Helmsman Ale House is a good place to go if you're looking for a couple of great beverages alongside a few tasty bar foods. My girlfriend and I opted for the breakfast burrito before we went off to the beach, and our friends got the steak frites. The steak frites are more of a chimichurri sauce style, but it was still pretty tasty, and you can never go wrong with a lovely breakfast burrito. Furthermore, drinks are very affordable here. I would recommend getting a few of their World Cup-style drinks as well. From there, would love to come back. Thank you so much, Helms Ale House. Great service and great ambiance as well. Nautical themed but not a lot of seafood. Why? I don't know. read more

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Great for what it is! Came here on Tuesday for trivia & it was a blast. Parking is on the street only but came early & found some no issue. Service was fast & friendly. Liked the ambiance & the string lights. Got the watermelon margarita which was good. They pour shots generously. Also had the pizza which was tasty. Would recommend for trivia nights on Tuesday!! read more

Jack, served me. 6:05 on a Wednesday evening after work I went to the beach and splashed in the waves. First timer here, great service great food, everything was so good. 10/10 would come back! Sorry I didn't take a pic before I recommend the Honey Garlic for wing wednesdays and the long lost apple cider read more

Helmsman Ale House - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We come here typically on Wednesday nights after run club. It's got a lot of seating inside and out, so it's great for a group of any size. They will usually have games playing on their TVs as well. Wing Wednesday is always a treat, and they have good wing flavors. Other food I've tried here has been whatever. Love their beer selection though! Service can be a hit or miss, but there is one bartender there in particular (with the mustache and the cool tricks) that is always a pleasure to see. Definitely a cool vibe here! read more

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Came by for a beer after our beach day. We love the open walls and beachy vibes. Friendly staff, and the beers were good!

I've been coming here lately, and the atmosphere is nice--very bar-like, with everyone seeming to know each other. Service is quick, and the food is good, and I enjoy trying different things every time I visit. read more

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Wow! Didn't know that there was such a cool lowkey spot in Newport Beach! Came here for a friends birthday dinner on a Sunday evening. The place had plenty of tables and even had its own parking lot which is pretty nice ! Service was excellent and the food came out quick. Here's what I ordered / got to try: - Clam Chowder in Bread Bowl - Fish and Chips - Brussels - Broccolini - Strawberry Margarita - Margarita Libertalia I really enjoyed both the drinks! Very nice sweetness on both of the margs. The brussels were spicy! Had a good kick to them, while the broccolini was a lot more tame. Fish and chips were nice and crispy and the fries were so good! Clam chowder also very delicious. Also had a bit of the bavarian pretzel and some of a burger and those were both great as well! Saw that they had deals for wednesday, something about 99 cent wings???, would definitely come again. read more

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Came in on a Tuesday early evening. Only a few people at the bar. Definitely smelled like a brewery. Cool dark vibe with lots of art on walls. Old cool photos of fishermen with their catches. My husband ordered the lobster roll, but they were out of the rolls. So he got fish tacos. I got fish & chips. The fish was nice white fish with a heavy breading. A little big & kind of greasy. But good. A huge amount of yummy French fries. Our server was sweet & brought out their house made chips as an appetizer since they were out of lobster rolls. I liked my farmhouse saison & hazy IPA. Cool shirts & hats available with logo. read more

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This is the place to be for every celebration. I'm so looking forward to spending Valentines Day here with the girls again this year! The drinks are Valentine's Day themed in February. The decor is pink, purple, and disco love all over & the servers are ready to put it on your tab. read more

Helmsman Ale House - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I'm a big fan of the Helmsman! The food is great (in a big fan of the fried pickles) and the vibe is super vibrant. This place really explodes over the holidays (good luck getting a table) but if you can get in it's totally worth it. I got an Irish Mule and my boyfriend got the house amber ale. Great beer and strong drinks. Bring back the onion rings!! The waiters are quick and serviceable. I don't have experience with the bar staff but regardless, go to the Helmsman! Awesome road trip stop too. read more

Helmsman Ale House - interior - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

This place was soooo much fun! Cutest halloween decoration, great drinks & friendly staff. It's a lively place to head with a group of friends. Fish & Chips was great (8/10) I was pleasantly surprised with their french fries - I like that I got all the condiments I needed without having to ask and even extra vinegar! Chicken sandwich also good (7/10) nothing special. I'd say staff go out of their way to make sure you have a good time. read more

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4 STARS for the Beer. 3 Stars for the food. Hazy IPA was really good. Fish tacos were drowning in cabbage. Originally ordered a Lobster Roll but, they did not have the bread for the roll. Server gave us a small bowl of house made chips. The chips were good. Restaurant ambiance was nautical but, since they brew beer here it had an overwhelming smell of a brew pub. Not sure if this had something to do with them cleaning the tanks. read more

