Decided to drive down to Newport for the day, wound up browsing the shops at Fashion Island, and then wound up having lunch at Great Maple, one of the better, sit-down restaurants at the center. It's a bright and airy venue, with thick, clubby stools at the bar and a dual, indoor/outdoor dining area that's just right for the coastal California locale. We arrived near the end of the lunch rush, so we were quickly seated by the friendly Hostess, though there were still plenty of folks eating, and a lively buzz was still thrumming through the room. It was just the right energy for a Saturday lunch. Our server, Darren, was a hoot, with a slight shimmy to his step and personality for days -- sometimes that can be a bit much, but in this case his charisma added a much appreciated charm to the meal. While we didn't imbibe at this sitting, they do have a full bar with a nice selection of cocktails suitable for brunch or dinner, and it's easy to imagine whiling away quite a few hours here at another opportunity. The menu offers a number of clever twists on brunch and lunch mainstays, especially house-made doughnuts and a few Benedicts that push all the buttons of "well, this is something appealingly different." That said, we were just tad boring today as diners, ordering a Burger and the house BLT. We may have made some ordinary-sounding decisions, but Great Maple's versions of these favorites were far from ordinary at all. The burger is made with high quality beef that has just the right amount of fat to make it juicy while retaining the integrity of the flavor of the meat. Cheese, veggies and a fresh brioche bun rounded out the presentation, as did a perfectly achieved pink medium rare. This was a very good, very satisfying burger served with crispy, shoestring fries that really hit the spot. The BLT is built on Levain sourdough that is thick-cut and lightly toasted, and holds up nicely against the moisture in the tomatoes and bright, leafy lettuce. Aioli had a noticeable but mild, and very enjoyable, garlic accent that played really well with everything, walking the line between "spread" and "dressing," and becoming a meaningful component of the sandwich rather than being just an adornment. But the star of the sandwich was the smoky bacon, cut thick enough to retain a pleasing chew while also boasting the kind of char and crisp that make for the most enjoyable bacon on a sandwich. Really, this was a terrific BLT, far above what you normally get, and, as I said before, not anywhere near as ordinary as you may think. So, a very good lunch at Great Maple, and very good reason to plan another visit very soon. Kudos to everyone. read more

Great Maple - BLT with Fries - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Amazing food Service could be faster but they're very busy Ambiance is good Chopped salad yum read more

Great Maple restaurant, in Fashion Island, now destroys its Caesar Salad by mixing together half Romain lettuce and literally half a plate of Kale, then calling it a "Modern Caesar Salad." Look up "Modern Caesar Salad" in any cook book, and the following is what you see: A "Modern Caesar Salad"combines a zesty dressing with creamy avocado, roasted cherry tomatoes, and garam masala-flavored grilled chicken. If you order the Caesar salad at Great Maple, tell them to give you no other lettuce but Romaine lettuce, and hold the Kale or Arugula. The service and ambience are still great! read more

I've been to Great Maple many times, and it continues to be one of my favorite restaurants at Fashion Island. This past Sunday, I came in with my daughter, who was really craving a steak. She ordered it medium, but it came out a little more well-done than expected. What impressed me most wasn't the mistake, but how it was handled. Our server, Jenny, was attentive, thoughtful, and genuinely cared about our experience. We never asked for the steak to be removed from the bill, but Jenny and the manager took the initiative to make it right and comped it because it didn't meet their standards. That level of customer service is becoming rare, and it really stood out. My burger was absolutely delicious, the rest of the food was excellent, and Jenny even brought my tea in a to-go cup without me having to ask. It's not always the big things that make a difference it's the little details that show a restaurant truly cares about its guests. Thank you, Jenny, and the entire team, for another wonderful experience. Great food, outstanding service, and a team that goes above and beyond. I highly recommend Great Maple and will definitely be back. read more

