I've been coming here for decades. It's a bit old school in terms of decor and presentation, but I can always get solid food at a reasonable price while enjoying a view of the harbor. On my most recent visit, my wife and I stopped in on a Sunday afternoon at about 1:30 p.m. (as the lunch rush was coming to an end.) We could see that most of the tables on the outdoor patio were occupied, but we could also see a couple of tables that were available. When we told the hostess that we'd like to eat lunch on the patio, she replied that they were not currently accepting walk-ins to sit on the patio, but would we'd like to sit inside. It seemed a bit strange, but being a beautiful day, we didn't want to sit inside, so we declined and headed out the door to find some place else to enjoy lunch. As we were unlocking our bikes, a young woman who looked like a manager came out and got our attention and introduced herself as Brittany. She said that there was a short wait for an outside table, maybe 5 minutes or so for them to clean it up and get it reset. She said that they did indeed have a couple of reservations outside, but that tables were also opening up. We went back in, waited a couple of minutes, and then sat down for a lovely lunch I think that the hostess was probably just a little confused and used verbage that was slightly incorrect, but we're so thankful that Brittany recognized the situation and came out after us! I had the Seafood Louie Salad (As I almost always do when I come here) and my wife had the Fish and Chips. They were both delightful, as usual. Also, this place has the best sourdough bread anywhere! And one more also, they have fried Ipswich clams, just like the ones I love so much when I visit family back in New Hampshire read more

Our large group sat outside (with a reservation) and while the atmosphere and service were great, the food itself was kind of disappointing. I have to say, the espresso martini was the absolute worst I've ever had in my life--I order them often and this one was so bitter and very difficult to drink. I ordered a shot of Bailey's to balance it out a little, but would recommend steering clear of this one. My cousins ordered the coconut margarita which was also not good--very sour. Our table shared the calamari which was pretty good but a very small portion, so if you have more than two people sharing it, order more. Entrees ranging from fish to chicken to salads were okay, but I think beyond enjoying their deck, I wouldn't come back here. Or I'd at least order differently next time. read more

Very disappointed. Ate here because we laid my mother to rest from the Orca Too that day. I brought 7 people to enjoy a meal. I'll just lay out the issues: 1) Brick chicken was DRY! Two people got it. Both dry. 2) Two people ordered steak. They both came out wrong. One of them was WAY over cooked. Took way to long to get a replacement. Both those people were eating long after everyone else. 3) For a dish that costs $150 I expect perfection. Instead the King Crab was utter trash. You don't get a full cluster. You get about three legs and even then not the full legs. They cut the legs down the middle BEFORE cooking. I thought this was a seafood restaurant? How on Earth are the chefs there so inept that they would make such a massive error with such an expensive item? When you cut the legs lengthwise THEN cook them the shell curls in on itself. Thus shredding the meat!!!! We didn't have king crab, we ate shredded king crab. 4) No one can make up their mind about parking fees. When we showed up they were not open. The valet wasn't there. We ran into the captain of the Orca Too and he told us we could park in the restaurant parking lot, no problem. After the boat ride one of my guests went to their car and he was accosted by the valet yelling at him that he can't park there. After explaining the situation he was told it would be $15 and the valet took his keys away from him. An employee at the restaurant said it would be $7 to park. As each party left (at different times) we were all charged different things. $7, $10 and $15. What a joke! To spend $400 and to have that many problems on a day that was supposed to be special.....gut wrenching. Apparently the fish and chips are good. So stick with that and stay away from the $150 dishes that they have no business cooking. read more

We decided to give The Blue Water Grill another try, bad idea. Horrific experience, crying children and parents not controlling their children ruined our afternoon. We will never be back again. The food was mediocre service was OK. However, the bottom line is if you want to have an enjoyable adult experience do not come to this restaurant. The management has lost touch with customers who have been eating there for years. We were looking forward to seeing our friends from out of town & having some fresh fish, unwisely chose The Blue Water Grill. Sad to say goodbye, this our last attempt to patronize this restaurant. read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Heather and her ! - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

