R&D Kitchen, this actually turned out to be a better consolation prize than we could have ever imagined. We'll definitely be back for some more food!
(4)Sandra R.
This is based on the mango chicken salad. The dressing of Thai Peanut sounded delicious but it was bland and boring. The chicken breast was dry. My husband however had the Sicilian chicken sandwich and it was delicious. I guess I would caution to keep away from the salads at this place.
(3)Frank W.
I come here so much, I better write a review... The baked goods are the stars at this location (can't speak for the CDM location cuz never been there). Best Ham-and-cheese croissant I've had anywhere. I think it's the kind of cheese they use that makes it stand out. The chocolate chip cookies are awesome. AND the twists... oh those twists (drool~). The brunch items here are quite good too, such as the Egg Sandwich and Eggs Benedict. Pesto and Eggs were a bit salty, but the arugula helps balance it out. Still, not a huge fan (but I'm not a fan of pesto in general). Ironically, their coffee/espresso items are just ok. Iced drinks are enormous though, if you need lots of caffeine.
(4)MiYun C.
The effulgent morning, a precursor to a lovely afternoon with very special friends. We dined like sovereignty and conversed with celestial happiness. Reflections included several "Two Halves Combos", Paradise Tropical Iced Tea and Mango Iced Tea. The Two Halves Combo is accompanied by a small cookie. I ordered the BBQ Chicken Salad - natural chicken (what is unnatural chicken?), organic romaine lettuce, black beans, corn, tomato, blue cheese, avocado and peanuts drizzled with their bbq ranch dressing - paired with the Tuscan Chicken Sandwich - Once again natural chicken with organic greens, roasted marinated red peppers, tomato, melted smoked mozzarella and fresh basil on ciabatta - Claimed to be served hot, but my sandwich was not hot, so I rectified the issue by warming my sandwich at home. The salad was over dressed, but delicious nonetheless. The sandwich brought upon wonderment, once warmed, the herbaciousness of the basil pesto paired with the smoked mozzarella and roasted red peppers were sublime. The tiny cookie was good, but it's for those who enjoy cakey cookies rather than chewy cookies. I prefer chewy cookies. The ambiance: A kind gentleman with his German Shepherd was enjoying his afternoon while chatting with us about his positive experience at Pain du Monde. As he was leaving he offers me his cushion to apply the the back of my chair, as the furniture is prepared with metal and it can be uncomfortable to sit back in the seat. I was very appreciative until my friends cautioned that I would be seen as the pretentious jerk who removed a seat cushion to buffer myself at the cost of another. Namaste!
(5)Nina M.
Love everything about this place, from salads to sandwiches, the delicious pastries (the almond twist and chocolate croissant in particular), and the wonderful flavored coffee. My best friend lives in the bay and always gets a bag of freshly ground coffee when she is in town. It's really flavorful and I love the varieties that come out, especially the creme brûlée flavor. I always come here when I'm at fashion island - no really, every time. I just love it.
(5)Kimia M.
VERY GOOD FOR BRUNCH! The French Omelette is sooo good. Im so impressed by this place, the food is so great and the prices are pretty low. Id definitely go to fashion island just to eat here! Make sure to try their cookies, Coco Loco is my favorite!
(5)Michelle L.
One of my friends absolutely adores this place. Located in Fashion Island, it's a coffee shop surrounded by the riches and snobbery this whole mall offers. But it's a great place to catch up and immerse yourself in a book or what not. My boyfriend and I got the Almond Twist and Chai Tea. I'm not a fan of Chai Tea so I can't vouch for it at all except that it tasted like it was supposed to taste. The Almond Twist on the other hand was something special. It smelled great, and it tasted even better. It wasn't ridiculously sweet which I appreciated and it was big enough to share. It was a bit expensive, but I think it's worth it to share with someone. Check out the pastries! 4/5
(4)Candice K.
Never have I ever had to endure such snootiness just for a fucking sandwich. But damn, is this sandwich worth having to walk through throngs of Mercedes-driving, designer-brand-flashing, kid-spoiling Newport snobs. THE GOOD. Bozeman Bacon: bacon makes the world go round (except for the Jews, I guess. I maintain they don't know what they're missing out on). Thick bacon and grilled chicken with rich avocado slices, creamy goat cheese spread, and grilled tomato, all on your bread of choice. Oh my. I've had this with the ciabatta and the croissant, and I would recommend sticking with a thicker bread like the ciabatta so it can more easily soak up all those delicious juices. Couscous Salad: yummy in my tummy! The couscous is perfectly cooked and well-seasoned with zesty Mediterranean flavors. If you're looking for an alternative to a traditional salad, this couscous is guaranteed to refresh your taste buds. THE OKAY. Fresh Tuna Salad: not really something that stood out, but it was good nonetheless. Maybe it would've been better with the croissant instead of the cheddar jalapeno. I would seriously recommend sticking with the "hot" sandwiches, though. Mini Chocolate Chip Cookie: each meal comes with a small cookie, of which I am not a fan. It's really cakey, and the flavor is not reminiscent of a traditional chocolate chip cookie due to the addition of an extra spice (nutmeg or cinnamon, perhaps?). I seldom ever advocate adherence to tradition, but the core ingredients that comprise a chocolate chip cookie are simply classic; I don't like too much deviation when it comes to my choco chip. THE BAD. The first time I came here, it took around 15-20 minutes for them to get our order out to us despite it being a rather slow night. The worker who took our order was super charming, though. The second time was much quicker; however, the workers seemed very stressed and weren't as attentive (e.g., one girl sounded agitated over the phone when I called to confirm store hours for a holiday, my cashier didn't ask if I wanted an orange slice in my water despite a nearby co-worker doing just that for another lady, and the girl who handed me my order was very gruff in demeanor). Also, they were out of chocolate croissants both times I went (at different times of the day). Lame. Other notes: this shit ain't cheap. A sandwich will cost you around $12-13. Also, if you do the Two Halves Combo, be warned that it does not come with a side salad (though it does come with the cookie).
(4)Nicole D.
Fired up my laptop in search of a good breakfast joint near our hotel on Fashion Island. Yelp delivered again!! One of the best bakeries I've been to as of late. Pastry chefs working their magic right there in the cafe for all your viewing pleasure. Everything is fresh and of the highest quality. Step through those PDM doors and you will see what it's all about. The almond twist will leave it's indelible mark on my mind forever. So amazingly delicious! The softest, lushest dessert I've laid my lips on. Cinnamon, sugar, almonds and pastry come together in perfect harmony. Second to none! I also had the Poached Eggs Croissant, which my boyfriend watched me suck down with not a crumb to spare. Two poached eggs, smoked ham, parmesan and basil melded together on a buttery croissant. Utterly devine!! I carved out a big spot in my heart for PMD!!
(5)Sophia V.
1/2 market fish sandwich + 1/2 dawn salad!!!
(4)Milee S.
Wow, I love this place. I've been here twice, both times for breakfast. On my first visit, I got a egg sandwich with a bowl of fruit and a coffee. It was really good. So good that a year later I remembered eating here! This time, I got the chocolate croissant, the breakfast bowl and their flavored coffee of the day, creme brulee. The breakfast bowl is so delicious: low-fat vanilla yogurt topped with granola and a medley of fruits (I chose to eliminate the bananas, but kept the strawberries, mangoes, raspberries and blueberries). The creme brulee coffee was divine, and they had soy milk as an option to put in your coffee at the coffee bar! Yes, it's a pricey place (it is Fashion Island after all), so I dropped $13. But well worth it The other pastries looked so delicious that I was almost tempted to try a few more. Just a great place to have a leisurley breakfast.
(5)Matt M.
Wow this place was good. My girlfriend got me the almond twist, chocolate croissant, and the pecan twist. The pastries weren't dinky like at other bakery's I've been to, and they tasted really good even after they sat through a car ride home and a couple hours while we ate dinner! My favorite of the three was the almond twist by far, but the other two were really good too! The almond twist just has a nice balance of flavors, whereas I felt that the chocolate croissant had a tad too much chocolate and was a bit rich for me, but it tasted really good with tea! I have to go there for myself to check out the service and the other dishes they have!
(5)Hobo F.
Disappointed their Kids meal served Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, I expected more! Their almond twists were yummy, though. Everything else was average.
(2)Michael C.
I came here for lunch and arrived early because I usually see it getting pretty crowded around that time. I first noticed they used iPads for ordering. It seem like a pretty cool concept. After I placed the order, I requested a receipt on the iPad but never received it. The cashier also disappear immediately. I didn't even get a chance to get a drink. I wouldn't mind it too much but they weren't even busy. I ordered the Albacore Tuna sandwich on a wheat roll. The sandwich was OK and a little bit too dry. Nothing impressive at all. I only ate half and didn't even have the appetite to finish the whole sandwich. I think the price of sandwiches and meals here are expensive for what you get. It was $13 for a sandwich and garden salad that didn't even blow me away.
(2)Minhan D.
Almond twist. Hands down the best. Have had pastries from here on two separate occasions and it has been heaven each time. I've tried the pecan twist and the chocolate croissant, both of which were pretty damn good, but sorry guys, my fav's still the almond twist! Service was wonderful, too. My server was attentive, and was so nice for looking into the oven for new hot pastries. Thanks guy!
(5)Cat H.
Wandered in here craving some breakfast prior to our shopping trip. We sat outside in the sun and enjoyed the lovely day. I ordered the scrambled eggs with seasonal vegetable (it was asparagus) which came with bacon, a cheesy croissant, and salsa. My friend ordered a beet salad, which was colorful and looked pretty yummy. Service was quick and it wasn't very expensive. I'd return again.
(4)Isabel T.
