Reviews of The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar (Winery)

Khiem Nguyen-Trong

There are generally 3 main reasons for me to go to a fancy restaurant: 1. The food 2. The atmosphere 3. The service The Winery Restaurant & Wine Bar hits the right note on both the atmosphere and service. Since parking is limited, the restaurant offer a convenient valet service. Food service was attentive and the waiter was diligent in making sure we were satisfied. The atmosphere is one of the better high end fish/steakhouse place in the area. Just looking out to the sea and boat in the evening is mesmerizing. When it comes to food, taste is subjective. If you haven't been to a lot of fancy restaurants, you'll probably rate this 5 stars. However, for me, I've been to many and I'd rate this place above average. It's GOOD... but it's not "out of this world" great. For the price, I look for subtle unexpected twists or tones in flavors to charm me... and The Winery Restaurant came to me with what I'd expect out of a nice steakhouse.

Hassan Rivas

The restaurant is first-rate and roomy, the food was enchanting and the prices were very economical. fast, effective service and very amiable waiters. Recommended!

John Burgess

Nikki is a fantastic server which made for a great experience of great drinks, wine and food. Really enjoyable evening..

Fred Haag

Took customers for a boat ride and stopped at this place. I could not say enough nice thing about it. The apps were wonderful, the sea food tower was amazing. We were a group of 8 and everyone got something different and nothing but positive comment. I will be bringing customers and family back.

Dawn Thompson

Venue reminds me of my grandmothers nursing home. Food wasn’t far off.

Christopher Yeoman

After arriving at 830 pm with the bar closing at 10pm we asked to sit at the bar and have a cocktail. The hostess said she didn't know if they were open and would have to ask the bartender and manager. As we stand there wondering if we should call another Uber She asks the bartender who says she doesn't know and to ask the manager. Where is the manager? No one knows. So we twiddle our fingers for another 5 minutes untill we are allowed to sit at the bar and order. Our cocktails WERE delicious but the environment was less than welcoming and we were happy to leave after one. If your hostess and bartender have to ask the manager if you are still open almost two hours before closing while people walk in and feel like they should be walking out instead of giving you money there are problems, probably with management. Downed our drink in 15 minutes and hightailed it to another bar.

John Prescott

Fantastic. They had elk on special. Really good.

Ju G

Great selection of wine and whiskey. Delicious food and awesome view!

JJ B

Great food and service. On Mondays corkage is free.

Marc Habib

Great gem in Orange County. Really beautiful ambiance great for a date or corporate meeting. Service and food is excellent. Large menu with lots of options. Excellent wine selection which one would expect from the name, but they also make great cocktails. Highly recommend.

Cindy Hunter

OMG! What an amazing place. Beautiful location and wonderful food.

Valerie Torelli

Excellent Everytime. Exceptional wine list. Thad runs a good group of people. William the wine good.. seriously

Brian Hall

We enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner at The Winery. We were seated on the second floor with a beautiful view of Newport Back Bay. It was busy, but they got us in right at our reservation time. They were serving a limited menu for the night, but were very accommodating with my vegan diet. They prepared the cauliflower (steak) for me which was not on the menu tonight. It was accompanied with vegetables. Everything was cooked and seasoned perfectly. I also ordered the mushroom medley, usually prepared with garlic butter, but they used olive oil and garlic for me. If you like mushrooms, you'll love this. Everyone else was very happy with their food. Filet mignon, scallops, spinach, and brussel sprouts.

Krishna Narasimhan

Extensive wine list, really good food, great service.

Ashton Avarell

What an amazing location, stunning view and fantastic menu. Service is phenomenal!

kalaj1975

The view, the food, and I wish I could remember our waiters name, because he was "top notch". Would recognize him if I saw him! Guess I need to go back to give him the credit he deserves. He made everything as perfect as could be.

Julia Utendorf

Amazing service, food, wine, & atmosphere

Michelle Olarewaju

This is an amazing restaurant! Everything from the service, food, and wine it was all 5 stars. The owner JC was great to us as well as Ashley our server. I would request Ashley if you go in. Thanks again!

Rodger Cosgrove

Great food, great location & view, great service. A really fine restaurant. And you can drive your boat up to their private dock!

Stan Pasqual

Spectacular views of the harbor. Mussel & clam appetizer is downright huge!

kimberly allen

I had a great time tasting wines here, and watching the sunset. The waitstaff is very knowledgeable, the food outstanding. Parking is valet only.

Maureen Schaller

Beautiful surroundings. Friendly staff. Nice happy hour.

