Newport Beach Whaler — Restaurant in Newport Beach

Title: Encouraging Start, But Room for Improvement at Newport Whaler

As a local of Newport Beach, I was excited to visit the newly opened Newport Whaler bar, situated in the locale previously occupied by CP Kitchen. The bar has maintained the ambient charm that the location has been known for, and I was hopeful for a pleasant, relaxed evening at this fresh establishment.

Upon my visit, my companion and I were slightly pressed for time but eager to get a taste of what Newport Whaler had to offer. We decided on a glass of wine and a quesadilla, expecting a swift and delightful experience. Regrettably, our service experience did not match our anticipation.

Despite the venue not being overly crowded, our presence seemed to go unnoticed for an extended period, a lapse in service that was quite noticeable. When we finally caught the attention of one of the bartenders, we discovered that our food order had not been initiated. While I empathize with the teething issues of a new business, the 30-minute wait for our quesadilla appeared disproportionate.

In light of this, the bartender did apologize and generously topped off my glass of wine, a gesture of goodwill I appreciated. However, this goodwill was later called into question when I was billed for two glasses of wine. Upon clarifying with another bartender that I had only ordered one glass and the top-up was a courtesy from her colleague, the response was less than ideal. The bartender removed the remainder of my wine quite conspicuously, pouring it away in full view.

While the atmosphere at the Newport Whaler is indeed inviting, my experience was marred by a series of service mishaps. I strongly recommend that the establishment invests in comprehensive staff training to iron out these early-days wrinkles and to ensure consistent, high-quality service. Given its recent launch, it is crucial that the bar solidifies its reputation by enhancing its service standards.

Despite these initial setbacks, I am optimistic about Newport Whaler's potential. This establishment is undoubtedly a welcome addition to Newport Beach's vibrant nightlife, and I look forward to revisiting once these early teething issues have...

What a fabulous new place! Heads up, their small lot is valet only and $7. There is plenty of parking in the surrounding lots if it's after work hours. Not a big deal for us.-went for dinner, not sure if they have valet at lunch. We asked to sit outside and was pleasantly surprised by the expansive patio with comfortable seating. We were greeted by our server Madison. She was so bright and cheerful which help start us with a great dinner vibe. Madison was knowledgeable and so fun to talk to. We tried the items she suggested and we were blown away with how good it all was. We are locals and we do have a huge variety of places in the area to chose from but this is a great place. We ordered the ahi app (not what we expected) but amazingly good. Then we had the Philly (I've had many, many cheesesteaks and real Philly ones) this one was OUTSTANDING! Just the right amount of onions on a true Amoroso roll and the meat was chopped perfectly. Then we had the Oreo ice cream which isn't just normal ice cream. It's fresh, creamy and unlike any ice cream place around. 10/10 and I can't wait to go back and try the lobster roll! Thank you again Madison! You are a true...

We had the best experience at The Whaler in Newport Beach! A group of 10+ ladies gathered for a fun night out and were lucky enough to snag the cozy dome-shaped table in the back corner—perfect for conversation and good vibes.

From the moment we sat down, the service was incredible. Our food came out lightning fast, and the team was so accommodating, making sure every one of us felt taken care of. Huge shoutout to our server, Halie—she was phenomenal, and we couldn’t believe it was only her first week! George, the manager, even came by to personally answer questions and made us feel like VIPs.

And the food? So good! A bunch of us ordered the sticky rice and the burger sliders—both were a huge hit. Great quality, beautiful presentation, and packed with flavor.

The energy, the hospitality, the food… everything was on point. Happy hour during the week is a must-try. We’ve officially claimed this as our new book club spot and plan to be regulars. As locals, we truly appreciate the kind of welcoming, high-vibe atmosphere The Whaler brings to the neighborhood....