Hook & Anchor

IMPRESSIVE.I saw the raving reviews. I've been meaning to make my way out to Costa Mesa sooner. Glad I was finally able to!Hook & Anchor exceeded my expectations! My mind was blown. I ordered two menu items that are both highly rated by yelpers: the lobster mac and cheese, and the clam chowder. Both were extraordinary in their own right. The lobster mac and cheese had huge chunks of lobster! I don't know of any lobster mac that has that! The cheese sauce was different than your average rue, but it paired perfectly with the lobster. The clam chowder was hearty and so satisfying! Both bowls were licked clean. Service was great. Lobster Mac & Cheese 10/10Clam Chowder 10/10

First time diner. OC resident. Started with raw oysters. Half were briny little gems, the other half were muddy. A cup of chowder which was silky; the clams tender, vegetables nicely chopped. Carbonara was richly done with bits of lobster and pancetta. The sauce was a little tight but flavorful. The Lobster roll was as it should be lobster forward. Served simply with fries and drawn butter. Cocktails were good but not great. A little pricey by inland standards but not out of line for the Newport neighborhood. I will be back.

Birthday dinner for 8. Service was so bad, they hardly came to speak to us and we ordered a full 45 minutes after being seated. Cocktails were terrible. Only order beer or wine, can't mess that up. Food was good, lobster roll was good, cioppino was very good, the oysters were yummmy too. Was the food worth it? No. But we were happy that atleast the food was good.We asked for the appetizers to come before the food and it all came out together which meant all of the dishes were just a mess on the table. Lastly and the kicker of it all, we witnessed all of the employees taking shots not once, not twice but three different times. They were gathered all together next to the bar and that's definitely why the service was so bad. Would not go back, especially for a celebration dinner.

Parking is horrific. Took us forever, so we finally left the parking they have right in front of their location and we parked around the corner near the park and had to walk here. For this restaurant it was worth the walk, normally if we have to do that I say lets find something else, but glad we didn't decide on that this time around. We had lobster bisque to share and lobster roll with cajun fries. I had the 4oz and my husband had the 6oz. The brioche bread was so soft and buttery and lobster inside was piled high and so tasty! Came with lemon-herb and a sriacha mayo, that I mostly used to dip my fries. I need to come back and try the Seafood Cioppino and fish n' chips that I saw someone order. Definitely make reservations (we didn't), but we were able to get seated quickly but we had to sit in the bar area. There was a 30 minute wait for the regular seating area. We were from out of town and just ran in to this place, so we didn't know reservations were needed. Inside is what you would think when you hear the name of the place. Very ocean inspired! Can't wait to come back again soon!

We stopped by for a late lunch on a recent Saturday and had a fantastic meal. Although the main dining room was closed, we were seated at the bar, where our server provided outstanding service. She was incredibly knowledgeable, answering all our questions and even suggesting sauce pairings for our dishes.We started by sharing a cup (which was more like a bowl!) of clam chowder before ordering two Hook plates--one with lobster tail and the other with scallops. The lobster tail was delicious, especially with the yuzu sauce, and I paired it with a mushroom medley and roasted vegetables. The portion was so generous that I couldn't even finish it! The scallop plate came with five perfectly cooked scallops, complemented by fingerling potatoes and the mushroom medley.We were too full for dessert this time, but the bread pudding sounded incredible--definitely something to look forward to on our next visit.

First time here. Sam was our server and he was helpful, courteous and friendly. He guided us through the specials and other aspects of the menu. We decided to try a few items: friend calamari (9/10), lobster Mac-n-cheese (10/10), clam chowder (10/10) with a packet of crackers, and the Newport's finest salad (9/10). The ambiance is calm, pleasant, and relaxing. There are tables and booths inside, along with outdoor seating. Our food was timely yet we didn't feel rushed. Overall it was a fabulous experience to which we will be back to enjoy more options.

Pros- food is delicious and fresh. Service is amazing and nice atmosphere. Especially, the lobster rolls, the seafood salad and the clam chowder. (Perfecto!) Cons: limited parking. Try to avoid rush hours; line will be long if you come during rush hours. Try to arrive earlier or later to get a parking space and less wait at the restaurant. Otherwise, there might be some parking spaces around the corner.

What a great find in the middle of Costa Mesa. The wait was about 30 min longer than quoted which isn't the hostess' problem but still a bummer. We ended up splitting our party into two tables to get seated and ten minutes into the dinner the place cleared out. We should have waited! Haha. We split a lobster roll, clam chowder bread bowl, lobster Mac and cheese and oysters. All were great but not necessarily note worthy. The lobster roll was really expensive and I've had better (just chewy, not soft melt in your mouth). The clam chowder was heavy on the potatoes - very filling if you're hungry. We loved the vibe of the place - big enough to feel open, but small enough to be intimate. Will definitely check out next time we are in town but with a reservation.

I had read about the lobster roll and had the place on my bucket list for the year. I invited a few other friends and we all had a great time.Although it was busy, I had reservations and we were greeted and sat quickly. The restaurant is charming with a definite seafood restaurant feel with a modern twist. It was once a Hennessey's, but has been completely remodeled and feels new.Several of us ordered the lobster roll and were not disappointed. I also got the lobster pasta, which was also delicious.There is some sticker shock paying $40+ for a lobster roll, but it's real lobster and they do pile it on. As the old adage goes, "you get what you pay for!" It's worth it for a splurge night out with friends.

Great place with happy hour. Seafood galore. Very hard to find it's on the busy side of the street but lots of parking. The cioppino was delicious. Will be back.