Excellent service and special treatment for a birthday celebration! Good food, good drinks!

This is one of my favorite steak houses. Great food, great service and great location.

What a wonderful Birthday experience. Our waiter Fernando was amazing. He made our evening a memorable one. The Sunset room had amazing views of the ocean and sunset. Food was delicious, very flavorful. We will be back! Thank you Fernando for an amazing experience! read more

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This place banks hard on its beachfront location--and it shows in the pricing. If you have kids, expect to be seated upstairs away from the ambiance (and the view), though to be fair, the booth was comfortable. The food itself? Just okay. Everything came out scorching hot, but flavor-wise, it was average at best. The lobster tail was good, but at $135 a pop, I'm not sure it's worth it. The $30 shrimp cocktail only included 3 shrimp--when I passed on it, I felt slightly judged, as if declining overpriced seafood made me "cheap." On the positive side, the staff was friendly and professional. The potatoes were decent, and they offered a complimentary brownie for my wife's birthday, which was appreciated--but like everything else (salmon, bread, etc.), it was just...fine. For a better experience and better food, I'd recommend Buona Forchetta instead--higher quality at half the price. read more

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We celebrate birthdays at 21 Oceanfront last night. Food was delicious with ocean view table, Abby was so amazing, attractive, professional, great service entire night! Overall was a fantastic dinner experience. We will come back for sure! read more

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Amazing food & service and my favorite dish is the escargot served up with a frosty cold vodka martini. read more

21 Oceanfront - Best escargot! Tony is a super fun bartender and makes the best martinis. - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Stumbled upon this while in the area looking for dinner. The indoor decor for the holidays was very well done, and reminded me of a place you'd find in New York. Everything including the sides were pretty pricy, so expect that before going in. The French onion soup bowl was very good, but seemed a little small for being a bowl. The crab cake appetizer had great flavor. For cocktails, we ordered the Lavender Lemon Drop and the Cucumber martini, both we loved. read more

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Probably the most beautiful restaurants I've eaten at. Service was impeccable and the food was delicious. I'm always weary about nicer restaurants because a lot of the time they care more about presentation than taste, but I think 21 Oceanfront has the perfect balance. Our server Steven was attentive, wonderful, and kind. My husband and I agreed we felt so relaxed and comfortable there. It wasn't too loud, it was romantic, and service was excellent. My husband got the roast beef and we would 100% recommend. We got two sides. The extra crispy Brussel sprouts were to die for, and the mashed potatoes were perfect. I got the lobster bisque and it was also a 10/10 it was buttery, rich, yet it wasn't super heavy. I was very happy with my order. We ended the night with a Grand Marnier soufflé. My husband had briefly mentioned we were celebrating my birthday and when the soufflé came out Steven made sure it had a Happy Birthday chocolate on it and added a sweet little candle to the whipped cream. I was not expecting anything and it was very lovely. read more

I would give this restaurant zero stars if I could do so. Do yourself a favor and stay away. The restaurant appeared to be significantly understaffed. Food delivery was extremely slow, and when I asked the manager to come over to complain about this it took three requests to get him. He then wanted to argue about how long we had been there and told me that this was a "fine dining" establishment and I should expect a two hour service. My wife and I have eaten at many fine dining establishments, including a number of three star Michelin restaurants, and we know fine dining when we see it. The service at true fine dining restaurants is impeccable, and the staff tries very hard to treat the diners well. This was far from fine dining, and having the manager try to argue with me was something new and different, and not in a good way. On top of that the entrees were horrible. My wife had the blue fin tuna and ate ¼ of it. I had the swordfish and ate half of it. My grilled swordfish looked like it was pan seared, but maybe in this establishment they consider pan seared to be grilled. I also got into a discussion with the manager as to why I was told that all orders were a la carte, when there were vegetables on my plate. Apparently I had the world's largest garnish, since that was all it was according to the manager. To me it was a pretty full serving of vegetables. My wife ordered wine and had to send the first glass back because the wine had gone bad. Despite that, when the bill came the first glass of wine was charged on the bill. I had to send the bill back to get that corrected. I was unaware of a final problem until I got home. I had an email from Open Table that the restaurant had cancelled my reservation, thus forcing me to forgo my Open Table points for eating there. The email from Open Table was time stamped after I complained to the manager. So either the restaurant couldn't coordinate with Open Table that we were actually there, the manager cancelled the reservation out of some petty micro aggression, or some other reason. I really don't care about the Open Table points, but I find this to be just one more irritation for a terrible experience. read more

very pretty view and quality food. i thought the service was good and at a good pace so you can take your time to enjoy the food. i would highly recommend the blue whale drink it was super good! read more