Great Maple - Such a yummy burger. - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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The outdoor patio was nice and the service was great. The seasonal drink which was a bourbon peach iced tea was very tasty and flavorful without being too sweet. The It's a Date salad was fine but had some large pieces and some very spiced bites if not mixed well enough. The salmon on top was delicious and a great compliment. The CAL salad unfortunately seemed to lack toppings and was underwhelming. The Ribeye Melt was good but probably not top of our list to order again. Would love to comeback and try their brunch items as they seem to excel at those! read more

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We enjoyed our meal and the atmosphere was nice. We also appreciate their accommodating our stroller, perfect seating. The food and drinks were good, the donuts were delicious. I ordered the traditional Benedict with a side of bacon, delicious and filling. I ordered the hot coffee but can't recall the name - it was so good. Everyone was pleased. read more

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I had this restaurant bookmarked for quite a while and was excited to finally try it. Would I say it was amazing? No. The cauliflower hummus appetizer was good. The prices were also reasonable, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, I didn't care for my date salad with falafel. It was bland and dry, and the falafel didn't taste like traditional falafel. Their iced coffee also tasted very watered down. The staff also wasn't particularly hospitable and seemed more focused on getting people in and out than creating a welcoming dining experience. Overall, this meal didn't wow me. I'm glad I gave it a try, but I'm not sure I'd go back. read more

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Great Maple absolutely lived up to the hype. We ordered the French toast and the spicy shrimp pasta, and both were outstanding. The French toast was cooked perfectly. It wasn't overly sweet like a lot of brunch spots tend to do. The balance was just right, letting the flavors shine without feeling like dessert for breakfast. The blueberries, maple syrup, and cream brought everything together perfectly. The spicy shrimp pasta was equally impressive. It had a great kick to it, but the spice didn't overpower the dish. You could still taste all the flavors of the pasta, shrimp, and sauce. That's a rare thing because too many places mistake heat for flavor. Great Maple got it right. The restaurant was very busy, which is usually a good sign, but despite the crowd, the service never slipped. Our servers were attentive, friendly, and kept everything moving smoothly. If I had one minor complaint, it's that the popularity means you should expect a wait during peak hours. But after eating here, it's easy to understand why it's packed. Excellent food, attentive service, and a brunch experience that's worth coming back for. Human beings may disagree on politics, sports, and whether pineapple belongs on pizza, but Great Maple serving great food feels like one of the easier things to agree on. read more

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Had reservations on a Sunday afternoon, we didn't have to wait too long. Sat on the patio because our friends had their furbabies with them. They allow them on the patio but they cannot sit on their laps. Must be on the ground. Service was slow... food was decent. Ordered a blt with fries and an iced tea and it was $34. I split with my sister of course but it was basic. It came with fries. .. the donuts looked awesome. If we ever come back we will try. read more

Great Maple - Great Maple BLT - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

There's nothing particularly new here but the food was solid. We got the doughnut, pretty standard for doughnut shop quality. The rest of the food also didn't wow, but it didn't disappoint either. If you're hungry and nearby this is a solid place! Average service, average ambiance. Just average really read more

I had brunch here for the second time and everything was perfect. I was very satisfied with the service, our server went above and beyond, he had everything ready at the right moment for the entire time we were there, I didn't even have to ask for anything: he just did it! The food was amazing and I am gonna definitely come back often! The atmosphere was relaxed and there wasn't much noise. read more

Great Maple - Fried Chicken & Doughnuts - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I've been here for breakfast and dinner and food is consistently good! Their service has been great too every time I've been. It's right next to Nordstrom's at the Fashion island. My only callout is the fountain and the inside could be loud at times, but not too bad read more

Great Maple - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

I've been here a few times, always awesome service, very friendly and welcoming. The food is always delicious and well made. The Maple Bacon Donuts are a must!! Love the look of the restaurant with all the wood around, makes me feel like I'm in a homey cabin! read more

Great Maple - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Great Maple could in fact turn me into a breakfast person! The chilaquiles were delicious, and I'm not normally a sweet person, but the seasonal Pride vanilla donut was very very good. I also loved their espresso martini and bourbon Arnold Palmer. read more

