By Christopher Trela | NB Indy
Newport Beach is a food-lover’s dream city.
We are fortunate to have several hundred restaurants in Newport Beach — more than our 85,000 residents can support. That’s why so many out-of-town foodies find their way to our seaside city.
Our diverse selection of eateries offers something for everyone, and for every budget. I was reminded of that when I saw the growing list of restaurants participating in Newport Beach Restaurant Week that runs January 15 through 25. More than 45 restaurants have signed up to offer special prix fixe menus in various price points, and seven of them will be serving samples at a VIP Restaurant Week kickoff event on Jan. 14. Learn more at RestaurantWeekNB.com.
As a Newport Beach resident I dine out frequently, usually at local restaurants. Naturally I have my favorites, but I also love to check out new restaurants. My favorite dining experiences of 2025 were a mix of old and new, high end and mid-range, pizza and pasta to steak and seafood.
Renaissance Newport Beach Dinner for 10
Among my many memorable dining experiences of 2025, my favorite may have been a special VIP dinner for 10 at the Renaissance Hotel in Newport Beach.
At the annual Table for Ten Charity Culinary Event that was held last March at the Renaissance Hotel, I was the high bidder on an auction item: Dinner for 10 with wine pairings created by Renaissance Chef Paul Bauer, and a two-night stay in the Presidential Suite.
My friends and I found a date in May that worked for everyone, so Chef Bauer created what we agreed was a superb five-course menu.
First course was white asparagus velouté with crab and avocado, followed by a salad course with handpicked baby greens, dried blueberries and toasted sSicilian pistachios.
Third course was a sensational pan roasted Chilean sea bass with Oscar style lobster cake, baby spring vegetables, and white port and ginger emulsion.
Then came what we all agreed was a menu highlight: American Wagyu tomahawk carved tableside with garlic potato dauphinois, foraged blue foot mushrooms, broccolini and sauce Bordelaise.
By now we were full, but we managed to savor the dessert course of s’mores cheesecake with passionfruit ganache and cara cara orange marshmallow.
After dinner, we all retired to the presidential suite to enjoy after dinner drinks.
You don’t need to win an auction item to have Chef Bauer create a special dining experience for you. Visit Marriott Renaissance Hotel Dinner for 10.
Ocean 48
Ocean 48 opened more than a year ago in the former Fig & Olive space at Fashion Island. After a complete remodel, Ocean 48 debuted as an upscale and contemporary seafood and steak concept. The restaurant is large yet feels intimate due to dining spaces that provide a variety of experiences. Two bars, secluded booths that overlook a showcase kitchen, and tables strategically placed around a shallow pool are among the dining options here.
There is a raw bar featuring fresh oysters, Maine lobster cocktail and colossal shrimp cocktail. The caviar section includes one of the Ocean 48 signature dishes: caviar cones with Siberian osetra caviar and gold leaf.
Appetizers include Maine lobster escargot, chicken fried lobster tails, and wagyu beef tartare.
Seafood dishes include sea bass, branzino, scallops, crab legs and lobster tails. Steaks take center stage, with A5 Kobe beef, filet mignon, bone-in wagyu tomahawk, and Australian rack of lamb as highlights.
The caviar cones, A5 beef and martins are superb. The Napa salad, corn crème brûlée, roasted cauliflower, lobster tails, and the New York strip (served on a sizzling plate accompanied by truffle butter) were all sensational.
Visit Oean48.com.
Avila’s El Ranchito
Avila’s El Ranchito in Newport Beach celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. It’s been an exciting ride for the family-owned restaurant, which now has a dozen locations, most in Orange County.
The restaurant has become a Newport Beach institution and continues to serve the original Avila family recipes.
“Our core items are all grandma’s recipes from the original menu—the enchiladas, the sauces, the steaks, the way the carnitas are cooked. All of the core items are exactly the same at every location,” said Maribel Avila Ley, who runs the Newport Beach location. “We have fresh fish and more salads. But at all locations the number one seller is the soup.”
She is referring to Mama Avila’s soup, with fresh chicken broth, chunks of chicken breast and rice. garnished with avocado, tomato, cilantro and lime. The bowl is served with warm tortillas.
The soup is indeed fantastic, but so is the carnitas platter, and a tasty new menu item: surf and turf tacos with carne asada and shrimp. As with the soup, the portions are all generous and full of flavor. Visit avilaselranchito.com.
CasaDami
Opened in 2025, CasaDami is tucked into the middle of upscale condos at the newly renovated Peninsula Village on the Newport Peninsula.
The restaurant was created by partners Camilla Caremoli and Dave Shah. It’s intimate, with eight seats at the bar, seating for another 20 or so in the adjacent dining room, plus another three dozen seats on the patio.
According to Caremoli, “We want every guest to feel as though they are dining in their favorite corner of Italy, Spain, or France, while still embracing the charm of Newport Beach.”
Caremoli and Shah traveled across Europe for many years, so when the duo returned to the U.S. they wanted to open a café that reminded them of all the things they missed about Europe, particularly Italy since Caremoli is from Milan.
