“ We dined at Rare Society last Thursday for my fiancé's birthday, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish--huge thanks to Brian for making it truly special! First off, the restaurant itself is absolutely stunning. They did an incredible job with the aesthetic, creating a space that feels both modern and inviting. But beyond the atmosphere, what really made the night memorable was the service. Brian was the perfect guide, walking us through the menu, making great recommendations, and ensuring everything was perfect. He was knowledgeable, friendly, and truly elevated our dining experience. The food? Phenomenal. We started with the Caesar salad and oysters, which were fresh and flavorful. For the main course, we went with the dry-rubbed steak, potatoes au gratin, and mushrooms--every bite was incredible, perfectly cooked, and flavorful. And while we're usually not big on dessert, Brian convinced us to try the Fruity Pebble ice cream, and wow, we finished every last bite. It was such a fun and nostalgic treat, and we're so glad we gave it a try. Overall, this was one of the best dining experiences we've had in a long time. Great ambiance, amazing food, and top-notch service. If you go to Rare Society, ask for Brian, he'll make sure you have an unforgettable experience! We'll definitely be back! ”

“ The food, the service and the ambience were all absolutely amazing! I highly recommend Rare Society! ”

“ It was our first time and we will definitely be back. If you like Oceans 48, Marche Moderne, or Broadway, you'll like this place. It feels like you're in a private club. Balboa Bay Club Vibes. Brian and Sarah are fantastic servers and helped us navigate a new (to us) menu. My wife had a Lady Luck and I had an Old Fashioned. Both were great. They have Macallan 18 with always makes an OF fell a little more special. We started with the bacon and the wedge salad. Both were fantastic. You can cut the bacon with a fork and the wedge salad was crisp and fresh. I might get light blue cheese next time. (It was date night.) You need to try the fried chicken. I would normally make fun of my wife for getting fried chicken out of steakhouse, but it's mentioned in a lot of reviews and I'm very glad I tried it. I kept my plate from the bacon which had some crazy delicious sauce on it, and I ended up using that with the fried chicken. I believe going for the restaurant is going to call that Mike Style. It's great. Meg had the 10oz Wagyu Tri tip and we both had some and thought it was great. We're big fans of potatoes au gratin, and there are some great versions of that here in this wonderful county we call Orange. This may be one of the best. I would also put that on your list of must tries. For dessert we had what I'm sure will be the most talked about/controversial item on the menu. We had the butter cake with sour cream ice cream. It doesn't sound good. You could almost say it doesn't look good either. The presentation versus something like Matro's, is underwhelming... then you take a bite and it blows your head off. It is hands-down and by a very large margin the most delicious butter cake I've ever had in my life. It's just ridiculous how good it is. Rare Society is a perfect fit for the community and fills a previous void. Parking might be a bit of a thing Friday or Saturday night, but at 5pm on a Monday, the lot next door was half empty. My wife has already asked that I take her here on her upcoming birthday, which is a strong endorsement as she is spoiled rotten and could go literally anywhere. ”

“ Not only opulent in the design and atmosphere, but the highest quality of state we have ever had in our lives. Highly thank you highly recommend the Denver Wagyu. Mel was phenomenal at taking care of us at the bar. ”

“ The food and presentation was amazing! We had their associate and executive board and both were delicious. The executive board would be enough for 3 people just an FYI. The service and ambiance was nice too. I wish I knew about this spot sooner ”

“ Beautiful Restaurant, fantastic cocktails, the old fashion is a must try if you love whiskey like I do. The staff are wonderful and friendly. The filet was tender, the truffled creamed spinach and pickled fried onion rings were the best compared to other steakhouses I had been to. I was not impressed with the butter cake, too much white cream sauce etc... In my opinion, for the OC this steakhouse is on my top five steakhouse. Quite a drive from HB for me now that I moved out of Irvine. Overall I enjoyed the dinner and would definitely come back if I am around. ”

“ Went to Rare Society for the first time to celebrate a birthday. We were seats promptly and greeted right away at our table. We had researched the menu online and knew it was a bit "pricey" but it was a special occasion! There were six of us and we were upstairs in a pretty tight booth. Didn't really look around to see if there were tables which might afforded us more room? The waitress was attentive but seemed to have a dialog of set things to say and it felt unemotional. We got appetizers, oysters, and caesar salads split very nicely. The meats were done perfectly but for the price seemed like it wasn't the 8 oz they promised? They were nice enough to bring a birthday dessert, but unfortunately the birthday person doesn't eat coffee flavored anything. Overall it was an extremely expensive dinner over $ 1000 for 6 people. ”

