Restaurant recommendations - in and around Newport Beach

[aggie94]

DH and I are headed to Newport Beach on Sunday for a mini-vacation. We already have dinner plans Sunday night in LA with friends. And Tuesday night, we have reservations for dinner in Laguna Beach with Wendy(W)! :D

Dh is a huge breakfast lover, so I'm looking for recommendations for breakfast/brunch places in the area. Other good places to eat (preferably casual, as I'm not bringing anything nicer than a pair of jeans or khakis) for lunches or our Monday night dinner would also be welcomed! Other than the meals we've planned with friends, we have no real plans to speak of other than to check out Room and Board for furniture. :o

Thanks!

[colleency]

I'd recommend The Crab Cooker for lunch, but my recommendation only extends to their clam chowder and bread. It's a touristy place, but fun.

If I manage to get back to you in time, I'll send a reccomendation from my friend who runs a dinner club and writes dining reviews, but I'm not sure I can get a reply in time.

[aggie94]

Colleen,

Anytime you can get back to me would be great. I am taking my laptop with me (I should have mentioned this was a pseudo-working, mini vacation :rolleyes: ), so I can check the BB while we're there next week (through Wednesday).

Thanks! Wendy had mentioned The Crab Cooker to me as well, so we'll for sure check that out for lunch one day.

[Laura]

If the weather is nice, and it can be iffy this type of year, go sit on the Patio at Las Brisas in Laguna Beach. It truly makes you feel like you are on vacation. The food is good, but just sitting there over looking the ocean makes me happy.

[colleency]

Here are some recs from a friend of mine who is a chef and lives in nearby Costa Mesa:

Well, there's Posh Dining (a tea house in San Clemente but that might
be a little farther than you're will to go) They do recommend
reservations for weekend visits. I haven't been there myself but I here it's
worth the trip. the waitresses wear jeans and blouses ('scuse me....the
hostesses :-) so no dress up required

Blue Beet in Newport Beach (21st place)....very casual/beachy, good
food ....simple stuff, mostly a burger/surf and turf spot I don't think
they serve brunch.

Again, I think it's just a dinner spot but there's the Golden Truffle
(1767 Newport Blvd)....entrees range from $15-25...French American and
they're not so formal that you'd need to "dress up"

[cookinator]

I have to tell you to bring shorts. We are having August heat already, even on the coast.

For breakfast or lunch I would recommend The Side Street Cafe on Newport Blvd in Costa Mesa. (Cash only). I also like Mother's Market and cafe on 17th Street in Costa Mesa. They have Great food. For Mexican (Delicious and different) try Taco Mesa on 19th Street, also in Costa Mesa. You must try In-N-Out for burgers.

Let me know how you do and have a good time.

By the way my places are all casual dress but really great food.

[colleency]

Eek! I forgot to mention the heat wave we're having! It's in the 90's today. It's over 100 in the valleys, which shouldn't effect you. But the heat is supposed to last through the weekend and into next week.

[Wendy w]

Everyone has made excellent suggestions so far, and I want to add Ruby's on Balboa pier (decent, not spectacular food, but on a pier) and the Cottage in Laguna for breakfast.

I know the neighborhood that cookinator mentioned very well and one of my favorite yarn shops is nearby. Too bad it is only open on Friday, Saturday, and every other Tuesday for S & B's.

Yes, we are having very warm weather and I hope that it holds out for you. Can't wait to see you guys! :D

[Kristine]

Definitely check out Balboa Island for breakfast. There is a really cute restaurant there that serves great b-fast, but the name escapes me. There are lots of restaurants at Fashion Island but most are upscale chains...Thaifoon, Roy's, PF Changs, California Pizza Kitchen, El Torito Grill. There is a great Indian Restaurant in Corona del Mar called Natraj, but it is a bit pricey. Bandera in Coronda del Mar is also good.

[AD]

I wish I could be there! I moved to Texas from Irvine in 1989 when I was 7, and I still miss almost everything there. I visited again back in 1996 and I noticed some changes, but I would still love to go back.

