Rusty Pelican

What a beautiful location to enjoy the afternoon sunshine, sip delicious mixed cocktails, and indulge in culinary delights. We enjoyed a dozen fresh and briney oysters on the half shell, a wonderful goat cheese souffle with sun dried tomatoes, olives, and pickled onions on toast that was bright and refreshing, and for mains we enjoyed the grilled swordfish with sweet chili sauce and fish tacos on a very unique shell that I'm not really sure of the backstory there. As a side, we ordered the most perfectly roasted and crispy brussel sprouts laid on top of the same sweet chili sauce as the swordfish was in, but with a good kick of fresh garlic added in. All of the dishes were visually stunning, subconciously preparing the pallet for every bite. If you're looking to slow down, unwind, fuel up or self-induldge... Rusty Pelican's patio is the perfect option for lovers of fresh seafood and carefully crafted drinks. We almost chose a different location with slightly a slightly better overall rating but no ocean view... And we're happy we didn't. Rusty Pelican phenominal food, drinks, views, and attentive service. This was our first time visiting, and we'll definitely be back.

Returned to Rusty Pelican for a birthday dinner. Valet parking ($10) only but makes for easy "in & out" of parking lot. Restaurant was clean and inviting. Hostess was very amicable, efficient, and seated us promptly. Server, Brenda, was "johnny-on-the-spot"...very friendly with lots of smiles, efficient & attentive, and service was great. Food was excellent (took some photos)...oysters, shrimp cocktail, mushrooms, scallops, swordfish, & salmon. In my opinion, the food was prepared properly and tasty. Overall experience for this birthday dinner was excellent and memorable.

We had dinner last night. The host was very kind and she sat us on a table on the upper floor overlooking the water. Our server Cameron was attentive and great overall. The food was very fresh and delicious. We were celebrating our anniversary. Will be coming back for more. Thank you Rusty Pelican crew for a wonderful experience.

A very nice restaurant on the waterfront in Newport Beach. Excellent selection of seafood on the menu, with a couple of steaks too. I had a 12oz NY Strip which was nice. Jumbo shrimp cocktail was good too. Nice ambience but tables were quite tightly crammed in spoiling the ambience slightly. Had to wait 20 minutes for our table for two, despite having a reservation. Parking was valet only.

Food was meh. We expected some great flavors. The seafood pasta had weird pasta in it. There was no smokey flavour as advertised. It had gooey, stringy cheese not parm. Brussel Sprouts were good.

I cannot believe this is my first time here after all of these years. Let me tell you about all the things I love I love the upstairs bar area and being able to look out over the harbor and the sunset was so beautiful today. I love the bartender and his vibe And I really enjoyed sitting at the upstairs bar. I thought they had a pretty good wine list, but it was mostly like all the basic things that you would expect a fine dining restaurant on the water to have so there wasn’t anything super unexpected there. And I did like the food. I probably wouldn’t want to go here again and eat the food though lol like it wasn’t horrible, but it wasn’t like oh my God I have to come here again and have this particular dish. But I really like the vibe upstairs at the bar. I would definitely come back to this bar and hopefully Joel is working again because he was super cool to hang out with.!!

Great seafood restaurant in the Newport Beach area. Their prices are more reasonable than the surrounding dinner options. Highly recommend the salmon, cod, or seafood pasta. The portion sizes were surprisingly generous (relatively speaking). They also offer a very extensive wine menu and a variety of great cocktails. The only real menu limitation was their sides offering - Most of the good sides were considered “shareables” and, consequently, were much more expensive. Keep in mind that they only do valet parking but there’s street parking adjacent to the restaurant. We came 40 minutes before close but the service was excellent and the restaurant had an ambiance that made it great for any type of occasion (still slightly on the more formal side). Great views of the water so would definitely recommend that you request outdoor seating in advance if possible!

I love ocean/beach view restaurants. And this one located in Newport Beach, Ca. Love their garlic bread. And enjoy the ocean front view while sipping on the yummy cocktails. My fav place to go. Staffs were nice.

You just can't go wrong when you choose the Rusty Pelican for an absolutely fabulous meal. Freshest fish on planet Earth. Try to get a seat at the fireplace. It will keep you warm and toasty. Our server was spectacular. A supernatural kind of woman. Everything was perfect. We already made our reservations for this year's 2025 boat parade. A little pricey, but worth every penny to be in paradise. Beautiful views of the marina. Beautiful restaurant. They usually have live entertainment upstairs at the bar. Not too loud. We love this place.

