Posts by Richard Foss
RESTAURANT REVIEW – King’s Cove
We were halfway through lunch when I was transfixed by an astonishing display of grace and athleticism. An ice dancer glided across the rink in a wide arc and then performed a dazzling series of leaps and spins. Some of the people watching gasped, while others who were used to the spectacle murmured or nodded…
Read MoreA La Carte Column – South Bay Dining News
Thai Tani Tenant Talks… Chris Davidson, owner of Mama D’s, has confirmed that he is in at the former Thai Tani space on PCH in Redondo. The newest branch of Mama D’s is expected to open by October after a remodel to fit the classic Italian style of the Manhattan Beach location. Chris also…
Read MoreSouth Bay Dining News: Mama D’s opening at Thani Thai spot, poke everywhere, Suburbia in the Village, Britt’s BBQ bashed, and more….
Thai Tani Tenant Talks… Chris Davidson, owner of Mama D’s, has confirmed that he is in at the former Thani Tani space on PCH in Redondo. The newest branch of Mama D’s is expected to open by October after a remodel to fit the classic Italian style of the Manhattan Beach location. Chris also announced…
Read MoreThe rebellion isn’t beginning at Rebel Republic Social House, and that’s just fine [RESTAURANT REVIEW]
Try imagining what Star Wars would have been like with Darth Vader as the hero. He must have been, to somebody, because all those guys in white armor kept obeying his orders despite the fact that they must have had much higher insurance premiums as a consequence. (Somehow the Empire doesn’t seem like the kind…
Read MoreSouth Bay Dining News: goodbye to Thani Thai, Lou’s On the Hill’s abrupt closure, Suburbia in Riviera Village, Celebrate Wellness and Jimmy Miller galas
Last Day Of A Landmark… Thai Thani was the oldest Thai restaurant in the South Bay and beloved by our readers, and if you enjoyed their food I hope you stopped in recently and had some. You won’t have any more chances, because they closed on June 22 after over 25 years in business.…
Read MoreFrida defies expectations [RESTAURANT REVIEW]
Authentic Mexican cuisine comes to the Del Amo Fashion Center I have expectations for good Mexican restaurants, and for mall Mexican restaurants, and there isn’t a lot of crossover between the two. The good Mexican restaurants are usually small and family-owned, and often the décor consists of Mexican flags, beer ads, and travel posters. Mall…
Read MoreBaran’s 2239 has brought high style to PCH in Hermosa [RESTAURANT REVIEW]
Carpet weavers in Persia leave one, tiny flaw in their patterns, reasoning that only God can create perfection. This is handy for modern connoisseurs as a way of detecting counterfeits. Flawlessly symmetrical carpets are the product of machine looms that care nothing for theology. This probably explains the menu at Baran’s 2239, a new restaurant…
Read MoreRock’n Fish keeps on rockin’ [RESTAURANT REVIEW]
One of the advantages for a restaurant decorated in classic motifs is that it ages gracefully. That which isn’t in fashion when it’s built doesn’t go out of style, and is more likely to look elegant and graceful when more contemporary designs are starting to be embarrassing. Rock’nFish so resembles some early Manhattan Beach buildings…
Read MoreYellow Fever has style and flavor to burn [RESTAURANT REVIEW]
If I tell you that there’s a restaurant in Torrance that has been featured in an article for Interior Design magazine, you’ll probably start wondering which high style mall place I’m talking about. A lot of the action has been in malls lately, though quirky brewpubs and nightspots have also been raising the temperature around…
Read MoreSouth Bay Dining News: BBQ coming to Redondo Beach harbor, El Gringo Kantina comes to El Segundo, South Bay Beer & Wine Festival Sunday, new Thai in Torrance, and more
Dealing From A New Deck… Rebel Republic Social House is open in Riviera Village, and they’re serving both indoors and from the first of the new “dining decks” to open for business. The feel on those decks is very much like a porch or patio, with rustic wood benches and an astroturf-covered floor. According to…
Read MorePie Pie Pie: A new Redondo Beach restaurant specializes in pies, every which way [RESTAURANT REVIEW]
I remember the first time I saw the sign for Pie Pie Pie, because it brought such a smile to my face. I immediately pulled my car into the parking lot not knowing exactly what they served, but that I was going to buy some. I do like a good pie, and I was about…
Read MoreSouth Bay dining news: Aloft’s lounge, WXYZ, opens in El Segundo, as does Pho Dreams, Shabu Shabu comes to Redondo Beach, Steak & Whiskey does brunch in Hermosa
Two Vowels, Two Consonants, 26 Points in Scrabble… The bar and lounge at the new Aloft Hotel in El Segundo is called WXYZ, which I assume is pronounced just like it’s spelled. The space is modern, hip, and colorfully lit, the menu pretty minimal at this time, a short list of gourmet bar snacks. The…
Read MoreSouth Bay dining news: Hawaiian Poke coming to Hermosa Beach’s Pier Plaza, bourbon dinners at R10 Social House and Hey 19, wine dinners at Uncorked, Hostaria Piave, going old school at Chez Melanze
Things That Make You Wonder… Hook & Plow will be spawning an offshoot called Hooked that will specialize in Hawaiian Poke. That mix of marinated tuna and other seafood is a great cooling and tangy snack and should sell well in the location on the Pier Plaza. We wonder if they’ll open another offshoot called…
Read MoreFeast of Arabia: Azure’s pan-Arab cuisine promises to become a dining destination [RESTAURANT REVIEW]
As little as twenty years ago most Americans had no idea that there was such thing as regional Italian cuisine. Now we are sophisticated enough to know that there are major variations based on different cultures, ecologies, access to historic trade routes, and other factors. However, some people are still surprised by regional differences…
Read MoreBest of the Beach 2016, Ethnic BBQ: Silvio’s Brazilian Beach BBQ
Silvio’s isn’t quite like any other place in LA. It’s part sports bar, part Brazilian restaurant, and part beachy grill where you can get a plain grilled Mahi sandwich or a Mississippi pulled pork sandwich. Purists may be outraged, but this place isn’t for them – it’s for everybody who likes simply seasoned and expertly…
Read MoreBest of the Beach 2016, Best Dessert Bakery: Becker’s
It’s one of the oldest businesses in the South Bay. Generations of customers have been served by generations of one family. Becker’s has changed some since it opened in 1940 and no longer makes the German items like pfeffernussE and springerle that were once staples. They’ve kept up with the times and turn out cakes…
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