overall it was a pleasant experience. Unfort one small strange unpleasant interaction. We arrived early so were asked to go to the bar to wait for our table. We ordered drinks and were enjoying them for over 10 min, then were abruptly disturbed by a male host who was extremely unpleasant, ordering us to take our seats at the bar. We were standing in front of our stools. He was very rude to one of my guests… and raised his voice in a very unacceptable way. This was a business dinner, and his behavior was completely unacceptable and embarrassing. There were MANY more elegant and effective way to achieve his goal, and getting into a verbal altercation with one of my guest was NOT APPROPRIATE. I would expect much more from this level of establishment. Overall the rest of the meal was quite good, and our server was wonderful, but they need to work on the front of the house interactions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Tiffany Kilpatrick-Winter
Lovely augratin
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kris & Kimberly Darney
21 Oceanfront is a gem in Newport Beach! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance swept us away—elegant, inviting, and perfectly situated with breathtaking ocean views. The service was impeccable, with every staff member making us feel like VIPs.
The food? Absolutely phenomenal! The seafood is as fresh as it gets, and every dish was artfully prepared with attention to detail. The lobster tail was cooked to perfection, and the filet mignon was melt-in-your-mouth tender. For dessert, the crème brûlée was the perfect ending to a truly memorable meal.
What makes 21 Oceanfront stand out is its balance between luxury and warmth. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want to treat yourself, this restaurant delivers a top-tier experience that’s worth every penny. We can’t wait to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Risotto, Filet Mignon and Australian Lobster Tail, Petite Lamb Chops, Lobster Bisque
Peter Schmid
The baseball center cut of swordfish was outstanding and juicy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Swordfish Baseball Cut
Illania Edwards
Excellent food and service. It was a little noisy but aside from that it was my best meal in Newport Beach this trip.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood
Jon Powell
The best espresso martini on the peninsula
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Greg Faulds
Celebrated a special dinner. The service and food was excellent. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Julianna Battaglia
I was visiting the area for work and decided to ball out my last night somewhere nice. This place is the definition of “fine dining” and was amazing in every aspect. My Cabernet was so smooth and paired well with my dinner. The seafood linguine had all the best seafood mixed in and was very filling. Had great service as they were all very attentive for anything I needed.
Parking: The lot in front of the restaurant is free after a certain time at night. Have to pay during the day. Valet parking is offered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood
Perry Keung
Tasteless carpaccio , mashed potatoes is from a packet - I know this because a piece of the plastic packaging was in the potatoes. Medium steak was essentially raw. Poor people in Newport don’t know what a good steakhouse is supposed to be.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
kathy
First class experience here for our big anniversary dinner. With hundreds of restaurants in the OC area this was our first choice. Gorgeous sunset view, great table, crab cakes, lamb chops, seafood linguini, and a special brownie homemade to die for. Thanks to our awesome waiter COLIN !
Salmon tasted weird. Maybe frozen and thawed? My wife loves salmon but coulf only take a few bites before putting het fork down. My pot roast was too chewy. I gave up on it about half way through. Very disappointing for the prices they charge. Was one of our favorite places but not so anymore.
If I could give this place ten stars, I absolutely would! This was hands down one of the greatest dining experiences I've ever had. Everything from the food to the atmosphere was impeccable. The scallops were tender and sweet, and the oysters were incredibly fresh. Each dish had its own moment to shine. The risotto was cooked to perfection, and the crab cake paired with a delightful red pepper sauce was out of this world. The swordfish was a true highlight, cooked so perfectly that it practically melted in my mouth. To top it all off, the crème brûlée was one of the best I've ever had – creamy, rich, and the perfect ending to an unforgettable meal. Beyond the food, the ambiance was nothing short of magical. The restaurant is located right on the water in Newport, and we had the pleasure of watching a breathtaking sunset as they rolled up the windows. The live music, with a sophisticated Roaring Forties vibe, added an extra layer of charm to the evening. The attention to detail here, both in the presentation of the dishes and the service, was unmatched. Every dish was beautifully crafted, and the staff made sure we had everything we needed for a truly memorable experience. Without a doubt, this is a five-star restaurant, and I can't wait to return!
Colleene
Absolutely fabulous dining. Baseball cut swordfish the best and keeps this excellent dish on the top of my list for outstanding. Service is very personal and attentive. Wine list great. View of ocean and sunset so nice. Highly recommend for any occasion you want beautiful ambience and exceptional food.
Pamela
21 Oeanfront is one of my favorite restaurants on the Balboa Peninsula. The view is awesome. The services is great and the food is good! I love the music and the ambience. What more can I say? We love 21 Oceanfront!
