Last month, we escaped the cold for Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Coast, CA hoping for some sun and warmth. Along the way, we tried a few new spots, including RH Ocean Grill, which just opened inside the brand-new Restoration Hardware gallery in Newport Beach. We’ve been to RH restaurants in other cities, but with this one perched on the California coast, overlooking the Pacific, we had to check it out. Pelican Hill booked us a table for lunch, which we appreciated since reservations are hard to currently get. (Pelican Hill Resort review coming soon, along with a few East Coast and European hotels—working through the backlog!)

We loved the vibe so much that we went back on our last night for drinks and dessert after dinner nearby.

The Location & Ambience

RH Ocean Grill sits on the rooftop of the four-story Restoration Hardware store at Fashion Island, an open-air shopping mall with ocean views along the perimeter. RH CEO Gary Friedman described this new location as "one of our most dramatic, immersive, and brand-defining physical locations to date." He wasn’t exaggerating.

At 97,000 square feet, it’s their largest store yet, towering over the West Palm Beach and Chicago locations I had been to. The entire space is bright, elegant, and layered with chandeliers, greenery, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the ocean. The restaurant features two beautiful outdoor courtyards, one on each side, where we sat. The courtyards are immaculate, with planters creating a private, intimate feel between tables. Seating is comfortable and lounge-like, and each table outside has umbrella-attached heaters, so no need for those clunky rolling gas lamps. A large fountain in the center adds to the atmosphere while conveniently drowning out any nearby conversations.

When we came back for drinks and dessert, we sat on the other side of the courtyard. Again, each table has two heated lamps, and at night, they give off a red hue, casting a sultry glow over the patio. The warm lighting illuminated the courtyard and fountain beautifully and kept us comfortably warm.

Drinks & Food

RH Ocean Grill is still waiting on its liquor license, but they offer a solid wine and beverage list. I wasn’t in the mood for alcohol, so I got an Arnold Palmer, which was refreshing and paired well with my light lunch.

For food, we ordered:

Shaved Ribeye Dip
Fries
Gem Lettuce Salad (vegetarian-friendly)

Our waiter, Mark, was fantastic. He previously worked at Nobu Newport Beach and had just joined RH Ocean Grill for its opening. His recommendation for the Gem Lettuce Salad surprised me. With only a few ingredients, I wasn’t expecting much, but it ended up being so flavorful. The creamy Buttermilk Herb dressing was perfectly balanced, and every bite had the right mix of feta, diced avocado, and radish.

The Shaved Ribeye Dip is their take on a prime rib sandwich, served on a charred, buttered baguette. It was good, but not Hillstone-good. If you’re a French dip fan, you could always have a small meal here, then walk across Fashion Island to R+D Kitchen for their French dip fix.

The fries were the least impressive part of the meal. They were crispy but bland, though the variety of dipping sauces made up for it. We tried garlic aioli, rosemary aioli, truffle aioli, and ketchup. Maybe the sweet potato fries or truffle fries are better, but if I’m going for fries, I’ll just save my order for Hillstone’s—still my favorite…maybe ever.

At night, we ordered a glass of Ornellaia and an Hourglass Napa Cab, sipping them as we soaked in the atmosphere.

Dessert

We ended with:

Housemade warm chocolate chip cookies with sea salt
Affogato
Banana Split

Both were perfect. The cookies were warm and gooey, and the espresso with vanilla ice cream was the ideal way to finish the meal.

The bananas in the banana split have a crème brûlée topping over a layer of caramel sauce. The rich caramel and creamy ice cream were the highlights for me, perfectly complementing the banana.

Final Thoughts

This restaurant fits perfectly into the Newport Beach scene. It’s an ideal spot for a chic lunch, a glass of wine and caviar before shopping, or a relaxed date night with moody, sultry lighting after dark. The weather was perfect, my tea was refreshing, my salad was light and flavorful, and the warm chocolate chip cookies were, well, delectable. Whether for a leisurely afternoon or a cozy evening with great wine, it’s a place worth checking out.