There’s a standard pattern for food in bars. It leans heavily on American favorites like burgers, hot wings and every known vegetable covered with batter and then fried. The important things are that everything be spicy and salty, the better to increase thirst in customers. Baja Sharkeez has a different approach. If you saw these menu items and weren’t told where they were from, you’d probably guess that it was an upscale Mexican restaurant. Sure, there are buffalo wings, fries, and a burger or two, but the rest of the menu is straight from a cantina – fajitas, burritos, tacos of all sorts including ahi tuna and mesquite-grilled meats. There are salads too, for those who want to limit their carbs to the pourable sort, and there’s even a kid’s menu. Prices are low and the quality is high – it’s enough to give bar food a good name.
3600 Highland, Manhattan Beach. (310) 545-8811. 52 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. (310) 318-0004.
