Newport Beach | A Hidden Gem Restaurant in Lido Village

While browsing OC’s Michelin Guide, I stumbled upon this fantastic spot—Fable & Spirit 🍴! It was love at first read when I saw it serves Californian cuisine, so I immediately booked a table on Resy. The restaurant’s vibe is so cozy and welcoming, and here’s a win for overthinkers like me: the menu is only one page long—no endless scrolling, just easy choices! 📜 Overall, every dish was solid—though by the end, we noticed a slight saltiness, probably because most dishes come with rich, flavorful sauces. Here’s the breakdown of our picks: The Guinness Brown Bread (TOP RECOMMENDATION!) 🥖This bread is incredible—soft and fluffy, with a subtle natural sweetness. It’s the kind of bread you could eat on its own (and we almost did!). Mangalitsa Pork Belly 🐷It tastes like a lighter version of braised pork belly—melts in your mouth, but never feels heavy. So savory and satisfying! Wood Fired Octopus 🐙Perfectly cooked—chewy in the best way, but still tender enough to enjoy. The wood-fired flavor adds such a nice smoky touch. Cracked Pepper Bucatini 🍝The bucatini (thicker than regular pasta, so it soaks up sauce perfectly) is coated in a creamy egg yolk sauce. It’s tasty, but if you’re not a huge pasta fan, you might want to skip it—save room for other stars! Smoked Shortrib (LEAST RECOMMENDED) 🥩Just a big hunk of beef with little texture or standout flavor. It was underwhelming compared to the rest of the meal. I heard their fish dishes are amazing too—definitely planning a return trip to try those! After dinner, we wandered around Lido Village and stumbled upon so many cute little shops 🌸. Such a lovely end to the night! #NewportBeachEats #LidoVillageHiddenGem #CalifornianCuisine #FableAndSpirit #OCFoodie #RestaurantRecommendations