Came here for a friend's birthday and had such a great experience! All of the staff were so nice and friendly, and they answered any questions we had about the menu. I tried the chicken and waffles and it was delicious. I wasn't sure if it came with a side or if I had to ask for one, but either way, the meal was really good. The only small thing was that the syrup was a little too sweet for me, but honestly that might just be a me thing. The scenery was beautiful and the ocean view made the experience even better. The staff also brought out small beignets for the birthday girl, which was such a sweet gesture. I would 100% come back! read more

Lighthouse - Chicken & Waffles - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We visited on Mother's Day and our final bill plus tips was $140 total, which we signed and paid at the restaurant. Later, when checking our bank transaction, we discovered the charge had been changed to $149.90 after we left without authorization or knowledge! We never authorized a higher total, and this was extremely concerning to see afterward on our banking statement. It gave the impression that the amount may have been altered after payment was completed. We were sitting outside, if I remember correctly the server's name is Mary. This completely damaged our trust in the billing process. We recommend customers carefully review their posted transactions after dining here. read more

Unfortunately, this restaurant was a disappointing experience overall. When we were seated, there was liquid left on both the table and chair from a prior reservation that clearly hadn't been cleaned up. It was difficult to get the staff's attention, so we decided to switch chairs ourselves, only to be told we couldn't. They eventually relented once they realized the issue with the cleanliness, but it shouldn't have been a problem in the first place. The outdoor seating area also had no little to no shade coverage so we were stuck sitting in direct sunlight the entire time, which made the experience uncomfortable. The food did not justify the prices. The calamari was over $20 for a very small portion, and about half the plate was filled with half stale chips seemingly to make up for the lack of calamari. The Caesar salad looked unappetizing and honestly didn't taste anything like a Caesar salad. Another frustrating part was that no children's menu was offered until we specifically asked, despite being seated for quite awhile with children present. Maybe it was simply forgotten, but it did leave us wondering whether it was intentional in hopes we'd order more expensive items from the regular menu. Overall, the experience left a bad taste in our mouths and we won't be returning. read more

Lighthouse - $20+ dollars for, half stale half not, chips that took up 3/4 of the plate with minimal calamari - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Make reservations for outdoor seating! You'll have a beautiful view of the water. I got the lobster roll and it was delicious and buttery. The lemon blueberry pancakes were shared amongst my table and we devoured them. If I come back, I'd definitely order the lobster roll again!! read more

Lighthouse - Lobster Roll & Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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45 minute-wait on a Saturday which wasn't bad. We requested to sit outside but unfortunately the table had one seat right in the sun. We asked if we could move to a shaded table and were told no, even though there were open tables. I felt ill from the sun so I was waiting outside of patio in the shade until the server came. I guess my boyfriend asked again and they kept sending employees to the table and after about three people moved us. After that the server was nice. Food and drink were mediocre (lobster roll and lava flow). Nice view of the ocean and sailboats. Additional notes: no room for stroller on patio so you have to leave it outside of restaurant. Public restroom not attached to restaurant. Paid parking lot out front. Park for kids very close by. read more

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This restaurant was really pretty, and I'm glad I had the opportunity to sit outside and enjoy both the view and my meal. I made a reservation on a weekday evening, however, it would have been fine to just walk in since it wasn't that busy. Parking was a bit difficult to find and you have to pay to park in the lot. Service was good, and my server was able to squeeze in an order from the happy hour menu before it ended. I started with the lobster sliders, a cup of clam chowder, and a blood orange cosmo. All three items hit the spot. The lobster sliders, although small, had a good amount of lobster piled on and were good just dipped in butter. The fries were also nicely crispy and paired well with dipping in the clam chowder, which I really liked. The blood orange cosmo was on the sweeter side but was good. This "linner" was my first meal of the day so I also got the pan-seared salmon off the dinner menu. I thought it was fine. Next time, I'd probably stick to trying more items off of the happy hour menu. read more

