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Bluefin
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
7952 E Pacific Coast HwyNewport Coast, CA 92657
(949) 715-7373
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
156 reviews for Bluefin
Review Highlights
"The best gourmet lunch omakase in the OC."
(in 10 reviews)
"the foie gras super delicious the cod perfect match."
(in 16 reviews)
"I always enjoy the second course which is a sashimi salad."
(in 12 reviews)
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156 reviews in English
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Review from Yuki M.
1/29/2012
Pleasant decor.
Narrow seating similar to Sushi Studio and Sushi Gallery up north.
Good lighting and pleasant ambiance.
Not very well maintained bathrooms.
Sushi quality is fresh and clean.
Sushi rice is also very clean and isn't too sweet.
Rolls are limited in selection but quality wins over quantity.
Salad greens are crisp and in season.
Calamari is small but crisp but I'll pass on it next time.
Mango flan was refreshing.
Chocolate cake was moist.
Raspberry sorbet was very good.
Sushi menu offers great select cuts but I didn't seem swordfish. Kitchen menu also offers some interesting dishes that I'd be curious to try but it's not really pressing. Sake menu looked selective, though I don't drink.
I can't seem to write anything interesting about this place. Sure, the sushi is good and yes the dining area is bright and welcoming. Chefs seem friendly and service is fast. At the end of the meal, I was satisfied, but not wow'd.
I understand why this place is so popular and I'll give it 4 stars but on a personal note, I can't say that this place stands out. It's a pretty good place to get sushi and has a distinctly offers that Newport Beach/South OC feel.
Maybe I need to come back a few more times to really "get it" about this place, but for now, 4 stars for the sake of this review and how it may serve others, but personally, a solid 3. -
Review from Maddie C.
Irvine, CA
1/23/2012
Not all 4 stars on Yelp are created equal....There are actually quite a few Sushi restaurants with 4 star Yelp reviews. Some are deserved, some are not.
Bluefin is truly a 4 star restaurant.
We came for Newport Beach restaurant week, and were blown away =) I later looked up Chef Takashi Abe and was surprised to find out that he was Nobu Matsuhisa's protege. I'm glad I had no expectations for this restaurant prior to dining here. The food was a delightful surprise. Our prix fixe menu consisted of:
1. Crab & Cucumber salad ~ a very generous portion of delicious flaky crab meat on top of thinly sliced cucumbers sitting in a light sweet rice wine vinegar. Surprisingly delicious, and very appetizing. The acid from the vinegar actually made me hungrier than when I arrived---always a good sign.
2. Halibut w/Grilled Vegetables ~ I always love it when Sushi restaurants have surprisingly delicious hot entrees. The Halibut here is no exception. In fact, it was cooked PERFECTLY and the sear on the halibut made the fish slightly crispy and juicy. It was also a surprisingly generous portion for lunch.
3. Assorted Sushi & Roll ~ For the restaurant week menu, this plate consisted of Yellowtail, Salmon, Halibut, Tuna, Ebi sushi and the Albacore Dynamite Roll. The Yellowtail sushi was honestly the best I've ever had, anywhere. The yellowtail meat was flavorful with a hint of salt. It tasted like the sea (w/o any fishy-ness). The salmon was buttery and came with the perfect amount of bonito flakes on top. The halibut sushi was surprisingly bland, but good nonethless. Tuna ~ tender, fresh and sweet. I don't like ebi sushi, so it didn't stand out for me.
One note about the Albacore Dynamite Roll --- we also ordered a separate Albacore Dynamite Roll before realizing that it came with the assorted sushi platter. The roll on the platter had a dollop of Srircha on top. The roll that came separate did not. I preferred the roll much more WITHOUT the Srircha, since the garlic mayo that comes with the roll is to-die-for. Just a tip--order the roll w/Srircha on the side. Trust me...it tastes completely different that way and will blow you away.
Sushi rice ~ I also find that many sushi restaurants are a little lax or blase about their sushi rice. Not at Bluefin. The sushi rice here is cooked perfectly (not too soggy, not too al dente) and flavored with JUST the right amount of vinegar. The sushi rice was so good that I was picking up pieces of the rice w/chopsticks...a rarity for me =)
4. Dessert ~ perhaps the most surprising part of our fabulous meal was dessert. I don't usually have high expectations for desserts at a Sushi restaurant. The dessert at Bluefin was AMAZING. We ordered the mango pudding w/vanilla ice cream. The presentation was beautiful...the mango pudding was paired w/vanilla ice cream with a splash of green tea sauce on the side, along with fresh berries. Take a spoonful of the mango pudding WITH the ice cream in ONE BITE. The flavors come together perfectly and the textures are just perfect. Mmmmm.
We loved the meal so much that we made reservations on the spot for their Valentine's Day prix fixe menu. Can't wait! -
Review from Steven L.