My dining partner Malena Gordon and I began our dinner at CasaDami with a small charcuterie board followed by patatas bravas with garlic aioli, croquetas with ham and Manchego, beef empanadas, and truffle bikini with ham. For dessert: olive oil cake with Meyer lemon, mascarpone crème and blackberry coulis for dessert.
The food was fabulous and fun, the ambiance was indeed European with a Newport flair, the atmosphere was energetic, and the staff jovial and attentive.
CasaDami is Casa Wonderful. Visit CasaDami.com.
Il Barone Serves Classics at a New Location
I have been a fan of Il Barone for many years, and have seen them change locations several times. The restaurant is helmed by Chef Franco Barone, who spent 20 years as Executive Chef at Antonello Ristorante before in 2009 to launch Il Barone Ristorante with his wife, Donatella, in a small business center near John Wayne Airport in Newport Beach.
In 2017, the business center’s land was sold to make way for a new development, so Il Barone moved to a shuttered Coco’s Restaurant on Bristol Street in Newport Beach.
Then the pandemic hit in March of 2020 and Il Barone struggled to survive before moving to another location – albeit temporary – in 2022.
In 2024, another Newport Beach restaurant became vacant and Il Barone moved again.
The new restaurant seems ideal for Il Barone. It’s intimate but still holds plenty of diners, who have been flocking to Il Barone to enjoy the cuisine, which of course includes their famous Facci Ri Veccia—a pizza filled with imported crecenza cheese and topped with Parma prosciutto and truffle oil.
Every time I dine at Il Barone (which I did several times in 2025) I always order the Facci Ri Veccia, and then I look for pasta dishes such as the squid ink pasta with calamari and prawns, or the pappardelle with wild boar ragu. Their tiramisu is the perfect way to end a meal.
Visit baroneoc.com.
The Elwood Club at The Pendry
First it was a Four Seasons Hotel, then The Island Hotel and then Fashion Island Hotel.
Now, it’s Pendry Newport Beach, which opened in September 2023.
The Pendry has three restaurants open to the public: SET Steak & Sushi (a modern steakhouse with California flair), Tree Shack Pool Bar & Grill (al fresco setting with a menu of Baja-inspired snacks) and Bar Pendry, which offers handcrafted cocktails, fine wines and beers, and small bites.
In addition to those Pendry dining spots is The Elwood Club, which is billed as a modern members club located within Pendry Newport Beach. The Elwood Club provides private, members-only spaces and offerings including the Italian-inspired Viamara restaurant, the casual yet stylish The Pub with a burgers and brews motif, and The Cabaret, a gathering spot for live music and DJs.
Culinary Director Chef Ben Martinek oversee all things gastronomic at the Pendry. He creates seasonal menus that include member favorites and classics.
In 2025 I had lunch at SET Steak & Sushi, then was invited to Viamara to sample the menu, which featured fun Italian dishes such as calamari fritti, lasagna bianca and spaghetti and meatballs.
Chef Martinek recommended several appetizers including squash blossoms with ricotta, chicken parmesan pizza, and cacio e pepe (bucatini, pecorino romano, cracked black pepper).
I followed his suggestions and added sea bass carpaccio with avocado and shaved radish, and tiramisu torched table side.
The dishes were delicious and fun. Whether you dine at SET or indulge in an Elwood Club membership, you’re in store for tasty treats. Visit pendry.com/newport-beach.
Bayside Restaurant
Bayside Restaurant in Newport Beach celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2024 and remains as popular as ever. There are three important reasons for that, says Marc Ghoukassian, whose family owns both Bayside Restaurant and sister property Bistango in Irvine: exceptional cuisine, friendly experienced staff, and classy upbeat ambiance with live music seven days a week.
Among the most popular items: seared wild diver scallops with lemon caper beurre blanc, broccolini and sweet potato risotto, and Alaskan halibut with salsa verde, lemon sauce, asparagus, shaved fennel and potato puree.
New items on the appetizer menu include Italian artichoke hearts dusted with parmesan then lightly fried and served with lemon-garlic aioli, and prime steak tartare with mustard emulsion, capers, petite greens and quail egg, served with toasted baguette.
Bayside offers live music nightly, from jazz to solo musicians. My favorite is Thursday, when the Ron Kobayashi Trio usually performs.
I dined at Bayside several times in 2025 and loved each experience. Some of the wait staff have been at Bayside for many years and it’s always fun when they recognize you and come to say hello. I often try different items on the menu, and have never been disappointed. My last time I had the halibut with asparagus risotto and saffron soubise, while another time I enjoyed the Cedar River prime New York strip with parsley fries and peppercorn sauce. The preparations and presentations are always perfect.
Five Crowns Celebrates 60 Years
One of Orange County’s oldest and most beloved dining landmarks, Five Crowns in Corona del Mar is celebrating its 60th anniversary in 2025.
