Local Ocean, Newport
I don’t usually do restaurant reviews but the REALOregon group had a real treat during the Newport session and I would be remiss if I didn’t give credit to this eatery and share the wonderful experience with my readers.
The encounter happened on the day of our tours of the businesses of and around the dock at Newport, Oregon. I may have mentioned that the weather was downright atrocious. Our group of 29 classmates, with our entourage of keepers, was resplendent in layers of foul weather gear and still damp and cold when we huddled inside what first appears as a small, unassuming cafe with a fish case in the middle of it, right on the wharf. What we found when we got inside was a cozy restaurant that let to an open upstairs area that could fit at least two groups of our size along with the downstairs area. We had plenty of room to unwrap some of the layers and get comfortable around the room with a wall of windows that looked right out into bay where more than 100 of the crabbing and fishing fleet docked.
But the rain and wind giving a good show was only the beginning of this meal-time with the group. The menu eclipsed the view from the window highlighting local seafood. Fish tacos, an albacore Rueben, a grilled Rockfish sandwich and crab cakes all stole the glory of the day. I will be returning to Local Ocean every time I make it to Newport just so I can again order the Rockfish sandwich, yes, it was THAT good.
Laura Anderson : Owner
Owner Laura Anderson comes from a small boat fishing family. Trolling for salmon and harvesting crab in the summers on her dad’s commercial fishing boat gave her an appreciation for the fishing families and crew that bring Local Ocean its daily catch and an authentic understanding of its quality. Seafood was literally her “bread and butter” growing up.
In her early years, Laura worked with artisanal fishermen as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines, followed by a year of international business in Hanoi, Vietnam.
While the master’s degree in marine resource management (Oregon State University 2000) was not a prerequisite for becoming a restaurateur, is has been partly responsible for the success of Local Ocean. Understanding the science and the policy of fisheries ensures that every dish served at Local Ocean passes Laura’s “red-face test” for sustainability.
In addition to running the day-to-day operations at Local Ocean, Anderson also is member of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Ocean Science Trust.
We found out from the owner of Local Ocean, Laura Anderson that the seafood used at the restaurant is purchased directly from the boats as they come into the dock. Laura tells it best:
Our Story
When Local Ocean’s doors first opened in 2005, owners Laura Anderson and fisherman Al Pazar envisioned “a fish market with a little restaurant attached.” Thankfully, our customers had a broader vision for us. As they lined up for bowls of crab soup and plates of perfectly grilled tuna mignon we added more tables, expanded outdoor seating, and in 2014 opened an upstairs addition, doubling our original seating capacity.
Anderson, now sole owner of Local Ocean, is from a multigenerational fishing family, and an experienced deckhand. Raised on eating salmon and lingcod for dinner, it was not until her college years at Oregon State University that she realized some of the most valuable natural capital on the planet is right outside our front door. People the world-over demand Oregon’s wild seafood for its superior quality and flavor. Every dish we create features sustainably caught seafood, which helps to insure the long-term health of our oceans and local fishing industry.
The people who make Local Ocean possible have a deep sense of pride in every dish we serve. There is an unbroken chain of respect and careful attention, from the local fishermen of the Newport fleet, to our fish buyer Amber Morris, to Chef Enrique Sanchez and his kitchen crew, to your server. You can taste the quality and care that goes into each bite. The fish connects us. The wonder of Oregon’s ocean bounty and our aspiration to give people the best seafood experience of their lives has proven to be a powerful force. People line up to eat fresh, local fish.
Local Ocean Restaurant (www.localocean.net)
213 SE Bay Blvd.
Newport, Oregon
You will be hearing more about Laura in upcoming stories.
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