Maxine M.
Yelp
5 stars
Bluewater Grill's other location in Catalina Island made a good impression on us, so we decided to visit their Newport Beach location which is 35 miles from home. Yes, we're that determined ;) We made a reservation for 4 people at 2 pm, 4/28/24.
Parking: $7 Valet or metered street parking for $2.30/hr. It is easy to find a parking spot on Sundays.
Ambiance: Relaxed, welcoming atmosphere, moderate noise level, and comfortable outdoor seating overlooking the water and beautiful yachts. The Catalina Island location is much nicer than the NP beach, but this location is still very nice considering this was the first original location, according to our server.
Food: I have to say NP Beach wins over their Catalina Island location when it comes to taste and portion size :)
*Sourdough bread and butter- complimentary and made fresh. So good we had to ask for another one.
*Oysters- we came here because of their oysters! Buttery texture, fresh, no weird taste, and has a hint of sweetness.
*Lobster tail with dirty rice & scalloped potatoes- huge portion compared to the Catalina Island location. Perfectly seasoned & juicy.
*Crispy calamari- crispy and soft; very good!
*Fisherman's platter- beer battered Alaskan cod, prawns, scallops, fries, coleslaw. Finger-licking good!
*Gemelli pasta with shrimp & scallops- my personal favorite! Creamy, well-seasoned, and has the perfect balance with all of its accompanying ingredients (mushroom, asparagus, cream, parmesan).
*Clam chowder- very rich and filling. We got 4 orders. Delicious!
*Seafood Louis salad - the best salad I've ever had & I'm not even a salad person. They did not hold back on the crab. Another favorite!
*Lemon & pepper mahi mahi with scalloped potatoes and spinach- my least favorite. Spinach was bland; the fish was good but nothing out of the extraordinary.
Service: Our server, Steven, provided us with excellent service. He took care of our group very well with a smile, gave suggestions, and recommended his personal favorites on the menu. Our food also came at a reasonable time. Steven was personable and made small conversations with my group that made our day extra special.
Price: Reasonable prices for a seafood restaurant by the marina. With what's mentioned above plus 2 coffees, 1 tea, and 1 diet coke, our bill came to $320 for 4 people.
I highly recommend Bluewater Grill, and we are already planning our next visit!