Newport Beach’s waterfront culinary destination, Lighthouse Bayview Café, is pleased to debut new winter menus for breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner beginning November 1, 2017.
The Lighthouse Bayview Cafe‘s unique location on the waterfront of Balboa Peninsula’s Marina Park offers diners a gorgeous 180-degree view of Newport Bay. If you haven’t dined here yet, you are seriously missing out on a quintessential SoCal experience and some good eats! Open from 7 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. M-Sun, 7 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday – you have all day to get there and gaze at this view while enjoying the classic dishes with a creative twist by Executive Chef Ryan Sumner.
Croissant French Toast – even if you favor savory in the a.m., this is a must try!!
I attended a preview of the new dinner items, but let’s start with Brunch, since we all love brunch! The Lighthouse’s Weekend Brunch (Saturday and Sunday) features your favorite Benedicts, several sandwiches and salads, a hefty burger and fish & chips, along with new additions: Croissant French Toast (salted caramel drizzle, whipped cream, brûléed bananas, almonds), Orange Ricotta Pancakes (powdered sugar, candied orange, whipped butter, maple syrup) and the Bayview Omelet (ham and cheddar, tomato confit). Add Bottomless Mimosas or Buddy’s Bloody Mary – an oversized, mason jar Bloody Mary named for a legendary local lifeguard.
Avocado Toast includes poached eggs and is one of the most popular items.
New breakfast items include a Crab Omelet (blue crab, asparagus, herbs, red pepper hollandaise (optional egg whites) $14.99 and a Frittata (kale, mushroom, bacon, roasted tomatoes, Swiss cheese) $11.99.
Slow Braised Osso Bucco with Mascarpone Polenta
New seasonal additions to the lunch and dinner menu include: Slow Braised Osso Bucco (fall off the bone, tender osso bucco, mascarpone polenta, heirloom carrots, parsley) $34.99, Pan Roasted Local Halibut (potato puree, tomato confit and caper relish, jumbo asparagus, basil pistou) Market Price, Slow Roasted Tomato Pasta (penne pasta, garlic, basil, peas, chipotle cream sauce, parmesan cheese, add chicken, shrimp, salmon or skirt steak) $15.99-$27.99, Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos (lemon oregano slaw, cilantro crema, pico de gallo, cilantro, petite salad) $11.99.
Pan Roasted Local Halibut
Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos
The Lunch/Dinner menu is rounded out with a bevy of buzz-worthy sandwiches including: Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich (slaw, house pickles, herb mayo, brioche bun) $15.99, Pastrami Sandwich (rye, pastrami, yellow mustard, pickle $14.99, and a Veggie Patty Melt (grilled multigrain bread, vegetarian patty, melted Swiss cheese, house pickles, caramelized onions, Green Goddess mayonnaise, petite salad) $12.99, and The Newport Beach Salad (baby gem lettuce, toasted almonds, tangerines, goat cheese, honey sesame vinaigrette, add chicken, shrimp, salmon or skirt steak) $14.99-$26.99.
Word has gotten around about Chef Sumner’s beignets. These petite poufs rival the one and only Cafe Du Monde’s beignets but with cinnamon sugar and a drizzle of cream cheese icing versus a cloud of powdered sugar. You should definitely give them a try and see if you agree.
Campfire S’mores Fondue
Reservations for the iconic Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade are quickly filling up – this year’s parade is the 109th and goes from December 13th-17th – and the Lighthouse is the perfect place to kick off the holiday season in Southern California style! If you’re planning a holiday party or event, check out their catering menu and space options.
The Lighthouse Bayview Cafe
Marina Park, 1600 West Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach, 92663
949-933-1001
The Lighthouse is uniquely located within a 24,000-square foot sailing and community center that encompasses a park and multiple picnic areas adjacent to a 23-slip marina. The Café features a dock space for boaters to access the park from the water.
Disclosure: I attended a hosted media event preview of the new winter menu items. I have dined here on my own and all opinions expressed are my own.
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