Omg the breakfast sandwich is to die for. If you have seen the movie Spanglish, in it Adam Sandler makes this sandwich that literally makes me drool watching it on the screen - I feel like this breakfast sandwich is on par with that sandwich. Ok on to useful info - you stand in line and order at the counter (while standing in line you get to look at the amazing looking pastries, muffins, scones etc), you sit down and they bring you the food. The spouse got an omelet with avocado (don't remember what it was called). My friend ordered a side of potatoes which had mushrooms, brussels sprouts and onions (yummo). The iced tea was tasty too! Only reason it's not 5 stars is because its a smidge pricey (heck it's fashion island so not a surprise).
(4)Anson A.
There is nothing painful with Pain du monde. Hands down my favorite fish taco in town, probably because of the fresh salsa and Chipotle mayo they use. The servers are very polite and provide excellent service. Lynn, the cutest server there, really went out of her way to provide me with the best service ever!
(5)flo c.
PDM is our usual breakfast/brunch choice when we are at FI. The line can be a little slow because the cashier are in charge of getting a few of the items for you, such as drinks or pastries, but given the limited seating, it's probably a good thing they don't churn through the line very quickly. Service can be considered efficient, but they're certainly not the cheeriest, nicest staff ever. I've had the good fortune of getting here right when the cinnamon twists were fresh out of the oven and that was by far one of the best cinnamon pastries (or any pastry) I've had. Unlike many cinnamon-y pastries, theirs is generously filled with cinnamon and you can taste it in every bite. We also enjoy the chocolate croissant, which is drizzled with chocolate that's not solidified (unlike other places). As such, this can get a little messy. However, the chocolate filling is fairly abundant and there's a good chance you get chocolate in every bite. The salads here, in my opinion, are the highlights of the menu. They're much more interesting than one would think and even the simple beet salad has a lot of texture and variety to it. If multiple salads appeal to you, you can get two halves in the pick 2 combo. My husband swears by the tuna sandwich, which isn't fishy or too rich, and my uncle really likes the Tuscan chicken sandwich. These arrive with a little chocolate chip cookie, which is a nice touch. My husband has also ordered the smoked salmon eggs benedict, which is served on potato cakes instead of bread with the sauce of the side. The eggs are nicely runny and it's better to control the amount of sauce yourself. The only downside is that if you have a larger appetite, the portion (for the eggs benedict) can be considered to be on the smaller side. In the past, if your whole table wanted iced water, they would give you multiple disposable cups. Unfortunately, now if you're dining in, they give you a tiny carafe for the table (and that's if they remember to bring it out with your food). I think if they're going to do tiny carafes, they might as well have a water dispenser because the carafe is probably like 24 oz, if that. I would skip the fresh squeezed OJ. It tasted fine but it's like $5 for a tiny Dixie cup's worth. Save your craving for OJ for Jamba Juice.
(4)Christina Z.
I came here for Sunday breakfast today and both my girlfriend and i ordered the eggs Benedict with salmon. It sits atop a shredded potato mountain instead of the traditional English muffin. The salmon was terrible. Extremely fishy tasting and inedible. We both putb the salmon to the side and attempted to eat the rest but it really wasn't very tasty at all. The presentation, on the other hand, was spectacular. We couldn't wait to try it. We also has a strawberry, custard croissant which would have been delicious if it wasn't a little stale. Probably will not return
(2)Terry T.
5 stars for food: fresh and tasty 3 stars for service: fast but not that friendly or attentive 3 stars for price: expensive for quantity given
(4)Dominique T.
Ordered an eggs benedict with smoked salmon. Client ordered the eggs, prosciutto pesto over croissant. Both were delish!! Beautifully presented. Loved that the benedict with hash brown instead of English muffin. Had an enjoyable time sitting on the patio on a beautiful sunny Saturday.
(4)Kathy N.
Lovee this place! I always have to stop by pdm for an iced vanilla chai tea latte when I'm at fashion island, it's become a shopping ritual :p They also have the best cookies! My favorites are the oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip. The cookies are massive, and chewy, yet soft, and has just the right amount of crunch on the edges. Such a wonderful treat after a day of indulgent shopping! What can I say...? I'm a hedonist! Tip: if you're hungry after all that shopping, satiate your appetite with the Thai mango salad! Yummy and healthy, so you can still squeeze into those size 25, double zero (two sizes too small) jeans you just bought at Bloomys ;)
(4)Rivan M.
I love this place they have good food and pastries. Breakfast is the best I love the fact that they have breakfast even after 11:00am.
(5)Qui C.
My girlfriend swears by this place. She practically lives here. So finally, before she's leaving town, we had lunch here. It's a small cafe, with outside and inside seating, mostly for small 2 people parties. We ordered the Chipotle Caesar with added Chicken and the Albacore Tuna sandwich, with a side of cous cous salad. The tuna sandwich was a tad plain and underseasoned, but the roasted tomato gave it a special touch. The french bread that it was served with completely made the sandwich. The cous cous salad was also a favorite of mine - lemon to perfection! We also got the cinnamon twist, pumpkin spice muffin, and their coco-loco and chocolate chip cookies. All the pastries here are fantastic!
(4)Rohlin A.
I had to drop the wife off at work the other day and brought the Chiefster with me. After I dropped the wife off, I decided to walk around Fashion Island. After about 45 minutes of walking, I decided to try Pain Du Monde on the wife's suggestion. The person taking my order was having a little trouble understanding me, so the placing the order took a little longer than usual. I ordered the egg sandwich on croissant which comes with fried eggs cooked to order (over easy if not stated), four strips of bacon, Gruyere cheese and two slices of tomato. There is also a small side of mixed fruit. I also ordered a small glass of fresh orange juice and a blueberry muffin. Everything was very delicious! The only problem I have is with a modest tip, my meal was $18 and I did leave full. The good part of paying this much is the quality and nothing was skimped on. There were plenty of blueberries in the muffin (can't tell you how annoying it is to have a muffin look great on the outside only find out there is nothing but cake on the inside), the mixed fruit was fresh and sweet and the oj was definitely fresh squeezed. I will definitely keep this place in mind for breakfast, I don't mind paying more if I think I am getting something for it.
(4)Christen S.
Love love love PDM. Whether I'm grabbing a quick pastry or ice tea, or sitting down for an afternoon lunch, PDM never disappoints. Everything is always fresh and the people that work their are friendly and helpful. Their ice tea is my absolute favorite - so refreshing! For lunch, I love their half salad, half sandwich combos. Last time I was their I had breakfast - prosciutto, eggs, arugula, what's not to love?
(5)Michelle H.
This is a cute spot in Fashion Island that is a cafe and a bakery. They bake all of their pastries in house and use really fresh ingredients as well. Since PDM has moved from the food court to their new location near Cafe R&D, there is a lot more seating and the ambiance is very cute rustic bistro. The salads, sandwiches, and drinks are all equally amazing, however, my favorite of favorites.... The two halves combo with the Seasonal Chicken Salad and a turkey sandwich on multigrain. The portions are huge (even if they are suppose to be "half" of the normal portion) and they are not stingy with the good stuff (i.e. cheese, avocado, and meats). Also, with every meal they include a mini sized version of their delicious chocolate chip cookies... NOM. Pros: -Everything is FRESH -Cafe eating area is SO CUTE -Good coffee drinks Cons: -On the pricey end -Gets a lot of traffic from surrounding corporate area during the week days -Food takes a little while to come up (regardless of the day/time)
(4)Katrina H.
The first time I came here I had a hard time finding it (fyi it's behind the R & D kitchen) but when I finally made it, it was worth the hunt around Fashion Island in heels. I've only ever come for the baked goods and coffee and have yet to try anything from their lunch or dinner menu. One day, I'll sit down and order from their food menu. The place seems to have a loyal customer base. Every time I stop by, many of the tables are occupied which signifies that their lunch and dinner food items must be good. Since I work close to Fashion Island, I'll stop by this bakery for some coffee or baked goods. The chocolate croissant is amazing as well as the cinnamon twist. Everything is made fresh which is one of the reasons I love coming here. When I stop by during my lunch break, I can see them rolling out the dough and it's always pleasant to watch while they get my order. Also, their coffee is really good. I'm not too picky when it comes to coffee, but the moment I tried theirs, I decided that this is what good coffee must taste like. An overall quaint little place to stop by and get a snack. If you're out shopping in Fashion Island and craving some fresh baked goods, then I definitely recommend this place.
(4)David S.
Extremely delicious BBQ chicken salads!! The coffees here are authentic, more Italian and less Starbuckish. That said, if you're used to Starbucks, you may not like what you get. The girls working here were very nice and offered to make my coffee drink taste how I wanted. Highly recommended place to dine for a low-key, healthy meal.
(5)Erik B.
Pain du Monde is a classy coffee shop and restaurant (light fare) in the European tradition. The location is fantastic with a beautiful patio just outside and adjacent to the large fountain at Fashion Island. The decor is beautiful modern with an Orange County John Wayne theme (very cool) The service staff is exceptionally good. This place serves delicious pastries, made to order gourmet coffee, and awesome lunch good like their sandwich and soups. I especially enjoy the daily option of tortilla soup that's a real tasty take on the traditional mixed soup. Pain du Monde hires exceptionally friendly, happy, and cute young ladies who work the front counter. Their cheerful smiles and positive attitude is reminiscent of a Swiss village atmosphere, and is a refreshing contrast among the many plastic surgery induced permanent-frowns cruising around the shopping area. Be sure to stop by this great little spot in Newport area any time of the day. I may be on the patio enjoying the sunshine and appreciating the optimistic atmosphere that their experience creates.
(5)Aerin L.
Great coffee, yummy oatmeal with fresh strawberries, bananas and almonds. Lovely atmosphere outside at Fashion Island.
(5)Elizabeth H.
