Everything Service Foods View Decor. Best in Newport Beach area! Fun atmosphere. read more

Fantastic views, amazing food, and friendly and attentive service! I can't wait to come back.

I've been coming to Rusty Pelican for the past three years to celebrate both my birthday and my bestie's birthday, and it's truly become our favorite spot. It's our go-to place to enjoy a meal together--just us, no kids, good food, and a chance to slow down and connect. We always enjoy the food and the service, but today really stood out. There's good service, and then there's excellent--and Sylvia gave us exactly that. I came in a little early to make sure everything would be special for my bestie's birthday, and Sylvia went above and beyond. She was attentive, thoughtful, and genuinely cared about making the experience feel special. Great place, great food, and today--exceptional service. We'll definitely keep coming back. read more

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Service and views were nice! The rest of my party enjoyed their meal, Striped sea bass and Butternut squash gnocchi. I am vegan and inquired about what options were available and discovered the Roasted Cauliflower is vegan. It was just OK, nothing to write home about. Kind of odd blend of items and flavors in my opinion but I was very pleased to have a vegan option. I believe the Brussel sprouts are also vegan so that's great. read more

Rusty pelican is absolutely amazing! My husband and I have been coming here for many years! It is always great. The food is amazing! The ambience even better but mostly the servers up in the bar / lounge are the absolute best! Eric is awesome- he always serves us with a smile and total respect! He knows our orders before we place them! He is great! Cameron is great too - the nicest! So professional and friendly and super kind Hayley is another excellent server! Always smiling and Nate and Nick and Chad are so great too. Everyone here is great! Sylvia and Paige too! They are all so great! And the food is amazing! Desert is awesome too! Crème brule amazing! Thanks for everything! Deb and Mark from Huntington Beach. We love Rusty's and will always return for more. Even the valet is great! Thanks Rusty's for another great meal and afternoon. read more

Rusty Pelican - Upstairs Bar at Rusty Pelican Newport Beach Ca - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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We had reservations for 6:00 PM on Mother's Day. We arrived a little early but we were seated within 10 minutes at a cozy table on the second floor. We were lucky enough to have Eric as our server. What a memorable experience. The food was amazing, we had the halibut with shrimp scampi that was a special for the day. The fish was prepared perfectly and the shrimp was so tasty. All through the meal Eric was attentive and engaged in fun conversation with us. We picked the crème brûlée for dessert to share. It comes in a delightful presentation in a long skinny vessel with fresh berries and a crunchy torched topping. Everything was perfect, thank you Eric. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Old fashioned. Solid performance. Expensive. Valet parking only. The fish is solid, prepared however you want it. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Still one of my absolute places to eat. The view, the food and staff is also nice. Can't ask for more. The fish is usually my go to and the garlic bread is also good- not extra crispy but good flavor. Parking is valet only. read more

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I came here years ago, and came back again last year. I have to say I am pleasantly surprised by those little restaurant. Beautiful views which you can't beat. The parking lot, though is only ballet, so park in the neighborhood around and take a stroll. I thought the prices were very reasonable. And you really just can't beat the view. I enjoyed the dishes that I have gotten each time, I like to change it up. Can't say I haven't liked anything I've gotten. Service has been great but I go during off peak times. Never rushed. SYOY! read more

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This place came highly recommended by two friends and I can see why. I don't know why we hadn't tried this sooner but so glad I decided to celebrate my birthday here this evening. Service and food and ambiance were all amazing. We made reservations for two at 7pm and were sat immediately. I really wanted to watch the football game so we were dat upstairs. Lots of TVs all around. A bit noisy too but I didn't mind since we were I asked to watch the game. The waiter let us know the downstairs dining is more quiet so if you wanted a more romantic dining experience, ask to be sat at the lower level. Our waiter Eric was splendid and awesomely attentive. Such a nice genuine guy. Always checking on us to make sure we were doing well and if we needed anything. We split the scallops entree to start as our appetizer. The bbq and spice to it were such a great combo. My favorite was our dinner. The Chilean seabass, cooked to perfection. It was juicy and just perfect. Came with garlic mashed potatoes and a couple shrimp. Amazing dish. Definitely recommend it. We also tried the cheesecake dessert. Amazing. Must try! read more

