Bandera

Blown away by the service here. Our waitress Andy was exceptional. She was extremely attentive and even swapped out our martini glass half way through drinking it for a freshly chilled glass. Nice touch. The food was 10/10 We all felt it was a very warm inside. Some of us were sweating. Wish they could turn some A/C on. Otherwise everything was exceptional and we will be back!

Have gone to Bandera since the early 2000's, starting when the restaurant had a location in Scottsdale. Made reservations on a Wednesday. A 20 plus minute wait after the reservation before we were seated. Then the restaurant was out of signature rotisserie chicken and pork chop before 8 pm. Wait staff was excellent. My 4th choice of main course, as they were out of 3 other menu items, was way below my expectation. The beef ribs were more like burnt ends. Artichoke was delicious as usual. Still very disappointing with so many choices in the area. All atmosphere and make-up service for lack of quality.

I used to drive by Bandera in Corona Del Mar every day on my way to work, always curious about the buzz and lively atmosphere. One day, I finally decided to stop in, and I’m so glad I did. Since that first visit, it’s become a regular spot for me. The food here is consistently excellent. I highly recommend starting with their appetizers, especially the Oreo dessert and banana pie, both of which are indulgent and delicious. One standout dish for me is their grilled artichoke, seasoned to perfection and incredibly flavorful. And don’t skip the cornbread, it’s rich, slightly sweet, and a must-try. My only constructive feedback is about the parking situation. After 6pm, especially during peak dinner hours, it can be a bit of a challenge to find a spot nearby. It’s worth planning ahead or considering a rideshare if you’re coming in the evening. Overall, Bandera offers a great dining experience, and I’ll definitely keep coming back.

I’d give this place an average of four stars. Many many years ago, I embarked on the macho salad. It was so good.!! so good that I thought about it for years and look forward to the day I went back. The other day, I finally went back and of course, ordered the macho salad. It was definitely not the same as I remember- portion was much smaller flavor was also lacking so that was disappointing. We also ordered the combo plate with the ribs and ribs were the best fries were great . Best part of the meal was the kale salad.

I loved my experience here! My server, Grace, and my bartender, Briana, were amazing! They were super attentive and went above and beyond to make sure I enjoyed my time in the restaurant. From the moment I walked in, I felt welcomed. We even got complimentary starters from Cal because we waited a bit longer than our scheduled reservation. Which by the way it didn’t feel like it because we stood at the bar and the atmosphere was so great. Thank you so much Bandera for such a wonderful experience!

We called 4 hours ahead and they told us we did not need to make a reservation. "We will get your right in." However, when we got there. Not one, not two, but three groups the same size as ours that arrived after us, by a good 20mins, were seated before us. What's up with that? Am I wrong to be bothered by that? I guess they were smart and insisted on a reservation? Really not happy with all the info from the host, seems inconsistent and not very well organized from when we first called telling us we'd be seated right away to arriving and waiting 50mins. It was a Wed night for a group of 4. When we arrived we were the only ones in the waiting area. I'm still so confused. I wasn't even even rude to the host even though I really wanted to be after 30mins of sitting. 😆 Hostess seating us asked my guest I was taking to dinner to remove their hat. What?! You guys are not that fancy....it's like a bar with a rotisserie pit and exposed kitchen. So just be aware of that gem. There was another table with some adult dressed as a cheerleader but my buddies hat was against policy?🤷 The food: My ribeye was like chewing rubber. The filet my wife got was melt in your mouth and great though. Cornbread was worth it but nothing to write home about. The banana pie was underwhelming. Not very sweet at all. Bonus ⭐ our server was fantastic. So you should thank her. Because of the wait and weird policy's of this place I would not recommend it. Can't imagine what a zoo it would be on a weekend. Food was way over priced, per the quality, in my opinion.

