Thai Tani Tenant
Talks… Chris Davidson, owner of Mama D’s, has confirmed that he is in at the former Thani Tani space on PCH in Redondo. The newest branch of Mama D’s is expected to open by October after a remodel to fit the classic Italian style of the Manhattan Beach location. Chris also announced that he has signed a new twenty-year lease in Manhattan Beach, which is quite a vote of confidence in the area. As he put it, “I’m going to be there forever…”
Poke Is Everywhere… The craze for marinated tuna shows no sign of slowing down, and here’s an illustration of just how crazy it’s getting: three poke specialists have opened in El Segundo alone during the last month. Ono Poke is on Maple, Bowlology is in the new Elevon complex, and Poke Bar is on El Segundo Boulevard in the former Ugly Pie space. Poke Bar is a chain that has also announced branches in the former Juice It Up space on Hermosa Avenue and on Hawthorne in Torrance, though it will be a while before those open. It’s a big gamble on not merely the popularity of tuna, but the availability, since several species are threatened and prices are rising…
(Bowlology, 731 N. Douglas ES, Poke Bar 2161 El Segundo ES, Ono Poke 2259 Maple ES)
The Burbs Welcome You… Suburbia, the new restaurant from the Blackhouse Group, soft opened in Riviera Village last weekend. The menu is mixed contemporary with no particular focus, a smattering of Mediterranean, Asian, American, and, of course, poke. The décor is sleek and modern, and it’s a very pretty room with a lively bar. I can’t report on the food yet, but they serve some very fine cocktails… (247 Avenida del Norte, RB) Elsewhere in Redondo, Fika Coffee opened, a collaboration between a Swede and a Columbian who are determined to bring fresh roasted coffee to a new level. They also serve chocolate and pastries, and reportedly plan to roll out an expanded menu, but no timeline on that yet… ( 350 N. PCH, RB)
Britt’s Bashed… Britt’s Barbecue in El Segundo was planning to roll out a new menu when someone else rolled in — a drunk driver who drove through the front window. The restaurant will be closed for at least another week for remodeling, and when they reopen will offer country breakfasts, shrimp po-boys, and other Southern delights… Down the street a bit, Mandy’s Family Restaurant has closed permanently – no word on what might go into that space…
Meanwhile in Torrance… Restoration Kitchen & Wine Bar has soft opened in Old Town Torrance, bringing high style modern food and wine and beer tastings to a quiet street. The menu isn’t online yet, but they’re offering items like braised mussels, roasted beet salad, steaks, and pork belly. This is a big upgrade for the neighborhood, and it will be interesting to see whether nearby businesses upgrade to compete with them… (1437 Marcellina, Torr) Elsewhere in town, new restaurant Silog is serving Filipino fusion and Kimbap Paradise offers Korean rice rolls and noodles. Both are in a development with many restaurants and few parking spaces, so you might want to park on the nearby streets rather than circle endlessly… (1585 Sepulveda Blvd., Torr)
Events, We Have Events… HT Grill will offer a wine dinner featuring Fess Parker from the Santa Barbara area on August 4th. Four courses are $65 plus tax and tip – see their website for full menu and reservations… If your tastes run to stronger beverages, there’s a rum cocktail class at The Arthur J this Saturday, July 23rd. You’ll have a hands-on class from the bartenders of MB Post, Fishing With Dynamite, and the host restaurant as well as cocktails and bar bites afterward. It’s $100 per person – call 310-878-9620 for reservations…
And More News… Catalina Kitchen at Terranea will soon be closing for remodeling. The process will take at least a month, no word on whether there will be a new menu. Speaking of the south side of the Peninsula, the Taste of San Pedro will be held at Crafted on August 6. I attended last years’ event and enjoyed it quite a bit. A brewery called Brouwerij West (which just sent my spell checker into cardiac arrest) has opened there and is offering Belgian-style beers, and there will be live music and other delights. There are some interesting things going on around the harbor area, and it’s worth a little drive to sample the offerings here. Price is $55 for five plates of food and three beverages, or $95 for unlimited sampling of both — check Eventbrite for details…
Any restaurants I should know about, any events, anyone else offering beer samples? I’m at Richard@richardfoss.com.