I am just rating the pastry I got from here today. I ordered a tasteless pumpkin scone, I will not be ordering that again. I was thinking it would be like a Starbucks pumpkin scone and this was terrible. There wasn't much taste and it wasn't really sweet. Needless to say, I will stick to Starbucks when I want a pumpkin scone. Oh, and I paid almost $4 for it!!! Can we say over priced?! What a waste! The other menu items looked good. Might try a sandwich next time, they seem to have better reviews on Yelp.
(1)Kelly R.
Everything looks so good, but can you please please do something Aout the flies landing on your pastries?!? Just get a cake stand and cover them because that is seriously just too gross and being all fancy you should k ow better. Fail.
(1)Patrick N.
Croissants that are so fresh, flaky, and buttery that they warrant 4 stars. Downside: pretty pricey.
(4)Elyn Z.
The cinnamon twist was delicious. It was just out of the oven, delicately flaky and just the right crispness. With a cup of coffee it was divine. You will never find this quality of pastry at Starbucks and even rarely find it at bakeries. If you are in the area go to Pain du Monde to experience high quality french pastry.
(5)Joe T.
Dude...get the almond twist. That was the most freaking delicious almond anything that I have ever had. Their salads are pretty good and huge as well. Prices are a bit steep, as you're in Newport of course...Happy eats!
(4)Kimberly N.
OMG... Got a voucher from Fletcher Jones Mercedes (thanks guys!) for a free almond twist. IT HAS CHANGED MY LIFE!!! This was the best thing EVER!!!! I'm gluten free but some things are worth getting sick and this is it!! OMG... AMAZING!!!
(5)Kristina G.
I always saw a long line here and I finally tried it over the weekend. My husband and I went to check it out because there is one opening up near our house. I got the Turkey sandwich with Tortilla soup and it was delish! The sandwich portion was perfect. Not too small or too big and the coup was a good cup size. My husband got the tuna wrap and it was a hearty portion as well. We were pleasantly surprised when we got our order and it each came with a chocolate chip cookie! SCORE! We ate everything and a dessert to share. Almond croissant with custard, strawberries and chocolate drizzle. It was the perfect finish, especially since we ended up with 2 desserts! :) I look forward to trying more from the menu when they open near me.
(4)Dennis I.
Perfectly crafted almond twist and one of my favorite pastries in this world. The cappuccino was very good as well!
(4)Austin R.
I'm a regular customer here, so I have tried most things on the menu. Right now I am a big fan of the Mahi Mahi tacos. I was skeptical at first since they are known for their salads and sandwiches, but they were amazing. I'm really happy that they have been expanding their menu. As for drinks, they have all of the holiday blends in. At most places you can only get peppermint or pumpkin spice. They on the other hand have gingerbread, cinnamon brown sugar, toasted marshmallow (my absolute favorite), and many more. The pastries are always a great treat. I would recommend trying the chocolate almond croissant, or lemon tart; but you can't go wrong with any of their pastries. The staff is always friendly and helpful. Most coffee/bakery shops just take your order, and thats the extent of it. Here they seem to really take an interest in their customers. The food is always prepared in a timely manner, and the drinks are made almost instantly. I tried LPQ, and I was not impressed. I felt I could make most of their items myself. Waste of money and time. PDM all the way!
(5)Mimi C.
Pain du Monde (bread of the world) reminds me of Panera bread but with an emphasis on sweet goods.. and not as good. PDM is set up like Panera too.. with offerings of sammies, gourmet salads, breads, drinks.. It's pretty empty on a Friday night even though the restaurants around it seemed packed. Chocolate croissant and it reminded me of store bought croissants -- not flaky, inconsistent spread of chocolate, dry and bland in color (kind of a pasty white color). Had pieces of sugar on top.. meh. Also got the Vanilla Chai Tea Latte -- it was too sweet for me... but it was still pretty good and probably would've gone really well with a plain croissant. Friend picked up a regular latte but didn't really comment on it. Service was okay - I felt like they treated customers differently depending on how they dress (I was in sweats & sweater and felt like they were brushing me off). Lots and lots of seating with cute desert feel decor ... we snagged seats around the nice plushy chairs (we made hubby sit on the hard chair, tho...sorry honey!! =P) .. if you have larger groups, you can move the tables around.
(2)Kristin A.
The short of it: - upscale version of Corner Bakery - Pastries are great! - Favs: Chocolate crossiant, twists The long of it: I've only bought pastries here and so far so good. Cookies are yummy, chocolate croissants are amazing, and the twists are delish! I definitely want to come back here and try the food, it looks really good and there's always a long line whenever I come. Beware certain pastries will sell out by the end of the day so if you were looking forward to that chocolate croissant it might not be there if you come later in the day.
(4)Bruce B.
If there was more than 5 stars they would get whatever the number it went up to. Had 10 different items and all of them are off the charts. Salads, breakfasts, fish Tacos. Everything is just amazing.
(5)Mrs. M.
Lovely little cafe joint. Came here for breakfast with the hubby. Nice presentation and good customer service. Real busy place. Food was healthy and good. Not so healthy were the danishes, but really above average! The almond twist is their best seller, and it was perfect....flaky, buttery outside and soft inside. Their strawberry danish was delicious, too! Coffee was alright. My husband enjoyed his fresh lemonade.
(4)Luanna Y.
I can't get enough of this place! Egg white, spinach, goat cheese omelet - perfectly light, perfectly flavorful, perfectly fresh, perfectly PERFECT. The salad that comes with the sandwiches is really yummy. Love the vinaigrette that they use. And the fresh bread just MAKES the sandwich. Workers are super nice. Bathrooms clean. Cute outdoor patio. If you're lucky enough to get their twists fresh from the oven, you might just shed a tear or two, they're that good. Love. Love.
(5)Krystal N.
Perfect spot to grab a light lunch and catch up with a friend! I was trying to find a place to take one of my visiting girlfriends and I decided on this place. You know that feeling...when you're worried if your dining partner will like the place you chose? Well, thankfully, we both loved this place! *sigh of relief* We split the special of the day which was some type of arugula salad. OMG, so fresh and delicious! We each also got a pastry. I got the almond twist and it was melt in your mouth good! The outdoor seating area is comfortable and a perfect spot to people watch. If you're already at Fashion Island, I would suggest coming here to take a little break and grab a bite to eat. Much better than most options located at a mall!
(4)Moe T.
Anything coming fresh out of the oven from here is great. The almond twist is great but the one to get is the pain au chocolat when it's hot.
(5)Royce Y.
OVERALL RATING = 7 / 10 the EATs: Tuscan Chicken Sandwich = 8 Chocolate Chip Cookie = 8 Seasonal Salad = 7 the DRINKs: Water = 9 ATMOSPHERE = 8 SERVICE = 7 APPEAL = 7 A fancier and more expensive version of Corner Bakery with better service. Ordered the 2 halves combo. Comes with a small chocolate chip cookie. Nice. The Seasonal - Wasn't sure if I really liked this dish or not.. It's like they took little bit of everything from the Garden of Eden and through it all together with some dressing. Mangos, strawberries, greens, avocado, cilantro, beets, hard-boiled egg whites, nuts (i think almonds), roma tomato, Jidori chicken, and couple other things I couldn't make out but were definitely veggies. The champagne vinaigrette was very refreshing with a little tang. The ingredients were fresh. There was just little too much going on with the ingredients. Palate overload. The Tuscan - good quality chicken sandwich. If you're unsure about what to order here, this is a safe bet.
(3)Giang L.
I'm only reviewing the twist. I'm also from LA so I don't know of many bakeries in this area. All croissants taste like cardboard after you've had a croissant in Paris. We came here for a meeting on Friday morning, so I believe everything was fresh out of the oven. Yelpers said to order the twist. The twist they serve here is so good, it's like a stretched out version of a croissant. It's the closest thing I've found to a croissant from Paris. I will definitely come back to try the other pastries.
(5)Dan N.
I've never been a big person on salads, one of those items that if they're on my plate then I'll eat. However, Pain du Monde's Mango Chicken Salad I'll actually order and eat as an entree. Best part is the cookie, however, I think they got a little smaller than before.
(4)Tesia Y.
It's almost dangerous how good their pastries are. Came in with high expectations for their almond twist and chocolate croissant and neither of them disappointed! Tried their Tropical Iced-tea, as well-- nothing too memorable, but still good. Almond twist: this is honestly one of the best pastries I've ever had. Tastes and smells heavenly.. and not too sweet! I'm obsessed with the subtle almond flavoring inside of the twist. Chocolate croissant: flakey on the outside, gooey on the inside. JUST how i like 'em.
(5)Jackie N.
Beautifully chic cafe. My mom spotted this while shopping at Fashion Island and she just had to go in. At first, I was expecting so more sweets here like cakes and such. No luck but no complaint as well just some delicious pastries. I had ordered the Almond Twist which was divine. Expensive but tantalizing. Must get the Bozeman Bacon sandwich. It is out of this world tasty. The sandwich is a bit on the pricey side but it fills you up like no other. That sandwich was huge. The garden salad on the side was fresh and delicious so it was a win-win. Service and staff here was friendly. No much to report here. I would definitely come back here and would most likely be my go-to place while shopping at Fashion Island.
(4)Jules S.
I went to try this place out early at 7:00am in the morning because bakers usually have the good stuff out early. Not so with this place. I felt like I got a load of yesterday's batch that didn't sell. Nothing was hot. The chocolate croissant that everyone raves about was just OK. It wasn't flaky enough, it wasn't hot enough, and the chocolate filling inside definitely was not moist enough. I was very disappointed with the chocolate croissant. I asked a pro baker I know what they thought of the croissant. She humbly said it tasted good, but I could hear the underlying tone in which I heard "I could make a better croissant than this". The scones though were pretty good. I got a apricot and rum-raisin scone for people to share. The scone tasted of yesterday to me, but was still good enough to say "yum". I didn't get any coffee here. I got my white mocha at the Starbucks next door. When I pulled into the Starbucks register I was immediately greeted with a 'thanks I'll take one of those', jokingly. Even though Starbucks sells their own pastries the employees agree that Pain Du Monde's is better than theirs. I'll give 'em that. $4.25 for a chocolate croissant though? It didn't blow me away. I'll keep searching local pastry shops for a truly flaky, moist, and delicious croissant. I'm in no hurry to go back to this place although the decor is pretty cool inside and outside. Great place to check out OC-lites.
