Each year, Newport Beach Restaurant Week descends in all its delicious glory on Balboa Peninsula and with so many choices, it’s hard to know where to start. It’s also funny to call it a week because it lasts two weeks — this year from Jan. 14 to Jan. 27 — and it’s undeniably awesome.
No matter how you slice it, the culinary celebration finds your favorite restaurants foregoing their usual pricing to offer diners sweet, sweet specials on time-honored favorites and exclusive dishes prepared just for this event. (For more info, visit the Newport Beach Restaurant Week FAQ Page.)
To help you navigate the epicurean travails of this glorious occasion, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the Balboa Peninsula spots participating in Newport Beach Restaurant Week 2019. We’re detailing the menus, the prices, the dog-friendly options, plus our local take on whether it’s actually a good deal. Ready? Let’s eat.
21 Oceanfront
2100 W Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA 92663 // (949) 673-2100
Restaurant Week Pricing: Three-course dinner for $50. (No tax or gratuity included.)
Reservations? Yes. Call before you dine; this place will book up.
Dog Friendly? No.
Deal or No Deal? Deal. The crab cakes alone cover almost a third of the price on a regular night out. Throw in a decadent main meal like steak or swordfish PLUS dessert and you start to see how the $50 works out well.
Restaurant Week Menu …
Avila’s El Ranchito Newport Beach
800 Newport Blvd., Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 675-6855
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $15 / Dinner $30
Reservations? No,although it does get busy on Taco Tuesday, so get there early.
Dog Friendly? No.
Deal or No Deal? Deal. The prices here aren’t too expensive on a regular day or night, so any kind of deal is never going to mind blowing. Still, for $5 more you can get a margarita with your lunch, which is fun and festive. AND! The dinner comes with a free drink. Win.
Restaurant Week Menus …
Balboa Lily’s
711 E. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach, CA 92661 / (949) 873-5455
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $15 / Dinner $20
Reservation? Unnecessary.
Dog Friendly? Yes on the patio.
Deal or No Deal? Deal! This place is a fantastic spot for brunch, with farm-fresh ingredients and cozy lattes that feature cool foam art. (Seriously, it’s incredible what they can do with milk.) The Restaurant Week lunch includes two courses, and for just $20, dinner is three courses with dessert. That Tres Leches Cake though …
Restaurant Week Menus …
Cappy’s Cafe
75930 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 646-4202
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $15 / Dinner $30 (no tax or gratuity included, dinner is only available Wednesday nights during Newport Beach Restaurant Week)
Reservations? No.
Dog Friendly? Yes on the patio.
Deal or No Deal? Like the other casual dining places, the prices here aren’t too bad to begin with, so it’s hard to say it’s an incredible deal but it’s also hard to say no to a dinner of soup, seafood and cake for $30.
Restaurant Week Menus …
Dory Deli
2108 W Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 220-7886
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $15 / Dinner $20
Reservations? No
Dog Friendly? No (unless you have a service dog).
Deal or No Deal? Deal for dinner but super deal for lunch, which includes a starter and your choice of three popular Dory Deli main dishes (Lifeguard Club, The Meatball Sub or Figgy).
Restaurant Week Menus …
Fly ‘N’ Fish Oyster Bar & Grill
2304 W Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 673-8400
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $20 / Dinner $40
Reservation? Definitely.
Dog Friendly? No.
Deal or No Deal? Deal! Lunch and non-happy-hour dinner can be expensive at Fly ‘N’ Fish although you pay for quality. Executive Chef Julio Hawkins knows his seafood and how to prepare it. The award-winning New England clam chowder is worth the hype and for dinner, the macadamia lemon-crusted halibut is a win.
Restaurant Week Menus …
Harborside Restaurant
400 Main St, Newport Beach, CA 92661 / (949) 673-4633
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $20 / Dinner $40
Reservation? Definitely.
Dog Friendly? No.
Deal or No Deal? We’re a little hesitant to call a $40 dinner a “deal” but it does wine, two courses and dessert, so yes, it’s a deal. For lunch, you can’t go wrong with an orange coconut salmon and really, you’re paying as much for the waterfront views at Harborside as you are for the prestige of dining here. We’re calling this one deal-esque.
