The Crab Cooker
{{Use American English|date = August 2020}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
{{short description|Seafood restaurant in Newport Beach, California}}
{{Infobox Restaurant
| name = The Crab Cooker
| image = The Crab Cooker.jpg
| image_width =
| image_caption = The original Crab Cooker building as seen from Newport Blvd in 2007
| slogan = "Eat lots a fish!"
| established = 1951{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://thecrabcooker.com/our-story/ |access-date=2020-09-10}}
| current-owner =Jim Wasko{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Hillary |date=2019-12-27 |title=Newport Beach's landmark Crab Cooker draws closer to reopening |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/food/story/2019-12-27/newport-beach-crab-cooker}}
| previous-owner =Bob Roubian
| head-chef =
| food-type =Seafood Restaurants
| dress-code =
| rating =
| street-address = Corner of 22nd & Newport Blvd{{Cite web |date=2007-08-02 |title=Grub Guide |url=https://ocweekly.com/restaurants-grub-guide-6422453/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191129124221/https://ocweekly.com/restaurants-grub-guide-6422453/ |archive-date=November 29, 2019 |website=OC Weekly}}
| city = Newport Beach
| state = California
| zip = 92663
| country = United States
| seating-capacity =
| reservations = No
| other-locations = Tustin, California (1992)
| other-information=
| website = {{url|http://www.crabcooker.com}}
|coordinates = {{coord|33.6100|-117.9281|type:landmark_region:US|format=dms|display=title, inline}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 15
}}
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.
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.{{Cite news |last=Reger |first=John |date=2007-06-13 |title=RESTAURANT REVIEW: The Crab Cooker will reel you in |publisher=Daily Pilot |url=http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2007/06/14/entertainment/dpt-restaurant14.txt}}
History
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. Roubian, a carpenter by trade, had helped remodel the market three years earlier and had an interest in fishing. The original {{convert|1700|sqft|m2|0|adj=on}} restaurant was adjoined by a {{convert|9000|sqft|m2|0|adj=on}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Goldner |first=Liz |date=2001-11-01 |title=The Hottest 25 People in Orange County |work=OC Metro magazine |url=http://www.ocmetro.com/archives/ocmetro_2001/metro110101/hot25/roubain.html}}
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.{{Cite news |last=Hillary |date=2017-12-19 |title='Papa Fish' Bob Roubian, founder of Newport's landmark Crab Cooker, dies at 91 |work=Daily Pilot |url=http://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-bob-roubian-20171219-story,amp.html}}
= 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.{{Cite web |last=Ritchie |first=Erika I. |date=2018-08-31 |title=Beloved Crab Cooker on Balboa peninsula to be torn down for a rebuild; it will be closed for about a year, starting Monday |url=http://www.ocregister.com/beloved-crab-cooker-on-balboa-peninsula-to-be-torn-down-for-a-rebuild-it-will-be-closed-for-about-a-year-starting-monday |access-date=2019-09-10 |website=Orange County Register |language=en-US}} Construction problems delayed rebuilding by more than a year.{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Hillary |date=2020-04-24 |title=Crab Cooker's sign of the times will head into the future |work=Daily Pilot |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/story/2020-04-24/crab-cookers-sign-of-the-times-will-head-into-the-future |via=LA Times}}
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!".{{cite news |last1=Trela |first1=Christopher |title=Newport Beach Landmark Crab Cooker Restaurant Reopens |url=https://www.newportbeachindy.com/newport-beach-landmark-crab-cooker-restaurant-reopens |work=Newport Beach Independent |date=2021-07-21}}
Description
The Crab Cooker restaurant is known for its casual atmosphere.{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Elizabeth |date=2007-03-08 |title=Nostalgia - and lots of fish - at The Crab Cooker |publisher=Orange County Register |url=http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/entertainment/dining/abox/article_1608331.php}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Wylder |first=Greer |date=2006-01-06 |title=Crab Cooker is no-frills relic of Newport's past |publisher=Daily Pilot |url=http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2006/01/19/entertainment/dpt-bestbites06.txt}} the restaurant is popular with locals and tourists from around the world. Food is served on paper plates.{{Cite news |title=The Crab Cooker |work=OC Register |url=http://events.ocregister.com/newport-beach-ca/venues/show/25932-the-crab-cooker |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229094619/http://events.ocregister.com/newport-beach-ca/venues/show/25932-the-crab-cooker |access-date=2010-12-29|archive-date=December 29, 2010 }}{{Cite news |last=Robinson |first=Alicia |date=2005-08-08 |title=Change just sign of time |publisher=Daily Pilot |url=http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2005/03/31/export3135.txt}}
It is common to see patrons waiting in lines in the street; 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.{{Cite news |last=Liddle |first=Alain |date=1999-06-07 |title=Roubian's landmark Crab Cooker still reels 'em in after 48 years |work=Nation's Restaurant News |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3190/is_/ai_54853477}}
In popular culture
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.{{Cite news |last=Edwards |first=Andrew |date=2005-08-08 |title=Bureau points to 'OC' on map |publisher=Daily Pilot |url=http://articles.dailypilot.com/2005-02-12/news/export4439_1_newport-beach-conference-map-points-new-map|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101109025305/http://articles.dailypilot.com/2005-02-12/news/export4439_1_newport-beach-conference-map-points-new-map|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2010}}
See also
{{portal|Food}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{url| http://www.crabcooker.com |The Crab Cooker}}
- {{Cite news |last=Thoensen |first=Sue |date=2006-01-06 |title=Good Old Days |work=Daily Pilot |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-xpm-2008-01-06-dpt-goodolddays06-story.html}}
- {{Cite news |last=Wylder |first=Greer |date=2008-01-06 |title=Crab Cooker is no-frills relic of Newport's past |work=Daily Pilot |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-xpm-2006-01-06-dpt-bestbites06-story.html}}
{{Newport Beach, California}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Crab Cooker}}
Category:Restaurants in Orange County, California
Category:Restaurants established in 1951
Category:Companies based in Newport Beach, California