Posts by Richard Foss
Crepe: Crème de la Crepe
This mini-chain is one of the great success stories of the South Bay. It started with one location in Hermosa and now has five stretching from Long Beach to Culver City. Though details of menu and decor vary, they all have one thing in common: a commitment to serving country French comfort food at moderate…
Read MoreAmerican Contemporary, Brunch over $15: MB Post
Contemporary is defined as “ belonging to or occurring in the present,” and it’s hard to find a better example locally than MB Post. Though many of the menu items have roots in American, European and Asian cuisines, the selection changes daily. It’s a tribute to the skill and dedication of the servers that they…
Read MoreItalian Over $20, Wine List: Bottle Inn
One of the errors some people make is thinking that for a restaurant to have a great wine list, it merely needs a lot of money. One need only consider the people he knows who have expensive homes decorated in bad taste or modest ones that are a pleasure to contemplate in order to see…
Read MoreBest Bagel: Noah’s New York Bagel, Manhattan Beach
“Sweet or savory?” When stumbling into Noah’s New York Bagel in downtown Manhattan Beach for the first time, you’d better know yourself. Noah’s Bagel offers a palette of 32 bagel varieties in addition to a substantial coffee menu, egg and deli sandwiches. Though the shop is a corporate chain based in Colorado, the downtown location…
Read MoreSushi Chef: Sanji of Sushi Duke
Sanji has perfected the art of hybrid sushi by blending Sri Lanka spices into traditionally Japanese flavors. The South Bay sushi master has spent time both in Sri Lanka and Japan and developed his craft through the influence of both cultures. Sushi Duke isn’t the first time Sanji was in the sushi game — he…
Read MoreBest Desert: Cheesecake Factory
Despite its expansion to nearly 170 locations, Cheesecake Factory hasn’t skipped a beat in delicate desserts. With over thirty cheesecake desserts, including low carb options, it’s easy to see how the Cheesecake Factory sliced through the dessert category. The dessert menu isn’t limited to cheesecakes but includes cakes, ice creams and creamy milkshakes. Enjoy the…
Read MoreBest of the Beach 2014: Dining
Tables in the wine room are coveted seats at the Bottle Inn. Photo (CivicCouch.com) Wine list: Bottle Inn One of the errors some people make is thinking that for a restaurant to have a great wine list, it merely needs a lot of money. One need only consider the people he knows who have expensive homes…
Read MoreSouth Bay food news: early returns on the Rockefeller , Strand House chefs’ big honor, and more….
First looks… I stopped in at the Rockefeller in Manhattan Beach to see how that new establishment is fitting into the community, and I have to say that it is a very well-done remodeling of the former barbecue joint.
Read MoreMix and match at PizzaRev in El Segundo [RESTAURANT REVIEW]
A pizza revolution extends to El Segundo.
Read MoreThe Kettle celebrates 40 years as a Manhattan Beach mainstay
The Kettle, the beloved Manhattan Beach 24 hour restaurant three generations of locals have used as a gathering place, celebrates 40 years in business with free muffins and 25 cent coffee Friday.
Read MoreDining News – Café Pierre announces closing, reopening with Michael Fiorelli
One of the landmarks of downtown Manhattan Beach is about to disappear – Café Pierre, which opened in 1978, will soon shut down and be transformed into a new restaurant. Owner Guy Gabriele started the restaurant as a modest crêperie, gradually transitioned it into a local favorite for stylish California-French dining, and in time he…
Read MoreThe South Bay’s best new restaurants of 2013
2013 was the best year in the history of the South Bay for restaurant debuts.
Read MoreSouth Bay dining news: Barney’s Beanery opens at the Redondo Pier, R10 Social House in the Marina, Jimmy’s on 190th,
I was chatting with the manager in a newly opened cafe who sounded rueful about the fact that they missed a chance to cash in on the holiday season. January is a slow time in the local restaurant community – I walked around downtown Manhattan Beach last Sunday at a time when most places would…
Read MoreManhattan Beach’s Café Pierre to close, reopen with Chef Fiorelli from Mar’Sel
One of the landmarks of downtown Manhattan Beach is about to disappear – Café Pierre, which opened in 1978, will soon shut down and be transformed into a new restaurant.
Read MoreManhattan Beach’s Little Sister: a tasteful trip through Southeast Asian cuisine
Manhattan Beach’s Little Sister brings together many influences of Chef Tin’s own family’s journey through Southeast Asia into satisfying, and surprisingly unified whole, remaining authentic while doing something entirely new.
Read MoreCulinary ambitions on rise in Beach Cities
When I wrote my evaluation for 2012, a clear trend was ongoing – toward cheaper, simpler restaurants. That tendency reversed somewhat in 2013, as some of the most interesting and complex restaurants in the history of the South Bay made their debut.
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