Gulfstream

Gulfstream is just one of the best places you can ever go to in all of Orange County.
You can’t even begin to talk about how good their food is. The entire menu is just top-​notch five-​star. The ambience there is great and the place is always packed. If you want to impress your guests, this is the place.
For us this is a top ten restaurant in all of Orange County and would probably rank in the top 3 easily.

One of my favorite Newport Beach spots, love the ambiance and ages of the clientele are around my age. Service is a lttle to be desired for however.

Some of the food was ok at best. For the price they charge, I expected food on par with Houston’s or even Flemings. My wife ordered the campfire rib-​eye. Here is the description from the menu: «hardwood grilled, served with thick sliced tomatoes and blue cheese $ 39» What she received was either blackened, which she didn’t ask for, or just burnt and it was sliced. Why would you serve the steak sliced? She almost sent it back, but the service was so slow that we couldn’t wait anymore.
I ordered the cheeseburger and it was fine, but definitely not worth $ 17.

Don’t go!
I’ve been here many times. We live in Newport and go out twice a week for dinner.
I used to love the food and ambience. The wait is horrible. Quoted an hour. Then after waiting an hour they said 45 minutes more. Unacceptable for a nice restaurant. Too many other amazing places in NB to enjoy: Quiet Woman, Crow Bar, Bungalow, Bandera, Enoteca, Bayside…
We ended up leaving because we were starving and could not wait another hour to eat.
We went to Picante Marrine’s on Balboa Island. A 10 and no wait. It’s definitely not fancy, but the food is good.
Gulf Stream needs better management. They should know how to quote wait times. They should also be way better at letting people know if the wait time will be longer. If we were warned after 30 minutes that our wait would be much longer we wouldn’t have been so upset. And WE had to go ask them twice if our table was ready. We were told ‘not yet’. The third time we asked we we’re told 45 minutes more.
We won’t be going back.

We had friends visiting and took them to Gulfstream for dinner on Tuesday night.
We had a less than desirable dining experience and we were embarrassed that we chose Gulfstream and for bragging about the restaurant in advance.
One of our guest ordered the ribs and they were served cold. Apparently they aren’t cooked fresh they’re reheated when ordered. Except hers were not even reheated.
Besides that the waitress was not around nearly enough and the table was cleared as well as the water glasses and we were still thirsty and we wanted to order dessert.
We did order dessert and coffee and the dessert came out way before the waters and coffees.
When we told the waitress about the cold food she sent the manager over and she basically told us that next time we should report it sooner next time as if we did something wrong. That was the worst part.
It wasn’t our fault the waitress never came back until we were all done with dinner.
Overall, cold food served. Felt rushed to leave even before dessert. Manager was insulting.
Asked a passing waitress for water in her hand and she said no this was going to a table and she kept walking.
We’ve eaten at Gulfstream many times but we are in no hurry to go back under current management.

Why does this place not have 5 stars? Dana not only provided every measure expected from a server, he listened to our unusual needs. The «Duke» is truly a $ 50 steak, and I have eaten a lot of filets. Please go out of your way to stop here for a «proper» meal. Thank you Chef!

I love this restaurant. The food is fantastic. To start I recommend you make a reservation in advance if not the wait ranges from an hour– two on a Saturday night.
There is a nice patio outside. We usually come early and enjoy a drink outside. I’ve had several of their cocktails– all great. My boyfriend always gets a Chimay. There are several patio chairs and the environment is just lovely. There is also outdoor seating for the restaurant sectioned off, but we prefer seating inside.
Now for the best part– the food. The food is great. We always start with the Rosemary biscuits, you can put honey or butter on them, and they are worth every single calorie. We’ve gotten almost everything on the menu, and never had a single complaint. My personal favorite is the chopped vegetable salad.
Go here– you won’t regret it!

