Beachcomber Cafe - Crystal CoveThe restaurant is locatedThe restaurant is located on the sand at Crystal Cove in Newport Beach. The location and view cannot be beat. The food is very good too. Great for taking out of town guests or a leisurely breakfast or lunch. The parking lot is a ways from the restaurant. So, allow time to take the shuttle or make the 10 minute walk. There is at least two miles of beach upon which you can walk after you're done with your meal.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMNew favoriteWonderful dinner with the wifey, celebrating our Anniversary. Mentioned Anniversary as a special occasion when booking through Open Table but felt awkward mentioning again to our server - thought there would be a special treat but just got the bill and too late to bring it up. Hint - on Open Table, don't ask if it's a special occasion if it will not mean anything. All in all, thanks for letting us book through you - had a great time anyway.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMEast coasters!Friends were visiting from the east coast...took them to the beachcomber and they loved it. Food was good, service good and we all had a great time. And, of course, the amazing sunset!5/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Best Pacific Ocean CafeOur brunch at the Beachcomber was fabulous. All the servers were excellent and attentive. The frittatas and cottage potatoes were wonderfully seasoned. The bread and preserves were too tasty to resist. Plus the organic coffee and tea was flavorful and plentiful. If that were not enough the fresh ocean breezes and views were refreshing in the perfect California way. We were even entertained by a pod of dolphins enjoying their morning! It doesn't get any better than this. I can hardly wait to go back!5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMjust rightI tend to over eat so for me the portions were on the light side, but having said that for once I did not feel stuffed when leaving the restaurant. The food was very good. I would have liked the Caesar salad to be a tad larger, but the swordfish was to die for.5/16/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a treat to come toAlways a treat to come to this restaurant. You can't beat the location and the burgers are fabulous!5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMgreat locationgreat location, great service, and neat experience. food and signs for the location were disappointing. Couldn't find the location because there were no signs across the street from the parking lot. walked around for ten minutes with my sister and 65 year old aunt (who has trouble walking) who were visiting from LA. the shuttle flagged us down on the way back to the car... the drinks and chicken skewers appetizers were good. all three of us ordered the chicken tacos and they were soooooo dry. i caught myself putting ketchup on them! my sister and aunt were a little disappointed especially after how i was told their food was good.5/15/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulousMy favorite place to come to, especially with out-of-town guests!5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat!This restaurant is always a wonderful place to take out of town guests! Consistently great servicem ambiance and food.5/14/2013 12:00:00 AMBelated Mother's Day CelebrationMy son came in after Mother's day to celebrate both his birthday and my day. The dinner at your place made it even more special than the day itself. Food was wonderful, service very personal even though restaurant was full, and back ground sound of waves made it very perfect. Thanks for the memories. My out of town guests were very impressed!5/13/2013 12:00:00 AMFirst timer at BeachcombersIt was my first time to visit this restaurant and took my wife and kids for Mother Day. Great place right on the beach. Let’s just say I got some serious brownie points from my wife on this one. Would highly recommend it for lunch and then kick it at the beach. Food was great and not so expensive5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMothers Day at Crystal CoveTerrific menu for breakfast/brunch at the Beachcomber, Crystal Cove! A bit pricy but extras and expanded menu justified the expense.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat brunchWent there for Mother's Day brunch and it was great. I had kalbi short ribs and eggs which was delicious. And the beignets were delicious. This out of the way restaurant is right on the beach. Parking can be extremely difficult on a nice day as it is a popular beach spot. You can walk down to the restaurant or they have a shuttle. Give yourself extra time for parking as they will hold your reservation for 10 minutes. On a busy day without a reservation wait time can be up to 4 hours. Excellent restaurant, highly recommend. They even have blankets if you get chilly!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day at the BeachcomberMy husband took me to the Beachcomber for Mother's Day. The ambiance alone is worth the trip. It's such a cute restaurant right on the beach - nestled in Crystal Cove. The food was great, as was the service. I definitely recommend dining there.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMothers Day on Saturday afternoonI love The Beachcomber Restautant in the Historic District at Crystal Cove State Park! The tomato blue cheese soup is a winner, and the Kobe burgers too. However, the chicken skewers were practically burned-AND the edamame and the sauce doesn't work at all with the chicken. They took it off the bill. The baked feta is delicious, but this is my 2nd experience ordering it and its unpleasantly lukewarm. I just don't want to disappoint myself by ever ordering that again. It's such a fabulous appetizer IF only it were HOT.
