Long Beach- Restaurants

[NickO'Time]

As some may know The Tour Of California is rolling in Long Beach on Sunday afternoon at 1pm PST. They will do all the Final award presentations that day also.http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/Route/stages/stage7.html

We would like to know what restaurants you would recommend? Is there anything that is a "must" do for places to eat.

Thanks in advance! We totally appreciate it. Little baby included so this may change where we can eat.:)

[Kevy Baby]

I enjoy L'Opera (http://www.lopera.com/), but it may not be baby friendly.

Hooters is across the street from L'Opera :D

[JWBear]

The Original Park Pantry at Broadway and Juinipero is excellent. Or George's Greek Cafe (there's one on Pine & one on 2nd - the one on 2nd is better IMO).

[DreadPirateRoberts]

A trip to Long Beach is incomplete without a visit to Joe Josts (http://www.joejosts.com/). Kid friendly, at least I take my young ones there. Not really a restaurant, but a "special", a handful of pretzels, and a beer make a great meal. It's one of the oldest bars on the west coast, established in 1924.

[Not Afraid]

I never been to Joe Josts! (Of course, bars are not Lisa friendly for the most part)

As for Restaurants:

2nd Street in Belmont Shore has a variety of non-chain really excellent restaurants and is our most frequent haunt.


La Creperie is fantastic food and atmosphere
Next door is Zen Sushi
Next to that is Bonos (Owned by Sonny and Cher's daughter)
Down the street is Open Sesame - a Lebanese restaurant that we end up at probably once a week and home of the "Heroin Chicken" (You eat it and, an hour later you crave more).
There are 2 more new Lebanese restaurants on the street as well.
Super Mex is always good for fantastic Mexican food (although they've now expanded quite a bit and would be considered a chain)
La Strada is decent Italian
Biggs has decent Tapas but I had bad service there when they first opened and haven'tbeen back
George's Greek is WONDERFUL (there's one on Pine and 5th downtown as well)



Everything on 2nd street is a short walk, so just park anywhere and walk the street. It's a fun atmosphere.

Downtown has more chains, but you might try:

Madison for steak (fancy and expensive)
L'Opera (fancy and expensive)
Geoge's Greek (wonderful)
Sevilla for Tapas
There's also your run of the mill stuff like PF Changs, Lone Star, Islands, CPK etc.


Call when you're in town. :)

[NickO'Time]

Many thanks for the response. I will check them out, maybe one of each for lunch and dinner.:D :cheers:

[Disneyphile]

Rock Bottom Brewery is also really good - on the corner of Ocean and Pine. :)

(I presently work in that building.) ;)

Ken and I will be going to a bridal show in Long Beach that day - maybe we can join you for lunch! We'd love to see TicTocBaby! :D

[lindyhop]

Next to that is Bonos (Owned by Sonny and Cher's daughter)

I'm nitpicking but she's actually Sonny's daughter but not Cher's. I've been wanting to try that place.

[NickO'Time]

I never been to Joe Josts! (Of course, bars are not Lisa friendly for the most part)

As for Restaurants:

2nd Street in Belmont Shore has a variety of non-chain really excellent restaurants and is our most frequent haunt.


La Creperie is fantastic food and atmosphere
Next door is Zen Sushi
Next to that is Bonos (Owned by Sonny and Cher's daughter)
Down the street is Open Sesame - a Lebanese restaurant that we end up at probably once a week and home of the "Heroin Chicken" (You eat it and, an hour later you crave more).
There are 2 more new Lebanese restaurants on the street as well.
Super Mex is always good for fantastic Mexican food (although they've now expanded quite a bit and would be considered a chain)
La Strada is decent Italian
Biggs has decent Tapas but I had bad service there when they first opened and haven'tbeen back
George's Greek is WONDERFUL (there's one on Pine and 5th downtown as well)



Everything on 2nd street is a short walk, so just park anywhere and walk the street. It's a fun atmosphere.

Downtown has more chains, but you might try:

Madison for steak (fancy and expensive)
L'Opera (fancy and expensive)
Geoge's Greek (wonderful)
Sevilla for Tapas
There's also your run of the mill stuff like PF Changs, Lone Star, Islands, CPK etc.


Call when you're in town. :)

Rock Bottom Brewery is also really good - on the corner of Ocean and Pine. :)

(I presently work in that building.) ;)

Ken and I will be going to a bridal show in Long Beach that day - maybe we can join you for lunch! We'd love to see TicTocBaby! :D

Either way, we could all have a big lunch get together! It would be great. :)

[Not Afraid]

I'm up for lunch...as long as I'm home in time to watch the red carpet.

[NickO'Time]

We stayed at Chez' Swank for dinner with friends. ;) Also watching the Red Carpet and Oscar's it was relaxing and fun.

[mistyisjafo]

I've heard Gaslamp Restaurant has good food. I haven't eaten there but I really like the atmosphere. Also try Mai Tai's down at the Pike.

[JWBear]

BTW... I just remembered. Avoid Cafe la Strada on 2nd street! The food is nasty. I ordered the meat ravioli; the sauce was thin, orange, and oily with disgusting chunks of stewed tomatoes. It looked like someone threw-up in the bowl. Blech!

[Kevy Baby]

I've heard Gaslamp Restaurant has good food. I haven't eaten there but I really like the atmosphere. Also try Mai Tai's down at the Pike.Those sound like San Diego restaurants - we're talking Long Beach here (I could be mistaken - it would just be odd to have those two particular names in Long Beach).

[€uroMeinke]

BTW... I just remembered. Avoid Cafe la Strada on 2nd street! The food is nasty. I ordered the meat ravioli; the sauce was thin, orange, and oily with disgusting chunks of stewed tomatoes. It looked like someone threw-up in the bowl. Blech!

Man, I'm sorry to hear that - we haven't been in a long long time, but it used to be one of our favorites (until crepes and Heroin Chicken appeared)

[JWBear]

Man, I'm sorry to hear that - we haven't been in a long long time, but it used to be one of our favorites (until crepes and Heroin Chicken appeared)

What else is good on 2nd? (Besides George's - we've been there, and we love it!)

[€uroMeinke]

We've really liked Zen Sushi - next door to the creperie, Super Mex & Luciles are always good. I do miss the piano bar in the North Woods Inn.

[Not Afraid]

la Creperie
George's
Open Sesame
Zen Sushi
Bono's


Off Second:

Ambrosia
Cafe Piccolo
Lashers
Christies
Enriques (PCH and Loynes - GREAT Mexican)

There are so MANY really great independent restaurants in LB!

[JWBear]

Have you tried Steak-O-Rama? We were curious, and it has a swanky name.

[Not Afraid]

Swanky name. Mediocre food. Too bad. I was hoping.


I have lost the ability to write in complete senteces, apparently.

[mousepod]

This is a little off-topic, but there's a restaurant in NYC called Señor Swanky's. My cousin ate there with his dad just on the basis of the great name. They both became very ill.

[JWBear]

I have lost the ability to write in complete senteces, apparently.

Sounds like a complete sentence to me!

And thanks for the info. Too bad. Cool name. (I guess it's catching.)

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Ever have breakfast at the Potholder cafe?

[€uroMeinke]

This is a little off-topic, but there's a restaurant in NYC called Señor Swanky's. My cousin ate there with his dad just on the basis of the great name. They both became very ill.

In the Wicker Park area of Chicago you can find:

http://photos.xenarchy.com/albums/userpics/10001/Swank.jpg

But I haven't eaten there yet

[JWBear]

Ever have breakfast at the Potholder cafe?

Not breakfast, no. Just lunch. It's always so damn packed at breakfast time.