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It had a festive and upscale ambiance, which at the time of the whole dinner experience. I loved their appetizers and salads. And their friendly service is one of the highlight of the dinner. There are metered street parking. read more

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The most fresh seafood I ever had. Definitely an experience you don't want to miss. The server was so knowledgeable in the history of Newport Beach. read more

Bartender was dope and they have an amazing liquor selection. Ambiance and view of the ocean was amazing. Very elegant inside I felt under dressed lol. . Prawn cocktail was good not great maybe just overwhelming size they were huge in their defense. I'll go back again when I have more time to chill and indulge a little more. Definitely just a dope spot to grab a drink and watch the sunset!!! read more

21 Oceanfront - Ocean view bar - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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We celebrated our anniversary dinner tonight. Our ribeye dinner was delicious and services were amazing. The atmosphere is relaxing in front of the beach. A huge shout out to Pete for making our evening so special. read more

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I'm a local and had always wanted to try this beautiful place and it did NOT disappoint! The view from our window table was impeccable. We had the grilled salmon (OMG!!), scallops (perfection), au gratin potatoes, crème brûlée, wine and martini...and expressos. Kind, attentive service in a lovely intimate setting. Highly recommend for special occasions as this is a very pricey place (but you can literally taste the quality). Also- in the peak months, plan ahead for parking because it's a nightmare (yes they offer valet but good luck getting to it)...will be back! read more

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From the telephone call to add a 4th guest last minute to the valet giving us our keys to go home....21 Oceanfront ROCKS! I have eaten at many seafood & steak resturants throughout Southern California and 21 Oceanfront is know on our list of go to places for excellent food, great service and the ambiance of a true seafood and steak house. Thank you Mark for making our time and number of guests changes so easy and greeting us upon entering. Top notch all the way! Can't wait for our next dinner at 21 Oceanfront! read more

Nice view to the beach. Their rack of lamb & green salad was amazing to get. Unique experience to have for dinner & could consider expand hours to dine in. Staff are welcoming overall. Classic restaurant with standards. read more

Though I am originally from Newport Beach, I have never eaten here. I started with an old-fasioned (with Woodford Reserve)...without specifying, they said they use Makers Mark. Bartender made it with a maraschino cherry (they do have luxardo cherries). I started with a cup of the Lobster Bisque; it was good but not great (6/10); the plus for this is that it is a good portion for a cup. For my entree, I ordered the Prime Ribeye, cooked medium rare and Pittsburgh style; it was cooked medium rare, but the Pittsburgh style was okay and the steak was missing some seasoning (i.e. salt, pepper, and possibly butter) (6/10). Also, the side of garlic mashed potatoes were great mashed potatoes but it was missing the garlic! read more

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Was excited to get my crab fix here for dinner last night. My husband insisted even though the market price was $250! For 1 pound. Yes you read that right $250! The legs were skimpy and it came with roasted squash and nothing else! Crab cooker has better prices and bigger legs! Captain jacks in sunset I thought was expensive but they're only $150 for 20 oz. of big fat legs! I don't believe we'll be back. My husband got the scallops, lobster Mac and cheese and we got a $74 bottle of wine $450!!!!!! read more

21 Oceanfront - 1 lb of skinny crab legs $250, scallops that were delicious and lobster Mac n cheese. - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

21 oceanfront restaurants is a wonderful place with amazing food and the atmosphere and views were of the charts!!!, sea food platers and surf and turf where on point , we had a company event there and service was fantastic, campaign was so smooth and desert was decadent and delicious , read more

21 Oceanfront - My love - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Live music, good food and great service, while watching the sunset over the ocean. Not too many places like it. read more

Best kept secret..That should not be a Secret!!!!!!! Make it known From the excellent service to the amazing dinner! The chef outdid himself. Romantic, authentic and best view of the Newport sunset read more

21 Oceanfront - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Great service! Staff is incredible. Happy Dad fruit punch flavor is amazing with the filet steak read more