It's my goal to try everything on the menu here so when I recommend this restaurant to friends I can tell them what to order and what to avoid.
Please bring sugar when you serve tea. We shouldn't have to ask for it.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMDrinks, surf & sandGreat place to hang out, enjoy a sunset and walk in the sand before an amazing burger or appetizer.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat 50th anniversary experienceWe were able to reserve a table for late afternoon on short notice using Open Table, even though the restaurant's own web site said none were available. Food was good and servings huge. Service was just right but the iced tea would have been better if sugar were available. (I didn't ask, and did get a refill). Handicapped parking near the shack is usually full. Making it to the Los Trancos parking lot across PCH can be hard for the elderly and infirm. Beans that came with the salmon were a bit too crispy and undercooked. We'll be back.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMsea sideJust a fun place to enjoy a casual meal - view is great - service always friendly - varied menu5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMHidden GemSo close to home, a hidden Gem that gives a very refreshing and relaxing setting.5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMback to the 50'sThis restaurant takes you back to the past, surrounded by the old cottages and beautiful views. This is a must see, then take a walk after thru Crystal Cove State Park after, there are many trails to discover.5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMMy fish tacos were delicious,My fish tacos were delicious, as usual. My husband had a shrimp cobb and the shrimp were mushy. We did not mind paying for it but the waitress took it off the check and I hope she mentioned it to the chef. The last time we were there, we had the clam chowder it it had a lot of potatoes and was thick and starchy.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMReviewGood food...great views. Being in the beach is what make the experience.5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMBeachcomber Cafe, Very Enjoyable!The first is to find the place to park, but once you have your first experience, you will learn the parking ropes, and be back again. The computer mapping services will put you about a mile south of where the parking lot is, which is across PCH from the beach, just look for the Crystal Cove Parking sign on the left of the highway while heading south. Parking is $15.00 but validated with a receipt for your meal.
The food was great, and so were the drinks, we had flat iron steak, salmon, clam chowder, and split the wedge (iceberg lettace) with blue cheese dressing, bacon, and tomato. It was so tastey, we ate almost our entire dinner which is super rare for me.
E5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways our go to place forAlways our go to place for out of towers. The view is amazing and the food is always good. Great for breakfast, lunch or cocktails..5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMBest Beach-side Experience in OCBuilt on the beach edge in historic Crystal Cove, it's perfect for anyone who appreciates both excellent food and the beach side experience. Very busy -- make your reservations early as it's a wait for a table to open up otherwise but the bar has it's own historic traditions and vibe so you won't mind "waiting a bit".
