Poached Neighborhood Kitchen 17595 Harvard Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614

"So I have a love/hate situation with this place. I the food here is very very good. The portions are okay and the prices are on the high end (it makes sense since the food is very good quality). The setup is different though. Food is ordered like a fast food restaurant. You order your food 1st and you are asked to leave a tip. The recommended tips here start at 18% (on the high end). This is the biggest problem with this place. The service is usually friendly, but service can be lacking at times. There's been times that I never got a refill on my coffee/drink or follow-up on the meal. When you order you do not get a dedicated server. So if you left a tip and the service was not what you expected, you are left feeling short changed. Also the wait to get in can get long. They have you wait in line outside until you are let in. And while you are waiting the host/hostess are chatting/gossiping to one another and pretty much act like you don't exist until you are called in. To me this feels awkward and rude. I don't like that aspect either. Once again the food is very good though....you just need to deal with the "cons" I mentioned."

"Came on a Sunday for brunch, and the line was about 30 mins. Split the pesto and ham toast and the baked apple cakes with my bf. The pesto and ham toast needed a stronger flavor in opinion. The pancakes were yummy. Could have been better with an apple- flavored sauce."

"I believe brunch is the most important meal of the day. I love brunch and I love enjoying this special time with my toddler. My toddler and I came here at the right time. There was a lot of parking and there were no lines. I guess the best time to come here is on a weekday and when everyone is at school or working. The front staff was very welcoming and was able to answer all of our questions. What we ordered. Oatmeal. I wanted something healthy to share with my toddler. Pancakes with fruit and sausage. My toddler has to have his pancake day. Very fluffy!! Breakfast burritos are amazing. My husband and I shared this. We both loved it and it's just perfect. It just melts in your mouth and the salsa was the perfect touch. Not too spicy. You order first. Find a seat. The server will bring your food. This brunch and this place did not disappoint. I highly recommend this place. Management really did a great job. Thank you for having us! We will definitely come back!"

"Lovely place to get brunch in Irvine. The service was super fast and the food really good. I got here around 8 so there was no wait, but by the time I started eating a decent size queue started to form (I would recommend getting here early). I would definitely go back in the future."

"Very nice spot for breakfast/lunch! A very busy spot with enough seating but may need to reserve ahead of time if you're getting there around 8-10am. The lattes are absolutely beautiful and the service is outstanding. Everyone is kind and attentive. Kid friendly, family friendly, small space overall so moving around and through areas can be tight. You pay first before sitting and food comes out within 15-20 minutes. My friend ordered a few things so probably comes out a little sooner. Lattes are made and dropped off within 5 minutes of sitting down. They have restrooms and water available."