Pelican Isle Restaurant and Bar — Restaurant in Huntington Beach

I was invited out to lunch by an old friend yesterday and instead of going to our normal meeting spot at the Harbor House Cafe, he suggested that we try the Pelican Isle.

I have to admit that I was a little skeptical when I located the place because it was located in a building that reminded me of the dreaded strip malls in Irvine.

I went through the front door and entered this really dark hallway and I thought that I had entered a bar vs an eatery and after about 15 steps or so, the place really opened up.

I found my friend at the bar and we moved to the outside seats out by the marina.

It was awesome out there! You can wait it big long lines at the Harbor House or you can come here where it is way more low key and get a seat that over looks the water. Bingo!!

I had the Turkey, Swiss and Avocado Sandwich and they describe it like this: Tender grilled turkey breast, Swiss cheese, avocado and tomato on sourdough or parmesan bread.

It came with a side of pasta which was a nice option.

I enjoyed the sandwich, the side of pasta and the view thoroughly. I was able to talk business and not have to many people milling around me in the process. Also the waitress could see that we were pretty engaged in our conversation so she didn't come pester us every 5 minutes...

Mediocre food, at best. I had the steak and shrimp skewers. Meat was tender and medium rare, but had no flavor. The shrimp were seriously overcooked.and they were heavy handed with bell pepper -lots of cheap filler. Best part of the meal was the baked potato. Also ordered a salad with basalmic vinergarette - should have known by ther look on the servers face that this would go south. They brought a bottle of basalmic vinegar, not dressing. I then ordered Italian dressing and got something that looked lie salsa, but apparently is their homemade dressing - it looked like soup and didn't taste very good. We also ordered steamers, but the server forgot to pick them up, twice -they were removed from the bill. Clam chowder was flavorless as well. Oh, and the server was terrible - rarely checked on us. We had to ask other servers for things, like utensils and napkins and dressing. She spent her time chatting with the older clientele. The crowd is mostly older (70's/80's) - lots of peroxide and dye and way too many blonde wigs! And, it was kareoke night! So much for a nice seafood dinner near the water. This was a one and done for us....

From the moment we walked in, the experience at Pelican Isle, it was top-notch. The staff was warm, welcoming, and incredibly attentive without being intrusive. Every course was perfectly timed, and the attention to detail made the entire evening feel special. The level of service we received was attentive and our server was so sweet.

The steak was cooked to absolute perfection — juicy, tender, and bursting with flavor. The seafood options were equally impressive; the lobster was buttery and fresh, and the crab cakes were cooked just right with a delicate flavor, the sauce on the crab cakes is a smoky slightly spiced gravy. You can tell they use only the highest quality ingredients.

The Drinks from the bar are also great! Love the beer selection.

The ambiance strikes the perfect balance between upscale and comfortable, making it an ideal spot for both special occasions and a nice night out. Prices are fair considering the quality of food and service you receive.

Highly recommend Pelican Isle if you’re looking for a flawless steak and seafood experience. We’ll...