What to even say about this place... I come here weekly with my wife because we are local and it is the best food in downtown Huntington Beach and Josh the barkeep is a legend. Ask him to sing some Prince. Good wine selection, with good deals on weeknights like wine Wednesday. Everything on the menu is solid and they continually update around the seasons. I like the cold noodle salad and if they have duck you should try it. 10/10 read more

Brightwater is quickly becoming one of our favorite spots in Huntington Beach. The atmosphere is fantastic, the food is consistently excellent, and the live music by Andre Garcia takes the entire experience to another level. Andre has an incredible voice and creates the perfect vibe for a relaxing evening with friends or family. His rendition of Tennessee Whiskey is otherworldly! The Summer Berry Salad was fresh, flavorful, and perfect for a warm summer evening. The new Mortazza Pizza was outstanding--crispy, savory, and packed with flavor. The Black Pepper Beef & Onion Bowl was another standout, with tender beef and a rich, satisfying taste. Great food, great music, great service, and a beautiful setting. We'll definitely be back soon! read more

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Overall great ambiance here, quiet little spot right off of Main Street. The smashed potatoes are a must, the pizza with the prosciutto and burrata and pistachios was really good. The spinach and duck pasta was just okay - really oily. They have wine Wednesday deals and live music on Thursday and Fridays. read more

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We have to support our amazing local restaurants. One of our favorite places to get dinner is this restaurant because of the experience. If you're in Huntington Beach and you want to eat where the locals do, then visit this restaurant. It's one street over from main street which makes it quieter and a nice place to take a date. It's family friendly and feels like you're dining French style on the boardwalk one block from the ocean. The advantage this restaurant has over all the others in HB is the location and the wine list. The owner personally selects and finds the wines internationally. They are great. They have French wine and I recommend the chateau magnol. I personally don't drink California wines because they make me not feel well and seek out restaurants with French wine. They have international wine, cocktails, and anything you could want. I recommend this restaurant for the variety and breadth of options. The menu is gourmet so don't expect large dishes, but more of a French dining experience - local produce and high quality. If your budget is difficult for dinner, then you can also just stop here for a drink. Our family has done this also when we just wanted a nice date night chatting and having a drink. Great space to just talk and enjoy each others energy. If you are staying for dinner the chef is really sweet and greets you, and the dinner is made with local produce so don't expect huge American sized plates but expect high quality food that changes for a seasonal menu paired with fine wine. It's not mass produced food but an intimate experience alongside live music. The seasonal dishes are the best. The duck sandwich/duck pasta is great along with the short rib dish. Cheeseboard is awesome if you're getting wine and want something to pair with your beverage. The live music and good food can be something hard to find in Huntington which is why I'm writing this review. read more

Brightwaters is such a lovely place that you don't expect. I mean you expect it but you're just not expecting how lovely and how great the food is and the atmosphere and the people that run it are. I got the poke and amazing all along with their cocktails. You just can't go wrong with this place. It's the perfect place for a date night. read more

Brightwaters - Wine Bars Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

The owner Annie is delightful and put a lot of care into creating a special wine bar & restaurant. Her staff works hard to uphold her excellent standards. She said the kitchen makes her proud and I say rightfully so! I was there for a private wine party for members of PlumpJack so it wasn't their full menu, but their appetizers (roasted cauliflower, steak bites, bruschetta, smashed potatoes and a lovely charcuterie board) were absolutely delicious! We will be back for sure!!! read more

Brightwaters - Picture of the interior just before the private party started! - Wine Bars Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Just tried this place for the first time...one of the best salmon salads I've ever had! Great food and great service! We sat outside in their nice patio. Highly recommended! read more

A fantastic spot with a great ambiance and beautiful ocean views from the patio. The live music created a fun, lively atmosphere, and it's clear the kitchen takes pride in its scratch made menu. The burrata was absolutely amazing, and the wine flight was a highlight. Between the food, drinks, and scenery, it made for a memorable experience. Such a gem, I almost hate to let everyone in on it. We'll definitely be back! read more

First time here and this is a very nice classy place in downtown Huntington Beach! Definitely a must for a date or just to sit with friends or alone time! The ambiance is beautifully set up And has lots of seating indoor and outdoor. The drink I had was soo good and the appetizer I had was light and perfect! Delicious I will be back read more

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What a beautiful gem located in downtown HB!!! They are a total scratch kitchen!!! Please do not miss out and Lisa was so sweet attentive!!! Will definitely add this to our regular go to!!! read more

Brightwaters - Rose flight along either the most amazing mouthwatering filet!!! - Wine Bars Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