Great Maple - Chilaquiles - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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Stopped by for breakfast while we were in Newport! I've been to the Great Maple in SD and the Newport location doesn't disappoint. Though I will note I think the menus are slightly different. We got there right at opening on a Thursday so there was no wait, so I can't say for peak weekend times. The chilaquiles was flavorful, crispy, and topped with creamy avocado. The Benedict was great too! We especially loved the biscuit underneath and the amazing sour cream and onion scalloped potatoes. You definitely need to try the potatoes. I would want to try the portobello fries next time those looked really good. Overall great breakfast place, everything looks yum and the service was great. We sat outdoors and the weather was perfect. read more

Great Maple - Chilaquiles - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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This place has a good vibe. Great for brunch and breakfast. The service is always excellent. My kids love the pancakes from the kids menu. Our table also ordered the fried chicken and donuts , eggs, avocado toast and fruit. Everything was fresh and tasty. We usually go during the week with no wait. I would imagine weekends are busy. Check it out! read more

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All day breakfast?! You really can't beat that. :) Great Maple was our choice for Vday Dinner, and we are so happy we came here. The interior is so inviting and warm, the wait wasn't bad at all for a walk-in, and the staff were so polite and accommodating. We ordered the Maple Pecan Crusted Salmon, which comes with pearled cauliflower and roasted broccoli. It was ridiculously divine. The crust was perfect, the salmon was tender, and we could've ordered a second one to take home with us - highly recommend. We also ordered the Ribeye Hash because, again, breakfast for dinner can't be beat! There was a lot going on with this hash, between the tender sliced steak, the bell peppers, the poached eggs in hollandaise sauce, the mushrooms, the kale and everything else. The pictures don't do Great Maple justice at all, I'm afraid. Everything tasted way better than it looked, and prices are quite reasonable for the taste, quality and portion size. There's inside and outside seating. We opted for inside to get away from the chilly weather. Great Maple is on Newport Beach's Fashion Island. Plenty of adventure space to walk off your hearty meal. read more

Great Maple - Maple Pecan Crusted Salmon - YUM! - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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We came in to have a light dinner after some shopping at fashion island. Place was packed and we were able to grab two seats at the bar. This is not a very big restaurant with a full bar and patio dining area. The menu was mostly comfort food and brunch items. We decided on lemon shrimp pasta, scalloped potatoes and cinnamon donuts. For drinks we had Grey Goose dry martini and Moroccan iced tea. I loved that they had good selections of zero proof drinks since I am off alcohol again. That exotic iced tea was so refreshing and it came with a refill too. The food was so yummy and flavorful in large portions. Our bartender was very friendly and attentive as well. A great place to have brunch or quick bite before or after shopping! read more

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I got the protein bowl with salmon and really enjoyed it, the curry sauce with it was a great touch. It felt healthy but still filling. Everything was good, and we also had to try the maple bacon doughnuts, which were a fun treat! Overall, a decent spot for brunch or lunch. read more

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My family and I had a reservation for my dad's birthday for brunch at 12pm. We were seated around 12:05~ which is perfectly fine as they needed a bit of additional time to set up our tables. The ambiance and design of this restaurant feels very home-y and welcoming. The entire place had full of life and is very clean. Our server today is Matt and he did an amazing job taking care of us. Very respectful and mindful and was happy to serve us which is a huge plus for me as customer service is also a defining factor for dining in my book. My family and I ordered a variety of dishes however I will be writing based on what I ordered personally / shared with and have eaten. Brew Bears - Cinnamon Toast (4/5): Our server Matt recommended this to me so I decided to order it to try it out. The drink comes in a small bear shape cup and had a soft and fluffy maple syrup + cinnamon foam. The drink is good and not too sweet which is a plus. Only downside is that the drink is fairly small and for $10, I would at least expect it to be in a larger size. Famous Maple Bacon Donuts (5/5): These were delicious! Very soft and fluffy; the maple glaze is sweet and gooey, and the bacon has a nice smoke to it which complimented the sweet maple notes. The donuts were clearly freshly made which we really appreciate. Be careful though as my family and I ordered 3 orders (3 pcs / order) and didn't realize how big each donut is! It is very filling and might make you too full for the other dishes if you normally don't eat a lot. Mac and Cheese (3.5/5): I ordered this alongside both the chili bacon bits and shrimp add-ons. The Mac and cheese came with spiral shaped pasta with a panko crust and white cheese. The overall taste to me is decent; nothing that really stood out to me but it was still good. The amount of shrimp provided vs the cost for the add-on (+$7) wasn't worth it for the small pieces and overall portion. I did also get some fettuccini pasta noodles towards the bottom of the dish which threw me off. Not sure if that's intended or by accident. Parmesan Truffle Fries (5/5): The fries we ordered came in hot and fresh with a side of ketchup. There was ALOT of flavor and you can really taste the truffle. The texture for the fries was nice and crispy to perfection. Overall, we did have a great experience and I do see myself coming back some time in the future. I would probably change up a few orders to try different things out. read more

