Fly-NFish Oyster Bar & Grill serves ocean-to-fork dishes like a cold seafood platter for two, or shrimp and scallop scampi CRABCAKE PHOTO COURTESY OF BLUEWATER GRILL
Bluewater Grill
Specializing in sustainable seafood, Newport Beach’s Bluewater Grill—the original restaurant that inspired the family of eight Bluewater restaurants across California and Arizona—reopened in April with a new contemporary coastal look after a multimillion-dollar renovation. Set on the water with a stunning patio and guest dock, Bluewater enables guests coming by sea to drop anchor and dine inside or aboard their own boat. Sample favorites like fish tacos or a fisherman’s platter—or bring your own catch, and have the restaurant cook it! bluewatergrill.com
Dig into the seafood tower at Driftwood Kitchen BY ANNE WATSON
The Cannery
Housed in a historic building with roots that date back to 1921, The Cannery in Newport Beach is a favorite for seafood, steaks and chops. From a cozy indoor dining area and stunning outdoor space, The Cannery offers classic American seafood entrees with a diverse selection of wines. Enjoy buttery and delicious lobster rolls, as well as mouthwatering seared diver scallops, Chilean sea bass, a delectable array of fresh sushi selections, and colorful cocktails and spirits. cannerynewport.com
Bluewater Grill makes Marylandstyle crabcakes. BY ANNE WATSON
Driftwood Kitchen and The Deck on Laguna Beach
These Pacific Edge Hotel waterfront spots in Laguna Beach offer delicious seafood and scenic ocean views. Inventive drinks and lots of California wines are available at The Deck—along with a fresh SoCal menu. At the adjacent Driftwood Kitchen, guests can enjoy executive chef Rainer Schwarz’s California-inspired cuisine on the alfresco terrace or in the open-air dining room outfitted with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the rolling Pacific waves below. driftwoodkitchen.com; deckonlaguna.com
Crab cake salad from Gulfstream in Newport Beach COURTESY OF HILLSTONE RESTAURANT GROUP
Fly-N-Fish Oyster Bar & Grill
This ocean-to-fork dining experience is located in the heart of the boardwalk and just a short stroll from the Newport Beach Pier. Enjoy freshly shucked oysters, seasonal specials and classic creations, which include signature dishes like Maryland crabcakes, bacon-wrapped scallops, cioppino and an award-winning New England clam chowder. Finish off the experience with a decadent homemade dessert. flynfishoysterbar.com
Glasspar
This West Coast take on an East Coast-style seafood hall in Dana Point features an oyster bar, locally sourced dishes and even a fish market. New seasonal menu items include fresh Mexican bay scallop aguachile verde, grilled swordfish and togarashi seared ahi tuna with udon noodles, as well as summertime cocktail additions like the Aquadisiac with The Botanist gin, lime, germanium syrup and fresh cucumber juice. glasspar.com
O SEA’s wild Fijian albacore tuna poke served with taro chips PHOTO: BY ALICIA MINK
Gulfstream
Inspired by classic seafood houses from America’s history, Gulfstream in Corona del Mar Plaza serves fresh fish and North Pacific oysters shucked to order in a contemporary, marine-themed atmosphere. Try favorites like cedar plank Scottish salmon, Vince’s fried shrimp and true Dover sole, flown in from the North Atlantic—which you can pair with a fine bottle of California wine. Sip indoors or on the popular patio that’s outfitted with fire pits for when the temps dip at night. gulfstreamrestaurant.com
Harbor Grill
Mesquite grilled seafood is a staple at this Dana Point Marina spot established in 1984, which features an enclosed patio with marina views. Lunch, dinner and Sunday Champagne breakfast menus offer fresh seafood cooked in Southwestern, Pacific Rim, Caribbean, Cajun and Mediterranean styles. Enjoy oysters on the half shell and buttery lobster rolls, as well as fine steaks, refreshing cocktails and a famed carrot cake for dessert. Book now—the longtime favorite will wrap up its run this fall. harborgrill.com
The elegant interior of the Newport Beach branch of Mastro’s Ocean Club COURTESY OF MASTRO’S RESTAURANTS
Mastro’s Ocean Club
This upscale, sophisticated restaurant brand combines high-quality steaks and seafood with stellar service, in a cosmopolitan setting. At the Newport Beach branch in Crystal Cove, seafood fans can indulge in caviar, oysters, jumbo lobster tail or a sushi selection created by chef Angel Carbajal, an alum of the renowned Nicksan restaurant in Cabo San Lucas. Pair dishes with premium wines from the extensive list, or try a showstopping cocktail. mastrosrestaurants.com
O SEA
You won’t find lobster rolls or crabcakes at O SEA, located in the heart of Old Towne Orange and on the forefront of innovative seafood. Instead, try something like salmon ceviche in coconut leche de tigre, tuna poke in blood orange ponzu or crispy Oaxacan hot shrimp. O SEA also serves an extensive list of international wines, beers from local O.C. brewers and nonalcoholic beverages like yuzu lemonade or strawberry-lime agua fresca. eatosea.com
Seared ahi tuna from Glasspar in Dana Point. COURTESY OF OUTSHINE PR
Water Grill
This national seafood eatery has SoCal locations in Downtown L.A., Santa Monica, San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter and South Coast Plaza in Orange County. Come for breakfast, lunch or dinner and dine in the main dining room, a private room or on the upscale patio. In addition to elaborate raw bar and sushi selections, and charcoal-grilled or oven-roasted fresh whole fish, try new summer dishes like wild copper river salmon and soft-shell crab from Chesapeake Bay. watergrill.com
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