Our Home Away from Home – Thank You, Ben and the Banderas Newport Beach Team We travel constantly and are longtime fans of Hillstone restaurants—we make a point to seek them out wherever we go. But nothing compares to the experience we have at Banderas in Newport Beach, and that is entirely because of Ben and his extraordinary team. From day one, Ben has made us feel like family. His attention to detail, thoughtful questions, and the way he remembers the little things about our lives make every visit feel personal and warm. No matter what’s going on in the restaurant, Ben remains calm, gracious, and present. He’s a true professional, but beyond that, he leads with a kind of care and heart that’s rare to find. While our home was under renovation for nearly a year, we found ourselves visiting Banderas often—not just for the consistently phenomenal food and flawless service, but because it became our anchor, our constant. A place that felt comforting and familiar, even when everything else felt upside down. Now that our renovation is complete and we’re back to cooking at home, we still find ourselves coming in all the time. Because being greeted and cared for by Ben and his team brings us a deep sense of home—a place to land, to unwind after a long week, and to feel truly welcomed. We’ve been to Hillstones across the country, but there’s simply nothing like Banderas Newport. Ben has created something incredibly special here, and we are endlessly grateful for the heart, consistency, and warmth that he and his team bring to every experience.

Dark Wood lends itself to the jazzy feel of the restaurant. Everything was excellent (macho salad, sweet potato and cheese enchilada with a fried egg on top, cornbread bites, and artichoke to start.). Martinis were $18 but they were good and food prices were in the mid $20s range. The artichokes are as good as ever which has always been very good at Bandera. The cornbread bites for $4 were reasonable and tasty. I would definitely be back.

Passed by here for over 30 years and finally decided to give it a go. Why did I wait so long!? Great food and service was even better! A must try to have a cocktail, appetizer or dinner if you're in the neck of the woods!

We came in here just for drinks! It's Saturday night 7pm and the place is packed! We asked the hostess if we can just have cocktails. She directed us to two tops back by the open kitchen. They have a limited tables for just cocktails/wine and 3 food menu items. It was perfect! My husband ordered a Manhattan $18 which sadly, was just okay. I had the Schramsberg sparkling wine $16 which was perfect! Great ambiance, had the dark woodsy look that many Hillstone restaurants have.

I don't think I've ever give a 1 star. I've seen people write out I wish I could give negative and now I understand why. I arrived in my 2 year sons birthday to banderas in new port beach. We were there 30 minutes early and just stayed outside until they opened the restaurant. They opened the restaurant and we were the first people inside. They sat us all the way towards the back of the restaurant which I personally prefer because of my children. We ordered our food and my son loves to just roam around and see the area. I always supervise him just in case people don't see him or he goes into areas he isn't allowed. The manager BEN came up to me and said hello my name is BEN and stuck his hand to shack my hand. I shook his hand and said hello. The first thing he said after that was, can you please keep your child with you guys inside the booth, we don't want your child getting hurt. I totally respect that and said no problem and brought my son into the booth to sit with us. I looked behind me into the restaurant and saw that there was maybe 1 or 2 other tables at that moment with people in it. After 15-20 mins of sitting and eating out food, my son was watching some child entertainment on my phone so he can stay calm and not run around. A different manager came and say hello has anyone helped you with anything or asked if you'd like anything small for your children? Me and my wife both looked at each other and said no nothing and he said if I can help, please let me know and I said sure can you please bring me a small side of guacamole for my son , and you can charge me for it. He said of course and then leaned over to me and said, can you please lower your phone volume to the lowest level as to not disturb other people? I was in shock because I could BARELY and I mean barely hear the phone number. I said sure and took the phone and lowered it. My wife that was sitting literally across me said I can't even hear it, why the heck would he even say that??? I was in shock about that. After our food arrived and I asked for my steak to me medium well, it came out medium rare. I didn't complain because I don't usually complain about the temperature of steak because I enjoy the medium or medium rare type but because I have children I get it more well done for my children to eat. My son started getting antsy and started swinging his head and it hit the wood framing of the booth. He started crying and I know he was upset and hurt. I quickly picked him up and rubbed him and took care of him. I said to my son let's go to the bathroom to wash up. We went to the restroom and washed up. When I came back to my sit, my wife said you won't believe what that manager said. I said again? What did he say? He came to my wife and said can you please keep the outbursts to a minimal? My wife told him my son hit his head and got hurt, he said oh no can we get him ice or anything? She said no and he left. At this point I was so angry I was going to lose it. I told my wife get the check and let's get out of here. I have been eating at Houston restaurants longer than that manager BEN has been alive. I'm so disrespected by how he handled that. We sat in the corner kept to ourselves Kept the noise to a minimal Tried ordering quickly and leaving to not disturb anyone Paid and tipped generously For some loser manager to come and say that about my child. I eat at Hillstone in Santa Monica probably once a week if not more. There is a south Beverly grill down the street from my home that I go to as well. Very bad customer service and VERY bad acknowledgement of circumstances.