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After impatiently waiting while no one manned the host station, we finally got seated; however, the table was not clean (the people behind us complained about the same thing). The host called over a busboy to wipe it down but he neglected to do the seats which were littered with food. After making the request, he did accommodate - but left the seats wet. Then we waited some more...for the waiter. He said he would circle back. While waiting, we were overwhelmed with the stench in the inside dining area. We would have told the staff that we were leaving but we could not find anyone - so we left before ordering. The food may be delicious but I will never find out!! Poor service does not make the food taste good. read more

Classic American place with a classic burger. I'd say a pretty typical restaurant burger. Good brioche bun, thick beef patty - nothing particularly extraordinary. I like the ambiance and decor and service. But the food is just fine. I've been here only twice while there's other places dozens of times at fashion island. read more

Great Maple - Burger - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

3.5 stars but rounding up for excellent service by Jenny. I called about a week in advance to reserve patio seating for a group of 14 plus a dog. On the day of our reservation, our group was running late, so I asked to push the time back by 30 minutes. They accommodated the change without any trouble, and when we arrived, our table was already set and waiting for us. Just note that at least half the party needs to be present before you can be seated. Jenny was exceptional - attentive, friendly, and genuinely made sure we had everything we needed. We were celebrating an engagement, and she surprised us with six delicious donuts for the table, on the house, at the end of our meal. The menu was full of tempting options, but I went with the Smoked Bacon Scramble ($21), which came with toast and scalloped potatoes. I ended up wishing I had tried a different dish, as the scramble itself was pretty bland - possibly due to the tomato juices? All in all, we still had a great time. Great Maple has a wonderful ambiance for brunch. It's conveniently located in Fashion Island, next to Nordstrom. read more

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My last experience at Great Maple was wonderful! I made brunch reservations and got right in. It was very busy for the morning service, but we had a fantastic time. I tried the bacon scramble and French toast logs and both were delightful. I was shocked by how much food it all was - especially the French toast. Even splitting, I still had left overs! read more

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Great place for a medium to large group. Loved the food from here. (10/10) Mushroom fries were unique. Delicious. Juicy & Crispy bites. Fried Chicken & Donut is unique. Sweet & Savory at the same time! Seasonal cocktail. Pumpkin smash was delicious!!!! Must get during the holiday season I guess. Cauliflower hummus was good. Great portion on this. Parmesan Truffle fries order was also good. Atmosphere and vibe was relaxed. (10/10) We were at this establishment from 1 PM (Our reservation time). Table was ready for us. 2 of our party of 7 arrived well past the reservation time. Hostess sat us without any qualms. I am glad the restaurant was not a stickler for having the full party. We stayed till 3 PM. Employee assisting us never pressured us into ordering, leaving, etc. Service was phenomenal. Employee (Ariana) was very attentive. Not at all pushy, and got us what we needed for the most part at the time we wanted. Couple of my friends were underwhelmed by the dishes they had ordered. She noticed that we had not touched those 2 items, and took it upon herself to inquire about it, and when told of their displeasure, she spoke to her manager and removed the items from our receipt. Great & unique food, lovely service, fun atmosphere. This restaurant has my recommendation! read more

