Five Feet Restaurant

We'd been to Five Feet many times over the last 10 years but things have changed and not for the better.\r \r When we arrived for our Sat 7 pm reservation, we were informed that there was a new policy of no menus. Everything that we would eat would be at the Chef's choice. We could indicate allergies, but that was it.\r \r What this meant was that at our table of 7, at any particlar course, 3 might get venison, 2 people might get lamb chop, and 2 might get short rib. We found ourselves looking at other persons plates to see if perhaps we might be able to trade for something more to our liking. No one seemed to be able to have what they really would have liked. And being unable to request our preference for the doneness of the meats didn't help my wife who can't tolerate undercooked meat.\r \r We were so surprised with the no menu option change that we failed to ask how much it was going to cost us and were then floored when the bill arrived. For myself and my kids, the total came to $880! We had 2 overpriced bottles of wine but they charged us $75 per person with an already calculated 20% minimum tip. Way too much money to be told what we going to eat and no option to state how we wanted our meat cooked. Customers should be warned of the price when they are charged more than 3 times what is expected. more

Used to like this place a lot. Good Asian food and an outstanding wine list. Have not been back for a while and decided to check it out last night...what a wrong decision. The place was almost empty and now they ONLY serve this stupid $75 per person tasting menu. Yes - the regular menu is COMPLETELY gone! Well I am sorry - if I participate in tasting menu at least I would like to know what I am getting in general. The portion is small and the food is way below par - much worse than what the food was like two years ago. Some ingredients are obviously not very fresh or first rate - it seems like they made this dramatic change to cut cost - so the kitchen can toss out whatever they have on hand - but not necessarily fresh from that day (which is soooo different from the original tasting menu concept when chef selects the freshest things from the market that same day). Certain ingredients showed up in more than one courses (mango salsa). Wine list is still outstanding - but really if you don't know what you're getting, how do you order a bottle from the list? Never going back again.... Pros: Friendly service; great wine list Cons: Bad food and bad concept on this "tasting menu only" thing more

Know this before going: After 7:00 pm every night, the restaurant serves a ""Tasting Menu"". This means that the chef creates whatever he feels like (you generally get one of 3 or 4 items being served for each course). You tell the wait staff if you're allergic to anything and then sit back to be surprised. The meal includes 5 courses:appetizer, salad, seafood dish, meat dish, and dessert (no drink). This doesn't come cheap: $75 per person. I found the food to be quite good and the idea of trying unexpected things was fun, but I don't think it was worth $75. The portions were very small and the wait staff seemed to be confused (for $75 I'd like to feel like the wait staff knows what's going on). I believe that the regular menu may be more Asian, but the tasting menu items I was served were definitely not, so don't go during tasting menu hours expecting Chinese food. I'd recommend calling ahead to be sure of what you're signing up for. Pros: food, free parking, location Cons: price, wait staff (friendly, but confused) more

I have been coming to Five Feet for years and it neer disappoints. The plates are huge, the menu is diverse and it is a relaxed environment. I think the other reviewers werent true eclectic foodies. Dont take kids here and be sure to make a reservation. The wine list is amazing ! Everything from Lebanese to New Jersey to French to Italian wines... I recommend the BBQ dish and the hamachi. Enjoy ! Pros: good free parking, varied menu more

I always thought the food was excellent, but the dishes are getting a little old in the tooth. The ambiance and appearance alwo becomming stale for such a previously cutting edge place. If they ask you if you want water say be careful. They add a big price for bottled and they don't tell you the additional cost. Our party of 5 got burned to a tune of about $15.00 per person. Laguna Beach water is fine. I felt like I was shaken down. Otherwise the food is still very ggod. more

The food was good, the service was good but there were a few things here and there that could have been improved. We did feel that although it was a good dining experience that the higher prices were not justifed. more

I had high hopes for the restaurant after first sipping a cocktail in the delightful upstairs bar area known as 5:15. However, I found the selections to be fairly ordinary. My scallops were good, but not great. Maybe I should have ordered their signature dish instead, the giant fried catfish. Awe inspiring in size, it is the house specialty for good reason. Bottom line: the experience was good, but I believe the prices are too high for the quality of (most of) the food they serve. Pros: trendy location Cons: pricey more