Long-standing go to on the Newport coast the Pelican has been a part of my family dining experience for decades and never ceases to live-up to its image. The service is always top-notch, the food is incredible and what better dining table than on the Newport Marina? Not sure which I like better, the evening or daylight views Both make the experience second to none. I had the Caprese salad with the bone-in rid eye which was cooled to perfection and seasoned the same. The black cod was also deliciously satisfying! Our waitress had a great personality and very easy to talk to and joke with. She made it an even better experience! Great for a date night and even a large family (10-12) which I saw enjoying the Pelican as well!

We truly had a great experience here. We didn't have a reservation and decided to go last minute (7pm on a Saturday) and we only waited 5 minutes for 3 of us. Our waiter and waitress were very kind and welcoming. There is lots of seating available upstairs and downstairs with great views of the water. The food was also delicious with so much flavor in each bite. I would recommend any of these 3 dishes and we will definitely be back!

we were a group of eight and slightly late to our reservation because we were out on the water, but they were kind enough to hold our reservation until our boat docked and we were able to get seated without an issue. The service here was really good from beginning to end and they were all so kind to us. I was designated driver on this day, so no drinks for me, but my entrée was delicious! I'm hoping I can go back during the spring or summer when the weather is warmer so I can give them another try!

Wow ! Just wow ! The food here is delicious, from the appetizers, to the mains, to the dessert. The service here was phenomenal, I was here for an engagement dinner and man the staff here was on top of it. Habibi was an amazing server constantly always checking up on us and making sure we were served and hydrated. The view from the patio is amazing but even the inside is very homey looking. The bathrooms are quite small especially the stalls. The parking is Valet only and it's just $10 just in case anyone wondered. ORDERED: Petite Filet - 9/10 (Cooked to a medium rare) Molten Chocolate Cake - 8/10 (Rich and Thick) Garlic Bread - 8/10 (Crunchy and Tasty) Clam Chowder - 7/10 (Creamy) Paloma - 8/10 (Sweet)

We wanted to enjoy fresh fish while in town and after hunting the Rusty Pelican was the top choice. We called ahead at noon to see if they could get us in for lunch (party of 2) for 1 pm, they had no problem making space for us. Not to mention it is a holiday today - Labor Day. We ordered the garlic bread, shrimp cocktail, bacon wrapped filet, and the swordfish firepot. The garlic bread came with a lot of pieces, very similar to Texas toast but on a French bread. The shrimp cocktail came with 6 large pieces. The bacon wrapped filet was cooked at medium and they did a good job, it comes with a nice helping of seasoned butter along with mashed potatoes and some fresh roasted veggies. Lastly the swordfish was delicious, it was cooked well not dry, nice char on the outside with the seasoning, slightly spicy. It's an interesting mix of Asian and Cajun seasonings and came with 3 normal sized shrimp plus rice.

Finally got to try this place. It was super busy in the evening and couldn't get a table because we didn't have a reservation. But luckily there was seating upstairs at bar. There are several high tops you can sit at. There was a wedding reception going on upstairs but service was still good and prompt. I tried their scallops as my entree and wow it was probably the best scallop entree I've ever had. Flavors were amazing and had a little kick. Can't wait to be back to try the other items! The dinner views is beautiful as well.

This was unfortunately my first and likely last visit to the Rusty Pelican. We arrived for an early dinner around 4:45 and didn't leave until 7:30, not because we wanted a long, leisurely evening, but because the service was extremely slow. While I understand restaurants can have challenges (short staffing, kitchen delays, etc.), it shouldn't take over an hour just to place an entrée order. On the positive side, the atmosphere is lovely. Most guests were dressed up, which gave the evening a more elevated feel, and the outdoor seating area offers a beautiful view. I'd recommend requesting a table outside if possible. As for the food, it fell short of expectations. We ordered the house special: halibut over mashed potatoes with shrimp in butter sauce. Unfortunately, the shrimp arrived lukewarm and the fish was slightly overcooked. Nothing was terrible, but nothing stood out either. It was nice to try something new, but given the slow service and underwhelming meal, we don't plan on returning

