Mural a must-see attraction at Zubie’s

Mary Furr

This order-at-the-counter, stuck in the corner of a strip mall cafe

has some of the best seafood in Huntington Beach -- as well a

fascinating mural you won’t find anywhere else.

Zubie’s Dry Dock is a big room divided by a long, 10-foot high

aquarium with a bar on one side and trestle tables on the other.

Covering the dining area wall is a giant mural of the 1920s

oceanfront, extending from the cliffs at one end to the old station,

red trolley and pier in the center and on to Main Street and the

Golden Bear. It’s a must see.

Owners Brenda and John Zubieta enlisted the talent of their

friend, Marv Brehm, who created the unique painting along with studio

artists Danny Berg and David Lawrence. If you never eat a thing here,

you have to come in and see the mural.

And something else you won’t find anywhere is the Mexican Shrimp

Cocktail ($6.95) I had at the oyster bar. It’s a tall glass of thin-

to medium-thick tomato sauce filled with tender, tiny baby shrimp to

big fat firm ones and thickened with bits of crisp celery, red and

green bell peppers and leafy cilantro. It’s a delicious beginning to

any meal whether it’s shrimp scampi ($6.95) or a fajitas steak taco

($4.25). The mahi ($5.99) I ordered blackened consisted of two

medium-thick slices served with mixed fresh vegetables, a big

foil-wrapped baked potato and the salad bar. Zubie’s diners never go

away hungry. Patrons are given pagers, which beep and light up when

their orders are ready, so find one of the redwood trestle tables and

begin on the shrimp cocktail. Zubie’s has rather loud taped music and

can become noisy near the bar.

Fried shrimp (six for $6.50) have crispy coats, no batter and are

excellent with slaw, fresh vegetables and the salad bar. It’s easy to

overlook, as it’s located toward the back -- small but select with

potato and macaroni salad, greens and lots of toppings.

Zubie’s -- managed for the last 19 years by Miguel Guerrero -- has

a large TV and several monitors, and is just the place to watch

games. On game nights, the cafe offers a large pizza for $5.95.

Zubie’s is large place with the hurly-burly ambience of a family

kitchen with red checkered vinyl table coverings and chairs, a place

where children will enjoy the fish tank, Mom the salad bar and Dad

the beer, all with some of the best seafood in town.

* MARY FURR is the Independent restaurant critic. If you have

comments or suggestions, call (562) 493-5062 or e-mail

[email protected]