I went here for a friends birthday and the experience was amazing. The food was great, the service was amazing the staff was friendly and willing to serve. They play great music, and the mix of... More

I went here for a friends birthday and the experience was amazing. The food was great, the service was amazing the staff was friendly and willing to serve. They play great music, and the mix of people was nice. Like any nice restaurant/bar there are parts that are crowded, and others where it is not. Also the women's bathroom is a little small, and they dislike it if you block the hallway to wait in line. Other than that, the ambiance was nice as well, and we also hung out on their outdoor area which was nice and had heated lamps. Definitely going back to party! Pros: Great service, food, atmostphere, no lines if your early Cons: small bathroom,
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This place is so great! My boyfriend took me here for drinks during happy hour. The bar was relaxing, very beautiful, and not at all what I expected. We happened to arrive just as they were... More

This place is so great! My boyfriend took me here for drinks during happy hour. The bar was relaxing, very beautiful, and not at all what I expected. We happened to arrive just as they were starting to play their piano in the bar which really added a certain class to the experience. I ordered a drink called a strawberry lemon drop and it was so good! I was tempted to order two more but I was driving...bummer. I can?t wait to go back soon and actually order dinner. The menu looks great and we heard the Creme Brulee is the best in CDM! I think a return trip is worth it just for that. Pros: Great location, nice feel Cons: little $$$
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I was planning a good friend?s birthday celebration and was having a really hard time finding a suitable restaurant in Orange County. We were doing a sunset Newport boat tour and wanted somewhere... More

I was planning a good friend?s birthday celebration and was having a really hard time finding a suitable restaurant in Orange County. We were doing a sunset Newport boat tour and wanted somewhere relatively close to enjoy an equally fun and special dinner. With all of us in our early to mid-thirties, we wanted an upscale, fresh, fun, and contemporary place to eat in the OC. In my experience, most OC 'hot' places are simply the latest 'prowl' location for the local fresh-out-of-college or freshly-divorced crowd. Good for people watching, not so good for an LA-like night out with friends. A friend suggested the Landmark, and it didn't disappoint. At all. What we got was a cozy booth, a super-friendly wait staff, and a fabulous club manager. With a menu that has something for both light and heavy eaters(crab cakes were amazing),decor that is simultaneously stylish and comfortable (think a moody Viceroy hotel ? love the yellow chandeliers), the Landmark does a brilliant job of transforming the restaurant into a cozy dance club. Complete with themed music nights (Saturday happened to be 80's night. Perfect!), and daily specials, it's an ideal place to bring out-of-town business guests and celebrate your best friend's birthday. Pros: Fantastic food, friendly wait staff, fun DJ's, and inexpensive Valet that will let you park overnight. Cons: Aloof bartenders and greeter. Tiny bathrooms.
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I recently revisited the Landmark after it's remodel and was very impressed. The steak was great and the chef even came by to check on our table. They have great happy hour deals where all... More

I recently revisited the Landmark after it's remodel and was very impressed. The steak was great and the chef even came by to check on our table. They have great happy hour deals where all appetizers are half off (try the hawaiian ahi poke). While it is quite a scene on weekend nights, I appreciate that it is the only place in Corona del Mar with a 'dancing license'. Also, every weeknight there is a piano player taking requests. You can even pull up a seat at the piano bar and chat between songs. The vibe is classy before 10pm, and even then, it's just the good ole' newport scene. I also appreciate the outdoor lounge/eating area. It is shocking how few places in a beach community have places to dine outdoors!
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must say... I was very reluctant to have dinner here last night. I've driven by on the weekends and seen hundreds of people lined up to go inside, and never thought it to be the kind of place that... More

