The Crab Cooker

Last updated

The Crab Cooker
The Crab Cooker.jpg
The original Crab Cooker building as seen from Newport Blvd in 2007
The Crab Cooker
Restaurant information
Slogan"Eat lots a fish!"
Established1951 [1]
Owner(s)Jim Wasko [2]
Previous owner(s)Bob Roubian
Food type Seafood Restaurants
Street addressCorner of 22nd & Newport Blvd [3]
City Newport Beach
State California
Postal/ZIP Code92663
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 33°36′36″N117°55′41″W / 33.6100°N 117.9281°W / 33.6100; -117.9281 Coordinates: 33°36′36″N117°55′41″W / 33.6100°N 117.9281°W / 33.6100; -117.9281
ReservationsNo
Other locations Tustin, California (1992)
Website www.crabcooker.com

The Crab Cooker is a popular Southern California restaurant specializing in seafood that is located at 22nd Street and Newport Boulevard in Newport Beach on the Balboa Peninsula. In 1969, Venture Magazine rated it as one of the top two restaurants in the world. [4]

Contents

The restaurant is known for its Manhattan-style clam chowder, skewers of scallops, crab and lobster entrees, oysters, crab and shrimp cocktail, salmon fillet and other fresh fish. [5]

History

Iconic Fish Sign Don't Look Up Here.jpg
Iconic Fish Sign

The Crab Cooker restaurant was founded at 28th Street and Marina when original owner Bob Roubian was offered the opportunity to take over a local fish market in August 1951. [6] Roubian, a carpenter by trade, had helped remodel the market three years earlier and had an interest in fishing. [6] The original 1,700-square-foot (158 m2) restaurant was adjoined by a 9,000-square-foot (836 m2) annex. The building housing the restaurant was formerly a branch of the Bank of America, whose former logo can be seen embedded in the corner of the building. The restaurant was established in 1951 and is considered a local landmark. In 1992, a second restaurant was opened in Tustin, California. [4]

Bob Roubian, who was born in Pasadena, served as a Seabee during the Second World War. In 1955, Roubian and Cliffie Stone wrote a rockabilly song called "The Popcorn Song", proceeds from which helped pay off the restaurant's debts. Roubian died in 2017 and the restaurants are now managed by his son-in-law. [7]

Temporary closure

In 2019, The Crab Cooker's original location in Newport Beach was demolished after construction of an adjacent condominium complex undermined the restaurant's foundations, causing major structural damage that resulted in the business's insurers declaring the building to be "unsalvageable." The building's owners decided to demolish it and rebuild on the current site. The last day of business in the original building was September 2, 2018. [8] Construction problems delayed rebuilding by more than a year. [9]

In 2021, the new building opened, retaining many of the features and whimsy of the original building, including the iconic fish sign that says, "Don't look up here!". [10]

Description

The Crab Cooker restaurant is known for its casual atmosphere. [11] The building's exterior is painted bright red. Inside, the restaurant decoration is a pastiche of unique items including paintings by famous artists, theater chandeliers, pots and pans, a wrought-iron gate, nautical equipment and a giant shark. [6] the restaurant is popular with locals and tourists [6] from around the world. Food is served on paper plates. [12] [13]

It is common to see patrons waiting in lines in the street; [5] these lines once elevated The Crab Cooker to national headlines when advance staff for President Richard Nixon asked Roubian to allow Nixon to be seated for dinner. Roubian informed them the president would have to wait along with rest of the people, as would any president. [14]

In the television show The O.C. , the restaurant dubbed the "Crab Shack" is The Crab Cooker. but, in one episode, Julie Cooper (Melinda Clarke) refers to the restaurant by its real-life name. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange County, California</span> County in California, United States

Orange County is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area in Southern California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,186,989, making it the third-most-populous county in California, the sixth-most-populous in the United States, and more populous than 27 American states and Washington, D.C. Although largely suburban, it is the second-most-densely-populated county in the state behind San Francisco County. The county's three most-populous cities are Anaheim, Santa Ana, and Irvine, each of which has a population exceeding 300,000. Santa Ana is also the county seat. Six cities in Orange County are on the Pacific coast: Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and San Clemente.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newport Beach, California</span> City in Orange County, California

