Restaurants in Newport Beach

Helmed by executive chef Don Schoenburg and pastry chef Christi Carter, The Lido Deck harnesses fresh ingredients from local farms and farmers' markets, creating tongue-toppling dishes. Pamper your palate with delectable appetizers, such as the spinach salad, a mix of strawberries and goat cheese with toasted pecans and a balsamic honey vinaigrette ($12), or seared foie gras, which is escorted to the table dance by pain perdu, pineapple, and star anise ginger broth ($18). The braised rabbit entree comes paired with sautéed asparagus tips, rabbit jus, and white truffle foam ($27), while the infamous half-pound elk burger is a stacked combination of remoulade sauce, braised lamb belly, and wild boar bacon, topped with tres leche cheese and a duck egg ($15). Like the flailing arm of Arsenio Hall, the culinary lineup rotates frequently; if any aforementioned menu item is not available, an equally succulent bite will surely be standing in its place.

The party-loving minds behind Yacht Party Cruises wanted a creative way for locals and tourists to explore a city's late-night atmosphere. Eventually they launched a fleet of luxury yachts into the waters of eight of North America's most lively urban waterfronts. On each vessel, festivities abound as DJs spin everything from hip-hop to Sinatra, inviting passengers to shake a leg in between trips to the full bar or buffet lined with hot appetizers. All yachts boast extravagant details such as wraparound decks, fireplaces, or a glass atrium that hangs above the dance floor offering dancers a direct view of the man in the moon's game of solitaire. Guests can also step onto the decks for fresh air or panoramic views of city's skyline.

Though it has no legal bearing in the U.S., the Bavarian Purity Law of 1516 is gospel at Newport Beach Brewing Company. It stipulates that only three ingredients should be found in beer: barley, hops, and water. Brewer Derek Bougie sticks to this 16th century decree when creating all of Newport Beach's beers, which include hefeweizens, pale ales, and the comically named Crash with RYEality IPA. And the Bavarian approach pays off: Derek's beers have earned the brewery two bronze medals, two silver medals, and one gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival.

While Derek sticks to tradition, Newport Beach's head chef, Gabriel Beltran, prefers putting an contemporary spin on classic bar food. Made entirely in-house, his cuisine ranges from bourbon stout salmon, 1/2 lb. Harris ranch raised burgers, and fish and chips to brick-fired, garlic-crusted pizza topped with macaroni and cheese. His innovation even extends to desserts such as calzone filled with white and dark chocolate. Beer-fueled feasts unfold in front of Newport's HD televisions and 101-inch flat-screens, which stay tuned to the latest sports and weather reports from neighboring planets.

A lifelong surfer from Southern California, Ryan Black—joined by his brother, Jeremy, and his friend Ed—ventured to Brazil in 1999 in search of perfect waves. During their explorations of the vibrant country, however, the ocean fell second to a new obsession: deliciously good-for-you açaí berries. They immediately knew that it was their calling to introduce the organic superfood to their native California culture.

With a clearly defined philosophy of caring for people inside and out, they launched a line of açaí products and eventually opened their first Sambazon café—there are now two locales—earning props in fitness and health magazines including Men's Fitness and InStyle. At both cafés, staff members serve 16-ounce smoothies blended with the star berries in addition to supergreens, fresh fruit, and chocolate. The signature açaí bowl features a blend of frozen açaí purée with banana and a sprinkling of granola.

Both of the restaurants were designed and decorated by eVocal, a group of local artists who specialize in eco design. They kept things environmentally friendly by using reclaimed materials for furniture and fixtures, recycled planks of century-old acacia wood for counters, and energy-saving bulbs to slowly toast oats toppings.