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What a festive place to be during the holidays! This place was decked out in holiday cheer! From the wrapping paper ceilings, grinch captain and holidays cocktails this place was the place to be even on a Monday night the week of Christmas. The bartenders were great, super friendly and did not ignore customers like typical places busy bars would. It was fast service also for being super busy. We sat at the bar top, had a couple of drinks, orders the Tri tip nachos (holy moly those were delicious!). Definitely will be returning for future. read more

Helmsman Ale House - Peppermint Espresso Martini - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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HH Prices were the best in ages. However, took a long time to get served when initially, the place was empty. It's worth repeating the best prices anywhere on the peninsula, at least as far as I know. This is a young crowd venue, maybe that's why the service wasn't great... read more

Food wasn't bad! My husband loved the heffinviser beer. I had a chicken salad & husband had a bbq chicken pizza. We were able to walk from our rental on 28th,very handy read more

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Went here on a Fridays night and it was definitely crowded. The main area was packed but the patio side was still manageable with space to sit or stand. We went here to see festive holidays vibe and it was very ig worthy inside for the pictures. I got the peppermint expresso martini and that drink was definitely STRONG! You get the strong hit from the expresso for the first time and then get smacked with the vodka right after. I'm not a light drinker as I can usually drink 2-3 cocktails socially but this drink got me boozy boo after 3 sips. Definitely would go back again! read more

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The beer is improved a lot with the new brewer. The food is pretty good the brunch is great.

First time visitor to this spot Parking is available on the street or out back Came during St Patrick week after the rush Indoor outdoor dining choose your spot and appears to be dog friendly Plenty of choices of drinks and small bites made freshly, along with electronic darts flats screens for sports, and music vibes Fried pickles Definetly yes, addicting with their house made chips Stout yes (got a black and tan) and their stout is housemade Definitely would return for drinks to just chill good for date night groups solo dining Service was simple and friendly read more

Helmsman Ale House - Black and tan with blonde and in house stout - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Unexpected gem. My wife wanted to visit this bar because she likes the theming they have for holidays. I had never been with her because she normally visits with her friend. I tried the chicken strips and was pleasantly surprised. Not what I would consider "bar food" at all. This was really good and made me want to come back when I'm more hungry to try some other stuff. The waitress was super cool and service was pretty fast too. Bonus is that for Valentine's day it was super themed out and had decorations everywhere. read more

Helmsman Ale House - awesome chicken strips - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Helmsman is one of my favorite spots in Newport. I've been there for St. Patricks Day, Santa Con, and their Traitors Watch Party. Each holiday, they do an excellent job of decorating and creating seasonal options. I like that they keep their social media up to date. Overall, there's a laid-back vibe about this place that I appreciate. It's also pretty spacious compared to the places around. read more

This little ale house was such a fun experience! The atmosphere was lively, with plenty of TVs and great music playing throughout the venue. The waiters and waitresses were extremely polite and attentive, constantly checking on us to make sure we had everything we needed. Now, on to the drinks--absolutely delicious! The Sour Razz was an excellent choice for me; I'd gladly order it again and again. The food complemented the drinks perfectly, making the whole experience even better. Newport may be small, but this location offers a surprisingly decent amount of parking. I'd love to come back and try more of their menu items! read more

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Popped into Helmsman Ale House during my best friend's bachelorette weekend--she was craving wings, fries, and salad, so why not? Wings: Buffalo sauce--yesss, finally some good wings! Salad: Meh, Caesar was a little dry. Fries: Hot, crispy, exactly what you want. The pub has a cool, rustic vibe with a young, lively crowd. Drinks were just okay (tequila + OJ didn't wow us), but the food made up for it. If you're looking for a casual spot with tasty wings and fries, this place is a solid pick. read more

Helmsman Ale House - Wings, Caesar salad and fries - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Max our server was great, food and drinks were good. We had the fried pickles and those were battered and they fry in beef tallow. They had a kids menu and dogs are allowed inside and not just on the patio. We will definitely be back! read more

The atmosphere was very fun with lots of sports going on. The food and service were very good but the place was loud. Admittedly, I'm over 70 and both the Lakers and the Ducks were playing while we were there. It may not be that noisy most evenings. Still, we enjoyed the food, drinks, and service. read more

5 stars for the fun! They had a trivia night which I believe they do every Tuesday. My party ordered some drinks and I ordered nachos which were great for sharing! Highly suggest you come here to play trivia night if you're not into alcohol but have friends who enjoy a drink. read more

Great apps, and drinks. Service was very quick and everything came out very quickly in an orderly fashion. Definitely a good spot to just relax and enjoy some cold ones. read more

