Lark Creek @ Newport Beach – Spring Cocktail & Happy Hour Media Tasting

(By Allen Taylor)

It was with great excitement that I found myself making my way through Newport Beach to Fashion Island where a semi hidden and delightful Lark Creek Restaurant has made it’s home. Situated between Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus and across from Urban Outfitters, Lark Creek is now making a name for itself in Orange County with innovative delicious foods and cocktails with farm-fresh dining that originally began 24 years ago.

(Photos by Allen Taylor Photography)

With a new Happy Hour menu, you can easily grab an excellent  bite and drink in the relaxing lounge area conveniently located at the very front entrance with both indoor and outdoor seating.

Featured items include the very tasty Deviled Eggs with Dungeness crab and chipotle aioli shown above and the Crispy Calamari that comes with a spicy chile sauce. Of course you will want to try some cocktails to sip while you eat. The three above are from left to right: The Derby (Evan Williams Bourbon, Carpano Antica, orange curacao lime) is a somewhat classic bourbon cocktail and is a great way to start the evening.  The very refreshing cucumber flavored Spring Sipper  (St. Germain Elderflower liqueur, Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur, prosecco, lime and cucumber). The third drink is the very beautifully red Martinez Fresco (strawberry infused Hendricks gin, house made rhubarb simple syrup, carpano antica, and lime juice). Although a bit sweet for my taste, you may wish to give it a try as an alternative to stronger or dryer cocktails.

As you can see in the list and on the left in the image below, you can’t have a lounge without beer and Lark has some great offerings at very good prices (some beer offerings are only a buck during happy hour).

$4 beers:
Draft Beer
Eagle Rock Revolution, Extra Pale Ale
Speakeasy Ales Big Daddy, IPA
Hangar 24 Orange Wheat, Unfiltered Fruit Beer
North Coast Scrimshaw, Pilsner
Bottled Beer
21st Amendment
Hell or High Watermelon Wheat, Unfiltered Fruit Beer
Bear Republic Brewing Company Racer 5, IPA
North Coast Old Rasputin, Russian Imperial Stout (featured below; a dark beer with no bitter aftertaste – I highly recommend)
Stone Ruination, Double IPA

Also some $10 large format bottled beers:
Eagle Rock Solidarity, Black Mild Ale
Ironfire Brewing Company 51/50, IPA
Noble Ale Works The Good Ship, ESB
Telegraph Brewing Company, White Ale
The Lost Abbey, Judgement Day Ale, Quadruple

and some very good $5 wines on tap including Girl in the Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc, Hess Shirttail Chardonnay, and Until Vineyards Rosso Italian Blend.

The center drink below is the The Yellow Jacket (Harradura Resposado Tequila, Cocchi Americano and Yellow Chartreusetastes) was a favorite and one of the stronger drinks. With a spicy twist this drink is served with a large ice cube for an even drinking experience. The last drink featured below right is the Whistle Stop (Hibiscus-infused bourbon, lime, Demerara simple syrup, egg white, and burlesque bitters). Along with the smooth blended ingredients that make up most of the cocktail, this crowd favorite  is shaken with egg whites to make a kind of  light meringue top.

Now back to the food, you must come during happy hour (from Sunday – Thursday from 3pm-7pm & Friday /Saturday from 3pm-6pm)  because for only a $1 each you can throwback these Fanny Bay Oysters shown below.  Don’t miss out, they are as fresh and wonderful as they look.

Sliders are always a crowd favorite and the two (yes you get 2) pork belly sliders below are no different. Using the meatiest sections of the belly, to create a meaty patty, they are then marinated and grilled with a hoisin glaze. The sliders are served on a crisp brioche bun and topped with a house made kimchi-sooooo goood with one of the many beer selections.

Not to be out done, the tamale pancake is a unique must try dish. It is a cross between a broken down tamale and a corn based pancake. This tamale like meal also features BBQ style chicken, avocado salsa and crispy tortilla strips.

Last and not least on our happy hour tasting menu (even though we shared we where all so stuffed with big smiles on our faces) was the street sized braised short rib tacos ( chipotle rub, pickled cabbage and avocado-tomatillo salsa) . With house pickled cabbage and avocado tomatillo salsa on the side, they quickly disappeared from the plates.

You’ll be tempted to try them all and they are all very very yummy and filling. So bring an appetite for both drinks and food if you are anywhere near Newport Beach.  Or better yet get yourself near there and do your taste buds a favor.  Wendy and I enjoyed it so much, we’ve already brought friends here.  You know what they say, sharing is caring!

Lark Creek
957 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 640-6700