Bear Flag Fish Company — Restaurant in Newport Beach

My review is not for the food is for the poor service & attitude

Have been to Bear flag Many times & their food is amazing, Since they are so busy, I think they are forgetting the basics of customers service based on my experience.

My daughter and I wanted to get a quick bite to eat , so we stopped by ordered fish tacos, Poke Bowl & a beer.

Got my beer & about 5 minutes later we got the fish tacos, so far so good.

I keep on waiting for Poke Bowl & nothing after about 12 minutes & seeing other after us getting served. I went to check on it at the register, I was told they are working on it now.

I was a little surprised given they you really don't need to cook this just put it together.

After waiting for about 5-6 more minutes , We had to leave & I went to the register to see where we are at least I can take it with me since I needed to eat something.

Well I was told there is 3 more bowls in front of mine really after 20 minutes? SO I asked for a refund & waited for a manager to come.

Till this point I was not happy, I understand things happens, We had to leave, but after this got worse. I had to wait for a manager to get a refund.

I got an attitude from manager when he came to process the refund. I was told "just so you know Poke bowls can take 5 minutes or 20 minutes it is normal & I checked you just have been waiting for 18 minutes"

Really this is management 101 give an attitude instead of saying I am sorry your food took long, Hope you come back again & you can add sometimes it takes long we are just busy, Not just so you know

I just couldn't believe I was being given an attitude & just asked him to process the refund.

He let me know more information 1- they only have one person making Poke ( well maybe add one more person) 2- Fish tacos might come out faster

again just things I should know since waiting 20 minutes & not getting food should be very normal.

it was all about what I should know, nothing about how they could have done something wrong or say sorry.

I asked him if the poke station is so busy couldn't they have told me your wait is going to be 20+ minutes , I would have just ordered poke by it self & got the food right away.

Then Again I was educated by the manager that not ever register knows the wait on poke bowl so that was not possible.

Thank you for all the education on how long food can take & how you operation works.

My suggestion would be when a customer waited So long in my opinion & ask for a refund

You should first apologize for their experience, You are in the service business.

You know this customer didn't eat how about offer some chips doesnt cost you that much, or offer to make it right away/ Ask to see do you want just poke not the bowl I can get that to you right away.

That would be a manager trying to do the...

Terrible Experience at Bear Flag Fish Company - Car Towed During Meal

I had an absolutely dreadful experience at Bear Flag Fish Company that I feel compelled to share. To make matters worse, while I was enjoying my meal at the restaurant, my car was unexpectedly towed, leaving me utterly frustrated and incredibly inconvenienced.

First and foremost, the fact that my car was towed during my dining experience is unacceptable and highlights a serious lapse in the restaurant’s responsibility. As a customer, I expected a certain level of safety and security for my vehicle while patronizing Bear Flag Fish Company. The absence of proper parking arrangements or warnings made this incident even more infuriating.

Furthermore, the staff’s response to my distress was shockingly dismissive. When I approached them for assistance and explained the situation, they showed little concern and failed to take any responsibility. Their lack of empathy or willingness to offer practical solutions only added to my frustration.

While I understand that car towing incidents can sometimes occur due to external factors, it is the restaurant’s duty to ensure that their customers are aware of any potential risks or parking regulations. Bear Flag Fish Company failed miserably in this regard, resulting in unnecessary distress and inconvenience.

Considering the distressing experience and the lack of accountability displayed by the staff, I strongly advise against dining at Bear Flag Fish Company. Not only did the restaurant fail to provide a pleasant dining experience, but their negligence regarding parking security tarnished the overall impression. Look elsewhere for a restaurant that prioritizes customer satisfaction, safety, and takes responsibility for their...

tl;dr: -Fresh fish served via poke, taco, burrito, or plate -Great drink (alchy and non-alchy and alchy) selection -Gets crazy busy (come during non-peak hours) -Easy parking in shared plaza lot

PARKING: Huge lot shared with multiple businesses. Bear Flag is located on Via Lido, so park in the lot and walk out to Via Lido. If you head from Starbucks past the pharmacy, then you're going the right direction.

FOOD: -Halibut burrito: I'm a big fan of halibut, and this filet was grilled to perfection. The burrito itself is daunting in size (think Chipotle), but I just removed most of the rice (filler) and it wasn't too bad. They don't skimp on the avocado here. Don't forget to add their signature hot sauce- so clutch! Just a note-$2 surcharge for halibut. -Fish tacos: These are definitely a better option for portion control and are a bit more wallet friendly. Fish is still cooked to the same standards, and they continue to be generous with their avocado (seriously like 3 huge slices per taco). The slaw was a bit of a distraction from the main event (fish), but you gotta get in your veggies somehow.

TIP: -Fast casual style: You order, then grab your number and your utensils/sauces. Then you wait. We came really early, but I would expect to wait at least 20 minutes for your meal during peak hours. -Their poke is good, but now that LA is going absolutely poke fan girl crazy, I've definitely had more interesting poke flavors elsewhere. It always comes back to the fish, and Bear Flag's fish quality is one of the best. Their chips are way too hard to balance the soft texture...