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Our family went to the lighthouse with the whole family, in-laws, aunts, and cousins Had an absolutely wonderful brunch here, everything was perfect from start to finish. We ordered a little bit of everything, from waffles and pancakes to eggs, and every dish was fantastic. What really made the experience special was our server, Mary. She is one of the nicest, sweetest people I've ever met. We ended up talking about our shared love of bourbon and whiskey, and she recommended her bourbon margarita... and wow, it was incredible. If you go, make sure to say hi to Mary and ask about her bourbon margarita. She truly made our brunch unforgettable and deserves a big raise! read more

Lighthouse - Bourbon tequila selection - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Great location and great service. Our party of 9 dined in for brunch to end a bachelorette trip, and I'm glad we did! I made reservations a few weeks in advance, and they were able to seat us right in the middle of the lighthouse. Beautiful! The food was so good! We would definitely recommend the dishes pictured in this review. Also, if your party will be drinking, the mimosa pitchers were very worth it. read more

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Came here with a goal to have a light lunch after a hike at Crystal Cove. We ordered a cup of tomato bisque bowl of clam chowder calamari mahi mahi fish tacos The mahi mahi in the tacos was good but the tortilla was chewy and hard and just not enjoyable, the salad that came with it was very good and fresh. The calamari was good and came with a pesto ranch that was surprisingly delish. My husband was not a big fan of the clam chowder, it didn't really taste like clam chowder and I agree with him. However the real star was the tomato bisque. Flavor point was perfection, presentation was 5/5 and they added grilled cheese sandwich bites it was memorable and a pleasant surprise. Service was friendly, fast and courteous. The restaurant itself is not easy to spot at first but in a great location with a serene and beautiful view. It does get a little cold because the breeze just seems to get trapped right outside but it wasn't too bad. Overall we left feeling stuffed and I would say the food is good but not sure if this would be one of my first picks with all of the competition in the area. I would highly recommend the tomato bisque to anyone coming here though! read more

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Lighthouse is hands down one of my favorite spots. The food is absolutely amazing every single time, but the poke nachos are my personal favorite they are seriously the BEST I've ever had. So fresh, perfectly balanced, and full of flavor in every bite. Everything we ordered was delicious! What really makes this place extra special though is the service. Our server, Mary, is the sweetest. She even remembered my father from the last time we came, which meant so much to us. That kind of genuine care and attention is rare. She made us feel so welcomed and taken care of the entire time. Between the incredible food and the warm, thoughtful service, this place deserves every bit of five stars. We'll definitely keep coming back! read more

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service is good, staffs are friendly, great atmosphere of course. I ordered 2 sunny side up eggs, roasted potatoes and filet mignon medium cooked, breakfast plate $19.75 plus $25 filet mignon, a cup of coffee and a cup clam chowder.... I paid $72 total which is too pricey for breakfast... never again. We should've gone to Little Billy's instead. read more

Lighthouse - Classic Two Egg Breakfast plus filet mignon $45 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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We enjoyed sitting outside on their patio. It was a bit crowded even for a Friday but i guess everyone has the same idea with it being a nice day out. Service was good. Mary was sweet. Food was meh. Lobster roll- appreciated that it was warm, but both the lobster and roll was DRY. We ended up using all the butter it came with to try to moisten it. Definitely have had better. We used to love going to Hook and Anchor but they moved to Costa Mesa. Clam chowdwr- loved the flavor of it. Just needed more clams. read more

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Cute little venue within a Lighthouse (hence the name) . Seating inside is small but cute! There is more seating outside and on the second floor. Service was good! We came late to our reservation and they still accommodated us. Food is good....we came for brunch...we had the Ahi Tuna Tacos- delish! It came with two and had large chunks of tuna inside a light and crispy wonton shell. The spicy mayo and sauce were yum! We also had the Lighthouse Benedict. Comes with Prosciutto. A little bit harder to cut, but it worked out. Comes with breakfast potato's. My husband ordered the classic two egg breakfast with skirt steak. He gobbled it up! The only downside, there are no restrooms within the facility, you have to walk out and use the public restrooms ...boo! read more

Lighthouse - Ahi Tuna Tacos - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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A little pricey even at Happy hour but the food was definitely good as were the drinks. Wings were my favorite they really hit the spot. The lobster sliders were also really good. Enjoyed my martinis as well. Nice relaxing little spot away from the stress of the pier side of Newport. Service was outstanding as well. read more

