To Whom It May Concern,
I'm writing to express deep frustration and disappointment following a visit to your Irvine BJ's Restaurant on May 22nd, 2025, for my wife Roz’s birthday celebration. We had a party of 13 and called ahead, only to be told the wait would be 30–45 minutes. Instead, we waited over 2 hours while being repeatedly given conflicting and inaccurate wait times (20 mins, then 5 mins, then 15 mins, etc.). It was only after escalating the issue to a manager that we were finally seated — a full 45 minutes after being told our table was "being cleaned."
The service did not improve once seated. Staff were rude and dismissive — not just to my wife, but to multiple members of our party who politely asked for status updates. At one point, BJ's attempted to offer "lobby pizza" to the waiting group, which would have been appreciated if they had respected dietary restrictions. My wife has celiac disease, and we explained she could not eat gluten. Despite this, we were told there would be no accommodations — even if we were willing to pay.
To make matters worse, Roz also suffers from hypoglycemia, and being forced to wait that long without food triggered a medical episode. This was not just inconvenient — it was dangerous and negligent.
When we were finally seated, the experience did not improve: only one overwhelmed waitress was assigned to our large group, service remained slow and unfriendly, and to add insult to injury, an 18% gratuity was automatically added — despite the substandard and outright harmful service. Our total came to nearly $800, and every single member of the group was charged that gratuity — regardless of their experience.
This was meant to be a celebratory evening for my wife’s birthday. Instead, it was a source of anxiety, frustration, and actual physical harm. We expect a full apology and request appropriate compensation for the unacceptable experience we were put through.
Sincerely,
Mario A.
I recently visited Cucina at Spectrum Irvine for a girls’ hangout, and it was a delightful experience!
The vibe is fantastic, and I’d rate the ambiance a solid 5/5. From the moment we walked in, the staff was incredibly welcoming.
💌They quickly seated us, and our server was friendly, polite, and provided excellent explanations about the dishes, especially considering my garlic allergy. He ensured I was aware of which items contained garlic, which was very thoughtful.
🍕We ordered a Margarita pizza, shrimp pasta, a berry dip, Brussels sprouts, and a sparkling rosé.
🧑🍳The food arrived promptly, and the service was impeccable.
Our server checked in multiple times to ensure we had everything we needed and kept our water glasses full.
🚻The restroom was spotless, which added to the positive experience.
⚠️One area for improvement would be offering a simplified menu for those with dietary restrictions like garlic or gluten allergies. Despite this, the overall experience was outstanding, and I’d highly recommend Cucina.
Don’t miss their beautiful wine rack,
I’ll share a photo! If you’re in Irvine or Orange County, definitely give Cucina a visit!
Location: Spectrum Center, 670 Spectrum Center Dr, Irvine, CA 92618, near the intersection of Spectrum Center Dr and Enterprise D
Yummy Indian restaurant with nice ambience.
The menu has lots of yummy options including vegan and gluten free.
Service is limited. The staff is friendly and will allow you to sit wherever you like. Only indoor seating is available. At every table there's a QR code that's used to see the menu as well as pay. Food is freshly prepared and came out quick.
Lots of free self parking.
This is a gluten free review.
The food here is packed with flavor. Here are some of my favorite gluten free options:
Cha Cha fries
Hand made Guacamole with chips and salsa
Empanadas
Chicken breast tacos
I also love the ambiance. Very open, breezy, and comfortable.
Would give 5 stars if it wasn't so expensive. $18 for three tacos and $20 for enchiladas? Woah.
Came here for a bd celebration. 6 out of 5 stars for presentation, food, service, and atmosphere. Brian did an exceptional job making sure our meat was well done and to our liking. All of the meat was delicious, and the sides during brunch were perfect. You may also go to the buffet bar where rhere is an assortment of fruit, potatoes, waffles, sausage, fritata, mixed greens, etcetera.They offered a $53 pp special for Father's Day, so it was very crowded. The sides came with polenta, gluten-free bread, mashed potatoes, and fried bananas. Bathrooms are on premises. Valet parking or park for free near the restaurant.
I've been to this location 3 times, and each time I/we were greeted with friendly staff and great pizza! THIS IS BY FAR THE ABSOLUTE BEST GLUTEN FREE PIZZA CRUST I HAVE EVER EVER HAD! Turns out, they make the dough in-house and their ovens cook the pizza at 900 degrees. Wow! The taste reminds me of the pizza in Italy and it doesn't get better than that.
This spot is a bit of a hidden gem, tucked away in an apartment complex, but it’s definitely worth seeking out. It has a cozy, intimate vibe, almost like a little community restaurant. Despite its smaller size, there’s plenty of seating both inside and outside, making it a great place to grab a quick sandwich, relax, and catch up with friends or just get something to go.
They offer daily specials, with a separate menu for those, which I think is a nice touch. I was impressed by their gluten-free bread option, which held up well and didn’t get dry or fall apart—always a concern with gluten-free options. The bread still had great flavor, and the sandwich was packed with all the right ingredients: plenty of meat, fresh lettuce, tomato, and just the right amount of mayo and mustard, so the bread stayed intact and didn’t get soggy.
The customer service was outstanding as well. I was warmly greeted when I walked in, and the staff gave me great recommendations for what to try. As for gluten-free options, I’m not sure if the facility is entirely Celiac-safe due to potential cross-contamination, but it’s definitely a good choice for those following a gluten-free diet. They also offer some solid vegetarian options, which is a nice bonus.
While the sandwiches are on the pricier side, the portion sizes are generous, and the quality is there. My sandwich was big, and it came with a side of chips. Everything was delicious and flavorful, and I can see myself coming back to try other sandwiches from their menu. The smoothies were also fantastic, adding another reason to return. Overall, it was a great experience, and I’d definitely come back to explore more of what they have to offer.
I used Lime Food Truck for my husband's 50th Birthday party recently. Ethan was very communicative and worked within my food restraints (all food had to be gluten-free for my husband's celiacs) and budget. On the day of the event, the team showed up on time and were friendly but professional. A week later I am still getting compliments on the quality of food! I would love to use Lime Food Truck again for any catering needs.
If your looking for a phenomenal breakfast restaurant, this is it! Great menu with gluten-free options. Went on a Sunday, line was long but that’s always a good sign! Lots of outdoor seating.
Fantastic waitstaff most cooperative. Menu is varied good selection of antrays with options for vegetarian and gluten free patrons. An array of beverages are available.
I love Lazy Dog. I visit and door dash it frequently. I have celiac disease and can't eat gluten. They have a separate gluten free menu with many delicious options, plus dessert!
Delicious desserts and coffee.
Gluten free selection range of products is very decent and most importantly tasty. My go-to place for cakes, cupcakes and macarons.
The food was absolutely incredible! I have Celiac, so I needed gluten free, and they were great about accommodating me! There aren't many gluten free options, but the options they do have are incredible! Highly recommended! If you are bringing the kids like we did, maybe plan to bring something separate for them -- especially if you have a picky eater like I do!
Got the espresso mascarpone waffle, it was delicious. Pity that they can't make it gluten-free, but oh well. The espresso mascarpone is AMAZING, I need to learn how to make it!!!
Ordered & served within 20-25 minutes, reasonably good for a summer Sunday at 11am. I like the pay-up-front approach, so European & very efficient.