21 Oceanfront - Phenomenal steak here! Great service and they have the new Happy Dad Fruit Punch ‍ - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Thank you, Carly. We could not have asked for a more attentive server. The food was divine. Something for everyone. Definitely something very special. I highly recommend the martini with blue cheese olives and the tender swordfish. Incredible dessert menu as well. read more

21 Oceanfront - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

This place isn't cheap, and you might be forced to pay for $10 valet due to a jam packed parking lot, but the food quality and quantity is better than expected. The median entree price was about fifty something dollars but everything was delicious and the seafood and meat was plentiful and nicely cooked. I thought everything I tried was flavorful, though my steak could have used a tad more salt. The calamari app was lightly crispy, the lamp chops were tender, and the mussels were in a savory sauce. My New York steak was cooked to a near text book medium rare. The other dishes (scallops and Chilean sea bass) had large portions of seafood, and the Cioppino included king crab, large shrimp, scallops, fish, and crawfish. They note that you should give a 30 minute lead time for their soufflés, so I ordered them when we ordered entrees. The soufflés were fluffy and I rate them in this order: 1) vanilla 2)grand marnier 3) chocolate, though others in my party liked the chocolate most. Everyone enjoyed their meals and some seats even have ocean views. This is definitely a good special occasion restaurant. read more

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Ordered my filet medium and this is what I got. Worst tasting steak I've ever had, the flavor was off, and I completely lost my appetite for it. Caesar salad and crème brûlée were both 10/10 but this ruined my experience and I wouldn't come back. read more

21 Oceanfront - Grass fed filet mignon - "medium" - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Personal opinion piece here. I feel like I was scammed...$514 for Valentines dinner for 2..... Let me describe my reasoning for feeling like I was scammed. Appetizer 1: Arugula salad with no dressing and unripe strawberries. Appetizer 2: The tuna tartar was ok at best. A fast food poke has better tartar. The quality was good, but the citrus pairing could have been good if they used ripe citrus....the theme of unripe fruit doesn't end here....Entree 1: the medium rare filet I ordered came out medium to medium plus. Entree 2: Scallops didn't have a proper sear. They were cooked ok, but suspiciously soft. The pea risotto was amateur at best. Local mom and pop risottos are superior. The asparagus side had no salt, the potato that came with the filet was maybe the best thing next to the bread and butter. Drinks: Had two old fashions and if you care about the quality this isn't the place, They don't even use real cherries in their drinks. The bowling alley by our house has higher quality drinks and uses real cherries, but plasticmaraschino in a high end restaurant is embarrassing, The bitters were full of sugar and they didn't manage to have the proper ice. Oddly,for $21 per drink, that didn't make me feel scammed in comparison to what's next....The Dessert's were a joke. I literally started laughing at this point because I thought I had to be on video for a prank...I got 3 strawberries with some weird powder that actually sucked flavor from the unripe strawberries And the strawberries were no bigger than the tip of my thumb. It came with chocolate sauce in a paper cup...And a dollop of whip cream. They really set the culinary world on fire with this one...The other dessert used almond extract like a terrible bakery. Not one thing in the meal came from a professional kitchen in my opinion...if a bad meal was reportable to the BBB, this would be the day...my 2 star is generous, but the ambiance was great. Servers were polite, but had no idea what ranch the filet came from and you needed to track down to get help...It was 100% the worst dining experience I've ever had in terms of getting what you paid for. read more

21 Oceanfront - 3 strawberries. See fork for scale. Nice paper cup - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Recently decided to visit 21 oceanfront, the place is extremely ambience, wonderful for a date night, the service was exceptional, I enjoyed an Asian pear salad, that they modified for me to make it vegan, it was delightful, my main entrée was the grilled cauliflower steak, which was exceptional, enjoyed a side of mushrooms & roasted asparagus both delicious , definitely will visit again read more