On a hot day in Catalina this is the perfect spot! It had lots of AC and the service was pretty good as well! The food was all solid choices. I ordered the lobster roll and it was cooked well and the bread was buttery and toasted! Would love for the lobster to be a bit more flavorful tho! I would recommend this spot on a trip to Catalina! read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Lovster roll - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Parking is on the street, all is paid parking. We didn't have reservations on Thursday in the morning & were sat right away. The ambiance is beautiful, we sat outside which I highly recommend because it is right on the water. Service is fast & very friendly. I got the swordfish which was okay. My friends got the lobster roll, baked calamari, halibut which were all okay. Didn't try the cod but I heard it was tasty. Would definitely come back here for the ambiance. Bread was also good. read more

Hands down our party of 7 had the best of time at the Bluewater Grill on Sunday June 7, 2026. There's valet parking for $7.00 We made reservations for 7:00pm. You receive a text message to inform you when your table is ready. Our server Riley Rose was the best!! She was very patient taking our orders and special requests. Some of us ordered the white clam chowder ($11.00) and agreed it was so delicious and comforting. For my entree I ordered 2 crab cakes ($19.00) which was a decent size and delicious. I liked that you can actually taste the crab and not a bunch of filler. My friends who ordered the Louie Salad with their seafood grilled enjoyed it. Overall everyone enjoyed their entrees including the alcoholic beverages. Cheers to a great time!! read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Cheers to a great time!! - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The Bluewater Grill is in a beautiful location. It's a great place on those perfect California weather days. The service and food are okay. The bread is great! Dining outside is nice if you have a lot of time and want a casual meal. read more

Had a great dinner with friends. He started off with some appetizers, some calamari and some crab and artichoke dip. The artichoke and crab was amazing. The calamari was just OK. It was a piece of a cutlet cut up in a smaller pieces. Nothing that exciting. We also try their ipswich clams and shared them a little bit on the smaller side, but still delicious. For the main entrée, most of us had the fresh halibut and one person had the Sandabs. Everything was delicious and tasty. We also had some Amazing asparagus cooked perfectly. For dessert it was a nice piece of key lime pie. read more

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Food was amazing. ! We also had the clam chowder. So good. Our waitress was sweet and very helpful with everything. 10/10 experience. We will definitely be back. read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Pesto pasta with shrimp and scallop - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The food was fantastic and the view was beautiful. We had the grilled oyster as an appetizer which were exceptional.

Pains me to write a poor review for this restaurant but it needs improvement. For one, I made a reservation and included in the special occasion text box that this was for a birthday. This was no acknowledgement of this by the hostess or the waiter at all, and I thought a nice restaurant in Newport would at least mention it for customer service sake. Two, there was an open table outside and I asked that our small party be seated in fresh air, so we can get the nice view of the boats. I was told there are no tables outside available. I pointed to an empty table and was told it was "reserved." I had a reservation too, and the entire time we were seated inside, no one sat in the table outside. Three, as most waiters do, our waiter asked if we'd like anything to drink. My party and I don't drink alcohol, so we asked for waters to start while we figure out what food we wanted to order. Our waiter seemed annoyed that we did not order cocktails. Later we ordered a few appetizers to share, and he said "was that it for you all, or did you want to order anything else?" This question was offensive, as if he assumed we were not going to order much/spend money on dinner. Later on, a person in the party asked to cancel a dish and she explained that she wanted to order something else in exchange and he was visibly surprised as he assumed she just wanted to go without her own dish. Everyone at the table agreed that he was rude and condescending. Four, ambiance inside needs improvement. A water cup was chipped, and the chairs looked worn. They need to update the interior. We asked for a small bowl to eat some clams, and the bowl we were given was stained. Five, ciopinno dish had overcooked and shriveled mussels and clams. I will say I love the bread, the steamed shellfish starter was a big portion and flavorful, a the fried calamari was excellent. The scallops were rich in flavor with the fried onions and mushrooms, and the seared ahi tuna dish had high remarks and was well seasoned. The pesto pasta dish with scallops and shrimp was absolutely delicious and indulgent. It is a shame the service and ambiance detracted from the experience. Also parking is a nightmare so just give in and use valet. read more