(3)Elysse P.
COCO LOCO COOKIE why are you so delicious? Newest guilty pleasure...
(5)Elaine C.
I came in for tea and a croissant. It was ok and would have walked away if I didn't feel inclined to write them a poor review. The place was empty on a Tuesday evening, me and a couple (who got their meal free due to dissatisfaction). I had thrown my tea bag away and felt my tea was weak, I asked for another tea bag. They "had" to charge me the $1.95. I just heard the couple go on and on about how unhappy they were. I think a free tea bag would have saved at least one of the three people. Oh well... Poor management.
(1)Jennifer B.
Love the cafe environment with great service. Food is consistently good. Have the BBQ salad as a wrap; it's delicious.
(5)Anna R.
I ordered a Mac and cheese for my toddler and it took over 20 minutes to bring out! When I went to check on it, they scrambled to bring the order up and put the mac n cheese in the microwave! some fell on the prep table and the cook picked it up with his bare hand and threw it back on the bowl. Needless to say, i asked for my money back asap and i wont be going back to this place. Yuck!
(1)David W.
One thing that always gets me- high ceilings. Lots of natural light with warm, dark color furniture brings life to those cold, foggy Saturday mornings. Alright world, its time to bundle up inside one of their amazing cinnamon twists and never come out of this beautiful cafe. See ya latte.
(5)Alysa K.
The food at PDM is very fresh, light, and yummy! The beverages are also really great - their coffee, tea, and freshly squeezed orange juice. I always walk away feeling like I got a good meal, but don't feel heavy or too full.
(4)Jessica T.
Addicted Until recently I had only drop by for their coffee and bakery treats--which on their own is highly addictive, but I had the happy occasion to eat lunch here with an old friend/mentor. Their menu is short and simple, but well rounded. I appreciate their 2 halves combo option and decided to try 2 of their salads for lunch. I ordered their seasonal and their beet. Both were delicious, only neg. was that their chicken was dry/over cooked. The produce in both salads were incredibly fresh and the flavors and colors were vibrant and appealing. I absolutely adore goat cheese, and I was happy to discover that PDM is not skimpy with their toppings and cheeses. The sweetest part of my lunch? It comes with a petite chocolate chip cookie-so cute! I also ordered their Tropical Iced Tea--tasty, but nothing out of the ordinary. I will definitely return to try other lunch items when I have time and luxury of having a leisurly lunch. Until then, I will continue to grab my caramel latte and almond twists to go. 4 stars for Baked goods, Coffee and Salads Pros: quick, fresh, and friendly, Cons: Inside Fashion Island-shopaholics beware. Also, their baked goods are made fresh daily, once they sell out--you're out of luck (good, but bad if you really wanted something they sold out of)
(4)Christine A.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! Pain Du Monde is a bakery that used to be in the food court where I would go for their amazing pastries & iced teas!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've been in love with their pastries for soooooo long & I've definitely been a faithful customer for ummm...15+yrs! And now, yes...now they finally have a separate location with tables & all! Yayyyyyy! Honestly, you can't go wrong here. Order any pastries, and you will be happy! I love their twists & croissants! They also have great french baguettes and pretty much everything else! So dreamy!!! Even for food, Yum!!! I especially like their tuna salad sandwich which is not salty at all! I just LOVE this place!
(5)Megan K.
The Tuscan Chicken sandwich is my life... Such a cute place with great food and nice people!
(5)Reza S.
Extremely disappointed with this place. Had the eggs Benedict and it was probably one of the worst Benedicts I have ever had. The food was cold and tasteless. The potatoes were frozen and not fresh. May be the cooks were having a bad day. Would definitely not come back.
(1)Jordan E.
The salmon plate with mango salsa and ginger cilantro dressing is AMAZING! Whenever we head to Fashion Island, we always find ourselves at PDM. The staff is really nice, they have Coke in glass bottles and Mac 'n Cheese for the kiddos. Don't forget to grab a hot chocolate and cookie before you leave.
(5)Andrea T.
First time here, stopped by because I needed a caffeine fix and didn't feel like going to Starbucks. Along with the coffee, I had the fruit and oatmeal. The fruit was super fresh and delicious. Another big plus was that in addition to soy milk they also have almond milk for your coffee for a little extra money.
(4)Kevin L.
So yesterday I biked from Irvine to Laguna Beach (the workout itself was about 30miles in total) and this morning, I figured I would treat myself to something nice for breakfast - first thing that came to mind, Pain Du Monde. Since moving here to California, the single biggest thing I miss is cafes that sell not just coffee, but food. If that's what you're looking for, Pain Du Monde's the place to be. Lazy sunday morning at near Newport Beach... it was a great experience. What I Liked: The food and service. There's no denying, the food is amazing. I ordered the Egg Sandwich (Breakfast Menu) which is... basically as good of a breakfast as anyone would like to wake up to. Staked between two softly, fluffy croissants were the tender goodness of sliced tomato, thick juicy ham, cheese and finally, cooked to perfection over-medium eggs (just the way I like it! well, it's made to order) whose yolk ran lovingly with each bite. It was an amazing sandwich. Definitely what I needed this morning. Also, I die for their Almond Twists (as I have seen many other reviewers do too). It's a twist like you've never tasted before. Though, I guess my only critic may be to come later in the day - as opposed to 8AM. Usually when I swing by the cafe, the twists are fresh out of the oven. This morning, it tasted slightly "overnight" ? Regardless, credit given where it's due - it's this yummy baked delicacy layered with almond and sugary goodness and topped with crystalled sugar. The service: I was quite surprised, this morning, when the waitress delivered my food to me even when I sat away from the cafe (near the fountain). Service is always something that gets to me - it's very humbling. Props! What I Didn't Like: Well... I'll have to update on that later!
(5)Reva S.
Delicious, gorgeous food. Yogurt with berries was spectacular, and a great egg dish, too. The server messed up my order, but made it right, and even though it took awhile for the replacement, the food was so good, it was worth the wait.
(4)Count D.
I am never one to stay in the hotel and eat the crappy hotel breakfast (though the hotel I stayed in probably had a good one). No, I must venture out and find "that place" that offers something good if not unusual. That way, I get a nice walk in the bargain and find something new while I adventure out. I had a great breakfast at Pain du Monde in Fashion Island. Everything from my Pesto eggs on toast with arugula and parm to my delicious pastry twists was excellent. Service was brisk and friendly. These folks make seriously nice pastry! If you are in the area, it's worth the trip and well worth getting out of the hotel. I loved it.
(4)Sharon V.
We stopped in to pick up a latte after lunch and the chocolate croissant was just taunting me through the glass case. We ordered our coffee and nearly paid before I blurted out....and the chocolate croissant, please. We sat at a nearby table while we waited for our coffee was being made. I couldn't resist taking a few bites of my croissant and it was flaky, buttery with just the right amount of chocolate. It was a bit messy but that's what napkins are for. ; ) When our coffee was ready, the guy who took our order brought our drinks to us. NICE service! I added my sugar in the raw and thought the coffee was pretty decent. Not amazing but pretty good. I'd come again for the chocolate croissant alone.
(4)Niloo S.
This place used to be in the Bloomingdales food court and about a year ago moved across from Neiman Marcus and next door to R&D cafe. I love there cinnamon twists and almond twists. Great pastries. My dad got the pesto and eggs and it was DELICIOUS! It was two pieces of bread topped with prosciutto, 2 sunny side up eggs, arugula and pest. It was so good ! I got the breakfast bowl which is granola fruit and yogurt. I've also had there tortilla soup, it is so goooooooooood ! There coffee is good too and I noticed that they even squeeze fresh orange juice, I need to try it next time ! Good place for quick lunch or breakfast or pastry to go !
(5)Amy N.
Delicious! It's a very nice place to eat fresh bakery and awesome salads and sandwich. I took the veggie grill sandwich with multigrain slice bread and it was excellent! I come from France and I can say that the bread was good and the coat cheese very tasty. For dessert, I had the almond twist and it's the best pastry I had in the USA. it is crispy outside and soft inside, you just want to come back again when you're done!
(5)Wynn R.
Love it- Fast, clean, friendly and tasty- Love the Fashion Island location- Good menu choices- not overpriced- I had the Southwest Chicken sandwich on pepper cheese roll - Has awesome guacamole - yummy! So good- I can still taste it- My gf had eggs Benedict- Comes on stacked hash browns instead of bread- really good too! Yup! I say it's a sure bet!
(4)Kristie L.
Food is delicious but the service here SUCKS. The staff are really snobby and definitely need some coaching on customer service basics. Right when my friend and I walked in there were a couple of people in line ahead of us - which was totally fine. However, once we got to the register to place our orders, the cashier didn't say a word to us and started doing something else. No greeting - complete cold shoulder. My friend and I felt like we were invisible to the staff. Like I said - excellent food but really poor service. Definitely was not a comfortable environment to be in.
(3)Cindy C.
All I need in this life of sin is me and my...PDM Chocolate Croissant?! yep you heard me. I tried to stop myself at just one bite but before I knew it my chocolate croissant disappeared before my eyes and was comfortably sitting in my belly. It's light, fluffy, chocolate, just the right amount of sweetness. Which diehard chocolate fan could resist? I also really enjoy their variety of scones and southwest chicken sandwich. That warm chicken melted with cheese stuffed in a jalapeno cheddar roll was bursting in flavor with each bite in my mouth. Super delicious but super filling! PDM has the best pasteries in Fashion Island...maybe even all of Newport Beach!
