Dining, family style

Father-daughter duo are the heart of Newport Café

Newport Café owner Dave See and daughter Zoe

By Elizabeth Scott Ulmer

For the TODAY

Newport buses claim the port city is the “Crab Capital of the World.” Patrons of the Newport Café put forth a similar assertion for not only the local seafood on the menu, but the home cooking and iconic atmosphere that draws diners every day of the year. Even holidays.

“The health department will tell you that we are the busiest restaurant per square footage in town.” said Owner David See.

Being busy doesn’t stop staff from making deliveries in a four-mile radius for a $5 fee. But don’t expect to see the picturesque van that sits parked outside the restaurant being used for those errands — it has more than 300 thousand miles on it and cannot do the job. Instead, the restaurant's dedicated employees all help out with deliveries while the van stays in its treasured spot out front.

Gaspar, an employee for 19 years, waited on me as I sat at the charming counter just inside the entrance. I watched him and Brittni eagerly replenish water glasses and check on customers in the midst of seating people and cashing out satisfied patrons. Both were attentive and personable with the packed restaurant. And, packed it was. Each time a table emptied, it filled back up with new arrivals within minutes.

From the café atmosphere to the many choices on the menu, the draw of this establishment is the laughter and camaraderie from out front and inside the eating area, as well as its location right in the center of town.

“We are absolutely nothing fancy, unlike the restaurants where you can look for whales out the windows,” See said. “We just have a view of the cars.”

See’s staff has created a delicate balance between working hard and still having fun, even the cooks, some of whom have been with the restaurant from five to 15 years. See greatly respects their ability to efficiently produce the full menu.

“When you have cooks like these that do breakfast, lunch and dinner, and they have it down all the way through — everybody wins,” he said. “They don’t cut off at 11 am and change shifts for the lunch menu, they do it all.”

Community involvement is also one of See’s priorities. From kids’ baseball and every other sport played locally to sponsorship of world-famous cage fighters, he looks for opportunities to monetarily support his interests and tell their stories in his restaurant. Pictures and certificates are lavishly displayed throughout the cafe.

“I sponsor a few different Power Raptor Cage Fighters that have world titles, as well as every kind of sport you can imagine,” See said.

He is also particularly fond of one story involving his daughter Zoe.

Zoe was one of the youngest martial artists in her category when, at the age of 13 she became a black belt. Her sensei was very famous and came from Las Vegas to judge the restaurant’s popular “super ultimate eight-pound monster burger challenge” and also to showcase Zoe.

“There were hundreds of people who came to see the burger challenge, but also to meet the sensei,” See said. “We had three or four hundred people here and the police had to control the traffic.” Memorable seems to be a theme at Newport Café.

The printed menu greets customers with a family of super heroes, with See on the top looking like one of his power-muscled cage fighters. It is at once entertaining and welcoming. And all of the menu items are available when the craving hits, as the business motto is “Great Breakfast and Seafood All Day.”

There is so much more than just those two choices, including seniors’ and children’s menus with smaller portions. Salads, sandwiches, prime rib, burgers and more, with an abundance of sides and condiments, are also all available.

And, as Brittni said simply, “Everything’s homemade!”

When visiting Newport Café, do not be surprised to witness See walk in and greet customers, check the mail or banter with his employees. He has a very humble, but commanding and inviting presence. Of course, summer time is bustling with grateful tourists and the hub of the middle of town, but the winter brings in regulars that keep the place just as busy.

No one seems to mind the view of cars in lieu of the beach, which is right down the street. People come back for home cooking and a good time.

Newport Café is located at 534 NE Hwy. 101 and open daily from 7 am to 10 pm. For more information, go to thenewportcafe.com.