I had the best dinner at Bandera! I had been to other Hillstone restaurants before and was very happy with my experience at this CDM location and love that it's 2 blocks from the beach. The service was great, servers were super attentive. I love how they change out martini glasses so your drink is always chilled. I ordered the filet and it was cooked perfectly. Perfect spot for a date night or quick dinner. I would definitely recommend.

It's a hillstone so it's consistent. Menu isn't as big as other hillstones but if you want something hearty , it's def the place

Great team dinner at Bandera! Ordered the chicken and rib combo, excellent choices as well as a bottle of Duckhorn, our server Grace was fantastic, booth was comfortable and lighting was dim but welcoming

Plenty of parking. Reservations accepted but not required. Good for groups. Ok for kids. Menu has something for everyone. Our server was Tony, he went over the menu with us. He made some great suggestions. Mud try spot if in the area. I has the chicken and ribs, while my wife had the French dip. Both great.

Where Do I Start? I'll start with Sara or Sarah, the Hostess with the Mostess...Friendly Greeting, Good Sense of Humor, Great Reservation Handler! Then our server...Kenzie...Short for McKenzie, but not short on COOLNESS or Genuine Smiles! Great Recommendations too!!! We've been coming here for over 5 years, which is not a long time, in the larger scheme of things, but long enough to make it a frequent destination! Amazing, Unique Food! Perfect Atmosphere! Spotlessly Clean, with ample restrooms! The Perfect Vibe in CDM! No Happy Hour, but Every Hour is Happy Hour!

One of my favorite restaurants. Any restaurant that belongs to Hillstone restaurant group has always been consistent, good food, and the best service. I'm always amazed with the service that Hillstone restaurant group delivered. They trained their servers well. All the servers are always smiling and deliver such an exceptional service. I can't remember the last time at other restaurants the server would replace my warm glass of wine with a new cold glass without me asking, and I have been to many fine dining restaurants including many Michelin restaurants over the years. This is an outstanding attention to detail and exceptional table service. The restaurant is cozy and warm. The menu is simple but everything is fantastic.The portion is definitely smaller than it used to.There are so many restaurants to try but I always like to come back to Bandera, Gulfstream, R & D, Hillstone etc.. The server, Ms. Kalani was attentive , engaging and friendly. She made my dining experience much more enjoyable. Can't wait to go back when I'm in the area again.

This dark and secluded spot along the strip in Newport Beach is excellent great bar scene awesome food and drinks. Staff was friendly and accommodating. Food was tasty and the drinks were strong

The rotisserie chicken and bbq beef rib combo is an excellent choice for a tender juicy chicken with a wonderful smoky flavor and tender fall off the bone beef ribs with a tangy and lightly sweet bbq sauce. Service is always consistent across the Hillstone family of restaurants which means excellent attention from start to conclusion. I recommend the Oreo ice cream sandwich for a light sweet finish.

Been going to Bandera and Houston's and White House in aspen for decades. Went to dinner at Bandera Saturday night with three friends all of us are locals and have eaten there many times. We were waiting for our food when a snotty so called little manager came to our table and said we were cut off from drinks. When we asked why he gave no explanation for his actions. I explained that I was the designated driver and asked what the problem was. He then said he was calling the police if we didn't leave, still with no explanation. The food is always good but I will never eat there again. Such an absolute joke.

Food: -Grilled artichoke: so well done, delicious sauce -Emerald kale salad: the side order was huge! Was very good and well dressed. -beef back ribs: so tender and very yummy. The coleslaw was also very good. A good combination of creamy and vinegary versions -prime rib sandwich: just as good as R+D, pillowy soft bread and tender thin slices of meat. Love that they offer a side, R+D doesn't. Fries were great, just the way I like them. -no mocktails but the waitress offered a n/a spritzer with fresh grapefruit juice, sparkling water and mint which was great. Service: overall good, very attentive. No negative notes Vibe: busy on a Friday night. Well lit and great space. Overall very happy with our dinner and will come back!

