The Lighthouse Cafe
The Lighthouse Cafe is a charming restaurant located in Newport Beach, CA, offering a delightful mix of seafood, American cuisine, and breakfast & brunch options. With a focus on providing exceptional customer service and a variety of amenities, this establishment truly stands out in the dining scene.
Situated at 1600 W Balboa Blvd, The Lighthouse Cafe takes pride in its waterfront location, providing beautiful views of the docks and creating a serene ambiance for diners. The restaurant offers a range of utilities, including delivery, takeout, vegan and vegetarian options, wheelchair accessibility, and even accepts cryptocurrency as payment. With its focus on sustainability, The Lighthouse Cafe is dedicated to providing a eco-friendly dining experience through its use of compostable containers and plastic-free packaging.
Customers have praised the restaurant for its delicious food and attentive service. Dishes like the lobster roll, seafood omelette, mahi mahi tacos, and clam chowder have received high marks for their flavors and quality. The lemon ricotta pancakes and chicken and waffles are also standout items that have left diners impressed. The restaurant's mimosa brunch deal is a favorite among patrons, offering a great value for a delightful meal with a view.
While some reviewers have noted minor issues with wait times and parking, the overall consensus is positive, with many praising the views and ambiance of The Lighthouse Cafe. With a dedicated staff, delicious food, and a picturesque setting, this restaurant is a must-visit for those looking for a memorable dining experience in Newport Beach.
The Lighthouse Cafe Menu
Location
Address: 1600 W Balboa Blvd Newport Beach, CA 92663
Phone: (949) 933-1001
Business info
- Takes ReservationsYes
- Offers DeliveryYes
- Offers TakeoutYes
- Vegan OptionsYes
- Many Vegetarian OptionsYes
- Wheelchair accessibleYes
- ADA-compliant main entranceYes
- steps or stairsYes
- Accepts Credit CardsYes
- Accepts Android PayYes
- Accepts Apple PayYes
- Accepts CryptocurrencyNo
- Outdoor SeatingYes
- CasualYes
- Moderate NoiseYes
- Offers CateringYes
- Good for GroupsYes
- Good For KidsYes
- Good for Breakfast, Brunch, LunchYes
- Street Parking, Private Lot ParkingYes
- Waiter ServiceYes
- Happy Hour SpecialsYes
- Full BarYes
- Dogs AllowedYes
- TVYes
- Offers Military DiscountYes
- Heated Outdoor SeatingYes
- Open to AllYes
- Wi-FiNo
- Drive-ThruNo
- Private DiningNo
- Bike ParkingYes
- Compostable containers availableYes
- EV charging station availableYes
- Plastic-free packagingYes
- Provides reusable tablewareYes
Last Reviews
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Author: Joannie T.
Damien was our server and he was awesome! Food was delicious and we plan to come back. Beautiful views next to the restaurant. Quiet and ambiance was chill. Anyone looking for a place to live on Oahu, reach out!! Aloooha!!
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Author: Shirley W.
Took my parents to visit Newport for the first time, and they wanted a restaurant with a view! This is located right by the docks and a great place for having a mini beach by the water side instead of being by the ocean. There wasn't too many people on the "beach area", which was great so many kids were able to run around. Anyways, this is a great restaurant to overlook some water and boats. We got there pretty early about 10am, and there wasn't a wait at all. We decided to sit at the upstairs level, which was quite nice, but also got pretty cold lol. Service was great here as well! We got to order quickly and our entrees were made to order sooner than expected. I got the lobster roll, my dad got the seafood omelette, my mom got the mahi mahi tacos, and we got a clam chowder bowl to share. Mainly for the lobster roll, I wish it was packed with more lobster in it. The flavor itself was also pretty light, it could've added a little bit more sauce? There was butter on the side for you to pour, but I felt like it was still a tad bit light. I also got chips with my order, which I wish I could've substituted for fries instead. My dad's omelette, he seemed like he enjoyed it. He mentioned there was more shrimp than lobster. The potatoes he had on his plate could have been crispier, but they were alright. I didn't really get to try my mom's mahi mahi tacos, but she finished them all, which must be good. The clam chowder was actually my favorite haha. It was simple, hearty, and full of flavor. Although, the more you eat it, it does taste kind of too salty, but I enjoyed this the most. I almost forgot to check-in for the free beignets, so we got them at the end. They're not as good as Disneyland, but they were ok! It kind of was just like a fried flaky dough, which I didn't really enjoy too much, but my parents said it was good lol. Overall, parking can be tricky if you don't come here early enough. I think they even block the lot once it's full. It was $3.75 per hr to park at their lot. One hour was just enough to finish our dining experience here. Views and ambiance is good here, food is alright and wish it would elevate the experience, but it was not bad. Service was good here too.
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Author: Ricky M.
Lighthouse Cafe is okay, not bad. They don't take reservations on the weekend, so my tip is to join the Yelp waitlist. If you are parking at the restaurant, my tip is to download the ParkMobile app beforehand. Note which zone you're in (there are signs around the parking lot), and then add your license plate number and car model via the app. For 3 hours, we paid $11.25. Service was meh for our party of six adults and two kids. It also took quite a while to get our food, a little too long, to be honest. We got there at around 12:30 p.m. on a Sunday, and ordered around 12:40 p.m. and didn't get our first appetizer until 1:00 p.m. Our meal came around 1:15 p.m. I ordered the Steak Chilaquiles, which was all right. Views are beautiful, of course. You're mostly coming for the ambiance, lol.
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Author: Jordan C.
On a Monday for brunch, we had no wait time and were sat inside. The great thing about the setup of the interior is that you pretty much have a view of the water from any table (well, at least half of your table will). The cocktails were decent, but nothing to write home about. Their mimosa brunch deal is worth it, considering you get one glass on its own for $10 or ~$18 for 3-4 glasses. My favorite here is the lemon ricotta pancakes, though I do feel that they charge a little highly for a couple of slices of bacon if you want a side of protein. On our latest visit, we also learned that the chicken and waffles is a delicious entree here! I think the price point of food, the portions, plus the waterfront view is really the true value of this place! Service was okay, a little slow and inconsistent, but I think they only had maybe 2 servers on and ours may have been breaking her coworker for a portion of the time as well. Since our party was celebrating a birthday, they comped us a plate of their cinnamon beignets, and we had no idea they'd be SO delicious! These are available as a brunch starter item as well, and I think I'll be back for another plate very soon!