CRYSTAL COVE – Since 13 renovated yet rustic cottages opened June 26, 2006, thousands of people have stayed in the historic Crystal Cove State Beach, which holds about 140 people per night, according to Rich Rozzelle, State Parks district superintendent. Cottages average about $150 a night, but a meal at the restaurant next door, The Beachcomber Café, offers the same view and tasty food for $10 - 15. Opened Aug. 2, 2006 the restaurant served over 50,000 meals in less than six months.

Ruby’s Diner was awarded the concessions for the restaurant and the Shake Shack (formerly Date Shack) up the hill from The Beachcomber, bringing their popular menu of sandwiches, salads, breakfast specials and desserts to this beach café that's taking the area by storm.

The Beachcomber at Crystal Cove has received popular reviews, with the exception of a few who find the food OK. The most popular meal is breakfast, serving up delicious eggs, corned beef hash, omelets, French toast, waffles and hot coffee or cocoa.

Open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., the restaurant offers both patio seating, and great views of the beach at indoor dining.

Getting there: Park at the lot across Pacific Coast Highway at Los Trancos, which is one street south of Newport Coast Drive. It normally costs $10, paid on the way out, but the restaurant validates if you spend over $10 on food. A shuttle runs from the parking lot to the restaurant every few minutes and costs $1 each way per person. Alternately, you can walk down for free in a tunnel that goes underneath the highway and comes out the other side right behind the restaurant.

Source: http://www.beachcalifornia.com/beachcomber-restaurant-crystal-cove.html