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We loved this restaurant! Our party of 10 dined in for a bachelorette party, and we were lucky to have an amazing waitress (Brittany) who was so attentive and kind. Everything we ordered was delicious, including drinks and food! We requested to sit outside and they were able to accommodate, which I'm so glad they did. The outside area was beautiful at night and we appreciated the space heaters that kept us warm. read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Oysters! - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

First of all - what's not to like? Sourdough bread on the water on the 4th of July! I had fantastic salmon with scalloped potatoes and spinach. My friend had black miso that she really enjoyed. My husband ordered the sand dabs; he liked them OK, thought they were a little bit mushy. Our server had a little attitude - didn't get his name tho - otherwise this would've been 5 stars. The ambience was a combination of hip and family friendly... Just a few hours before all the chaos happened on the peninsula! read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Delicious salmon in the foreground, my husband's sand dabs in the back! - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Still a solid spot for fabulous food! Never forget Blue Water! Went today for a late lunch and the patio was full so opted to sit in their bar. They had the Dodger game on! And had an amazing lunch! From the poke to the crab and avocado salad and the sanddabsfood and service was fabulous!! Kudos! read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - We split an order of Sanddabs and this was my half wow. - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

My first time: Food is awful. Ordered fish & chips they arrived wet. MD crabcakes were awful, pretty mushy & were shaped like meatballs not cakes. I had calamari steaks & they were rubbery. Also ordered cocktails before dinner. i had to chase down a server to get them which arrived after the meal was over. Don't bother with this place. read more

Let's start with the food was tasty, not mind blowing but tasty. The evening we went there were no specials so we ordered straight from the menu. The menu has many choices and if you like seafood you are sure to find something you enjoy. The ambiance is very casual. The booths and tables remind me of a diner. The location tho is super nice. Parking is difficult to find so you may have to valet for a $7 fee. The service was simply awful. We went there for my birthday. We had a party of 6 with a reservation. The restaurant was virtually empty when we went so there seemed to be many table choices. Unfortunately we were given a booth, which we did not want, and when we asked for a round table or other table we were told no. It was not until we were walking out to go to the restaurant next door were we given a different table. The waiter was not attentive and didn't seem to know the menu. When we asked for something or a question he would disappear for 15 minutes or so. We were literally sitting at the table without ordering for over 1/2 an hour. Fortunately they did at least bring us water. This service continued throughout the meal. Do not think I need to return :( read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Crab Louie - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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We came here for Mother's Day. Forgive the host stress on such busy days, we waited a bit despite having a reservation. There are a lot of seafood restaurants with a great water view in Newport/Balboa, but having had Bluewater Grill before in different locations, I knew it would be good again. Location is small and busy, a little difficult to move around if you're seated on the dock outside. We had the opportunity to try many different dishes since we had a larger group on Mother's day, and I can say with all honesty, that nothing was disappointing. I'll spare the same redundant words about each dish, but they were all good and I would highly recommend all of them: Calamari - not overfried and very light, tender Grilled Octopus - Perfectly grilled and charred, like a great steak Crab cakes - Delicate and not oversalted Rainbow trout amandine Blackened Swordfish Barramundi Halibu Black Cod (Super good) And I usually don't go for pasta dishes, but I've ordered the gemelli pasta more than a few times. The sauce is SO good, a light, creamy, delicate, pesto cream with shrimp and scallops. YUM. I would say the cocktails are OKAY. Having had a few different ones, they're good, but I would say not at the level of some other places. I would highly recommend making a reservation at Bluewater instead of ones with...lesser ratings. Just be prepared for it to be busy and a little noisy. read more

