- 1 January, 2006 -

Of the many jewels within Newport Beach's massive acreage, the gem nestled at the hilt of its crown is the living, breathing postcard that is the Newport Pier. 21 Oceanfront il Farro by Richard Manning, Jr. Photography by Bob Hodson and Eric Uriarte 21 Newport Pier has long enjoyed a well-earned reputation as one of Southern California's most luxurious and rewarding travel destinations. While this magnificent stretch of coast affords a host of oceanic-based activities to entertain the masses, it is the area's popular restaurants like 21 Oceanfront, Rockin' Baja Lobster and il Farro that define the city through their eclectic mix of refinement and relaxation, elegance and ease. The best way to find out how the Newport Pier achieved its iconic stature is to delve into the archives of its foundational history. The area was originally completed back in 1889, when two sibling businessmen, James and Robert McFadden, founded a shipping port on its shores, naming it McFadden's Wharf. Over time, it emerged as the largest business area in the fledgling County of Orange, teeming with open-air seafood markets, many of which sold product that was hauled-in fresh daily from morning fishing expeditions. Around World War II, military personnel stationed nearby poured their money into the region's burgeoning food and entertainment industries. Sixty years later, Newport Pier's surrounding area has kept that lively Rockin' Baja Lobster zest flourishing, a fact that inspires pride in the local culinary establishments. "The beach life creates a very enjoyable, entertaining atmosphere that attracts people of all shapes and sizes," says Houston Strigglow, general manager of Rockin' Baja Lobster. "Because of this, it is absolutely important that we provide a place that lends itself well to such an atmosphere." "There's a sense of closeness with the area that makes the restaurants so special," adds Domenico Maurici, co-owner of il Farro. "There really is no better way to finish a nice day at the pier and the beach than with a lovely dinner. It ties everything together very well." Newport Beach distinguishes itself from other sections of Orange County's commercial beachfronts with a unique combination of commerce and local character. "We know that we are in a beach town and that this is a niche area," explains Pete Levonian, general manager at 21 Oceanfront and the adjacent Doryman's Inn Bed and Breakfast, "but we also know that we are a landmark of sorts, and we'll always be here." Imposing buildings of intrigue aside, the main reason these restaurants thrive is their highquality food. Although they have a common goal, their philosophies for achieving the final objective of providing an exceptional dining experience are quite different. il Farro's Italian cuisine is patterned after what one would find in a coastal, central Italian trattoria. As the name of the restaurant suggests, the menu is centered around farro, a healthy, delicate grain indigenous to Italy's Le Marche region. The special pasta wonderfully accentuates such items as the farro risotto with slipper tail lobster and tiger shrimp, and the farro farrucci with salmon, wild fennel and tomato with touches of vodka, cream, basil and garlic. The dishes prepared by Rockin' Baja originate with ideas from the other side of the globe. The cantina-inspired establishment takes its inspiration from the famous fishing village of Puerto Nuevo in Mexico's popular Baja region. Creating a host of seafood, beef and chicken dishes that one would find within that region's borders, most notably the popular "Baja Buckets ," which contain everything from crabs and shrimp to slipper tail lobsters and carne asada, it also highlights the lobster dinners that made this city a culinary destination. 21 Oceanfront's approach to food is more domestic its aim is to bring a sensibility of fine dining to an area associated mostly with sand and surf. Beautifully prepared entr es such as osso buco, steak Diane and finely-crafted seafood items, such as the famed Baja pink abalone and tiger prawn risotto, establish that foundation with terrific aplomb. Newport Beach, like anything with notable character, attracts its share of tourists, ensuring that business increases during the summer months by as much as 20 percent. "We have some customers from out of state who join us every year," says Maurici. The spike would probably be higher, but when the tourists invade the area, the locals tend to surrender it. "The locals know when to come and when to stay away," Levonian says. "Because of that, our clientele is much different during the fall and wintertime than we see in the summer." It is that switch in clientele that causes a bit of a twitch in 22 Rockin' Baja Lobster 21 Oceanfront 21 Oceanfront There is a hidden element to Doryman's Inn Bed and Breakfast that adds an air of blissful privacy from its place on the Newport Pier. It is a component large enough to catch patrons of its connected restaurant 21 Oceanfront off-guard when they are alerted by its presence. "Initially, a lot of people are surprised when they find out there's a bed and breakfast attached to the restaurant," Doryman's Inn general manager Pete Levonian explains. "It's ironic, because the inn has been around longer than the restaurant!" Once its existence is revealed, an elegant getaway overflowing with romance and regality awaits those who explore one of its eleven rooms. Each room, nook, and corridor is steeped in the luxury and the charm reminiscent of the graceful Victorian era. Yet the elements that make up that feel are actually a clever pastiche of materials from various places around the globe, from finely crafted French and American antiques to Italian marble sunken bathtubs. Each day brings the promise of enjoying a myriad of memorable breakfast treats, from French pastries prepared daily to a refreshing arrangement of delectable fruits. Every night offers the chance to enjoy a view of the moonlight shimmering down upon the ocean or the ability to take in the fresh Newport air from the outdoor patio. Doryman's Inn may not be the first place remembered in the shadow of its more famous restaurant partner. But one getaway there is all it takes to instantly transform it into a place you will never forget. some circles, to the point where there has been talk of transforming the area into something that more closely mimics the inland sections of town. However, such discussion will likely wind up bereft of follow-through. "This is still a beach community, first and foremost," Strigglow states. "Making anything connected this close to PCH into something that resembles Fashion Island is never going to happen." Indeed, it is a beach community. But it is a strong community, its pillars standing firmly among the shifty sand and empty shells. The restaurants of the Newport Pier area contribute to that power not only because they are great places to eat, but because they work together for the betterment of the area, eschewing competition in favor of working as a cohesive unit. "Everyone knows each other and everyone gets along," says Strigglow as he waves to a competitor's employee from his restaurant's patio. "As you can see, it is a tightknit community around here." Il Farro HIDDEN GETAWAY 21 Oceanfront 2100 West Oceanfront Newport Beach, CA 92663 949.673.2100 www.21oceanfront.com Doryman's Inn Bed & Breakfast 2102 West Oceanfront Newport Beach, CA 92663 949.675.7300 www.dorymansinn.com il Farro Caffe Trattoria 111 21st Place Newport Beach, CA 92663 949.723.5711 www.ilfarro.com Rockin' Baja Lobster 2104 West Oceanfront Newport Beach, CA 92663 949.723.0606 www.rockinbaja.com

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