50 Best American Restaurants in Newport Beach

“We had high hopes coming to Olea, but alas we were disappointed. Location/Ambiance: Westcliff Plaza and small with a large bar at the front, the layout leaves little space for tables. We sat in a snug booth alongside the windows with a view of Susie Cakes next door. The decor is warm and modern. Food: Subpar! Burnt bread but delicious whipped butter. Butter lettuce and Goat cheese salad was bland with a basic dressing. Mac and cheese skillet was good but nothing amazing. Filet was dry with overdone gluey mashed potatoes, and underdone broccolini. Halibut was pan seared to a dry mess with an inedible coating, bland steamed seasonal vegetables of cauliflower, carrots, and broccoli as a side. Service: Friendly and Fake, if you enjoy watching servers walk away from your table talking about how "picky and difficult you are" this is a perfect spot. My Mother has dietary restrictions and we are specific to ensure a safe dining experience, it's sad when that's met with disdain. Overall: We won't be back!“

“Great restaurant, A1 service, friendly staff, great ambiance, food and drinks“

“Great service, amazing atmosphere and delicious food.“

“From the greeting at the front desk to the waiter, Dean, to the numerous courteous and helpful busboys; the service was top notch. Crab cakes as appetizers, main courses of house chicken and flank steak. It was a wonderful experience.“

“Omg the food. 1st time in and I’ll definitely be back. Loved the outdoor seating option.“

“Fabulous food and cool interior“

“Fantastic service and delicious wings and a salad.“

“Delicious healthy food. I highly recommend this restaurant“

“Fine dining, excellent service, amazing food“

“our special place to celebrate excellent service Delicious“

“This place is quite nice. It can accommodate more diners than one might initially think. In addition, they have outdoor heaters for those who like to dine outdoors. The food here is very tasty, the portions are ample, and it's not too expensive.“

“Amazing food & service! Kirk if the Best❤️“

“Food was really good and the beers were pretty good too. No complaints there. My only issue was how insanely hot and muggy it was inside. Sitting in there felt like you were slowly being baked alive.

AC would obviously be great, but honestly, just having more fans would make a huge difference. At the absolute minimum, open some windows and get some air moving through the place. It was way too hot inside to actually sit there and enjoy yourself.

Other than that, food and beer were great. Just seriously need to figure out the airflow situation.“

“Absolutely beautiful ocean view from your table“

“One can never go wrong with lunch at Mariposa. The service, food and ambiance is consistently top notch. It's my favorite ladies lunch restaurant . I find it especially convenient to take some time and shop a bit afterwards too! - Marie L. Newport Beach“

“Woohoo! This was an AWESOME meal! Service was helpful, friendly, knowledgeable and attentive! Our entire table only ate pizza or chicken pot pie! Everyone finished their plates!!! Yum! we did manage to squeeze in dessert and it was worth it!!! 10/10 will be back again. Shout-out to our amazing server Kaitlyn!!! 🤓♥️🥊🔥👊🏼🎉🐐🎄🎁I“

“very good food, dessert are the best.“

“My buddies and I do a “Bros Night” every couple of weeks, and we’re always looking for a new local spot to check out. This time we cruised over to Balboa Island in a friend’s golf cart from Corona del Mar, took advantage of the ridiculously convenient golf cart parking, and headed to Snipe Island.

The restaurant has a great vibe. I love the open-air feel with the large windows and bar seating facing the street. It’s a fun place to sit, relax, people-watch, and enjoy everything that makes Balboa Island special.

The food was good. I had an ahi salad that was fresh and tasty, and one of my friends ordered a pizza that looked incredible. I was doing keto that day, so unfortunately I didn’t get a slice, but if it tasted half as good as it looked, I’m ordering it next time.

The real highlight of the night was our server, Taylor. Honestly, she was incredible. The place was busy, and it seemed like she was handling just about everything, but somehow she never missed a beat. We always had what we needed, our drinks stayed full, and she made us feel like we were her only table. Great service can make or break an experience, and Taylor absolutely crushed it.

The prices felt fair, the atmosphere was fun, and overall we had a great evening. If I had one piece of constructive feedback, I’d say the restroom could use a little attention and maybe a refresh. But as someone who owns a business, I know there are always a hundred things competing for your attention.

At the end of the day, I have a soft spot for local businesses that are out there working hard and serving the community. Snipe Island delivered a fun night with friends, great service, and a great Balboa Island atmosphere. We’ll definitely be back.“

“Always, I love to be there, everything is perfect, the food, the employees…..💜“

“Great food! Nice people !“

“Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach is a gem, especially for its live music every night. The atmosphere is so captivating that I often find myself singing along or even getting up to dance. The food and service are just as exceptional: my go-to dishes are the scallops, the lamb, and all the steaks. The seafood is so fresh and the steaks are far superior in flavor to any high-end restaurant. For appetizers, the ahi tuna tartare is a must-try (THE BEST I’ve had anywhere), and the calamari with its Thai-style twist of chilies, green onion, and cilantro over an amazing salad is a standout. Desserts? Absolutely heavenly. The cheesecake and panna cotta are favorites, but the Grand Marnier souffle is simply to die for. The service is also impeccable…from the moment you arrive with the complimentary valet service, to the hostesses, the bartenders, servers, and bussers. Everyone is so friendly and attentive! Bayside is an experience I cherish every time. Can’t wait for my next visit!“

