The Dock — Restaurant in Newport Beach

From the moment we walked in, we were impressed by the cozy yet elegant ambiance of the restaurant. The lighting, décor, and overall atmosphere struck the perfect balance between upscale and inviting, immediately setting the tone for what would become a truly memorable evening.

As this was our first visit, we decided to try a variety of dishes to get a full sense of the menu—and we’re so glad we did. Every single item we ordered, from the soup and appetizers to the main courses, was exceptional. The flavors were incredibly well balanced—rich and layered without being overpowering—and every dish was thoughtfully seasoned. The lamb, in particular, stood out: unbelievably tender and cooked to perfection, it practically melted in our mouths.

Presentation was another highlight. Each plate arrived looking like a work of art, clearly prepared with care and attention to detail. It’s rare to find a place where both the flavors and aesthetics of the food are so well aligned.

What truly elevated the entire experience, though, was the service—especially from Tiffany. Her warmth, attentiveness, and genuine hospitality made us feel right at home. She anticipated our needs before we could even voice them, offered insightful recommendations, and somehow managed to be both incredibly professional and warmly personable at the same time. It’s rare to encounter such impeccable service alongside such incredible food, and Tiffany made our night unforgettable.

Huge kudos to the entire team for flawlessly executing everything, from the kitchen to the front of house. And Tiffany—thank you. I meant it when I said I’ll be back to visit, even if it means going out of my way next time I’m in California. You made a...

My wife and I have had the dock on our list of restaurants we wanted to visit for years and we finally made it in this weekend and it was better than we imagined.

Venue - from the outside it’s super low key but once you’re in you see a beautiful entry into a large yet intimate sitting area with beautiful views of the bay. We sat in the left corner in a very comfortable spot and although I did want to sit closer to the water with a view within 10 min fell in love with our spot. Super cozy and private and not too chilly as the night progressed.

Service - multiple staff made sure we had a great experience. Our waiter, Eric and his partner, Aldo were awesome. Both very attentive and passionate about what they did and how they wanted to help. Full of life, big smiles, and on top of it. Eric had the food memorized inside and out and described everything with such enthusiasm that we wanted to order everything. Aldo was the perfect add on to ensure our dining experience was flawless with new silverware, plates, and additional advice.

Food - 10/10 so bomb. Everything we ate was incredible. We had the gem salad, Maryland crab beignet, I got the off menu halibut with risotto and my wife got the king salmon that was literally melt in your mouth fatty salmony goodness….lets just say we left very satisfied. Hats off to the chef! We washed it all down with a nice glass of Pinot and a classic dirty martini! (PS, Eric owes me a blue cheese olive 😂😉)

All in all we will be back. No doubt! I loved how low key and easy it was, parking was simple and we had a great time. Fair prices compared to quality. Top notch.

Thank you to all who...

It was a very good meal. We always share everything and usually get a few first course dishes, one or two seconds, depending how we feel after the few firsts and then one dessert.

We started with the Japanese Hamachi Sashimi, which was really fresh and had incredible flavor. Loved the passion fruit miso dressing.

We then moved onto the Crispy Kurobuta Pork Belly The flavors were really good, but the pork belly itself was overcooked. I personally would of executed the cooking of the pork belly differently, but keep everything else on the plate the exact same. The combo of the coconut foam and charred pineapple was awesome. I think it could use some macadamia nuts for texture, but it was still a great tasting dish.

The Charred Little Gem salad was a nice precursor to our main dish.

Our main was the Maple Leaf Farm Duck Breast. The duck was tender and perfectly cooked. The gnocchi was a little mushy, but pairing it with the Davao beans help balance the texture. Like the balsamic figs and the slight sweetness it gave the dish.

We finished with the Brioche Bread Pudding. We were planning on getting the molten chocolate cake as well, but we were so full that we had to decide on just one dessert and we definitely made the right decision going with the bread pudding. It was the best thing we ate all night. All the components were simple in theory, but they were perfectly executed. Could if eaten a couple of these if we weren’t so full. To bad you can’t really come here for an espresso and one of these.

Overall, we really enjoyed the meal, service and...