Loooved this place! Can't wait to return. Drinks and food on point! Calamari was out of this world and swordfish was perfect

We had just arrived in town and wanted to try some seafood and the Rusty Pelican was of high ratings. We did not dress up but probably should have as it was a very fine dining experience. Alexis provided amazing service and the food was absolutely outstanding. The Halibut was perfectly cooked, as were the scallops. And everything was just terrific. The dish presentation was really good, as you can see from the pics. We had to go back for another go after such a great first experience, but sadly the second time the server was not very attentive, did not ask how the food was, and the swordfish was overcooked and dry. There seems to be some inconsistency in food as well as service. I will say that the blackened cod was very good, but the swordfish was pretty dry and the sauce not well described so did not meet expectations. The crab cakes were fantastic with no extenders. The broth with the muscles and clams was incredible. It could have come with more bread and the service size of clams and muscles could have been more. A bit disappointing for the swordfish when comparing to the other dish presentation and preparation.

Was here for a conference and on the last day of the conference there was a group dinner here. The view and service were both amazing but truthfully, I wasn't impressed with the food. We had different appetizers that ranged from shrimp, to garlic bread to fried asparagus? The clam chowder and my rose was pretty good but apart but that the food wasn't incredible. Don't think I'd be back unless it was for drinks or happy hour.

The views are five stars, of course. And as with most waterfront restaurants, that's what you're really paying for. Hey, those oceanside rents don't pay for themselves! Thankfully, I came here for a work/team dinner so I didn't have to open my wallet. My Shrimp Scampi was pretty tasty, but laughably small in portion size. Then I remembered that this was LA/South Bay, and being thin is basically a city mandate. So in defiance, I also ordered the giant Crème Brûlée Cheesecake for dessert--because let's face it, none of the other skinny betches in that restaurnat were going to order it. It was delectably creamy and toasty. I washed it all down with the Pineapple-Sage Mule, a somewhat watered down rum creation that was disappointingly light on the pineapple--or maybe my expectations were too high having just spent the week before in Maui.

The Rusty Pelican is always a steady choice for great seafood in Newport Beach. I had a Firepot Sea Bass which had a great sweet and spicy flavor with a great flaky fish. The garlic bread was also great and flavorful. I will say the server seemed to forget to place the order at first and the drinks took longer than most restaurants to come out. It could very well be that it was a busy night and not the fault of the server themselves. Finally, the waterfront view is unparalleled, yachts going by and lights on the bay are always great. Wish I could have gotten a window table on the 2nd floor.

The Rusty Pelican offers a stunning view of Newport Harbor, an excellent location for brunch with friends, or a date night outing. My friend and I were escorted to the second story of the restaurant and seated at a small table, adjacent to the window facing the waterfront. As the dazzling lights flickered in the water's reflection, and boats navigated below, I finally, after much debate, decided on what to eat. I ordered the swordfish, which arrived deconstructed by request, served with tomatoes and mozzarella in a miniature dish, on a bed of broccoli, and with a portion of balsamic dressing on the side. The swordfish fish itself was prepared well, a bit drier, which I prefer; however, I would hesitate to mix fish with cheese, tomato, and balsamic, out of instinct. To pair with this meal, I decided to try a dangerous menu item, the Rusty Mai Tai, which was poured into a grand dual-faced glass, that felt more like an enchanted goblet, with a surface texture that was difficult to grasp. Overall the service was fantastic, the waiter was casual, calm, and friendly. I would forewarn that the parking at this establishment is valet, and the menu prices run fairly steep, so definitely be prepared to spend a bit if you choose to dine here, at this optimal spot for celebrating a special occasion.

Came here for a birthday party which was held on the second floor of the restaurant When you arrive you realize the parking situation is small and it's only valet which honestly is a pain because you feel forced to have to now spend $8 whether you want to or not especially if you aren't from the area to know where other parking lots are at and from what I saw it really looks limited anywhere to park so that to me is a bit of a downer but I guess that's Newport Beach for ya lol The staff was all very friendly though and the arrive was prompt and good despite them having to take a huge order for everyone picking from the limited party menu The seating arrangement was a little tight so I'm super glad I sat at the end but if I had sat at any other table I would have been stuck lol but maybe that's just lack of space for the size of the party but otherwise the view overlooking the water and boats was fantastic I wish I had taken photos of all the delicious food but I was so busy chatting and enjoying the party but my filet mignon was cooked perfectly and the shrimp and calamari was great and the cheesecake was good

The best thing they have is the Cajun Shrimp appetizer. Be sure to ask for extra of the garlic bread that comes with it because it's very good. The surf and turf applewood bacon wrapped filet mignon steak with Australian lobster tail was decent. The black cod flagship had an identity crisis because the cod was nice and delicate as expected, but the sauce was way too potent and harsh. I assume the orange ginger black cod must be better.

