Hello, I’m Sevan. My family has owned and operated 21 Oceanfront Restaurant and Doryman’s Inn for over 22 years now. I am a Level 1 sommelier currently working towards my Level 2 certification. With the intention of having a career in the entertainment industry, I went to film school after attending Corona del Mar Middle and High School. I graduated from Chapman University in 2022 with a BFA in Animation and Visual Effects and a minor in Game Development Programming. Around my sophomore year, I began to realize that the industry I always wanted to work in wasn’t really for me. Fortunately, I had 21 Oceanfront to fall back on. Now, 3 years later, I am so glad to be learning and growing in the hospitality industry.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have one younger brother, two great parents, all four grandparents, and ten cousins. I am of Armenian descent and take pride in the history and culture of my people.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I never wanted to work at 21 Oceanfront. I thought working for the family business would be cheesy and thought it would be weird actually working alongside my dad. Looking back, I couldn’t have been more incorrect. My brother and I were propelled into the business during the Covid pandemic in 2020. The restaurant needed staff, so we stepped in to polish glasses and silverware, set up the patio seating every morning, and run any errands our dad had for us. We did what we had to do, 6 days a week. I eventually started filling in anywhere I was needed: hosting, working the cold station in the kitchen, working on the cook line, helping my dad with office tasks, and I’m currently the floor manager. I truly enjoy every aspect of working in my family business. There is a sense of pride that comes with contributing and building upon all of the hard work that my family has spent years creating. I appreciate all of our guests and feel like I am welcoming them into my home every time they step through the front door. I am excited to have the opportunity to work as an intern in the upcoming Fall Harvest at Groth Vineyards in Napa Valley, California.
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
I hear 21 Oceanfront has the best baseball cut swordfish you will ever eat… A few of my favorite spots include Trenta Pizza & Cucina for fantastic pizza, Newport Rib Company for the best barbeque, and, not a restaurant, Gelato Paradiso for the most authentic gelato. I like to support local, family-run restaurants.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
I was born in Rockville, Maryland in 2000 and moved to Newport Beach in 2003. I started working at our family’s restaurant during the height of the pandemic in 2020.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
This is a difficult question because I meet so many interesting and influential people through the restaurant. However, if I were to choose someone it would have to be our bartender of 30 years, Tony Sideli, aka “Big Tony.” I could sit and listen to his stories about old Newport and the old days at 21 Oceanfront for hours. A true New Yorker, Tony says it how it is. I appreciate his depth of knowledge of the industry and 21 Oceanfront’s history.
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
The Shawshank Redemption and The Truman Show are fantastic movies, Naruto is my all time favorite show.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Taste the unique, odd, and different foods. If you don’t try it, how do you know you won’t like it?
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
This is my favorite icebreaker question to ask people! Antarctica. Why? A goal of mine is to visit all 7 continents of the world, currently 5/7. And how cool would it be to say you’ve been to Antarctica! Another travel goal of mine is to visit all 7 modern wonders of the world in my lifetime.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
Master sommelier Michael Jordan. No, not the basketball player, the master sommelier. Mr. Jordan is a wealth of wine information and to spend an afternoon with him would be fascinating. I would pick his brain with any and all questions I could think of about wine, winemaking, regions, food pairings, blind tasting… I think an appropriate lunch spot would be any Italian restaurant of his choice.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
Newport Beach is a very tight community. Through my years of living here, I have witnessed how the community comes together in celebration and times of sorrow. Through good times and bad, we come together and support one another like a family would.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
A dream of mine would be to bounce around different countries of the world, learning all about wine and the hospitality industry. Collecting knowledge from my experiences and circling back to my community to apply what I have learned and to enrich my family’s restaurant.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I speak English, Spanish, Armenian, and Japanese.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
My mom’s baking and anything either of my grandmas cook.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
Our restaurant general manager, Mark Lamb. Every night I spend at the restaurant with Mark, he always has something new to teach me. I strive to have his work ethic, drive, and passion. I am so fortunate to have someone like Mark to mentor me through the roller coaster that is the hospitality industry.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Sunset, peace, and family.