G Clary

Great spot for a date or romantic meal by the bay. We went for brunch and although their are not that many breakfast items on the menu, the ones on there are top notch. The French Toast was amazing. They do bottomless Mimosas and you can have different juice choices like cranberry if you prefer. Valet is 6 bucks and seems unnecessary as its a small lot and I could have just parked, but I was expecting it for this level of venue.

Todd D Newkirk

I didn't eat here. We were next door for about 11/2 months. It sure did smell good.

John Crispo

The location is second to none! The service bordered on precognition! They had menu choices to suit every diet. The chefs cooked everything to near perfection. The portions were just the right amount. Our waitress did a fantastic job. She was tentative and knowledgeable about menu items and wine selections. We went with a group of 7 people. The patio was great as the sunsets. It was a very positive dining experience. We will come back.

Hector Powers

We came to this restaurant for lunch. we heard about this place from many people. Well, it was very nice. The staff members welcomed us with a smile and we had a fantastic feeling. The meal was delicious. We enjoyed every moment and we will definitely return to this restaurant. We recommend this place to all.

beryl henry

Excellent wine dinner featuring Denner wines. The wines were a tad young, but the food exceptional

Adrianna Negreros

Great staff and food. Went on Sunday for Happy hour to test the menu and restaurant in general. Was not disappointed. Had the pork belly lollipops, and ahi tuna spoons. The sauce on the lollipops was a little salty but that could of been me. The shipping spoons had very little ahi but overall flavorful. My friend had the clam appetizer and she raved. The mushroom flat bread was well balanced with the truffle oil. The drinks were also quite refreshing. I had the pear martini and my friend had the lemon basil martini.

White Russian

Loved dining here, with the live music it is hard to have a conversation. But the wait staff is great, professional and friendly. Menu choices not so great, not your typical traditional american dining. And no free parking, valet only.

Nicholas Murch

Amazing location right on the water. Food was superb and the wine list is off the charts. Staff and management is very attentive and sommelier was great.

Edd R

Wow a very fancy place. Very high quality service.

David Kisler

Great wine great ambiance mediocre food for the price.

Valerie Ferguson

Had great time! The food was wonderful! Service was excellent!

Kelsi Stetler

A group of us celebrated a bachelorette party here and it far exceeded our expectations! The food and drink were amazing! But the service was above and beyond. Everybody was extremely friendly and accomodating, especially the owner JC. I highly recommend this restaurant and will return the next chance I get!

Jake skiles

Such an amazing spot. Excellent service. Food and VIEW!!!! if your out for a first class night. Go here

Arlette C

Fab drinks and happy hour appetizers. Nicely priced too...

Zeke Hanson

This place is incredible. I was here for an event, and never would have guessed this was here. It's a gem. You walk inside and immediately look up. It's a library of wine. Even if you're new to wine, this will be a fun way to start. If you're not new, and already know about this place, then you already know. Come on a nice evening and sit on the back patio overlooking the water. You'll be happy you did.

Chris Hood

Went for a holiday party and even the appetizers were incredible. Good, ambience and view of Newport harbor is wonderful. Great place for a date, or if you want to pick from a great selection of wines. The wine list is extensive. Unfortunately I didn't get to see any desserts, but I'm confident they would be on par with the food. Parking is limited valet is $6. Overall I will return soon.

Robert Hankin

This restaurant is amazing. We ate on the patio and had great sunset views of Newport Harbor. The food and service are outstanding. It is pricey, but you get what you pay for.

Pol Vela Marchuet

The shrimp risotto is just fantastic. Many Italian restaurants would envy it. Excellent service and a very beautiful view of the port.

Tara Wilson

Nice environment. Right on the water little more romantic compared to the Tustin location. Great good selection. Staff very helpful with ordering and making the restaurant be amazing. Fun bar although I have not sat there. You must call at least a week in advance to get a seat near the window

Sir Andy

The best steak house. Excellent food and staff

Larry Weichman

Great food, service and views

Jeff Hampton

We've had 5 star service at the Winery many times before, but this time, the service was just ok.

Constance Smith

I don't think it was worth the money. Salad was not fresh and soggy with dressing. The bacon scones were very good but tiny. The view on the water was nice and the only reason for the three stars.

Laurie Tsakiris

All around amazing experience. Food incredible great wine selection and super friendly staff.

Ezequiel Molina

It's the place to have some great sliders and great managers that really make you feel welcomed, as 4Chris.

David Watson

Always awesome. Service, food, wines...impeccable.

Steven Godlewski

Love this place great appetizers.

Samantha Fitt

First time here. Sunday brunch. We booked a table and it wasn't particularly busy. Great menu choices and some staff were nice. We waited more than 40 minutes between starter and main with no apologies and cold food when we finally did get our main

Stephen Dundas

Good food, pricy of course. Villa Nova it's not, but it's good. Almost everything has truffles for some reason, odd.