Stopped for lunch today while in town on business. No waiting for patio seating. We did have a little road noise but the patio is so pleasant you don’t notice. Heavenly biscuits? Uh duh! And delicious! Grilled artichoke? Yes please! Fish sandwich was so yummy! Crab cake grapefruit avocado salad… amazing! The service was fantastic as well. I will be back & getting more biscuits next time!

I’ve been here a few times now. I will first start out by saying I’m disappointed that they removed the crispy chicken sandwich, that was a favorite! I don’t eat seafood so I’ll go here with friends and am not disappointed by the choices for non– seafood eaters, which is important.
Last night we started out with the heavenly biscuits which were amazing as always. Most people add honey to them, and that’s good but even just with butter they are so tasty!
We shared a iceberg wedge salad, this was good, makes sense to share it before an entrée.
I ordered the rotisserie chicken for my meal, came with a side of mashed potatoes which were amazing. The chicken was so tender and juicy.
We finished off with the very famous hot fudge sundae. Even though we were so full we managed to eat most of it. No regrets. Save room for this.
Tip: you can bring your own bottle of wine– no corkage fee.

Having been to its sister restaurant, Houston’s, on numerous occasions, I didn’t expect much. Houston’s I associate with cramped seating, mediocre service, and average food at above average prices. Well, our dinner at Gulfstream was very different, in a good way =)
I am not a fan of Houston’s. But I suppose now I am a believer in the Hillstone concept because our dinner experience at Gulfstream NB was fantastic. Was it a fluke? Who knows.
We had a reservation, and yes, we had to wait a little for our table to be prepared. No, we did not die. We did manage. And yes, they get extremely busy, and yes, you may have to wait a bit but as I mentioned Diana, you will survive. Things will get better.
1) Delicious foods. Concept in my opinion is «Nautical American»
2) Stellar service from our awesome server (very busy that evening)
3) Lively atmosphere. Oh and sugar daddies everywhere. She gets a sugar daddy, he gets a sugar daddy, YOU ALL get a sugar daddy. Go Oprah!
4) Good wine selection
= Big belly and food comatose (shortly after)
** Shafer Red Shoulder Chardonnay
Nice wine selection, almost exclusively from California =) Love the CA pride and representation! We ended up with a bottle of this delicious, pleasing Chardonnay from Shafer. They have Hillside Select in case you want it =)
** Grilled Artichokes
In season! Time to get messy and sloppy at the dinner table. Ditch the gentlemen/​lady in you and ravage these artichokes appropriately, er, accordingly
** Shrimp cocktail
Fat and plump, yet so healthy. How can it be? Who cares. Order these giant beauties. Giant shrimp, I know, I get it…
** Sea bass
Fresh, well-​prepared. Can’t say this all the time about fish at restaurants but very moist with that delicious fried shrimp on top. Melt me now, I’m melting
** Rotisserie chicken
Very juicy. Juice juice juice, juice the chicken. Also comes with any side, I picked the tabbouleh. Delish.
** Lemon meringue pie
Such a good looking pie, beautiful crust and meringue. Yup, we ravaged it to pieces like the Sphinx’s nose
Hot fudge sundae
** Fudge… FUDGE ALL OVER MY FACE AND HANDS. Okay, not really, but they give you a lot of fudge. By the way, what’s with all the haterade about their hot fudge sundae? YES, IT’S A TRADITIONAL SUNDAE. You know, if you grew up eating this simple stuff like most of us did, you’d know it’s delicious. Everything doesn’t have to be all craft and dipped foie gras butter. It probably wasn’t organic, and does it really matter? It’s hot fudge sundae folks! It’s good by itself =D

I’ve been coming here for awhile now, but for some reason never posted a review.
This is definitely a go to spot for consistently good food and service. They have a really nice wine list which doesn’t seem to be wildly marked up.
For appetizers, the heavenly biscuits are delicious, and the artichoke, jumbo shrimp and trio dip are also great choices. For dinner, I almost always order the cedar plank salmon or ribs. The crab cakes and fried shrimp are really tasty also. If you are in the mood for dessert, the ice cream sundae is to die for. Be prepared to share, it’s huge.

