Newport Beach Restaurant Week 2019: The Ultimate Epicurean Experience
Newport Beach Restaurant Week returns in 2019 for its 13th year. Showcasing the best and brightest chefs in Orange County, the taste bud bliss will kick off Monday, January 14th and continue through Sunday, January 27th. Offering a delectable array of diverse eating experiences, foodies will taste cuisine from all over the world. No passport required.
During the 14-day culinary festival, participating restaurants will offer special two- or three-course, prix fixe menus with lunches ranging in price from $10 to $25 and dinners between $20 and $50. The longest-running restaurant week in Orange County, the two-week culinary event represents the ultimate epicurean experience.
That said, you’ll need a plan if you want to cover as much ground as possible while maximizing the palate pleasure. Here’s our rundown of 13 hotspots new to restaurant week this year. Trust us, you won’t want to miss any of these.
Lido Bottle Works operates on the premise that people, food, and drink should all be “Genuinely Good Together.” Relying on sustainable ingredients, they craft revelatory eating adventures perfectly paired with wine, cocktails, and specialty craft beer. Their $20 prix fixe lunch menu includes Charred Eggplant Hummus served with sweet pepper caponata and lavash, a Crispy Jidori Chicken Sandwich with coconut lime aioli, and House Spun Ice Cream that’ll make your taste buds sing.
Ready to get your fill of expertly prepared seafood and steaks? Then, make Eddie V’s your spot. Their $50 dinner menu includes Crispy Salt and Pepper Shrimp, Norwegian Salmon, and Filet Mignon Medallions with Gulf Shrimp “Scampi Style.” Coupled with the restaurant’s charismatic vibe, hand-crafted cocktails, and a world-class wine list, get ready to enjoy culinary excellence.
Jan’s Health Bar crafts high-quality vegetarian and vegan food using clean ingredients and simple preparations. Their $15 restaurant week lunch menu includes a sandwich or wrap, salad, and smoothie of choice. From their Spicy Fresco Wrap served with fresh guacamole to their Banana Date smoothie with a healthy dose of peanut butter, you’ve got delectable options to choose from.
This inviting waterfront gastropub features nautical décor and a hearty menu of American-inspired cuisine highlighting local and seasonal ingredients. Their $40 prix fixe dinner menu includes Pâté with homemade pickles and grain mustard, a Braised Short Rib served with creamy polenta and gremolata, and the Turtle Jar, a dessert sure to satiate even your wildest caramel and chocolate cravings.
Ready to heat things up? Check out Taco Rosa’s Aztec, Mayan, and Spanish-inspired eats. Combining time-honored,traditional recipes with today’s cutting-edge techniques and innovations, you’ll savor their “cantina approach” to cuisine and drinks. That means no shortcuts allowed. View their $15 lunch and $20 dinner menu HERE.
Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub & Kitchen
Lido House’s signature dining venue, Mayor’s Table Pacific Pub & Kitchen crafts delectable seafood and vegetable-forward cuisine. They also boast a chef’s counter, raw bar, and open action kitchen. Offering a $25 lunch menu, highlights include their Pacific Seafood Chowder and All-Natural Cheeseburger served with aged cheddar, grilled onions, and fries. Their $50 dinner menu includes Braised Oxtail served over tagliatelle pasta, Red Snapper with red curry and kohlrabi, and Lido House Cookies and Milk for dessert.
From Orange County-based restauranteur, Russ Bendel, creator of wine country concepts Vine and Ironwood comes OLEA. Featuring Napa/Sonoma-inspired food and spirits, OLEA’s $50 dinner menu marks a highlight of restaurant week. Good luck choosing between the Pacific Northwest Filet Mignon served with a crispy langoustine béarnaise and the Zinfandel Braised Napa Lamb Shank with sunchoke tapenade puree and mint yogurt. And that’s just the main course!
The Parisian-style Moulin represents a veritable feast for the senses — from the smell of baking baguettes and slow-roasted, organic chicken to the delicate flavors of cream-filled pastries and the complex notes of their varietals. Offering the best in French comfort food, their $20 lunch menu pulls out all the stops. You’ll savor their baguette and Emmental cheese-topped onion soup followed by slow-roasted rotisserie chicken. Just be sure to leave room for their artisan patisserie-inspired dessert.
A community staple since 1976, Sgt. Pepperoni’s makes their dough and sauce fresh daily and uses only the finest local ingredients in their continuing quest to craft the perfect pizza. Their $20 or $30 dinner menus for restaurant week let you get in on a piece of the action that Newport locals have been savoring for decades.
You’ll love the casual yet elegant dining atmosphere at CURRENT. Its handcrafted cocktails are made with premium, small batch spirits. Its menu features locally-sourced ingredients in simple preparations. The result? Food that exemplifies SoCal eats — light, fresh, colorful, and delicious. Check out their mouthwatering $20 lunch menu and $40 dinner menu so you can start planning your restaurant week feast.
Pandor Artisan Boulangerie & Café
For authentic, European-style pastries, make sure your restaurant week itinerary includes a stop by Pandor Artisan Boulangerie & Café. Besides endless ways to satisfy a sweet tooth, you’ll also find fresh-baked artisan bread, paninis, tartines, salads, and more. Ingredients are sustainable, local, and seasonal and feature global flavors and complex textures. View there delicious restaurant week lunch menu HERE for only $15.
When it comes to California casual waterfront dining, prepare to sit back and relax at Balboa Bay Resort’s Waterline. Its sophisticated nautical décor offers the perfect backdrop for savoring seasonal and fresh water-to-table cuisine. Their $25 lunch menu and $50 dinner menu will delight with items such as Crab & Corn Chowder and Skirt Steak served with fingerling potatoes and a sherry demi-glace.
Since 1957, Cappy’s Café has attracted locals, tourists, and celebrities delighted by the warm atmosphere, friendly service, and generous portions. A landmark dining spot, few restaurants in Newport Beach come with more local history or a more charming vintage vibe. Check out their $15 lunch menu and $30 dinner menu. Oh, and remember to come hungry!
View more participating Newport Beach Restaurant Week restaurants HERE.