Came her for the first time for a private party. Beautiful setting. Amazing view of the water during sunset. The party was beautifully put together. There were 3 employees that were working the party. Eric, Levi, and Cameron were extremely helpful , kind and patient during the party. I never saw them look overwhelmed or frustrated. All of them were on top of everything. Just wanted to give them kudos.

Okay went down here for lunch today it's Co's birthday weekend but I am working this weekend :-(. So we went there because she wanted to try the clam chowder heard it was good. It was very good she loved it oh my gosh you can see she ate every bite and mopped up the remaining with the garlic bread. Oh and the garlic bread it is definitely some of the best. We also had goat cheese bruschetta the flavor was very good came with roasted tomatoes and mushrooms. I wish it was a little more creamier I guess seemed a little drier than I would like but don't get me wrong it was very good. Then I had the steamed clams and mussels and I want to tell you the sauce they were cooked in with some of the best I've ever had used all the garlic bread mostly to mop up the sauce :-) we got fish tacos to split came with french fries I thought it would be weird but no the fries were really good. Co got a BlackBerry mint fizz drink it tasted really good. I remember they used to have one of these restaurants here in Long Beach years ago first time I've been the one in Newport but it was great I really enjoyed it and our server Paige was great she made it all that much better. And one of the best parts we sat right at the window and it looks right out over the water looking at all the boats and everything it was a fun lunch.

I'll be honest, the bad reviews made me nervous. I had some Landry's gift cards to use so I made reservations for the day after Valentine's. We were 30 minutes late because of bad traffic in Newport. They still accommodated us but maybe we could have had better seating if we got here on time. We sat at a high top by the bar. It was close to the fire place and you could still see the pretty sunset so it was fine. Each person working that night was super courteous and helpful. The hostess was super sweet. Our waitress had great energy and was very attentive all night. They keep your tables nice and clean throughout year meal. It was stellar. They don't have a lot of things on their menu but they have something for everyone IMO. My husband got the Orange ginger sea bass and I got the cioppino. We both also got the clam chowder. The clam chowder had good flavor, it was mostly potatoes but it still left us satisfied. The sea bass was perfection, would not change one thing! Was kind of jealous! The cioppino was one of the best I've had. Great portion of seafood, great flavor, just wished they put scallops in it. I also had a Newport Mojito and a mud pie. The mud pie was so amazing I cannot believe we ate the whole thing. Mojito was tasty, a little sweet but still yummy. Ambiance was perfect for us. Not to young and loud. Not too old and dead. Was definitely a great night for us. I would come back WITHOUT gift cards LOL

Celebrated my cousin's birthday at Rusty Pelican recently, we had wonderful experience. Parking is primarily valet only. Soon as we checked-in, we were seated immediately. Our windows seats offered amazing view of the Newport Bay. The vibrant wood design and classic seafarer decor gives the restaurant old school charm. We started off with some calamari and steamed mussels & clams. The calamari was delicious, tempura batter really enhances texture of the calamari. Garlic wine sauce of steamed mussels & clams was flavorful. We got some garlic bread for soaking up those incredible sauce. For entrée, I had the sea bass flagship with broccolini while the rest of the party got seafood pasta. The sea bass was outstanding. Perfectly seared outside and firm flaky inside. It was seasoned with cajun spices and brandy topped with sante fe butter for ultimate eating pleasure...so tempted to lick the plate afterwards. Everyone enjoyed seafood pasta. It was loaded with mussels, clams and shrimp; accompanied with lovely cream sauce. The bottle of Justin Cabernet Sauvignon was the perfect complement to our meal. For dessert, my cousin got complimentary butter cake with berries compote for his birthday. We also got a mud pie which was yummerz! All in all, fabulous seaside meal worthy of return visit. Portions were perfect and our bellies were satisfied. Good service - staff was friendly and attentive.

