Crow Bar owners to appeal drinking restrictions on new burger joint

The owners of Crow Bar on Tuesday will appeal a Planning Commission decision to limit the drinking hours for their proposed burger restaurant on the Balboa Peninsula.

The planned cafe, the Crow Burger Kitchen, plans to serve gourmet burgers, beer and wine in a small dining room and an outdoor patio at the Landing, the shopping center under renovation at Newport Boulevard and 32nd Street.

The commission approved the project March 3, but with the condition that it can only serve alcohol on the patio before 8 p.m. The owners had requested to keep serving until 11 p.m., and the City Council will be asked to decide what is a reasonable hour to force them to turn off the taps.

A city staff report says that the Newport Beach Police Department staff members “do not believe the establishment will exacerbate alcohol-related incidents.”

However, some residents have complained that there are already too many bars or restaurants serving alcohol in the area.

—Mike Reicher