Geofrey Wickett

Food was good, service was good. I'd rather to go o Mastro's for the price. Only perc was I was able to take the boat and dock out front.

Nate Rose

I took my girlfriend here for her 40th birthday party and we had a blast. The large group managers were extremely helpful and worked with me as our group kept getting smaller. The food, service, drinks and location were 5 star! I highly recommend this place for parties, dates, you name it. But come with deep pockets haha.

Deanna Buschini

We have only always eaten in the bar but the food is fantastic. Staff is well trained to be pleasant, professional and efficient. Wine selection is terrific. Beautifully appointed. Well run and they have a variety of events to attend through the year. We've been to both the Newport Beach and Tustin locations.

Daniel Bandy

Great Service, great food and wonderful atmosphere. I would highly recommend this place toi all.

Jannae Roberson

Had a great time with good friends! Our server was friendly, helpful, and added to our experience. The food was delicious and the wine was superb! We ended up sharing the Bennett's dessert. We'll definitely be back!

Gerilyn Yoder

Great food, great staff, and amazing ambiance!!

Thee Travis Miller

This is such a wonderful place. I'm one of their regular musicians and I have to say they've always treated me so well. The guests are always polite and kind and the food is superb.

Jon Cianci

Great Food. Awesome atmosphere. Usually great service. Put on your short list to try.

Matt Horn

Absolutely delicious food and great presentation. Fabulous views and wine list. The service was spot on

Ann Premazon

Great food! Great ambiance! Deserts out of this world. Here is the deal...I don't drink. I was leery about going to a place called the winery. I was blown away! Service was exceptional. Yes they literally have walls of wine. But the menu is to me the star! I had the sea bass. Cooked to perfection. Served on top of mashed potatoes, with asparagus. Perfection. At our table several had steak. Fillet Mignon or Rib Eye...both cooked to order and they loved them. And... There were vegetarians... They were served cauliflower steaks...never seen this before. I tasted and they were great. A bit of eastern flavoring. So good. Of course...the vegetarians said best cauliflower steaks ever... Do they serve these other places? Let me finish off with desert. Pasteries and Benignets. Awesome. The view over the bay with boats is beautiful and romantic. The lights and decorations inside beautiful too. Pricey...but worth it! Indulge.

Edward Gomez

Thad is a great Manager. The location was busy, however they still provided excellent customer service. Great food, great views and great happy hour menu. Highly recommended location. Great wine selection.

Stephen J. Lautenschlager

Absolutely perfect harbor-side location to compliment The Winery Restaurant’s excellent quality and service reputation.

Roman Surveyor

Visiting town for a conference and decided to take the time to drive from Anaheim to make a visit. They were very understanding about my reservation when I got stuck in traffic. Excellent food, attentive service, quality cocktails, and a nice ambiance to relax in. Went for dinner at 5:30PM, so it was not too crowded. If the opportunity arises, I will return.

ERICA jacobson

Lovely place, awesome views. Hip, urban setting. Live music.

Carol Lewis

Food ,Cocktails snd Service were fantastic. Singer was really good too

Alex McCaw

Amazing restaurant! Has a great view of the docks. Service was on point. Food was delicious. No parking lot but they do have valet for $6. I would make this a stop if you're in Newport!

Andrew Coulter

Great food and wine list

Madie Chadwell

Went for brunch and was not particularly impressed. There were probably 8 poached eggs on the table and 1 had even a hint of a runny yolk. Severely lacking in Vegetarian options, probably not a single vegan option available. The views are nice but the food unexciting. Everything, other than the overcooked eggs, was merely fine.

Ashley Loebach

This is a nice place... as soon as you walk in, there is a floor to ceiling wine storage that is pretty cool to see. They have to use a library ladder to access it. The views of the water are beautiful too. Excellent food and the staff were on point. Very knowledgeable about wines and spirits.

Ron P Jaffe

Superb service and food... Excellent, and descent prices.

David Oshiro

Not what it used to be... The wine was excellent, which is why we came here in the first place. Their wine selection was limited however because they were out of a lot of the popular items. Service was good, nothing over the top, the sommelier was on her game, making sure our third choice was in good standing. Here's the the disappointing part; the food... Bone in filet was more bone than filet and was quite bland, you definitely needed to add the wine reduction for flavor, the NY steak came out super chewy, it was difficult to cut, full of tendons and also lacked flavor, which should definitely not be the case with a NY steak. Explained to the server about the NY, he offered to replace it, however I asked if all of them were going to be in the same shape, he went back and spoke to the chef and came back and said that unfortunately the ones that they have left will all be similar

P Trese Max

What a cool place. We loved the ocean view and the bar and restaurant had casual but upscale feel. Sara our waitress did a fabulous job and everything was perfect. The flank steak and filet were cooked to perfection. I recommend the wine we had called Mica, it paired well with everything. We will definitely come back for the atmosphere, the awesome service and delicious food.

