I've been to Great Maple many times, and it continues to be one of my favorite restaurants at…read moreFashion 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.

My experience at Great Maple was good, if not great. We went around 7pm on a Wednesday and it was…read morequiet 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.

This place is the best kept secret in Corona Del Mar. I took my wife here to enjoy a night of fine…read moredining. We arrived on our first dining experience here to find an ambience that is elegant and lively. The bar is the centerpiece and the booths and tables are very comfortable for a long dinner. Our waitress was very friendly and polite. She went out of her way to make us feel welcomed. Now for the food: outstanding Caesar salad to start the meal and the lamb shanks were prepared to perfection. My Jewel had a lemon pasta dish that she loved and will order again. Dessert was a warm rhubarb-strawberry cake served with a divine vanilla ice cream. I quickly realized that we should have tried this place sooner. Truly a spectacular dining adventure. Note: this place is owned by the same group that owns A Restaurant in NB and Crystal Cove.

We visited CdM for dinner this past Saturday, and I want to start by recognizing the positives. We…read morereceived a very warm welcome from Andrea, who was courteous, professional, and accommodating when we requested a different table. The staff who assisted with seating and bringing silverware were also friendly and attentive. Unfortunately, our dining experience declined once our order was taken. We ordered the Beets Salad as our starter, followed by the Chicken Piccata and Salmon as our entrées. The salad arrived within about five minutes, but we then waited nearly 40 minutes for our main courses without any acknowledgment or update. When I asked our waitress about the delay, her only response was, "Your order was fired 15 minutes ago." When I asked why it had taken so long, she simply repeated the same statement. At no point did she offer a sincere apology or show any empathy for the extended wait. As someone who has owned and managed businesses, I know that delays can happen. However, a simple apology and proactive communication can make all the difference in how guests perceive the experience. The food itself was excellent, and both entrées were well prepared. Unfortunately, the service continued to disappoint. After we finished our meals, our waitress immediately cleared our plates and brought the check without asking whether we would like dessert, coffee, or anything else to finish our evening. That was surprising and made us feel rushed. I rarely leave negative reviews because I understand that every business can have an off night. In this case, however, the issue was not the kitchen delay--it was the lack of communication, empathy, and basic hospitality. Had our waitress simply apologized, kept us informed, or involved a manager, this review likely would not have been necessary. I hope management views this as constructive feedback. Andrea and several other staff members represented the restaurant exceptionally well, but I believe additional customer service training would help ensure that situations like this are handled with greater professionalism and care in the future.

We had a great experience at Gulfstream. We started with the crab cakes, salmon appetizer, and the…read morebiscuits, and all of them were excellent. For our main course, we had the beef ribs, and they were absolutely outstanding. Definitely a must. The restaurant was clean, the food came out in good time, and the staff consistently checked on us throughout the meal to make sure everything was going well. Everyone was friendly and attentive, which made for a very enjoyable dining experience. One thing to keep in mind is that this isn't really a kid friendly restaurant. They don't provide high chairs or many conveniences for young children, and they make that clear. That said, they were never rude about it. We brought our own clip-on high chair, and they were perfectly accommodating. The staff was also very kind and friendly to our 15-month-old son, which we really appreciated. Overall, the food and service were excellent, and we'd definitely come back--especially for those beef ribs!

I visited Gulfstream in Newport Beach today, July 9, 2026, and chose to sit in the outdoor lounge…read morearea where drinks and small bites are served. I left at approximately 2:22 p.m. The atmosphere was great, but I was disappointed with the service. My server, Candy, checked on me only a couple of times during my visit. I understand that servers get busy, and I have no issue when another team member delivers food or drinks. However, after my drink arrived, I waited quite a while without anyone checking back in. Eventually, I had to go inside and ask the bartender for my check because no one had come by. When Candy saw me inside, she mentioned that she had been keeping an eye on me. I respectfully told her I was disappointed because I didn't feel attended to. I have worked in the restaurant industry myself, and my brother has been a General Manager for The Cheesecake Factory, so I understand how demanding restaurant service can be. This did not seem like a situation where the restaurant was overwhelmed, as it was not particularly busy during my visit. I want to be clear that my intention is not to get anyone in trouble. In fact, I still left Candy a good tip because I know firsthand how challenging serving can be. My hope is simply that Gulfstream reminds its staff to give the same level of attention to every guest, including those seated in the outdoor lounge area. Every customer should feel equally valued, regardless of where they are seated.

Lost Wallet. $15. Jack Daniels , skrewball peanut butter whiskey, lemon , Gifford Orgeat, mint -…read morevery good. Not overly peanut flavor. I would get again Black walnut old fashioned $13. Was ok but pretty normal old fashioned for me. Not a fan. Coastal halibut $29. Rice, creamy Parmesan, spinach, broccolini and roasted Carrots. - rice was very creamy and delicious. Fish was cooked perfectly Fish tacos were salmon. We're very good. $21 Joshua Smith as our server and very personable and a good server. For the area not a bad price for the quality.

Cute spot on the main drag in Corona del Mar. A few tables on the street and some booths in the…read morefront windows are busy on lovely days. We stopped for a quick beverage and a snack. Partner tried the margarita, made with fresh lime! The waitstaff hustle on the nice weekend days. The bathrooms are outside next to the parking lot for a couple spots. Friends report excellent fries. Right across the street from the nice Sherman Library & Gardens.

Best chicken sandwich ever. They should enter this into the chicken sandwich awards?…read more Best server we had at any restaurant in months. The founder was in the house and even stopped by our table to say hello. Great view of the harbor and Linda isle on a gorgeous summer day.

