AnQi Bistro

AnQi Bistro Restaurant Review:

Located inside Bloomingdale's at South Coast Plaza, AnQi Gourmet Bistro by Crustacean, from the House of An restaurant group, blends fashion and the An family's signature Euro-Vietnamese fusion cuisine. Yes, that is a glass-and-water catwalk running down the middle of the main dining room, with custom-made satin tufts for sitting when it's not in use showcasing collections from the likes of La Perla and Pucci. The cuisine is overseen by family matriarch Helene An. Hot and cold small-plate appetizers include albacore sashimi with truffle ponzu, filet mignon pot stickers and fresh salt-and-pepper calamari with spicy jalapeños and sun-dried tomato aïoli. Entrées range from Dijon misoyaki butterfish to Mongolian lamb chops with roasted peppers and shiitake mushrooms. End your meal with the Vietnamese banana fritters with Tahitian vanilla bean ice cream. At lunch, sit at the noodle bar for a bowlful of chef An's famed garlic noodles. AnQi also features a private chef's table, where guests can dine on multi-course tasting menus and sneak a peek into the "secret kitchen" through a molecular window that can instantly turn opaque. The beverage list features mostly Californian labels and a few first-rate international selections, as well as saké. Among the handcrafted cocktails, you'll find the "Pink Lotus" --- a whimsical drink made with grapefruit vodka and pink cotton candy.