A La Carte Gourmet

Poised on Balboa Blvd, between the pier and the ferry dock, a la carte gourmet commands a prime location in the tourist-​rich neighborhood of Newport Beach, CA.
My GF and I had a wonderful lunch here on a lazy Monday afternoon. The place was empty, but don’t let that deceive you: this was truly a charming bistro. From the offbeat artwork on the walls, to the antique-​shop like décor, the atmosphere was unmistakably beach-​chic.
We elected to have to lunch combo: half-​sandwich, soup and soft drink. All this for an utterly affordable $ 6.50 /​person. (For comparison, just 2 blocks away, closer to the pier was a forgettable joint selling pizza, chips and a soda for $ 6.)
Service was also top notch, with an attentive owner/​manager (?) who insisted on replacing my soup when he felt it was simply too salty. Not overbearing, mind you. Surfer-​laid-​back. Oh so right for a lazy afternoon.
Oh, and the bathroom: the cutest thing ever!
Value: * * * * *
Food: * * * ½ (Corrected for price: * * * *)
Atmosphere: * * * * ¹⁄₂