I visited for the first time on a recent Friday with a friend to celebrate her birthday and to listen to one of our favorite bands, Crossroads. We had a reservation and were seated quickly upon arrival in two comfy armchairs directly in front of the band. We found the atmosphere cozy and friendly, with very attentive staff. We both ordered the hamburger but I will explore other options on my next visit, including their extensive selection of wine. Because of the cozy and friendly comfortable ambience and great service, I will definitely be going back! It's also a great place to listen to live music and I will be interested to see who the future artists will be. read more

I found this place randomly on Yelp as I was searching for a wine bar & so my husband & I checked it out yesterday after our hike. We ordered the duck sandwich & Caesar salad to share & a glass of wine each. Duck confit was so tender & the ciabatta bread was super soft. Never would've thought this type of bread would go well with duck but it blended so well together & it was delicious! The Caesar salad was just okay. The dressing was a bit heavy for my liking & it was smaller in portion for $18. The Pinot noir went well with the food & chenin blanc was good as well. For a Saturday afternoon, this place was pretty dead but ambiance was nice & service was attentive & great. Maybe they get busier for dinner. The menu has variety of different dishes & weekend menu. Also wine flights & extensive wine list so I would like to come back to try other items & wines next time. read more

Brightwaters - Wine Bars Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

We had the best birthday celebrations at Brightwaters! They carry my favorite tequila Blowfish Tequila! They make the best drinks have the best friendliest service and delicious food! They made our birthday celebrations so special! One of our favorite restaurants! read more

Brightwaters - Birthday celebration with Blowfish Tequila at Brightwaters - Wine Bars Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Brightwater has such a cute interior vibes and patio, too! It's cozy and a perfect place for a date night or gathering with friends. They have live music on Thurs n Fri nights which adds to the ambiance. Friendly staff and a great food menu.. loved it! We had the truffle pizza on the specials menu and the beef tartare, as well as the broccoli soup and crudo. Super great choices. I would order everything again except the crudo just a bit too plain for my taste. All in all food, people, vibes, wine and cocktail list.. all fantastic for a night out or a day date. We will be back. read more

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First time visiting, and the atmosphere was fantastic. Live music created a chic yet comfortable vibe. The drinks were excellent, but the food was underwhelming. The artichokes were overcooked, underseasoned, and lacked substance. The garlic aioli was overpowering. The spaghetti squash was bland, with only a hint of grated Parmesan. The Brussels sprouts were overly charred and tough, with barely any pork belly. The seared albacore was the standout and nicely done, but the portion was small for the price. Honestly, you could get better value and flavor at Sugarfish. Overall, the service and ambiance were great. I would come back for the drinks and atmosphere, but not for the food. read more

Dinner for two. Tasty food, but 5 bites of the chicken, 4 of the duck, 1/4 glass of wine in a small glass, and voila, your out the door less $114, hungry and on to find another meal. Sad and regretful trip. read more

Brightwaters is our go to place in HB. Great owner. Great service and attention to detail for my celiac/gluten free wife.

Come on wine Wednesday for 50% off any bottle over $50!! Music on Thursday and Friday. Tonight was Rebel Robbie on the mic. Singing and guitar/ bass duo, really good! Annie is the owner and she was a very sweet lady, come and support her! Great wine options, tons of local California wines and imports, alike! Check out their current menu in my photos... note I could only upload so many. Their wine menu is extensive. Lots of good varietals from local to imported. Clean restrooms and great vibe. Excited to try some food here.. they also have specials. Customer service won't be disappointing here like some spots downtown can be. An upscale, classy, romantic/ intimate vibe here so perfect for a date night or after date cocktail/ glass of wine.. happy to have something take this spot over as the previous tenant had not been replaced for what seemed like years on this corner. read more

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Cool vibe, friendly staff, and a diverse menu of cocktails, wines, and food gave us high hopes. Unfortunately, that's where the positives ended. We ordered 3 appetizers, 2 mains, and 2 salads--all bland, uninspired, and with shockingly small portions for the price (a $32 meatball main came with just 2 meatballs and 2 tiny crostinis). The two cocktails we tried were undrinkable misses. The only saving grace was the wine selection. At nearly $300, this was not money well spent. Brightwater desperately needs a stronger chef and cocktail program to match its atmosphere. read more

I have been wanting to go to this place for some time now. It's fairly new and the ambiance is very inviting. I came here with my daughter for a quick glass of wine and some appetizers. The wine was really delicious they offer flights which are perfect. That way you can pick which wine you would like to really drink lol. The server was kind and the service was quick. The place itself is very bright and airy right on the corner and open as well. Definitely coming back when it gets warmer so I can sit outside and the food was really yummy too. For all you people visiting Huntington Beach. , Ca you should to stop by and spend a minute here. read more