Best experience! Amazing menu! Our server, Kelsey, was incredible! We forgot our credit card and she chased us down to give it back :') love herr! She's the BEST read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Appetizers saved the meal! I would suggest ordering more appetizers instead of opting for a dinner plate. Appetizers ranked in my favorite order 1. Scallops -raw 2.Octopus 3. Mussels and chorizo (not pictured) 4. Oysters Rockefeller All were 4-5 star good. Clam chowder was okay-nothing spectacular. Wedge salad was super fresh. If you were to order a main entree, the swordfish was great and the fried plate was also good (tartar sauce 5/5) but all other entrees were forgettable Service was good no complaints at all. read more

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We dined in on a weekday for lunch and sat by the water. The server was very attentive and provided excellent hospitality. The view of the boats was calming and the weather was perfect for outdoor dining. The fresh sourdough bread and butter they brought out while we looked over the menu was tasty. For our entrees, we ordered the fried seafood platter with fries and the trout amandine with scalloped potatoes and green beans. Our food was brought to the table shortly after ordering. Everything was delicious and the portions were generous. We will definitely return. It was a great spot for the food and views. read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Trout Amadine - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The service was great, the food was very good, the view was amazing - right on the water!! I will be back. I was tempted to order the ahi, but went for a fish shop staple - fish and chips. I was very impressed. The three pieces of fish was nicely battered, the fries/chips were crispy, the coleslaw was a little bland, but still good. I added a little sriracha and all was good in my world. On the other side of the table there was a trout almondine, Togarahi ahi, and ahi poke. Everyone loved their food and had nothing but compliments. Steven, our waiter, kept the drinks refilled, was patient as we talked and took our time ordering, and kept bread on the table. read more

Bluewater Grill Newport Beach is a very good place for a casual dinner (or lunch) focused on fresh seafood. Ambiance is suitably maritime-y as the view is of a portion of Newport harbor - in fact, it's dockside. Service was very prompt and skilled, and the food was exactly right - fresh and delicious. I started with a half-dozen oysters on the half-shell, served on a bed of ice with the usual accompaniments. My gin martini was ice-cold and just right. My wife had a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc which she enjoyed very much. Oh and they bring out a half-loaf of crusty sourdough bread and butter, which was great. All is right with the world ! read more

Had a lovely lunch on a Saturday morning to celebrate my dad's birthday. We had a party of 10 that included two rowdy toddlers, so I called in advance to request the patio seating and they were able to accommodate thankfully. The boys cannot sit still so it was nice they were able to easily hop over and run around where the docked boats are (rather than cause havoc in the restaurant). We also had a couple out of town guests so it was the perfect spot to showcase beautifully sunny Newport. The food was all fresh and delicious! We appreciated our server's recommendation for the local swordfish, which was surprisingly soft and buttery. Other dishes ordered included the calamari (good portion), scallops, shrimp cocktail, sand dabs, black cod, shrimp pasta, chicken plate, and even a vegetarian mushroom pasta they were able to make for my sister. Every thing was tasty and everyone enjoyed their meal! I saw a few really bad reviews about service so I was a bit worried because that can always kill a good meal, but our server was great! Friendly, helpful, and attentive. I wish I could remember his name! He did seem very busy though so I wonder if the restaurant is understaffed. Parking is valet ($7) or paid street parking. Overall we all had a great time. Would recommend and will come back! read more

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Phenomenal service with great food. Truly a must if in New Port. I enjoyed it very much read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Fish and chips - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Have been here many times and always have fabulous food & service. The views are amazing of the Newport harbor. Today my server was excellent told me they had added gumbo to the menu again ; being from New Orleans. I decided that I should try it. I have to admit it was very tasty. It had awesome andouille sausage in it shrimp chicken, okra, and tomatoes which I don't normally put in my gumbo. The gumbo was outstanding. It was a large enough bowl. I will have four meals out of it. the cost was $32 but since I'm gonna get five meals out of it, that's pretty good price for gumbo. They have the best sourdough bread, and I had a order of calamari, which was delicious. read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The Bluewater Grill was the perfect spot for dinner after we visited the New Port Pier. We were seated immediately and dined outside. They serve complimentary sourdough bread with butter. I ordered the cup of New England chowder soup. My husband ordered the fisherman's platter and we had some calamari. Everything is fresh. The swordfish is caught fresh. I like that they kids meals was served in cute bento boxes and with fresh fruit. Our waitress, Woody, was so professional and attentive. read more

