To this date, no bar has been able to surpass the DEN. For years I have been coming to this waterfront intersection of the upscale Newport Beach lifestyle and casual class. The atmosphere is upscale and the staff and management are fantastic. They give you all the service you come to expect in Orange County with none of the attitude.

No matter if it is a Tuesday afternoon or Sunday Funday this place always has patrons looking for great food and libations. By far, Thursdays and Saturdays are the hottest nights in this bar-restaurant but P-Tyme, Ra and Chef will all agree, there are always tasty selections to choose from any night of the week — plus they have great food.

From the appetizers to wine list or simply the great selection of alcohol everyone can be happy. Some crowd-pleasers:

Food

– Thai Calamari

This is sweet meets sour like never before. Very unique taste that is absolutely scintillating for your taste buds.

– Late night Nachos

These are one of, if not the best nachos in the OC. The only downside is they are only on the late night menu that starts at 11pm and goes until the kitchen closes at 1:30am.

– Chicken Quesadilla

Its big, its grilled, its delicious.

– SLIDERS!

Try the chicken, no wait the ahi tuna, no actually the kobe beef… forget it try them all, they are all fantastic and they come in twos with some of the best fries around (sweet potato or shoestring).

Drinks

They pretty much have anything you could ask for but they have some fantastic shots.

– White Gummy Bear (it tastes just like the real thing)

– Jolly Green Giant

– Greek Sex (one of the only bars around where almost all the bartenders know it by name)

– Surfer on Acid (it tastes just like the real thing… well no, but it’s great for girls, guys and gods)

Their kitchen is open late, until 1:30 a.m meaning a place to eat late that is not Del Taco.

Price range:

Drinks: $-$$$

Food: $$-$$$.

Hours: 11:30 a.m. to 2 a.m., Monday-Friday; 9 a.m. to 2 a.m., Saturday and Sunday

~Ares