A Restaurant & A Market

Doesn't Recommend

CriticsChoice

Joined 2 years ago

A Resteraunt, poor management!. If you are looking for a Happy Hour, make sure you get here at the start. The "management" has a few regulars and friends that they support. We tried this for the 3rd time on a Friday (10/7/11), big mistake. The small bar area was full, we waited for 45 Minutes by the front desk until a table cleared, sat down and then were told that the HH has a waiting list. Big surprise to me, the bartender, and the other staff, but the manager was able to move 4 of his "friends" from the bar to the table we were ask to vacate. With so many great places for HH in the OC, this should be way down on the list. I would give this place a negative 5 for management.

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CameronSight

Joined 2 years ago

HAPPY HOUR IS SO HAPPY HERE! WOW. Great place to have a happy hour ... or 2! Get the martinis pickeled pear. So yummy. and the cheese plate is great also!

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Rabold10

Joined 5 years ago

best happy hour. love this place

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haleystevens

Joined 2 years ago

gREAT. This is a great spot when the items are fresh and just out the oven.. The staff is always friendly and accommodating and the pastries are to die for! I always bring my nephew here for cookies and cupcakes and he never wants to leave... Keep up the good work!

Doesn't Recommend

mustang 66

Joined 2 years ago

A little bit of a rip. Went for my first experience Friday for happy hour. Ordered Drink and off bar menu at 6:00 pm. Stayed speaking with friends until 7:30. Place was packed and good crowd. Got bill when i left and they billed for full price NOT half off. i called restaurant said happy hour was till 7:00 pm. So what happened?. Wait staff knows I ordered during the happy hour yet presented me with full bill. i suspect that is their SOP to get more $$ out of you. That stinks. They need to be honest. Well i had my chance to vent and tell of their misdeeds. Buyer beware. Shame on them.

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Marianne R.

Joined 3 months ago

Great Spot for Happy Hour. They have the most amazing happy hour during the week. 1/2 off all drinks and Bar Menu. Yummy! I love the Jordan Chardonnay!!!!! ANd the Tuna Tare Tare. I will be back for sure. I love there dinner options too. I highly recommmed them for great wine selections, food and service!

Doesn't Recommend

JenniferMc

Joined 2 years ago

LEFT A LOT TO BE DESIRED. My friend and I go to Happy Hour somewhere is Newport Beach every week. We look for good food and drinks, friendly and knowledgeable wait staff and an overall pleasant atmosphere. Last Wednesday was the first time I visited A Restaurant. I was very disappointed.

FOOD: We ordered the seared tuna, grilled artichoke and calamari.

Tuna: Okay at best. I have had A LOT better seared tuna around Newport.

Artichoke: Greasy, yes, greasy. It tasted like straight bacon fat and I had to thoroughly wash my hands immediately afterward to get rid of the oil/smell.

Calamari: Tender enough, but the way-too-sweet sauce was drizzled over it, preventing us from dipping it as desired. By the time we reached the bottom of the bowl of calamari, it was too soaked with sauce to eat.

DRINKS: At 'A Restaurant' when I ordered their "House Red" the bartender instead said that she would get me something I would like better. I assumed it would be in the same price range as the House Cabernet I ordered which was $10 a glass, but I was wrong, she brought me a Cab/Merlot Mix at $25 a glass without telling me of the price difference. I thought it was rather shady of her.

SERVICE: At 'A Restaurant' you must valet, which is commonplace in Newport. Unfortunately, the valet LOST my friends keys. The staff, including the manager offered no aid except to say she could have free parking if she ever returned. I drove my friend home that night (abandoning her car in the parking lot) and she had to return the next day with her spare set of keys. Apparently the valet had given the keys to another woman, who thankfully returned them. I found it incredibly rude that they failed to offer my friend any sort of compensation for the obvious inconvenience and trouble they put her through.

ATMOSPHERE: During happy hour there was a nice mixture of 20's, 30's, 40's and 50-year-olds. The place is reminiscent of the old rat pack bars. It is dimly lit with dark wood and red accents that glow from under the bar.

Overall, I was not impressed by this iconic restaurant and have no intention of returning.

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Water Polo Guru

Joined 3 years ago

The happy hour rocks as well as the burger!!. A's is the place for Happy Hour!! Their happy hour menu has great prices on food and excellent drink prices. The burger is "AMAZING"!! This is by far the best burger I've ever tasted,

The restaurant has a cool vibe going on with the red lighting. The staff is very friendly and inviting. This is a place to grab some food, drinks and watch sports on the television in the bar area.

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Michelle Ramsey

Joined 3 years ago

Amazing Steak Dinner. I have lived in Newport Beach for most of my life, so I have always seen A Restaurant as a landmark on PCH. I had never, however, experienced what they had to offer. I stopped in there with a couple friends on a Thursday night and was extremely impressed with the ambiance and quality of the food. I had an incredible steak dinner. Service was great and the location couldnt be better.

Nice job!

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ALEXGUNNCLARK

Joined 3 years ago

Fun time at the happy hour. Some friends and I met up after work to watch the lakers play and have a happy hour. We had a great time and was pleasantly surprised to the find the place packed with young professionals!