(5)M L.
Pesto, prosciutto and eggs on top of Parmesan twist bread. OMG. Perfect for a lazy Sunday while people-watching at Fashion Island. The cashier girls are snotty, watch out!
(4)Vonetta Y.
After bearing a cross-country flight that involved being awake for an ungodly number of hours, I was famished and dead set on getting a fancy sandwich. Any sort of fancy sandwich. The bride & groom of the wedding we were attending told us about Fashion Island, so off we went to spend the afternoon before the wedding that night. I scanned the directory and found Pain du Monde or, as R kept calling it, Bread of the World. It was quite busy, so the only place we could find seats was right by the window. I imagine this would have been quite nice on an ordinary New Year's Eve, however, this New Year's Eve was FREEZING. And I say that coming from DC. But that didn't matter too much once the sandwich was in my hand. We got the sandwich combo with two different halves, one chipotle chicken and one chicken pesto. Both were delicious! Great pesto and chipotle sauces, and were filling without being overwhelming. I'd also ordered an iced tea lemonade, but given that it was raspberry iced tea, the combo tasted kinda weird. R had also ordered an iced tea lemonade, but they forgot the iced tea. The lemonade wasn't bad, but he insisted that it wasn't fresh squeezed. Shrugs. Our service was fine, aside from the drink mix-up. The only gripe I had was the price! Nearly $12 for a sandwich????? Woooooosa! I guess it's a California thing that my Washingtonian wallet was not expecting. Price aside, it was a great lunch.
(4)Nicole B.
Pain du Monde is located at Fashion Island. It's a bakery and cafe, and looks so cute and welcoming. I haven't tried the food here, so this review is solely for the desserts. All the desserts here are fresh and delicious. I highly recommend the cinnamon twist, almond twist, chocolate chip cookie, oatmeal cookie, chocolate croissant, and actually, everything else! Dessert with tea or coffee= bliss! The seating area is lovely, especially the outdoors. Must try if you're at Fashion Island and are craving something sweet!
(4)Annie D.
I can't say enough about their pastries here. I'm going to make a very bold statement and say that their pastries are comparable to Parisian bakery and firmly stand by it. Oh... my.... goodness! The almond twist was flaky, buttery and baked to perfection! My only complaint was the service. The blonde who took my order had a foul attitude and acted like she didn't want to be there but considering that it was Newport Beach, I can understand if it was her parents that made her get a job.
(4)Jan Y.
one day i came here cuz my sister likes to feed her kid cookies so that he can fulfill daily calories counts (hes seriously anorexic). i dutifully bought the cookie, then noshed on a piece. and another. then fiance decided to get in on the action. my one year old niece saw (and recognized!) the cookie bag and reached her chubby arms out for a chunk! we were in trouble! the cookie was so delish! before we knew it, the cookie was nought but a mass of crumbs, and i had to send joanna y. in for more :/ cookie obtainment fail. delish product though. and good service. price point could be better. you know me and price point :) we got this love/hate thing going on.
(4)AB A.
Did not the coffee but I liked
(2)Jonathan N.
Pain Du Monde has moved from the food court to in front of Bloomies and all I can say is "FINALLY." I've always thought in my head that PDM is wayyy too good for an average food court. TOO GOOD. I love the upgrade and the feel of the new restaurant :). So relaxing~~ and what a better way to relax than with great food? I can go on and on about the amazing scones, cookies, and other baked addicting goods, but I MUST pay my respects to the cinnamon twists, the mango salad, and the tuscan chicken sandwich. OH MANNNN. First of all, the cinnamon twists are to die for. I love them and I have yet to find something even worth calling a rival. The cinnamon twist's flaky puff pastry creates a perfect shell for the sweet cinnamon interior. Also, the cinnamon twists are great to buy for another day. I usually buy about 7 whenever I come. Just toast it for a couple minutes in the toaster and BAM. Deliciousness in your face! (or mouth). The mango salad was pretty mindblowing as well. I loved how fresh it tasted and the crunch of the salad was nomnomnom. I hate wet soggy greeeens. HATEE but luckily Pain Du Monde is there for me. :) Also, the tuscan chicken is quite fantastic as well. The chicken is spiced....uniquely lol. I can't really describe it.. but it was such a refreshing taste. SPEAKING OF REFRESHING, the colors of the salad and the sandwich made me so happy. The meal is pleasing to both your eyes and your mouth. TWOfer! :D My TIP: Get the two halves deal (you get two halves of any sandwiches/soups/salads) :). You also get some garlic bread and a cookie! :D Usually, some places give you itty bitty halves but this place is really generous. I actually thought they made a mistake and gave me the real order! LOL. Fresh, healthy, delish. Could you ask for more?
(4)Rachel T.
Delicious! This place reminds me of a nicer Panera Bread. Still not really sure how to pronounce this place... just call it PDM. Oh my gosh, the Ahi Tuna salad is yums! The ahi is perfectly seared, and I love the mango and jicima (sp?) in the salad. I went back a few days later and had the Tuscan chicken sandwich which was also really tasty. Love the pesto flavor in it. It's a great place to eat with friends, or take your dog and sit outside on the patio and people watch. Such a nice place during warm summer days!
(4)Priscilla P.
the pastries are good, though they are pricey. but everything else sucks. first, the girls who work here look bored and unhelpful. who trains them?! don't expect much customer service. the potato cakes that came with the smoked salmon was cold, as if they were made a while ago. the vegetarian omelet was bland and boring. but worst of all, i found a piece of hair in the arugula that came with the pesto eggs!! that is just absolutely disgusting.
(2)C. H.
Best Soy Hot Chocolate I've ever had in my life. HANDS DOWN! Additionally, we're thinking the owners of this cafe must be related to John Wayne, as there are giant photo walls and framed photos from his movies all over the place. Kind of cool as a theme since, it really has no bearing on the food and overall decor except to add interest. Can't wait to get back and have another Hot Chocolate!
(5)John L.
Been there a few times and it's been ok, but the most recent visit was disappointing. The grilled cheese was kind of hard and didn't have much flavor. The croissant seemed a bit stale.... maybe it was an off day.
(3)Rob O.
From the location and decor of this place, I really had my hopes high. Kind of like those random mom n pops coffee/pastry places you find that surprisingly turn out to be AMAZING. This place isn't one of those. You are not greeted walking in, not even acknowledged. When it's your turn in line, you get a forced "can I help you" with a totally forced half smile. C'mon people, being cashier at a coffee shop isn't a hard job...your main duty is to put a smile on your face and greet people. If you have a problem with that or are annoyed by interacting with people, that's not the job for you. Anyhow, wherever we go my uncle usually orders a regular brewed coffee and asks if they can pour the cream first. That's his thing...for whatever reason he believes it tastes better. The same miserable-vibed blonde cashier acted so annoyed that she had to pour the creamer herself that he almost canceled his order. Her attitude was boarder line rude. I ordered what I always order...a hazelnut latte with no foam. 10 mins later I got what they call a latte. Well it's tons of foam. So I give it back, she takes it back there and eventually gives me back 1/3 a latte. I'm guessing there was so much foam in there that not much remained. So I take a sip..blahhhgh!! This place gas won the award for worst latte I've tasted ever! I've been drinking lattes for 20 years and in many different countries and this was by far the nastiest latte I've had. So I totally agree with the other reviewers on how bad the quality of the coffee is. I drank it for a few sips TRYING to like it so I wouldn't waste my money but just couldn't. Ya It was THAT bad. I tossed in the trash and head straight to the little cafe attached to Nordstroms called E Bar(espresso bar) where people were super nice, upbeat, positive energy people. The coffee and lattes there are amazing. They're fast too. Pdm not only isn't in the same ball park as ebar, it's not even in the same city. If you enjoy dealing with a cashier that acts annoyed by you, drink terrible coffee and deal with people that don't have the slightest clue on what it takes to be an employee at a coffee shop...pdm is perfect for you. Not to mention I've heard their salads are terrible too. If you want to walk into a coffee shop with the fresh smell of coffee and an equally fresh acknowledgement of your presence, go elsewhere. Honestly, I confidently believe that coffee/lattes ANYWHERE are better than this place. *Note to owners* When you hire people people, manners, smiling, being polite, acknowledging the customer, willing to do whatever it takes to please customer and simply being a people person must not be on your list of qualities to look for huh? If stuck up blonde with a bad attitude that's annoyed by dealing with people and gates working in customer service roles are the qualities you're looking for then you've succeeded. Otherwise, i suggest you take a second and realize that anyone walking through your doors is most likely local and we locals all know each other and share our experiences. You need to have a talk with your spoiled employees and show them what it means to be working in a "service" role.
(1)Addy C.
Cute and friendly environment. Located at Fashion Island...awesome for a lazy and chill Sunday :)
(4)Harry A.
I ordered with salmon .The salmon came out uncooked The waitress said she would get me a new one,She brought the same salmon chopped up in pieces as I gave her I todl the manger and she said that the cook should not have re-cooked the salmon and that I should have been given a new one cooked. she said she would take care of it ,but i am concerned that if that is a policy or not .I am not sure that is very sanitary ? The eggs my fiance' had were cold and they never gave the toast with the order. we had to go back wait in line to get the toast they forgot.I told the girl this is NEWPORT BEACH . How can you serve food like this ? I remain very cautious if I go there again.
(1)Lila S.
Nice, cute French spot in Fashion Island to grab a dessert and stroll around with a pastry and iced tea in your hand. Customer Service is just ok, which is why I took off one star. The girl helping me was kinda short with me and didn't seem interested in answering my questions about the different pastries. She also kept talking to her co-workers as I tried to inquire about their pastries because they didn't have any dessert names placed on their plates of freshly baked items so I couldn't tell what each dessert was. . But wow!, chocolate croissant is great! Tasty and flaky. Their cinnamon twist is also excellent and moist and melts in your mouth! Everything is also always being baked fresh and brought out minute by minute. Stop by for a dessert!