Valet Parking only ($8) and reservations recommended. Our party of four came in wanting to sit near the water, and outside heated* seating was available which was excellent for us. The menu has a few selections from seafood cooked (swordfish, mahi mahi, sea bass) and raw (like the oysters). Our party ordered calimari appetizer, swordfish, king mushroom entree, and the chicken picatta and shareable side of mashed potatoes. I got to try wine for the first time here and what our server recommended me what delicious! One neat thing is that you don't have to feel pressured to order one entree. You can split the one portion into two plates and they will serve it well presented as such should you decide to share with someone. Just request for it to be a split plate. I would definitely love to come back here again!

The service was great! We had a waiter by the name of Eric, he made sure our large group was taken care of and was attentive to our requests. My husband ordered the chicken piccata and I ordered the seafood pasta. I would say I liked the chicken piccata more than the seafood pasta. But, both tasted great it just depends on preference. The chicken piccata was lighter than the seafood pasta, so if you prefer a lighter palate, then go for the piccata, but if you want a strong savory flavor, seafood pasta is the way to go . I think their bread at the beginning is tasty! So definitely a plus! The ambience was nice in terms of a large friendly gathering, but also it was busy due to Valentines , which makes sense. I love how there is a view of the water by the windows. I think if we came here for lunch when it wasn't too busy, it would have a better vibe. Overall, enjoyed my time there, hope to visit again during brighter hours haha and maybe without the baby as well

Went down PCH and found this place to try. Keep in mind it's valet only! We requested to sit outside to enjoy the beautiful sunny view of the dock. The food and drinks were really good. I ordered the seafood pasta which usually comes with a ravioli type of pasta but I subbed for fettuccine. Oysters were fresh and drinks were refreshing. The waiter proposed to us a deal of paying $25 for a Landry's restaurant membership for loyalty points, that includes Morton's and Mastros, which we go to often enough. We opted in since it's refundable and we get a free dessert with it. It's a nice restaurant near the beach to enjoy a meal. Come here for a casual dining place or a special event!

Small parking must valet. From the moment we walked in aesthetic was amazing. Everybody is super nice, helpful and friendly , the prices are fair for the quality of food that we get. Food was decent , the lobster was the best dish I've had in years , steaks was blend. Our waiter was amazing Super attentive , friendly, and very intuitive . The view is breathtaking!

We have been coming here to the Rusty pelican for over 20 years. Nice view, food and service is usually good. Today's brunch the food was horrid. Service was non-existent as we had to flag down a bus boy after sitting for 15 to 20 minutes without even an acknowledgment from a server Just to get water. No one took our drink orders, we had to flag down another server unfortunately we weren't on her Station so she said she'd find our server. Our server finally appears after probably at least 25 minutes of waiting, she wasn't even apologetic. Food, abomination...dry chicken sandwich was horrible and not edible. My sister and I got eggs Benedict. Either hollandaise was bad or something was bad. We ended up with tummy tummy aches and probably food poisoning from this place. I still give it zero stars out of zero stars. when the server saw that we didn't even eat more than two bites of the eggs Benedict she didn't even ask if we want if there was anything wrong, especially when we both and especially when we both rejected to go boxes to take it home. This place has gone so downhill, it's not even funny.

What a delightful experience! It all started with our server Alexa. If you can sit in her area DO IT! She knows each dish, has served at RP for a number of years. Incredible customer service and was so accommodating. This lady needs a raise or at least be a trainer Now for food. We came on Father's Day. Place was very busy but we had made reservations and got right in but many were waiting to be seated. On top of that we had a beautiful table on the water. Alexa mentioned brunches happen on holidays it was a good deal $54 a person for a 4 course meal. I had sea bass my husband had seafood omelette was absolutely delicious. All around would not hope it expect more. TIPS: get reservation, get their brunch can't go wrong, ask for Alexa. We had mimosa with 3 juices $27 a bottle. Another good value. Thanks RP see you soon

This dinner was not a good experience at all, but the harbor view exceptional. I had the Chicken PIccata, and I've never had it served like this? It was not lightly breaded and instead served in a round bowl over saturated in a butter/oil sauce, and I had to pour it out onto my bread plate. I called over the server, and asked it this was how the dish is supposed to be, since my friend's looked nothing like mine. She said, yes that is how we serve it. I let it go, but was truly disappointed!

