Newport Beach, Ca. Upon a return trip yesterday, I see that…read moreit's time to update my review. Things have improved since my last visit and my family enjoyed our dining experience. On a hot sweltering day, the ocean breeze offered up good relief from the stifling heat. We checked in exactly at our reservation time and were seated right away. Our table wasn't the best in the house but it was ok, we still had a line of sight to the ocean. I will point out the immediate obvious: The prices here are high, but not snooty high. What you get for the expense is good service (There is an abundance of waitstaff), good food, and one of the best views ever. The ambiance is kind of a beachy palapa event, with a slightly forced party vibe. On this day the beach was pretty much washed away but that just brought the sight and smell of the sea closer. So here is what we sampled: Pucker Punch, awesome presentation, nicely crafted. Berry Bang, Another fine concoction. Tiny Ahi Tacos, perfection. Garlic Shrimp, plenty of delicious shrimp, great bread. Mini Lobster Rolls, great way to sample lobster, delicious. Kobe Beef Meatballs, excellent, with more good bread. Buffalo Chicken Rolls, delicious. Korean Steak Skewers, very good and the peanut sauce makes them wonderful. Roasted Corn Chowder, rich and creamy, loved this. Little Gem Salad, fresh and refreshing. Roasted Crab Stuffed Salmon, really a great treatment for salmon, the miso glaze was perfect. Too much time under the salamander though, the vegetables were cold. Chicken Sausage Pasta, excellent. California Chicken Curry, excellent, but had cooled down substantially. Pineapple Cake, quite the lovely creation, moist and addicting. One of our orders was incorrect but they replaced it with the correct one in about five minutes, impressive.

I came here for a late lunch with some friends over the weekend. I parked across the street at the…read moreState Park lot and walked took the tunnel across. Parking that day was $21 for two hours. The walk from the lot to the restaurant is about 10-15 minutes. Once we got to the restaurant, we were seated right away and we got waters. Our server agreed to allow us to do separate checks (there were five of us in our party). Two of us ordered the lobster roll, one got the Kobe beef burger, and I got clam chowder and ceviche. The service was fine, the food was okay. The clam chowder was rich and tasty but the ceviche was on the rubbery side. The lobster roll was said to not taste very fresh but the burger seemed to be good. Overall, a nice place to have a cocktail or meal and enjoy the view but the food is not as great as the surroundings. . I appreciated that we were able to have separate checks. Also of note, there is a 3% fee if you use a credit card.

I cannot express enough how amazing this place is! I have fallen in love with the coffee and the…read morefood!! If you haven't been here then it's a must!! They have the best ranchero burrito you could have anywhere! The chorizo is cooked to perfection, accompanied with their salsa that has amazing popping flavors. Perfect spicy and if you need more spicy just ask they'll make it happen. Their lemon ricotta pancakes is amazing. Let me tell you about their tritip sandwich!! It's the softest most fresh bread you could bite into and the meat it just all melts in your mouth. Their chicken strips and fries so yummy delicious fried to perfection. OMGGG THEIR GRILLED PEACH SALAD!! Spicy orange chicken Can't get enough of it. If you haven't been you must come. Let me tell you about the service!!! You'll find yourself meeting the best people! Luis upfront bringing all the vibe and martin the cook in the back making all the yummy food and definitely making your day just the best!! They are the best!!! You're def need to come and visit them!!! Ps couldn't find all the food pics, just come and try. You're missing out if you don't

The food was delicious and the service was excellent! Highly recommended the matcha and their…read morebreakfast burritos next time you're in Newport :)

No tea, no shade, the chain with the same name has nothing on Crystal Cove Shake Shack…read more The food was INCREDIBLE. They have the best fries I've ever had. Perfect crisp to them. We got a chocolate chip cookie dough and Oreo shakes. Super thick and super yummy. The burgers were flavorful. They give a vibe of backyard BBQ burger. Service was super quick. We came about an hour or so before sunset, so it wasn't terribly busy. We loved the views! The only thing I wish they had was a designated queue for ordering. We had some issues with a man cutting the line. Parking sucks so come with plenty of time!

Thursday @noon, 78degree with cool breeze outside. Surprisingly the line wasn't too long. 8 min…read morewait to order, shake came out within 5 mins, food another 10mins. Great beach food and shake is a must. Not sure if I would wait an hr for them bc this place can get very busy. Side note: If you park here then head out to the beach, you'll get towed. Plz pay for your parking and move your car.

The atmosphere was great, but the food was pretty mediocre. It felt like they were trying to do…read moresomething different with the flavors, but it just didn't actually taste that good. I got the chicken, and the au jus was really bitter with an almost burnt taste that kind of took over the whole dish. The side portions were also very minimal. My boyfriend got the burger, and the outside of it was burnt too. He was also given like eight fries total. I understand the aesthetic of plating food, but that just felt silly for fries. Service was great though. Our server was super knowledgeable about the menu and did a great job.