(4)Deirdra S.
Everything here is great! The owner is fr Montana w a great eatery in Orange County, Laguna Beach... Try the Fresh Ahà Tuna Specialty & for breakfast the French Omelette. They even give a cookie or pastry for free to finish off your meal delightfully :-) Love it! I spoke with the Owner & asked if he would please, please open one in Vegas - do not think it is going to happen - he said his wife will not let him... too bad for us... - if you are in Newport - make sure you check them out!!! your constant companion, ~deirdra
(4)James T.
We always get their Tropical iced tea (plus you get free refills) and the coffee is not bad. The last time we rolled through here I had the almond twist because I overheard a few people in line raving about it...I would have to agree it was very good. Now every time we get in to Newport- the almond twist is a must. But, unfortunately today it was not to be...they were out, so i ordered a couple of the freshly baked chocolate chip cookie- it was warm and it almost made me forget about the "almond twist"....almost. and the everything cookie wasn't too bad either. We did semi luck out because the cookies were still warm....can't beat just out of the oven cookies! The cookies were about $2.50 each but they are pretty big cookies & so worth every penny! The line was long, but the 2 guys behind the counter was banging out the orders. Personally, I think they should have at least 3 people at the counter. Its a good thing those guys hustled...I can appreciate workers who can work as a team and not get rattled. Big PROPS to them!!!
(5)Brutus L.
Okay so.. I loved the food the first time we went. But it has never been the same since. Always overcook my eggs, which I hate. I picked up food to go after a while of not going because the food was messed up last time figured I would give it a shot.. Once again the order was messed up, I wasn't far so I called in. They said to swing by and get a corrected order. By the way it was just pesto and overlooked eggs, nothing fancy, nothing substituted.. I picked up my order and got home to my (very) pregnant wife. When we opened the box it was terrible. Instead of the cheese crossiant they use it was an untoasted half slice of wheat bread, NO pesto, eggs were seriously almost raw (guess they didn't want to overcook them ) it was a blatant F you. When I called I tried to be Mr. Cool. Hey I realize the girl answering the phone didn't cook it and no one wants to be yelled at for someone else's mistake. Geeez.. I said hey I realize that cooks probably don't like getting food sent back and they rushed. She said yeah they don't and thanks for understanding, if you come in you can have a free drink" I just do not see how that fixes the problem but the fact that she agreed the cooks screwed my order purposefully is odd as well, but hey, it is something I will never have to worry about because I will never ever go back.
(1)Victoria F.
went here after church with one of my family friends.. hmm.. foot was not bad, but not for the price! but that's what you get b/c of the location. either way, not worth the price.. would i go back, maybe.
(3)Andy N.
This place is cracking! The must have items here are the Chocolate croissant and almond twist! I haven't been able to sit and each lunch yet but I hear the food is great. Make sure you have Darius helping you out here. When you visit Fashion Island make sure you stop on in. The cookies here are big! The fruit tart's are delicious and the atmosphere is welcoming. I'm craving some baked goods as well speak. Can't wait to come back here and eat again. Recommendation: Chocolate croissant and almond twist. I hear the tropical tea is great as well.
(4)Faezeh S.
LOVE this place. Excellent breakfast and lunch spot! Their pastries are all fabulous.
(5)Eugine Y.
Hi Sally, let me introduce to you, Mr. Right This Instant yelp.com/biz_photos/Dhyz… Get to know him. He wants to be your lover. Put this big boy in your life. Then in your mouth. Feel his firmness with both hands. Yes, both hands. Work your way around the stickyness. Nibble. Can you taste it? Giving you that cinnamon bracelet. And that instant face lift.
(4)J J.
I love their cranberry wholewheat roll. They have good tea selection too with mighty leaf brand. Rasberry Iced tea, Coffee, and Latte are all good. Nice decoration with cozy seat. This place definitely keeps me away from Starbucks around the corner....
(4)Monique W.
I love this cute little spot. The market fish sandwhich is to die for. Clean and smells delicious!
(5)Sepide S.
PDM is one of my favorite coffee places of all the time, i am not a fan of their drinks, but they have the best baked good and the environment is warm and nice and they have pretty pretty people working there.
(5)Sutten W.
This is my second time to PDM. I was able to go right up to the register and order my chicken tortilla soup and a diet coke. I asked for it "without the cheese on top". I was told "no problem". I waited, and waited, and watched, as customer after customer, complained about the wait and what was wrong with their order. There were plenty of employees, but they did not seem to know what was going on or who was in charge of what. So we waited. Finally, my order was ready. Surely, I thought, they could not have messed up my tortilla soup. All they had to do was dish it up and not put cheese on top. I took my order to go. About 10 minutes later I opened up the container to find a bowl full of broth, two pieces of avocado and one piece of chicken. Oh, and the cheese was on top! If you go here, stick to the pastries and whatever you do, don't ask them to customize your order!
(1)Omar S.
This is a nice place to grab lunch, especially in Fashion Island. The sandwiches and salads are moderately priced, and the portions are generous. You can taste the freshness in the food, as well as the quality of the ingredients. Service is quick and friendly, but there can be a short wait during peak hours. There are tables to sit inside and out, and the decor and ambience are quite nice. Some delicious pastries and desserts can be enjoyed here as well, and the twist is particularly good, as indicated by other yelpers.
(4)A B.
Overpriced. Everything was bland. Service was non existent. Very disappointed. Customers came in and out for the pastries, so maybe those are good. But the egg/salad/sandwich options? Mediocre.
(1)Aden J.
Pain Du Monde has excellent restaurant food in a cafe setting. Their turkey sandwich is one of the best cafe sandwiches I've had in Orange County. PDM has a very cool and classy decor with several large, non-tacky photographs of John Wayne aka The Duke. Their iced tea is also excellent. PDM is slightly on the pricey side for cafe food. I believe I paid about 30 dollars for two sandwiches and two iced teas, but their food is well worth the price.
(4)L P.
Nothing special
(3)Chris K.
They're decent for pastries and coffee if you're already walking around Fashion Island, but the food is overpriced and underwhelming. If you're looking for a good breakfast/brunch place, drive a little further to Haute Cakes Cafe on the other side of Jamboree. Cheaper, tastier and way more food.
(2)Irene L.
Yummy......The best sandwich in this area which I tried.And I like the enviroment that is very comfortable.If I go to fashion island I always choose this one for lunch.
(4)Will M.
I am Will M. and I am a PDM addict. I have been since 1995 when I first sniffed that cinnamon powder and fell to the drug like power of the sweet, buttery, rich twist. My first time, it was served up hot,and aromatic. Ecstasy - I closed my eyes and inhaled the awesome smell till the counter person said, "Your change, sir." I took the12 steps - no, not the drug rehab program - but to my table. "Snap out of it, Will M", my friends said. Then, I did it - I dangled a piece of fresh twist in front of their noses. With one whiff, and dog-like bite they fell victim as well and are now also cinnamon twist addicts. Actually, pecan twist and almond twist, especially if warm, are equally addicting IMO. So, my friends and I often come up here after a round of tennis or morning jog. That way, I could eat these without being a Filipino Pillsbury dough boy. One thousand calories probably in one of these. Enough calories for Clark Kent to turn into Superman. The chocolate croissant are another favorite, but most of their pastries are tasty. However, pastries when not warm, are not as yummy but still good. If I get some to go I put it in a 300 degree oven for 5-10 minutes to get it warm, crisp, and aromatic through and through. They have some decent salads, soups, and sandwiches. I really like their fresh squeezed OJ. Years later, I am still hooked and come up a few times a month for my twist fix. They're in the new digs out of the food court. The counter guy today was Joey, super-counterman who really does resemble a young Clark Kent, He, like all the counter persons, are friendly, fast, efficient and even smart? Ha, the tip jar says, "Tips for counter intelligence" They do a decent job of keeping the tables clean. It might be difficult to get a place to sit inside, but there are lots of places outside if the weather is nice. Just beware how crowded this place gets during the usual peak times. There are lots of PDM addicts ravenously waiting in line.
(5)Bianca S.
Best croissant I've ever had hands down!! Lemonade and iced coffee were good too, I will be back.
(5)Poachedeggs g.
Le chocolate croissant! and various sandwiches Brunch 8am-4pm *note: Located in Fashion Island
(4)Amanda T.
Was looking for a quick brunch spot on a Wednesday and true foods was not quite opened, so decided to try Pain Du Monde since it was nearby. Overall, it was a good experience. I had a cup of freshly squeezed OJ, french omelete and strawberry and chocolate croissant for around $20. The quality of the food is definitely top notch and the french omelete was a pretty large order. Strawberry and chocolate croissant was also good. As of now, I'm satisfied but not blown away but I'd venture back for another try and maybe upgrade them to 4 stars.
(3)Isabela F.
First, pastries: SO GOOD! I had a pecan twist and it was oozing cinnamon, sugar and pecan! It was so good, and big! I was so satisfied I didn't have dinner. The chocolate croissants looked amazing, and they were almost twice the size of the Starbuck's. Second, beverage: I had a large hot chocolate, which was ok. I ordered whipped cream, which they forgot. Third, price: It's definitely pricy. I paid $11 for the pecan twist and the large hot chocolate. It's good food, but I don;t think it's worth all that. Forth, staff and environment: They don't serve on tables, which is bad if you have a big party. The cashier was nice and friendly and we talked while my order was being prepared. There were two groups of older people meeting at the café while I was there, and they seemed to be enjoying their meals, like they were regulars at the place. It doesn't have too many tables, but it's enough for a stop after shopping.
