Lighthouse Bayview Cafe

Lighthouse Bayview Cafe Restaurant Review:

This compact venue located in Balboa Peninsula’s sparkling Marina Park lives up to its name, as its circular shape and conical ceiling do indeed recall a lighthouse keeping watch over Newport Beach’s legendary harbor. The light blue color scheme and soft-without-being-dim lighting give the place a chill vibe that’s ideal for locals looking for an antidote for the Pier or Fun Zone’s rambunctiousness. While people may gather here to gaze at flittering boats through massive bay windows, the real draw is executive chef Ryan Sumner’s take on contemporary cuisine. Dishes like the red wine braised short rib with parsnip purée, pan-seared scallops with sweet corn relish and the hearty pappardelle alla bolognese are approachable for the casual Newport crowd to enjoy, but they have enough elevated compositional flair to indicate Sumner has some rather good chops. A solid rotation of daily dinner specials, happy hour delights such as white fish street tacos, and a walk-up to-go window add to the friendliness. Desserts like pecan banana bread pudding are available, but the best sweet treat is the cloud-light, cinnamon sugar-topped beignets served at breakfast --- ideal while watching the water come to life. A list of beer, wine and cocktails rounds out the dining experience.