A La Carte: the Phelan Good Café, Dickey’s BBQ, Chinese Friends, fried chicken and Abigaile
The Phelan Good Café. Photo by Kathalina Rodriguez
A Phelan Good burger. Photo by Thumby Rodriguez
Puns With Your Lunch… I enjoy wordplay, so I had to smile when I saw the Phelan Good Café, a tiny establishment located by the corner of Phelan and Robinson in North Redondo. This used to be the North Beach Café, but the new owner has renamed it, and I approve of the change. I also approve of the sandwiches – most items are the usual deli standards, but there are some standouts like the marinated Portobello on ciabatta and the breakfast items on freshly baked croissants. I admit to being frightened by their “Go Back To Sleep Burrito,” a behemoth that sounds like it will feed at least three people. I can’t imagine ordering it, but would like to see one if somebody else does…
First Look Part One… There used to be a Dickey’s Barbecue in Redondo Beach about a decade ago, and I remember making pilgrimages there for slow-smoked meats. One has now opened near the Whole Foods in Redondo, and I visited to see of it was as good as I remembered. On this trip it was a mixed bag – excellent brisket, good kielbasa, ribs tasty but a bit overdone. The highlight was actually the fried okra, so light and crisp in its cornmeal breading that it actually convinced my companion, a lifelong okra avoider, that there might be some reason to eat the stuff. I’ll be returning to see how the place develops, but the potential is definitely there…
Closed, But Not Changing… If you have headed to El Segundo lately hungering for pizza amid rock memorabilia, you were probably surprised to see that Rock n’ Brews is now a construction site. The concept was popular; the small building with inadequate indoor dining and balky rest rooms wasn’t, so the whole thing is being rebuilt. They’ll be closed for a few months, emerging again when the weather is warming up, and pizza and beer on a sunny patio the meal of choice.
First Look 2… The South Bay has few traditional Chinese restaurants, and most of those are pretty shaky on authenticity and execution. Enter Chinese Friends on Rosecrans at Ocean Gate, a collaboration between the well-regarded Chinatown restaurant of the same name and local entrepreneur Sam Sabra. The place has only been open for a week and is already surprisingly good – the hot and sour soup had layers of flavor instead of just heat, and the fish in black bean sauce was aromatic and tasty. The former Nathan’s hot dog stand has had a makeover and is a neat and pleasant spot – give this one a try for a pleasant surprise…
A Special To Cluck Over… A friend of mine who is a chef has a mission: to find the very best fried chicken available in the South Bay. I’m happy to help her with her research, strictly in the spirit of scientific inquiry. We both like it in the old fashioned style: half a bird on the bone in a seasoned batter, none of that silly skinless/boneless/flavorless stuff that is occasionally sold under the same name. The high mark so far is also a fantastic deal: the Sunday-only fried chicken supper at American Farmhouse Tavern in Manhattan Beach. Fifteen bucks gets you soup, salad, a side order, and the best fried chicken I have found in a wide radius. A shout out to you readers – what’s your favorite fried chicken place? Your secret is safe with me… I’ll just share it with a few thousand friends…
Pennywise’s Fletcher Dragge and his friends from the 3 rd Street Tattoo shop helped give Abigaile a touch of punk last week. Photo by Wicked+
…And First Look 3… Abigaile is open in Hermosa, offering an interesting menu in a place with edgy visuals. Will people order pricey and innovative food in a place with the graffiti-splashed walls of a punk crash house? The combination of elegance and hardcore chic is fascinating, and it’s like no place else in the South Bay. Whatever you think of it, this place will give you something to talk about… ER