Cantina by The Water: One of the best ocean view locations in the South Bay finally has a new restaurant. Riviera Mexican Cantina opened last week in the former Samba Brazilian BBQ location. It has been redecorated to look like a traditional hacienda with white walls accented with Mexican pottery and art and they haven’t charged a premium for the view of the Pacific. This should bring some energy to the area north of the Boardwalk, which will accelerate when the neighboring location becomes the California Surf Club (207 N. Harbor Drive, RB)…
More North Redondo caffeine: Lavender and Honey coffee shop is open in the former liquor store on the Aviation curve. It’s an oasis of high style on a block more noted for auto shops and a plumbing supply store than hipster stops. The room is minimalist modern, there’s a supply of gourmet goodies and pastries from Downtown LA’s Bread Lounge, and of course coffee in all its forms. They do serve a lavender and honey latte, and I can attest that it’s a strangely compelling experience (1328 Aviation, RB)…
Openings, Imminent And Otherwise: Don’t get too excited about the buzz of activity at Brewco Social — those servers going from table to table are in the training phase of serving test meals. The offerings are fancier than the ones served in the previous incarnation of the restaurant, and now include sushi rolls, seabass with tomato confit, and Korean-style pork ribs with Asian slaw. If you really liked their burgers, stop in for lunch, when you can also get a rotisserie lamb sandwich. (I was told that burgers will be back at dinner, but they’re not there yet..The signature brews are still there, as is an elevated cocktail menu (124 Manhattan Beach Blvd, MB)… You may have noticed the sign for Lobster Guy’s Rolls & Fries at the former Speakeasy sports bar on PCH and wondered if they’re closing their North Redondo location. Nope, they’re not — the Northridge-based company apparently is doing so well in North Redondo that they are opening another location only a few miles away. Watch for Crustaceans being served within the next two months… Another place that is spawning a new location is more local. Panela’s has served Brazilian food for 10 years from a location in a residential area of North Redondo. Now, it has taken over the former Silvio’s on the Pier Plaza and is remodeling. Yes, one Brazilian place is replacing another, and lovers of grilled meats with hearty sides and those addictive little cheese rolls will rejoice. I haven’t gotten a timeline on their opening, but assume they’re aiming at the summer crowd… The former Ortega 120 in South Redondo has been vacant for years, but finally has a new owner — the Serendipity Café & Bar. This will be the second location for an operation that serves American classics from breakfast through dinner. They’re noted for big portions, moderate prices, and generous mimosas, which is sounding good just about now. They’re remodeling and hope to open by August… Finally, I noted in last month’s column that Japonica owner Taka will be opening a new restaurant near the old one. They haven’t released a full menu, but the name Unico Tokyo Pasta will give you a clue to expect ramen and soba. The location is the former Zayna’s Flaming Grill, and work is underway… Another closing to report – The Red Lobster in Torrance shuttered very suddenly this week. It was a destination for cheap seafood for decades, and whether or not you particularly liked it, the place was a landmark…
Event Alerts: If you’re reading this on the day it comes out, you can still reserve for Radici’s Sunday wine dinner on Saturday, May 19. Four courses with pairings for $99 inclusive. The menu includes shrimp positano, scallop and asparagus risotto, and a filet mignon, a stylish meal at a modest price. Book on their page at opentable.com… On May 23rd The Rex will host intimate tastemaker wine dinner feasturiong wines by The Prisoner. Price is $150 plus tax & tip – reserve at opentable.com… Primo Italia offers a more high-style vision of Italian dining for their dinner on Thursday, June 6, and it’s an unusual event for them. Most wineries that they’ve featured are Italian, but this time it’s Fe wines of Napa Valley. Winemaker Joseph Filippini will be on hand to explain their wines at this vertical tasting of Cabernets and Bordeaux-style vintages. It’s $135 plus T&T, and seats are limited — reserve at the eatprimo.com events page… On June 11th, Gabi James offers a different kind of unusual at their beer vs. wine dinner — four courses each paired with both a beer and a wine. This is an exciting idea, made all the more interesting by their decision to highlight a different Mediterranean country with each course. Price is $150 inclusive, reserve on Eventbrite.com… On Thursday June 20, the Chart House will be serving a Paul Hobbs wine dinner with five courses for $160, including tax & tip. An ocean view wine event with heirloom tomato tart, sea bass with pickled raisins and celery root puree, and short loin with wild mushroom ragout promises to be a stylish evening. Get your reservation at Eventbrite.com… Finally, a note to those who have been waiting for an update on an item I mentioned a few months ago. The Terranea Food & Wine Festival has been postponed from May to July. We’ll let you know more when they tell me the new date and schedule…
Odds and Ends: Any news on reopening of Hermosa Beach Yacht Club? They announced that they’d do a little work and reopen back in September of last year, but all has been quiet since.
Also, does anyone know about the schedule for Daisy Buchanan’s Pizza in Rolling Hills Estates? They were hiring staff in March, usually an indicator that opening is near, but no news since then… And a fact check — a reader contacted me to say that the El Gringo on PCH had apparently changed hands, since there was a temporary sign announcing bison tacos. The restaurant is still there and posted that sign to announce that they’ve added bison to the menu. The owner of El Gringo is also a partner in a farm where bison are raised naturally, and the sign was meant to stimulate interest. It piqued my curiosity, and I tried a bison tostada. It was delicious, the seasoned meat flavorful but low in fat, and I expect to order it again… And for those who wonder what Austin Cobb, the former chef at The Strand House, is doing, you might turn to The Food Network to see him on a show called Ciao House. Cobb is working as a private chef in Costa Rica, but took part in a cooking competition in Italy that was filmed for this program. And now that I read the sentence I just typed, my life seems boring by comparison…
In Closing: If you know a restaurant opening I might’ve missed, a culinary event that should be covered, or just about anything related to food that I should know about, please send the information my way. I’m at richard@richardfoss.com. And as long as you’re on the internet, check out past restaurant reviews on our website at EasyReaderNews.com/restaurants/. ER