New food pictures for this review as I was out with business colleagues and it wasn't appropriate. Okay for starters we had the dip duo which is guacamole and a jalapeno queso. The queso actually reminded me of a pimento cheese dip that you would get from the south. Both were excellent and delicious. Next I went with the nice little house salad which was really nice with greens, pickled, carrots, walnuts and goat cheese very nice For my entree I went with the chicken and barbecue rib combo. Excellent. The ribs were tender and juicy. They don't give you a lot but that's okay. They do give you a half chicken which was Smokey and delicious. No one went for dessert. Two of my compatriots had the French dip sandwich which they thought was excellent and then our other compatriot had the kale and roasted salad and she enjoyed that. Service was prompt a little too prompt as I was still eating my salad when they brought the entree. But nevertheless, very nice place and they definitely have a lot of good smoked meats

With childlike enthusiasm I ordered the grilled artichokes. However, the adult reality guy punch was delivered once the dish arrived. I drew a blank. How does one tackle this artichoke?...I had forgotten. To help, my husband looks at me with bleep as the charred vegetable is foreign and menacing. Finely victorious, the artichoke was conquered. Should really come with a manual. Dip duo does it. It hits. Fresh chips served with guacamole and jalapeño cheese dip. The double-cut pork chops served with red cabbage and goat cheese had me pleasantly surprised. The colcannon potatoes delish. The Pettit filet cooked to excellence and even had a great crust.

It's been a couple of years since I've been. Use to be my go to in town. The bbq salmon dish was phenomenal. All of it. The veggie and cheese enchilada was recommended and good. Loved the side salad with it. Great vibe, people watching place, ambience is sexy and yet casual. Great service as always. Expect a wait on weekends. Not a bad thing with fireplace on and excellent bar.

Fantastic service with dark/moody ambiance. Appetizer: kale salad, always a hit at any Hillstone branch. Entrees were disappointing. We got the chicken and ribs plates along with coleslaw and side of fries. Fries was not hot and it had a strong oil flavor which we didn't like at all. 1 star! The bbq ribs were cooked fine but the sauce was way too sweet. If you dine at Gulfsteam (sister restaurant couple of blocks away) their ribs and the sauce is far superior and balanced. The chicken was more disappointing. Mine was not cooked enough for the chicken to separate easily from the bones and I had to wrestle with it. it was also red in some parts of the leg so I stopped eating it. Also, the chicken really lacked any flavor. Overall I was not happy with my dish at all. For dessert, banana pie... we thought the banana would be also incorporated with the pie filling, only to find out it was plain filling with banana slices on the side. Again it lacked flavor. Out of all our dining experiences at different Hillstone sister restaurants this Bandera visit was by far our least favorite.

Cold heartless jerks. Sarah the manager kicked us out due to us bringing our 9 year old which there were 5 of us at a 6 person booth but only due to us not listing 5 people they asked us to leave. We we were there for our god mothers anniversary of her husbands death but they could care less. Insulting and unprofessional. Deeply insulting and heartless. Review this policy. It's poor execution and no accommodation. They are an arrogant group. I supported this establishment for years. They have ho heart and I'm done and will be telling everyone I know not to visit until things change.

Absolutely LOVED this place!!!! This is my favorite dinner place that I have tried in CDM so far. I only have great things to say. Bandera is the perfect date night spot with the moody ambiance and lighting. Our server was great and very charismatic! The food and drinks also came out fairly quick after we ordered. Off to a good start. I got the Crush drink which was soooo yummy and fresh. The cornbread bites could have used some honey drizzle but they were the perfect little starter to share. The chicken and ribs plate and chicken sandwich was PHENOMENAL. Sooooo fresh and delicious and perfect. 0 complaints. The ribs were some of the best ribs I've ever had and the coleslaw was crunchy and perfect. Not to mention the portion sizes are HUGE. We are our leftovers for dinner the next day. Overall I would highly recommend Bandera as it did not at all disappoint. This is my new fav dinner spot in CDM by a long shot.

Came here on a Saturday with a reservation and the place was pretty busy but didn't have to wait too long for our table. The apt was dark with minimal lighting which gave it a cool date night vibe. For food, I for the bbq salmon. It was a rather large piece with a cucumber salad that was probably my favorite part so if it doesn't come with your meal I recommend that you order it as a side. The veggies are pickled and so tasty.

My bf and I LOVE Houston's and R&D kitchen so naturally we assumed we'd be fans of everything under the Hillstone umbrella, however we didn't have the best experience here. Our Hawaiian ribeye came out too rare (we ordered medium rare). We ate one small piece from the edge and cut it in half after to confirm and let our server know. Instead of making a new steak, they tossed the one we have back on the grill, so when it was returned to us it was the driest steak we have ever experienced. And for more context the Hawaiian ribeye is my favorite steak ever, usually so juicy and packed with flavors of the marinate so this was really disappointing. We also ordered the beef rib and chicken and it was just ok. The cornbread bites were good but not enough for me to come back. The parking lot is small, and for a similar menu and consistent quality of steak, I will stick to Houston's and R&D instead.