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The Bluewater Grill in Lido Island, Newport Beach is a beautiful location for dining. You get the cool ocean breezes when dining on the patio. Where we sat there wasn't really a view of the harbor, but it was till very nice. We are frequent customers of their Temecula location and we almost always have a great meal and great service. Same goes for this location. They serve complementary crusty bread and butter. Their clam chowder claims to be the best in the area, and I have to agree, it's pretty good. Appetizers on this day was artichoke crab dip, which was rich, cheesy and just right heat for me from the jalepenos (though it was too spicy for some at our table). We also ordered crab cakes, which is always a crowd pleaser. Several of us ordered their Miysoyaki Cod and we all enjoyed it. Overall, our meals were pretty good. There is a $7 valet parking fee. Considering limited parking and summer crowds, this is a good deal and less stress than having to find your own parking. We actually walked to the restaurant after a cruise on Paradiso, which shares their parking lot. This was super convenient for us. read more

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What a great spot, I like that it's off the beaten path so you get the feeling it's not a bunch of tourists here. It's tucked away in the marina with a sort of a small but yet still spacious vibe. Great clientele to be around, different seating areas, very very attentive staff and they are well dressed. It was excellent,. We chatted with the chef and cooking staff. They were engaging and very genuine. read more

This was an amazing lunch spot in Newport Beach! I loved eating outside on their porch by the water and taking in the views and great weather. All of the seafood they have here is amazing. They bring out delicious, warm sourdough to start. I had the Seared Tuna salad which was such an interesting combination of flavors. I loved the freshness of the tuna and the addition of the hummus. The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 was because our server was a bit unfriendly and not the best but there was a manager that kept coming around and was so kind so I'm sure she was trying to make up for that. read more

Always good to go to Bluewater Grill. Great atmosphere and great service. Good selection and choices.

I'll start with the good news! We parked our boat at their public dock and enjoyed lunch on a perfect Sunday afternoon. All of our food was very, very good. I always love stopping by here. We started off with Arnold Palmers 10/10, bread 10/10, and the Surfrider roll 10/10. I'm slowly learning to love seafood and I braved it and ordered the Gemelli Pasta (9/10). My boyfriend ordered the fish and chips...he said 8-9/10! We were sat down and not seen for nearly 15 minutes. I would've been okay with this if I didn't watch another table be sat down and attended to immediately multiple times. It seemed like we were forgotten about pretty often. Our waitress was very kind when she did come. She had some tables inside and larger parties. I'm sure she was doing her best. Not sure if we will be coming back on a weekend just due to the service! read more

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If you're looking for consistently great seafood in Newport Beach, Bluewater Grill is it. We've been coming here for years and it never disappoints. The ponzu scallops are my go-to. Perfectly prepared every time. The sand dabs are another standout if you want something simple done right. You can tell the fish is fresh and they don't overcomplicate things. It's also one of our favorite spots to bring the kids. They love the kids bento boxes and the staff is always great with families. Not every nice seafood spot pulls that off. Solid food, consistent quality, and a spot the whole family enjoys. Can't ask for much more than that.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - Ponzu scallops - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

The food was outstanding. Fresh, and delicious, with seasonal specials that were irresistible. We tried the seared Ahi, oysters on the half shell, a wedge salad, clam chowder, and would order every one of them again. There is a full bar with great cocktail choices. I tried a non-alcoholic containing coconut margarita that could have substituted as a dessert. It was so good. Service was great, both efficient and friendly. We sat at the bar and watched the chef prepare all sorts of fresh entrées with skill and attention to detail. This was nice to see while we enjoyed our meal. The restaurant is located right on the bay. If you're staying in Newport Beach, near Lido Isle, it is a nice walk to the restaurant. Sunset is really beautiful. read more