Rusty Pelican - Steam Mussels & Clams - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Came here for lunch on a Monday. Beautiful ocean views. Mind you, patio seating may be in the sun and warm, even inside people were complaining of the direct sun heat. Our waitress was super friendly. Came in after a hike for lunch. Got their cheese burger with fries and a passion fruit iced tea. Burger had a thick patty and was filling. Iced tea was super refreshing. Would come here again based on the service and delicious food i ate. Valet was $10 and didn't seem necessary when they get your car from 20ft away lol. read more

Rusty Pelican - Cheeseburger $19 - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The dishes we order were excellent: lobster bisque soup and Seafood pasta. The source delicious! Great service! And view of Newport Beach can't be beat!!! read more

Great view. Great staff. Amazing drinks. Horrible food. The food was either full of oil or sauce. It was very smothered in it. I felt soo sick afterwards. No matter what I got, it was in a bath of it. The drinks and service were great. I feel like most people come here for the view and vibe which is good but the food was not worth it read more

We came here last night to celebrate our son's 20 years of being cancer free! Food: We started with the crab cakes and the fried asparagus. One of our sons got the kids cheeseburger with fries and mashed potatoes, our other son got the bone-in ribeye. My husband got the surf and turf with shrimp scampi. I got the salmon in lobster sauce. We got two shareable sides which were the asparagus and the lobster Mac and cheese. We got some desserts to go which were the key lime pie, the creme brûlée cheesecake, the NY cheesecake, the molten lava cake, and mocha cake. Service: Our waiter was AMAZING!! Huge shout out to Amir as we told him about our son celebrating 20 years of being cancer free and he went above and beyond for us and for him. Thank you so so much, Amir!! There was one issue, on our way out we ran into the manager and my husband told him about the amazing service that Amir provided and why we dined there, which was our son being 20 years cancer free, and the manager kept wishing our son Happy Birthday. Ambiance: We went at sunset and it was a gorgeous view! I would highly recommend going at sunset and either getting a window view or sitting outside. It is such a cute place in Newport Beach. We would definitely come here again and we would see if Amir could be our waiter again! read more

Great service on a Sunday afternoon. Sat upstairs by the windows. Enjoyed the salmon and crab cakes. Not sure why the rating is low but we had a very nice meal and Sylvia was the best! read more

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This review is solely for their Boat Parade dinner service. Make your reservations in advance. The busiest time of year and one of Newport Beach's most popular events spells disaster for last minute planners. We observed quite a few persons get turned away while waiting for our reservation. Parking is very limited, and thus, is valet only. I do recommend you get there early and with a lot of patience from holiday traffic. Seating for the event begins at 630 and goes very quickly. Until then, you can look for an open seat at the bar or hopefully find a spot to sit in the lobby. The restrooms are a bit small, and there are no elevators, something to keep in mind as you do have to go up or down a flight of stairs to get to the seating areas. There are some outdoor seats, with heaters to keep you from going full Frosty, if thats where you landed. The restaurant has a rustic and romantic feel to it. You have a brilliant view of the passing boats....as long as there are no boats docked in the slips outside. If there are, then you still get a good view, just in between the boats. The five course prix-fixe menu starts off with garlic bread with a choice of two appetizer plates for the table, a starter plate, entree, then dessert. We decided to try their seasonal drinks, the Lychee Blossom and the Blackberry Mint Fizz. The Lychee starts off sweet, then the liquor creeps up on you, very good pours! The Blackberry Mint Fizz is a bit tart, but a squeeze of the lime gives it all new flavor. The garlic bread was nice and crispy, not overly seasoned or salty. We went with the Calamari Fritti and Cajun Shrimp as our table appetizers. The aoli that comes with the calamari has a teensy bit of a kick. The breading is fluffy, but the calamari itself was a bit soft. The cajun shrimp though, comes with a solid punch. If you are sensitive to spicy, I strongly recommend you avoid this. If you love a good tingle, this will rock you. Sweet, then spicy, it leaves you craving more. I was a little underwhelmed with the clam chowder, but a sample bite of the Caesar salad made up for it. We both ordered the bone-in ribeye, and both were cooked perfectly. We saw other dishes pass by and they all looked amazing. The presentation is solid. We rounded off our dinner with their creme brulee cheesecake and mango sorbet. Both were amazing! The timing of the service is just about perfect, as the boat parade starts to pass by just as you start to finish your dessert course, at about 840ish. They dim the lights a bit so that there is less glare, but you still get some from tbe decorative lights. Our server Jessica was amazing and took great care of us! The service was fast and friendly, and she came to check up on us very often. If this is your first time, they do a very good job of explaining everything and answering your questions. Heading out, keep in mind that due to the tight quarters, you may need to walk out to your car, as it may not be possible to have it get pulled around. read more