Joe Vraneza

This place is easily the best high-end choice along that stretch of highway. It's got a couple of very large comfortable bars all pouring top end stuff, including a pretty incredible wines by the glass list. I prefer to sit as close to the windows as I can get in the upstairs dining room... that view is obviously a big part of the overall ambience... might as well maximize that as much as possible. The food is densely packed with most standard steakhouse favorites including lots of fish, all done really well. I've never had it a bad meal here and that's because the food is high quality and the on-site management and servers are all on top of their game. It's a different type of happy hour... but if you're looking for a higher-end version of some of the others in the area it's a lively scene almost every day.

Mariapaz Stern

Celebrating our wedding anniversary. This place is beautiful and on the water. They have live music Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. Excellent wine list with a sommelier available for recommendations. They had a vegan entree which I was not expecting so I was pleasantly surprised. Overall a great evening and the food was good.

Zeus Fonsi

Located next to the marina, with great views and an upscale atmosphere. Good service and a very good menu. Extensive wine list with a strong California focus as it is the norm here, yet with good enough foreign choices. Great, friendly owner. Very welcoming

Michael Sweet

great place

Austin Finley

Had a great experience celebrating my 10 year anniversary here. No parking, so valet is a must. Got to try new blends and bought several bottles to take home.

Rafael Gonzalez

Everything about my experience here was amazing. A+ food. A+ drinks. A+ service. This is a fantastic place to celebrate a special occasion.

Dave Tax

Wow. The very best food & drinks anywhere in Orange County. Excellent service. They make every guest feel like they are special. Undoubtedly as their name implies, the best wine selection hands down. They offer seating downstairs where it is usually bustling with people out on a date, business diners or family get togethers. The window views of the boats & ocean there is spectacular. Upstairs they have a wonderful outdoor patio overlooking the bay & boats that offers a real romantic setting. It is my favorite place. Can't wait to go back again.

David Savin

Always terrifice and the BEST management and chef!

Donna DeRubeis

Delicious food, great service, beautiful views. Our favorite restaurant in Newport Beach!

Art Husami

Great food, wine selection, view and wine conversant staff.

Kay Thomas

The food is always amazing at the Winery, with unique dishes you will not find elsewhere. The highly trained staff is what makes the experience so wonderful. From the moment you walk in, to the last moment you walk out you feel like family. The ambiance is warm, relaxing and luxurious.

Tammy Lu

Great views! I had a private event here and our room was overlooking the water. Beautiful sunny day. Staff was amazing and very accommodating. Food was delicious, definitely recommend the oyster platter.there is a $6 parking but with private events, it's freeeee

George Krenk

Excellent food and service

Avi

Awesome place. Live music on fridays. Multiple floors and very lively but not overcrowded. Try the lamb or steak. Wine list is impressive but cocktails are amazing too.

Jeremy Nelson

Great food. Tried the bacon wrapped venison special. Perfectly prepared. Highly recommend.

Patricia Lewis

Great ambiance pasta was

J.D. Abbey

Delicious food and great service with a pleasant view. Update 11/18: I've been here a number of times. The food is amazing and the wine is delicious. This is my favorite restaurant. By far.

Richard Chang

Excellent food quality and impressive service. You can tell the exquisite taste of entries that chef dedicated. Pricy but worth it.

Christie Busch

This place was INCREDIBLE! Came here for my 30th birthday and our waitress Efi was outstanding!!! She was extremely accommodating and helped us make a great wine selection to go with our brunch. She was a nice and professional and made my birthday feel special! On top of the great service, the view was amazing and the food was delicious! But the main reason I will be coming back is Efi’s hospitality!

Ronald Spear

Outstanding venison! Our waiter Sky was fantastic! Made the evening! Out of this world martinis. So so Mai Tai. Went for the cigar lounge but it was closed for a private event. Disappointed. Still a great dining experience.

Craig Mills

Excellant food for our wine dinner.

Karey Holland

Very high end meals. Great service. Enjoyed the pear cocktail. Parking is $6 valet.

Tom Ward

Nice place. Great food.

Anthony Giudice

Good food. I mean, your not going to write home about it but it's solid.

Scott Haerbig

Great atmosphere, wonderful views and excellent wine selection. Will return again.