Best of the Beach 2016, Best Chain Coffeehouse: Starbucks
The place that won as favorite chain coffeehouse has changed the language of coffee around the world. Thanks to Starbucks, people order macchiato which means “spotty” or “stained” and was obscure coffee slang in Italy before the Seattle company got hold of it. Words like venti and trenta, signifying the number of ounces in a […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Mexican Over $20: Palmilla Cocina y Tequila
It’s significant that Palmilla shares a name with a luxurious resort in Mexico. This is a distinctly upscale version of Mexican cuisine. Instead of imagining a border cantina you should consider a spa villa with an ocean view, with a bottle of bubbly in the ice bucket on the balcony. While the flavors in the […]
Best of the Beach 2016, American BBQ: Lucille’s
Not every business can smoothly transition to a new location, but Lucille’s has managed nicely. The décor has the same down-home roadhouse style, and the dining experience is just as cheerful. Most importantly, the ribs, brisket, chicken, and other goodies are coming out of the same imposing smoker with the same tangy sauces. Lucille’s has […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Tapas/Appetizers: Mediterraneo
Does anybody remember where we went for tapas before Mediterraneo opened on Pier Plaza? That’s a trick question. In 2003 most people in the South Bay didn’t know what tapas were, and some people complained because they thought it was a topless. Those people stopped objecting when they found out what tapas were, and probably […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Late Night Eatery: Kettle
It’s after 10 p.m., hunger has struck and the bar you’re frequenting has nothing more appealing than chicken fingers. Where do you go? For over a generation the answer has been The Kettle. There you’ll be in the company of people who have just gotten out of plays or movies, shift workers, and night owls […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best French/Continental: Dominique’s Kitchen
Their slogan is “Making good food an everyday occasion” and Dominique’s Kitchen really does achieve that laudable goal. Their classic French country cuisine is modestly priced and more importantly it’s served in an unpretentious atmosphere that you can enjoy any day. They’re short on ceremony and long on hospitality. Whether you order scallops in a […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Farm to Table: Hook and Plow
The hottest trend of the last few years is a return to one of the oldest styles of dining – eating what’s local and fresh. The people in the kitchen at Hook & Plow know their farmers and other purveyors and strive to find the best produce in every season and to serve it in […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Sandwich Shop: Manhattan Meats
“We use the finest ingredients like Boar’s Head products meats, which we slice as we go along making each sandwich,” Manhattan Meat’s owner Dean Tribble said by way of explaining the popularity of his sandwiches and met selections. Photo
Best of the Bach 2016, Best Dessert Restaurant: Old Venice
Old Venice is unique in the South Bay for its extensive menu of Italian and Greek food. The variety extends to their dessert menu. On the Greek side they have baklava, which you have probably had elsewhere, and melomakarona, which you probably haven’t. It’s a walnut and honey cookie that is one of the lightest, […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Crepes: Crème de la Crepe
A crepe is a fragile, subtle thing, a bit of crispness to wrap around a stew, sauté, or dessert to add texture and a wisp of flavor. They’re very tricky to make and home cooks who try can discover just how much of a kitchen can be messed up by a very small amount of […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Local Coffeehouse Local: Java Man
Java Man, the species also known as Homo Erectus, went extinct about a 70,000 years ago. Coffee arrived on the Indonesian island of Java just prior to 1700. This suggests that Java Man never tasted coffee, though you can at the funky coffeehouse named for him. We’re sure even a proto-human would appreciate the convivial […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Pizza: Fresh Brothers
When your pizzeria goes from a single store in the rear of a mini-mall to 14 outlets in only five years, you’re doing something right. Let’s start with the basics. Fresh Brothers offers pies with thin, thick, or thick deep dish crusts, plus whole grain and gluten-free varieties. So whichever you prefer, your bases are […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Rotisserie Chicken: Poulet du Jour
Nobody knows what unsung genius invented the rotisserie, but we presume that was long before patents. Their reward was received when they first put a chicken on their new gadget and tried it out, because that cooking method results in a crisp skin and succulent meat. Poulet du Jour flavors their birds with Middle Eastern […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Seafood soup: Hermosa Beach Fish Shop
Most South Bay restaurants that feature fish offer either chowder or cioppino. At the seafood specialist Hermosa Beach Fish Shop you have your choice. There are two variations of the chowder, either with or without Andouille sausage, which adds a gentle smoky kick. The chowder is thick and creamy, the seafood finely chopped so it’s […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Sliders: Slider Stop
Little burgers are big business on Artesia, where locally owned Slider Stop has inventive ideas about fast food. If you’ve ever had the experience of being served a mammoth burger and being tired of the flavor when you were halfway through it, they have the solution: get two or three little ones. Their “chicken dinner” […]
Best of the Beach 2016, Best Romantic Dinner, Palmilla Cocina y Tequila
There’s a subtle sexiness to the décor at Palmilla. It starts even before you’re inside with the colored lights and mosaic designs on the exterior set an exotic and mysterious tone. You might invite the object of your affections to dine out there if the weather is pleasant and enjoy the play of light and […]