Crab Cooker in Newport Beach

It used to be a bank.

Now they keep fish in the vault.

This is just one of the fun reasons why you should have a meal at the Crab Cooker in Newport Beach, California.

Printed on the paper placemat:

These walls once housed treasures of the Bank of America but now they house the treasure of our fish. Yes, right where the vault of the bank was we have our fish in refrigeration. We are the only seafood joint that keeps its fish in a vault.

This building was constructed in 1936 for the Bank of America. The insignia of the Bank of America can still be seen on the outside corners of this building about 16 feet above the ground. Ain't we lucky to be fishermen and also own a bank?

Eating at the Crab Cooker is a bit like having an indoor picnic - plastic fork, paper plate, even little plastic cups for the wine.

And you can shake out bread balls and breadsticks till you get full.

The seafood, oh the seafood.

It is prepared simply.

No fuss, no muss, just tasty and fresh.

And if you ask your server nicely, she will take your camera back to the kitchen and take snaps of the outside and inside of the vault!

Order the swordfish.

With a cup of chowder or a shrimp cocktail...