Drop
Anchor at Schooner at Sunset
A
Surfrider Foundation Sponsor Story
Sunny
Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to the following copyrighted
material. For permission to reprint or excerpt it and/or link it to another
website, contact them at
Schooner at Sunset (16821 Pacific Coast Highway, Sunset Beach, CA 90742) is
the kind of local beach restaurant where you can stop by and see friends
already gathering at the bar or out front, sharing stories and catching up on
the day.
Driving down PCH, SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and
Patti Kishel spotted the restaurant immediately, noting its ship design and
blue-and-white-striped awnings. By the time we reached the entrance we were
ready to be piped aboard.
The restaurant’s nautical décor, wooden-plank tables,
leather booths, and well-appointed bar made it clear that this was a place to
relax and hang out.
The first person to greet us was hostess Brianna Owens, who was wearing a
Surfrider Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter T-shirt. This made us feel welcome from
the start.
Whether you’re there for an order of fish and chips after
a day of surfing, want to sample the tacos on Taco Tuesday, or are in the mood
to dine with friends and listen to music, Schooner at Sunset has it all. And no
shortage of locally-produced craft beers to try!
Some of the California craft
beers on tap include: Strand Beach House Amber, Noble Ale Works Rosalita, The
Bruery Mischief, Ritual Wits End, Beachwood BBQ Rubia, and Alesmith X.
Manager David
Pruchnic told SurfWriter Girls, “The restaurant is a gastropub specializing
in craft beer and craft cocktails. There are 20 different kinds of draft. And
the craft cocktails are made with the best ingredients and fresh-squeezed
juices. The Margaritas are made with agave. We make our own sweet and sour mix,
too.”
Focusing on American classics – hamburgers, sandwiches,
“market melts” made with the fish of the day, rib eye and flatiron steaks, and
Atlantic salmon – plus extensive taco and bar snacks menus, Schooner’s
emphasizes comfort and camaraderie.
Chef Vasili
Tavernakis, draws on his Greek roots for some of the dishes and a mix of
French, Italian, and Mexican influences, as well.
“We serve traditional,
diner-style food with elements of fine dining. Everything is brought in fresh
and in season. The pasta is homemade from scratch.” Depending on the season,
the fish on the menu might be Yellow Tail, Atlantic Cod, or Northern Pacific
Halibut. One of Tavernakis’ specialties is calamari, breaded in the Greek style,
with his own blend of seasonings.
The bar snacks
alone could make up a meal…and Schooner’s puts its own spin on everything. Take
that staple mac and cheese. Here it’s lobster mac – a blend of lobster, pasta
shells, cheese fondue and chives. And the chicken drummettes with a spicy
dipping sauce are hard to put down.
Schooner at Sunset’s Vinyl
Taco Tuesdays offer more than just value-priced tacos. You get an
assortment of favorites – ground beef, grilled chicken and grilled shrimp –
along with ceviche, lamb tacos, and others, priced at $1.50 or $2.00. Plus it’s
a BYO vinyl party with everyone bringing their favorite records to spin.
Bartender Jeff
Busse is right in the middle of all the action. “It’s amazing here. We get
to bring something different to the neighborhood and turn people on to the craft
scene.” With all the different beers to pull and drinks to mix, he’s busy
non-stop.
There’s always something going on at Schooner’s. Monday
night is football or comedy night. On Wednesday local bands show up and
Thursday is country night. Friday and Saturday are dance music nights. Sunday
focuses on new talent.
Pruchnic explained, “One of our goals is to be a
destination entertainment venue. We want people to come from outside the area
to see our acts.” Along with lining up top talent, Schooner’s has created a
showcase for the performers in its state-of-the art lounge.
Launched in January 2013, Schooner at Sunset is the new
sibling to the popular Schooner or Later
restaurant in Long Beach.
As part of its commitment to the beach community,
it is a sponsor of the non-profit Surfrider
Foundation, which works to preserve our oceans and beaches. Schooner's fundraiser for the H/SB chapter last August was a big hit, with party-goers bused in
for the festivities and the proceeds going to help Surfrider achieve its
environmental mission.
Schooner’s is open Monday – Wednesday from 2 p.m. – 11
p.m.; Thursday from 2 p.m. “till the cowgirls go home;” Friday 2 p.m. – 2 a.m.;
Saturday, 10 a.m – 2 a.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. For more information, phone
562-592-2121 or check the website.
Then the next time you’re looking for a neighborhood
eatery at the beach where you can kick back with friends, why not drop an anchor
at Schooner at Sunset – the “schooner,” the better!
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