Rusty Pelican

4.4
3079 reviews

About

Seafood RestaurantRestaurantRusty Pelican
With spectacular waterfront views and an eclectic menu of fresh seafood and tender steaks, it's no wonder Rusty Pelican has become a Newport Beach dining destination. We are proud to be a recipient of Wine Spectator's Award of Excellence for 2011-2020 – a distinction bestowed upon only the nation's premier restaurants.

Details

  • Dine-inAvailable
  • DeliveryAvailable
  • TakeoutAvailable
  • Accepts reservationsAvailable

Location

Rusty Pelican
2735 W Coast Highway, Newport Beach, CA
92663, United States

Hours

Reviews

4.4
3,079 reviews
5 stars
2,094
4 stars
572
3 stars
206
2 stars
85
1 star
122

What are people saying?

AI-generated from recent customer reviews

Food Quality

Customers praised the seafood and overall food quality, with many highlighting specific dishes like the shrimp scampi and calamari as exceptional.

Service

Service experiences varied; while many praised attentive and friendly staff, some reported issues with rudeness and inattentiveness.

Atmosphere

The restaurant's waterfront location and ambiance received high marks, with many enjoying the views and festive atmosphere.

Reservation Issues

Several customers noted problems with reservations, including delays and unpreparedness upon arrival.

Pricing

While some found the prices reasonable for the quality and location, others felt it was overpriced given their dining experience.
  • LB
    lila boche
    2 days ago
    5.0
    Had the most amazing lunch today at the Rusty Pelican, Newport Beach today. Our server Eric was extremely knowledgeable and guided us through what i would say the best food experience we’ve had in quite some time. Eric went so far as to bring us a sample of a sauce of another entry we were thinking of trying on our next visit. We trusted Eric’s recommendations and he ordered for us. I had the Blackened Seared Scallops and my husband had the Black Cod Flagship….both amazing!!! For dessert we had the Cream Brûlées. Thank You, ERIC!!!! We will see you again Lila & Dave
  • KN
    Kara Norris
    Dec 30, 2025
    3.0
    Small restaurant with covered patio that looks over water. Started off with great and efficient service, however they got a bit of a rush an only appeared to have one server. We got our appetizers before the rush but then were quickly forgotten when it came to ordering main entres. Finally ordered entres and then main food came out except for my nephews kids Mac and cheese. We had to flag down the server to resolve and it took close to 10min of everyone having their food except for my 10 year old nephew. Server did offer to buy us dessert but at that point we were ready to be done with the experience
  • KM
    Kathy Miller
    Dec 22, 2025
    5.0
    I was unable to go upstairs where my reservation had been for weeks, Natalie graciously put me at a table downstairs for me even though it was a table for 4. The food was incredibly delicious, the best service I've had in decades. It was also a perfect place to watch the holiday boat parade.
  • PR
    Pete Rem
    Dec 21, 2025
    5.0
    This review is solely for their Boat Parade dinner service. Make your reservations in advance. The busiest time of year and one of Newport Beach's most popular events spells disaster for last minute planners. We observed quite a few persons get turned away while waiting for our reservation.
  • SH
    Scott Alan Hardy
    Dec 16, 2025
    5.0
    As usual when we go to the wealthy parts of Southern California it’s always less expensive Some of the least expensive gas is in La Jolla, California and some of the best restaurant dining for the least expensive experience is in Newport Beach oddly enough The Rusty pelican has incredible food but stick with their main menu. They’re foray into Turkey dinner for Thanksgiving was a little dry, but my wife ordered off their traditional menu. It was incredible and by the way tipping aggressively valet parking drinks, coffee, and too much food. It was like $150. I’m used to $400 for the experience in quality and location. We were right on the water.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rusty Pelican

Does Rusty Pelican accept reservations?

Yes, Rusty Pelican accepts reservations which can be made through their website.

What are the general operating hours of Rusty Pelican?

Rusty Pelican is open Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM, Friday and Saturday until 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 10:30 AM to 9:00 PM.