Cuisine:

• Mexican
• American
• Latin American

Sol Cocina Description:
Located right on Newport Harbor, Sol Cocina was designed to be an airy, yet still intimate space with golden mood lighting, harborside banquettes, cozy tables and an on-the-water patio. Chef Deborah Schneider, who has worked at topnotch San Diego restaurants, is in charge of the kitchens here. Rather than serving up free chips and salsa, Sol Cocina guests are given rather stale whole tostada rounds with an unexciting bean and pine nut dipping sauce. Fortunately, the handmade cocktails are more noteworthy, like the surprisingly good cucumber jalapeño margarita or the ginger tangerine martini. Many come for the customizable and super fresh guacamole, but be careful to not order the way-too-spicy jalapeños with your guac. The three kinds of "street" tacos are satisfying, but not terribly exciting. Chef Schneider's small-plate appetizers are truly small, but the refreshing ceviche and spicy toritos (roasted yellow chilies stuffed with garlic shrimp and Oaxacan cheese) are rather good. As for entrées, we found both the Kobe skirt steak (with avocado, radishes and tomatillo salsa) and the grilled salmon overly salty. The late-night bar menu after 10 p.m. attracts a good-looking crowd of Newport Beach couples and singles.


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