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Steps away from the sand, 21 Oceanfront restaurant in Newport Beach has breathtaking views of the Southern California coastline, and is centrally located near the pier. I arrived with a visiting guest for an early dinner on a recent weeknight. As you enter the grandeur of this fine dining establishment, placing one foot in front of the other, you must make your way up the curving stairs to the hostess stand. When we visited, to the right, we found the bar and lounge section was bustling with noise and raucous laughter from patrons, while to the left the quiet dining section remained covered in a sunlit glow with the warmth of the natural toned walls and plush booths crafting a refined presence. Our party was escorted and seated by the window at a small wooden table and chairs facing the sunset, poinsettia flowers and wreaths graced the bannisters, and a beautiful rose flower sat poised in a miniature vase at the table's center. Not only was the view stunning, but the service was impeccable at 21 Oceanfront. As we glanced over the menu, fresh rolls were promptly set center on the table with butter. The sun was luminous, light rays cascading on the waters' edge glistened, as palm trees gently swayed. The melodic tones of jazz music softly played in the background. We finally came to a decision to share the crab cake, the filet mignon and the wedge salad. I indulged in a glass of red wine to accompany these dishes. Everything was scrumptious, and served with care. The fillet mignon was my favorite of the dishes, it was prepared medium well perfectly. The wedge salad was crisp and fresh. The crab cake was flavorful, filling, and great. The staff were absolutely delightful, and treated our party to a warm, delicious brownie for dessert. For a decadent dining experience in Newport Beach, I highly recommend 21 Oceanfront. read more

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Met up with my husband's band camp friends for dinner. Extensive menu with all kinds of protein to choose from. Parking was not an issue when we arrived around 7:15, but probably because it was raining and a little chilly outside. Service was excellent. There was complimentary freshly-baked rolls with butter to start. For our mains, hubby and I opted for seafood - chilean sea bass for moi and skuna bay salmon for him. While both dishes were decent, mine wasn't the best chilean sea bass I've had as I prefer mine to not be drowning in sauce. You gotta come bring your friends on Sunday nights, they have an awesome acoustic performer Jason Bohen from 6 to 9 pm. read more

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Came here for a dinner meeting, food were great, love the warm bread, filet mignon was very tasty

We attended a private event in the wine cellar and had a wonderful experience. The food was delicious, the filet cooked to perfection and the flow of the meal was spot on. The service was a highlight as well. The gentleman in charge was so good at his job and his support staff was fantastic. Jefferson was so attentive and helpful. read more

21 Oceanfront exceeded all my expectations. The ambiance is stunning, the views of the ocean are gorgeous. But most of all... the fine dining experience is amazing. They made my 40th birthday so special and my heart is full. The FOOD! WOW! We had a party of 10 and almost everyone had someone different so were able experience the whole menu. If you are a foodie and appreciate fine dining, 21 Ocean front is for you! I highly recommend. (And I'm a picky girl lol) Thank you 21 Oceanfront, you are the GEM OF ORANGE COUNTY!!! May god continue to bless your establishment:) read more

21 Oceanfront - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Unfortunately, this place is not what it used to be. It has super slow service, very immature management and social media person when I told them about my less than ideal experience on my birthday dinner. I kept getting talked over, gaslit, and spoken to in a very rude and condescending tone. Such a shame since this restaurant has great food and used to have a great reputation. I would be embarassed beyond belief if this is how someone was treated in my establishment, let alone talked to like this on social media. They also blocked me, which is highly unprofessional. This could have and should have been handled with care and with grace, especially if I'm choosing to spend my time and money on a birthday dinner - and yes, even 2 days before Christmas as a solo diner. There are plenty of other places in Orange County to enjoy, do yourself a favor and go somewhere else unless you want to wait an hour for an appetizer and one glass of Cuvee and be spoken to rudely if there is a problem. The Cuvée was good though (luckily I'm a Somm so I knew what to pick) and the Ahi appetizer was also very good, despite the server rolling his eyes and sighing when I asked him what could be easily made that's dairy free (I have an allergy). All in all, not a great experience and very unfortunate and unprofessionally handled. I know it's the holidays and everyone is stressed and understaffed (despite there being open tables), I hope they can learn and grow from this situation and get new management that cares about the guest experience, especially when other workers there tell you "that should've never happened, that's not how we do things here". I wish I could've left with a better experience like I've had before. read more

21 Oceanfront - Tacky - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

My wife and I pulled in (valet parking for $10.00 is a must) on a busy Sunday afternoon around 4:30 and were lucky to find two great seats at the corner of the bar. I enjoyed several well-made gin martinis straight up ($16.00) and my wife had a couple of Chalk Hill Chardonnays (16.00). We both agreed that this bar has the greatest view of the ocean in all of Newport Beach. Sipping our drinks while enjoying the sunset is really quite nice. The place is full of regulars and the staff couldn't be more courteous. When we were on our way out the door, I noticed the restaurant was almost full. This place isn't cheap but it certainly has a great feel and is very well run. read more