Newport Beach is a coastal city in South Orange County, California. Newport Beach is known for swimming and sandy beaches. Newport Harbor once supported maritime industries however today, it is used mostly for recreation. Balboa Island draws visitors with a waterfront path and easy access from the ferry to the shops and restaurants.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balboa Peninsula, Newport Beach</span> Neighborhood of Newport Beach, California

The Balboa Peninsula is a neighborhood of the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. It is named after Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, the first European to sight the Pacific from the Americas. Balboa is primarily residential with some commercial areas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange Coast</span> Area in the Pacific Coast in Orange County, California

The Orange Coast is the string of cities and neighborhoods fronting the Pacific Coast in Orange County, California. From northwest to southeast, these cities are Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Dana Point and San Clemente. Specific neighborhoods associated with the "Orange Coast" moniker include Surfside, Sunset Beach, Balboa Island, Balboa Peninsula, Corona del Mar, Newport Coast, South Laguna, Monarch Beach and Capistrano Beach. Seal Beach and Huntington beach are considered to belong to North Orange County, while Newport Beach and the cities to its south are considered part of South Orange County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fashion Island</span> Shopping mall in California, U.S.

Fashion Island is an outdoor regional shopping mall in Newport Beach, California. Opened in 1967 by The Irvine Company as the anchor to their master-planned Newport Center district, Fashion Island is anchored by Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Neiman Marcus, and Nordstrom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cioppino</span> Fish stew originating in San Francisco

Cioppino is a fish stew originating in San Francisco, California. It is an Italian-American dish and is related to various regional fish soups and stews of Italian cuisine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balboa Pavilion</span> United States historic place

The Balboa Pavilion in Newport Beach, Orange County, California, is a California Historical Landmark and a National Historic Place. Established on July 1, 1906, the Balboa Pavilion played a prominent role in the development of Newport Beach by attracting real estate buyers to an area formerly designated as "swamp and overflow" land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balboa Pier</span> Ocean pier in Newport Beach, California

The Balboa Pier is one of two piers in the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. The other ocean pier on the Balboa Peninsula is the Newport Pier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balboa Island Ferry</span>

The Balboa Island Car Ferry is a ferry service in Newport Beach, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balboa Fun Zone</span> Family destination in California

The Balboa Fun Zone is a family destination located on the Balboa Peninsula in the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. The Balboa Fun Zone offers both an ocean and harbor experience for an estimated seven million annual visitors to Newport Beach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Newport Pier</span> Ocean pier in Newport Beach, California

The Newport Pier is one of two municipal piers in the city of Newport Beach, California. The pier replaced the McFadden Wharf (1888-1939) and the site is registered as California Historical Landmark number 794. It is 1,032 feet long. The other ocean pier on the Balboa Peninsula is the Balboa Pier.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Balboa Bay Resort</span> Resort hotel in Newport Beach, California, United States

The Balboa Bay Resort is a 160-room resort hotel in Newport Beach, California, United States on 15 acres (6.1 ha). The facility was founded in 1948 as the Balboa Bay Club, a private yacht club. The Balboa Bay Club includes a 130-slip marina, private beach, waterfront pools, private restaurant, a spa and fitness center, and 145 apartments on the Newport Beach Harbor waterfront on the Pacific Coast Highway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lundy's Restaurant</span> Former seafood restaurant in Brooklyn, New York

Lundy's Restaurant, also known as Lundy Brothers Restaurant, was an American seafood restaurant in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, along the bay of the same name. Lundy's was founded in 1926 by Irving Lundy as a restaurant on the waterfront of Sheepshead Bay; five years later, the original building was condemned to make way for a redevelopment of the bay. The present building opened in 1934 or 1935, and closed in 1979. Another restaurant operated in the Lundy's building from 1997 to early 2007, after which the building was converted into a shopping center.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe's Stone Crab</span> Restaurant in Florida, USA

Joe's Stone Crab, also known as Joe's Stone Crabs, is an American restaurant in Miami Beach, Florida. Joe Weiss began his Miami Beach career by cooking at Smith's Casino beginning in 1913. On December 4, 1920, Joe officially opened his own restaurant at 213 Biscayne Avenue, practically across the street from the restaurant he operated for Smith’s Casino. Joe's is the biggest buyer of Florida stone crab claws, and it plays a significant role in the industry, influencing the wholesale price and financing many crabbers.

