Lighthouse Bayview Cafe' Newport Beach

The newly opened Marina Park in Newport Beach is where you will find this gem of a restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner with an all you can enjoy view of the bay. The Lighthouse Bayview Cafe' offers indoor as well as outdoor seating that is literally inches from the water and boasts incredible views of the water and boats coming and going. We were invited to visit and sample their dinner menu recently. If you are looking for light and ultra fresh fair you should definitely make a point to stop in. Come for the food, stay for the views!

The menu is small but varied which I really like. Nothing worse than going into a restaurant and having to spend too much time flipping through countless pages of offerings. We took on 2 of their appetizers and a salad to start our dinner off. The Sesame Crusted Tuna Nicoise salad (offered on their lunch menu) is made with White Rose Potatoes, Cherry Tomatoes, Anchovy Filet, Caper Berries, Hard Boiled Egg, Nicoise Olives, Haricot Vert and a Tarragon Vinaigrette. Super light and full of flavor. Looking for a health option, this is the one to go with and could easily be a meal in itself!

The starters we ordered were their Fried Calamari with Chili Orange Sauce, Sesame and garnished with a Grilled Orange. The Calamari was beyond tender and the breading was super light! The Mini Ahi Tuna Wonton Tostadas were made with an asian slaw, an Avocado Mousse and finished off with a Spicy Mayo drizzle. 

The Mini Ahi Tuna Wonton Tostadas were made with an Asian slaw, an Avocado Mousse and finished off with a Spicy Mayo drizzle. The fish was beyond fresh and the mayo added a great layer of flavor. Both of these appetizers are perfect for sharing.

I love scallops both cooked and raw so I order the Pan Seared Scallops. They were cooked perfectly and served with a cauliflower puree, grilled corn relish and baby zucchinis making for a very light but filling meal. 

We also tried the Pan Seared Halibut which was the catch of the day. Served with Peppers, Tomatoes and a Tomato Concasse. Cooked perfectly the portion size left us with just enough room for dessert, which I highly suggest you try! Looking for other options, they also offer steak as well as chicken and have a children's menu too.

Okay I'll have to admit I've never tried Beignets before, I know where have I been right? They have these Cinnamon Beignets drizzled with a sugary bliss served fresh and warm. Wow, they were the perfect way to end our meal. They also offer funnel cake, a chocolate s'mores brownie shake and a few other choices on their dessert menu that made choosing really hard. May have to go back to try them out.

I would recommend reservations as the restaurant filled quickly while we were there. The park next door made for a great place to relax after our meal and the view was just spectactular. 

The Marina Park also offers several catering locations that provide the perfect destination for hosting weddings and other special occasions. The Lighthouse's catering team can customize menus, décor rentals, and have a professional staff to make any occasion an event to remember. Contact the City of Newport Beach at www.newportbeachca.gov to learn more about site rentals and the Lighthouse Café to work directly with our management team. They also offer an amazing selection of specialized catering for the boater on the go.

For more info about The Lighthouse Bayview Cafe's menu, hours and to make reservations click on the link below: 

1600 WEST BALBOA BLVD. NEWPORT BEACH, CA 92663