Family dinner
The Kettle
Many parents complain that there are few places in our downtowns that are family oriented as opposed to aiming at the bar crowd. The Kettle is a rare exception, and everybody’s first choice when it comes to a good meal at a moderate price in a family friendly environment. They have been serving California comfort food since 1973 and have plenty of practice at it. People who came here as toddlers are now coming here with toddlers who are their grandchildren. The kitchen turns out coffee shop classics with a smattering of eclectic dishes, with something for everyone in a welcoming environment.
The Kettle
1138 Highland Ave.
Manhattan Beach
(310) 545-8511
thekettle.net
Runner Up:
Baran’s 2239
502 Pacific Coast Hwy.
Hermosa Beach
(424) 247-8468
Farm to table
The Hook & Plow
There are two locations of the Hook and Plow, and the menus aren’t the same because the chefs have different ideas about how to treat the freshest meat, seafood, and produce. We hope they don’t have arguments about whose treatment of some seasonal item is the best, because we want to see more harmony in the world. We’re sure that both will be excellent, because the aesthetic here is about delivering natural flavors subtly enhanced, and that’s the farm to table way.
The Hook & Plow
425 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach
(310) 937-5909
1729 S. Catalina Ave.
Redondo Beach
(424) 247-8272
Runner-up:
The Strand House
117 Manhattan Beach Blvd.
Manhattan Beach
(310) 545-7470
French/Continental
Creme De La Crepe
It’s almost a shame that this restaurant has the word crêpe in its name, because it leads people to expect that that’s all they serve. Nothing could be further from the truth. They’ve always had fans of their crabcakes, rich beef Bourguignon, pastas, and risottos. The menu is mostly French classics with a few Italian items and of course burgers because this chain started in Hermosa. They’ve gone from one location to eight in the 19 years they’ve been open. Their success is based on providing fine gallic bistro food that happens to include darn good crepes.
Creme De La Crepe
424 Pier Ave.
Hermosa Beach
(310) 937-2822
1708 ½ S. Catalina Ave.
Redondo Beach
(310) 540-8811
550 Deep Valley Dr. #145
Rolling Hills Estates
(310) 541-0001
Runner-up:
Dominique’s Kitchen
522 S. Pacific Coast Hwy.
Redondo Beach
(424) 247-9054