When they took us to our table I admit I was upset. A horrible two seater sandwiched between two…read morecorner tables so you're being stared at the entire time. But then the vibe of the place takes over and I quickly stopped caring. One of the best restaurant musicians was playing. This guy nailed everything he played and was playing pretty much every genre and decade. The entire restaurant was having a great time. Place was packed for brunch but service was very good. I started with their French Onion Soup which was worth the price. One of the best I've had. Per the menu its French 75's recipe. Brunch was ok. Not the best or worst. I had the breakfast burrito and my wife had the omelette. Both good. Portions were large though so we just enjoyed the ambiance while ignoring the awkwardness of our neighboring tables. Cocktails were good. I saw a guy rocking out to the music on his 4th espresso martini so I ordered one of those. It'll give you both an alcohol and caffeine buzz. Can't imagine drinking 4! My wife's fruity cocktail was also good. We both enjoyed ourselves and will definitely be back. Just wish I could have scored a water view table!

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures, but the food was outstanding. We had the crispy chicken…read moresandwich and the seared ahi salad. Both were beautiful, fresh, abundant and delicious. Atmosphere was cozy, and slightly dim. We sat at the bar. Bartenders were friendly and really helpful with cocktail and food. Location is fantastic. It is in fashion Island and really fun to walk around and shop and then take a break from activity and have a great meal. Highly recommended! Would definitely go back.

My most recent experience at R&D Kitchen in Newport Beach was sadly disappointing…read more As a member of the National Restaurant Association, I advocate for the restaurant industry and have a deep appreciation for dining experiences. While our waiter provided good service and the food was wonderful, the experience was ruined by your reservation policy and poor management. We had a family party of five and were informed of your policy restricting reservations to four people or fewer. We were instructed to come in and sign up for seats around 5:00 PM to be seated around 6:00 PM. However, we were not seated until 7:00 PM. Making a family wait for almost three hours to accommodate a party of five is unacceptable. Furthermore, when we addressed this grievance with the manager on duty, our concerns were dismissed without empathy or concern. Due to the poor handling of this situation and the lack of professional customer service from management, I am leaving a 1-star review of this experience.

Such a cute little snack bar right by the beach! The food was absolutely perfect after a long day…read moreof running, swimming, and playing in the sand. The portions were so generous that one meal easily fed two people, which was a pleasant surprise after working up an appetite all day. The staff was kind, welcoming, and made the whole experience even better. If you stop by, be sure to leave a tip--supporting hardworking staff and helping them pursue further college education is always worth it because education opens so many doors. Signed,An exhausted and very tired teacher

Nice to be able to have a place at the beach as a one stop shop when in the area. We had visited…read morethe Sherman gardens nearby and I yelped a place for lunch and by happenstance saw lobster rolls are a fan favorite here which my man absolutely loves, as he is from Maine. Parking was actually a breeze for us in the neighborhood nearby and we walked right down to the place where there were tables and the line wasn't long. Should've gone with the lobster roll but I opted for my usual clam chowder which came out smaller than I thought. When the order came out we also saw they didn't include the seasoned fries I ordered, which is fine because it wasn't on the receipt either. I told my man we don't need to order anymore because we had plenty. Just make sure when ordering you have them read it back not to miss anything. The clam chowder was good, could've had more clam but came out piping hot, which I know is an issue sometimes at places like this. My son got the tuna melt and couldn't finish his potato chips. Wish they had coke on the menu instead of Pepsi, that's my only qualm but other than that next time I'd definitely order the lobster roll.

We're reminded of how much we love this place that just keeps getting better…read more Better foods....no seeds oils, and lots of attention to sourcing....you can't make good food if you can't pay attention to where it comes from. Service is always excellent no matter who is serving - today it was Karen - thank you Karen you were excellent! How do you make sure you provide excellent service? Two things you cannot ignore...hiring good people and training them well. Today on the patio was quiet but busy. Acoustics are good. Lot's of servers delivering food. Lot's of hustling. Grass Fed beef is a hit....well done! Chop Salad is our favorite....we have it every time and never get tired of it. The corn soup is to die for....what a brilliant idea! Thank you chef and thank you servers!

Our experience was shocking! We asked the waitress to…read morerecommend a dish with no sugar (diabetic friendly) and one of the dishes in question was glass noodle dish because on the menu it doesn't say what type of sauce they use, she said that the sauce was soy based and assured the dish was safe to eat. We all have allergies and specific diets (unfortunately) and that is why we went there, because they have all this delicious and healthy options and we used to go to the one in San Diego and never had any issues. 45 minutes later (restaurant had 4 tables in use, so basically empty) our food came, we are kind of anxious and very hungry. I tasted the glass noodles and commented that is was too sweet at first bite. Waitress kind of annoyed assured the sauce was soy based. After eating we asked the manager about the sauce because it felt very sweet, so he went to the kitchen and asked and of course the sauce was super sweet, sugar, sugar, sugar!! Ended up with a special medication at home for a huge spike in sugar level! How incredibly dangerous this was!! Any life threatening allergy, or a DIABETIC should be confident that what we are eating is what we are told! I couldn't believe it! This never happened to me before anywhere, not to mention that my friend's meal came out wrong and when asked about what was missing, that was big part of the dish (avocado) the waitress was annoyed. Never apologized for her mistake, never approached the table or acted worried at all after we talked to the manager. I have to say the manager was very worried and apologetic and that we didn't make a scene or were aggressive or rude to anyone. A formal complaint will be made because it could have ended horribly bad. I hope the staff there gets well trained on their menu to be able to give an accurate and responsible answer to any requests and questions from costumers. If a diabetic kid or senior eat that meal it could have ended up in the hospital. It is not a simple mistake, it was scary and shocking.