Irvine, CA
1/22/2012
First review on this site so might as well start off with a restaurant that was great!
(came for dinner)
INTERIOR: surprisingly there are only about 6 tables (for 4) and of the course the sushi bar. Thus it would be a good idea to MAKE RESERVATIONS at this place. No pricey decor except displays of alcohol/sake and white drapes but moving on...
FOOD: I came to Bluefin to try their sushi, and of course, their Bluefin Tuna. I was certainly surprised. They have a large variety of exotic fish that would appease the curious sushi eater. The fish is also very fresh and delicious. Their Bluefin tuna is just AMAZING, probably the next best thing than a Japanese fish market. It's safe to say that all of their fish is of top notch quality and so it just comes down to personal preference on what type of sushi you want to order. Their lobster soup was pretty good too.
I cannot comment on anything else other than their sushi. But for sushi lovers, this place is a must to check out.
PRICE: Is Bluefin worth it? If you come for quality of fish, it is DEFINITELY worth it; but as a college student, I would probably only come on special occasions.
TLDR:
1. A MUST GO FOR SUSHI LOVERS
2. Make reservations
3. Large variety of sushi and it is freaking amazing
4. Pricey, but you get your moneys worth
5. Their uni shots are pretty bomb too. -
Review from Andrea R.
12/31/2011 2 photos
If you live close enough nearby to be a regular at Bluefin, can you possibly comprehend how priviledged you are? Please excuse me while I swallow my envy. Ah yes -- Bluefin --...
When you walk in, it doesn't look like anything out of the ordinary in Bluefin. It's a clean, understated restaurant. I'm assuming that that's because they don't need trendy decor or pricey remodeling to keep their customers coming back; the food does it all.
The sashimi here really is worth the price, and yes, it is spendier than anywhere else in Orange County. Let's put it this way; you can request real wasabi at Bluefin, and they also have real crab. Not Krab-with-a-K, but *real* crab...you know, that stuff that supposedly goes into your California roll at other Japanese restaurants.
Service is friendly and quick. The sushi chefs are on top of everything and still have time to make good conversation with their customers. That's the most I can hope for at any sushi place.
Recommended: the triple tuna roll, mixed sashimi salad, wild Japanese scallops (topped with that delicious real wasabi), anything with crab, anything Omakase. -
Review from Jay D.
Irvine, CA
1/30/2012
the best sushi joint in the OC!! don't know what i order. i just closed my eyes and told the chef to surprise me. PRICY but great to impress a date. im surprised to see so many white people there. usually that's a sign of a shitty sushi place (not being racist) but that's not the case here!
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Review from Bonnie L.
Chicago, IL
12/30/2011
One of the more decadent places I've been to for sushi.
Everything we ordered was fresh and delicious. The one particular stand out was the yellowtail belly (at least I think it was yellowtail). It was like butter...just melted in your mouth.
The only disappointment was the kobe beef. It was good, just not what we were expecting. For some reason we had expected something more unique -- but it was still very good.
Will definitely be back. -
Review from Cici T.
11/26/2011
3.5 stars when I played it safe at Bluefin. I see the potential to have a gastronomically great time.
Lunch was quiet around noon, although the patrons began congregating closer to 1pm. It's a relaxing atmosphere since the restaurant is small with a sushi bar and a single row of tables. Everyone was there. Families, couples, friends, and business acquaintances.
Their bento lunch, a lunch special, came with sashimi, sushi, chawanmushi, miso soup, a small green salad, tempura, pork and beef marinated in a soy based sauce, a piece of salmon, a fried croquette with shrimp, and a squash dessert. Great variety, although a bit heavy on protein. I think a more balanced selection of seasoned cucumbers or turnip or shredded carrots and gobo would have opened up the palette even more.
The sea bass entree came with a thick piece of broiled fish - buttery and moist - set on top of sauteed mushrooms and vegetables in a sweet yet salty soy sauce broth. The dish was delightful but would have been much more enjoyable if it was served at a higher temperature. The mushrooms were cool and the fish lukewarm.
If given the chance to go back, I'd love to try the lobster tempura. -
Review from Tiffany L.
Los Angeles, CA
I'm a regular here because this place is nearby and the food is always consistently good.
I usually order the omakase whenever I'm here. Most of the time, the omakase is fantastic; my favorite was when I received a Kobe steak platter with a giant piece of piece of foei gras underneath it. Each time, I am always pleasantly surprised with what I get; the chefs always choose the freshest ingredients and each plate is beautifully decorated.
From the menu, I highly recommend their Kobe Beef Carpaccio, Blue Crab Dynamite, and Crab and Avocado Salad. The carpaccio is lightly drizzled lemon juice, and each bite of meat is so tender and juicy. Their special dynamite is not always on the menu but if you see it there, get it! The freshly made dynamite sauce is perfect with the chunks of blue crab and mushrooms. It's the best dynamite I have ever eaten. The salad comes with a large pile of king crab meat and avocado slices. I think the dressing was a ginger ponzu sauce or something like that. Well, whatever it was, it was very refreshing and went really well with the crab and avocado. Must order!
