The Crab Cooker

The Crab Cooker was another stop on our road trip in Newport, California. It resides near the beach and makes you feel like you're eating at the busy home of a fisherman. In fact, this restaurant was started by a fisherman and the entire restaurant is refelctive of his love for seafood as it is filled with fishing memorabilia and photos. On each table are two plastic containers filled with breadsticks and "crackerbals." The crackerballs are yummy crackers that resebmle gumballs. I imagine they would taste yummy with a bowl of chowder!! The paper plates, paper cups, and plastic utensils help to make this place very laid back, while keeping the cost down.
The restaurant's motto is "Eat Lotsa Fish!" so the menu is filled with seafood selections like crab, salmon, shrimp, and crab cakes. The front of the restaurant also has a refrigerator filled with crabs and fish to enjoy at home. To add to the restaurant's laid back atmosphere, all the waitresses are older ladies, who act as if you're long-time customers. This surely isn't a "high class" seafood restaurant, but it guarantees a good time! :)
The crab cocktail was delicious; especially because the cocktail sauce was spicy and tangy! We even requested more cocktail sauce to eat with the breadsticks and the rest of our meal. My meal was a combination of grilled shrimp and scallops. Both the shrimp and scallops were cooked to perfection (not overcooked) and surprisingly light. With the ambiance of the restaurant, I expected all the food to be deep fried and heavy (like fish and chips) but my dinner was neither. All entrees come with a choice of romano potatos or pilaf and cole slaw or sliced tomatoes. My friends all enjoyed what they ordered. The Crab Cooker was definitely a fun and memorable experience!

The Crab Cooker
2200 Newport Blvd.
Newport, California
http://www.crabcooker.com