daughter and I came to Balboa Island for dinner and a walk…read more first of all...WOW this is the most amazing town I have ever visited ...ever.. USA all the way!!! the decor is over the top AMAZING we walked around and perused menu's and Yelp to figure out where we were going to eat (this was an impulse trip so new pre planning) I have no intel and any restaurants in this area and I'm pretty happy with our choice. I imagine there are better places and places that are not as good. we did not have a reservation (obviously) and it was a slight issue....if we had come any later we would not have gotten a seat. I think we arrived around 6. daughter and I ordered a salad and pasta to share and they split both entree's for us. that's quite nice. salad: romaine, arugula, shaved Brussels done Caesar style. this was so darn amazing !!! I will try to replicate it Pasta: Short Rib Fettuccine. explanation is in the name + topped with fried basil leaves which added a nice touch service was friendly ..but I did have to get up to ask to pay my bill. there seemed to be regulars at the bar area ...so it may be a local fav. I liked it.. food was good atmosphere was nice 1 single unisex bathroom you would be lucky to find parking nearby.

Decent food, perfect vibe. This neighborhood joint feels like they transported a cute and quaint…read morepub directly out of the English countryside. They're a bit light on the seasoning but their fish and chips were still delicious. I also love the rustic cut of their fries. Caesar salad is definitely a skip. Burger is just fine. We loved their wine and beer selection though. Tell me another place you can find a grapefruit Radler in OC!?! Their hostess also needs to be a bit more self awareness. She was chatting with a friend nonstop and had us waiting with no acknowledgement while we were waiting to check in for a reservation. It was a bit annoying but respect and quick service goes a long way.

Absolutely Amazing Experience!…read more What an incredible dining experience! From the moment we arrived, everything was fantastic, but the steak was truly the star of the show. Cooked perfectly, incredibly tender, flavorful, and exactly what you want when you're craving a great steak. Every bite was delicious! A huge shout-out to Amber, our waitress, who made the experience even better. She was attentive, warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely made us feel taken care of throughout the entire meal. Great service can make or break a restaurant experience, and Amber absolutely nailed it! Between the amazing food, beautiful atmosphere, and exceptional service, this is definitely a place I would come back to--and recommend to anyone looking for a memorable night out. Ask for Amber if you go--you won't be disappointed!

This is a delayed review for a private event at Olea. I reached out to Olea after talking to maybe…read more20 other restaurants about hosting a party of 35 folks for my sister's bridal shower. Many restaurants had so many restrictions (little to no decorations, flowers had to be put away during lunch, no gift table, etc) that it put a damper in the planning process until we reach out to Olea. Glows: Kacie, Sten, and all the staff at Olea were amazing! Responses to my emails were done within 24-48 hours. Kacie and Sten were super communicative prior to the event and were transparent about what they could and could not do. They were super flexible with everything in terms of decorations, ambiance, drinks and food. Sten was super helpful the day before and the day of, offering to help setup decorations even though we were the ones responsible for that. Many of us had never been there due to being from Northern CA so it was a risk in booking the space for a luncheon, but the food and drinks were amazing! We were running behind during the luncheon and Sten was super flexible with allowing us to stay a little longer. I was super appreciative of that since it was a Bridal Shower and we wanted to make sure we were able to play all the games but also mingle and eat! If you need to plan an event - Olea is highly recommended!

Such a fun spot with surprisingly good food! Parking is on the street, I believe you can also valet…read morebut I found parking no problem on the weekend. High reccomend reservations. We sat outside & it was fun to people watch. Inside there are seats but it was very loud with the DJ (the host said that there were seats that weren't loud). Ambiance was fun & nice. We got some wine & I had the Rothschild Cesar salad & the pistachio pesto spaghetti both of which were amazing. Our server was lovely & attentive. Would def recommend.

This place was outstanding! Small but mighty place!! Seating was tight (cozy)…read more SERVICE: The evening we were here as a large group, we had Stephanie as our server - so sweet and attentive. She took care of us perfectly. 10 stars!! FOOD: Wow! Everyone loves their choices. From the steak to the pasta, everything came out perfect and tasty!! You have to try this place if you haven't yet. We are definitely coming back.

Lost Wallet. $15. Jack Daniels , skrewball peanut butter whiskey, lemon , Gifford Orgeat, mint -…read morevery good. Not overly peanut flavor. I would get again Black walnut old fashioned $13. Was ok but pretty normal old fashioned for me. Not a fan. Coastal halibut $29. Rice, creamy Parmesan, spinach, broccolini and roasted Carrots. - rice was very creamy and delicious. Fish was cooked perfectly Fish tacos were salmon. We're very good. $21 Joshua Smith as our server and very personable and a good server. For the area not a bad price for the quality.

Cute spot on the main drag in Corona del Mar. A few tables on the street and some booths in the…read morefront windows are busy on lovely days. We stopped for a quick beverage and a snack. Partner tried the margarita, made with fresh lime! The waitstaff hustle on the nice weekend days. The bathrooms are outside next to the parking lot for a couple spots. Friends report excellent fries. Right across the street from the nice Sherman Library & Gardens.