We've been coming here for years with no review. It's basically a carbon copy of it's sister spot, Houston's. Pretty much the same menu, same restaurant layout, same atmosphere. Service is usually on point and the food is solid. Parking is small, but doable. Smaller menu, which I always appreciate. Roasted artichokes are excellent. Hawaiian ribeye same. Good bar scene. Like Houston's, not a bigger group type of place (party of 4 or less).

First visited a Bandera in Los Altos way back in 2001. It's one of the family of Hillstone company restaurants (including Gulfstream, R+D Kitchen, Houston's, Rutherford Grill, White House Tavern, etc.). This location in the Newport enclave of Corona Del Mar is a neighborhood favorite, walking distance to the bluffs overlooking the Pacific. As with other Hillstone restaurants, the vibe inside is uber comfortable and decadent, managing to be both intimately dim but with spotlights and candles that set wooden tabletops aglow. They have a nice patio with fireplace for waiting, and wait staff serve appetizers and drinks out there. Wood and copper elements with an Arts and Crafts style and interesting art (images of trees, barns, still life). Cocktails are solid, and a nice wine and beer selection. Also no corkage for first bottle if you want to bring in something special. Staff is professional and solicitous but not overeager. You're well taken care of but not pestered. The menu is classic and nothing too crazy: grilled artichokes, a great dip duo of pimento cheese and guacamole, some tremendous beef ribs, rotisserie chicken, often fresh fish. Our go-to's are the flawless chicken sandwich (perfectly soft and slightly sweet brioche with thin and crisp chicken, cool tomato, Swiss cheese, and a great slaw) and the macho salad (greens with pulled rotisserie chicken, avocado, dates, goat cheese, cornbread croutons). In summary, Bandera for us is like that old friend you're always happy to visit who never fails to lift your spirits. I do wish they'd leave me alone about wearing my hat inside though...

I want to say this is my second time writing about Bandera Corona on how exceptional the service, food and restaurant is. Charisma took care of us this weekend and it was amazing that we didn't even have to tell her that it was our anniversary. Whenever you can feel special without having to tell your server it's a special occasion is a huge positive as a consumer. Can't want to be back!

Amazing Right in the middle of CDM Great atmosphere, busy place. You need to make a reservation for the Bar ads well as the dinning area. it's always very crowded. Reservations are highly recommended. But you will love the experience. Food and the drinks are worth the wait We started with the cornbread bites which are really yummy, followed by dinner.. steak with blue cheese and tomatoes. Delicious. The margarita was also good, but I don't really care for the egg white foam they put in it. When ordering that drink, make sure that you say egg white or no egg white foam. Enjoy

Thought the appetizers were awesome but the entrees were just good, not great but also not bad. Chicken is a tad dry but the smoked salmon spread and corn bread were definitely the stars. Great dinner ambiance. Be prepared to wait, still had to wait 20 mins even when we showed up on time for our reservation

We tried to make a reservation for 5 and this was their response: "We don't typically make reservations for parties of 5. We prefer to more intimate experiences with parties of two" Why in the world would a restaurant have a policy to turn away 5 paying customers?!?

Bandera is always a good time. Met up with a friend there after work. It was pretty busy for a weekday which is inconvenient but also a sign that you're in for a good meal. Despite the crowd, we were seated promptly at our reservation time. Bandera has a very nice vibe, low lighting. Loud enough that your conversations aren't intruded on but not so loud that you have to shout to hear each other. My go to starters are the dip duo and the cornbread. Don't approach these as if they are mutually exclusive. Get both. Trust me. For mains, I had the lamb sandwich. Glad to see it back on the menu. It's so flavorful and the meat is super tender. My buddy had the french dip which he said was insanely delicious. It's a small menu, but that's usually a sign that everything on it will be a hit. Definitely recommend for a casual evening out.