I ate at Farmhouse a little over a week ago with my bestie and had such a pleasant experience. We…read morewere seated outside in the area with the water fountain in the center, which was a really nice setting. Our server, Kayli, was incredibly friendly, attentive, and accommodating. I ordered the Yuzu cocktail and the hanger steak entrée. I tried a slice of the peach pizza my friend ordered, and I also ordered two desserts (one to eat the next morning for a quick treat/breakfast) My thoughts on the Yuzu cocktail: It was pretty and smelled nice, but I personally wished it had a stronger yuzu flavor. I learned that the yuzu used in the cocktail isn't the actual juice of the fruit, but an oil essence from the peel..? Our server was kind enough to get me some extra essence to add to my drink, and she gave me quite a bit! I added all of it to the rest of my cocktail, but it still just wasn't the same as actual yuzu juice for me. I could definitely smell the yuzu aroma, but I couldn't really taste it the way I have in other drinks and desserts made with yuzu. This could simply be personal preference, but if I'm ordering a Yuzu cocktail, I'd love for the yuzu itself to really shine and be emphasized, especially since it's such a unique citrus fruit. Now, the steak entrée... OMG. Hands down, THE BEST overall steak dish I have ever had in my ENTIRE LIFE!!!! And I've been to plenty of steakhouses, including upscale ones. But dang...this dish absolutely WOWED me! The steak was cooked perfectly to my request, medium rare, and the sauce that came with it... DELICIOUS!!! I'm normally a little excessive when it comes to sauces, especially when they're paired with proteins, so if there's a good sauce with my steak, I usually want a LOT of it. But what surprised me was that even though there was plenty of sauce, the steak and vegetables weren't drowning in it. The flavor was just, THERE! I didn't need nearly as much sauce as I normally would because everything was already so flavorful, and there was still enough to enjoy with the vegetables too. I ate EVERYTHING and wished there was more! I was so impressed with this dish that I actually wanted to thank the chef and the kitchen team personally, but I know they're busy, so I didn't ask. So instead: THANK YOU!!! The peach pizza was surprisingly tasty! All the flavors worked well! The peach cobbler- delicious when served warm! The oats on top aren't crunchy (which again is a preference I was hoping for) but it did make me feel less guilty eating it since it was giving me healthy vibes, despite the buttery flavor I tasted. Lol There was plenty of peach pieces too! The lemon tart with basil blueberry sauce- the crust wasn't quite what I expected. It wasn't like a fruit tart crust I was expecting, like a Whole Foods fruit tart crust (which I absolutely love!) It was more of a mix between a flaky type of pastry crust, but not too flaky. It's hard to describe, but it was just okay for me. I was really hoping for a crust similar to most fruit tarts I've had. The basil blueberry sauce had good flavor, but was so sweet I ended up not using any. I definitely need to bring my family here specifically for the hanger steak dish! And if my kids can't finish theirs... no worries, more for me!

Decided to drive down to Newport for the day, wound up browsing the shops at Fashion Island, and…read morethen wound up having lunch at Great Maple, one of the better, sit-down restaurants at the center. It's a bright and airy venue, with thick, clubby stools at the bar and a dual, indoor/outdoor dining area that's just right for the coastal California locale. We arrived near the end of the lunch rush, so we were quickly seated by the friendly Hostess, though there were still plenty of folks eating, and a lively buzz was still thrumming through the room. It was just the right energy for a Saturday lunch. Our server, Darren, was a hoot, with a slight shimmy to his step and personality for days -- sometimes that can be a bit much, but in this case his charisma added a much appreciated charm to the meal. While we didn't imbibe at this sitting, they do have a full bar with a nice selection of cocktails suitable for brunch or dinner, and it's easy to imagine whiling away quite a few hours here at another opportunity. The menu offers a number of clever twists on brunch and lunch mainstays, especially house-made doughnuts and a few Benedicts that push all the buttons of "well, this is something appealingly different." That said, we were just tad boring today as diners, ordering a Burger and the house BLT. We may have made some ordinary-sounding decisions, but Great Maple's versions of these favorites were far from ordinary at all. The burger is made with high quality beef that has just the right amount of fat to make it juicy while retaining the integrity of the flavor of the meat. Cheese, veggies and a fresh brioche bun rounded out the presentation, as did a perfectly achieved pink medium rare. This was a very good, very satisfying burger served with crispy, shoestring fries that really hit the spot. The BLT is built on Levain sourdough that is thick-cut and lightly toasted, and holds up nicely against the moisture in the tomatoes and bright, leafy lettuce. Aioli had a noticeable but mild, and very enjoyable, garlic accent that played really well with everything, walking the line between "spread" and "dressing," and becoming a meaningful component of the sandwich rather than being just an adornment. But the star of the sandwich was the smoky bacon, cut thick enough to retain a pleasing chew while also boasting the kind of char and crisp that make for the most enjoyable bacon on a sandwich. Really, this was a terrific BLT, far above what you normally get, and, as I said before, not anywhere near as ordinary as you may think. So, a very good lunch at Great Maple, and very good reason to plan another visit very soon. Kudos to everyone.

