McColgan’s Closed, Samosa House Open, Hungarian Flavors, And More Local Restaurant News (A La Carte for 29 June 17)
The interior of the new Samosa House in El Segundo. Photo
Irish Out In Hermosa… After over four years on Hermosa Avenue, Mickey McColgan’s Pub has closed. Their logo carried the phrase, “The tradition lives on,” but it passed quietly last Thursday. The space is apparently in escrow to a new tenant, but all parties are keeping mum for now…
New Indian In El Segundo… Samosa House is a respected name in the vegetarian Indian community, and their fourth location just opened in Plaza El Segundo near Whole Foods. In a departure for this South Indian chain they will offer soon offer beer and wine (700 S. Allied Way, ES. 310-496-7389…
Event Alert, Vanished Empire Edition… The Austro-Hungarian Empire disappeared from the map at the end of World War I, but there is still a vibrant culinary culture that straddles the two cultures of that kingdom. On July 18th those cuisines will be on display at a Hungarian wine dinner at Chef Hannes in El Segundo. Owner Johannes Kraschitzer usually cooks California-Italian cuisine at his restaurant but on that evening will present items from both Austrian and Hungarian traditions. A five-course dinner with Hungarian wines will run $85 inclusive at this benefit for the Pacific Food & Beverage Museum – reserve online at pacificfood.org…
Three Greeks Opening Soon… Since Petros Benekos opened the restaurant bearing his name in Manhattan Beach, he has ventured north, and there are now Petros restaurants in El Segundo, Santa Barbara, and near Solvang. Last year he announced plans to open two locations in the Elevon complex in El Segundo, a sports bar called Petros Saloon and a coffeehouse and yoghurt factory. Both were scheduled for this summer but will be delayed because Petros has focused on the opening of another Petros in Westwood. The many cynics who scoffed that a high concept idea like Hellenic-California fusion couldn’t make it here are silent now…
Big News On Rosecrans… The tenant list has been announced for the Apollo Landing development in the former Cozymel’s space, and there are surprises. Shake Shack, a New York based chain whose closest current outpost is in Beverly Hills, will be there, as will Philz Coffee, Pier 76 Fish Grill, Tender Greens, and Caló Kitchen and Tequila, a restaurant and bar serving Mexican food. And is it just me, or will you be thinking of spacecraft every time you see the Apollo Landing sign?…
Odds And Ends… The newest poke place in the area is Poke Me in the Golden Cove shopping center in PV. Opening will be July 15th, and first 25 customers get free poke bowls… Seaside Grill in Redondo, which wasn’t actually by the sea but did grill things, closed recently. The combination hookah bar and grill lost many customers who couldn’t eat while breathing perfumed smoke… Meanwhile in Hermosa, the tiny smoothie stand that replaced Project Taco on the Pier Plaza reportedly hopes to clear up their permitting issue and reopen soon. And work continues at the former Establishment restaurant, which will reopen as Decadence with a Cal-Asian fusion menu sometime in fall…
Any tips about openings and closings, any events, any donations of food and restaurant memorabilia for upcoming museum exhibitions? You can reach me at richardfoss.com…