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The view/ambiance was beautiful and our waiter was AWESOME! He was very kind and patient. My daughter enjoyed her Eggs Benedict (substituted pork for sliced turkey). The beignets were also good! Unfortunately, the Chicken and Waffles were TERRIBLE. The waffles "had to be" the pre-packaged Belgium Waffles that can be purchased from Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. The fried boneless chicken was tough, dry, and had ZERO flavor. Sadly, after the cost of parking and mediocre food, I'm not likely to return should we visit this area again. =Ambiance =Waiter =Eggs Benedict & Beignets read more

Our hotel recommended this place. We booked a brunch the day before. It was a short walk from the boardwalk. They seem busy for Sunday brunch but our table is ready when we arrive. The service is great. They asked us if we are still ok with our inside table when we walk in. We all got seared tuna in different ways, sandwiches or salads. The food is delicious and the atmosphere is chill and not too loud. read more

Lighthouse - Seared ahi tuna sandwich - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Love this place for casual brunch! Perfect weather to enjoy the beautiful Newport Beach. Although it was very loud due to some cleaning work going on in the water. Our server Mary was very sweet and funny. Had clam chowder for starters then mahi tacos and chilaquiles. Had beignets to top off our meal!! Always leave happy read more

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I read the reviews on Lighthouse and decided to check it out while in the area. We were seated at a table inside since the weather was a bit chilly. They do offer patio seating and they must have an upstairs seating area as I saw workers running up and down a set of outdoor stairs. The seating area has a nice view of the water. The noise level isn't too loud inside. Our server was nice and attentive. We ordered clam chowder cups to start, an omelet and a Caesar salad with grilled steak. The clam chowder was delicious and had chunks of bacon garnished on top. The omelet was tasty. The Caesar salad was a miss. I should have asked for it to be chopped as the leaves came out whole which I'm personally not a fan of. The steak had zero flavor and was quite fatty. I would return but would order something else on my next visit. read more

Lighthouse - Clam chowder - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Honestly has to be one of the best clam chowders I ever had... they really packed it with so much protein, every bite had a clam. Chowder 5/5 Pumpkin spice martini 4/5 Chicken wings 5/5 Lobster roll 4/5 Mahi tacos 4/5 Chilaquiles 3/5 -flavor was there but got soggy fast read more

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Came here for the first time recently for breakfast and was surprised to learn this is attached to a community center. The location is odd but the menu looked promising. 10/10 for the steak chilaquiles. My husband and I loved them! My only complaint is charging significantly more for avocado. It should come with it. We also liked the lobster roll and thought the bread was super light and tasty. Our least favorite was the cinnamon roll French toast. It wasn't super flavorful and didn't taste much like a cinnamon roll. The service here was slow despite not being super busy and on top of the location being a little odd and looking like a government building, this won't be a regular spot for us. read more

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Made reservations to celebrate my daughter's birthday. And let me tell you everyone from the hostesses to our server Carlos were exceptional! I wish I could give them 10 stars! It was an early brunch, and they were very busy, but gave us a great table on the patio overlooking the water. My daughters and I had the bottomless mimosas which were also very refreshing and perfect. The food! Of course, I had to taste my kids plates and nothing on that table was less than a 10/10. My lobster roll delicious, my daughter's steak Chilaquiles, outstanding and such a great Smokey flavor! My son got the breakfast burrito cheesy and so flavorful. My other son and his girlfriend had a hamburger and the turkey pesto sandwich which was out of this world! Next time I come, I will get that one for sure. My birthday girl had the mahi tacos, so perfectly cooked and delicious!! And the delicious beignet and ice cream Carlos brought out for her birthday was top-notch. I would get that as a dessert. I can't say enough great things about lighthouse Café definitely on my top 10. I can't wait to come back with my husband. read more