must say... I was very reluctant to have dinner here last night. I've driven by on the weekends and seen hundreds of people lined up to go inside, and never thought it to be the kind of place that would serve a five star meal. some friends who live in corona del mar asked my wife and I to meet them for dinner at their favorite local restaurant. we arrived at 7:00, and since it was so nice out, decided to sit on the patio. not sure which wine to get, the waitress took it upon herself to bring from the bar a couple of samples of different styles for us to try. after deciding on a bottle and a couple of apps (steak nachos- to die for and calamari- equally as good), we enjoyed the last of the sun while a pianist played in the lounge. while enjoying the wine and apps, the gm came over and said hi to our friends and introduced himself to us. really nice guy- he told us all about the changes they recently made in the inside and outside of the building; place looked great. a little bit later, dinner came out, and both my wife and I were speechless. she got the sea bass that our friends recommended, and I got the bone-in rib eye. I can honestly say these were two of the best entrees I've ever tasted in the same seating. my steak was cooked and seasoned perfectly, and her sea bass was nothing short of incredible. our friends laughed at us with an I-told-you-so look on their face, and we all enjoyed one of the best meals I've had in recently memory. with no room left in our stomachs, we were going to pass on dessert until our friends insisted on sharing a piece of mud pie. this was the exclamation point at the end of the meal. wow. finally, our bill comes, and I notice our apps were marked half off... I figured our friends had some pull until I learn their happy hour goes till 7:30, and this is standard practice. it just couldn't get any better. what an overall experience. we'll definitely be back. Pros: food, service, ambience, price Cons: a little too crowded late during the weekend
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I went to Landmark last wednesday night with my wife and had a great dinner on the candlelit patio. To our surprise they had a great happy hour that lasted til 730! We had 5 dollar martinis and... More

I went to Landmark last wednesday night with my wife and had a great dinner on the candlelit patio. To our surprise they had a great happy hour that lasted til 730! We had 5 dollar martinis and appetizers for about 5 bucks. we stayed for hours cause the patio was so peaceful. My ife had the Filet and scallop entree and loved it. very reasonable steakhouse prices and they even came with sides. I had the Chilean seabass like the waittress recommended. She was definitely right. It was like nothing Ive ever had.. towards the end of our meal around 8ish a Man played guitar in the bar and he was the most amazing fun one man band Ive ever seen! the bar was fun and lively. Ill probably head in a little later next wednesday to catch the whole live act! Great experience! Pros: patio, live music wednesday, happy hour, wines, friendly staff Cons: no valet present that night, Live music doesnt start til 8
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This place is truly classic Newport. The beautiful people are out in force, the guys are either rich or pretending to be rich, the young attractive girls are trying to discern between the two... More

This place is truly classic Newport. The beautiful people are out in force, the guys are either rich or pretending to be rich, the young attractive girls are trying to discern between the two groups so that they can hopefully end up with a member of the former group, and the older women are looking for a husband, or if it's late enough in the evening, whatever they can get. That said, I gave it three stars, but I almost gave it four. if there were a three and a half stars option, it would have been no question, because despite the fairly trite Newport Beach scene, it was a good time with great energy and reasonably priced drinks, considering the environment and the nature of your average patron. They had a great (and very dark) dance floor that had a lot of very happy (read: drunk) people really grooving (read: freaking)... I guess it really helps a person's game when the person they are dancing with can't see what they look like. By 11 or 11:30 though, the dance floor is too crowded to really move in any fashion other than grinding up on the nearest member of the opposite sex. I liked the fact that people dressed well here, and though there was the occasional meat-head to contend with, I thought people were generally classy... and drunk. I think this is the sort of place that will get 1 star from some, and 5 stars from others, and they would all be right on... this is really a place that depends on your tastes. Overall, for me, it was a good time.
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NEW STEAK HOUSE at old Carmelo's on PCH in Corona del Mar FOOD and portions are great. Prices are reasonable. Long lines of singles Thurs Fri & Sat Good Drinks Good Music and Dancing Patio gets... More

NEW STEAK HOUSE at old Carmelo's on PCH in Corona del Mar FOOD and portions are great. Prices are reasonable. Long lines of singles Thurs Fri & Sat Good Drinks Good Music and Dancing Patio gets crowded with smokers PROS: CONS: PARKING Long Weekend Lines after 10 pm
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