Posts by Richard Foss
Restaurant News
Complaining To The Wrong Guy… I have received two emails this week about the high noise level in local restaurants. “We cannot understand so many restaurants not ‘getting’ that we boomers like a quiet atmosphere, and we have money to spend,” wrote Karen Hopkins of Redondo Beach. I think she’s wrong in one respect –…
Read MoreOjiya brings Japanese regional cuisine to Torrance mini-mall [RESTAURANT REVIEW]
The variety of regional Japanese cuisine is astonishing given the size of that country; the nation’s land area is slightly less than that of California. On the other hand, the terrain of mountainous islands helps create isolated populations that develop their own traditions, and the variety of ecologies from snowbound to tropical means there are plenty of unique ingredients in each zone.
Read MoreA La Carte: Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo Beach El Segundo Dining News
Petros Kafe opens in El Segundo, new Kosher deli plans for Redondo Beach, Laurel Tavern is coming to Hermosa Beach, and tickets are on sale for Richstone Family gala dining event in July…
Read MoreBeach Food: Old reliable gets a new chef and daring menu-Chef Nael Taki’s transformation of HT Grill’s formerly conservative kitchen has been controversial, but offers much to admire
It can be jarring when a well-established restaurant changes concept, especially when they don’t go through the usual steps of changing the name and décor. Those who visit expecting what they’ve always liked are confused. Those who might like the new menu and not the old one don’t know there’s a reason to stop in.…
Read MoreChef Nael Taki’s new take on Riviera Village’s HT Grill
It can be jarring when a well-established restaurant changes concept, especially when they don’t go through the usual steps of changing the name and décor. Those who visit expecting what they’ve always liked are confused. Those who might like the new menu and not the old one don’t know there’s a reason to stop in.…
Read MoreThe Hook & Plow brings more life to Hermosa Beach’s upper Pier Avenue
Years ago, I interviewed an architect about South Bay restaurants, and he started naming the design elements that are the signature of this area. “We love light here, indoor/outdoor spaces and patios, high spaces and old wood,” he said. “That’s the look you’re going to see for the foreseeable future.” A case in point is…
Read MorePapa Guido’s guilty pleasures: Redondo Beach pizzeria also excels at fried chicken
Everybody should have a go-to place for a quick, cheap meal – a default destination for the times when you’re too tired to cook; it’s too hot; or you just crave what they do. Such places are often guilty pleasures, where you politely ask your diet not to notice what you’re about to do to…
Read MoreRockefeller hits the spot in downtown Manhattan Beach
A location that has variously been a barbecue joint, a hip creperie, a wine bistro, and a contemporary restaurant has finally become something that fits — The Rockefeller, and sidewalk cafe and gastropub.
Read MoreA La Carte: Openings, closings, classes, events and South Bay restaurant news
If you read the Easy Reader online, as many do, you may have wondered what happened to the A La Carte column with restaurant news around the greater South Bay. The author has still been writing it, but it has only appeared in the paper editions until now. We’re catching up on updating the online…
Read MoreA Mexican field day at Dia de Campo: We have geniuses in our midst who have decided to see what can be done with foods from south of the border
This was not a Mexican experience like any other in the South Bay.
Read MoreCork’er brings books, beer, and authentic Irish fare together in Redondo Beach
Every true Irishman takes pride in their culture’s literary history, even if they don’t happen to have read any of it. It’s enough to know that O’Casey, Yeats, Joyce, and their companions are out there somewhere, available to be savored if the mood strikes. Putting an Irish-themed restaurant in a bookstore therefore makes conceptual sense.…
Read MoreLate Night Restaurant: The Kettle
Late night dining is tough in the beach cities. For transplants from cities like Chicago and New York, it can be unsettling to realize that your food options after 10 p.m. are little more than fast food and 7-11. Thank god for the Kettle. Since 1973, the Kettle has provided tasty breakfast, lunch and dinner…
Read MoreOutdoor Dining: Hennessey’s Tavern, Hermosa Beach
Hennessey’s Tavern has had a monopoly on the outdoor dining category for some time. And while the street-side tables at the Redondo and Manhattan locations are great, we all know it’s the roof-top patio at Hennessey’s Hermosa that brings home the bacon. Right on the corner of Pier Plaza and the strand, the roof-top at…
Read MoreRestaurant view: Strand House
It seems almost unfair to award best view to the Strand House. It’s like watching Meryl Streep win her 18th Oscar. But, as is the case with Meryl, when you got it, you got it. The Strand House took over the Beaches property at the corner of Manhattan Beach Boulevard and the strand in 2011…
Read MoreCajun: Ragin’ Cajun
People from all over the world go to Louisiana to vacation, and it isn’t for the weather. They endure the humidity and heat because the greatest music and cuisine in America are to be found among those swamps, prairies and the occasional big city by a river. Ragin’ Cajun was the South Bay’s embassy of…
Read MoreSteakhouse over $20: Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
It’s unusual for a chain restaurant to win in a competitive poll in an area so supportive of small, local businesses. Fleming’s is the expert on steaks, offering both wet-aged and dry-aged beef – and if you’ve never tried both to savor the difference, it’s an interesting experiment in flavor. Great steaks are hard to…
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