Service is, for the most part, great. However, there have been a couple of moments where I would get the wrong dish or the waitress would forget to bring me a certain order.
4 stars for you Bluefin! I'll probably be back soon.Listed in: Aishiteru Japan!, Carpaccio Lovers Unite!
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Review from Jeena E.
I kept my Sushi joint promise with Daniel L. and my husband and I finally made a second attempt at Bluefin and I am pleased to report the experience was worth the wait! Bluefin has unquestionably fresh sushi and sashimi offerings at somewhat exorbitant costs.
This time around we reserved a slot for lunch with Opentable at noon and we were literally the first patrons they had for the day which equated to no check in hassles, our choice of where to sit and Bluefin's team of Sushi Chefs undistracted attention.
The restaurant is rather small and can become packed quickly, it seems that Chef Takashi Abe's Japanese and European fusion is no longer a south county secret. The sushi bar is large and exceptionally clean with a jaw dropping view of Crystal Cove and a huge waterwall as a back drop.
I was tempted with trying the heralded Omakase lunch but did an about face once I found an assorted Sushi Sampler that had all of my favorite cuts on one plate, it came with a Spicy Tuna roll; that was what closed the deal.
Bluefin's Miso soup was astounding, one of the best I have had in a long while. The soups soft and almost creamy consistency is a delicate symphony of chicken broth, Miso paste, green onion, seaweed and it boasts bits of chicken skin that gave the soup a deep, bold and unique chicken flavor.
The Assorted Sushi Sampler features fresh, tender and "oh my god that is SO umami" cuts of Bluefin Tuna, Yellowtail, Salmon, Albacore, Shrimp and Halibut all aloft little pillows of sticky rice and the plate was anchored by a Spicy Tuna Roll. All of the fish was unspeakably fresh, never once did an odd or unappealing fishiness make itself present.
Each piece is its own flavor composition. For instance, the mild flavor and firm texture of the Albacore was adorned simply with a smattering of rice vinegar and a small amount of wasabi to allow the mellow notes of the fish to be detected and enjoyed. Meanwhile, the fatty and rich Salmon meat was bedecked extravagantly with a soy based concoction that tasted both savory and tart at the same time without masking any of the Salmons natural flavors. I would have to say that I enjoyed the Salmon and Shrimp Sushi the most, so much so that we actually ordered another 2 piece dish of the Salmon Sushi to relive the taste and mouthfeel experience.
The Spicy Tuna Roll was good. Damn good. More of the premium Sushi grade Tuna tucked inside of a seaweed sheet and rolled itno its familar shape with a perfectly prepared sticky rice and then peppered with sesame seeds. Chef Abe ensures the fresh flavor of the Tuna goes unhindered by needless embelishment in this Sushi House staple.
The Sushi Assortment was not at all what I would call an inexpensive lunch at $35.00 for the plate alone. That being said, if you want real deal Sushi contrieved by an Avant Garde Chef in environs such as Crystal Cove, you ought to expect that you will shell out some duckets.
Bluefin's offerings were an absolute treat and my return to sample more of Chef Abe's creations is inevitable. I saw countless other items I must try very soon. Perhaps next time Daniel L. will join us.Listed in: Newport Beach, What kind of Chinese are you?
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/14/2011
I was so excited to try Bluefin after reading the Yelp reviews regarding the quality of their sushi!… Read more »
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Review from Randy C.
Irvine, CA
9/12/2011
Excellent Sushi restaurant with nice sushi bar.
Was in the area late Sunday afternoon, and decided to stop by for an early dinner. Knowing that we did not have reservations at this often hyped restaurant, we knew we had to go early.
Sat at the sushi bar and tried several excellent sushi dishes as we didn't feel like doing the whole omakase meal. The sushi staples (yellowtail, salmon, uni, etc...) were good, and their exotic fish selection recommended by the chef was even better.
All in all, an excellent meal that was a little on the expensive side, but definitely within the realm of what you would expect from such a restaurant. -
Review from Steven T.
Irvine, CA
1/21/2012
This rating is based on the newport restaurant dishes and also the bluefin bento box.
First impression: Fancy restaurant with great atmosphere. Definitely a nice place to take someone on a date or just for really fine dining. We were seated really fast and looking over the menu. The place was relatively quiet for a saturday, typical 12:30 lunch. We were ready to order and the sushi chef took our order. After we ordered, the waitress finally asked us what drinks we wanted. It took a little longer than they should have. Especially paying for $25+ per person, the service was a little under-par.