(4)eileen h.
My go-to lunch place. There are only a handful of items I constantly order here - seasonal salad, tortilla soup (which is not really that consisten), tuscan sandwich and their iced teas (which are refillable). The tuscan chicken comes with a pesto spread that really adds a kick to the nicely cooked chicken. The chicken never comes out dry and is still good a few hours later. If you're looking for a salad, I would suggest the seasonal salad. This salad is on the sweet side due to the fruits and dressing. Trust me, you won't be disappointed. What really tops off each order is that each meal comes with a freshly made chocolate chip cookie. It's soft and so good, but it's something that will not taste good the next day, so be sure to eat it the same day. This place is always busy during lunch. If you're on a time crunch, it's best to preorder via phone, but make sure to check that everything is in there because I've had to go back many times because they forgot to add something or give me soemthing. Otherwise, I love coming to this place.
(4)Freddy F.
Love their food but haven't been there too many times to try it all. I love that they bake their own breads and their almond glazed bread is simply the best! I must say that their food portions were a little small for me. Overall, I would certainly look forward to coming back for a light lunch soon. I give them a 4 instead of a 5 because the service can certainly improve.
(4)MA N.
Very good food, the only problem was that it served cold.
(3)Tina T.
First thing first, I will be coming back to PDM and Yelp to write another review update when I get something other than their inch thick delicious cookies. So here's how I knew about PDM. My Psych professor brought our class cookies on the last day of class for the semester...and then I was addicted. I have also been living in the Irvine area for 4 years and visited Fashion Island for the first time ever just to get a hold of PDM's chocolate chip cookies again. Unfortunately they were sold out of chocolate cookies when I came in today, but I opted for the Oatmeal Raisin...I'll say that it was destiny that the chocolate cookies were sold out. If they weren't, I wouldn't have had the thought of trying their Oatmeal Raisin cookies which ended up being even more delicious in their own way. Coming back here soon! With an even more open mind ;)
(4)Katie L.
My current favorite here is the Grilled Salmon Salad...a bit on the pricey side but definitely worth the splurge. It comes with a cilantro sauce with a bit of a kick to it and a delish mango salsa to go with the salad. Pastries are good too...I've had the chocolate chip cookie (its a nice size, thick and I can taste the buttah!). Also good is the chocolate croissant (server will warm it up for you), fruit tart is just okay. I would like to try their breakfast menu next time, it looks delicious but have to get there before noon. The servers are quick, friendly and helpful. A big plus since this place is on the pricey side. I prefer to pay for good quality food rather than cheaper barely edible food (like what you would get at the food court in NB).
(4)Daisy C.
Whenever I come to Fashion Island in the morning I like to stop in for a cup of coffee and a pastry. Despite being a small chain they make their pastries fresh which is a big plus. My favorite pastry is the almond twist... sometimes you can catch one coming right out of the oven, yum!
(4)Michelle L.
The chocolate croissant they serve here is pure bliss. And it is a big croissant and decently priced The outer layer has a delicious crispy crunch to it and then you hit the soft delicious center and to balance it all...chocolate. I have yet to try the sandwiches but this is the place I love to go when I want a break from shopping at fashion island. (I have tried the twists but only find them ok...) And I find the line to do an order is way too long of a wait. If they were faster and more efficient I would give it a higher rating. Or I just happen to take my breaks on the busy times...
(4)Nebs I.
I love this place not just because Im addicted to caffeine but because this place is actually pretty legitimate. The coffee is pretty good and definitely beats more mainstream coffee shops, you know what Im talking about. And you get free refills on reg coffee. What makes this place so good is that not only do they serve coffee and teas but they are also a bakery and have amazing pastries. I would say things like almond twist are definitely a go almost every time. They also have food like sandwiches and salads. They are a little expensive is the only con. But you get what you pay for in terms of quality. The place looks really nice and kept clean. The people that work there are chill. This place is a definite go.
(5)Tim M.
The Bozeman Bacon is divine. It's the best sandwich I've had in years, since living in the bay area, goat cheese, avacado, Niman Ranch bacon, organic chicken, the flavors and their balance are perfect. I have always enjoyed their really friendly service, and almond or cinnamon twists, but the expanded and tastefully designed new location and the new sandwiches are wonderful. One slight downside is that it's a lot busier as a result, but it's still reasonable, especially on weekdays.
(5)Sid A.
Nothing special, though I am glad to see the food here is healthy. We tried the Mango Chicken salad, and it was bland despite the mango...then the chicken was way over-seasoned too. I like the overall place, and the coffee/pastry selection is nice. I just think this place is a bit overpriced for the food you get here. Better off as a coffee place only, not so much as a restaurant.
(2)Teena T.
2 Halves Combo all the way.. I always split this combo with a friend.. I have not had a bad experience here.. my current addiction is: Tuna sandwhich & BBQ chicken salad combo.. the pastries and cookies are yummy (you wanna cookie? go buy one here..) The tea is refreshing and size large is the way to go! Typing this up makes me want to have it for lunch now..
(5)Bettina K.
Obsessed. I ordered the tuscan chicken sandwich with the side of couscous and it was amazing. The warmth of the sandwich and coolness of the couscous was delightful. The pesto on the sandwich is one of the most flavorful I've had in a while. My sister ordered the chicken tortilla soup, which was incredibly savory and spiced to perfection. I had to steal a few bites and well for sure be getting this soup next time around. The service was fantastic from the minute I ordered and I def feel like going back tomorrow, which is always a good sign.
(5)Jerry Z.
Great food! Very fresh and healthy.
(4)Amin G.
Very nice environment with good coffee, tea, pastries and delicious sandwiches and soups.
(4)Nina R.
Great spot for a casual breakfast or lunch at Fashion Island! Food is always fresh. For breakfast I love to get their fruit and yogurt breakfast bowl with an iced coffee. For lunch I like their BBQ chicken salad. They give you a free cookie with your meal...which is nice in theory, but ithey're not worth the calories. They're just meh. Their baked goods and can be hit or miss...however, the twists are AMAZING. Seriously, some of the best things I've ever tasted.
(4)N C.
Pros: - Excellent sandwichs - Fast services (in out 10 minutes during lunch rush) - Spacious outdoor seating area if you want to take a longer lunch Cons: - On the pricey side - Tuscan sandwich is terrible Must try: - Southwest sandwich
(4)Lisa A.
I've been going here since I was young and love everything they make! Glad they moved from the food court to a bigger location. Their Tuscan Chicken Sandwich is to die for. As is their Chai Tea. They give you a cookie/fruit salad or couscous with your meal, which I love. Highly recommend going here.
(5)Girl O.
BEST COFFEE IN OC! My FAVORITE is the Almond Twist!! The "everything cookie" is AMAZING. The only place in OC I will eat pastries - they are the real deal here. But most importantly, the coffee is outstanding. I like the location in Corona Del Mar and the new cafe on Bristol in Newport.
(5)Laura J.
I forgot how amazing their twists are...but boy am I glad to have reintroduced them to my taste buds. I am sure my waistline won't be as receptive in the coming days =( I stumbled across their new location adjacent to cafe R+D and Lululemon. The last time I had anything from PDM had to be at least twelve years ago, when it was located in the food court. I love the clean and modern feel of the new cafe. It is pretty much the same set up...getting lured by the delicious pastries behind the glass and then ordering at the counter and finding your own table. When I was a kid I would get the cinnamon twist, but this evening I asked the cashier, which twist he preferred and he recommended the almond or pecan. I decided to go with an almond twist and soy latte for something around $6. I was a little hesitant to order the latte because I knew PDM was more well known for their pastries I didn't think the latte would be any better than sub-par. Boy was I surprised! The latte was very smooth, not bitter, and didn't leave any weird after taste. A perfect accompaniment to the almond twist, which must have been freshly made, as it was still warm. I told myself I would only eat half, but I couldn't resist, and plus pastries like that, just are not the same later. Go big or go home! Another plus, is the restrooms are clean and they have really good lighting. I ended up spending two hours studying and enjoying my pastry and coffee. It was never super crowded (I went around 5pm on Sunday). In the future I do want to try their sandwiches, muffins, and scones. Nom nom nom! I can't wait until my next visit. I only wish they had wifi...but I respect that it is a nice simple charming cafe.
(5)Elyse M.
The food and service is normally good
(1)Elsie F.
I casually walked into this place at Fashion Island because I was craving a warm drink and I figured it's an alternative to Starbucks so it has to be good. I love the modern/rustic decor! I'm a big fan of chai so I ordered their Spiced Chai Tea Latte w/ Soy (small=$3.50). They provide the option of Spiced or Vanilla. For me, the spicier, the better! It actually wasn't that spicy at all, but it was soooo good! The best chai tea soy latte I've had so far. Temperature was perfect too. My cousins ordered their Hot Chocolate (small=$3.50) and it looked really good, or pretty at least. But they all said it wasn't hot enough. I had a bite of their Oatmeal Raisin Cookie ($1.65) and it was pretty good. Pretty big cookie and it wasn't too sweet, which I like. I would definitely come back to try their other foods and bakery goods. I'm really looking forward to trying their Twists, which seems to be what's popular here. Too bad all the locations are only in OC.
(4)Kyu L.
great desserts and pastries. excellent espresso drinks. a bit on the pricey side, but hey...everything in that area is booji, so dont bother going in to get an overpriced drink if youre gonna be complaining about it. wasnt able to grab any other "food" food from there, but from what i saw on other peoples tables, everything looked pretty good to the eye. service is friendly, and things are turned around pretty quickly. cool little spot to grab a drink and kill some time.....
(4)Jamie D.
