Back Bay Tavern

Back Bay Tavern combines a laid-back atmosphere with a diverse menu of delicious, hearty dishes, making it a perfect spot for a casual yet satisfying meal.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 4

Service: 4

Excellent experience. Great beers. Wonderful staff.

NICE LUNCH ! My wife and I hit this Whole Foods Market in Newport Beach on Saturday morning for most of our weekly grocery needs. It was pouring down rain when we arrived and when we left....thankfully the Fashion Island huge multi level parking garage is straight across the street. After taking care of our grocery needs we headed to the tavern ( opens at midday ) at the rear of this store. We've had lunch here a few times and it's all been good. We parked our full shopping cart beside a table and I fetched a menu from the bar counter. Juana the manager / server / bartender said hi. I asked for a couple of iced waters. My wife selected the TTLA Sandwich ( Tempeh bacon, garlic aioli, green leaf lettuce, tomato, avocado, toasted ciabatta, side salad or fries ) with Fries option and I decided on the Pulled Pork Sandwich ( BBQ pulled pork, BBQ sauce, cabbage, ranch, pickles, toasted brioche bun, side salad or fries ) with Fries option. My Pulled Pork Sandwich & thick cut Fries came out within a few minutes but my wife was left wondering about her order. A minute or 2 later Juana came to our table and said the kitchen was out of Tempeh Bacon ( bacon made from fermented soy beans ) . WHAT'S THAT ? Not being vegetarians we had no idea that Tempeh Bacon was a fake bacon. GIVE US THE REAL THING ! Juana said they can substitute regular bacon for the fake stuff. Eventually my wife's BTLA Sandwich with thick cut Fries was brought out by Juana. NO PROB ! I think the lunch menu should be clearer when describing the ingredients...in particular the Tempeh Bacon. We were both pretty happy with our lunch....I did mention to Juana they should go easier on the BBQ sauce. GOOD SPOT !

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Recommended dishes: Pulled Pork Special, blt Sandwich

HOLY GUACAMOLE ! On Saturday we decided to beat the heat by shopping exclusively at this Whole Foods Market starting with lunch right here. My wife and I thought our first lunch visit here a couple of weeks ago was spot on so a return visit was on the cards. After parking our wheels in the huge Fashion Island undercover parking garage we simply walked across to the Back Bay Tavern and entered via a side door. LOVELY AND COOL ! Even walking across the street just after midday felt darn hot so it was a treat to be inside a cool air con space for lunch. Juana the friendly switched on bartender / server recognized us from our last visit and gave us a welcoming smile. We stood at the bar to order.....Jose the cool bartender also remembered us from our last visit...even recalled which craft beer I ordered on his expert recommendation. FIRST UP ! My wife wanted the CHICKEN STRIPS & FRIES ( Crispy chicken tenders, French fries, ranch ) while I had to have the COCINA NACHOS ( Corn tortilla chips, shredded pork carnitas, queso, pico de gallo, black beans, jalapeño, avocado cream ). BEER ! Now Jose remembered my beer profile clearly......hazy IPA's so he offered me samples of a couple of hazy IPA's that were new to me. We both agreed that the Roadhouse Brewing "The Walrus" Hazy IPA - 8% abv I ordered last time was too good to pass up. YES PLEASE ! I joined my wife at our long bench table with my ice cold beer in a classy stem glass. VERY RELAXING SPACE ! Given it was near 90F outside and I am enjoying my fabulous ice cold beer in this cool space....a combo too hard to beat. LUNCH ! Our lunch order came out courtesy of a smiling Juana.....talk about big serves. There was no way my wife was going to get through more than half of her gigantic serve of Chicken Strips & Fries.....enough for 2 people. The only time I have seen a bigger serve of nachos than my humongous Cocina Nachos was at home when I make my own. TALK ABOUT DELICIOUS ! The big chunks of shredded pork carnitas, the jalapeños and the avocado crema took it to the next level. Between sipping away at my fabulous ice cold hazy IPA and jammin' nachos down my throat.....I was in LUNCH HEAVEN ! Hard to beat delicious food, great beer & fabulous service in a relaxing space !

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

EXCELLENT LUNCH ! My wife and I were over at Fashion Island on Saturday to do a spot of shopping......with my wife's son who was visiting with us for a few days. LUNCH ! We decided that this Back Bay Tavern inside Whole Foods Market was our best option for lunch. At around 1.30pm we placed our lunch order at the bar with lovely cashier / server Juana for 1 x CAULI-FORNIA TACOS ( Crispy cauliflower, cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, avocado crema, corn tortillas ), 1 x TACOS DE CARNITAS ( Braised pork, cabbage slaw, pico de gallo, avocado crema, corn tortillas ), 1 x PUB-STYLE FISH & CHIPS ( Beer-battered cod, French fries, tartar sauce ). We also ordered 2 craft beers from their huge craft beer list....1 x Roadhouse Brewing "The Walrus" Hazy IPA, 1 x Offshoot Beer "Escape" West Coast IPA and 3 Iced Waters. We took our beers with us to a long bench table inside ( quite hot outside ) and waited for our meals to come out. Our craft beers tasted very refreshing.....my hazy IPA tasted exceptionally good. FAST SERVICE ! Within a few short minutes Juana brought our our lunch order.....everything looked sensational ! My wife and her son thought their 3 well presented ( on taco racks ) humongous Tacos tasted fabulous. WOW ! Even though I'm an Aussie it's been a million years since I've had Fish & Chips. The beer-battered Cod was cooked perfectly....I loved it. And my hand cut fresh cooked French Fries hit the spot. We loved our lunch and the very good service by Juana !

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

A hidden gem in the back of a WholefoodsPark in the parking structure next door.It’s free!

Best Hidden Gem in Newport for Tap Beer and Wings! Juana the Bartender is Awesome!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

One of my favorite places to have a delectable healthy salmon salad and ice tea!

A good place, with a good atmosphere.

Great customer service

Fun friendly environment great specials .. only thing the AC was not working pretty hot in there.. otherwise excellent

Great Fish Tacos friendly service and good wine are always a good combination!

Should have been a 5 star review. But your hours in the Back Bay Tavern are sporadic. Big Screens to watch the games on the weekends, very cool. What's not cool, being closed on said weekends. Please figure it out WFM!!!! #goldmine

Great place to grab a beer or a glass of wine before (or after) you shop at Whole Foods at Fashion Island. About a dozen beers on tap (many/most? of them rotating taps), which included Stone Ruination when I last visited. Also, multiple TVs for watching live sporting events.

Great drinks! Long walk through whole foods to get there.