The Reel Inn marks a milestone in Malibu.
By Kim Devore / Staff Writer
It’s a local sight that’s hard to miss. You’ll see it as you wind your way down Pacific Coast Highway, slip past Topanga and enter the heart of Malibu. Before you reach the mega mansions at Carbon or the Colony’s celebrity headquarters or the increasingly tony shops at Cross Creek, you’ll drive by The Reel Inn, an unassuming institution which embodies the Malibu of old.
For the past 20 years the Inn has been reeling in everyone from Topanga Beach surfers to Pepperdine students, local families and out-of-towners alike. “We get people from everywhere,” says General Manager Kim Ruge. “They come from Texas, Nebraska. They’ll drive down from Santa Barbara and as far away as England. They come back year after year because there’s really no place like it.”
The lure, so to speak, is simple, super-fresh seafood in a kick-back environment. Ruge prides herself on her selection of fresh fish, which is delivered daily and can be picked straight from the case. Favorites include lobster tail served with six grilled shrimp, delicate wild salmon, Cajun Chilean sea bass served with homemade cold slaw and steak fries.
Another attraction is the easy-going atmosphere. On the surface, its nothing to speak of, no granite countertops or fancy linens or pretentious service, and that’s the charm. With a look that can only be called fishy, funky and fashionable, the place is covered with paddles, fishermen’s nets, surfboards and other sea memorabilia. It’s also covered with a rustic tin roof, which creates a noisy symphony on rainy nights when locals cozy up to the communal tables with a nice bowl of chowder.
“It’s a great place to work, very casual and fun,” says Ruge who has been there so long she describes herself as” part of the furniture.” “The people are friendly, the customers are friendly. It’s a happy little place to be.”
Another quirky custom is the large outdoor chalkboard, which proudly publicizes their specials with the pun of the day. Daily messages like “Trout On In,” “Don’t Bass Us By” and “The Shrimpsons”, make thousands of commuters smile (or groan) every day.
Movies are a popular subject (this is Malibu after all) and “In the Line of Fish,” “Endless Snapper” and “Show Me the Mahi” have all made their way to the marquee. “I don’t really know how the whole thing started,” says Ruge. “The kids started to come up with a pun of some kind for the fish of the day and it just took off after that.”
There’s an outdoor door patio for warm summer days and an indoor fireplace for chilly winter nights. But no matter what the season, The Reel Inn is one popular place.
So next time you’re passing through, give the Inn a try. It could be a good choice “Just for the Halibut.”