Old Abalone Pub

Posted by brendan on Apr 16, 2011 in Food, Mendocino | 0 comments

I‘ve been doing some work for the Westport Hotel, and had a meeting there on March 24th. Afterwards, I was invited to stay for dinner. I was curious, since they recently lost their chef in one of those local fiascos that seem to happen every now and then. I had the opportunity to eat there when Shana was chefing, and had a really amazing homemade veggie burger that impressed the heck out of me. I was curious how the new chef stacked up.

I continue to be impressed by the food here. I had a delicious bisque, that was warm and hearty, and exactly what the raging storm outside called for. The fish and crab cakes were both good – I found the mango salsa a bit too fruity, without the acid to really bring out either the fish or crab, but all in all it was on a par with the nicer food in the area. Doreen brought a piece of cheesecake, her recipe on the menu, and it stole the show for me. It’s been years since I’ve had cheesecake, but I’m still comfortable saying this was one of the best pieces I’ve ever had. Incredibly tart, with a nice creamy texture, and well layered.

What makes this place for me, though, is the atmosphere. The food is good, and I trust it will only continue to improve as the chef gets his footing, but the ambiance is officially my favorite on the coast. It has the feel of an Old World pub – cozy but not too cramped, high ceilings, a beautiful bar – one of the best views in the area, and is in the middle of one of the few real towns left in the county. I was here during a raging storm, and while I sat enjoying my meal, an assortment of local Westporters made their way in for a pint or a bite. People talked from table to table, everyone knew everyone else’s name, and I felt at home immediately.

That’s what makes a restaurant a real find, and that’s why I’ll keep making the long drive to Westport to enjoy this place.