Hello Friends! This past week I was invited to attend a media preview of the new hot spot located by the Newport Beach pier, Dory Deli! The brainchild of owners Andrew Gabriel and Mario Marovic, this beautiful and thoughtful new restaurant features salad, sandwiches, and breakfast complimented with craft beer and Kean coffee. Complete with delicious vegan options, adorable artisanal sodas, and one of the only “slayer” espresso machines handmade in Seattle to grace the OC, the Dory Deli is on the fast track to becoming my new favorite spot.

The sun sets on the Newport Beach pier as I arrive for the media dinner. I walk around and take some shots of the beach and was surprised how easy it was to find parking. Granted it was a Wednesday, but I was still impressed that we were able to park practically right in front of the restaurant. Dory is located just north of the pier and faces the waterfront, which would make for some killer sunrises and sunsets, right from the enclosed patio. It’s impressive Dory intends to open for breakfast at 6am, and stay open until late to accommodate both the early and late crowd, and appease the coffee addicts and fellow hop head. While I didn’t sample the breakfast options, I did get a good idea how the lunch and evening offerings were and I was very excited for their potential.

Favorites:

Buffalo Mary Sandwich- The roasted cauliflower is meaty and spicy with a surprising true buffalo wing taste. Crunchy carrot strings add a wonderful unctuous texture alongside the crunchy and mouthwatering bread. I loved this sandwich. This was also vegan, which was an added bonus considering it was both satisfying and tasty. Went well with my Ballast Point Sculpin.

Mediterranean Pasta Salad- Sun-dried tomatoes, kalamata olives, parsley, olive oil, garlic, feta (and of course, al dente pasta). This pasta salad is addicting. It has a mouth-watering quality to it, with a slight sourness that is just right to keep you coming back for another bite. It’s like the sour beer used to cleanse your palate in between meals or bites of cheese. I want more of it right now…I know my husband loved it. He finished the whole bowl offered to the two of us!

Smoked Potato Salad- Red potatoes, celery, onions, vegenaise, whole grain mustard, spices. Honestly I never thought I would like a vegan item made with vegenaise so much. It’s intensely smokey, which lends such an interesting flavor profile that plays well with the red onions and perfectly cooked potatoes. Lovely side with my Barley Forge coconut amber.

If anything becomes clear after tasting my way through most of the menu it’s that the attention to detail makes for a creative and enjoyable experience from beginning to end. I loved that there was vegan options that was so yummy one would never miss the meat or animal products. I also loved that at the end of the meal, after all the tasting and beers, I didn’t feel weighed down or overly full, which I attribute to the healthy cuisine.

Dory Deli is slated to have their ribbon cutting ceremony on January 21st at 5:30pm and their grand opening on Monday, January 26th. Like their Facebook page here.

Address: 2108 3/4 West Oceanfront Dr, Newport Beach, California

Mon-Sunday 6am-1am

(949) 220-7886