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I came to the Rusty Pelican for a boat parade party so this is a not dinner review. It is a review of their event service. It was amazing. The food was unbelievably good with so many options. Their seafood (crab legs, shrimp and oysters) were 10/10 great. Other highlights included filet, duck, mini lamb chops (with mint jelly), tiny cones filled with tuna, and their charcuterie was spectacular. We watched the Newport Beach Boat Parade from their patio. The service was top notch with all the servers so friendly. The Rusty Pelican really does it right. I will be back for dinner soon. read more

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We truly had a great experience here. We didn't have a reservation and decided to go last minute (7pm on a Saturday) and we only waited 5 minutes for 3 of us. Our waiter and waitress were very kind and welcoming. There is lots of seating available upstairs and downstairs with great views of the water. The food was also delicious with so much flavor in each bite. I would recommend any of these 3 dishes and we will definitely be back! read more

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Great Valentine's Day dinner! Cameron was awesome and great attitude. Very nice restaurant and good food. The Cajun shrimp app was phenomenal. The chefs choice sea bass was 90% good, my filet had some tough bites and redness. My wife's was a perfect filet. -1 star for bathrooms. Very small men's and women's for the size of establishment. Constant waiting to use the tiny stall in the men's room and the 2 in the women's. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Came here to have lunch with a friend visiting from NY. We had a reservation at 11:30 and were seated right away. Blake our server was very knowledgeable about the dishes and was super attentive! The food was amazing! Everything was fresh and wonderful! Hadn't been here since I was a kid. Highly recommend it! read more

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We wanted to enjoy fresh fish while in town and after hunting the Rusty Pelican was the top choice. We called ahead at noon to see if they could get us in for lunch (party of 2) for 1 pm, they had no problem making space for us. Not to mention it is a holiday today - Labor Day. We ordered the garlic bread, shrimp cocktail, bacon wrapped filet, and the swordfish firepot. The garlic bread came with a lot of pieces, very similar to Texas toast but on a French bread. The shrimp cocktail came with 6 large pieces. The bacon wrapped filet was cooked at medium and they did a good job, it comes with a nice helping of seasoned butter along with mashed potatoes and some fresh roasted veggies. Lastly the swordfish was delicious, it was cooked well not dry, nice char on the outside with the seasoning, slightly spicy. It's an interesting mix of Asian and Cajun seasonings and came with 3 normal sized shrimp plus rice. read more

Rusty Pelican - Bacon wrapped filet and the swordfish firepot - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Wow ! Just wow ! The food here is delicious, from the appetizers, to the mains, to the dessert. The service here was phenomenal, I was here for an engagement dinner and man the staff here was on top of it. Habibi was an amazing server constantly always checking up on us and making sure we were served and hydrated. The view from the patio is amazing but even the inside is very homey looking. The bathrooms are quite small especially the stalls. The parking is Valet only and it's just $10 just in case anyone wondered. ORDERED: Petite Filet - 9/10 (Cooked to a medium rare) Molten Chocolate Cake - 8/10 (Rich and Thick) Garlic Bread - 8/10 (Crunchy and Tasty) Clam Chowder - 7/10 (Creamy) Paloma - 8/10 (Sweet) read more

