JOEY Newport Beach

This is ostentatious comfort with serious chops. From the moment a glass of champagne is placed in your hand at the door you know someone has thought about how to make an evening feel important. The dining room hums with shoppers from Fashion Island, couples in concert clothes, and locals who come for a dependable, slightly swanky night out. The menu is broad but confident. The Mini Short Rib French Dip bites with slow cooked meat and gruyere, the Sake Glazed Chilean Seabass is whisper soft and perfectly timed, and the fully loaded crispy mashed potatoes snap then melt. Patio seating wraps around a large fire pit and a retractable roof lets servers chase the light. Service is practiced without pretense, cocktails are inventive, portions honest. If you want a signature moment, park by the fire, order the Real Peach Bellini, and save room for the butter cake.