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Great food. Great service. The Bavarian pretzel and cheese is one of the best things I've ever had. Even the fries were delicious. Jalapeño Blonde was a great beer with a small zing on the finish -- not as spicy as you'd think. Cool vibe of people sitting at the bar. Pup friendly is a super plus. If ever in the area again, I'd definitely stop by again. Wish they sold their beer to go! read more

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Surprisingly so good for American bar food! I came here for Sunday football. They have a lot of great deals throughout the entire week. (For example, $.99 wing Wednesday) My favorite Sunday deal was the Jameson boiler. $13 for a shot of Jameson and choice of their house beer all day long. Such a steal! I'm used to paying $13 for a shot of Jameson alone at most bars in Newport. The bar wasn't too packed on a Sunday. We walked in and grabbed our own table. Service was pretty quick. Not sure if this bar is considered a Niners bar because that was the only game the sound was on for. FOOD *Everything was made so fresh to order! - Wings 5/5: So crispy and steaming hot. Ordered the lemon pepper with a side of buffalo. Wing sizes were large and juicy. They also had a promo or $25 for 25 wings. - Onion Rings 4/5: Battered perfectly. Served hot and crispy. - Tenders 3/5: The tenders were ok. Too battered for my liking. - Chicken & Avocado Wrap 4/5: Decently sized and all the ingredients tasted fresh. We paid extra for the garlic fries and so worth. Only complaint I have here is the pricing was a bit steep. $18 before the garlic fries surcharge. - Smash Burger 3/5: A little dry & tasteless. Definitely missing a good sauce. I would definitely come back throughout the week to try out their daily specials. read more

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Another preferred spot to go out in Newport. I especially like that it's across the street from Malarky's so hopping is easy. I really like the indoor outdoor vibe with the patio and their watch parties seemed really fun over the summer. Drinks aren't as good (taste wise) as some of the other bars around, but relatively cheap also, which is good! read more

Love the food and service . Always on top of it . Chill and relax best time to go is in the AM or afternoon before it starts getting super busy read more

This place was recommended to me so I decided to stop by for lunch. It turns out they were having happy hour and let me say, they have reasonable deals. The location is close to the beach and parking relatively easy when I stopped by. They had some Halloween decor up which is a plus in my books! I wasnt sure what yo order so I ordered a couple things. The brussel sprouts and friend pickles were my fav! When I bit into the fried pickles, the batter was flavorful and fluffy. The pickle had a perfect sourness that isn't too much. The brussel sprouts were seasoned well and the perfect texture. They had this sauce on it that I really liked. The food paired perfectly with their IPA. I was told that they go all out on decorations during the holiday season so I'm looking forward to coming back when they have their Christmas theme decor. read more

I came here the day after Thanksgiving to see the decorations. We were promptly attended to as we sat ourselves at a booth. It was a great mix of families, large groups, etc. The drinks were strong and the food was great. We got the shrimp tacos which were amazing especially for bar food. The guacamole was fresh and the chips/bean dip seemed house made. The servers did a great job checking up on us and letting us know our drinks were on the way. We were pleasantly surprised by the quick service of all the workers, great food/drink, and killer vibes. Would love to come back with other family or friends! read more

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Nice spot to hang out on the massive patio when the weather is nice. Every one seems to be having a good time here. How can you not be when you're getting drunk by the ocean read more

Helmsman Ale House - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Always an amazing time at Helmsman! Me and my friends love coming here for football nights, trivia, to watch DWTS, you name it! Helmsman has so much room and space for tables that it always makes being there a god experience, even on the most crowded of days! They have good apps and drinks and a wide variety of food on the menu. Max is the best server!!! He was super knowledgeable on the menu and makes every trip to Helmsman even better! read more

Food was good, ambiance was very festive, service was great! We came on a Sunday afternoon during the holidays. read more

Helmsman Ale House - Fresh glass of wine. - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The Christmas ambiance was great! Food was good. Staff were friendly and efficient. Great photo ops and music was on point!! Great time! read more

Helmsman Ale House - Peppermint Espresso Martini and Mistletoe Mule - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Had dinner at the bar. Smash Burger was very good. Cocktails were meh. It's basically a beer bar, kind of icky kind of sticky.

Willing to put the tv on NWSL game (women's soccer). Gluten free food options. Family friendly. Bar or tables and outdoor patio available. We rode our bikes there 2 years ago and enjoyed our experience. Will return! read more

Good food, great service. Showed up with family and dog. Rick was great. Super friendly and helpful. Must swing by for good food and great drinks read more

Helmsman Ale House - Breweries Near Me - Newport Beach, California

This spot was decorated super cute for Christmas but the service was horrible. It took 30 minutes to get a drink standing at the bar on a Thursday night and the beer didn't taste too good. read more