Excellent food, excellent service, and excellent atmosphere. Everything I order, I'm blown away…read moreevery time. You have try the boar gnocchi, the brown butter sage ravioli, the baked ziti, the filet, chicken parm, and san daniele pizza. I could keep the list going forever

We came on a Monday and was surprised to see how crowded it was. We had a reservation so we were…read moreseated pretty quickly. We sat on the patio at the entrance which was set up nicely and covered with open windows which was perfect and quaint. They brought out bread and a dip that I believe was pesto and olive oil the was really good. I ordered the linguine cacio e pepe and it was ok, my daughter ordered the meat ravioli which was delicious. I will definitely return to try more of the offered dishes.

A perfect restaurant for a night out!…read more I would honestly give a 5/5 in all areas to The Dock, the food was exquisite and the staff were all very friendly and attentive. The space is a bit small but very lovely and you can see the harbor right from where you eat. There's even a private walkway you can go to and take pictures or enjoy the scenery. We got the halibut, scallops, lamb, duck, and (not pictured here) the soup de jour which, for us, was the gazpacho. Overall I would say everything was a delight to eat, everything was tender, juicy, and had just the right amount of sauce and toppings. For me, the soup was the stand out though, one of the best gazpachos I've ever had and I'm not usually a cold soup kind of person. The dock is an upscale seafood restaurant that I believe may use French inspired techniques? Which I would say is the only critique I could have of it. Everything was so tender and perfect, some dishes started feeling a little one note (a very very good note though). There were a variety of ingredients that came on all the plates that, but felt like they never veered far enough to create a more interesting balance for the palate. A classic complaint of my steak too juicy, my lobster too buttery. But technique-wise everything was executed perfectly but I would say if you are more of an adventurous eater you should definitely talk to your waiter/waitress and ask for their advice. Would definitely recommend for any special occasion or if you want enjoy the most fork (dare I even say, spoon) tender meal of your life.

Reservations are necessary. We told the hostess this was our first time here and had requested a…read moretable close to the harbor... she remarked that 'everyone' wants a close table to the harbor so ...no for us. Ha! Seating is very close to other tables ... our 'neighbors' were loud and boisterous... we found it hard to converse and even relax until they left. We normally share a dinner and there are added charges for that... $5. for the first share. $8. for the 2nd. No biggie... we prefer small plates. The food was very good. The service was fine...There is lots of competition for that in Newport. Shorebird is much roomier, has the same view, validated parking and great food as well. You have to REALLY love The Dock to go again and they are normally booked up so many do!

My fiance treated me to a birthday dinner at 21 Oceanfront while we were vacationing here over the…read moreweekend. Located in the very busy oceanfront of Newport Beach, this is a true classic steakhouse. It has that old school steakhouse vibe, but with stunning ocean views. Parking can be tricky if it's during a peak time, but we were able to find street parking a few blocks down and enjoyed a nice walk along the beach. The servers were attentive during our dining experience and made a point to wish me happy birthday multiple times. The bread service was delicious, both rolls were soft and it was hard to not fill up on those alone! I had a lychee martini, which was bright and just subtly sweet. I do feel that it's overpriced at $21, but that's the local pricing. The French Onion Soup was one of the best I've had. The broth was full of flavor, but not a heavy beef flavor like many others. The cheese, onions and bits of bread were plentiful. Our entrees were both delicious. I had the Chilean Sea Bass and it was perfectly cooked, moist and flaky with a nice sear. The mustard sauce was a surprisingly tasty addition. I'm not a mustard fan, so I was leery, but I couldn't taste it, it just added some acidity and rounded out the flavor. The bok choy was sauteed and still had some texture. My fiance had the Prime New York steak, medium, and it was as ordered. We both felt it was good, but not the best steak either of us have had. The garlic mashed potatoes were okay, nothing special. They rounded out our meal with a complementary chocolate dessert for my birthday. It was a cross between a cake and a brownie, it was soooo good! Unfortunately I was so full that I could only have a few bites. This is a great date night or special occasion restaurant with beautiful ocean views.

We left this restaurant disappointed--not because of the food, $400 average dining experience but…read morebecause of how our dining experience ended; addressed matter with management and it was completely ignored. We enjoyed our meal, ordered dessert, and were still finishing a bottle of wine when we were asked to leave our table and move to the bar because another reservation was waiting. While we understand that restaurants need to honor reservation schedules, asking paying guests to relocate in the middle of dessert and wine felt disrespectful and rushed. Fine dining is about more than the quality of the food; it's about hospitality and making guests feel welcome throughout the entire experience. We never expected to be hurried out before we had finished our meal. Better planning between reservation management and table pacing could have avoided putting customers in such an uncomfortable position. Unfortunately, what should have been an enjoyable evening ended on a disappointing note. We hope management reviews how situations like this are handled, because the last impression is often the one guests remember most.

Went for dinner and it was so good, we went back for breakfast a few days later. Great food and…read moreservice in a relaxed environment.

Terrific restaurant. We always visit when we're in Newport Beach. Southern style cooking and the…read morebest Bloody Marys anywhere.