Shake Shack at Crystal Cove - Along
scenic Highway 1 that's known as Pacific Coast Highway in Orange County,
lies a stretch of road so pretty, you feel almost like you're in the country.
Indeed, this region of Newport Beach offers a glimpse into the past with its
hiking trails, historic beach cottages that were recently renovated and now
rented to vacationers, and the long-time roadside stand that welcomes
travelers with a thirst-quenching drink or shake. Overlooking the Pacific Ocean and several miles of open space between Corona
del Mar and Laguna Beach, you'll come across a little food stand once known
as the Date Shack. Formerly bright yellow, it's served shakes and smoothies
for over 40 years. Recently licensed to operate by Ruby's corporation,
it has been painted a more modern white with blue trim and now bears the
sign, "Crystal Cove Shake Shack".
While the
shakes have always been good, the scenery is stunning in this roadside stop.
You can only stay for 30 minutes (the parking lot is rather small), but its
well worth the time to pull over and try a smooth shake, malt, soda and bite
to eat.
The shakes
and malts are served with whipped cream and a cherry and include flavors
such as date, orangecicle, pineapple, mixed berry, vanilla, coffee, banana,
Oreo, strawberry, pina colada, chocolate, peanut butter and chocolate chip
cookie dough. On my coffee shake, the extra added crunch oreo cookies
blended into the drink were yummy!
Smoothies
include mango, peach or mixed berry (date shakes are gone). Rootbeer floats
and flavored Cokes, espresso, cappuccino and lattes (iced or hot), mochas
and hot chocolate offer additional options.
Sandwiches on
the menu when we visited included turkey, roast beef, ham & cheese,
pastrami, hero, veggie, peanut butter & jelly, turkey dog, chili dog, Ruby
dog (beef), and soups chili or clam chowder. Prices on the sandwiches were
quite affordable, ranging from around $4.50 to 9.
The items
available and prices are all subject to change, of course.
Do we
recommend the place? Definitely! Down below the Shake Shack is a new
restaurant concession that opened in 2006 to accommodate travelers staying
in the State Parks historic cabins. Open to the public, Beachcomber at
Crystal Cove has received positive reviews for its good and stunning views.
Beachcomber
Cafe down the stairs on the beach at Crystal Cove: No. 15 Crystal Cove,
Newport Beach, CA. Call: (949) 376-6900. Full cocktail bar. Open
7 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.
Note: Like
all who have enjoyed the Date Shack for years (used to specialize in shakes
that contained dates), that former businesses had its minuses and pluses and
it's sad to say that the concept of a date shake was "dated". Rather than
idealize the former concession, we're simply glad that the Shack remains
along this stretch of coast where towering multi-million dollar homes on the
Newport Coast overlook this tiny little vestige that represents pre-21st
century development. Orange County's build out of land, and trends toward
vertical building, make this little shack a rare treasure that somehow
continues to stand against the odds.
Newport Beach beaches
and points of interest
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