Orange County's fine dining landscape has been further altered with the loss of a Michelin star at Knife Pleat, a contemporary French restaurant located in Costa Mesa. This marks the second such departure in the county within the past year, reducing its Michelin-starred establishments to just one.
Knife Pleat had held its star for five years before the recent Michelin Guide awards. The restaurant joins Hana Re, a sushi spot in Costa Mesa, which was also stripped of its star last year. Currently, Laguna Beach's Rebel Omakase remains the sole restaurant in Orange County to hold a Michelin star.
In a statement, Yassmin Sarmadi and executive chef Tony Esnault, the owners of Knife Pleat, indicated that the loss of the accolade does not alter their operational approach. "While we appreciate the recognition that Michelin has given Knife Pleat for the past five years, our purpose and what we do has never been defined by a single accolade," they stated. They emphasized their continued access to high-quality ingredients through existing networks of farmers and vendors, asserting that their community and their commitment to an "exceptional dining experience rooted in thoughtful hospitality, culinary excellence and continuous improvement" define their mission.
The restaurant, known for its French fine dining, offers dishes such as Wagyu and barley risotto. The Michelin Guide describes Knife Pleat as featuring a "gleaming open kitchen" and a secluded patio, advising diners to begin with small bites before proceeding to main courses.
The loss of Knife Pleat's star comes in the wake of the 2026 Michelin Guide awards for San Diego, which also recognized restaurants in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. Notably, Enclos in Sonoma and Californios in San Francisco both achieved the highest honor of three Michelin stars.
Michelin stars are awarded by anonymous inspectors who evaluate restaurants based on the quality of ingredients, cooking technique mastery, the chef's culinary expression, flavor harmony, and consistency over multiple visits. Michelin inspectors assess restaurants on five criteria: the quality of the products, mastery of flavor and cooking techniques, the personality of the chef in their cuisine, value for money, and consistency between visits.