The Newport Beach Film Festival(NBFF) is an annual film festival in Newport Beach, California, typically held in late April.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby's Diner</span>

Ruby's Diner is a restaurant chain aesthetically designed after American diners of the Swing Era. It first opened on December 7, 1982 by Doug Cavanaugh and Ralph Kosmides. Ruby's Diner serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, with a menu that includes classic American diner fare of hamburgers, French fries, chili and milkshakes along with soups, salads and sandwiches. To date, Ruby's Diner operates a total of 20 locations. 16 are located in Southern California. The remaining four are located in the states of Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Nevada respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Gruel</span> American chef and television personality

Andrew Gruel is an American chef and television personality, based in Orange County, California. He appeared as a judge on Food Network's Food Truck Face Off and as a host of FYI's Say It to My Face!, and is the founder, CEO and executive chef of Slapfish, a seafood restaurant franchise based out of Huntington Beach, California; Big Parm, a pizza restaurant in Tustin, California; and Two Birds, a chicken restaurant in Irvine, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McFadden Wharf</span> California historic landmark

The place of McFadden Wharf was designated a California Historic Landmark (No.794) on July 3, 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King's Seafood Company</span>

King's Seafood Company is a restaurant chain and seafood distribution company based in Costa Mesa, California with operations in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado. The company's restaurants include Water Grill, King's Fish House, and 555 East steakhouse in Long Beach.

References

  1. ↑ "History" . Retrieved September 10, 2020.
  2. ↑ Davis, Hillary (December 27, 2019). "Newport Beach's landmark Crab Cooker draws closer to reopening". Los Angeles Times.
  3. ↑ "Grub Guide". OC Weekly. August 2, 2007. Archived from the original on November 29, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Goldner, Liz (November 1, 2001). "The Hottest 25 People in Orange County". OC Metro magazine .
  5. 1 2 Reger, John (June 13, 2007). "RESTAURANT REVIEW: The Crab Cooker will reel you in". Daily Pilot.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Wylder, Greer (January 6, 2006). "Crab Cooker is no-frills relic of Newport's past". Daily Pilot.
  7. ↑ Hillary (December 19, 2017). "'Papa Fish' Bob Roubian, founder of Newport's landmark Crab Cooker, dies at 91". Daily Pilot.
  8. ↑ Ritchie, Erika I. (August 31, 2018). "Beloved Crab Cooker on Balboa peninsula to be torn down for a rebuild; it will be closed for about a year, starting Monday". Orange County Register. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
  9. ↑ Davis, Hillary (April 24, 2020). "Crab Cooker's sign of the times will head into the future". Daily Pilot– via LA Times.
  10. ↑ Trela, Christopher (July 21, 2021). "Newport Beach Landmark Crab Cooker Restaurant Reopens". Newport Beach Independent.
  11. ↑ Evans, Elizabeth (March 8, 2007). "Nostalgia - and lots of fish - at The Crab Cooker". Orange County Register.
  12. ↑ "The Crab Cooker". OC Register. Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved December 29, 2010.
  13. ↑ Robinson, Alicia (August 8, 2005). "Change just sign of time". Daily Pilot.
  14. ↑ Liddle, Alain (June 7, 1999). "Roubian's landmark Crab Cooker still reels 'em in after 48 years". Nation's Restaurant News.
  15. ↑ Edwards, Andrew (August 8, 2005). "Bureau points to 'OC' on map". Daily Pilot.


This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.