Just a little food court coffee place. Not much to say. They had some interesting-looking sweets, like carrot cake muffins with square tops instead of round ones. I got a chai tea -- your standard powder mix and milk. It had it's own little specific flavor to it. I think it was better than Starbucks'. The girl serving seemed very efficient. My friend and I were in a long line, and then suddenly all drinks were handed out and we were at the front ordering. I like the location cause it's a nice enough looking food court with lots of seating and there's a Barnes & Noble right across from it. Good enough for an after-work coffee date, although not super exciting.
(3)Julie L.
Expensive for okay coffee, but it's almond twist was worth it. I expected it cold but oh, it was ooey gooey warm. The almond taste bursted through a flakey pastry. I felt so embarrased sitting in the luxury shopping center with crumbs all over me. I spilled a quarter of the pastry, in the form of crumbs, on the floor when I got up. I walked away quickly from my mess full. Perfect mix of chewy and flakey.
(4)Christina B.
I hadn't had a truly great cup of coffee in a long time. I've been to Starbucks. I've been to Peet's. I've been to Kean. Every time, I feel meh. But when the mister and I were scooting around Fashion Island, I was just in the mood and Pain Du Monde smelled good. I am so, so glad! My faith in the existence of truly good joe is renewed. I ordered a medium latte with an extra shot and the balance was perfect, with an expert foam. The gentleman who took my order was very friendly yet professional, told me the total number of espresso shots would be five to ensure that's really what I wanted (I had waffled on the size for a moment before answering "um, medium?") and thanked me for the tip. All I had was coffee, but the pastries looked delicious. The mister said he adored their almond twist, though he was too full from lunch to get one just then. I would definitely go back for the coffee, and be tempted by all the Golden Brown and Delicious on display.
(5)Ann B.
Things to know about this place. - self seating (may be crowded during peak eating times) - grab a menu, stand in line, and order when you reach the register Since I was visiting for the weekend and hadn't tried this place yet, I went ahead and ordered the two halves combo so I could try at least two items on the menu. I selected the Tuscan chicken sandwich and the mango chicken salad. The sandwich was made with fresh baked ciabatta bread which served the foundation of why I thought the sandwich was good. Usually I'm not a fan of ciabatta bread but because it was fresh, it wasn't tough, chewy, or hard. The salad was good too, not overly tossed with the dressing and contained cabbage and jicama for an added crunch. Although the meal was served with a cookie, standing in the line and looking at all the pastries tempted me in buying their popular cinnamon twist with the powdered sugar. My friend had a piece of mine and enjoyed it so much that she went ahead and got her own, if that means anything. Overall, good food and a cute casual atmosphere. I would come back. There are more menu items and pastries I want to try!
(4)Burrito M.
Mmmmm.... Doing some window shopping at Fashion Island today, and noticed that Pain du Monde has a new location next to Neiman Marcus. On a whim, I decided to take a looksy inside and overheard the clerk telling another customer that a batch of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies were cooling on a rack in the back. I ordered one OF COURSE and it was warm, thick, chewy, gooey and delicious - they definitely do not skimp on the choco chips! I'll have to come back next time and take a tour of the rest of their baked goods. I dunno though, nothing beats a CCC fresh out of the oven...!
(4)Retired B.
Great almond twists!
(4)Hiep N.
This place is extremely overpriced and overrated. i'm not sure which is the lesser of two evils Starbucks next door or Pain du Monde. This place clearly caters to rich white Newport Beach snobs. I'd rather spend $2.00 on a Vietnamese Iced Coffee and $.25 cents on a fresh baguette. Doing so I would have enough money left over to repeat the same order for an entire week or I could buy one baked good at Pain du Monde. Apparently, they think they can rape local employees of the offices of Newport Center of their hard earned cash because of Pain Du Monde's convenient location.
(2)Ming-Jou C.
My cousin LOVES Pain Du Monde. Everytime we meet up at Fashion Island, she has to go and get their cinnamon rolls. I have to admit, they are pretty damn good when they come out fresh. They're about $2.50 or so, and are huge, easily split-able among two, if not, three people. Their coffee is decent and they have tropical iced tea for about $3 for a large. The service is usually quick, even if there is a line, but the girls behind the counter always look a little disheveled. The area off to the left where they keep the napkins, forks, lids, etc. is always in disarray and you have to remind them that they're out of something. Other than that though, love being able to get a cup of coffee or tea without having to spend like $4 or $5. Yay for reasonable prices.
(4)Sally S.
I come here to have breakfast with my grandparents and to people watch. It's pretty much always crowded so it's a lot of fun. Though I despise coffee it smells so good here that I sometimes want to try it. Everyone else thinks this coffee is way better than others. There orange juice is great. I always get the kids size though. I like the fruit for breakfast choice but I have to be completely honest it's always the chocolate croissant the first time I had it I was stunned by how much warm delicious chocolate was stuffed inside. There've beena couple of times it hasn't been as good. Its hit or miss with it mostly being a hit but it only took me the one time to get completely addicted. The cinammon twist is my other favorite which is impossible to eat for me it's huge and sticky! I usually need to take twenty napkins or to just shove huge bites in my mouth. This place does seem a little pricey for anything more than that. But it's a good place to sit and relax and grab a drink and a quick bite especially in the morning.
(4)Franklin P.
This place felt like home. Easy going, good food and drinks. And the choice of pastries was awesome! Check out what I ate here! bit.ly/gDJuW1 Overall great staff, good prices, and amazing tastes.
(4)utterly i.
Great place for Sunday brunch... Location wise. As for the menu, it was a disappointment to discover that the specialty salad dressing was fromage bleu... (blue cheese). It was advertised to be champagne vinaigrette. I am not the kind of patron to send back my food--my expectation is for it to be correct the first time. next time we will be at Le Quotidien on the other side of the complex.
(3)Audrey L.
the more and more i come here, i wanna go back! their salads look yum
(4)Todd H.
I picked this restaurant while I was in the area for the day based on the peoples comments here on Yelp. Nice place great pastries but just average breakfast sandwich. Like everyone else has said get the almond twist it is wonderful. Also a little pricey by about 10%, not a big deal but I was shocked that breakfast was over $30 for the two of us.
(4)Sirinda S.
Of all the many bakery cafes at Fashion Island Mall, Pain du Monde drew me in because of the cute cafe setting and beautiful pastry display. The cinnamon twist was flaky, chewy, sweet, and spicy. Their cookies also looked amazing - the oatmeal raisin cookie was huge, hearty, and granola bar-like. Unfortunately they ran of the quiche right as I ordered it, but the french omelette with goat cheese and fresh veggies was delicious. Seating inside is a big tight as the tables are pretty close together.
(4)Eva L.
I've been to their store once but i am addicted to their coffee. I love their coffee it smells great, it taste bitter but that bitterness will bring you back to the store again!! And with their Ham & cheese croissant is the best combination. The croissant is full of buttery smell, the texture is not too soft, and the size of the croissant is huge!! So try their sandwich as well!! By the way you can bring your dogs too!! =)
(5)Yelping T.
Daily specials and tasty food in portions that you can actually finish - yes, please. Great place to grab a coffee, drink, or fresh meal if you are in the Fashion Island area... I'm sure lots go for the pastries, but the meals are delicious too!
(4)Amy W.
I've been going here for years and I wish I could give it more stars than 5. I rejoiced when they moved from the food court to this bigger location. I've always gotten lunch here- Tuscan chicken sandwich (my favorite sandwich in the history of sandwiches!) with couscous. They even put a little choc chip cookie with your meal :]. Also, best chai tea latte (spiced) I've ever had. Soooo good. I had breakfast here recently and once again I was blown away. I got the french omelette and will be getting it again sometime soon without a doubt. I love you Pain Du Monde! Never change!
(5)Sara B.
very bland food and staff. ordered two eggs scrambled and a blueberry muffin. will not be going back.
(1)Ralph O.
We came here to pick up some baked goods, didnt try their food. We got the almond chocolate croissant and a coco loco cookie. The wife thought the croissant was the best one she ever had but it was pricey at about $5. I thought the cookie would have more chocolate from its name but it still had plenty. The cookie was good too and even bought a 2nd one.
(4)OC Y.
Ordered the grilled vegetable sandwich. There was something missing in the taste. It was just blah. It needed a kick or something and the salad they served on the side was wilted and going bad with the black yucky stuff that takes place when lettuce leaf starts to decompose. Plus one of the girls behind the counter was really unprofessional and stressed out about another waitress or cashier who had possibly stolen money or something b/c she seemed to have voided out some transactions and she was griping about how p*ssed off the manager was, yadee yaya... I don't need to hear that stuff. It just shows how poorly managed your place is and how unprofessional you are when you're yapping about it in front of the customers. Also ordered the apple tart. It was ok but definitely not classical French apple tart. The pastry was nice, crispy and light and the apples were ok but what was definitely not French was that layer of marzipan or whatever creamy substance in between the apples and the pastry. That shocked me a bit and kind of ruined the experience for me. But others may like it if they've never had a real French apple tart.
(2)Graham L.
Best coffee in orange county... Pastries are handmade and excellent
(5)Jeannie C.
i absolutely adore this place~ in all honesty, back when it was down in the atrium court i rarely went but after they moved outside they seem to be getting a lot more business and attention. the thing that i love about this place is their service. you order, you sit down and within minutes, your order is out and ready to devour into deliciousness. they have awesome pastries (their chocolate chip cookies are so amazingly good!!! as are their almond twists) and a good lunch menu. I get their bbq chicken salad without bleu cheese and today i tried their southwestern chicken sandwich on jalepeno cheddar roll. it was absolutely delicious. i don't like their other sandwiches just because the bread is super hard and chewy. i'm sure they can substitute it for other breads but either way their food is good. i have yet to try their breakfast menu but it sounds very appetizing. all in all, it's an amazing little bakery. the lines may be long during lunch but they get in your orders quickly and the longest you have to wait in line is probably around 10-15 minutes. awesome place if you want to get food fast!
(5)