Been coming here for more than 10 years. Excellent service, awesome food. Cornbread make sure ask for a side of honey and butter. Duo dip is also excellent. I always order the chicken sandwich very tasty. All around top to bottom you can't go wrong! Love it ..

meh. overrated. chicken was so dry and came out so late. i ate in a group of 5 and everyone was served their entree at the same time but my dish arrived 15 minutes after with no explanation as to why it was so late. sides were good, also tried the trout. not very flavorful just tasted like char. for $300 i was not impressed and most likely will not be returning

Chicken sandwich was very flavorful and very plentiful. The chic and rib plate was full plate. A lot of food. The ribs were amazing, the chicken was moist but not a lot of flavor. The cold slaw was to die for. All in all, great warm atmosphere with attentive waitress. I'd go back.

Dined here last night. Servers were very attentive. Ambiance was nice, lighting was somewhat dark but rather nice. Almost every table was occupied Parking was Easy I had the Duckhorn Merlot, she had a Modelo. She had a Salad I had the SEATTLE-STYLE BARBECUE SALMON fillet'd in-house, grilled, and served with cucumber salad

love: every dish, the macho salad, the beef ribs are out of this world, cornbread bites, artichoke - all of it is incredible not my fave: parking and getting a reservation on short notice

Honestly, this is not a place to bring your kids. If children aren't welcome, then just say so and specify age restrictions--don't make families feel uncomfortable after they arrive. I also felt completely disrespected and discriminated against. I asked for a very basic accommodation--vegetables on the side--and was told no. I asked for two chicken breasts to be served on two separate plates (for sharing), and again, they refused. It felt like they just didn't care at all about customer service or being accommodating. Really disappointing experience overall.

So many rules...guys no hats, used to be no cash, but if you have someone that can't come in & wants the steak it's a no go...nope, can't have that... thanks corporate! Food is great but corporate should move to a communist country with all their no soup for you rules. No one takes a phone on order? Website can only order ribs & other things we don't want like a filet or ribeye. I had to go across the street to the QW to get our filets. Corporate strikes again!

Horrible Service. The staff including the manager that shows up to work with wrinkled suit pants are just the worse to deal with. The service made the food taste horrible. No means No!!! They don't know how to take care of guests and have this fake kindness. You guys should go to Joey Restaurant and learn a thing or two about how to take care and treat customers. Officially dumping your location from our restaurant list.

Our Home Away from Home - Thank You, Ben and the Banderas Newport Beach Team We travel constantly and are longtime fans of Hillstone restaurants--we make a point to seek them out wherever we go. But nothing compares to the experience we have at Banderas in Newport Beach, and that is entirely because of Ben and his extraordinary team. From day one, Ben has made us feel like family. His attention to detail, thoughtful questions, and the way he remembers the little things about our lives make every visit feel personal and warm. No matter what's going on in the restaurant, Ben remains calm, gracious, and present. He's a true professional, but beyond that, he leads with a kind of care and heart that's rare to find. Ben is an incredible manager, his team is a reflection of that and he is an asset to the restaurant. While our home was under renovation for nearly a year, we found ourselves visiting Banderas often--not just for the consistently phenomenal food and flawless service, but because it became our anchor, our constant when everyday felt chaotic, stressful and filled with change. A place that felt comforting and familiar, even when everything else felt upside down. Now that our renovation is complete and we're back to cooking at home, we still find ourselves coming in all the time. Because being greeted and cared for by Ben and his team brings us a deep sense of home--a place to land, to unwind after a long week, and to feel truly welcomed. We've been to Hillstones across the country, but there's simply nothing like Banderas Newport. Ben has created something incredibly special here, and we are endlessly grateful for the heart, consistency, and warmth that he and his team bring to every experience.

We came back to Bandera and had a wonderful experience. Great service, excellently made Old Fashions, perfectly cooked charred medium rare rib eye, grilled salmon and banana cream pie. Can't wait to return.

Been coming here for 20+ years and the food is always very good, despite their incessant tweaking and smaller portions. Though, a complaint I have concerns their formerly sublime and legendary banana cream pie. This dessert used to be the capper to a great meal. My fiancee and I ate at Bandera a couple months ago and ordered our staple BCP. Expecting excellence, we were saddened and disappointed. It truly tasted and looked as if it came off a Marie Callender's assembly line. The chocolate was way too thick and needed a chisel to break thru. The banana filling was unappealing and flavorless. Barely any of the yummy buttery Graham Cracker. Just... very disappointing. Why did they muck with this formerly amazing dessert? No clue. We'll return, but will now skip dessert.

