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Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove, Newport Coast, CA

Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove

4.8
4.8
10532 Reviews
$30 and under
Californian

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 121 times today
  • Great for scenic views
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Charming
Voted as one of the "Top 100 Restaurants" for 2023 by OpenTable in the United States

The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove provides "world class" ocean front dining in the Historic District of the Crystal Cove State Park with breath taking views of the Newport Coastline and Catalina Island. Situated on the sandy beach, The Beachcomber's outdoor patio provides the perfect spot to enjoy the ocean's breeze while sipping on your favorite cocktail or enjoying one of the many favorite entrees and appetizers.

The Beachcomber's outdoor tropical bar 'The Bootlegger' with thatch roofing provides the perfect spot to escape from the world while enjoying one of many tropical libations.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Seafood, American
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Daily 07:00–11:15 Lunch Daily 11:30–16:15 Dinner Daily 16:30–22:00
  • Phone number
    (949) 376-6900
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive Chef
    Carlos Olivera
  • Catering
    Crashing surf and breathtaking sunsets are the backdrops of your Southern California dream event. The Beachcomber's Catering division offers four stunning sites within the California State Park Historic District or will travel to your desired location.
  • Private party facilities
    3 Beautiful settings able to accommodate 25-200 people.Promenade-located right on the beachOutdoor Deck- See the beautiful sunsets and have Catalina in the backround.Vistor Center- Perfect for a Cocktail Party
  • Area
    Newport Beach
  • Cross Street
    Los Trancos
  • Parking details
    Park across Coast Hwy at Los Trancos Parking lot. Take the shuttle to the cafe or walk the scenic path. It takes about 15 minutes. Check in with the host under the red umbrella by the sea.
  • Entertainment
    Live Guitar on Thursday nights.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 10,532 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.8Service
  • 4.9Ambience
  • 4.5Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Orange County

    Best Ambience

  • Orange County

    Great for scenic views

  • Orange County

    Californian

  • South Orange County

    Best Ambience

  • South Orange County

    Great for scenic views

  • South Orange County

    Californian

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Beachcomber Cafe at Crystal Cove offers a unique dining experience with "delicious food" and "amazing views" of the ocean. Guests rave about the "excellent service" and the charming beachside atmosphere. Highlights include the beignets and lobster rolls. It's a perfect spot for special occasions and enjoying the scenic beauty of Southern California.

10,532 Reviews
  1. Teresa

    Greater Boston

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Very friendly way staff and the bees were amazing

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  2. Susan

    VIP

    Orange County

    8 reviews

    2.0

    8 reviews

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    I never had a bad meal at Beachcomber until last night. Upon our arrival, we were quickly seated in a partially empty dining room which was very unusual. The staff presented us with the pre fixe menu which surprised us as it was not Valentine’s Day. Upon receiving our appetizer, which was a charcuterie plate, I had a sinking feeling this dinner would not meet up to our expectations. The presentation was sub-par at best, considering the price of the dinner. Since there were 3 of us, they brought 2 plates. The contents of the plates were inconsistent and the cheese seemed like it had been sitting out for a while. The parmesan crackers were stale. We ordered two drinks which were fine however we waited an extended period of time to receive them, again unusual for the Beachcomber. The 2nd course had mixed reviews. My lobster bisque was too salty however the beef tartare salad and ceviche received positive feedback. Again, we waited an extended period of time for these items considering the restaurant was less that half full. The main courses were also delayed. I ordered a couple of my favorites, pan seared scallops and short ribs which were good. However the surf and turf was a disappointment. It arrived warm, the steak was over done and the lobster thermidore was lackluster. The miso glazed sea bass was too salty. The grand finale were desserts that seemed to be leftover from the night before and not part of the usual offering. Overall we walked away very disappointed and surprised by what happened. Clearly there were issues in the kitchen because everything was delayed, netting out cold or dry food. Our advice to the Beachcomber chef is to stick to your tried and true menu items that folks have come to appreciate. The time to experiment is not on a night were guests are paying a premium to dine there.

