Mastro's Ocean Club — Restaurant in Newport Beach

My husband and I have been going to Mastros for years and have had so many wonderful experiences dining there. Recently, my friend and I were talking about OC restaurants we loved when she told me she’d never eaten there before. I made a reservation on OpenTable and was really excited to be able to bring her to her first Mastros dining experience.

Unfortunately, the evening of the reservation, I was running 9 minutes late but was relieved when my friend called me 7 minutes prior to the reservation time, saying she had arrived early and was going to ask to sit at the bar if the table wasn’t ready. The left turn lane to enter Crystal Cove was significantly backed up so I called my friend to make sure she went inside under our reservation (which was for the bar area) b/c I was concerned that if she hadn’t, by the time I parked/walked over I would be arriving 15 minutes past the reservation time. When she answered the phone, she told me that the hostesses told her there was no reservation under my name. I sent her the email confirmation, parked, walked over and she was still waiting to be seated. I apologized to the hostesses for running late and was told we could still be seated but needed to be done by 7:30pm so that the table could be turned over for the next reservation - this gave us 1 hr and 45 minutes which was completely fine. The hostesses did have a bit of an attitude but I was willing to let it go, after all, I was running late.

Once we sat down, I asked my friend why she wasn’t able to sit down earlier and she reluctantly told me that the hostesses were incredibly rude and condescending during both interactions she had with them. Upon arriving, she was told there was no reservation and after showing them the confirmation 20 minutes later, she was told she couldn’t be seated b/c I hadn’t arrived yet and that we were “late”, despite her arriving early and asking to be seated. I’ve never known this to be their policy and additionally, my friend saw several groups get seated without their entire party being present. Maybe the hosts misheard her when she initially gave them my name but they acted as if the first interaction never occurred and it really put both of us off that they felt the need to emphasize not being on time when in reality, the reservation hadn’t been pulled up correctly. My friend, who has worked as a server for many years, was genuinely taken aback by the demeanor and tone of the hostesses. She told me that if I was treated the same way she was, she was going to suggest we eat somewhere else. The interactions with the hosts really put a damper on the mood/energy but I assured her the rest of the experience would be great.

Aside from the food which is always great, the rest of the evening was extremely subpar and felt incredibly rushed. We were asked at least 1/2 a dozen times if we were done eating (while actively eating) so that plates could be cleared - I’m assuming they just wanted to assure we were done by 7:30 but this was a bit much…1 hr and 45 minutes to eat is still A LOT of time (also, I don’t know if this is important but we only ordered drinks, oysters, salad, a filet, and one side dish so it wasn’t like we ordered tons of food with lots of plates to clear and taking forever to get through each plate we ordered).

I really hated writing this review but felt like it needed to be addressed b/c I’ve never had this experience at Mastros before. My friend has stage 4 cancer and we were there to celebrate her upcoming wedding but it wasn’t the fun, celebratory dinner I thought it would be. The overall experience in regards to service was just extremely...

2 / 2

We, my family and I, are so impressed beyond measure! The customer service at Mastro's was simply exceptional, and our first experience there was truly unforgettable. Although we have been to Ruth's and Morten's, my son suggested we try Mastro's for his 30th birthday celebration, and I can say without hesitation that it was the best decision we could have made. The food was even better than we imagined, and we were all treated to several firsts during our meal.

To start, a bountiful bowl of the absolute best lobster bisque I ever had. It wasn't at all acidic or overly blended with too many spices. It was full of flavor with a perfect balance of lobster and base. But most thankfully, there is a nice size lobster in every luscious spoonful. An excellent choice for an elegant bowl to get you started.

The seafood tower was definitely the table favorite. The half shells were the best ever! Huge shrimp, and amazing Tuna Tartare Tostadas and sushi rolls kept the momentum going. But the real star was not on the menu. Free from its shell in all its glory, the Dungeness Crab sat atop the multitiered tower like a bright star on a xmas tree. It was suggested by our inspirational waiter, Fernando and he did not disappoint. It was much different than we expected and very glad it was. It was more flavorful and mildly soothing without the big buttery and salty taste. Its was rich and a true delight, with a tender sweetness that was both flavorful and soothing.

