Greer's OC

The hottest new restaurant to open in Newport Beach is A Crystal Cove at Crystal Cove Shopping Center. From River Jetty Restaurant Group partners, Joseph ‘McG’ Nichol and Jordan Otterbein, the same group who own A Restaurant and A Market in Newport Beach and CdM Restaurant in Corona del Mar. A Crystal Cove differs from its sister eateries, in that it is open for lunch and dinner daily and brunch on the weekends.

Its most striking feature is the show-stopping, centrally located, 24-seat bar, a focal point in the restaurant churning out equally impressive cocktails. It also features design elements from both CdM and A Restaurants, but on a larger scale. The new space seats 200 inside with additional patio seating accessible by front-facing sliding doors. A glass-enclosed wine room displays a collection of exquisite wines with beautiful and rare bottles in view, interior walls adorned with fine art and gallery-style lighting, and an antique photo booth available for guests to commemorate the world-class dining experience. 

The menu reflects a curated selection of seasonally inspired greatest hits from A and CdM courtesy of Executive Chef Elvis Morales. Start with BBQ Heirloom Carrots with pecan butter, dill and herb dressing, or opt for the Spicy Yellowfin Tuna with tempura eggplant, sriracha aioli, wasabi tobiko, sweet soy, and chives. 

Main dishes feature unique kinds of pasta, elevated pizzas, and favorites of land and sea including Chicken Piccata with lemon and caper butter, cherry tomato and shallot salad, potato puree, and basil; Akaushi Skirt Steak with fingerling potatoes, charred broccolini, sweet garlic, and ranchero; and Cioppino made with linguine, sea bass, salmon, scallops, mussels, clams, and New Zealand prawn.

A Crystal Cove is open from 11 a.m.—10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Friday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Indulge in a lively weekend brunch with guest DJs from 10 a.m. to 4 pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

The restaurant also hosts DJs on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings for a spirited late-night affair. 

Crystal Cove Shopping Center - 7864 East Coast Hwy, Newport Beach.