We had such a great experience at Great Maple in Newport Beach! Our server, Hayley, was amazing…read more She was super friendly, attentive, and just had such a calm, welcoming presence. Even her voice was so soothing! She really made the whole experience that much better. We ordered the Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich and it was SO good. Definitely recommend trying it! The restaurant itself has such a nice vibe too. It was lively and there were plenty of people, but somehow it still felt peaceful and wasn't loud at all, which we loved. Also, such a cute little touch, they give you a free postcard with your receipt! Highly recommend coming here, and definitely ask for Hayley if she's working! I can also make it a little more casual/Google-review-ish if you want it to sound less polished.

We had a wonderful dinner experience the other night. Service was excellent, especially Charles our…read moreserver. They had a wide selection of food for everyone. I got the bistro plate which included a petite fillet, salad and soup. At my age, it was a perfect amount of food. My wife ordered the salmon plate, which was really good. Nice piece of salmon with mashed potatoes and an awesome flavored sautéed spinach. We finished it off with a warm butter cake. It was decent. A little dry but still yummy with the vanilla ice cream. Overall, a really good done experience. Definitely will be back.

Excellent dinner for my oldest son's engagement dinner! From the moment we entered with a nice…read morebottle of wine and the manager getting it on ice right away for me, to the sommelier opening the bottle of 2003 Dom and making it fun, to the excellent service by Dominic. Nicks comes through as one of OC's hot spots with a well deserved reputation. I had the Cioppino which was Wow good they loaded it with fish and shellfish. I would 100% order this again. My wife got the piccata which I know is a favorite here. Very well done and a huge portion. We started with the deviled eggs which were not my fave with the deep fried whatever in them. I get it, a crunchy take on the ubiquitous deviled egg. But I'm a purist by nature. One of the better multi chain restaurants in OC. I cannot wait to try the SC location close to my house.

Such an amazing time having brunch at Joey. Jack had a great rapport with the table and was very…read moreattentive.

Service was great. Our waitresses were outstanding, and huge thanks to Julian! Our first night…read morethere he comped our dessert and gave us some good laughs. Shout out Julian

Such a cute little snack bar right by the beach! The food was absolutely perfect after a long day…read moreof running, swimming, and playing in the sand. The portions were so generous that one meal easily fed two people, which was a pleasant surprise after working up an appetite all day. The staff was kind, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. If you stop by, be sure to leave a tip--supporting hardworking staff and helping them pursue further college education is always worth it because education opens so many doors. Signed,An exhausted and very tired teacher

Nice to be able to have a place at the beach as a one stop shop when in the area. We had visited…read morethe Sherman gardens nearby and I yelped a place for lunch and by happenstance saw lobster rolls are a fan favorite here which my man absolutely loves, as he is from Maine. Parking was actually a breeze for us in the neighborhood nearby and we walked right down to the place where there were tables and the line wasn't long. Should've gone with the lobster roll but I opted for my usual clam chowder which came out smaller than I thought. When the order came out we also saw they didn't include the seasoned fries I ordered, which is fine because it wasn't on the receipt either. I told my man we don't need to order anymore because we had plenty. Just make sure when ordering you have them read it back not to miss anything. The clam chowder was good, could've had more clam but came out piping hot, which I know is an issue sometimes at places like this. My son got the tuna melt and couldn't finish his potato chips. Wish they had coke on the menu instead of Pepsi, that's my only qualm but other than that next time I'd definitely order the lobster roll.

Great view of Newport Harbor while dining here the food portions was a good size we died with three…read morepeople here we all thoroughly enjoyed the view from our table I did not try the lobster, but they said it was good

Amazing views, mediocre food…read more Been here twice, the menu is fairly small so I've actually tried most of it and I feel like nothing was much to note. I typically bring people here for the views the location is one that can't be beat and one of the only places around with arguably easy parking.

Wow this food was sooooooo good Very authentic and…read moreobviously made from scratch with great quality produce and meat . Definitely putting this on our rotation even though it's a 30 minute drive to get there

We ate here before heading over to Sawdust and were pleasantly surprised by the variety and quality…read moreof the food. While I did find it a little expensive, the portions were quite large. I got the Chimichurri Steak and Eggs and was full for most of the day! This is a counter-service-style restaurant where you order first and then find a seat. On busy days, I imagine it can get very chaotic. When we arrived, there was no line, but by the time we left, it had wrapped around the dining room! I found their video choice on the TV to be a little weird. It was very atmospheric shots of Japan. While it was nice, I would have preferred atmospheric shots of Laguna Beach!