Fable & Spirit — Restaurant in Newport Beach

Fable & Spirit lives up to its name with a cool and crisp decor, artwork that highlights the magic of Ireland, and a menu full of surprises. Three generations sat down to enjoy a relaxing mid-week lunch and we were all very pleased with our menu choices. We started with a crisp chopped salad to share among the three of us which was full of flavor (although we did sub our dressing for the one that comes on the citrus salad because we were having a hard time choosing which salad to order). Next, we shared our three entrees - the avocado shrimp toast, the fish and chips, and the soft prawns - with one another to round out our lunch. The avocado toast had a nice amount of shrimp, was presented beautifully (not just a smashed avocado smeared on toast!), and was quite tasty. The fish and chips were crunchy on the outside, tender on the inside, and served with a delicious side of seasoned fries all set atop a puree of fresh peas with a dollop of curry sauce on the side if you like a little heat (I know you are going to say you hate peas - trust me these are delicious!). The soft prawns had a nice amount of spice and were cooked to perfection (just an FYI I don't really need to see the heads of the actual prawns on the side to know they are fresh but if you are into that you won't be disappointed). And you can't expect three chocolate lovers to pass up the chance to indulge in a shared dessert so we were only too happy to see a dark chocolate cake on the menu with a scoop of french vanilla ice cream on the side. Dark, warm, and oh so good - our forks were fighting each other for the last bite! Darren Coyle, one of the owners of the husband and wife team, was on-site and making his rounds of the tables to warmly welcome guests to their latest dining destination and give a little background on the charming name and the artwork that adorns the walls and the cocktail menu. Note to the owners - thank you for taking the time to host a soft opening to fully train the staff not only service but on the menu items. It was refreshing to dine at a new establishment with knowledgeable, attentive staff! The restaurant had a nice lunch crowd for the middle of the week and we were not the only ones craning our necks and pointing to other potential dishes we might like to try on our next visit. We hope this little gem does a nice summer business and when the tourist crowds start to lighten in the fall, we hope to see some nice local's only treats like a fun Happy Hour menu full of bite-size tasty treats, some special seasonal dishes you will only find when you dine there in the off-season, and maybe even a night or two of Irish music to drag us out of our homes when the weather...

On our first visit last January 2021 we had a disappointing experience. The 2-top tables were so close together the server's rear end was literally in our face when he served the table next to us. We complained to the manager, but nothing was done. So considering it's restaurant week, we thought we would give them another try. Made reservations a full week in advance on Resy and thought I requested the dining room since the evenings are cold outside. In my comments on the reservation website I explained my past negative experience and requested better seating this time. When we arrived at our reservation time, turns out I reserved the "Dinner Patio" in error. I asked the hostess Gabriella if they could seat us inside. She said they were totally booked and offered us the bar, which we declined because it seemed too cramped. Gabriella proceeded to take us outside to our table outside which is basically a table next to another retail establishment in the alley. No one else was eating outside at the time, and Gabriella arrogantly said she would "accommodate" us there. There is a small gated outdoor area with about 5 or 6 tables with heaters which was totally empty except for one couple. Those tables were not offered to us and when my wife told Gabriella the table she gave us was not acceptable she rolled her eyes and said "Oh My God" like we were being unreasonable. You would think that since we had a bad experience on our first visit, a "Michelin" contender would go out of their way to make sure their customers were served properly. Hostesses like Gabriella should pursue less people-facing careers. She was rude, arrogant and unpleasant. We asked to speak to the manager but he was not interested in improving the our customer experience, and spent the entire time defending Gabriella. Hey Michelin, you really missed the boat...

In town for a few days and found Fable & Spirit on the Michelin Guide. Online reservations don’t allow you to reserve for one person but walked in without issue close to opening time at 4:30 on a Sunday. The GM greeted me and sat me at a table inside. Chad was my server and a total rockstar with recommendations that did not disappoint. Started with the bread and The Donnelly Visa to drink. Both were phenomenal. Chose the beet agnolotti for a starter. Description says it’s made with chevre espuma, hazelnuts, oak barrel aged balsamic, lemon, crispy kale…but it should just say it’s made with angel kisses and a slice of heaven because it’s just that good. Chad recommended trying some of the chèvre on the bread and that should honestly just be a thing on the menu. All of the little touches of flavor on the plate took the beets to another level. I’m not sure most would recommend these in comparison to other items but it should be on your top things to try here list. I had originally come in wanting to try the salmon but Chad talked me into the Bucatini (made without pancetta for me) and it was also lovely. It’s like if you took homemade noodles from Thanksgiving dinner and turned it into a crazy good pasta. Chad also recommended the Bells & Whistles cocktail with Mezcal which was a nice finish to the meal. I wouldn’t normally order a cocktail with a pepper in it but he wasn’t wrong with his prior recommendations and this one did not disappoint. Dessert sounded amazing — I would have picked the bread pudding — but I was full. Will have to leave room next time. Fable & Spirit was a surprising find and a great way to kickoff my trip in SoCal. Will definitely come back on future trips. Ask for Chad if you go — he was the icing on the cheesecake and you won’t be...