10/24/09

Can The Cannery That Can't...

by ClydeLily

Can't get it right or treat you right that is. After selecting the Cannery for a special treat with out of town family guests, we were sorely dissappointed. Lousy seating, poor service and a manager who shouldn't be allowed out in public. We were seated on the patio outside overlooking the picturesque Newport Harbor and the wedding party from hell...or close to there. Noisy, obnoxious, drunk and the restaurant staff should have warned us when we arrived. Instead we were virtually part of the "party" that surrounded our table on two sides. After complaining to the staff, our level of service dropped below that of eating alone at home. When we asked to speak to the manager, who was busy serving food to the wedding party (get real), he was patronizing at best and demonstrated incompetence at it's worst. Think twice, okay, three times before spending your money or your patience at this overpriced, understaffed and mediocre establishment.

• Pros: It's not hell.
• Cons: Lousy Service and Uncaring Staff

08/22/09

Horrible service - overcooked loster!!

by seeshelly

The lobster was WAY overcooked. Our service was Way WORSE. We were ignored. Had to ask for everything. Had to ask for water in our glasses that sat empty forever, had to ask to order our entrees, had to ask for more drinks. had to ask for more bread. It really was sad. We were visting from Vegas where we like going out to eat in great restuarants, and the service was SOOO disappointing. Then our Lobster came and we coudl barely scrap it out of the shell it was so overcooked and the steak was really weird tasting too. Would NEVER recommend it! The manager was horrible too!!!

• Pros: the atmosphere is OK
• Cons: HORRIBLE SERVICE

07/17/09

Here is the place to go for fresh fish

by BillWilliams

love this place - the atmosphere is inviting, the food is great!!!

• Pros: clean, great food, fresh
• Cons: can't think of any

12/08/08

Great view, but that is it!

by NBdiner

My husband and I dined at the Cannery on 12/5 with 10 of our closest friends and had the worst experience. We started the night fine having drinks upstairs in the bar enjoying the beautiful view waiting for our group to arrive. When we were sat in the dungeon, that is when the night went downhill. First and foremost the service was horrible. Our server was rude and had no knowledge of their wine list. He was obviously not trained to serve wine by his lack of wine etiquette. The food was also marginal. In fact, 11 out of the 12 of us did not finish our entrees. As a matter of fact, one of the entrees (chilean sea bass) came out frozen! When we finally caught our server's attention, he did not apologize nor make any effort to expedite the replacement (took over 15 minutes). Most of the entrees were either under cooked (obviously the sea bass) or over cooked (their duck dish). After we paid our bill, we spoke to the manager. She was very apologetic, but made no effort or gesture to encourage us to come back again. I have dined in Newport Beach for over 20 years and have had many great experiences and dishes, but Cannery is one that I will not recommend nor visit again.

• Pros: The view
• Cons: Service, food

05/27/08

Master Chef

by DRJWG

The food has the presentation of a Master Chef. Nothing was ordinary, from the salad to the main course, to the dessert. The salad was dressed with sliced fuits that primed the palate. The sea bass was served on a bed of potato mash, and a green sauce that I still dream about. The dessert was 'ice cream sundae meets bananas foster". The food price for two came to just about 100 dollars, which is far less than expected for the quality of food, not even taking into consideration the locaton and view.

The Pinoir Wine was light and sufficiently dry, but a bit pricey. They allow "bring your own" with a 15 dollar uncorking fee. My wife and I look forward to our next OC trip, when we will happily return to another culinary adventure at The Cannery.

• Pros: Everything.
• Cons: Cost of wine.

05/22/08

From Marietta, GA to The Cannery just for dinner

by oneoldlady

Each time we come from Marietta to CA, we HAVE to go to the Cannery. The food is marvelous and so well presented. The last time there was 5 of us, each with a different dinner and dessert. Each plate was a work of art in presentation, the service could not have been more attentive, and the price reasonable for what there was.

The only draw back is the bathrooms. Don't go there when a downpouring rain is happening. Not a pleasant experice but far away from the dining room area.

We have never felt pushed to leave and usually take about 2 hrs to eat and talk.

If you have not eaten here, you have missed a treat.

We will be out there for Fathers Day this year and you can just bet where we will be eating dinner and treating dad.

• Pros: Ambience, Parking, Service, Food, has it all
• Cons: bathrooms when it rains

10/29/07

Great sushi, would be better if you could order it from every table in restaurant

by ny2ca

Great food, great view, service is pretty good. A little annoyed that they gave me a little bit of a hard time ordering sushi from the downstairs. But it came and it was delicious.

• Pros: great food and view
• Cons: service could be friendlier

01/06/07

Great Location and Atmosphere - Food is Uninspired

by maitianci

It's a classic Orange County location; right on the shore in Newport Beach. The menu is a traditional seafood offering and would be a nice meal just about anywhere else. Unfortunately for the price one pays here, you're getting the beautiful location and not the food. The cuisine is closer to Red Lobster than it is to a fancy expensive restaurant. Go for the view, but don't bring the same expectations for the meal.

• Pros: Location
• Cons: Too expensive for what you're eating

11/15/06

Bring your own snacks

by j_mo

The Cannery had some good reviews so a friend and I tried it. Nancy the hostess is very sweet. The view is very nice too and makes you feel as though you're away on a small vacation. The service however is very slow and got to the point of annoying. I don't see what the excitement is about the food. It was okay but nothing to write home about. I believe the food could be much better, but the restaurant seems to rely on it's view to keep it's customers. If you don't mind waiting for average food with a great view then this is the place for you.

• Pros: Definitely the view...
• Cons: Service, average food, prices

11/12/06

Not an unpleasent experience

by cidheli

The baked goat cheese and seared ahi tuna salad was very good. Its portion was not overbearing, and neither was its price. I also ordered oysters on the half-shell, and they were delicious, except for one, which was creamy inside. Perhaps I ordered it during spawning season, but to this day I prefer not to think of what that mush was. Compared to other Pacific Highway, Newport restaurants, which charge for the location and are a dissapointment, I felt that this was fine-dining that was worth the inflated prices. However, it was not so delitefully enjoyable that I feel the need to go back in the near future.