What a disappointment today, ruined my appetite! For reference, I have spent about $5,000 dining here in the last two and half years eating the same things so i have been here many times and not making stuff up. Never have I had a worst experience than today at Bandera. I have frequented here after a nice sunset walk in my sandals for many years. I get my ribeye protein fix, and burn it off after. Today this new manager named Erwin Wang an immature and unprofessional acted likes it's his first day at a job, ruined my fine Sunday. Never seen this guy here before. I've been dining here for many years, first time being told I can't wear sandals while dining, no bar seating either. I have always worn sandals, walk the sunset nearby, get dinner here afterwards. Simple activity for this area! Erwin said "why don't you buy a shoe and come back ... women can wear casual, men can't wear sandals no exceptions!" Refusing service for wearing sandals for men and not women to make up a social norm is just unreasonable! The reservation staff and the managers here are just drama. After you get past the reservation and managers, the wait staff and kitchen are great. On top of this manager Erwin Wang totally ruined my dinner date. I lost my appetite talking to Erwin Wang so I decided that I can't eat there. I went elsewhere for some escargot and seafood and beer. Bandera stop irritating customers with your bureaucracy. Not going back until this guy is gone. Love the cooks, the waiters/waitresses, consistent ribeye, however great displeasure for the non-service from this immature and unprofessional Erwin Wang. I have always tip well after each past visit. As a long time customer things could have been handled much more professionally.

I usually love this restaurant. Good food. Consistent quality. My bad, we arrived on a Friday night without reservations but thought we might sit in the back on the high tops as we've done numerous times before. Unlike previously, the hostess informed us we could only order appetizers from the high tops. They are not a meal. We only wanted their delicious kale salads. Not a lot of work for a server. No go, so we left. When does a restaurant turn away an easy $100.00 patron? Left a sour taste in my mouth. All the high tops were vacant - maybe that's why?

Respect Did not like the two bar waitresses which talked about me but I heard it. Sad how much a customer who was ignored and then talked about in front of my face. So childish from a previous incident here at CDM Bandera. That's what we get if we complain as a paying customer I've never been treated so disrespectful in a supposedly used to be one of my favorites before.

Oh my gosh! We had heard of Bandera for ages and never been. What a great experience we had! Our server Briana was the best!!!!! Great recommendations, attentive and so pleasant and friendly! What a great genuine smile! She was right on with everything she suggested! We had the grilled artichoke for our appetizer. My husband had the crispy chicken sandwich and I had the macho salad. Delicious! Then the dessert!!!!!!!! Banana cream pie was exquisite! One thing that made my experience extra special was that I ordered a cosmo martini which was perfect---- but when I was 1/2 way finished Briana brought over a new frosted martini glass and pored my martini into it! I've never had such great attention to detail and service! Outstanding! We will be back!

Food and service is second to none. Highly recommend to anyone in the greater OC area.

We had a last minute reservation here on a Thursday night. Our server was Skyler and SHE IS AMAZING. She gave us great recommendations, Exceptional service, and the type of experience that we don't see very often now a days. We will definitely be back

The Newport Beach area has so many great restaurants to choose from, and Bandera is one of the absolute best. I come here multiple times each year for the fantastic food, great service, and the rustic, but sophisticated, atmosphere. My favorite menu items are the grilled artichokes, the always amazing filet mignon, and the "Macho Salad." The Margaritas are the best anywhere. I can't say enough good things about this wonderful restaurant!

I enjoy coming here. It's comfortable and casual and I enjoy the food. Always a great place to have drinks with friends, etc. "I don't agree with the no cash policy now". I do agree with others let's keep our freedom!

-The management of the restaurant tonight was terrible. - Seating 45 minutes late (with a confirmed reservation) - After 75 minutes of eating and drinking, we were asked to leave so that another guest could wait for the table. - We wanted to order dessert but were never offered one. Not a memorable experience

Was my second time here.. first time I wasn't too impressed for some reason (maybe cause of the small menu) but this time I came to realize they have a small menu but make everything just right! It may also have been because the first time I was with girlfriends for a girls night, and the place has more of a dark/date night feel so I enjoyed it more when i was with my husband. We started off with the artichoke, then had the Hawaiian Rib eye and chicken/rib combo dinner with the cornbread appetizer. Everything was delicious and our server Aileen was sweet and attentive. We love the ambience too!! The place was swanky but not pretentious. Cant wait to come back!