21 Oceanfront - Sunset view while sitting at the bar. - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The ambiance is wonderful, old school steakhouse vibes but ocean front views! And the bar is more happening with live music frequently if that is more your scene. The food was also excellent, my scallops were cooked perfectly, seared but juicy and my husband demolished their mussels with bread for the citrusy, buttery sauce. Best of all was the service, wait staff frequently checked on us, waters refilled constantly and when my mom asked about gluten in a dish (she has an allergy), they were able to accommodate her. Great spot for celebration or date night and happy hour! read more

Had a holiday dinner event here and worked with Lauren and she was fantastic. So efficient, kind, on top of everything and a breath of fresh air. We got seated in the private wine cellar and the attached patio. Service was great and accommodating. Holiday decorations were full fledged all around the restaurant and bar. Parking can be found on the street and the food was delicious. read more

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This amazing gem I had gone to LAST minute has to be THE most favored steakhouse I have ever been to (and that's the amongst some of the bigger steakhouse names in Beverly Hills in comparison.) Now I was scared I was going to regret it. Interior decor had a old vibe look that I can absolutely appreciate and love the 1920's look. Very dimmed , low key , and full view of the beach. Noise level.. there was children and they were soo loud , another behind FaceTiming their whole dinner away. It was the only reason I can't give it the full 5 stars. Service was A1 with Ricky!! He was informative , helpful with any questions, recommendations , and quick on service. Foods ordered was filet mignon, jumbo lobster tail, crab cake , Brussels sprouts , and mash potatoes. Drinks ?! I couldn't resist the cucumber martini. Dessert.. crème Brûlée. Now I frequent many steakhouses and is hands down THE best melt In your mouth steaks. Everything was ABOVE average. Being that it's probably private owned and not a chain like some big 5 star steakhouses , this is attentive to the palates who enjoy fine, quality foods. If you're around , don't hesitate to come and enjoy the foods and view. This is THE best I've had since 2021! Thank you for the great food and service 21Oceanfront !!!! This will be a place I can recommend to others and a place I will return for as long as it is here !! read more

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Why 3 stars? The service was terrible! We were there on a Wed, place was not full. We got our drinks but the waiter never returned to take our dinner order! After waiting a while, we finally had to tell a busier to get a waiter. After the dinner, It took a while for our plates to clear. The waiter dropped off a dessert menu, but never came back to take the order. Again, we had to find someone to bring us the bill! We had to run, to get to a nearby concert. I feel the wait staff was inattentive to our table of 4, don't really know why. Maybe they were short-staffed? This is an expensive restaurant with good food. But we will NOT return, due to poor service! Many times at nicer restaurants, a manager will come by and ask how was everything. I really wish that person came by at our dinner. The Christmas decorations were very nice. Good- rolls, lobster bisque, fr onion soup, sea bass, pot roast. read more

The location of this restaurant is a little bit surprising it's sandwiched in between the handles, a catchy souvenir shop and random Beach Shops... But here is this gorgeous oceanfront restaurant with dark booths, candles, dark wood and paneled walls. live entertainment, rich, smoky vibes... The food in my opinion was very good. Unfortunately, they did not have East Coast oysters which are our favorite, they carry Baja oysters. So we had the Aji tuna, which was so fresh and delicious.. and because summer is almost over we had the refreshing crisp, pear salad with blue cheese, perfection.... The Chilean Seabass was a very nice portion with a ginger sesame dressing so tasty ... Of course I had to start off the evening with one of their signature. Drinks I had the vaccine with Casamigos tequila a little hint of lime, splash of orange juice and agave. It has a powerful kick and it is so good. They have a wonderful bar scene with live music that faces directly to the ocean . We had a wonderful booth that was sitting up a bit high so we could see the ocean from our table. It was lovely just lovely. Our waiter Ricky was so attentive and charming. We cannot wait to go back ... They have valet parking however, we did not have a problem finding a spot on Saturday night on the street less than a block away from the restaurant . They do have a bit of a dress code, so if you're heading to the beach, please don't show up in Beach close ... it's fancy, but it's not fancy if you know what I mean... read more

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