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We ordered the crab cakes, lobster mac and cheese, crab bisque, and the lobster tail with steak everything was absolutely delicious. The flavors were rich and perfectly prepared. The service and ambiance were outstanding, and they even surprised us with a complimentary cheesecake for my birthday, which was such a thoughtful touch. Overall, an amazing dining experience. We will definitely be returning! read more

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This was unfortunately my first and likely last visit to the Rusty Pelican. We arrived for an early dinner around 4:45 and didn't leave until 7:30, not because we wanted a long, leisurely evening, but because the service was extremely slow. While I understand restaurants can have challenges (short staffing, kitchen delays, etc.), it shouldn't take over an hour just to place an entrée order. On the positive side, the atmosphere is lovely. Most guests were dressed up, which gave the evening a more elevated feel, and the outdoor seating area offers a beautiful view. I'd recommend requesting a table outside if possible. As for the food, it fell short of expectations. We ordered the house special: halibut over mashed potatoes with shrimp in butter sauce. Unfortunately, the shrimp arrived lukewarm and the fish was slightly overcooked. Nothing was terrible, but nothing stood out either. It was nice to try something new, but given the slow service and underwhelming meal, we don't plan on returning read more

Rusty Pelican - Halibut Special - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

What a gem! After a long day of travel, we hit this cute spot for dinner. We ordered the black cod flagship and blackened scallops, intending to share the dishes. We were not disappointed. The back cod flagship may be one of the very best fish dishes I have ever had. Cooked and perfect and a perfect balance of spices and acid, this dish was amazing! We learned the one of their executive chefs introduced the dish during their initial interview and it had been on the menu in some form since then. The blackened scallops were equally delicious, cooked perfectly and paired with a sweet delicious creamed corn. Amazing! read more

A beautiful restaurant right on the water, perfect for both business dinners and special occasions. I had a wonderful evening here with some business partners and it exceeded expectations. The menu offers a great selection of entrées and the wine list is impressive with plenty of options to pair with your meal. The food was delicious, the service was attentive, and the ambiance made the whole experience feel elevated yet comfortable. Great food, great service, and a stunning view. What more could you ask for? Definitely a spot worth returning to. read more

Parking was valet only so I parked on the street close by and it wasn't bad. Inside is gorgeous & a lovely view of the harbor. Service was very friendly & fast. We got garlic bread to start which was great & I had the swordfish firepot which was flavorful & tasty. My friend got the seafood pasta which was okay read more

Was here for a conference and on the last day of the conference there was a group dinner here. The view and service were both amazing but truthfully, I wasn't impressed with the food. We had different appetizers that ranged from shrimp, to garlic bread to fried asparagus? The clam chowder and my rose was pretty good but apart but that the food wasn't incredible. Don't think I'd be back unless it was for drinks or happy hour. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The views are five stars, of course. And as with most waterfront restaurants, that's what you're really paying for. Hey, those oceanside rents don't pay for themselves! Thankfully, I came here for a work/team dinner so I didn't have to open my wallet. My Shrimp Scampi was pretty tasty, but laughably small in portion size. Then I remembered that this was LA/South Bay, and being thin is basically a city mandate. So in defiance, I also ordered the giant Crème Brûlée Cheesecake for dessert--because let's face it, none of the other skinny betches in that restaurnat were going to order it. It was delectably creamy and toasty. I washed it all down with the Pineapple-Sage Mule, a somewhat watered down rum creation that was disappointingly light on the pineapple--or maybe my expectations were too high having just spent the week before in Maui. read more

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We had a celebration dinner last night, party of 7. Our server, Joseph provided excellent service, including timely pacing of food courses. Cocktails were great and the food was outstanding. Apps we ordered were crab cakes, calamari fritti, dozen oysters on the half shell and garlic bread. Dinner entrees ordered: lemon caper mahi mahi, New York strip, blackened sea scallops, surf and turf, salmon with lobster sauce, filet mignons and crème brûlée for dessert. Highly recommend and great for groups. read more