This place never fails me! I come here frequently for family birthday dinners and it is always amazing. The food and service is top quality. I recommend starting with the grilled artichoke or the trout dip. Both amazing. Everything on the entrée menu is good I have tried almost everything. And to finish I would highly recommend the hot fudge Sunday. There is something different about their chocolate that makes it to die for!

This is probably one of the first $$$ restaurant I have ever been to, and I am really glad we decided to come here for an evening dinner. To start, the parking availability here is amazing, well maybe its because all the other stores closed after hours, but we didn’t struggle to find parking. Gulfstream takes reservations, so make sure you take advantage of that. We saw couples waiting half an hour or more just for seating; and yes, this place does get crowded.
The food was amazing. I ordered, «The Duke’ Filet Mignon,» and my date ordered the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes. I really fell in love with the Crab Cakes and highly recommend that. We also ordered the Heavenly biscuits, and these really do live up to their title. They were deliciously heavenly and I literally crave them every no and then.
The indoor ambiance is very classy. The main dining area is large and clean with centered booths, and private tables on the outskirts of the room for a more romantic vibe. There are also bar seats and outdoor seating with heating lamps and even fire pits for casual/​social gatherings.
The service here is up to par with everything I’ve reviewed thus far. Our server was Nazly, and I really hope you guys get the opportunity of having her be your server. She is definitely a personality that you can really connect with. Welcoming from the start, and honest with her recommendations. She always came back to check up on us and made sure everything was flowing well. Thanks for your hard work and dedication, Nazly.
On a side note, if you decide on dessert, try their Lemon Meringue Pie. I heard that people go crazy over it. Unfortunately they sold out that night when I went, but I really want to go back and try it! Don’t miss the opportunity if you have it! :D

RELAX AND ENJOY!
If you’re ever in the OC area looking for a comfy, casual, corkage free spot to catch up with friends or have an intimate conversation with that special someone, this is the spot. Gulfstream Restaurant is located on the corner of MacArthur Boulevard and Coast Highway, but you enter through Corona del Mar Shopping Center.
A roomy and inviting bar with sun splashed windows, a cozy patio with fire pit, and a second patio with a fireplace, decorated with linen covered bar height tables and chairs accompanied by upright umbrellas makes for a peaceful spot to relax and savor the gorgeous SoCal weather.
Stopped by here with a friend who spoke highly of their friendly service, tasty eats, and wine selection.
ORDERED:
Heavenly Biscuits-​according to their menu they are, «Worth the Wait». And let me tell you, they so are. These tender, golden brown handful of carbs were moist and fluffy and with a little honey butter, they were worthy of a «Sally» moment. They are definitely «Worth the Wait.»
Grilled artichokes with remoulade-​artichokes, a fave of mine since I was a wee one. Always such a treat when mom brought them home from the store and cooked them up in boiling water. Mmmm!!! One by one, I would dip each petal into melted butter before pulling through my teeth to remove the soft, pulpy portion of the petal… Mmmm!!! Artichokes from Gulfstream come with remoulade, which was a pleasant to the palate alternative.
Shoe String Fries-​Lightly crispy on the outside, hot and feathery fluffy on the inner. Yummers!
PIT STOP:
Free on-​site parking, personable and friendly servers, soothing atmosphere, and excellent edibles Gulfstream is a keeper.
–according to their menu they are, «Worth the Wait». And let me tell you, they so are. These tender, golden brown handful of carbs were moist and fluffy and with a little honey butter, they were worthy of a «Sally» moment. They are definitely «Worth the Wait.»
Grilled artichokes with remoulade– artichokes, a fave of mine since I was a wee one. Always such a treat when mom brought them home from the store and cooked them up in boiling water. Mmmm!!! One by one, I would dip each petal into melted butter before pulling through my teeth to remove the soft, pulpy portion of the petal… Mmmm!!! Artichokes from Gulfstream come with remoulade, which was a pleasant to the palate alternative.
Shoe String Fries-​Lightly crispy on the outside, hot and feathery fluffy on the inner. Yummers!
PIT STOP:
Free on-​site parking, personable and friendly servers, soothing atmosphere, and excellent edibles Gulfstream is a keeper.

