Knife Pleat

Knife Pleat, nestled on the Penthouse floor of South Coast Plaza, stands out as a remarkable fine dining destination in Costa Mesa. Renowned for its blend of elegance and intimacy, this Michelin-starred restaurant promises an extraordinary experience with impeccable service. Diners rave about dishes like the Green Circle Confit Chicken Thigh, complemented perfectly by fingerling potatoes and braised kale. Desserts like the Paris Brest Praline showcase artistic presentation and delightful flavors, earning admiration from guests. Feedback from patrons highlights the restaurant's strong emphasis on wine pairing, particularly with offerings such as American Wagyu and innovative vegan risotto, which generate surprising culinary harmony. Celebratory occasions, like birthdays, become more memorable thanks to the restaurant's attentive staff and exquisite food. Additionally, the afternoon tea service garners praise for unique tea selections and beautifully arranged presentations garnished with edible flowers. Each visit seems to reveal new culinary delights, as Knife Pleat frequently updates its menu while maintaining the highest quality. Reservations are highly recommended, especially given the restaurant's intimate setting. Though it comes at a premium price, Knife Pleat promises a dining experience that resonantly celebrates the art of fine cuisine.

Accessibility
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
From the business
- Identifies as women-owned
Service options
- Has outdoor seating
- Offers takeaway
- Serves dine-in
- No delivery
Highlights
- Serves great cocktails
- Serves great coffee
- Serves great dessert
- Has great wine list
Popular for
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
Offerings
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Serves organic dishes
- Serves spirits
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Serves wine
Dining options
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Serves dessert
Amenities
- Has bar on site
- Has toilet
Atmosphere
- Cosy
- Romantic
- Trendy
- Upmarket
Crowd
- Family friendly
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safe space
Planning
- Brunch reservations recommended
- Lunch reservations recommended
- Reservations required
- Dinner reservations recommended
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Accepts credit cards
- Accepts debit cards
Children
- High chairs available
Parking
- Free multi-storey car park
- Free parking lot
- Plenty of parking

Vincent Liao

Jun 2,2025

A truly wonderful dinner and wine pairing. The American Wagyu really stood out, as did the dessert wine from the wine pairing. A notably pleasant surprise was the vegan risotto with its wine pairing, both which I don’t think I would have enjoyed individually, but really enhanced each other well. There was not a bad dish in the 4-course dinner, with the exception of the duck breast, which had to contend with the American Wagyu which I tasted prior to it.

Ngoc Tram Nguyen

Jun 2,2025

I and my friends came here for my birthday. It was a fancy restaurant with fancy food. The staffs were really nice and friendly. All dishes were delicious, but I liked the ratatouille and desserts the most.

Tommy Justice

May 31,2025

My wife and I stopped there today for lunch. The experience was absolutely amazing. From the time we walked in the door until the time we left, they treated us like the only people in the restaurant. The food was incredible, the service was unparalleled, everything was perfect. We will be returning again soon.

Amber Steeves

Apr 27,2025

We came for the afternoon tea on a Saturday. The tea selection was unique with a good variety of black and white teas, they also have a great drink menu with cocktails, wines and a good selection of champagne. Service here is impeccable, our server was absolutely amazing, with great suggestions and perfect timing. Absolutely loved the tiered presentation, not only was our tea service beautiful, it was absolutely delicious. Garnished with the most adorable edible flowers, truly a tea service fit for a queen

Lissa Newton

Apr 25,2025

Knife Pleat is housed on the Penthouse floor of South Coast Plaza. Elegant, intimate, and surprisingly more casual than expected, this restaurant is easily one of my favorites. I would expect nothing less coming from a Michelin starred restaurant, and it doesn't disappoint. The service is impeccable and the food is extraordinary. The menu changes regularly, but the plating and quality is a constant. If I could visit monthly I would be happy. This is a costly restaurant that increases in price on the weekends. Reservations are highly recommended due to the small size of the restaurant. Expect to pay a deposit when making a reservation.

Mark Concannon

Apr 20,2025

I came today for my second lunch and continued to be impressed with not only the fact there are options throughout the multi course meal, but that every option is amazing. The kudo was done perfectly and not overwhelming. The lobster was a perfect portion, and the fig confete at the end was the most perfect bites of sweet without being overpowering. I would say that if you get the truffle cheese, know that it is enough to split.

Chris Roberts

Feb 13,2025

This is a very strong 1 Michelin Star Restaurant. It deserves 2 stars. I have been to over 30 Michelin star restaurants around the world. This is the best duck I've had in my life and I highly recommend the duck confit. The appetizers and desserts were also excellent. The service is phenomenal. I highly recommend coming here for their 3 course lunch special on the weekdays. I enjoyed celebrating my graduation. Thank you!

Buddy Hachar

Feb 10,2025

Brian guided through an extremely pleasant culinary journey. The menu’s theme was “Si Chef”, and the chef took us through a series of traditional Mexican dishes with flare and creative accents. The pozole was better than any pozole I’ve ever had in Texas. I can’t wait to go back and try the French inspired menu.

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