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  3. Caden

    VIP

    Orange County

    1 review

    1.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 2
    140 dollars per person is a complete rip off. The first course charcuterie board was disgusting. You could get a better charcuterie board at your local grocery store. The ceviche was tasteless and extremely boring. The lobster bisque had pieces of lobster shell in it that I had to spit out. The only promising course was the surf and turf. The lobster tail was good and the filet was good. The chicken was extremely oversized, but the taste was solid. The dessert course was awful. The chocolate mousse was frozen and tasted very bad, and the fruit tart tasted extremely artificial and below average. We payed 400 dollars for this dinner (with a below average wine pairing) and I promise you this dinner is maybe worth 120 dollars MAXIMUM. Also, if you have a cat allergy DO NOT COME HERE. The restaurant takes pride in a wild cat that romes around the restaurant coming up to tables begging for food. It was so bizzare me and my girlfriend had no idea what to do. This place could be fun for some quick appetizers and drinks, but for a 140 dollar per person meal, it was an absolute rip off and the food was extremely bad.

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  4. Brady

    Orange County

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Purposely booked Sat and not Fri as Fri had set valentines menu. When booking, Sat listed the regular menu which is what we wanted. Surprised when we got there Sat to only have the pre-set valentines menu. Waaayyyy overpriced, everything made with mushrooms, lobster covered in mushy sauce, pork chop absolutely buried in sauce, just not up to par, especially for the outrageous pricing. Very disappointed it listed regular menu when booking but was not the case when we arrived.

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  5. Johnny

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding service. Our server was professional and on detail

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  6. Kaylie

    Seattle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Beachcomber is a great romantic dining spot in OC. We love coming to the Beachcomber for any celebration. We had an ocean view table and it was incredible. Great food and service as well.

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  7. John

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Once again the Beachcomber did not disappoint. You can’t beat the view from anywhere you sit. The beignet’s are a must. Our food order arrived quickly. The crashing waves in the background is a great part of the ambiance. Our waitress Amber was very attentive and thorough. A waiter Hector from previous visits remembered us and stopped by to say hello. Can’t wait to visit again.

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  8. Nick

    Phoenix

    9 reviews

    3.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Valentines experience definitely not worth the $400 (with tip) for mediocre food. The appetizers in the bar area are much better!

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  9. Greg

    Orange County

    21 reviews

    5.0

    21 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Went for Valentine’s Day. Wonderful food terrific service and eating right on the beach! Doesn’t get any better

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  10. Mike

    VIP

    San Antonio

    9 reviews

    2.0

    9 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    Vibe and views are great. Food… not so much. Keep it simple here.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove is rated 4.8 stars by 10532 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a booking

2 people
19:00
Booked 121 times today
Google Map for Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal Cove

15 Crystal Cove, Newport Coast, CA 92657

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Los Trancos
  • Area
    Newport Beach
  • Hours of Operation
    Breakfast Daily 07:00–11:15 Lunch Daily 11:30–16:15 Dinner Daily 16:30–22:00
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Californian, Seafood, American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Park across Coast Hwy at Los Trancos Parking lot. Take the shuttle to the cafe or walk the scenic path. It takes about 15 minutes. Check in with the host under the red umbrella by the sea.
  • Payment Options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive Chef
    Carlos Olivera
  • Entertainment
    Live Guitar on Thursday nights.
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (949) 376-6900
  • Catering
    Crashing surf and breathtaking sunsets are the backdrops of your Southern California dream event. The Beachcomber's Catering division offers four stunning sites within the California State Park Historic District or will travel to your desired location.
  • Private party facilities
    3 Beautiful settings able to accommodate 25-200 people.Promenade-located right on the beachOutdoor Deck- See the beautiful sunsets and have Catalina in the backround.Vistor Center- Perfect for a Cocktail Party
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