This weekend, treat yourself to a meal from The Crooked Duck, a restaurant that serves up unique American dishes like gooey bacon wrapped mac n’ cheese bites and loaded Fritos chili cheddar burgers.
Owner Joseph Rooney opened The Crooked Duck in 2011, after searching for a spot in Long Beach for two years.
“I thought it would be a great location for breakfast and lunch. … It was residential, just like all these houses here. Then it turned into a beauty salon, sandwich shop, and Thai restaurant that I took over,” Rooney said.
The inspiration for the name of the restaurant came from a story Rooney’s uncle told him at their family lake house. In the story, a man accidently hit a duck on a lake and everyone was certain that it had died. The duck then began to move, but it’s neck was crooked.
“I thought it would just be fitting to have a restaurant called the Crooked Duck. … Every summer I fly back and forth to this lakehouse. A lot of fond memories there, and of course the duck. Legend has it, it got to live a long life,” Rooney said.
The Crooked Duck currently serves up breakfast and lunch. Their lunch menu has a large selection of entrees, from sandwiches, burgers, pastas and salads.
The duck chili is a Crooked Duck original dish that is made with a steaming blend of black beans, duck bacon and five-spice duck. Crispy wonton chips are placed on top, giving the dish a satisfying crunch.
The duck meat is deliciously tender and melts in your mouth. This chili is hearty, comforting and perfect for cold days.
The bacon wrapped fried mac n’ pepper jack cheese bites are absolutely incredible. The dish is served with a side of spicy ranch dipping sauce and coleslaw. Upon first bite of the crispy outside layer, you’ll be met with a loaded center of creamy and gooey mac n’ cheese.
This whimsical and delicious starter plate is specially dedicated to Rooney’s children. Under the dish’s name on the menu reads, “This one’s for Madi & Max.”
The coyote chicken pasta with fettuccini noodles is a tangy and deliciously cheesy entree that can be ordered mild, medium or spicy. The al dente noodles are drenched in a tequila cream sauce and mixed in with mushrooms, chipotle, sun dried tomatoes and peppers.
The spicy version of this dish has a strong kick of flavor that is balanced out by the two pieces of crispy garlic toast on the side.
The monte cristo is a popular dish that has been highlighted by food blogs, including Long Beach Food Coma.
The entree is a sandwich with ham, turkey and cheddar that is then battered and deep fried until golden. Raspberry preserves and maple syrup are served on the side as dipping options.
The batter creates a thick and crispy outside layer that provides a satisfying bite each time. Despite having ingredients that aren’t traditionally supposed to pair well together, the monte cristo is a pleasant surprise that combines savory and sweet flavors.
The Fritos chili cheddar burger is loaded with Texas chili, caramelized onions and Fritos chips. This dish has a great mix of textures and no flavor overpowers the other.
Customer Hector Beltran first tried The Crooked Duck a month ago, and has already become a regular at the restaurant.
“The ortega burger is absolutely amazing. I had it a couple weeks back and now I have to have it at least once a week when I’m in the area,” said Beltran.
Beltran said that his favorite aspect of The Crooked Duck is the freshness of their ingredients.
“You can really tell that they put a lot of effort in the quality of their ingredients. That’s something that really brings me back. It was immediately apparent that they go above and beyond,” Beltran said.
Some other customer favorites include the chicken fried steak and the corn beef hash, according to Rooney.
The beverage menu has a selection of coffees, teas, freshly squeezed juices, sodas, and beers.
“Our cappuccinos are probably the best in town. People like it because it’s an Italian espresso, and I always draw a little duck on there,” Rooney said.
The seasonal chocolate peppermint latte will be added to the menu soon for the winter months.
The Crooked Duck was one of the many small businesses to struggle amidst the height of the pandemic last year. The restaurant had to shut down twice due to Los Angeles County health regulations.
“2020 sucked. I lost 18 (staff) members, including my chef. I just couldn’t afford it. … I’m down to about 18 or 19 employees now,” Rooney said.
After their second closure, Rooney decided to stop serving dinner and only offer breakfast and lunch.
“L.A. County has been tough on all hospitality, especially small businesses,” Rooney said. “You got big box corporations opening, but then they shut down the small guys. Something’s not right there.”
During the pandemic, The Crooked Duck added an outside dining option for customers. Rooney would like to make this a permanent addition to the restaurant.
“I like the parking lot. All my guests like the parking lot. … It (the permit) is until June 2022. I’m hoping that I can extend that,” Rooney said.
According to Rooney, The Crooked Duck has seen an increase in sales during the week because of the addition of outside dining.
Business at the restaurant has not just returned to pre-pandemic levels, but increased.
“My overhead and my net profit is probably better than it was in 2019,” said Rooney, adding, “It’s been great that we’ve had such a great popularity over the past 10 years, especially the fact that we’ve been shut down twice. When we reopened, (our customers) came right back.”
The Crooked Duck is located at 5096 E Pacific Coast Highway and is open daily from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.
For more videos and photos of the dining experience at The Crooked Duck, go to our Instagram.