Sol Cocina Restaurant Review
251 E. Coast Hwy. (Bayside Dr.) 
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Newport Beach, CA 92660
949-675-9800 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
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Sol Cocina Restaurant is one of our 2012
| Top 10 Orange County (CA) Mexican Restaurants
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Cuisine
Open
Lunch & Dinner dailyFeatures
- View
- Romantic setting
- Full bar
- Reservations suggested
- Outdoor dining
- Open late
- Valet parking
- Resort casual
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 Located right on Newport Harbor, Sol Cocina was designed to be an airy, yet still intimate space with golden mood lighting, harborside banquettes, cozy tables and an on-the-water patio. Chef Deborah Schneider, who has worked at topnotch San Diego restaurants, is in charge of the kitchens here. Rather than serving up free chips and salsa, Sol Cocina guests are given rather stale whole tostada rounds with an unexciting bean and pine nut dipping sauce. Fortunately, the handmade cocktails are more noteworthy, like the surprisingly good cucumber jalapeño margarita or the ginger tangerine martini. Many come for the customizable and super fresh guacamole, but be careful to not order the way-too-spicy jalapeños with your guac. The three kinds of “street” tacos are satisfying, but not terribly exciting. Chef Schneider’s small-plate appetizers are truly small, but the refreshing ceviche and spicy toritos (roasted yellow chilies stuffed with garlic shrimp and Oaxacan cheese) are rather good. As for entrées, we found both the Kobe skirt steak (with avocado, radishes and tomatillo salsa) and the grilled salmon overly salty. The late-night bar menu after 10 p.m. attracts a good-looking crowd of Newport Beach couples and singles.
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RESTAURANT AWARDS
We just published the 2012 edition of our annual restaurant issue, featuring the Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. and much more. Check it out!