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First time here! Today was the perfect day! Went around 12pm, Perfect weather to sit outside. Even if it was chilly the heaters worked really well. They have little fire pits next to the tables too. Such a great spot near the water. The claim chowder was delicious and my breakfast burrito was really good. It was such a nice peaceful breakfast. I love good weather, good food, and good coffee. This is definitely one of my new favorite spots. We had a great server as well! Good prices menu too. I seen a few kids meal pass by us and they looked good as well. My daughter had the mocktail though and it wasn't good. But we enjoyed everything else! I wanted to try the pancakes because they looked popular and delicious but I don't like extra sauce and toppings on my pancakes but they looked delicious. I seen someone with French toast which was very thick and that looked good as well. We ate from Seattle where we have amazing claim chowder so we were impressed with the claim chowder here :) read more

Lighthouse - Vanilla latte - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Still a solid brunch place. Loved the ahi tacos and the wings! One thing that always stands out the most is the service. The staff is amazing and attentive. read more

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Really cute environment for a brunch. Didn't get a chance to go upstairs but I thought the morning light indoors was very beautiful. Food is okay, clam chowder was on the thinner side. My friend got the generic breakfast and loved it. I mean you cant go wrong with classics. I meant to write this review for the amazing server but I forgot his name!! Hispanic man, we both felt that he was the perfect balance of attentive, respectful, but also not constantly in your space! Amazing service, a shame I forgot his name to mention. Basically, would come here for ambiance more so than for food. They also have a pretty good rewards program. read more

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Came here for lunch with my partner. I ordered the breakfast burrito and he got the crispy chicken sandwich with fries and a house salad. The food overall was good, the chicken sandwich was crispy and flavorful, and the burrito tasted okay but was a bit messy. The sauce on top made it hard to eat without getting my hands dirty. The service was just okay. Our server wasn't rude to us, but he was really loud and came off as rude to other customers nearby. At one point, a different waiter actually went up to a table and complained about the amount of tip they left, which was really uncomfortable to witness. Also, the bathroom isn't inside the restaurant, which isn't the most convenient. Despite that, the food tasted good, and the outdoor seating had a nice vibe. I'd still give it 4/5 stars mostly for the food and atmosphere, but the service could definitely be better. read more

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Whoever thought it was a good idea to put balsamic glaze on Eggs Benedict should have their culinary license revoked. Wife and I were really looking forward to a nice water-side breakfast experience here for the first time. Hers was OK, but wow I wish I'd had something different. Do NOT get the Eggs Benedict! read more

Perfect 1:00 pm lunch spot. Not too busy. Fantastic views! Server was friendly! Would return. read more

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Loved the ambiance and setting of the restaurant. Parking was easy with free street options nearby or a paid lot. The service was good, nothing over the top but no complaints either. My husband ordered lemon ricotta pancakes and they were incredible! One of the few times I've actually enjoyed pancakes and went in for more! I ordered the chilaquiles and swapped the steak for potatoes and avocado, which worked out perfectly. The cappuccino was also delicious. I want to come back and try the sangria and bloody mary. read more

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First time trying this place. I came with a girlfriend for lunch on a weekday. It wasn't crowded, we were sat and served right away. There's inside and outside seating, both with water view. It wasn't too cold so we opted for outside seating right by their little fire pit. Our server was very attentive and helpful. We shared the Cesar salad with chicken and the clam chowder bread bowl. Both were yummy. It was my first time having a Cesar Salad with the full anchovy visible. We both enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and scenery. We loved that it wasn't so crowded and busy. read more

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First time dining here. Aesthetically pleasing presentation but very lacking on flavor. Service was okay, not over the top. Out of everything that we ordered, the most pleasant one was the beignets. We were seated on the top outdoor patio dining, the view was beautiful. There were heaters available and they were turned on when we were seated. You may bring your pets if you want. read more

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I recently dined here with my family for brunch to celebrate my younger sis and my birthday. We had a lovely experience. Our server was friendly, The food came out in such a quick and timely manner and everything tasted so delicious. The views were beautiful and the bright ambiance in the restaurant was perfect for brunch. Pro Tip: Make sure to make reservations earlier in the day to secure your parking and dining time. We arrived around 11 am for brunch and the parking lot was closed off due to high traffic volume. read more