Food: I ordered the bento box. The presentation was fantastic. They gave you so many different things and the food looked amazing. It looked a lot better than it tasted. The amount of food was way more than I expected for $25. I actually expected to get a lot less from a fine dining place like Bluefin and at most fine dining places. The fish in the bento box looked good but was very tuna-like and was over-cooked for sure. I am sure they could have done a better job cooking it. They also gave you egg, tuna sushi, tuna sashimi which were all perfect. The chawa-musha was also very good. The tempera was perfectly cooked as well. However, the main meat dishes were all over-cooked. The beef was tough even though it was such a small piece. My guess is that there were too many things to cook for one bento box and all of them just came out alright instead of one really good dish. The pumpkin was the dessert and it was shaped in a pumpkin but it was actually a pudding they made to look like it. Amazing creation and tasted good as well. I give the bento box a 7/10. It was $25 and I expected it to be perfect. Presentation was a 10/10. Taste: 8/10.
Crab Salad:
Tons of crab over sliced cucumber. Presentation 7/10. The crab was a little too fishy if you know what I mean. It was good though - taste 7/10.
3 Handroll Combo: Way over-priced for what they give. You pay for the atmosphere of the restaurant and not the 3 handrolls. $13 for 3 regular handrolls. The crunchy handroll was good but the seaweed was chewy. Gave a decent sized fried temperu in it though.
California roll: I expected real crab for the amount I was paying but it was all fake crab. Come on now. I would not order the california roll handroll just because of the price that it costs. It is not worth it.
Handroll combo 3/5 - not worth the price, but it tastes good though.
Desserts:
Mango pudding with ice cream: amazing, presentation was really good and taste was even better. 4.9/5.
Chocolate cake with sorbet: Very good presentation 10/10. In my opinion, too spongy. It was good but I guess I am not really a cake person. Wasn't my favorite but it was good. The sorbet was perfect though. 4/5.
Overall: Great food but you really pay for the atmosphere. 3/5. I can't give it a higher score just because the bento box wasn't that good. I am sure the sashimi is good though. If you like high quality/clean atmosphere, then definitely give this place a try. -
Review from Jennifer Y.
Yorba Linda, CA
Updated - 12/6/2011
Ahhhhhhhmazing!! I wud eat here everyday! I wish they'd expand because it's hard 2 get a table!
1 Previous Review:
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5/15/2011
Ahhhhhhhmazing!! I wud eat here everyday! I wish they'd expand because it's hard 2 get a table!
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Review from Amy C.
Irvine, CA
7/14/2011 1 Check-in Here
All I can say is..OMAKASE!
For $30 you get a great deal! You get 6 unique dishes that the Chef himself prepares. The first dish was placed on a small platter, it was a buttered fish with a cold eel soup. The second dish was a delicious sashimi salad (very fresh and yummy) The Third dish was a grilled shrimp or halibut (depending if you're allergic to crawfish) The fourth dish was an assortment of different sashimis and an eel roll: varying from shrimp to albacore to white tail to tuna, accompanyed with a soup. The dessert portion was my all time favorite: a watermelon sorbet with a honey dew reduction. So refreshing and good.
The service is all around very friendly, and the decor is quite simple yet elegant. It might be hard to find, but its in the middle of a shopping center near crystal Cove. I will definitely be back! -
Review from Terri N.
Laguna Niguel, CA
1/28/2012
Went for LUNCH this week and really enjoyed it. It was Restaurant Week and one of us ordered the RW lunch special ($20) and one of us ordered the regular sushi combo lunch special ($20). While both were very very good, it was interesting to compare them. The RW week lunch (3-course) included a nice calamari salad, 5 piece tuna roll, and 5-6 pieces of nagari sushi, followed by an amazing mango/ice cream dessert. Everything was really good. The regular lunch menu sushi combo had a 10 piece california roll and 6 pieces of nagari sushi, along with soup and salad to start. Which means you don't need RW, you can just go and have the lunch special any time! While everything was really good, it was VERY interesting to see that the RW sushi was about 1/3 smaller than the regular menu. Maybe that is how they make the 3-course menu affordable, but I don't think it was a great idea. If we only had the RW menu, we would have thought their sushi is always 'small'! Anyway, lovely lunch, nice service, and fresh tasty sushi. Will definitely return.
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Review from Karen W.
2/17/2011 6 photos
Michael Z. and I came here during Restaurant Week. It was a pretty great deal, at $20 for 4-course meal. The portions were quite tiny, of course, but all the ingredients were really fresh and for the most part, well-paired. The ambiance was great for a casual lunch, but be forewarned. My friend came here with her fiance for a Valentine's Day dinner and they were sorely disappointed, as they were expecting something really nice and romantic. Bluefin will disappoint you in this regard. It's clean and trendy enough, but definitely not intimacy-inducing.
