Beach dining year in review [2012 Newsmaker]
Lemonade, a new cafeteria style eatery in Manhattan Beach’s Metlox Plaza, was representative of both a more health and cost-conscious approach to fine dining in the South Bay. Photo 2012 was a turbulent year in the local dining scene, one in which local restaurants worked to attract thrifty diners. Despite a slow but steady economic recovery, the tendency was for expensive and high-concept places to close and be replaced by more modest and straightforward establishments. The South Bay’s most ambitiously themed restaurants, Maison Riz and Oliver’s, both closed, one to be replaced by a branch of Rockn’Brews while the other remains empty. Both had capable chefs but were the kind of place people visit only once to see what is going on. The decline of sushi in the South Bay continued with the closure of four Japanese restaurants; Sashi, Taiko, Redondo & Sushi, and Sun & Moon all catered to an affluent crowd, while the only sushi bar to open this year, El Segundio’s BAD Sushi, is modestly priced. Abigaile, the only new high concept eatery, has different goals from the places that closed – to serve very adventurous food in a casual setting based on Hermosa’s music history. Compared to…
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