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This is such a gem. I grew up here and live here as an adult. This is a place i recommend bc the food is so good. The coffee tastes better than any other restaurant and served beautifully, overlooking the gorgeous harbor. It's quaint, scenic, nice service, and a place I want to take my adult kids and out of town guests. read more

I recently went here for my birthday brunch on May 2nd. The menu and Food was quite nice so I was extremely disappointed to be writing this. I clearly and specifically told the waiter that we wanted 3 mimosa specials (enough for 3 entrees for 3 people). He asked to check all of our IDs so we thought it was just precaution because most establishments need to make sure the entire party was of age. When the bill came out, we realized we were charged for 6 people's worth of mimosa specials, which doubled our bill. When we spoke to the waiter, he was extremely rude and dismissed our concerns. He told us that since all 6 of us showed our IDS, he charged for all 6 of us regardless of how many people actually drank. Because of this matter and how rudely we were treated towards our concern, I will not be coming back. And this was extremely disappointing especially since this was my birthday brunch. read more

This is a cute spot to hang out by the marina, the food was perfectly cooked to my taste. I really wanted to sit close to a warmer since it was a bit chilly outside. The service was sweet one of the cleaning crew came to give me a blanket to keep me warm. I definitely recommend this spot. read more

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Awful experience. I ordered the clam chowder, it had a vinegary flavor. Not good. I also had the wagyu burger, medium. It came well done, hard and dry. Did not seem like wagyu beef, a Walmart patty would have been better. The service was ok. The inside of the restaurant was so loud, the acoustics of the place make sounds reverberate and seem like you're stuck in a noise chamber. read more

The view is amazing! Food was ok, nothing special but tasted veey good. The service was very polite and attentive.

Ambience was great! It was my fiancés UCI graduation, and wanted to take him nearby with a view. When I made a reservation, I had requested to sit on the second floor but when we arrived, they had a party who reserved the top floor. Nevertheless, it was still nice on the main outdoor floor. Food was good, and the server was nice. Nothing fancy, very casual, but a nice place to visit. read more

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The view alone could easily give this place five stars, and the unique architecture makes dining here an experience all on its own. Because it is such a popular spot, I highly recommend making a reservation rather than gambling on a walk-in, especially for dinner time. The staff is always incredibly friendly, and the high-quality experience has remained wonderfully consistent since I first started coming here back in 2020. The food is always exceptional across the board--from breakfast and lunch to dinner and dessert, absolutely everything is top-notch. A few of my absolute favorites are the Lighthouse Burger and the airy beignets, though the French toast is also a stellar option if you are stopping by for brunch. The only thing holding me back from a perfect score is the minimal indoor seating; while I love an oceanfront dining experience, it can sometimes get way too cold to sit outside, which also causes the food to cool down a bit too fast. However, with views and flavors this good, it remains a fantastic four-star staple in Newport. read more

Lighthouse - Breakfast Burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The food was good, large portions, and the views are the best if you are seated outside. The yachts and small boats cruise by, and the kids are playing in the sand all while you're eating. Our service was exceptional, our server made a few switches to my omelet, without the "up charges" and it was delicious. The coffee was not drinkable, I asked what brand it was, and our server told us they had just changed the coffee companies and had other complaints about it. Hope they change it back or try Lavazza? We ordered 3 dishes because we had a cute little dog with us who eats people food, and he gobbled up whatever we fed him. I liked this place a lot, and would love to try having dinner here, since they had a nice menu with great views and excellent service! read more

I ordered the mimosas, lobster rolls clam chowder and calamari The mimosa is great, I love how they give the whole pitcher so you don't need to worry about flagging down an employee everytime you finish it. The Clam chowder was amazing, I highly recommend it. It is thick and creamy only complaint I wish mine came out a bit hotter. Calamari was nice and crunchy, I would recommend. I would like marinara as an additional sauce but they one they provide tastes great. I would suggest to ask your server for an extra lemon The Lobster rolls were amazing, a great size and flavor. The bread was warm and crunchy with a good amount of lobster, I felt that with the view it was worth the money. The ambience was nice and great views, staff was amazing, overall would recommend this place. read more

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