tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post2880305308820730486..comments2024-03-18T20:53:02.128-07:00Comments on Orange County Memories: Hank's Restaurant, Newport BeachSteve Johnsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07254867681706917705noreply@blogger.comBlogger33125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-69170444599081421552013-11-29T10:57:12.982-08:002013-11-29T10:57:12.982-08:00My first Bal Week was in 1949! Lived in Seal Beac...My first Bal Week was in 1949! Lived in Seal Beach. Went with my big brother and three of his friends from his "club", the Chaparrals. Rented a house at 217 Diamond. I was only 16 at the time, but I had a truly great time. Hot chicks and beer to a 16-year old? Heaven!<br /><br />Went year after year until the military called me and said that they thought it would be good for the country's morale if I enlisted. I did. Stalin died just after I enlisted. Guess he heard that Bob King had enlisted and he had a heart attack!<br /><br />Bring back Bal Week and bring back Balboa Blues!majskykinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09588815948087052598noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-63221222967379179922013-11-19T09:06:16.999-08:002013-11-19T09:06:16.999-08:00I dated Hank's granddaughter for a while when ...I dated Hank's granddaughter for a while when The Peninsula was THE place to go for a good time and no problems. Drinking at 18 was legal on private property in those days.<br /><br />Sorely miss Bal-Week!!!!!!!Low Down Buzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05707266043744835431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-31835863408684176672013-11-19T09:03:13.743-08:002013-11-19T09:03:13.743-08:00I dated the granddaughter of Hank for a while.I wo...I dated the granddaughter of Hank for a while.I wonder where she is now?Low Down Buzzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05707266043744835431noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-40547381532197181972013-11-18T17:58:42.998-08:002013-11-18T17:58:42.998-08:00I too am late to the conversation. Hank's was ...I too am late to the conversation. Hank's was the best!! My boyfriend and I used to go there often, driving in from Riverside. Best fish in all SoCal. I remember the balloons and also that cats walked around in the restaurant. I sure miss it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-27813340203663188732013-11-04T15:27:01.618-08:002013-11-04T15:27:01.618-08:00Hi,
A tad late in the conversation, but what the h...Hi,<br />A tad late in the conversation, but what the heck. I worked at hank's from 1975-1978 while going through college. The owners were very nice to the employees and tok care of us. Most of the employees were going through school or were surfers. The food was a good, and lots of it. It took a great deal of time to peel, clean and prepare the jumbo fried shrimp. We used to occasionally over cook the abalone fish so it would come back and we could eat it ourselves. Nothing but great memories from back in the day...kwAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-60827100394012094642013-10-23T09:07:29.824-07:002013-10-23T09:07:29.824-07:00Hank's last name was Pabst and his wife was Ge...Hank's last name was Pabst and his wife was Gert(rude). They were quite a pair, usually compatible but they both drank a bit and some times the compatibility disappeared just like the tide. It could get a bit blue. But the fish and shrimp were indescribable perfection.<br />Hank told me his liquid in the batter was buttermilk and he confided he used a pinch or two of garlic if Gert wasn't watching. Absolutely religious about the freshness of his frying oil. More than once observed a drain and recharge with fresh oil while people lined up a half block outside on a Friday evening. They hooted and catcalled, but they waited nonetheless.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-68385659167681658642013-08-02T09:53:20.256-07:002013-08-02T09:53:20.256-07:00I also remember Hanks Ocean Front Cafe, I used to ...I also remember Hanks Ocean Front Cafe, I used to work there in 1970.<br />The place was a dream come true for me because of my love for seafood and the water. It was a husband and wife that owned it then. I remember the husband walking around with his parrot on his shoulder as he was telling me how to properly clean shrimp! I also remember all the photos of the celebrities that had eaten there and left signed pics about how good the food was! June was the wife's name and I don't recall the husbands name. But it was an experience I'll never forget.Greg Ginielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11805758610761616619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-40768921411614105972013-07-03T20:05:56.991-07:002013-07-03T20:05:56.991-07:00I only went there once as a kid and their fish bur...I only went there once as a kid and their fish burgers were the best.basspuppethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07696910915245752626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-82008287622383355132013-06-11T22:29:44.923-07:002013-06-11T22:29:44.923-07:00Hank and my father were very good friends... I rem...Hank and my father were very good friends... I remember as a kid walking right past everyone in line right after my dad....and getting a table and Hank always had a big hug for me and my dad... I have wonderful childhood memories of my times eating at Hank's... and the Fish and Chips were the Best I have every had in my life...... I have been told by my dad that the fish he cooks is from Hank's recipe... But with Hank and my Father being passed away ... I can only dream that my dad was telling the truth.... So glad to have awesome memories of this wonderful place in my life...