“Best beef dip sandwich ever!!“

“We always get the Boardwalk Burrito 😋“

“Friendly and good service“

“Very good drinks and smiling waiters“

“We don’t post reviews very often, but really felt obliged to for here. The food is outstanding!!!! Service is wonderful. It was actually pretty quiet as its location is tucked out the way, but it deserves to have a queue around the corner!!!!! Top quality ingredients and great value for the quality. Very accommodating of our stroller and dog.“

“Beautiful clean place and reasonable pricing“

“Comfortable temperature and beautiful environment, I like it very much.“

“We were pleasantly surprised to find this wonderful new eatery. We had the B-Boy Burger (Amazing, gooey, cheesy and delicious), The BLT was super yummy, with that real thick bacon, not those paper thin bacon slices, and the kids really liked the chicken tender (not dried out cardboard chicken). I will say, the Onion Rings are really good, crunchy and very delicious. Besides for the food being really good, we found the staff to be super friendly, and very timely with our order. This is definitely our go-to place going forward every time we come for a ferry ride.

Kid-friendliness: They have a few dishes for the kiddos as well.

Wheelchair accessibility: Easily accessible to all.“

“Pacifix Kitchen is the only resturant in town that serves Vietnamese and it's super tasty. That have great service too. A hidden gem for sure.“

“What a wonderful little place! There are plenty of items on the menu to choose from, as well as gluten-free alternatives. We had shrimp and mashed potatoes; both were excellent! Service was very good while dining al fresco.“

“Yea I’m from Texas, idk why all these Cali yuppies are giving this place anything less than 4 stars. Right on the water, small bar, this place is dope! Obvious it’s not a family dining experience, this is casual, snack, perfect grab and go! Foods good, not a 5 star restaurant but for what it is it’s amazing!“

“This is fabulous dining by the coast.“

“My mom and I dined here for years. Now I take my daughter to lunch at 59th and Lex . The wraps and salads are outstanding. The atmosphere is always amazing. Service is top notch. For ladies who lunch or men too for that matter, you will not be disappointed as it's always an enjoyable experience.“

“Great service, friendly and helpful. Great food, and on point“

“Food is great and staff is fabulous!!!“

“I come here once in a while, and the taste is always consistent. The tomato soup is probably my favorite! The other dishes are also pretty good. If you’re just looking for something simple or a light meal, this is a great place to choose. I noticed a lot of people ordering the tacos and hamburgers, so I’d like to try them next time. The service was good too!“

“Excellent service, tasty food and good price“

“Peter is amazing! He is such an attentive waiter and made sure we had an excellent dinner. Highlight of our trip! ☀️“

“Amazing BBQ in Orange County. Fall off the bone ribs, tender brisket, moist BBQ chicken, pulled pork, juicy sausages. A real hidden gem. Highly recommended!“

“specials daily. strong cocktails. my go to when I'm in town.“

“Sessions is one of family go-to dinner places! We absolutely love the food , service and atmosphere! It’s a 10/10 and Woodbridge location is our favorite for a family. Paris is also the best staff ever and makes us feel at home. Highly recommended the summer zephyr add turkey!“

“Service and breakfast was excellent“

“Great hamburger great location family neighbor restaurant my place Friday after work“

“We love this place, best view! ♥️“

“Nice restaurant and has tiny beach“

“Great spot to eat. Hidden gem.“

“Very nice place! I mean but what would you expect from a Marriott? Of course it's going to be perfect. Great layout nice seating and wonderful views. They have both inside and outside seating. They have a fairly simple menu that has a mix of items you'll definitely find something to eat. I went with the burger. It could have been better it was a little greasy and the meat was kind of cheap. I expected a little more than a Cisco Burger patty. Other than the quality complaint I did have a good lunch. Sat outside under the umbrellas the temperature was perfect. The staff was very nice and the food came out fast. This isn't a destination for food but if you're here at the Marriott and you want something to eat this place is a good choice.“

“If you're looking for awesome seafood with a killer view, Bluewater Grill Newport Beach is where it's at. The scene: 🌅 Imagine enjoying your meal while gazing at fancy yachts and the Newport dock. Pretty sweet, right? The grub: 🦀🐟 • Crab cakes: So good, it's mostly jumbo lump crab meat, no fillers • Mahi Mahi: Cooked to perfection, moist and flaky on the inside, crispy on the outside • Scallops: Melt-in-your-mouth delicious with a perfect sear Everything came out hot and tasting amazing. No sad, cold fish here! Drinks: 🍹 The red sangria hit the spot. Perfect for sipping and yacht-watching. Vibes: 😊 Everyone working there seemed genuinely happy. Like, actual smiles, not the fake "I hate my job" kind. Made us feel right at home. Bottom line: Great food, awesome views, cool staff. We're definitely coming back for round two! #NomNom #ViewsForDays #HappyBelly“

“Great experience overall, starting with drinks in the bar. Tony, the bartender, was very engaging and on top of everything. We had a great table with a wonderful view of the ocean, which enhanced our dining experience. Menu was very diverse, wine list was well priced with quality wineries, all our meals were outstanding and we even splurged for a few desserts (all were consumed quickly). I had not taken people to the restaurant in some time but definitely putting 21 back in the rotation!“