MANHATTAN BEACH CA
GOODBOYBOB COFFEE HOUSE
CLEAN LINES, SERIOUS COFFEE, THOUGHTFUL SOURCING. THE KIND OF PLACE WHERE YOU GRAB A PERFECTLY MADE DRINK AND A SMALL BREAKFAST BITE BEFORE HEADING TOWARD THE WATER. I PATIENTLY WAITED A LONG TIME FOR A COFFEEHOUSE OTHER THAN STARBUCKS TO ARRIVE IN MB AND I’M HAPPY TO SAY IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT. HERE’S WHERE YOU’LL FIND THE BEST PASTRIES IN TOWN. FEELS MODERN BUT RELAXED — VERY “I LIVE HERE” ENERGY.
FISHING WITH DYNAMITE
COMPACT, SHARP, SEAFOOD-FORWARD. OYSTERS ARE PRISTINE, CRUDO IS CLEAN, MARTINIS ARE COLD AND CORRECT. SIT AT THE BAR IF YOU CAN. THIS IS YOUR “WE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT FOOD” MOVE.
THE ARTHUR J
MOODY STEAKHOUSE ENERGY. DIM LIGHT, POLISHED SERVICE, STRONG COCKTAILS. A GROWN-UP DINNER THAT DOESN’T FEEL FUSSY.
ERCOLE'S
THE BURGER. PERIOD. OLD-SCHOOL BAR ENERGY, SLIGHTLY STICKY FLOORS IN THE MOST NOSTALGIC WAY. NO GARNISH TOWER, NO REINVENTION. JUST A PROPERLY GRIDDED CLASSIC THAT LOCALS DEFEND WITH PASSION. KNOWN BY LOCALS AS ERC’S. IDEAL FOR MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AND OTHER DEEPLY IMPORTANT CIVIC GATHERINGS.
(VEGGIE BURGER ALT)
EL SOMBRERO - DOWNTOWN LOCATION
OLD-SCHOOL COMFORT IN THE BEST WAY. NO THEATRICS, JUST SOLID PLATES THAT CONSISTENTLY SATISFY. IT FEELS LIKE A NEIGHBORHOOD TIME CAPSULE — FAMILIES, REGULARS, ZERO EGO. SKIP THE MARGARITAS AND LEAN INTO THE FOOD. SIT ON THE FRONT PATIO. I HAVE A WEAKNESS FOR THEIR CHIPS AND SALSA. I’VE BEEN GOING HERE SINCE I WAS FIVE YEARS OLD, WHICH TELLS YOU EVERYTHING.
UNCLE BILL'S
A TRUE INSTITUTION. EXPECT A LINE ON THE WEEKEND. EXPECT CHATTER. EXPECT PANCAKES THAT TASTE LIKE CHILDHOOD SUMMERS. IT’S LOCAL, BEACHY, AND COMPLETELY UNPRETENTIOUS. SIT OUTSIDE. ORDER BREAKFAST, LEAN INTO THE NOSTALGIA, AND WATCH THE MORNING UNFOLD AROUND YOU.
MB POST
THIS IS THE ANCHOR. LIVELY, POLISHED WITHOUT TRYING TOO HARD, AND BUILT FOR SHARING. THE BACON CHEDDAR BUTTERMILK BISCUITS ARE BASICALLY MANDATORY, APOLOGIES TO PESCATARIAN SCOTT. VEGETABLES ARE TREATED WITH RESPECT. FRIED CHICKEN UNDERSTANDS TEXTURE. IT’S THE PLACE YOU TAKE FRIENDS WHEN YOU WANT THE NIGHT TO FEEL CELEBRATORY BUT STILL VERY SOUTH BAY.
THE STRAND HOUSE
GO FOR THE VIEW AND THE VIBE. OCEANFRONT, GOLDEN HOUR, THAT SLOW SHIFT FROM DAYLIGHT TO CANDLELIGHT. SIT UPSTAIRS FOR THE FULL VIEW. ORDER A COCKTAIL AND SHARE SOME FOOD AND LET THE SUNSET DO THE HEAVY LIFTING.
