Harborside Restaurant & Grand Ballroom

Harborside Restaurant & Grand Ballroom Restaurant Review:

Harborside Restaurant & Grand Ballroom is housed inside one of Newport Beach's most famed landmarks, the Balboa Pavilion. Built in 1905, this towering Victorian structure overlooking Newport's sparkling harbor holds a restaurant, bar and 500-seat ballroom upstairs. Guests sit dockside gazing at the blue water, boats, rolling hills and mountains. The extensive menu by chef Joel Lambert is built mainly around fresh seafood, as well as traditional California and American favorites with French and Asian influences. Start with the crispy calamari tempura, the clam chowder or a Waldorf salad with Gorgonzola, red and green grapes, apple, candied walnuts, and honey mustard dressing. Entrées highlight seafood classics like shrimp and king crab Louie salad, seared diver scallops, Alaskan king crab legs and grilled swordfish steak. There are roasted meats such as filet mignon, New Zealand rack of lamb, New York steak and pot roast for the land-lubber in your group. The wine list, although not lengthy, is respectable with about two-dozen selections available by the glass. Happy hour in the bar runs daily from 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. and features $5 to $7 appetizers, beer, wine and cocktails.