Need a reason to go to Bayside Restaurant this month? How about three reasons?
First, owner Marc Ghoukassian has revamped the bar at the Newport Beach restaurant, which is approaching its 25th year in business. What used to be a nice but one-sided bar is now 360 degrees.
The restaurant removed a steel wall and built a continuation of the bar, while adding high top tables. The result is more seating to view and enjoy the live music every night.
Add to that a new bar menu available daily from 4:30 p.m. to close.
I popped in to Bayside on a recent Thursday evening to check out the new bar and menu, and to listen to the Irvine Barclay Theatre Jazz Band featuring Ron Kobayashi on piano and Jerry Mandel on saxophone.
Ghoukassian, son of the late Bayside founder John Ghoukassian, joined me in the bar to share a tasting of the new menu. He also explained one of the primary reasons for the expanded bar.
“Our bar was always full—people would walk in and then walk out because there was no place to sit,” Ghoukassian said. “So, we doubled the space and now people can sit on both sides. It opens everything up and you can see the band better because we moved them up a few feet.”
Ghoukassian noted that many people prefer to eat at the bar, so he created a new bar menu although the full menu is also available.
“Our old bar menu was basically the regular menu with smaller portions. Now we have a new bar menu of bar bites, finger foods, sharable items, all designed for the bar and only available at the bar and bar tables.”
Octoberfest
Another good reason to go to Bayside in October: Oktoberfest.
The season is in full swing and Bayside has brought back its refined Oktoberfest menu, with two new options that combine tradition and refinement.
The Käsekrainer Bratwurst features smoked Emmenthal cheese-infused pork sausage smothered in sauerkraut and served with roasted potatoes alongside sweet and spicy mustard.
Schweinerüken is herb crusted pork loin served with braised red cabbage, green means and mashed potatoes, served with a grainy mustard sauce.
And a special Oktoberfest item served only in the bar: Bavarian Pretzel with housemade beer cheese dip and homemade mustard.
Music Scene
The third reason to go to Bayside is jazz music. Yes, Bayside has live music every night, but Joe Rothman and John McClure—local jazz presenters whose pedigree includes Newport Beach Jazz Party and The Jazz Cruise—are again hosting their Sunset Jazz series at Bayside Restaurant.
The jazzy duo is presenting four Sunset Jazz concerts in October and November in one of the restaurant’s dining rooms, featuring noted contemporary jazz artists.
Call (949) 759-5003 or visit sunsetjazzatnewport.com for ticket info.
Bayside Restaurant: 900 Bayside Drive, Newport Beach, (949) 721-1222, nbaysiderestaurant.com
THE OCBJ REVIEW: BY CHRISTOPHER TRELA
After perusing the new bar menu at Bayside Restaurant and getting some recommendations from owner Marc Ghoukassian, I ordered the hot artichoke dip with toast points, a pair of beef sliders with sharp cheddar and burger sauce, and tuna poke with housemade chips.
It’s easy to overcook sliders but these came out a perfect medium, slightly pink and juicy.
A damn good slider, ideal for when you don’t want a full burger.
The artichoke dip is sharable and addicting. You may want to ask for extra bread.
The tuna poke is also sharable, although I’d hog it to myself.
Other items on the bar menu include Nola fries with Cajun spice, oysters by the shell, a medley of marinated olives, and short rib sliders.