The meal started off with a cute shrimp sushi in the shape of a ball (http://media1.px.yelpc...). This was tasty...and it was the first time I had a ball-shaped sushi. I ended up making of my own soon after: http://i.imgur.com/TzX....
Next, I selected the crab salad. This (http://media2.ct.yelpc...) was quite generous in portions and was refreshingly paired with sweet sections of grapefruit. Mmmmm that grapefruit was to die for.
My entree was halibut with mushrooms and nuts (http://media4.px.yelpc...). I loved the succulent little mushrooms, not so much a fan of the nuts. I think the flavor was a bit too overwhelming, and I'd love to have had more of the natural taste of the fish come through rather encountering a mouthful of nuts. The fish was incredibly tender and flaky though. Too bad it was so tiny.
Last, I had tempura ice cream for the FIRST TIME. This (http://media3.px.yelpc...) was so delicious, especially paired with the fruity sauce. I only wish they gave us a bit of ice cream on the side too, as the breading to ice cream ratio was too high for my taste. Delicious though.
Verdict: This is one of the few places where I'd say that Restaurant Week is actually worth it. $20 for what I got seems like a pretty good deal. For regular meals though, I would hesitate. -
Review from thomas c.
10/3/2011
Took the mom here for her (early) birthday. It's in a coastal location along in Newport Beach. We went here for lunch and ordered the six course pre fixe menu item. It's priced at a reasonable $30/person (for lunch only before 1.30pm). Turned out to be pretty good starting with a shot of various sashimi. The second course was sashimi salad; the third was halibut and shrimp; the fourth was miso soup with a shrimp ball that they lumped together and put into hot water to congeal; the fifth was nigiri; the last course was a slice of chocolate cake. All in all a great location and classy vibe for such events. I'd go elsewhere for the everyday Japanese dining experience.
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Review from Ben K.
Aurora, CO
4/25/2011
Go to Yoshinoya if you're looking for cheap Japanese food. Reading thru these reviews, it's amazing to see how many people don't like this place. Blue Fin is the BEST sushi restaurant that I've been to in all of CA hands down!!!
The favors are amazing and unique. The freshness of the fish can't be beat. I've taken my family and in-laws here and we had an incredible time. OK, the seating is a little tight but the food well makes up for it. -
Review from Inland O.
Corona, CA
10/29/2011
If you like sashimi this is a very nice restaurant a few blocks away from the beach. The omkakase is usually the way to go - the last time we went it included a beautiful plate of sashimi salad, a fatty piece of toro and several other dishes. At $35 (or $40) per person during lunch, it is a pretty good deal. Outside of sashimi, their hand rolls, the menu does get pretty slim. Their bento boxes are around $20, comes with an array of small dishes - just don't expect tonkatsu or terriyaki beef - this place is much more refined. I'm a fan of this place, usually go during lunch (its not that big and there is usually a wait during prime time). Try it out.
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Review from Tim E.
Arcadia, CA
If you want fresh good sushi then Bluefin is not the place for you. They are way over priced for the fish that they offer to their customers. I'm thinking all the users giving them high marks don't understand what is good sushi is.
I looked at their menu and found that I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money on mediocre sushi. I opted for rolls to fill me up. The Quantity and Quality should equate to something good, but the Quantity was tiny and the Quality was sub par.
Other people in our party were not amazed nor raving the freshness either.
When we were waiting for our table I thought this place had a D rating then I was told that the OC doesn't have the same health rating as LA so we were supposedly good in that area.
Otherwise the place was clean and the server we had was Japanese but they were lacking in overall goodness in my taste.
I felt shortchanged and my food was no where close to the freshness I get in LA or my favorite spot Toros Japanese Fusion Seafood in LA.Listed in: GET Me a BARF BAG PLEASE
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Review from Aaron L.
1/23/2011 4 photos
A successful mission! Bluefin brought me in with the "bargain" $20 Newport Beach Restaurant Week 3 course prix fixe lunch, and in reviewing their menu, I realized they offer other intriguing lunch options with a similar price point every day.
Here is a quick rundown of what I sampled, along with a photo for each:
Amuse - Shrimp Ternari Sushi (stuffed shrimp ball sushi)
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Not overly flavorful, but an interesting texture and a pleasant start.
Appetizer - Tuna & Calamari Salad
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
A very unique, light, and refreshing salad. The sweet chili red mise dressing is not at all overpowering, and the jicama, peppers, cherry tomatoes, and pine nuts all work together evenly.
Entree - Grilled Halibut (with mushroom and nuts, spinach puree)
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I was surprised at how much this dish burst with flavor! The nuts sprinkled on top were quite hot and added a nice texture (I'm definitely going to try this at home!). The hint of mushrooms and spinach puree set off the grilled fish nicely.
