Greer's OC

In 2026, A Restaurant will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its iconic location along Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach. The milestone marks a century of hospitality, community and history at one of Newport Beach’s most recognizable dining destinations.

For many locals, A Restaurant is more than historic. It is personal. I have been going there since I was a kid, and years later it became the place where Paul and I celebrated our wedding reception. Like so many longtime Newport Beach favorites, it holds decades of memories for the community.

The property first opened in 1926 as The Arches, the same year Coast Highway connected Huntington Beach to Newport Beach. Founded by John Vilelle and James Sturgeon, the roadside diner and service station got its name through a community contest advertised in the Balboa Times. The winning name came from 10 year old Victor Chatten. With its Mediterranean style architecture, arches and red tile roofs, The Arches quickly became a gathering place for locals and travelers and a familiar landmark along the coast.

In 2008, partners Joseph “McG” Nichol and restaurateur Jordan Otterbein of River Jetty Restaurant Group took over the historic property and reintroduced it as A Restaurant, keeping the signature “A” as a nod to its past. The concept evolved into a modern steakhouse while preserving the character and legacy of the original space.

Today, Executive Chef Robert Gomez leads the kitchen with a seasonally inspired menu that highlights premium ingredients and longstanding relationships with local farms and purveyors. The menu focuses on both land and sea, paired with a thoughtfully curated wine list designed to complement each dish.

While the name, ownership and menu have evolved over the decades, the heart of the restaurant has remained the same. A Restaurant continues to be a place where people gather for celebrations, dinners with friends and special occasions.

Giving back has also long been part of the restaurant’s story. Over the years, the restaurant and River Jetty Restaurant Group have supported organizations including the Hoag Hospital Foundation, Newport Beach schools, the John Wayne Cancer Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society through its Bike MS fundraising ride from Orange County to San Diego.

That commitment continues in 2026. River Jetty Restaurant Group will participate in several Hoag related events this year, including sponsorship of the Hoag Classic at Newport Beach Country Club from March 22 through 29, as well as the Hoag Summer Fest at Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort in June.

To commemorate the centennial, A Restaurant will celebrate throughout 2026 with special anniversary programming and community events. The official anniversary falls in August 2026.

One hundred years after it first opened, A Restaurant remains a Newport Beach classic. 

For more information, visit ARestaurantNB.com.

The Arches circ. 1926. Photo courtesy of the City of Newport Beach.