“ My colleagues and I, 4 of us in total, were seated on the terrace just in time to be able to catch the sunset. Perhaps not the best call on the part of my buddy who set the reservation since it was a little chilly, but the table allowed for peaceful conversation and fresh air. We started off with the Parker rolls, the bacon appetizer, and the artichoke. The wood fired taste of the artichoke was fantastic and allowed me to enjoy some savory flavors as we waited for the entrees. My colleagues had drinks, that looked pretty good (pictured here) but since I'm not a drinker, I don't know what they were. Nevertheless the presentation was cool. One of them had a toothpick with a little more pork belly (bacon). For entrees I had the Pacific swordfish with a beurre blanc which was firm but not dry. The flavor was fantastic and a nice cut of fish. Two of us had the fish and the other two had a Waygu steak. For sides we choose: whipped potatoes (smooth texture), asparagus (cooked to perfection), macaroni and cheese, and the best side was ravioli (which could've served as its own entree). By the end, we were so stuffed there was no room for dessert. Only semi complaint is that the heat lamps didn't really get hot enough. More options for the chef's boards ( a middle choice) would be welcomed But a solid, memorable experience. ”

“ If heaven had a VIP lounge, it would probably look and taste a lot like Rare Society in San Clemente. We ventured in last night, and let me tell you, it was an edible odyssey that has forever ruined me for mediocre meals. First off, the service: Imagine being hosted by that one friend who somehow knows all your favorite things without you having to say a word. Courteous, fun, and sharp as a steak knife. Our server orchestrated the meal like a maestro conducting a symphony--every dish, drink, and moment hit the perfect note. Now, the food. Oh. My. Tastebuds. This wasn't just eating--it was a spiritual experience. We started with the wood-fired broccolini, kissed by the flames and elevated with an incredible combination of za'atar, sumac, and yogurt. The bold, tangy Middle Eastern flavors were like a love letter to your palate--each bite more addictively vibrant than the last. Then came The Executive, a collection of dry-aged masterpieces featuring New York strip, filet mignon, and ribeye. Each cut was a masterclass in beef excellence, cooked so beautifully it could make a vegan reconsider life choices. And the sauces? Pure magic in tiny jars. Pro tip: Don't choose; try them all. The appetizers and sides also deserve their own standing ovation. The hamachi crudo--a work of art featuring red curry aioli, pickled pineapple, peanut crunch, yuzu, and serrano--was a tangy, nutty flavor explosion that I'll be dreaming about for weeks. And let's not forget the giant rib, bathed in a sweet and smoky bacon-gochujang glaze that made me want to hoard the plate like Gollum with the One Ring. Oh, and those Parker rolls? Buttery, garlicky, and so ridiculously fluffy they should come with a warning: "Highly addictive." Dessert was a grand finale worthy of fireworks: house-made coconut ice cream that was luxuriously creamy and a green apple sorbet so tart and refreshing it felt like biting into a crisp apple straight off the tree. Each bite was a perfect sendoff to an unforgettable meal. The price? High-end, sure, but every penny felt like an investment in pure happiness. You're not just paying for food; you're paying for an experience, and Rare Society delivers in spades. So, if you're looking for a spot that redefines dining with every bite, Rare Society is your place. Come hungry, leave happy--and possibly a little too full to move, but hey, that's the price of greatness. 10/10 would eat here again. And again. And again. ”

“ Had the pleasure of celebrating my birthday dinner here and I will 100 percent be back, if not for the service alone. Everything was 10/10 except a rude patron who asked another patron to shut the door to the patio in a condescending manner. she was gross. They gave us a cute little bday card with signatures from the whole staff. and also an ice cream scoop with a candle. not needed but so sweet either way' Ambiance - beautiful glam, modern, grand, even the plates and glasses are detail oriented Service - HANNAH and Kristen? we're amazing. Hannah went over the entire menu and how everything worked. It takes 30-40 minutes for the meat so the entire order is taken at the beginning and they send the plates out accordingly. the attn to detail was amazing. Table was cleaned after each course drinks - RARE OLD FASHIONED. run do not walk to get this. i don't drink whiskey but we got 3 of these. it had a bite of like beef jerky and charred cherry on a rosemary spring the miso ginger was 7/10 - too sweet food parker house rolls 9.5/10 cesar with pecorino and anchovy 10/10 - as you can see in the pic it is FILLED with pecorino and it is amazing, they also put battered anchovy in the salad which was incredible associate board 10/10 great value. fed the two of us and had plenty left over for the next day gratin potatoes - 9/10 - it was so truffley but i get that's the point. really good when paired with meat. some of the potatoes were a bit undercooked brocollini - very good wood fire char. harissa yogurt was good also. added an interest flavor profile dessert - blood orange creamsicle ice cream 10/10 ”