Restaurant Week Menus …
Lighthouse Bayview Cafe
1600 W Balboa Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 933-1001
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $15 / Dinner $30
Reservation? Sure.
Dog Friendly? Yes on the outdoor patio overlooking Newport Bay.
Deal or No Deal? Deal, we guess. The views are aquatically bucolic and you really can’t beat a $15 waterfront lunch or $30 dinner, especially at Lighthouse, which has higher prices than other fast-causal dining establishments around town. Local warning: If you’re doing Lighthouse for Restaurant Week, opt for the off-hours. Don’t try this place for Sunday brunch or on the weekends. It’ll be busy and you’ll wind up dealing with a long wait.
Restaurant Week Menus …
Malarky’s Irish Pub
3011 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 675-2340
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $10 / Dinner $20
Reservations? Not necessary.
Dog Friendly? No.
Deal or No Deal? Deal, especially for dinner, which comes with a choice of sides and a slice of cheesecake, freshly baked in house and topped with a raspberry sauce.
Restaurant Week Menus …
Newport Landing
503 W Edgewater Avenue,, Newport Beach, CA 92661 / (949) 675-2373
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $20 / Dinner $40
Reservation? Yep.
Dog Friendly? Yes on the patio.
Deal or No Deal? Deal because in the end you save money on what you’d normally spend for the same dishes and dinner comes with a glass of house wine. (Must call it a deal if there’s wine involved. Nice touch, Newport Landing.)
Restaurant Week Menus …
Pescadou Bistro
3325 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 675-6990
Restaurant Week Pricing: Dinner $40
Reservation? Yes.
Dog Friendly? No.
Deal or No Deal? Yes, let’s call this one a deal. For $40, you get an appetizer, main dish and dessert (chosen from the home-made dessert menu), all of which would cost you waaaay more than $40. Our recs: The escargot in garlic, shallots and herb butter paired with pan-roasted wild swordfish steak, black olive Nicoise salsa, ratatouille and fingerling potatoes.
Restaurant Week Menu …
Rockin Baja Lobster Coastal Cantina
2104 W Oceanfront, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 723-0606
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $15 / Dinner $30
Reservation? Not necessary.
Dog Friendly? No.
Deal or No Deal? Deal. Both lunch and dinner include two courses plus dessert, which is a good deal any way you dip that lobster in warm, melted butter. Plus, the place is undeniably fun—hey, it’s got “Rockin” in its name, what do you expect?—so if you’re looking for good vibes and a lively atmosphere steps from some of Balboa Peninsula’s most popular bars, (and Newport Pier) plan accordingly.
Restaurant Week Menus …
Sessions West Coast Deli
2823 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 220-9001
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $15 / Dinner $20
Reservation? Not necessary.
Dog Friendly? No but you could pick up a few of their super-yummy custom sandwiches and picnic on the beach with your dog before 10 a.m. or after 4:30 p.m.
Deal or No Deal? Deal! Sessions makes fresh sandwiches and salads, (we love their gluten-free bread) so if you’re GF and/or a craft beer enthusiast, this is definitely a worthy Restaurant Week option.
Restaurant Week Menus COMING SOON!
Stag Bar + Kitchen
2823 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 220-9001
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $10-$15 / Dinner $20
Reservation? No.
Dog Friendly? No.
Deal or No Deal? It’s hard to beat a $10 lunch and also definitely worth it for dinner, which comes with a craft beer, glass of wine or signature cocktail. We are writers and not mathematicians but drinks at Stag can cost anywhere from $7 to $10, so if you subtract that from the $20, you are looking at a sweeeeeet deal for dinner. Plus, you can dine here then stay for the popular bar scene, which picks up around 9:30 p.m.
Restaurant Week Menus …
Woody’s Wharf
2318 Newport Blvd, Newport Beach, CA 92663 / (949) 675-0474
Restaurant Week Pricing: Lunch $15 / Dinner $30
Reservation? Not necessary but Sunday’s bottomless brunch is going to fill up fast, so arrive early!
Dog Friendly? No but there is an outdoor patio with waterfront views.
Deal or No Deal? Deal. Woody’s is a Balboa Peninsula institution and for a $15 lunch or $30 dinner, the menu offers all the beloved staples locals love for less.
Restaurant Week Menus …
