Eric was fantastic. He gave great service at the bar. All the food recommendations were excellent. Truly a beautiful restaurant. If we lived in town we'd be regulars. read more

Erik was amazing. if I could poach him to work at my restaurant I would in a heartbeat. greets to the chefs they made top class food for us all. aces in my book. read more

The food here is very delicious and the views are so beautiful. Everyone is kind and serves you with joy and respect. Absolutely recommend this place! read more

Rusty Pelican - Salmon plate absolutely delicious! - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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This place sure is rusty... Imagine waiting 1 hour for slow service, up-charging without even saying it costs extra, and getting the borderline inedible food. The salad I got was snotted with a healthy portion of the WORST Italian dressing I've ever had and was $10 for some salad greens and pickled vegetables. The entree I chose was the seafood pasta. $32 for a flavorless soup of 4 shrimp, a few lumps of fish, and a couple measly scallops. Go figure the protein costs the most to them, that might be why they up-charged me just to add spinach. Our server was straight up disrespectful I could hear her laughing at us from the kitchen. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY HERE! Update: place gave me food poisoning too read more

We went to the rusty pelican for dinner and we were very disappointed in the food and service. We have been here before and it was great but not sure if they are under new management with new chef but this night they did not know how to cook seafood. My halibut came out raw it was not just kind of raw it was completely raw, could not cut into it. I Sent it back and they just tried to put the same fish back on grill so then it was overcooked dry and tasteless. Managment said sorry gave us free dessert. But I was looking forward to the halibut the waitress said it was the chef special. Also the sea bass looked and tasted like cheap cod. Not sure if they are cutting cost. They had a big party going on so I'm sure the back area was overwhelmed but it's not our fault if they are not staffed properly. Also we had a trainee as a waiter and the manager that was training him was pretty rude. He seemed like he would have done just fine without her breathing down his neck. We will try this place again at some point but give it time to get their act together. read more

I had a "fish dish" here a couple years ago and remembered how good it was, so when I came back and saw it was still on the menu, there wasn't much of a decision to make. The Swordfish Firepot was just as delicious as I remembered. Swordfish with a Cajun chili barbecue marinade, Cajun spices, shrimp, pineapple-mango salsa and jasmine rice. Lots of flavor, well prepared and fresh. The sweet salsa, spicy sauce, grilled fish and shrimp all work really well together. I also had a half wedge salad, which was delicious and the perfect size with the entrée. Sat at the bar, caught some of the World Cup and enjoyed the beautiful Newport Harbor view. It's hard to beat the atmosphere here. If you want something a little more upscale with a great waterfront setting, Rusty Pelican is a great choice. The outside area is cool too, and the service was very friendly. One extra tip: join Landry's Select Club. I had a $25 birthday reward, and they also surprised me with a piece of cheesecake for my birthday. Nice touch and a pretty good way to finish an already great meal. You'll spend a couple more dollars here, but between the food, service, atmosphere, view and the birthday perks, it's worth it. Great meal and definitely a place I'll keep coming back to. read more

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Ended up at this restaurant by chance as it was closeby and they had seating available to watch the world cup games. While we came for the games and a cocktail, we turned out to also be big fans of the food. We started with the Goat Cheese Souffle which was a larger portion than we expected and thoroughly enjoyed. Of course by the waterfront we had to try the shrimp cocktail which also had a bigger portion than we were used to seeing at typical steakhouses. If you're in for dinner or in the mood for a more substantial meal we ended up ordering the surf and turf with the North Australian Lobster Tail and upgraded the 6 oz filet to the 8oz which both proteins were cooked to absolute perfection. The host up front was an incredibly friendly and nice young man that was more than happy to assist us and letting us look around, and it was really him that convinced us to stay when we walked in haha. Our server and the bartender upstairs were very professional and had great recommendations as well. Overall it ended up being a nice outing with a great view. read more

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Everything was so perfect. Our waitress was so attentive, all the appetizers, drinks, food and desserts were to die for. We were having a blast enjoying lunch while observing some people learning how to sail with some fell of the boat! Valet parking only, $10 + tip. This restaurant is Landry's, in which the same company with Rainforest cafe. If you are staying at Holiday Inn Newport Express, you can just walk here. It was across the hotel. read more