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-63439513574756069202013-06-01T13:14:37.684-07:002013-06-01T13:14:37.684-07:00When I lived in Newport about 2 blocks from the pi...When I lived in Newport about 2 blocks from the pier, we walked to Hank's all the time -- the fish and chips were amazing and fresh. My friend Linda worked there in 75-77. We would just go see here and get a table right away. It was a great job for her -- good money and nice bosses. I was too young to work there because I wasn't 21 -- and couldn't serve alcohol. Would have loved to work there! I wonder if it's still around. Charlie's Chili is still there, I'm glad to see. <br />Divaliciashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03979210980235188420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-16669011133734285902013-04-24T15:24:16.814-07:002013-04-24T15:24:16.814-07:00Hanks had the greatest crab stuffed fried shrimp! ...Hanks had the greatest crab stuffed fried shrimp! I loved that place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-3862076119443678402012-11-01T17:59:24.231-07:002012-11-01T17:59:24.231-07:00How can we forget Hank's on the ocean front, N...How can we forget Hank's on the ocean front, Newport Beach. Makes my mouth water to think about it. And I remember Hank. Lived in Newport from 1967 to 1998Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-89959720798765650612012-09-30T22:06:16.849-07:002012-09-30T22:06:16.849-07:00My husband and I were just there today! We were lo...My husband and I were just there today! We were looking for Hanks where we use to enjoy our dating days back in '79 and we're pretty sure we ate there in '80, too. We asked several people around there today if they knew what happened to Hanks and no one had heard of it. We settled on eating at Charlie's Chili; another old restaurant from "back in the day"! I remember Hanks great tasting fried shrimp and it seems like I remember hearing the pounding of a mallet as the shrimp was being flattened to the size of a plate back in the kitchen. I also recall seriously questioning the cleanliness of the place after we saw the condition of the bathroom one night! Good times, good times, and hard to believe it was 32/33 years ago! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-20273572001854423752012-09-27T11:56:10.866-07:002012-09-27T11:56:10.866-07:00We used to eat there frequently on Friday nights. ...We used to eat there frequently on Friday nights. I can remember standing in line next to the aquarium as you went up the stairs to the upper level. It was a hole-in-the-wall, but boy did they have good fish & chips!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-60591682805536170932012-08-24T09:49:09.568-07:002012-08-24T09:49:09.568-07:00Hanks had been there since the 1950's. His suc...Hanks had been there since the 1950's. His success was largely due to his wonderful batter. Never had better deep fried fish.Since my dad worked down the street and knew him he would sell my dad batter in a milk carton to take home for fish that we caught in the ocean.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-35560992457378023072012-08-19T13:23:52.828-07:002012-08-19T13:23:52.828-07:00My parents lived on 32nd street when I was born in...My parents lived on 32nd street when I was born in 1963 and took me to meet Scotty and his wife on our way home from Hoag, before meeting my birth family. Scotty's was the go to for fish and chips through out my life!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-81958789638666143432012-07-25T04:23:33.279-07:002012-07-25T04:23:33.279-07:00We went there every weekend for a while. They had ...We went there every weekend for a while. They had the best food, especially the fish and chips! I was sad when it closed. I think the life went out of the pier atmosphere after it closed.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-44841485839258854302012-07-25T04:21:37.025-07:002012-07-25T04:21:37.025-07:00We went there every weekend for a while when I was...We went there every weekend for a while when I was in high school. Great food. Fun atmosphere. Loved their fish and chips! I was sad when it closed. The life on the boardwalk went downhill after it closed...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-2390943947458851412012-06-04T23:14:35.482-07:002012-06-04T23:14:35.482-07:00Hanks had the best fried shrimp sandwich I have ev...Hanks had the best fried shrimp sandwich I have ever had!! The prawn was huge in that good batter! I thought of that sandwich the other day and couldn't remember the name of the place!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-88248281078605099342012-04-19T19:01:46.096-07:002012-04-19T19:01:46.096-07:00Hank's Seafood is one of my fondest memories a...Hank's Seafood is one of my fondest memories also. No other fish restaurant touches it. The shrimp seemed to be as large as my hand. Shrimp was by far the best ever made. I used to go in the mid to late 70's (when Mutt Lynches was by the ferry).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-73641665687634477732011-12-27T06:16:53.501-08:002011-12-27T06:16:53.501-08:00Hank's Seafood: one of my fondest 70's m...Hank's Seafood: one of my fondest 70's memories. Used to eat there with friends & dates quite a bit. I concur wholeheartedly with the above claims their fish & chips being the best! Great times! <br /><br />Seems to me it didn't close until about 1980, but I'm probably wrong about that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-46857921966437114302011-11-25T20:49:55.727-08:002011-11-25T20:49:55.727-08:00you are right the beer was used along with pancake...you are right the beer was used along with pancake mix.i know i worked there for a summer.hank was a cool old man we had fun until that time came we worked our butts off. good timestinyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11980707579416108722noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-4730206200538345172011-11-19T08:36:25.600-08:002011-11-19T08:36:25.600-08:00I remember Hanks Seafood Restaurant..I had a frien...I remember Hanks Seafood Restaurant..I had a friend working there in the early 1970's. I used to live next door at the Ocean Front Hotel with a few friends. I also knew some friends who lived in the A-frames next to the Ocean Front hotel.( In the summer anyway)We played guitar and partied alot..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-60337635205085035412011-01-14T11:55:21.245-08:002011-01-14T11:55:21.245-08:00I remember Hank's very well! We grew up on 24...I remember Hank's very well! We grew up on 24th Street and it was tasty. I recall it was where the Beach Ball is! Then it to moved to where Mutt Lynch's is now. My parents loved Hanks. Great memories!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10397898.post-46373716439369080162010-12-27T16:12:19.840-08:002010-12-27T16:12:19.840-08:00I remember Hanks. They had the best deep fried fi...I remember Hanks. They had the best deep fried fish & shrimp plates. I was told they used beer to give the batter the best flavor. I remember it was first located next to Blackies Bar and then moved to the corner. They moved because it was a very popular restaurant and there was always a line to get a seat inside. However, once they moved, the restaurant folded.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com