New MB market, pies & deli in RB, construction delays explained, and other dining news
A La Carte column for 23 March 2023
The Market Report: Hermosa Beach acquired its first stand-alone butcher shop in living memory this week, and you can read more about that elsewhere in this edition. In Manhattan, Nick & Sons Market & Deli is open in the former Moon’s Market on Highland, and there could hardly be a greater contrast with the previous establishment. Moon’s was cramped, shabby, and focused mainly on alcohol sales, while Nick’s is bright, airy, and has a selection of gourmet foods and a deli counter. Owner Nick Nahigian is a sommelier and hasn’t neglected the wine and beer selection, and spirits are for sale, but so are fresh vegetables, basic groceries and household necessities.
“I like to carry things that I eat and enjoy myself, and try to get as much organic produce as possible,” he explained. “Most wines here are ones that I’ve tried, and they’re at all price ranges – you can get a good twelve-dollar bottle or something special for a dinner party.”
The new market will be a lifeline for North Manhattan and El Porto pedestrians and cyclists, who have had to go over a mile to downtown MB or Sepulveda to get even basic groceries since Moon’s closed. Nick refers to the store’s stock as a work in progress, and says that some of the open floor space may be filled with new products. “We are going to be adding shelves as we grow as demand grows, and it will be based on what people ask for.” (3307 Highland, MB)…
More openings: Pie Hole is open in Riviera Village, an offshoot of an improbable chain that started on a seedy side street in the Arts District in Downtown LA. You will probably not be surprised to find that their specialty is pies, both sweet and savory, but you may find it unusual to know where their other locations are. As you have a slice of Pie Hole’s Earl Grey Tea pie, caramel matcha or cheeseburger pot pie, other people are doing the same in Tempe, Tokyo, and Saudi Arabia. Their pies are excellent, particularly the Mexican chocolate pie, but not cheap – slices are seven bucks, two bucks extra with whipped cream, and a whole pie is $38. Salads, coffee, and other beverages are available for those who are dining in (1830 S. Elena Street, RB)… Elsewhere in Redondo, the long-awaited Dinghy Deli & Wine Bar has opened at the north end of the Boardwalk. This is a place to go for the classics, pastrami on rye, mixed Italian meats, roast beef, and the like, with charcuterie, vegan items, and salads available too. That menu is scheduled to grow as they get settled, and they’ll be open more days – at the moment it’s just Friday through Sunday. Prices are moderate – where else can you get lunch or dinner with a harbor view for under ten bucks? (160 International Boardwalk, RB)… And a new pop-up called Brekky & Burgers has opened inside Papa Guido’s on the Aviation curve. They’re open from 6 a.m. until noon, and you’ll be shocked to discover that they specialize in breakfast sandwiches and burgers (1521 Aviation, RB)… And the next big opening for Artesia is unlike anything already there – it’s Lobster Guy’s Rolls & Fries, and they offer more than just crustacean sandwiches and fried taters. They have one other location in Woodland Hills and are branching out, taking the former Calimex space. They’re redecorating the place now, no certainty on how soon they’ll be serving…
Delayed and Upcoming: Anytime Hawaiian in the shopping center at the corner of Prospect and Beryl closed a while ago, and will apparently be replaced by a branch of BB.Q Chicken (and yes, the period after the BB is intentional. They say it stands for “Best of the Best Quality). Surprisingly, they do not specialize in barbecue chicken, but in Korean fried chicken with appropriate sides. No word yet on how soon they’ll open, but those who can’t wait to try the food can visit their location in Gardena… I have wondered in this column about two other openings that have been mysteriously delayed, and a reader has helpfully supplied the information. The Pita Cafe on Artesia has apparently been stalled because their contractor took out a wall without a permit. This has caused legal and regulatory wrangling that has lasted over a year and has not yet been settled… The El Tarasco on Artesia had a similar but less severe problem and is in active dialog with the planning and fire departments about how to resolve things. This situation sometimes comes up when old buildings are renovated, and decisions are made that conflict with a regulation that an owner or builder may not be aware of. Here’s hoping that everything is resolved soon so the restaurants can get to doing their job and making diners happy…
This Saturday, March 25, “LA’s Landmark Restaurants” author George Geary will discuss famous eateries both long-closed and still serving at 2 p.m. at Collage in San Pedro. More information is at collageartculture.org… Photo courtesy of the author
Event Alerts: A lot is going on in the South Bay soon, but I’m going to start with an appearance by a culinary celebrity that is a bit outside our usual coverage range. This Saturday George Geary, author of the book “LA’s Landmark Restaurants,” will be presenting a talk about famous eateries both long-closed and still serving. The talk is at 2 p.m. at Collage in San Pedro, and a signing will follow with books available. More information is at collageartculture.org… Wine lovers who relish a challenge will want to be at Uncorked in Hermosa on the 29th between 5 and 8 p.m. for their blind tasting challenge. The price is $20, and if you taste four varietals and can identify all of them, you win a free wine tasting… The next noteworthy event is a wine dinner by Memento Mori Wines at Primo Italia on April 19. Memento Mori works with small producers in the Napa Valley, and some remarkable bottles will be opened to complement a five-course meal with live music. Price is $175 plus T&T, reservations are at eatprimo.com… For those who plan things in advance, on May 3rd Pacific Standard Prime is hosting a wine dinner with Majuscule, a family-owned winery in the Napa Valley. PSP’s wine events are delightful and showcase the thoughtful cooking of chef Christine Brown, and I highly recommend them. The price is $195 inclusive, menu isn’t set yet – check their website for details…
Random Stuff: After a period of inactivity at the former Marine Ramen on Highland, some kind of construction activity is going on. Anybody know who is going in there? Readers, please send tips… info is below… And congratulations are in order for two anniversaries – it’s Riviera Mexican’s 27th, and Gabi James 5th. They’re both good reasons to dine in South Redondo, and we wish you many more years of keeping customers happy…
And 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 https://easyreadernews.com/restaurants/.