I loved the restaurants there. They were all better than those in my area now. More than anything, I remember the Old Spaghetti Factory there in Newport Beach. I don't know if it's still around, but I loved going there when I lived there.

I'd love to go back someday, but I don't want to go through all that excessive (and ridiculous, IMO) airport security added in recent years. Maybe I'll get to go by car someday.

Have fun, and let us know where you went when you get back! :)

[aggie94]

Thanks, everyone, for all the great suggestions! I've written them all down, with addresses, hours, etc., and we'll play it by ear when we get there.

Wendy, see you Tuesday night for dinner! :D

[cookinator]

Well, did you try any of the restaurants? Hope you're having fun.

[Wendy w]

I don't know what she has tried yet. Here is where we are going tonight.
http://www.230forestavenue.com/

I'll let you all know tomorrow. ;)

[lisas3575]

Hugs all around from me! :)

[SandyM]

Originally posted by lisas3575
Hugs all around from me! :)

And me! :)

[cookinator]

Wendy that looks great..have fun and let us know what you have! Its nice they post the menu, that way you can look forward to your meal all day! ( I'm on WW so I would be!!)

[aggie94]

Hey there!

We arrived in Newport Beach LATE Sunday night (like after midnight). We arrived in CA early enough on Sunday that we decided to drive up to Santa Clarita to visit some friends, and we ended up hanging out with them until late, so it was very late by the time we got to Newport.

Monday, we hit The Crab Cooker for lunch. The food was fine, but I'm not sure I get all the rave. I heard great things about this place from lots of people, including my boss (who is a huge food snob), but I'm not sure this is a place that I would return to. The food was fine, nothing memorable.

After lunch, we walked out to Balboa Pier and debated getting milkshakes at Ruby's, but it was freezing. Way too cold for ice cream, at least for this relocated Phoenician. :o

Walked along the beach for a bit, then went to Fashion Island for a little shopping. After that, we stopped at a hole-in-the-wall Thai place for dinner, Thai Del Mar, which was surprisingly good. Not the best Thai food I've ever had, but a very good, cheap meal, and the service was excellent. We got dessert at Classico Gelato next door, where I had a wonderful coconut-macadamia nut gelato. Mmmmmm. :)

Today, we went to Side Street Cafe in Costa Mesa for lunch - excellent! Cute, funky cafe, and DH was able to get breakfast while I had lunch, which is always a win-win with us. We went from there to the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve Interpretive Center to see critters and stuff, and stopped at Bristol Farms on the way back for some snacks.

Tonight, I'm looking forward to dinner with Wendy at 230 Forest Avenue.

Thanks again for all the recommendations! We're having a good time. Too bad it's so cloudy and cool. :(

[Wendy w]

Eva, Che, and I, met for dinner last night and had a wonderful visit and dinner at 230 Forest Avenue in Laguna. I had the salmon, Eva, the scallops, and Che the steak. He also "suffered" through creme brulee. The place was pretty busy for a Tuesday night and nice to be able to walk and visit through uncrowded pre-tourist season streets.

It was really nice to see them again, and because I grew up and still live behind the "Orange curtain", it is always interesting to see things through the eyes of others who are on their first visit.

I wish them a safe drive home and I'm sure that she will check in soon.

[aggie94]

Hello again!

Wendy's right, dinner at 230 Forest Avenue was outstanding. Of course, we were in great company. :D We had a fun time walking around checking out the cute shops, even though most of them were already closed.

I'm so glad Wendy mentioned the aquarium in Long Beach at dinner, because DH had been asking ever since we arrived, "Is there an aquarium in the area?" Um, apparently you've forgotten that I've never been here before either. :rolleyes: Anyhow, we changed our plans to head home immediately on Wednesday and instead went to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, which was very nice. DH and I both had a great time.

Thanks again for all your great recommendations!

[Wendy w]

Haven't been online in a few days due to my (&(&()^(%ed home internet connection, so I am now seeing this.

I want to say thanks again for the fun evening and am really glad to hear that you made it to the aquarium. I will be going within the next week or two. :)