Dessert - Pear Comport (with red wine)
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The wine flavor in this dessert was quite evident. I liked it, because not only was the taste unique, it wasn't overly sweet. Combined with the small, sweet taste of ice cream, it was a smooth finish.
Beyond the meal, the good part of the service was that when they cleared our plates, the next course came out almost instantly. The bad was that they never refilled our water glasses. :-/
I'd come back to Bluefin for lunch, but I'm not sure if I'd be willing to spend the Newport Coast premium for dinner unless it was a special occasion.
Bluefin's dishes are unique, high quality, and are presented in an extremely attractive and appetizing way.Listed in: Japanese in OC, OC Restaurant Week
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Review from Kymberly T.
Orange County, CA
5/10/2011
Came here for dinner, and everything was really fresh but it's on the pricey side, so you probably won't get full very easily.
Ordered: Bluefin roll--the fish was melt-in-your-mouth quality, which is all you can ask of a sushi restaurant, and their rice was perfectly cooked. Great, clean atmosphere, but save it for a special night! -
Review from Peter N.
Santa Ana, CA
10/11/2011 Seated via OpenTable
for the quality of the sushi and the atmosphere, its worth the money :)
-sushi was very fresh. (melts in your mouth)
-service was attentive, but the restaurant wasn't really that busy to begin with.
-sushi chefs was nice and talkative.
-definitely try the live sweet shrimp! make sure you fry the head, the whole thing is edible so don't be intimidated.
I would definitely go back, there are plenty of other things I would love to try, specially their omakase lunch. -
Review from Jonathan S.
Irvine, CA
3/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Hands down my favorite place to go to whenever I am craving Sushi! The restaurant staff is very accommodating and the sushi is very fresh! I must say that "Bluefin" has ruined my ability to go anywhere else for sushi.
The lunch boxes are very filling and decently priced. The dinner plates and dessert plates are absolutely fantastic! I highly recommend this place! -
Review from Mark R.
Huntington Beach, CA
12/11/2011
This would be a 5 star except for the waitstaff and price. The sushi was incredible. The rolls were original and flavorful. The sushi was melt in your mouth delicious. The misoyaki black cod was to die for. Full bar with a great selection and very nice wine list for a sushi restaurant. Although the waitstaff was attentive, they were not very informative about the menu. The menu lacked much description and the waitstaff were not helpful in deciphering it. I saw some things that looked really good on the online menu but the in-house menu lacks much of a description so we had to order somewhat blindly. There was a special board but it was tucked into a far corner to the restaurant and the waitstaff did not go over it. Although I don't have a problem paying high prices for fantastic food, $25 for the special rolls was a bit steep. All in all, I would go back.
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Review from alexis b.
12/13/2010
I can't believe I keep forgetting to review Bluefin, I've been going for quite some time and im NEVER disappointed. The last time I came here on a yet another first date LOL. *Sidenote: Dude was a weirdo, took me here, Pelican hill resort for after drinks and Mastros ocean club to keep me in his company for 5 freakin hours pouring out his damaged heart , but yet no second date LOL. http://Match.com has givin me the weirdest dates in only 3 short months LOL
OK so anyway back to this lovely place. We came in got sitted right away. The date knew the owner and they were catching up and we were well taken care of. We ordered a shit load of food. Red snapper carpaccio, yellowtail carpaccio , toro sashimi, varies nigiri , shrimp heads, the mostly ordered king crab roll and to top off the savory meal, colorado lamb chops. Dessert mochi mmmmmmm. Everything is super fresh, the chefs are so friendly and awesome/ I usually break down each item, but im lazy right now. This place is pricey but worth my men's pennies HAHA -
Review from Jason F.
San Francisco, CA
11/10/2010 3 Check-ins Here
This is, by far, the best sushi in Orange County. Make no mistake, you certainly pay for it, however.
Bluefin's friendly sushi chefs make this a welcoming place for a solo-diner or a group of friends. Be careful, though. The place only has 5 smallish tables and maybe 15 seats at the bar, so calling ahead is a good plan if you're bringing more than 4 people.
In my experience, the fish has always been fresh. The king crab salad is amazing. The crispy tuna appetizer is amazing. Last, but certainly not least, the bluefin roll is, by far, the best thing on the menu. At $25 per roll, you may be hesitant to spring for it, but if the general pricing of the place hasn't driven you away at this point, you won't be disappointed by this deceptively-simple-yet-amazing roll. -
Review from David R.
Orange, CA
1/11/2011
This restaurant has some of the highest quality sushi and sake selection in Orange County, CA. The master sushi Chef Abe is wonderfully gifted and the presentation is outstanding. Located in The Crystal Cove in Newport Beach you expect to pay a premium and you do.
With that said, I've had the pleasure of eating here a few times and always came out satisfied and with a smile. The actual sushi bar is as long as the length of the restaurant and the dinning area is not that big but the decor and ambiance is nice.