Robert
What more can I say? 21 Oceanfront is our "go-to" place for romantic fine dining. It is a unicorn with expansive views out over the sand to the beach to the ocean to views of Catalina. Its seafood is among the best along the coast. The service is impeccable. The live music is a plus. This time we had the baseball cut swordfish and the bluefin tuna steak. Both were expertly prepared outstanding dishes. They were preceded by the crab cake and followed by a creme brulee. Our server was very professional, attentive but not obtrusive. 10/10.
overall it was a pleasant experience. Unfort one small strange unpleasant interaction. We arrived early so were asked to go to the bar to wait for our table. We ordered drinks and were enjoying them for over 10 min, then were abruptly disturbed by a male host who was extremely unpleasant, ordering us to take our seats at the bar. We were standing in front of our stools. He was very rude to one of my guests… and raised his voice in a very unacceptable way. This was a business dinner, and his behavior was completely unacceptable and embarrassing. There were MANY more elegant and effective way to achieve his goal, and getting into a verbal altercation with one of my guest was NOT APPROPRIATE. I would expect much more from this level of establishment. Overall the rest of the meal was quite good, and our server was wonderful, but they need to work on the front of the house interactions.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 2
Lovely augratin
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
21 Oceanfront is a gem in Newport Beach! From the moment we walked in, the ambiance swept us away—elegant, inviting, and perfectly situated with breathtaking ocean views. The service was impeccable, with every staff member making us feel like VIPs.
The food? Absolutely phenomenal! The seafood is as fresh as it gets, and every dish was artfully prepared with attention to detail. The lobster tail was cooked to perfection, and the filet mignon was melt-in-your-mouth tender. For dessert, the crème brûlée was the perfect ending to a truly memorable meal.
What makes 21 Oceanfront stand out is its balance between luxury and warmth. Whether you’re celebrating a special occasion or just want to treat yourself, this restaurant delivers a top-tier experience that’s worth every penny. We can’t wait to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Risotto, Filet Mignon and Australian Lobster Tail, Petite Lamb Chops, Lobster Bisque
The baseball center cut of swordfish was outstanding and juicy
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Swordfish Baseball Cut
Excellent food and service. It was a little noisy but aside from that it was my best meal in Newport Beach this trip.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood
The best espresso martini on the peninsula
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Celebrated a special dinner. The service and food was excellent. Highly recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I was visiting the area for work and decided to ball out my last night somewhere nice. This place is the definition of “fine dining” and was amazing in every aspect. My Cabernet was so smooth and paired well with my dinner. The seafood linguine had all the best seafood mixed in and was very filling. Had great service as they were all very attentive for anything I needed.
Parking: The lot in front of the restaurant is free after a certain time at night. Have to pay during the day. Valet parking is offered.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Seafood
Tasteless carpaccio , mashed potatoes is from a packet - I know this because a piece of the plastic packaging was in the potatoes. Medium steak was essentially raw. Poor people in Newport don’t know what a good steakhouse is supposed to be.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
First class experience here for our big anniversary dinner. With hundreds of restaurants in the OC area this was our first choice. Gorgeous sunset view, great table, crab cakes, lamb chops, seafood linguini, and a special brownie homemade to die for. Thanks to our awesome waiter COLIN !
Restaurantji Recommends
Salmon tasted weird. Maybe frozen and thawed? My wife loves salmon but coulf only take a few bites before putting het fork down. My pot roast was too chewy. I gave up on it about half way through. Very disappointing for the prices they charge. Was one of our favorite places but not so anymore.
If I could give this place ten stars, I absolutely would! This was hands down one of the greatest dining experiences I've ever had. Everything from the food to the atmosphere was impeccable. The scallops were tender and sweet, and the oysters were incredibly fresh. Each dish had its own moment to shine. The risotto was cooked to perfection, and the crab cake paired with a delightful red pepper sauce was out of this world. The swordfish was a true highlight, cooked so perfectly that it practically melted in my mouth. To top it all off, the crème brûlée was one of the best I've ever had – creamy, rich, and the perfect ending to an unforgettable meal. Beyond the food, the ambiance was nothing short of magical. The restaurant is located right on the water in Newport, and we had the pleasure of watching a breathtaking sunset as they rolled up the windows. The live music, with a sophisticated Roaring Forties vibe, added an extra layer of charm to the evening. The attention to detail here, both in the presentation of the dishes and the service, was unmatched. Every dish was beautifully crafted, and the staff made sure we had everything we needed for a truly memorable experience. Without a doubt, this is a five-star restaurant, and I can't wait to return!
Absolutely fabulous dining. Baseball cut swordfish the best and keeps this excellent dish on the top of my list for outstanding. Service is very personal and attentive. Wine list great. View of ocean and sunset so nice. Highly recommend for any occasion you want beautiful ambience and exceptional food.
21 Oeanfront is one of my favorite restaurants on the Balboa Peninsula. The view is awesome. The services is great and the food is good! I love the music and the ambience. What more can I say? We love 21 Oceanfront!
What more can I say? 21 Oceanfront is our "go-to" place for romantic fine dining. It is a unicorn with expansive views out over the sand to the beach to the ocean to views of Catalina. Its seafood is among the best along the coast. The service is impeccable. The live music is a plus. This time we had the baseball cut swordfish and the bluefin tuna steak. Both were expertly prepared outstanding dishes. They were preceded by the crab cake and followed by a creme brulee. Our server was very professional, attentive but not obtrusive. 10/10.
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