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We love coming here for dinner whenever we are in town. It is the coolest spot, right near the ocean and ever so comfortable. It just can't be beat for local flavor. The service there is just great. Everyone is so nice and some have worked there for quite a bit. I saw servers I know. Very nice. The entire place is spotless and it is so comfortable inside and out. They have a full bar. All of their food items are great. We love their lobster and steak and their crab cakes are just so tasty. They have great salads and their vegetables are fresh and cooked nicely. There is something for vegetarians, but I don't think a vegan would be happy here, the menu is very limited for them. You have to try the garlic bread, it is the best in Newport. It is just the best place. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Had an incredible dinner at the Rusty Pelican! We came here to celebrate a birthday with a large group (10). Making a reservation was a breeze and we even got seated early! It was everyone's first time here. The view of the Harbour is incredible. Worth coming here just for that! The service was exceptional throughout the entire meal. Eric was attentive, personable, and made our meal even better. Great menu for both food and drinks! Plenty of seafood and land options for entrees. We started with the calamari and coconut shrimp. So good! Dinner wise, I tried the Seafood Pasta - fantastic! Would get again! Everything we ordered was delicious during the course of the meal. They even surprised us with a birthday treat at the end of the meal! Rusty Pelican is a must try! Great service, food, and of course views. Can't wait to come back again! read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Exceptional service, truly the best we've had in OC. For food, stick to fish- it's incredible here. Salads/veggies/garlic bread- not so much. We had halibut and cod and the were both 10 out of 10 Atmosphere is unbeatable aside from crappy AI generated music (please just put on a downtempo YouTube mix, would be way better). All said and done, we will always be back. Thanks guys read more

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Amazing experience! Wonderful food! Wonderful view. Sooo accommodating! Above all the whole entire staff was extremely kind and lovely! Will return. Special mention to Chad for being such a gem! read more

I had dinner tonight at the Rusty Pelican. I couldn't wait to give a 5 star review. We went to celebrate my Birthday dinner. it's been 20 plus years since I've eaten here. Due to the fact I don't live in the area. However we had the most amazing dinner, such a beautiful place to gather and enjoy a great meal. Very pleased with the service Ashtyn hit all the marks. She even gave me a slice of cheese cake for my Birthday I will definitely not wait another 20 years to go back! read more

Rusty Pelican - Dinner with my family at the Rusty Pelican. - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Our waiter on August 18, Nelson was absolutely one of the best waiter experiences that my wife and I have ever had. Thank you Nelson for making our dining at the Rusty Pelican so delightful. Ken and Carol read more

Came here for a celebration and was outside on the patio. Patio area was beautiful with view of waterfront and sunset. Ordered the chicken picatta - the pasta and sauce itself was super delicious!! The chicken was a bit dry. Also realized enjoyed the cheesy bread appetizer. Caesar salad was pretty standard. read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Loved coming here for dinner, had a nice glass of wine. Enjoyed the view of the water and great customer service. Chicken and shrimp and potatoes and asparagus. Also enjoyed two desserts, cheesecake and chocolate cake. Definitely recommend! read more

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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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

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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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

I cannot recommend this restaurant, especially for anyone with a disability or mobility challenges. We came to celebrate Father's Day with my disabled father-in-law, my 7-year-old son, my husband, and our family. Unfortunately, the evening turned into one of the most stressful and upsetting experiences we have ever had at a restaurant. The first red flag appeared before we even entered the building. A valet vehicle was parked in the striped wheelchair access aisle next to a disabled parking space. This area exists for a reason: it allows wheelchair users and people with walkers to safely enter and exit their vehicles. When I pointed this out to the valet attendant, I was told that they had the keys and could move the vehicle if necessary. That completely missed the point. Accessible access aisles should never be blocked in the first place. After that, we were directed toward what we were told was the accessible entrance. We had to go around the restaurant only to find the pathway cluttered with high chairs and other furniture, making it unnecessarily difficult to navigate. When we finally reached the door marked for disabled access, it was locked. At that point, there was no staff assistance, no clear directions, and no visible signage explaining how disabled guests were supposed to enter. Nearby there was an open gate with no indication that it led to a private area. Believing it might be the entrance because the designated accessible entrance was locked, I entered with my son to try to find help while my father-in-law waited outside. Shortly afterward, the gate locked behind us. What followed was completely unacceptable. We found ourselves trapped, unable to exit, with no meaningful assistance from staff. Ultimately, we had to call the firefighters ourselves for help. The fact that guests had to contact emergency services to resolve a situation created by poor accessibility, poor signage, and a lack of staff guidance is astonishing. What made the situation even more alarming was the solution proposed by the staff. The area where we were trapped was surrounded by ocean water on both sides. Instead of finding a safe way to open the gate or obtaining assistance from management, staff suggested that we pass my 7-year-old son through the fence. My son has mobility challenges of his own, and no one appeared to consider the obvious safety risks of that suggestion. A child losing balance near the edge could have resulted in a catastrophic accident. We were told that they did not have the key to the gate and that there was essentially no other solution. The lack of judgment, risk assessment, and concern for safety was deeply disturbing. What made the situation even worse was the attitude of the staff throughout the entire ordeal. Rather than showing concern, taking responsibility, apologizing, or attempting to help, several employees were dismissive, rude, and lacked even basic compassion. At no point did anyone seem prepared to handle what had become an emergency situation. We were left to solve the problem on our own while caring for an elderly disabled family member and a young child. The blocked wheelchair access aisle was the first issue that triggered a chain of accessibility failures throughout the evening. Between the obstructed access area, the cluttered pathways, the locked accessible entrance, the lack of clear signage, the gate that locked behind us, the unsafe suggestions made by staff, and the absence of any meaningful assistance, this experience demonstrated a complete disregard for accessibility, safety, and customer care. What should have been a Father's Day celebration became a stressful, frightening, and entirely avoidable safety incident. I sincerely hope management takes accessibility, emergency preparedness, and customer service much more seriously in the future, because no family should have to go through what we experienced. read more