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I came in planning to sit down and order, but before being seated I asked to use the restroom. The manager stopped me and said the restroom was "only for paying customers," and turned me away. This was surprising and disappointing -- especially since I was about to be a paying customer. Not only did this feel inhospitable, but in California restrooms in restaurants that serve food to the public are required to be available to patrons. Instead of being welcomed, I was treated as if I was trying to take advantage of something. First impressions matter, and this one left me with no desire to stay and spend money here. Hospitality should mean making guests feel comfortable -- unfortunately, that wasn't the case. read more

If you're up for a coastal vibe place and want to make it a date night this place is it. Wine selection was perfect for someone that likes it enough without feeling obligated to get premium selections at a wine bar. Food was great and live music made it a great night. read more

Brightwaters - Charcuterie plate...start at the bar - Wine Bars Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

I love this place. I felt so relaxed just walking in and absorbing the atmosphere and left even more relaxed...wine can do that. I arrived one afternoon to be warmly greeted. The interior is inviting with a number of tables and chairs, some of which are big and comfy, the kind you sink into and never want to get out of. There is a patio for warm days with a nice view of the ocean a block away. Their wine list is extensive and well chosen. You can get a glass, a flight, or a bottle to imbibe there. Bottles are available to purchase and take home too. They have a menu of various foods to enjoy with your wine and at night dinner is available (as is live music on certain evenings). I ordered a glass of Ancient Peaks cabernet (very good) and a charcuterie board. Being alone I chose a smaller one with a choice of one meat and two cheeses. I picked prosciutto and both asiago and brillat savarian cheeses. For those reading who, like me, don't know what brillat savarian is, it's a French soft cheese similar to brie and perfect for spreading on their house-made crackers. The board had quite a variety of goodies that paired well with the wine (dried apricots, cashews, pickles, apple slices, olives...). This charcuterie board really wowed me. The vibe of this place, the warm hospitality of everyone who works here, the amazing wine selection, and the delicious food make this an easy 5 stars+. read more

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I loveee this placeeeee, I'm a truly wine girly and this place is right by the beach which turns the ambiance up a notch. I wish there was a bit more tapas available such as olives to snack on or just a more extensive happy hour menu. The servers are all super sweet too! read more

Casual restaurant serving up wine and bites. We also had our dog join us on their outdoor patio. It faces 5th so you will have a lot of folks passing by as you dine. We tried their arancini , country fried pickled maitake mushroom, market salad and burger (adding gruyere cheese) Everything was okay. I feel like none of their food was bad but also nothing really called out as memorable. The mushrooms probably were the standout of our meal. I did enjoy the texture and flavor of them. I had the burger and it comes with a few potato chips and cornichon pickles. The burger itself was well seasoned and comes served on a brioche bun with caramelized onions and mixed greens. Typical pub style burger that had a good amount of fat and grease. Enjoyable overall. If you're looking for some American cuisine near the pier, this is a decent option. read more

My girlfriends and I visited this wine bar to catch up before the holidays. Brightwaters is an elevated cocktail spot with a limited food menu in Huntington Beach. They have an in-depth wine menu, speciality cocktails, and champagne flights! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to sample their holiday cocktail selection. I ended up ordering the Gingerbread Martini, which was topped with the cutest gingerbread man cookie. The martini was a tasty mix of cinnamon and eggnog. My friend ordered their chocolate espresso martini, which was a major hit among our group. I also ordered the bruschetta toast to snack on. This appetizer was on the smaller side, but it was also once of the cheaper items priced at $11. Overall, Brightwaters is a bit pricey, but also a great addition to the Huntington Beach cocktail scene. read more

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Yum! My second time here, awesome servers and the wine and food are awesome. Had the filet, perfectly cooked and the place is very relaxed. I highly recommend!!! read more

The food was very flavorful and drinks were excellent. The host went out of his way to fulfill requests. I had asked for limoncello which wasn't on their drink list and he made it happen. That evening their had a guitar player who played a lot of fun popular songs and did requests. We stayed long after dinner singing and dancing. The musician was Marc Seligson. If you want a fun night out, I highly recommend you go to Brightwaters when this musician is playing. read more

After a bad experience at another place in Huntington, I came here for a wine flight to wash down my meal. It perked me up and left me feeling better about my whole day. The service here is excellent. They have about as much wine options as you would expect. And they have ample outdoor seating. The wine flight is three glasses of 3 ounce portions, totaling north of $30 depending on the flight. Pricey, but about the price you would pay anyway for an individual glass. I can't comment on their food since I didn't try it this time, but yes, this is both a winery and a restaurant. I plan on returning here again in the future for a proper meal! read more

Brightwaters - Deep Red Flight - Wine Bars Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

This wine bar is tucked away but glad we came across it. The wine selection is extensive. I opted for the Avissi Prosecco which tasted extremely crisp and fresh. The glassware was really elegant which added to the overall experience. They have a brunch menu on Saturday & Sunday and the options are very light. The avocado toast was pretty good. The goddess salad, however, was delicious and presented beautifully. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Our waiter was nice and informed us that there is live music on Thursday and Friday nights along with wine specials during the week. I look forward to returning. read more