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We've been craving mussels lately, so we decided to stop by Bluewater Grill for lunch--and we're so glad we did! We sat at the bar and had amazing service from Ginny, who was friendly, attentive, and made our visit even better. We ordered the mussels with Spanish chorizo in a white wine sauce, along with oysters on the half shell and the New England clam chowder. Everything was fresh, flavorful, and absolutely delicious. We'll definitely be back the next time we're craving great seafood. Highly recommend! read more

Our whole group got sick dont go here food poisoning and the food is bad! I cant recommend this place to anyone.

Met family while visiting Newport Coast for an early dinner or as we like to say "Linner". Great location on the water and it was a perfect afternoon to dine al fresco and catch up. Really enjoyed the interior decor with many black and white photos of the location in its early days, historical photos and celebrity fishing photos. Great bar area and dining outside on the deck was very nice located over the channel. Our server was happy and did a very good job helping us out with our orders. We started with a Calamari appetizer for the table which was very good served with a house-made tartar sauce and sweet chili sauce. Our entrees came out all together, hot and plentiful. Prices were reasonable and really enjoyed the location with a view. Definitely worth a try if you are looking for something outside while enjoying the sun and ocean air. A full bar with marvelous house specialties. I will return to try some more of the delizioso items on the menu. Thank you for doing a job well done Bluewater Grill, and I will see you again! Delizioso e tutti, Mangiamo! read more

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This has become a destination work lunch spot for us. This restaurant has a great combination of location (in the marina waterfront), good food, and fast service. Posted my first review of Blue Water over 8 years ago and happy to say it's just as good now. The service is prompt, seafood fresh & cooked well, and one of the best outdoor tables in OC. Also has one of the best tartar sauces money can buy. read more

Bluewater Grill Seafood Restaurant Newport Beach - New England Clam Chowder - Seafood Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Bluewater Grill in Newport Beach, it has been a very, very long time! I've been here before (LONG before my Yelp days) and it was a real treat coming back again during my trip to California. Since they're located right on the water, they have their own dock where people can easily park their boats, big or small. My dad and I met up with some friends here for lunch on a Monday afternoon, where we came down from our hotel in Anaheim. This place is on the more luxurious side of Newport Beach, and I was surprised to see that it wasn't packed at all, despite the fact that it was noon on the dot and that there were a lot of boats parked outside. It's been such a long time since I've been back here that I don't even remember what I had last time. The usual bread and butter came out while we looked at the menu. But don't worry, I didn't fill up on bread! My dad and friends got themselves a glass of white wine while I just stuck with a casual margarita. The margarita, served with a lime wedge on the salted rim, is one of my favorite drinks to have when I'm at an outing, so this was really good. I didn't know they served sushi until this visit! Being quite the sushi lover myself, I got myself the California Roll as a little appetizer, which was excellent. However, I had a hard time deciding what I should have for my entree because there were so many choices, so I asked our waitress for recommendations. She recommended the swordfish, in which I agreed to try. Other entrees included at our table were fish tacos, soup, and some sort of fish and salad dish that I don't remember the name of. The swordfish, served with rice and topped with chopped pineapple, was absolutely excellent! It had that nice, tender, crispy taste to it. My dad and friends also commented on how they liked their entrees, too. I tried not to fill up on bread and butter so I could have extra room for both the sushi and the swordfish. Bluewater Grill knows how to make some seriously yummy seafood, even sushi. This is a place that I definitely want to come back to again for lunch. read more

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One of our favorite restaurants! Gorgeous views and delicious food. They offer complimentary sourdough bread. I love ordering their halibut and shrimp Louie salad. They also offer seasonal items. Currently it's their seafood gumbo which I highly recommend. Parking can be tough especially on weekends. Thankfully, they do offer valet parking for $8. Service is always good. Plus it's dog friendly on their patio which is a huge plus in my book! read more