Five Crowns is housed in a charming structure built in 1936 as a replica of Ye Olde Bell, England’s oldest inn founded in 1135.
Five Crowns opened its doors in 1965 as the fifth concept from Lawry’s Restaurants Inc. The restaurant earned its moniker as the crown jewel of the portfolio, but it’s not the company’s oldest restaurant—the Tam O’Shanter in Los Angeles is more than 100 years old.
Over the decades, Five Crowns has hosted distinguished guests from presidents to movie stars to noted names in the business world. Chuck Jones, the beloved animator behind Bugs Bunny and Road Runner, lived nearby and often frequented Five Crowns.
One of the longest serving staff members was Tommy Martin, the Five Crowns ambassador and wine steward who was employed by Five Crowns for more than 50 years (he retired several years ago). As a tribute to his longevity and loyalty, Five Crowns renamed the main dining room the Tommy Martin Room.
Among the amenities at Five Crowns: fireplaces, antique-filled dining rooms, period paintings, English garden, sunlit greenhouse, and knowledgeable staff that have been working at Five Crowns for many years.
Adjacent to Five Crowns is SideDoor, which has its own ambiance and menu but also offers the Five Crowns menu.
I dined at both restaurants in 2025 and enjoyed every moment. I admit I’m not a fan of prime rib, the specialty of Five Crowns, but there are so many other options that I’ve enjoyed. Visit Lawrysonline.com/five-crowns.
The Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar
One of my go-to restaurants is the Winery Restaurant and Wine Bar in Newport Beach, with fabulous cuisine courtesy of Chef Yvon Goetz.
I dine there several times a year (Christmas, New Year’s Eve, birthday, and just for fun at the bar) and always enjoy the experience.
I love the wild game entrées at The Winery Newport, plus the wine selections and the harbor view—and of course gracious host and co-owner JC Clow, who knows how to work a room.
A favorite starter is the seafood tower with an assortment of lobster tail, crab legs, oysters, jumbo shrimp and ahi tuna spoons.
Visit www.thewineryrestaurants.com.
More Favorites
Tavern House: I am a longtime fan of Chef David Wilhelm and his many restaurants over the years (especially French 75 and Chat Noir). I love his comfort-food creations at Tavern House. His fried chicken is excellent, and he still has his signature French 75 onion soup on the menu.
I’ve taken friends to lunch at Tavern House and they always rave about the cuisine, and the water view. I rave about the cheeseburger, the shrimp Dijon, the Buddha bowl, and the amazing fried chicken — yes it’s worth making a special trip for this dish. tavernhousekb.com.
Olea: They have one of the best burgers in Orange County, best paired with a smoked old fashioned. That’s my go-to burger when I go solo and sit at the bar, but their entire menu is terrific. Their mac and cheese is decadent, the crispy Jidori chicken schnitzel is fantastic, and the dark chocolate chunk & fromáge blanc cookies are insanely good. oleanewportbeach.com
Lido House: Lido House Executive Chef-Partner Riley Huddleston has crafted his own proprietary champagne, tequila, and menu, and then there’s the Topside bar atop the Lido House. I dined at all of those in 2025 and loved every minute. lidohousehotel.com.
Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store: Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store on Bristol Street in Newport Beach has been recognized as the #1 Family Restaurant in California and #11 Best Family Restaurant in the U.S by Yelp. The national list, published in May 2025, highlights the top restaurants that families across the country love most.
Sgt. Pepperoni’s Pizza Store has been spreading love through pizza since 1976. Sgt. Pepperoni’s scratch kitchen makes fresh dough, pizza sauce, and hand-grates cheese daily using only the highest quality ingredients and recipes originating from Long Island, New York. I dine at Sgt. Pepperoni’s often. Very often. In fact, I’m enjoying a slice of Margherita pizza as I write this column. Whether I purchase by the slice (usually several times a month) or buy a whole pie to share with friends (like our frequent Sunday pizza and wine evening), this is indeed fabulous pizza. For more information visit SgtPepps.com.
Farmhouse at Roger’s Gardens: Chef Rich Mead of Farmhouse Restaurant at Roger’s Gardens in Newport Beach has had a long culinary career, and it’s not ending any time soon. He supports local and sustainably focused farms and purveyors, and volunteers to serve his cuisine at charity food-focused events every year. The reason for his success is obvious: Fresh local ingredients, dishes that are unique yet use familiar ingredients, and a beautiful garden setting. I dined at Farmhouse several times in 2025 and always enjoyed the experience, and I introduced several friends to the Farmhouse experience.
608 Dahlia
608 Dahlia was the restaurant where Executive Chef and owner Jessica Roy created unique garden to table culinary experiences within the lovely setting of Sherman Library & Gardens. I use the word “was” because Chef Roy had to close her restaurant in November to make way for renovations to the gardens. Good news: Chef Roy found a new spot in Sunset Beach across the street from Captain Jacks. She plans to welcome diners by spring 2026. Visit her new website at 608sunset.com.
Off the Menu is an opinion column by Newport Beach Indy reporter Chris Trela.
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