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we were a group of eight and slightly late to our reservation because we were out on the water, but they were kind enough to hold our reservation until our boat docked and we were able to get seated without an issue. The service here was really good from beginning to end and they were all so kind to us. I was designated driver on this day, so no drinks for me, but my entrée was delicious! I'm hoping I can go back during the spring or summer when the weather is warmer so I can give them another try! read more

Rusty Pelican - miso cod - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Came here for a birthday party which was held on the second floor of the restaurant When you arrive you realize the parking situation is small and it's only valet which honestly is a pain because you feel forced to have to now spend $8 whether you want to or not especially if you aren't from the area to know where other parking lots are at and from what I saw it really looks limited anywhere to park so that to me is a bit of a downer but I guess that's Newport Beach for ya lol The staff was all very friendly though and the arrive was prompt and good despite them having to take a huge order for everyone picking from the limited party menu The seating arrangement was a little tight so I'm super glad I sat at the end but if I had sat at any other table I would have been stuck lol but maybe that's just lack of space for the size of the party but otherwise the view overlooking the water and boats was fantastic I wish I had taken photos of all the delicious food but I was so busy chatting and enjoying the party but my filet mignon was cooked perfectly and the shrimp and calamari was great and the cheesecake was good read more

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The best thing they have is the Cajun Shrimp appetizer. Be sure to ask for extra of the garlic bread that comes with it because it's very good. The surf and turf applewood bacon wrapped filet mignon steak with Australian lobster tail was decent. The black cod flagship had an identity crisis because the cod was nice and delicate as expected, but the sauce was way too potent and harsh. I assume the orange ginger black cod must be better. read more

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Long-standing go to on the Newport coast the Pelican has been a part of my family dining experience for decades and never ceases to live-up to its image. The service is always top-notch, the food is incredible and what better dining table than on the Newport Marina? Not sure which I like better, the evening or daylight views Both make the experience second to none. I had the Caprese salad with the bone-in rid eye which was cooled to perfection and seasoned the same. The black cod was also deliciously satisfying! Our waitress had a great personality and very easy to talk to and joke with. She made it an even better experience! Great for a date night and even a large family (10-12) which I saw enjoying the Pelican as well! read more

Put dinner was great. Michelle, our server was amazing. So attentive. She fixed the wobble on our table outside when we didn't even ask. Mentioned my son's birthday, and she brought out cheese cake read more

Rusty Pelican - Cam and cheese cake - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Finally got to try this place. It was super busy in the evening and couldn't get a table because we didn't have a reservation. But luckily there was seating upstairs at bar. There are several high tops you can sit at. There was a wedding reception going on upstairs but service was still good and prompt. I tried their scallops as my entree and wow it was probably the best scallop entree I've ever had. Flavors were amazing and had a little kick. Can't wait to be back to try the other items! The dinner views is beautiful as well. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood pasta - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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I'll be honest, the bad reviews made me nervous. I had some Landry's gift cards to use so I made reservations for the day after Valentine's. We were 30 minutes late because of bad traffic in Newport. They still accommodated us but maybe we could have had better seating if we got here on time. We sat at a high top by the bar. It was close to the fire place and you could still see the pretty sunset so it was fine. Each person working that night was super courteous and helpful. The hostess was super sweet. Our waitress had great energy and was very attentive all night. They keep your tables nice and clean throughout year meal. It was stellar. They don't have a lot of things on their menu but they have something for everyone IMO. My husband got the Orange ginger sea bass and I got the cioppino. We both also got the clam chowder. The clam chowder had good flavor, it was mostly potatoes but it still left us satisfied. The sea bass was perfection, would not change one thing! Was kind of jealous! The cioppino was one of the best I've had. Great portion of seafood, great flavor, just wished they put scallops in it. I also had a Newport Mojito and a mud pie. The mud pie was so amazing I cannot believe we ate the whole thing. Mojito was tasty, a little sweet but still yummy. Ambiance was perfect for us. Not to young and loud. Not too old and dead. Was definitely a great night for us. I would come back WITHOUT gift cards LOL read more