Cioppino is delish.
You will not regret it.
The ahi sw/​burger wasn’t too good.
It was dry and really boring.
This location doesnt get as crowded as other locations.

Its been a long time since I last dined here. Everything was great, but I didn’t realize how sparse the menu was. To start we had the oysters, and the smoked trout dip. Which were delicious especially the Fanny Bay oysters. They were so fresh. For the mains I ordered the BBQ meat ribs that had this mustard bbq sauce which was really good. The fries that came with it were also very good. I also tried the red snapper with shrimp on top of mashed potatoes with a side of brussel sprouts. This dish was really good, the snapper paired with the shrimp added so much flavor. I also tried the ahi burger which was good too. But its really big and everything started to fall apart. To end the night we had the hot fudge sunday which was addictingly delicious.
Pros:
Great service, the servers are on the ball.
Food is pretty good, I was happy with everything that I tried.
They have a pretty good wine list with some great craft brews like Stone, and Chimay on draft.
The restaurant is very relaxing and comfortable.
Cons:
Not a good place for larger parties. I say this because all the tables are bolted to the ground. Because of this, our group of 8 had to be split into a 2 groups of 4.
The restaurant has great food, but the menu is very sparse. I believe there are only about 8 different entrees that you can choose from.
Overall:
I recommend this restaurant. It has great food, and the service is always top notch. However it would be nice to see a wider variety of items to choose from. I felt like I was forced into getting something I didn’t really want, but nonetheless it was still good.

I had never had Gulfstream before but my boss gave me a gift card for Christmas and it was time to check it out. We had reservations (which you definitely need on a Saturday night. We heard the wait was about two hours as we were leaving) but arrived a little early to enjoy drinks at the bar. The ambiance here is really pleasant. They have two fire pits on the patio that we definitely want to relax at next time. Dinner was delicious. We ordered the heavenly biscuits (we got the order of four but could have done with just the two as they are extremely filling). The standout dish for me was the bbq shrimp. Very flavorful! We also ordered the tres leches cake for dessert which was also fabulous. Service was great for such a busy night as well. I can see why my boss loves this place. It is a little pricey, but nice every once in a while for a special night out.

Perfect for date night. Definitely make a reservation if coming here on a Saturday night.
Get the dip and the smoked salmon. They seriously blew my mind with how fresh and buttery and flaky smoked salmon could be. Feel free to ask for more bread to go with your dips and salmon.
The burger, while not seafood that they’re known for, was so melt in your mouth delicious you’d think you were at a burger joint. But nope, you’re just at Gulfstream, where all the food is heavenly because they’re probably prepared by gods.
Yes, the first bottle of wine not on their wine list is corkage-​free.

I don’t follow suit after popular five star reviews and pretty curb appeal, especially after $ 168 for two people during HH.
My cesar salad was extremely fishy in taste, my broccoli wasn’t cooked through, and my steak would’ve had to be butterflied if I ordered it other than medium. Service was friendly, but more than once we were waiting for our server to come back to our table. The menu isn’t that exciting, and the wine glasses bugged me because they had wide stems. (It’s Unilocal!–)
Ehh, good news? If you’re 40+, single, and have an MD or CEO on your business creds, looks like this is the place to be at 5:00 during the weekday.

Cigars on patio… cool ocean breezes… Be-​U-​T full peeps…
Quintessential OC Newport vibe. Bring outa town era here. They will Gawk at the scene if they don’t choke on the prices…
This is my round the way spot to chill with pals on way home after long week.
Just tried the oysters last time OMG I thought I was in Seattle or Nawlins!!!