Bluefin
7952 E. Pacific Coast Highway
Crystal Cove Promenade
Newport Coast, CA
Sand Canyon Avenue
949-715-7373
Slices of milky and translucent raw scallop have an ineffably sweet sea taste. They're arranged in a scallop shell with a garnish of carrots cut into a flower shape. This particular sashimi comes with its own side dish, a rich, clear broth with all sorts of Japanese mushrooms.
The broiled freshwater eel is delicious slicked with a dark, sweet glaze. And there's velvety thick-cut hamachi of exquisite quality, slices of violet-edge octopus and, my favorite, dark-fleshed Spanish mackerel. It plays nicely against a beautifully balanced dressing in a
tataki, which is sort of a fish tartare.
-- S. Irene Virbila
Times Restaurant Critic
Sept. 21, 2005
Hours: Daily, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
Venue Details
| Cuisine |
Japanese
|
| Rating |
|
| Ambience |
Smart contemporary Japanese restaurant with full bar, sushi bar and banquettes along the opposite wall. The crowd is mostly young O.C. elite from the beachside 'hood.
|
| Best dishes |
Spanish mackerel, hamachi and scallops sashimi; king crab tempura with butter ponzu sauce, scallop and uni ravioli, halibut carpaccio
|
| Best table |
The corner table on the banquette
|
| Desserts |
Shark fin flan, jasmine tea crème brûlée
|
| Of Note |
Lot parking in front
|
| Prices |
Starters, soup and salads, $5.50 to $17; cold appetizers, $8.50 to $20; hot appetizers, $16 to $28; main courses, $25 to $32; omakase (chef's choice), $30 at lunch, $75 and up at dinner.
|
| Service |
Courteous and professional
|
| Wine list |
Limited wine list, but savvy sake selection. Corkage, $20
|