Rusty Pelican - Cioppino - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Our waitperson did a very nice job and earned their tip. The fish was about a 1/2" thin and overcooked. I love risotto but this tasted like it was pulled from the freezer and dropped in the deep fryer. The best part of this dish was the carrots so that tells you something. The atmosphere is amazing with beautiful views and the cocktails were delightful. read more

Rusty Pelican - Chilean Seabass, Risotto Cake and carrots- $72. - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

We came here to celebrate a birthday dinner and unfortunately left very disappointed. From the start, our waitress (tall, short brown hair with highlights) felt very aloof and robotic, with little warmth or friendliness. She was inattentive throughout the evening--passing our table multiple times without checking in, despite there being only a few other tables nearby. Other servers appeared far more present with their guests. We ordered several appetizers: garlic bread, goat cheese soufflé, and coconut shrimp. To be fair, all of the starters were great and were the highlight of the meal. For entrées, we ordered two New York strip steaks (one medium rare, one well done), a surf and turf (filet mignon medium well with lobster tail), Pacific cod, and shrimp scampi. When the plates arrived, a couple of other servers encouraged us to cut into our steaks to ensure they were cooked correctly. The New York strips looked fine, but the filet mignon was purple/blue and completely raw inside. A server immediately took it back before we could take a photo. While the steak was being refired, the manager came over and said, "That steak we brought out was cooked medium well. Do you want us to cook it at the same temperature?" This felt extremely dismissive and borderline gaslighting, considering the steak was clearly raw. After some time, the refired filet came back properly cooked, but the entire interaction was unnecessary and uncomfortable. Later, we asked our waitress for drink refills and waited quite a while with no follow-up. We flagged down another server who said she would bring them right over, but nothing arrived. We then saw our waitress standing in the kitchen hallway chatting. When she walked past our table, we tried to get her attention and were ignored. Again, this was especially frustrating since there were only about three other tables near us. I had to remind her that we were celebrating a birthday before a slice of cheesecake with a candle was brought out. When we received the check, it totaled a little over $400 and we split it into two payments. Despite the very poor service, she still received a 15% tip from both parties, which felt generous given the circumstances. As we were heading to the lobby before retrieving our car from valet, the waitress approached us and said we hadn't paid in full because she "only saw one receipt," even though she was holding two check presenters. We explained that we had given two cards. My brother suggested she check the second book, but she said she couldn't because it belonged to another table and told us she could reprint the bill so we could pay again. This was completely unacceptable. Moments later, as we walked back toward the now-cleared table, she suddenly said she was mistaken and "confused." That was the final straw. Between the inattentive service, mishandled food, dismissive management response, and being falsely told we hadn't paid, this experience was far from what you'd expect at a restaurant of this caliber. We will not be returning. read more

Celebrated my cousin's birthday at Rusty Pelican recently, we had wonderful experience. Parking is primarily valet only. Soon as we checked-in, we were seated immediately. Our windows seats offered amazing view of the Newport Bay. The vibrant wood design and classic seafarer decor gives the restaurant old school charm. We started off with some calamari and steamed mussels & clams. The calamari was delicious, tempura batter really enhances texture of the calamari. Garlic wine sauce of steamed mussels & clams was flavorful. We got some garlic bread for soaking up those incredible sauce. For entrée, I had the sea bass flagship with broccolini while the rest of the party got seafood pasta. The sea bass was outstanding. Perfectly seared outside and firm flaky inside. It was seasoned with cajun spices and brandy topped with sante fe butter for ultimate eating pleasure...so tempted to lick the plate afterwards. Everyone enjoyed seafood pasta. It was loaded with mussels, clams and shrimp; accompanied with lovely cream sauce. The bottle of Justin Cabernet Sauvignon was the perfect complement to our meal. For dessert, my cousin got complimentary butter cake with berries compote for his birthday. We also got a mud pie which was yummerz! All in all, fabulous seaside meal worthy of return visit. Portions were perfect and our bellies were satisfied. Good service - staff was friendly and attentive. read more

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