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This place is amazing! Everything we ordered was absolutely delicious! The service is great! The restaurant overlooks the ocean so great view. read more

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I just returned from the Rusty Pelican, a restaurant I haven't been to for many years. Then ambiance was beautiful and relaxing. The service was friendly and prompt. There were 6 guests and our orders included appetizers of calamari and baked goat cheese soufflé. Main orders varied: burrata utter it Squash Gnocchi (my choice!), two orders of crab cakes, coconut shrimp, wedge salad, shrimp saga salad and chicken picatta. Desert was a difficult choice since the offering were many but we decided to share the Crème Brûlée cheesecake and the Mocha almond fudge mud pie. I must give a big thank you to our waiter, Nelson. He was very attentive to our requests and knew the menu well. He is an excellent representative of this wonderful restaurant. We all agreed we would like to return!! read more

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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We had such a wonderful time at Rusty Pelican! The food, drinks, ambiance and views were all fantastic. A huge shoutout to Eric for making our dinner date night an amazing and enjoyable experience. Key Lime Pie is a must! Exceptional service from start to finish! read more

Restaurant interior and exterior were pleasant. The food was good, side of mushrooms was great! One waitress and waiter we got to interact with (not so good) one waitress that was helping a nearby table (which we would've had her instead) she was awesome, sorry I couldn't get her name, but she was just amazing, the way she presented the options for the day to that table and her overall interaction sounded amazing. Our waitress didn't even mention anything (it was like we were just another obstacle to finishing up her shift). I'll rate it 4 out of 5 and I'm being generous. read more

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Eric our server was amazing, super attentive. The food was off the charts amazing! Even if the food was not good, which it was delicious I would come back for the service. Thank you, Eric! read more

Rusty Pelican - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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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Amazing food. The service is great. The outdoor patio on a beautiful sunny day compliments the meal perfectly. read more

Rusty Pelican - Salmon with lobster sauce - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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

Exceptional service, consistently the best we've had in OC For food, stick to fish- it's incredible here. Salads/veggies/garlic bread- not so much. This evening we had halibut and cod and the were both 10 out of 10 Atmosphere is unbeatable aside from crappy AI generated music (please just put on a downtempo YouTube mix, would be way better). All said and done, we will always be back. Thanks guys read more

Rusty Pelican - Macadamia crusted halibut with mango salsa. - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I'm a little older than the clientele so I found it quite noisy although I did go on a weekend The service was good and Food was also tasty and the View is especially nice read more

My wife and I are on a short getaway and decided to try Rusty Pelican. It's a restaurant which has been around for well more than 50 years, so there must be something. Well, when we walked in, the place was full, and you can see it's not brand new. Not bad, mind you, just a nice war, feeling. Now for the meal. We began with a Lemon Drop Martini (wife's) and a Smoky Old Fashioned. My wife rave about her drink so of course, I had to have a sip and she was right. So refreshing and delicious. My OF was also excellent. We ordered Warm Garlic Bread and it was yummy and went well with our drinks. Next up was a Shrimp Cocktail. Although I have received larger pieces of shrimp elsewhere, at least here, you receive a lot of Shri,p. The cocktail sauce had a real bite to it, which I loved. We then opted for the Carolina Crab Bisque soup, and it was also a hit. Flavorful and creamy. So good. For our entree, we shared the Salmon with Jumbo Shrimp and Lobster Sauce. This was one of the best things I have had! The sauce was so good and went well with the Jasmine Rice. Then of course came dessert time. We were so full that we went with Crème Brûlée. Again, another hit! Our server, Nelson, did an outstanding job of checking in on us, but not overwhelming so. Overall, we loved our meal and would highly recommend this restaurant. read more

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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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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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We made a last-minute reservation after spending the day on a boat in Newport and this was one of the few restaurants with availability. Overall, it's a decent waterfront restaurant with nice views and good service. The food was just ok. Steak was good, nothing memorable. The oysters were the large variety, which personally aren't my favorite. The lobster was good, and the halibut was probably the best dish we tried. Avoid the seafood pasta and lobster Mac and cheese at all costs - probably the worst I've ever had. The kids really enjoyed the salmon ; it was fresh, simple, and prepared just the way they like it. The service was friendly and attentive, especially considering we were a lively group of 8 + kids. Would I come back? Probably not. It wasn't a bad experience by any means, but with so many great dining options in Newport, it just pales in comparison. read more

Beautiful view! But that's all. For that I give 2 stars. The food was very basic and nothing special, with portions and quality that did not justify the high prices. The service was disappointing as well--everything we asked for was delayed, including bread that I requested three times and never received, and even paper napkins. No one seemed particularly attentive beyond asking once if everything was okay. The restaurant was extremely crowded and noisy, with people shouting so we could hardly hear each other. On top of that, we had to pay $10 for mandatory valet parking no other options available) which I felt was unnecessary. Overall, I did not have a good experience. 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

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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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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