But the main course was by far the most God given delight you will ever experience. For the doubters, Mastro's Japanese Wagyu steak is worth every cent and more. It literally melts in your mouth. It tingles from the tip of your tongue to the bottom of your belly enveloping you with the most succulent carnivorous flavor that slowly builds into a crescendo of happiness. The first bite warms your palate and within seconds absorbs into your bloodstream then shoots right to your brain and something special happens: A symphony of overloading synapses spark at once, a neuro cascade of fireworks like a grand finale and you then realize your mind is helplessly along for the ride of a mind melting intoxicating euphoria of luxurious heaven.

But the food was not the only element at Mastro's that was exceptional. Once we were seated, the service we received from the staff at Mastro's was simply outstanding. When we asked to be seated at a different table, the manager, Peter, took charge immediately and made sure that we had the best possible experience. We were quickly moved to a table with a perfect view of the restaurant's stunning décor and directly under the live lit silver leaf tree which was center to an outdoor courtyard directly in the middle of the restaurant which lead to a square opening above with fresh ocean air warmed by the radiant heaters at its perimeter. Looking straight on was the illuminated bar with multicolored glass bottles perfectly arranged like a colorful rainbow. And just off to the right was the live pianist flowing across the keys reminiscing soft melody hit songs from the past. We could not have been happier and more comfortable then we felt celebrating at Mastro's with my family. This was a magical and hypnotic experience we have had ever at a restaurant.

I would like to extend my thanks to Peter, Fernando, and Jim for the world-class service and the masterful feasts that they provided. I cannot recommend Mastro's highly enough and would encourage anyone looking for an unforgettable dining experience to...

My family had an amazing experience at this restaurant. Their patio dining was very nice - a great way to adapt to the pandemic problems. We looked inside the restaurant and it was just as nice. Would love to come back and dine inside or on the outdoor veranda.

Chilly at night but they put warmers around the outdoor seating. Great place to go to watch the sunset on the nearby water view. I would suggest 7-7:30 start for dinner here. That way you can take advantage of the gorgeous view and the good cool weather.

Service was exceptional. The staff was very witty but responsive and attentive. Valet parking only 6$!!! Which is great for a nice California restaurant.

We got 2 appetizers:

1. Tuna Tartare - honestly so worth it. the flaky bottom and sauce on top really made the dish.

2. Crab Cakes - Delicious - lump crab (the majority is real fresh crab), smaller but no filler or extra breading. Defiently getting what you pay for.

SIDES:

1. Brussel Sprouts - Okay if you are ordering a side this would be my suggestion. So. Amazing. Most restaurants over-char their brussel sprouts or they are too hard. These had an awesome texture. The caramelization was perfect. A great addition to your meal if you are getting a meat or fish entree.

2. Truffle Mushrooms - These were just as amazing as the brussel sprouts. I think we hit the jackpot of sides. They were perfectly cooked and had such rich flavoring. Beautifully done.

ENTREES:

1. New Zealand Salmon - This dish was so unique. Never had Salmon from New Zealand - usually most restaurants get it from somewhere in the US. This was very wild and fresh. Great texture (I got it medium, not overcooked little pink in the middle). It was very tender with great flavoring. Came with an olive garnish and lemon. I really loved the lemon on top.

2. Twin Lobster - Succulent and thin pieces. Good size. Perfectly cooked. Deshelled by a chef in front of us. Highly recommend.

3. Shrimp House Salad - The pieces of shrimp were really small in it so if you are looking to actually get some meaty shrimp I would get a different course. It had great flavoring. Definetly worth it if you are trying to not have a ton of meat. It was pretty big though.

4. 8oz Filet - Great flavoring. Definetly worth the price. It was perfectly cooked and you could tell it was quality meat. Good size. I would get some of the sides if you want a meal with some more variety.

DESSERTS:

1. Butter Cake - This was hands down amazing. You would think "Eh? A butter cake? Sounds really sickening" But this is totally worth it. It comes with vanilla bean ice cream on top. A little drizzle of raspberry to accompany the nice texture. It has a slightly caramalized texture on top of the cake. Almost like a little shell of sugar.

2. Chocolate Sin Cake - So rich and creamy. This is less like a cake and more like a block of decadent chocolate. Comes on top of a plate of creamy goodness (almost like a house made condensed milk + chocolate)

All of the meals had amazing depth of flavor and were beautifully presented. The service and atmosphere really made this place one of my top choices for my trip to the Montage...