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Went back again, this time for said friend's birthday dinner and he chose Great Maple Newport! We dined here on Friday, July 10th and it was busy. Lots of Newport families with kids running around and just families in general out on the patio and all throughout the inside of the restaurant. We decided to sit outside like last time and catch up. Our server was Gavin and he was great. Honestly, after having Merissa as our server last time, I had no expectations because it's hard to find good service/servers nowadays and Merissa was the best so how could we top her. I'm happy to report that Gavin was also on top of it, checked on us the right amount of times, was very charming and pleasant and a very positive person, so we're 2 for 2 on excellent servers and service here. My friend ordered the protein bowl with chicken and inhaled it. I ordered the burger and asked for it medium (rare) and it came back with no pink, but it was still good. I've been craving a good burger and this was good but it wasn't cooked the way I wanted it exactly. I was too busy catching up with my friend to even send it back and I wasn't offended by it, it was still a great burger. I did the lavender lemonade and it was so good and we ordered the portabello mushroom fries again and the beignets. Gavin offered to shake up our beignet bag which was funny, but made for a memorable guest experience. I'm kind of gagged that we're able to find a place that's consistent with great service and food. I've been to the Anaheim Great Maple and have nothing but good things to say about them as well, but I think Newport Great Maple is where it's at! read more

Food was awesome! Came in Sunday morning, has a reservation for 2 but didn't need it at 10am on this day. We had the ribeye hash and smoked bacon scramble. Both tasted excellent. Highly recommend. read more

The food was very good. We had the Cal Salad and soup. It was so nice that they are pet friendly on the patio and also have a pup menu. We ordered the pup patty. The service was great! Steven was so nice & friendly! read more

Great breakfast. We started with the famous Maple Bacon Donuts (4.5/5 - three huge donuts that are a must for the table). Next we tried the Ribeye Hash (with no mushrooms) (5/5 - packed with flavor and texture). Last, we tried the Cajun Shrimp Biscuit Benedict (3.5/5 - good flavor but needs a bit more Cajun spice. The eggs however were cooked perfectly and the potatoes on the side were 6/5 - amazing). Shout out to Scott our server - nice guy and checked on us the perfect amount. Overall great experience. If you want a good hearty breakfast experience, this is on the list. read more

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It was one of those experiences that got me yelping again... Excellent food. Ribeye hash did not disappoint, the boiled kale balanced out the meat and carbs nicely. The strawberry donuts were a great finish, amazing texture unlike any donut, almost a cross between a donut and bagel but better than both. So why the 3? From the moment we sat down the service was off. The server didn't bother to ask our side of the table what we wanted to drink, nor did he give us a menu til I asked. And when I asked for a water he responded, "You want another water?" I wasn't even given a water to begin with. read more

Nice Visit To Great Maple!! Love Fashion Island & Decided To Visit Great Maple For Brunch!! Friendly, Welcoming Hostess!! Relaxed, Casual Ambiance!! Decided To Dine At The Bar Counter!! Menu Serves Comfort Food, All Day Menu, Appetizers, Sweets, Mains, Sandwiches, Burgers, Salads & Brunch Favorites!! Ordered The Modern American Breakfast Paired With A Lavender Lemonade!! Good Brunch!! Bar Service Was Attentive & Courteous!! Will Return To Try Other Menu Items & The Maple Bacon Doughnuts!! ThankU read more

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Rating: 3.5/5 Decent brunch spot in Fashion Island! I really wish I liked it more but I thought the food was average and the service was ok. My friends and I all got the Traditional Biscuit Benedict ($23) and I thought the dish was fine. There wasn't really anything special about the eggs benedict (just regular ham as the protein and the toast was fine) itself, so I thought it was a bit overpriced. The side of onion scalloped potatoes it came with was probably the best part. They do have a lot of other dishes that sounded delicious, so maybe it was just a miss with the eggs benedict. I definitely recommend booking a reservation before you go -- I had a reservation booked for a Sunday morning and didn't have to wait at all, but it was busy. Both the outside and inside had nice seating areas, so either place to sit at when you book/decide for a table should be good. read more

