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Rusty Pelican Restaurant, Newport Beach, CA

Rusty Pelican Restaurant

4.6 (6534)
$30 and under
Seafood
2735 W Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 75 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for scenic views
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for outdoor dining
With spectacular waterfront views and an eclectic menu of fresh seafood and tender steaks, it's no wonder Rusty Pelican has become a Newport Beach dining destination. We are proud to be a recipient of Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for 2011-2020 – a distinction bestowed upon only the nation's premier restaurants.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steak, American
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
  • Private party contact
    our Private Event Coordinator: (949) 642-3431
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Neighborhood
    Newport Beach
  • Cross street
    Riverside Dr
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Entertainment
    Enjoy live music in our upstairs lounge on Friday and Saturday nights.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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Private dining

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What 6,534 people are saying

Rusty Pelican Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • South Orange County

    Great for scenic views

  • South Orange County

    Seafood

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Rusty Pelican Restaurant offers "outstanding service" and "delicious food" with an "amazing view" of Balboa Bay, making it perfect for special occasions. Guests rave about the "coconut shrimp," "striped bass," and "tempura calamari." While some mention service delays, the ambiance and "friendly staff" consistently impress patrons.
6,534 Reviews
  1. LeAnn VIP

    Orange County1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Meal was great. Service was great with Amir. Beautiful setting on the patio.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Joel

    Los Angeles3 reviews

    2.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 4
    This is our 2nd time & wanted to go somewhere to enjoy the beautiful weather with good food on a Sunday. The restaurant was not busy. We were seated on 2nd floor in a very weird spot tucked away next to the bar. We waited for almost 10 minutes & wasn't served any water or was greeted by anyone so I had to get another server's attention & finally someone came over. We asked to be relocated to another spot & the server obliged. Once we got seated waitress took our order, but once we got our order, our waitress was inattentive. I had to get straws and spoons for myself. She became attentive when I finally spoke to the manager. Very disappointed. Won't come back.

    Is this helpful?

  3. LAWRENCE

    Los Angeles5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server was friendly and went over the menu plus house specials. Food was on time and hot

    Is this helpful?

  4. Hani

    Orange County18 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food and service was great! Great place to enjoy a great meal and watch the sunset.

    Is this helpful?

  5. Marisa

    Detroit / Eastern Michigan6 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I really enjoyed sitting on the patio overlooking the water. The clam chowder was one of the best I have ever had. Very buttery and creamy. For my entree, I choose the Orange Ginger Black Cod. The flavors were amazing and cooked to perfection. I finished my meal off with the crème brûlée with fresh berries.

    Is this helpful?

  6. shannon VIP

    Cleveland / Akron / Canton30 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What a great restaurant all around. Sitting outside and having the view of the water was awesome! Definitely recommend for anyone wanting a great atmosphere and food!

    Is this helpful?

  7. John VIP

    Los Angeles16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a corner table overlooking the water. We loved to watch all the boats go by. The fresh Halibut was outstanding. My wife had the chicken picatta. She said it was great. We loved the Rusty Pelican!

    Is this helpful?

  8. Gwendolyn

    Los Angeles1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 7, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved every minute of the evening. Perfect date night!

    Is this helpful?

  9. Larry VIP

    Orange County46 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 6, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, value, service by Levi, and fabulous view!

    Is this helpful?

  10. robin

    Las Vegas1 review

    2.0

    Dined on July 5, 2025

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    You are paying for the view but you can get that for free if you want to save yourself a mandatory charge of $10.00 to park and very mediocre food. Clam chowder with barely any if at all class in it, muscles and claws in a weird greasy orange liquid and a dry small piece of garlic bread. All this for $50.00 before tip. Do yourself a favor and go elsewhere.

    1 person found this helpful

FAQs

Rusty Pelican Restaurant offers delivery in partnership with Uber Eats. Rusty Pelican Restaurant also offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (949) 642-3431.

Rusty Pelican Restaurant is rated 4.6 stars by 6534 OpenTable diners.

Rusty Pelican Restaurant does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Orange County
  4. South Orange County
  5. Newport Beach

Make a reservation

2 people
10:00 PM
Booked 75 times today
Google Map for Rusty Pelican Restaurant

2735 W Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA 92663

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Riverside Dr
  • Neighborhood
    Newport Beach
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu 11:30 am–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 11:00 am–10:00 pm Sun 11:00 am–9:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    Seafood, Steak, American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Valet
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Entertainment
    Enjoy live music in our upstairs lounge on Friday and Saturday nights.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
  • Phone number
  • Private party facilities
    We welcome you to explore our Private Dining options, perfect for any occasion.
  • Private party contact
    our Private Event Coordinator: (949) 642-3431
Gift card

Gift card

Send gift cards instantly by email or print to present in person.

Send a gift card
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