Try the Omakase (chef's choice) to sample different foods and order the sampler of sake. Although you probably won't be "full" you can definitely taste the difference in quality. Definitely a 5 star restaurant in all ways possible.
*Note* This place is always busy for dinner and I would highly recommend reservations or you might be waiting a while as people that come here like to enjoy themselves.Listed in: Fine Dinning
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Review from Drannab V.
Irvine, CA
9/29/2011
Way too pricey for me to enjoy the food as much as other people do. The food's okay, but for these prices I'd rather just fly to Japan.
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Review from A R.
Orange, CA
2/16/2011
Let me just start by saying, if you are on a budget, Do not go here!, if you don't mind dropping a dime on some sushi, then visit Bluefin. I really really enjoyed (my pocket didn't) the Bluefin Tuna Sashimi, It was as fresh as i have tasted anywhere. I figured since i was spending a few hundo, i might as well eat big too. My gf ordered the Chilean Seabass which was a wonder amongst itself, a lil bland but perfect let you get full flavor of the seabass which flaked off delightfully. I on the other hand ordered the Kobe Beef, which wasn't the best Kobe beef in my life but def the top 3 I have tasted. I order my steaks medium rare, the blood gives the true flavor. This particular piece of meat was sweet and inviting, very tender piece of steak. It would have done better with a larger serving side.
Ordered the oysters, also, some of the freshest i've had in a while.
What keeps the place from being a 5 star review, food is overpriced, perhaps since i'm sitting on property that goes for about 6 bucks a sq ft instead of the norm of 2-4(spectrum). Your paying for Location again here. -
Review from Andy L.
San Diego, CA
1/1/2011
Eating here on New Year's Eve has become a tradition with me and my friends. I almost hesitate to review this because I don't want to publicize their AYCE event. Last year's reservations filled out faster than a rock concert, and I missed out. I didn't miss out this year.
Where to start? Everything we got seemed to be richer and more delicious than before.
-Toro was melt-in-your-mouth.
- Halibut carpaccio was interesting and light, a very nice citrus taste.
- Oysters on a half-shell were wonderful with a ponzu sauce preparation.
- Kobe beef carpaccio seemed to be cut a little thicker this year, and not salted as much. I think I preferred it in years past when it just seemed to be a salty crumble in your mouth.
- Salmon nigiri was served with ponzu, which I think more sushi places should try.
- Duck breast and foie gras. Oh my lord. Duck ringed with a perfect circle of fat. Probably the highlight of the night.
- Yellowtail belly may have been even more melt-in-your-mouth than the toro.
- Uni (Sea Urchin) just everywhere. We ordered so much, it was decadent. Like feeling the need to have two Ferraris instead of one.
- The desserts were excellent as well. The mango sorbet was sweet but not cloyingly so. The green tea ice cream was absolutely fantastic, very creamy and without any sort of chalky taste. The gateau chocolat was a little bit of a letdown, a bit on the dry side and I would prefer a stronger, more dark chocolate taste.
God willing, I am driving the hour and a half every year for this wonderful meal. Chef Abe-San is a rock star in my book. -
Review from Shane S.
Los Angeles, CA
8/28/2010
Newport Beach/Laguna Beach are soooo beautiful! But if this is the best sushi you have in the area, that's a shame.
The good:
1- Staff and sushi chefs are friendly.
2- The miso cod was very good. Not Nobu good, but quite good.
3- They had live scallop, which is my favorite! It was good. Not great, which is a first for me and live scallop.
The bad:
1- The fact that there are only 3 positives!
2- The sushi. The blue fin tuna was dry & the wild king salmon was fishy. We ordered the Bluefin Special roll (shrimp tempura with seared albacore on top). It was like my date, good looking on the outside, bad on the inside.
3- The baked oysters were horrible. How can you ruin baked oysters for goodness sakes!
The ugly:
1- $231 for 2 people - NOT including tip! WTF?!?! Now, I've eaten at Nobu, Matsuhisa, Sasabune, and other sushi establishments that are pricey. But the food and ambiance are at least good sometimes better. You absolutely must be kidding me with these prices for this quality. You saw our order above... that's ALL the food we ordered. We also had 3 small flasks of sake (I think they were $20 ea).
No sir, no way, never again.Listed in: Sushi in LA!
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Review from Andrew S.
Irvine, CA
3/14/2011
Try the Omakase and you won't regret it! At least until you get the bill. I've been here twice and had the Omakase both times. I think there were only 2 of about 7 courses that were the same and it didn't matter for how good it was. Every course was so flavorful and the fish is particularly fresh. I don't care about presentation but I guess it was nice. The atmosphere is nice. The only only only thing is the price. If you get the Omakase, it's well beyond the $$$ designation here on yelp. But I thought it was worth coming back to, at least once so far. We'll see if I get the chance to come back.