Brightwaters - Wine Bars Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

Although I have known about this place for over four years, I never tried it until the other day. The flatbread is more of a pizza but delicious. We tried the Geno which was outstanding. Very authentic, true Italian style crust. The avocado, green goddess salad was delicious. The corn chowder, soup of the day, had tons of corn and pancetta and was outstanding. Cocktails were on point. Service is very attentive, friendly and couldn't be any better. For what we had, prices were reasonable. They do have some expensive items on the menu though. I highly recommend this place and will be back. read more

My friend and I stopped here after a bike ride because it was new and looked good. I can honestly say that was a great call! Not only was the restaurant beautiful but the food and drinks were outstanding! And might I add they thought of everything... including the custom hand blown water glasses... please start selling them!! We ordered cocktails to start which were very tasty! Both were delicious however in the end, my Going Green was favored... but never fear...no drink went to waste! Lol We also ordered the Burrata App and liked it so much we ordered it a second time! I have seriously never had better Burrata! I don't know what the crunchy stuff is on top but it's delicious! We also had the Verde and Marge Flatbread .... Also outstanding! I highly recommend this restaurant!! At the time of our visit they were 15 days old but I will definitely go back!! So happy to have you in HB!! ( now go to SC, where I am) read more

Brightwaters - French Martini on the left and Going Green on the right. - Wine Bars Near Me - Huntington Beach, California

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Went there for Mother's Day. Horrible cold food. Small portions sorry will not be back as a HB resident.

We have walked by this restaurant many times but never tried it out until recently.....and we DID NOT know what we were missing!! The service was impeccable and super friendly, the food was delicious and had an East Coast in the Hamptons kinda flair (although comes w a price tag of course). The wine selection and cocktails were lovely! Parking is a breeze in the underground lot, considering it is right down at the beach! Stay away from grimy Main St HB where all the douche bags are and have a nice meal here on the next street over instead!! read more

Love the vibe its so calm and chill. Came with a girlfriend and our server Lisa was so friendly and helpful. Will be coming back

To quote another reviewer, "perfect every time". We've been here enough now that we can comfortably say that. The first time I went with my Mom, and they gave her a blanket and hot chocolate, and made us feel like we were in someone's home. Another time we went with neighbors, and a jazzy keyboardist accompanied the terrific food. Lisa is an incredible server; always so patient and attentive. Their huge wine list is priced so reasonably and includes a large choice of bubbles. Their menu is diverse, and their dishes include unique, thoughtful ingredients. Even the pizza is irresistibly flavorful. This place is just what HB always needed. read more

I saw this beautiful restaurant so my family and i decided to try it. We ordered the pork belly Brussel sprouts with maple and it was heavenly. Truly delicious. I wanted more. We also had the greek salad and stone fruit salad. Both were perfect. Usually greek salad has cucumber, tomatoes, olives and feta. This one added lettuces. It was surprising but yummy. I had the chicken special with polenta and carrots. It was so good. I cannot tell u enough how much i loved this food. Literally delicious and priced well! I was told they have live music on Thursday and Friday so i will be back. Service was also great. read more

We had an excellent experience at Brightwaters from start to finish. They had wonderful communication with us for making our reservation at the perfect table inside, and we were extremely well taken care of! From the manager to the server, everyone provided great service for us. We got 2 bottles of wine and they gave us fresh chilled glasses with each bottle. The Marlborough stoneleigh Sauvignon Blanc is my absolute new favorite!! Each of their appetizers were great as well, we got the fingerling potatoes, Brussel sprouts, and bruschetta. For entrees, we enjoyed the Flamande flat bread and the green goddess salad. Our server (I think her name was Lisa) was kind enough to split the bill 4 ways for our group. She was a really good server. The live jazz music made for a very fun atmosphere and not to mention the restaurant itself makes for the most beautiful costal wine bar and dining experience!! I will certainly be back. Thank you to the entire staff for being so wonderful and making our group feel well taken care of. read more

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This is a nice new addition to downtown. Two couples on an early Friday evening. Bright and shiny and built for warm days with open doors and windows. It was a cool evening so I was glad to be wearing a turtleneck. Really delicious appetizers to share and my favorite was the steak tartare. We split 5 other dishes and they were all quite good. I had a deep red wine flight that came with 3 full sized glasses with about 3 ounce pours. That lasted the entire visit for me. Fabulous service and live music, too. read more

Made reservations one weekend for brunch and upon arriving, the restaurant was not busy at all. We sat outside since our dog was with us. The brunch menu was small and we weren't really feeling the menu but went ahead and ordered two orders of avocado toasts. The food was not bad. Most likely won't come back again due to the menu. read more