it was my second time at rusty pelican (first time in 2023). it was decent experience, but i likely wouldn't come back or suggest that someone go out of their way to eat here. it's a nice ambiance because it is right on the water and sunsets can be gorgeous here, but the interior is incredibly loud and crowded. i had a 6:15pm reservation, and my party had to wait 15 minutes for our table which is a bit rude and honestly unacceptable. in addition, our server was really nice, but she kept trying to sell us on everything - asking if we wanted starters with our entrees even though we had already ordered appetizers for the table. besides the service, the food was good but not outstanding by any means. it was also very overpriced. the scallop dish was the best, with nicely cooked and marinated scallops on the creamed street corn, mashed cauliflower, and bacon. the second best was the wild caught alaskan halibut on crispy risotto. the mushrooms, calamari, ciopino, and seafood pasta were fine. also, no free bread because they were out. how do you not anticipate the weekend rush and run out of bread during dinnertime on a saturday? overall, rusty pelican can be nice for some occasions, but be aware that the food can be hit or miss. eating on the water can be lovely (if you're into that) but not necessarily worth the price tag. ps: valet parking only!

Used to come here years ago, but wasn't that impressed by the interior any longer. Needs updating, too crowded inside, bad acoustics with low ceilings and no bar. Food was good and service was ok, but seemed like they were rushing us along. Views are nice, maybe sitting outside or upstairs is better.

First time here. Got the Blackened Seared Scallops (4 pcs). It was delicious. An excellent blend of sweet, mindly sour, and creamy, with a nice kick of spiciness from the green chili sauce on the side. The Mango drink (nonalcoholic) was mid. There were many people when we got there (Sunday evening) but it wasn't noisy.

Unfortunate because it has a great location on the bay of Newport Beach. We sat down for our 8:45 reservation. At 9pm I looked down at my watch and noticed 15 minutes had gone by and nobody acknowledged us. No water. Nobody asking if we would like wine or cocktails. We decide to wait 5 more minutes and still nobody came. We left and paid the $10 valet fee plus a $3 tip. Omar deserved to get paid. He did his job

I always have great time coming here. The food is great, price is reasonable, ambiance is nice day or night.

Nick was an amazing bartender! He definitely deserves a raise! We ate at the bar and got everything taken care of. He even brought us an extra glass to accommodate us for our drink because it was very sweet. Great customer service. The place is also amazing and the ambiance gives luxury. Will definitely be back here. Alex served us our food and he was so professional.

After another Duffy boat adventure, we hosted a large family dinner of 12 at the restaurant. First, Valet was very busy so it was a little slow to get into the parking lot. There was a small wait while they put together our table which ended up being outside. There were heaters and they were hot! We appreciated being able to split the bill amongst three families. Our server was super friendly and nice service is a little slow overall. We had to ask for water refills, some additional silverware for some items that guests were sharing. Plates weren't cleared. One of the entrées never arrived. A chowder was served with the main course which should've been an appetizer. Overall, it was a decent meal. You can't beat the view. It was very crowded on a Saturday evening. We would probably come back because I do love the coconut shrimp. The cod and halibut were pretty good. One of the guest ordered the chicken piccata and probably would not order it again. It was basically a giant bowl of pasta with a few pieces of chicken and definitely did not meet our expectations. We probably should've asked a few more questions. Both varieties of asparagus look delicious. The muscle and clams were served in some type of tomato broth. It looked like and my guest said it was basically like a tomato water and lacked a lot of flavor. The Keylime pie was delicious.

For the price, meh. I ordered a Diet Coke, had to send it back - no carbonation. They supposedly tried to fix it. Second time around - no carbonation. So had to cancel the drink. I'm not sure why this happens, but it's definitely disappointing. How hard is it to get the carbonation right? Hubby and I ordered the fish of the day - Halibut and shrimp with mashed potatoes and butter sauce. We got the Caesar salad and side order of asparagus on the side. First off, we asked for garlic bread - the waitress said it was freshly made from a bakery across the street as well as house- made garlic butter. But it was barely toasted, kinda smushed and way too much garlic butter! Yuck. The Caesar salad came out first. in my opinion it was way too thick with dressing. Wouldn't order again. They split the halibut for us, which was nice. The portion was tiny (esp for the high price), I had to give my husband most of it or he wouldn't have been full. The mashed potatoes it came on were crusted - seemed like they had prepped it beforehand. Not freshly plated. We had ordered a side of asparagus as well, but that never even came, so we canceled it when the server said they'd check on it. All in all, not a great experience. The Halibut was fine itself, just not worth the price.

