The Easterners Are Invading!… Meanwhile in Manhattan Beach, a restaurant has opened serving a cuisine many people here have never heard of. America’s regional food is not as well marketed as offerings from very distant climes, and Hamptons is brave to theme their restaurant around New England seafood. (Note that this restaurant is not named after a family called Hampton or a TV show – The Hamptons are a chain of villages near the end of Long Island away from all those tall buildings.) If you have ever enjoyed a crabcake made with real backfin lump crab or a lobstah roll, you will want to investigate this downtown newcomer.
The Burger Juggernaut Keeps Rolling… Hermosa has a new restaurant, and what a surprise, they serve burgers. Boardwalk is in the old Mama D’s space and is not trying to out-weird their gourmet neighbors – they offer good, plain burgers and exceptional fries. They’re an East Coast transplant with a cult following to rival In-And-Out, but with a slightly more varied menu. I’m sure they will do well this summer, as will their more established competitors, but I predict a crunch for some operations once the tourists leave…
Disestablished?… Hermosa’s Establishment restaurant does a realistic impression of a business that has closed, or that has never opened in the first place – their phone is disconnected, and their website only offers the words “Coming soon.” I have stopped by at times when one might expect a restaurant and nightspot to be in full swing and the place was dark. Like many other people, I assumed that they had opened briefly and then closed. I have been informed by a reliable source that the place really is open, but how they expect anyone to know this is beyond understanding…
And Just Next Door… Meanwhile, the former location of The Shore has reopened as Studio, a project by high-profile entrepreneur Barry Bly. I haven’t visited yet, and most of the reports I have heard are about the dress code — yes, there is one. Leave the flip flops and beach attire at home, because this is Hollywood meets Hermosa. Will it fly in this ultra-casual neighborhood? Time will tell…
Return of a Hermosa Favorite – in El Segundo… Many people fondly remember Jackson’s Village Bistro, a classy mainstay of upper Pier Avenue that closed a few years ago when they lost their lease. The chef is back in the South Bay and will soon open in the former Taiko space next to the Arclight theatre on Rosecrans. Their triumphant return is widely anticipated by people who loved the old place – they have already accepted their first reservation for New Year’s Eve…
The Good Life Gets Better… Dolce Vita gourmet deli in Riviera Village had awkward marketing – their Franco-German food and Italian name were an odd fit. The place has changed hands, and flamboyant new owner Mario Martinoli has plans to change a few things. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Martinoli is a celebrity chef who had his own radio shows as well as running a highly regarded Italian restaurant in Larchmont Village. It will be interesting to see what he does – I can only hope he decides to keep the Tarte flambés, the Alsace-style pizzas that were the best thing on the previous menu…
Sneak Preview… Celebrity chefs the Gertler Brothers cooked at Zinc in Manhattan Beach, and diners in the courtyard of Shade Hotel enjoyed sous vide smoked lamb shoulder, crisp fried eggplant over baba ghannouj, watermelon soaked in sangria, and other delights. Chef Adam Gertler confirmed that this menu was a marketing test, and they are looking for a location somewhere in the South Bay. If this evening was any indication, they have a bright future – the crowd was wowed. Watch for the Gertler name on a “Coming Soon” sign, and when the doors are open, go inside….