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My experience at Great Maple was good, if not great. We went around 7pm on a Wednesday and it was quiet and relaxed. We were seated and greeted almost right away. The waitress serving our section seemed slightly disinterested in everything that was going on. Not necessarily a bad thing but she didn't do much to set herself apart. We tried the burger and the steak sandwich and the truffle fries. The burger was perfectly cooked, and it lasted like over charcoal or charbroiled. It was almost a perfect burger except that by the end the garlic flavor (tasted real and fresh - not powdered) was a bit overwhelming for my palette. The combo with the red onions (also potent) made for an intense experience, and the first bite was sublime. The steak sandwich was seasoned similarly and presented like a close cousin of the burger, with similar toppings and flavor profile. The fries were unremarkable both straight and Parmesan truffled. For the price I want blown away. I have had burgers and sandwiches of similar quality for 60% of the mid $20s we paid for these two dishes. Overall, this is an excellent spot for a small group with diverse tastes, there will be something for everyone, and it's just upscale enough (matching its Fashion Island surroundings) to be worthy of a date night or professional meetup over lunch if you work in Newport Center as well. read more

I got the maple pecan crusted salmon for lunch and it was tasty! the salmon itself was very yummy, perfectly crispy, and flaky and flavorful. i wish it was served with more than just cauliflower and broccoli though. I think i wouldve enjoyed it more if it was with a carb like potatoes. but for what the vegetables were they were pretty good! read more

Great Maple - Maple Pecan Crusted Salmon - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Showed up at 10am on a Sunday, thinking I was early enough to skip the crowd. Homies, I was wrong. It was already serving full house realness and the place was hoppin' The vibe was surprisingly super chill for Fashion Island. I expected white linen and pretentious stares. Got casual laid back Southern California Charm for sure. Ordered the chicken and donuts, and... they understood the assignment. Sweet, savory, crispy, fluffy. Basically everything my date was not. Let's be real. When the convo is dry but the food is fire, you still walk out a winner. I always first date at a good restaurant. I never understood why people meet for coffee and stuff. I need to have food as my primary backup plan. If the date sucks, at least your food will treat you right. And that morning, my tummy got the love I deserved. On to the next first date. read more

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10/10! Wow amazing visit. I've been to the Pasadena location but the Newport location is AMAZING! The food was fabulous, the best server who was so kind and attentive during a busy rush and the layout of the restraunt is perfect for a sunny day. read more

Great Maple - BLT, fries and orange mimosa - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

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I had a great time here. We sat outside and got mimosas and the Mac n cheese was the best Mac n cheese I have ever eaten, the shrimp Ceasar salad was very good too with good flavors. The maple donuts were delicious too, it's a big portion so you can share. Definitely will come back here again. read more

Great Maple - Lavender mimosa and maple bacon donuts - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Not sure why I never tried this place. The wait was going to be 45 minutes but opted to sit at the bar which was also kid friendly. Not loud at all while the World Cup game was going on. Went with a friend our kids got the buttered pasta which was a large portion, we got the protein bowl and shrimp kale salad. Everything was delicious. Next time I'll try Outdoor seating. read more

Great Maple - Shrimp kale salad. - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Was disappointed in the quality of the food for the price. The pancakes were burned and no effort was made to replace or comp the burned food. Server was very nice and the food wasn't a reflection of his service, so we paid for all of it and left. Overall- pretty disappointed. read more

Great Maple - Burned food / was not good - New American Near Me - Newport Beach, California

Went to the OC Restaurant week VIP Launch and they had the meatloaf as the sample taster - yummy So we went for dinner to try a proper meal. Everything we had was excellent (except do not try the flourless choc torte) and the drinks were really good and excellent wine selection read more

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