House special Halibut with spinach and sourdough bread. DELICIOUS! The other dish was Sea Bass with garlic mashed potatoes & Asparagus. Topped off with creme Brule cheesecake shared by 2... enough for 3, but we ate the whole thing! Wow! All perfectly prepared to taste and served with a smile. Our server was Alexis... We will drive another 1.45 hours just to be served by her as she was so gracious, knew just the oerfect time when to come to us and fill our water, check iur meal, all the personableness rolled up into a very pleasant experience. To begin and end the evening was Omar, the Valet... Ran like a Gazelle! He sais he ran track and field, et al... so graceful in movement with a kindness about him. I am handicapped and parking was complimentary.... Tipped him anyway.... Sunch a p leasant experience at the Rusty Pelican 8/10/25

My husband and I go to this little spot for the food but mostly for the view! The food is good, tasty, well presented, could use a bit more spice or maybe flavors, but still quietly delish. But the spot is just perfect! You can sit inside or out, warm sunshine and cool breeze. Music is soft so you can have a conversation and dining area is will spaced. The servers are always cheerful and knowledgeable about the menu. Just a sweet spot to sit and take in life and a nibble of good food all at the same time. And their Old Fashion is pretty good too!

Worst dining experience by far. Our waiter Jistine greeted my table 20 minutes after sitting down. She passed by our table multiple times without saying one word. We still had no water or anything. So my girlfriend and I had to wave her down and she told us "give me a sec". She did not check up on our table throughout the dining experience except once when the entrees came out. On top of that when being seated our host tossed the menus on the table and didn't say one word to us. My girlfriend and I enjoy eating out and trying new places often. I recommend you not to go to this place based on a service perspective.

Came in for lunch after a day at the beach. Honestly I thought we weren't going to be allowed in because we were in sandals and somewhat put together. Valet parking is the only thing available. It's $8 and they accept card.The building itself is nice and fancy. The view is pretty much the boat dock and it's pretty. Moving onto what's important: the food. We ordered the lobster bisque which was great! Has a creamy texture but really good. Also we ordered the cauliflower bites and they definitely hit the spot. For main entrees we had the New York Steak 12oz and it was well seasoned and the portions was just right. The mashed potatoes were savory and delicious. My partner ordered the Sea Bass dish and the fish was cooked to perfection. I don't even eat fish but this one was pretty good. For dessert we ordered the crème brûlée and it was delish! Perfect to end lunch time. Total bill $168 for two (we also ordered drinks) and we like to eat maybe a bit too much (XD). Give them a try!

We were looking to dine on the water, and decided to try the Rusty Pelican even though it was only showing a 3.6 star Yelp review. This is a classic waterfront venue, with an upscale nice vibe. The deck over looks docks, and has a nice view. On this cloudy day, we were happy they had heat lamps! We ordered: (2) RUSTY'S ULTIMATE CHEESEBURGER with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, fries. $16.00 each. The service was good, the view from our table was very nice, and the heat lamps were adequately warming us on this chilly, cloudy day. The burgers were good, not as rare as we like, but overall they were tasty. The fries were tasty, they could have been hotter and crispier, which I seem to say about a lot of places. Note that there the valet parking here with an $8 charge. There were cones placed in front of the parking spaces, so I'm not sure there is a self park option for the restaurant parking lot. Overall I'd rate this as a 4-star visit, and would be happy to return here.

Been here a few times now. My original review still stands for the food quality. And the front reception staff is amazing. However on this visit... it was really strange service. It was a party of 4 including myself. We didn't just get appetizers and our bill was rather large. Our waitress checked on us twice the hour and a half we were there. And had a really poor attitude. Either wasn't having a good day or just doesn't like their job at all or people I don't know. My previous review I've mentioned the service is weird as well. I keep coming back BECAUSE the food quality is excellent. It's consistent and very good. But I really hope their service gets better. Because at this point it's gotten worse each time I've come.

