Hermosa Action: There’s one open, one on the way at the corner of 2nd and Hermosa Avenue. Customers at Bolt, an offshoot of a West Hollywood cafe, order at the counter but receive table service. The housemade baked goods and generously sized meals are already popular with the brunch crowd. They’ve filed for a beer and wine license and will be opening for dinner. (190 Hermosa Ave.)
Next door, the former The Spot will become Proudly Serving, the third location of a business that started as a pop-up in a driveway. Founder Matt McIvor moved from there to a cart on The Strand, then to a tiny location on the Redondo Boardwalk, and another inside a Long Beach brewery. The Boardwalk location will close after Hermosa opens. There’s some irony in a place known for burgers moving into a former bastion of vegetarianism. Matt plans to add a housemade veggie burger, so there will be something for those who frequented the former tenant…
A few blocks north in downtown Hermosa, Agave Azul has changed hands. The likely successor is another restaurant with the word “agave” in its name. It’s handy that they won’t have to remove the pretty engravings of the plant that gave the world tequila. No idea how soon they’ll pour the mezcal again…
The Bonaparte Bistro has transitioned from Greenspot, though they’re still serving pizzas, salads, and apps from the old menu. Get the pita and hummus plate, and follow up with trout almondine or the couscous royale. The price is modest for the location, and the food was impressive on our first visit. (36 Pier Ave, HB). Up on PCH, there is no visible activity at the WaGyu Meatsmith butcher shop. This project was announced almost two years ago and seems to have stalled – does anybody know what’s happening there?
Confusion and Congratulations: The Wild Fork Foods location on PCH at Manhattan Beach Boulevard has posters visible from the street offering great prices on meat, but anyone who stops in to take advantage of a deal is going to walk away empty-handed. They’re not open yet. The company declined comment other than to say it would be within three months. Posting these signs may whet people’s appetites, but may backfire when they’re really selling and people are used to ignoring them… Congratulations to Esperanza for inclusion in the Michelin Guide, putting Manhattan Beach firmly in the lead when it comes to entries in that prestigious publication. The city now has six listed restaurants, Hermosa has two, and Redondo has one. None have ascended to actually having a Michelin star rating, but the way the local scene is growing in recognition, that is surely on the way… Congratulations are also in order for Chris Park, the new executive chef at the Strand House. Park’s impressive resume includes running West Hollywood standout Bottega Louie, and he has added new dishes to the Strand House menu. That restaurant has had some spectacular talent in their dozen years in business, and it will be interesting to try his contributions… A block inland from the Strand House, Salt & Straw has opened their latest gourmet ice cream store. This is a bold move because they’re almost directly across the street from Manhattan Beach Creamery, which has been serving locally made frozen treats since 2006. They both had a line when I walked by, so maybe there is enough business for both (209 Manhattan Beach Blvd, MB)…
Redondo Becomes Social: Sister’s Barn is transforming into Beach Cities Social, featuring food inspired by the late culinary author and journalist Barbara Hansen. Owner Shri Sambaghi also operated the Banana Leaf chain of Indian restaurants, so expect some South Indian influence on the menu. No word yet on how soon they’ll be serving… Redondo lost a Korean-style fried chicken place when Hermosa Kentucky changed hands, but just gained another one. The “BB.Q Chicken” restaurant took over a former Hawaiian place near the corner of Prospect and Beryl, delighting locals who have had to go to Gardena for their food until now. Note that this isn’t fast food — they cook their chicken to order, which takes 30 minutes, but fans say it’s worth it (1252 Beryl, RB)… While some Redondo eateries are on the market, there’s one vacant restaurant space that will stay that way. When I covered the closure of Joe’s Crab Shack in January, I said whatever came next would be an upgrade. Now it appears that may have been the last chapter for that building as a restaurant. The city has rezoned it, so whatever comes next won’t be a dining establishment…
El Segundo News: Two fast casual restaurants have opened in the same little plaza on Grand Avenue, just east of Main Street. Rice Cups serves Korean-style rice bowls and corn dogs – yes, corn dogs. Koreans crust these with potato or panko crumbs and roll them in sugar. I haven’t tried one yet, but carnivores with a sweet tooth are sure to want one… Blossom Ramen is a few doors away, serving noodles in five kinds of broth and a smattering of appetizers in one of the prettiest fast-food places anywhere. You can enjoy your soup beneath the branches of a fake cherry blossom tree, with a view of a clever anime-themed mural. It’s nice when a fast casual place puts some care into the dining experience, and I hope they do well (130 E. Grand Avenue, ES)… And I need to correct an error in a previous column – I had misstated the reason that Porterhouse on Richmond Street had not yet opened. The menu development is now complete and the restaurant is going to open soon with a greatly upgraded covered rear patio (223 Richmond Street, ES)…
Event Alerts: Uncorked presents more wine events than anyone else in the South Bay, and they’re popping French corks in Hermosa on July 14 to celebrate Bastille Day. The management points out that one of the things that started the revolution was a protest against a wine tax, so the celebration is appropriate. Alpine wines will be the topic at Uncorked Hermosa on July 24, boxed wines from Juliet Cellars at Uncorked Manhattan on July 26. Tastings cost $25 and are first come, first served – see their website for details… And finally, an event that had been rescheduled earlier this year is coming up soon.
On July 27 Addi’s Darbar in Redondo will host a “Taste of Goa,” highlighting the unique Mediterranean-influenced Indian cuisine of this region, which was controlled by the Portuguese for 400 years. Several items that are not usually on the menu will be served. Host Addi deCosta will explain the cuisine between courses. I will be co-hosting, and a portion of each admission will go to help student programs at Collage: A Place for Art & Culture. $65 including tax and tip, $85 with wine, and it’s a bargain to experience a taste of a little-known cuisine. Reservations are at this LINK Collage is also hosting concerts of Indian classical music and jazz in July, plus a show by an Indian artist – see collageartculture.org for details…
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 EasyReaderNews.com/restaurants/. ER