(Not everyone does, but wear something kind of nice, it is much more appropriate for this type of experience) -
Review from Omar S.
Huntington Beach, CA
2/15/2011
Came to Bluefin for Valentine's Day Dinner, based on the yelp recommendations. We went away feeling a little disappointed though.
We were hoping for a great night out, but the atmosphere was less than romantic, the ambiance was Uppity Newport, and the tables were really close together.
The food is ok, otherwise it would have been closer to two stars. The real problem is that the ok food costs a lot of cash! Ordered the Albacore belly, and that was less than satisfying. We asked the waiter what the most popular rolls were, and subsequently ordered the Bluefin Roll and the Tuna Tuna Tuna Roll. They were decent, but are about $25 each. That's where the real problem is. For what you pay, you don't get that great of a dining experience. -
Review from LARRY W.
Laguna Beach, CA
2/15/2011
Order the omakase. It's the only way to go here if you're mildy adventurous and enjoy sushi. Frankly, it's insane and one of my favorite meals in the OC.
Lunch is the much better deal than dinner and they give you plenty at both - I think $35 for lunch and around $70 for dinner.
it is truly art. I've only ever ordered omakase so I can't comment on the rest of the menu.
The hostesses do need to learn how to smile a bit. -
Review from Jimmy J.
Newport Beach, CA
2/11/2011
If you love going to sushi once every 4 months because you love to go to really expensive sushi places just based on location, youre in luck! Bluefin is for you.
$160 for 2 people. And it wasn't mindnumbing- wasn't the best meal of my life. it was average. But I did get to be in Newport Coast, so apparently it was well worth the price.
Oh wait, it wasn't.
If Starbucks offered you a venti house blend for $8 instead of the normal $2, would you buy it because it tastes better in Newport Coast?
Ya, I didn't think so. -
Review from Kt K.
Fountain Valley, CA
8/30/2011
One sentence: best sushi spot in Orange County.
Make a reservation because it's a small restaurant. On the pricey side, but soo worth it if you are in the mood for fresh and delicious sushi! -
Review from Matt H.
7/8/2010 1 Check-in Here
My first time here and I was very impressed. I've read others list this as one of the top sushi bars in OC on Chowhound, and I have to agree. It isn't my #1 (still San Shi Go), but it definitely slips into the #2 spot. The fish is very fresh and there were a couple of specials of items I had never had at a sushi bar previously, which is always a treat.
The rolls were excellent, we had the Tuna Tuna Tuna and Sashimi Roll, and our sushi maestro, Nori, accommodated our special request (no rice in the first, no crab in the second) with no hassle. I had the sea bass and foie gras, which was a little less amazing than I was hoping. Frankly, the sea bass itself was better than the combo. It either needed better foie gras, or it could have done without for less. We then ordered a few individual items and comlemented the meal with a couple of the excellent lychee margaritas. It was a pretty spendy dinner (especially with the booze), but not overpriced considering what we ordered. Definitely worth a return trip (or three).
Looking back on my review, It does deserve 5*s, even if there are better, so one extra star it gets. This is not a second tier type of place, but a top notch place that just happens to be my second favorite for the time being.Listed in: SUSHI!!!!!
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Review from Millie K.
Newport Beach, CA
1/8/2011
I finally found great sushi in Orange County. When I moved to Newport 3 months ago, I was disappointed in the quality of sushi (compared to LA). This is by far the best I've tasted. Great chefs.
Lunch deal portions are bigger than I expected. I'm happy now :D -
Review from Taunya R.
Irvine, CA
8/4/2011 1 photo
Hands down - absolute favorite sushi in OC. Albacore dynamite roll is melt-in-your-mouth goodness. Love anything they serve up nigiri... Yellow tail w/ jalapeno, Amber Jack, Sea Bass, Halibut, even basic Salmon sushi has a yummy flair. Yes, it's a bit pricey, but worth every penny, IMO! Chefs are very friendly and service is great. Highly recommend!
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Review from CJ W.
Irvine, CA
7/28/2010
What I love about people - 5 stars to 1 star - the best in OC vs. dont ever come here. And you have to feverishly read these reviews and try to decipher who was drunk when they ate there or who never had sushi before and ranked it as the best sushi in Orange County....
So I'll add one more random review... I have eaten a lot of sushi all over OC/LA/US and int'l as well. I do not get the good reviews for this place.. our dining experience was disappointing. The sushi is ok, uninspiring and our Polish waiter seemed to be asleep or on drugs and was confused the whole time. Here is a secret - want to tell a good sushi restaurant..one way is the miso soup. Yes the generic miso you get free most times with your meal. If a sushi place pays attention and turns out a delicious miso you know they will focus on good sushi... do you see where this is headed... miso was horrible and sushi was just ok. You need to do much better for OC... Hamamori, Fukada, Ikko all blow this place away...
