Greer's OC

The wait is over for the debut of Oak Grill and Aqua Lounge, the new contemporary California cuisine restaurant and lounge inside the Island Hotel in Newport Beach. It was a brilliant move to add a new easy access from Fashion Island. There’s a new pedestrian entrance along Newport Center Drive, near Santa Cruz, as well as complimentary valet available at the hotel entrance.

The impressive Oak Grill boasts a an expansive heated patio—ideal for alfresco dining and live music entertainment—as well as more than 50 California wines by the glass.

Directly across from the restaurant is Aqua Lounge, with an ‘80s design vibe and a 360-degree bar that will no doubt bring strong opinions depending on how you feel about that era. (We love the floor-to-ceiling windows at both concepts.) Resident DJs spin current and international music nightly, and an intimate outdoor patio and fire pit serves both the restaurant and lounge. Relax and enjoy a curated wine and beer list, as well as crafted cocktails as well as casual bites.  

Aqua Lounge will be celebrating the Fourth of July with live DJ mixes all weekend long. Starting Thursday from 7 p.m. to midnight and Friday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m., DJ Tirade will be spinning his signature blend of feel-good party vibes, with DJ Elex taking over the turntables on Saturday from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Executive Chef Marc Johnson oversees both the Oak Grill and Aqua Lounge’s contemporary California menu such as Oak Grill’s all-day menu featuring a variety of salads, sandwiches, burgers, flatbreads, pastas and entrées showcasing fresh fish and grilled steaks and chops, including an heirloom tomato “BLT” panzanella salad with field greens, crispy braised pork belly, and avocado; Chilean sea bass with cranberry quinoa, peas, and carrot purée; and grilled beef filet with trumpet mushrooms, fingerling potatoes, and cauliflower horseradish porridge.

Chef Johnson’s menu for Aqua Lounge, features shareable small plates and a late-night menu available Thursday through Saturday starting at 11 p.m. for after-hours cravings with street food-inspired snacks such as tacos, poutine, buffalo wings, burgers, gourmet hot dogs, and his signature breakfast burritos.

Sommelier Miguel Rodriguez curates the wine and beer offerings at both concepts with an extensive wines-by-the-glass list and local craft beers on tap. And from the cocktail list, choose from classic American cocktails such as Oak Grill’s Boulevardier with DUKE Kentucky Straight Bourbon, Campari, and Carpano Antica Formula Vermouth and Aqua Lounge’s Cucumber Cobbler with coastal sage- infused Hendrick’s gin, fresh green apple and cucumber purée, housemade ginger syrup, and fresh lemon juice.

Oak Grill is open daily from 6:30-11 a.m. for breakfast and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. for lunch, Sunday-Wednesday from 5-10 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday from 5-11 p.m. for dinner.

Aqua Lounge is open daily at 11 a.m. for drinks and the regular food menu, with a late night menu featured at 11 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

Oak Grill and Aqua Lounge is at 690 Newport Center Drive in Newport Beach.

Reservations for Oak Grill at 949.760.4920 or visiting oakgrillnb.com; and for Aqua Lounge at 949.760.4342 or visiting aqualoungenb.com.