@bennyandmarys is a new, breathtaking spot in Irvine. 18420 Von Karman Ave #100, Irvine, CA 92612 This spot is extremely new - it’s been open less than a month - so I really didn’t know what to expect. I was IMPRESSED. First of all, walking into the restaurant, you’re met with amazing eclectic visuals with velvet seats and curtains. You’ve got rich burgundy and purple accents throughout, and gorgeous artwork lining the walls. This is not your average space. They also have a private dining room just as beautiful as the main dining area, and an outdoor patio. Then, the food. It’s eccentric, made to evoke the sense you’re traveling throughout the world. I got: Grilled cheese dumplings and tomato bisque - INCREDIBLE. DO NOT skip these! Vegan poke - made with hawaiian style marinated tomatoes that will knock your socks off. Vegans, you’ll want this by the bucketload. Non vegans - same. Korean short rib tacos - can’t go wrong. Creamy lemon bucatini - the presentation? Adorable. Hamachi crudo - order this. The ginger pea puree is insane. The whole thing together is stunning. Maple dijon glazed salmon - again, you can’t go wrong here. Vegan matcha panna cotta - can’t believe this is vegan. As good as it gets. Black cocoa - brownie - so so so rich and good. Lemon yuzu meringue tart - my favorite. Perfection with torched swiss and tart lemon. The drinks are made by a master bartender and are as gorgeous as they are delicious. The adult green juice tastes just like that - a spiked green juice with slightly more floral hints. Amazing. There’s also a wall that they call the library that opens up into a speakeasy, which is coming soon! They validate parking. Trust me, try this one. It’s a beautiful date night spot, or if you have an office in the neighbiring area, an unbeatable spot to stop for lunch. . . . #foodreel #feedfeed #eater #eeeeats #wheretogo #irvine #orangecounty #dinner #lunch #datenight #dateidea #thingstodo #new #finedining #vegan #veganmenu #wheretoeat #bookmark