Be forewarned to come early as there is no parking in Crystal Cove. You park in a lot across the street just off Pacific Coast Hwy -- you can walk down or take a tram to a drop off point ($1 per person). You will be walking on sand so wear appropriate shoes or take them off and go bare foot. A walk on the beach afterwards might be just the thing to finish off your experience.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMBeachcomber Cafe: "Hidden Treasure"The Beachcomber Cafe is a hidden treasure...the most spectacular view...and, of course, I'm sure we had the best table...and the best weather...and the best waitstaff...and the best food!!! I can't stop telling everyone I know that they MUST make a reservation and enjoy this "Hidden Treasure."5/1/2013 12:00:00 AMSpecial place !As usual....this place does not disappoint ! We had visitors from out of state and we wowed them with the view, the existence of this place, the food, the drinks and the service. Thank you BC!4/30/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat view - steps from theGreat view - steps from the ocean! Food was very good and service exceptional.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place has BOTH an excellentThis place has BOTH an excellent location on the beach and deliciously excellent food. I've used this place to bring my out of town guests to get a real California experience too. I get huge compliments from all those I recommend. This place ia a MUST GO!4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing location and terrificAmazing location and terrific food and service. Open Table is the way to get for a reservation! Nothing like it (except the Boat House in Santa Barbara).4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMGood food, good service, good viewMost places with not just a beach front but an "on-beach" location seem to rest on their spectacular view laurels. Not Beachcomber. They deliver good food and excellent service on top of the view. The restaurant along with the corresponding Bootleggers Bar transition from day to night organically. No matter what time you go, you will you get the right energy you would expect. Recommended.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of my all time favorites.One of my all time favorites. Always a winner and the staff are awesome.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMROMANTIC BEACHCOMBERThe Beachcomber at Crystal Cove was delightful. We enjoyed the ambiance, efficientcy of service, quality of food and presentation. The Mojito drinks were about the best we've had. We look forward to our next visit.4/24/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food, drinks, energy,Great food, drinks, energy, and the staff and view were super!4/23/2013 12:00:00 AMCarefully Prepared FoodBoth my scallops and my wife's pork chop were excellent. They were cooked to the point of just being done, and not beyond. Presentations are attractive, food is tasty, and it is clear that a sufficient amount of care and attention is given to producing a quality product.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMAmazing view and the staffAmazing view and the staff was very accommodating.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a great experience.Always a great experience. Love dining on the beach. Very happy with everything. Will always be back.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMLoving the beach this is aLoving the beach this is a gem! Not to many places to eat right on the beach so this
was special. Our reservation was right on time and the food delicious. Will visit again.4/19/2013 12:00:00 AMOur most favorite place toOur most favorite place to dine when we are visitng the O.C. Delihtful ocrean front in the midst of the Crystal Cove historic district. Great fun.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMSlice of Southern CaliforniaHaving grown up in Newport Beach in the 50s, Crystal Cove and the Beachcomber Cafe reminds me of the coast as it was before so many people moved to the area and changed the character of the coast. I've eaten at the Cafe several times and the food and drinks have always been delicious. So keep up the good work. I do like being able to make reservations.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMJust a lovely spot with quiteJust a lovely spot with quite good food. With reservation we didn't have to wait one minute. The wait without enervation was an hour and a half. I was very glad I did that. Lovely place to walk after lunch. The dessert was especially good.4/18/2013 12:00:00 AMService was great as we'reService was great as we're the drinks and food.m this is a local gem..hate to let everyone know about as it'll get too crowded.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMA bit too noisy at 1:30P forA bit too noisy at 1:30P for my taste. The service was good but not excellent. The setting was 5+.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMA gem of a location and restaurant!A gem of a location and restaurant! A special place for brunch, lunch or dinner.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMLove being right on the beachLove being right on the beach - great place to bring out of town guests - they enjoy the shuttle and the whole scene with great food - good choices on the menu -4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAwesome... best kept secret..Awesome... best kept secret.. thank you.... oh and the "bar" while waiting...was adorable and very nice along with everyone else.. Thank you again for making my boyfriend's birthday special...4/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThis rustic bar-restaurantThis rustic bar-restaurant is one of the top destinations for people who enjoy dining and relaxing in California's State Parks.4/9/2013 12:00:00 AMThis place is right on theThis place is right on the beach with a beautiful view and quaint cottages near by. The food was amazing and worth the more expensive price! We will be back for sure!!4/8/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat place to watch the sunsetGreat place to watch the sunset over dinner! Very romantic spot. customer service great!4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a lovely time. TheWe had a lovely time. The view is fantastic, as is the ambiance. The food was average, nothing special and the selection is limited. But the service was good and we enjoyed our afternoon.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AM