Great food and experience to enjoy with loved ones. Definitely worth trying this spot

We were really disappointed with our experience at Rusty Pelican this year. We've made it a tradition over the past few years to go there on the Fourth of July for a late lunch and have always enjoyed the beautiful setting and good service. It's been a great way to celebrate before heading home to our dogs ahead of the fireworks. Unfortunately, this time was different. The restaurant wasn't busy, but the service was very slow. We waited quite a while for our server to take our order, then waited again for the food, and she never came back to check on us. At one point, my husband was ready to go find her. The food also wasn't up to the usual standard. I ordered the sea bass, which was just okay, while my husband had a cheeseburger that he did enjoy. I had wanted to order dessert, but after how long everything else took, I didn't want to wait another hour. Not sure if we'll return next year -- we may need to find a new spot. For the price, we expected a much better experience.

The view was perfect, great weather. Our food was delicious as well as our service.

We had lunch today at a table outside overlooking the bay. Lauren our server was great and we had the Black Cod Flagship, the crab bisque and the Black Cod with Orange and Ginger sauce. Food came out very quickly and was delicious. Anthony the manager was wonderful as well and treated us like royalty. Thanks

I've been to Rusty Pelican before. The atmosphere is always so nice and the view can't be beat. The food is delicious as always and the servers are great. It does get pretty cold in the evening but they have blankets if you do sit outside as well as heaters. I love trying their chef specials, they're always a lovely surprise!

The friends, the wife and I were supposed to go to a group cooking class together near Fashion Island but the dates were screwed up and they did not prepare for us to come that evening. That's another review. So, we were all ready to go do something and one of the friends suggested the Rusty Pelican in Newport and a reservation was made so that when we showed up 20 minutes later we could be seated. It worked! We were lead to a large round table, as there were 9 of us and it was perfect for our group. Our server, Habib, came up and we knew we would be well taken care of. Funny, excited, friendly. The service was 5 stars all night, even with our picky and high maintenance group! To get us started, orders for cocktails and a couple orders of the calamari were given to Habib to track down. This gave us time to chat and review the menu. Once the cocktails and calamari arrived, Habib reviewed the specials and gave us more time to narrow down our choices. The calamari was a solid "meh". The breading was a bit greasy, not crunchy and the squid itself was a bit rubbery. This contributed to losing a star. Admittedly, I had low expectations, as this is a touristy place and all that goes with that. They did surpass my expectations, all in all. The wife ordered the sea bass special and I ordered the cioppino, something I order at any restaurant that offers this wonderful seafood stew. I love the fish and seafood mix and the different ways that chefs prepare the stock. Some garlic, white wine, some tomato based, some with fennel, just yummy variations. Once I was in Portland for 4 nights on business and I had cioppino every night at different restaurants. Not one of them were the same and they were all very good in their own way. The wife's sea bass special was OK. She felt that the lemon, butter, caper sauce was not lemony enough and the shrimp were overcooked. A 3.25 star rating from the wife. My cioppino was good. A huge pile of seafood on top of a very delicious stock. It was interesting that it contained no crab, as it is usually included with most cioppinos I have had, but it did have a lobster tail. There was a ton of shrimp, perhaps too many if that is possible. All of the seafood was nicely cooked, but the lobster was a bit overcooked. The star of the meal was the stock and using my bread and spoon, I tried to soak it all up. The cioppino won as I left stock and some of the seafood because I was stuffed! I would recommend this dish to anyone. Finally, the friends ordered some warmed after dinner drinks (I forget what they had specifically) and an order of the creme brulee to share. The creme brulee comes out ready for a group to share. That was a very cool presentation and it was very good. See the pics. Thanks to Habib and the other servers supporting us, we had a great evening. Go. Eat Well. HAVE FUN!

Staff were very friendly and waiter was amazing. Beautiful view sitting out on patio on a beautiful day in July. Ordered the shrimp scampi and the Cajun shrimp. Cajun shrimp had a mild kick....not too spicy but enough to taste the fire. Scampi was amazing and would highly recommend both.

Valet only. $8. Other parking option: park across the street and walk over. Easy to find. Cute location to enjoy the bay. Beautiful scenery. The staff is awesome. They greet you as soon as you come in. Our server, Jeremy, was on top of it and didn't skip a beat. The food was really good and the chicken was moist. We would come back simply because of the service. We had our 1 year old toddler and everything worked out great.