Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [144]
Joe’s (Map; 310-399-5811; 1023 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice; mains lunch $13-15, dinner $27-29, noon-2:30pm Tue-Fri, 6-10pm Sun & Tue-Thu, 6-11pm Fri & Sat; ) Joe’s was one of the first restaurants on Abbot Kinney’s restaurant row and, like a fine wine, only seems to get better with age. It’s a casual yet stylish neighborhood spot where the accent is on gimmick-free Cal-French food. The choicest tables are out on the patio by the waterfall fountain.
Piccolo (Map; 310-314-3222; 5 Dudley Ave; pasta $16-20, mains $27-36; 5:30-10pm Sun-Thu, 5:30-11pm Fri & Sat; ) This teensy spot, mere steps from the boardwalk, pays homage to the original Venice with vintage black-and-white photos and Carnevale masks. The food too is as authentic as it gets with beef carpaccio, Tuscan bean soup, pistachio-encrusted lamb loin and any of the homemade pastas getting big thumbs up from the grown-up bohemian crowd. No reservations.
South Bay Beaches
BUDGET
Uncle Bill’s Pancake House (Map; 310-545-5177; 1305 N Highland Ave, Manhattan Beach; mains $3-12.50; 6am-3pm Mon-Fri, 7am-3pm Sat & Sun; ) Grab a stool, a booth or better yet an ocean-view table at this greet-the-day South Bay institution. Sexy surfers, tottering toddlers and gabbing girlfriends – everybody’s here for the famous pancakes and big fat omelettes (try the ‘Istanbul’ made with turkey). Put your name on the list – the wait’s worth it.
Rice Things (Map; 310-214-9033; 2401 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach; meals $5-8; 11am-9pm; ) OK, so the ambience is zero and it ain’t the best Japanese food you’ll ever eat, but the prices are simply hard to beat. Order the combo meal, which comes with a side of sushi and a drink and you’ll be outta there, tummy filled nicely, for about $6.
Nancy’s Diner (Map; 310-316-7676; 1550 S Pacific Coast Hwy, Redondo Beach; mains $5-10; 24hr) It’s old-school, divey and hard to find, but after a night of partying, there’s nothing like Nancy’s greasy home-cooking to restore balance to the brain. It’s behind a row of stores, near Albertson’s supermarket.
El Gringo (Map; mains $6-11; 11am-9pm; ) Hermosa Beach ( 310-376-1381; 2620 Hermosa Ave) Manhattan Beach ( 310-372-6080; 921 N Sepulveda Blvd; ) Redondo Beach ( 310-316-8032; 821 Torrance Blvd; ) Grotty-looking dives usually make the best Mexi-fare and this tri-city mini-chain definitely delivers. Authentic charm is doled out with as much abandon as the delish dishes. Skip the standards in favor of machaca (shredded beef) burritos, pollo negro (blackened chicken) salads and flavor-packed xcholti (pronounced ‘soul-chee’) soup.
Green Temple (Map; 310-944-4525; 1700 S Catalina Ave, Redondo Beach; mains $9-13; 11am-9pm Sun-Thu, 11am-10pm Fri & Sat; ) Sit in the flowery courtyard or amid funky Asian artwork at this sanctuary where meat is a no-no and organic, local produce is plentiful. Salads, including the tasty Sproutada, come with a slice of delicious homemade bread and there’s also an entire page of Mexican dishes. Waist-watchers can ask for the ‘junior’ portions.
In Hermosa Beach, a time-honored way to start the day is with pancakes, waffles or omelettes from the Backburner Cafe (Map; 310-372-6973; 87 14th St, Hermosa Beach; mains $2.25-7.25; 6am-2pm) or Beach Hut No 2 (Map; 310-376-4252; 1342 Hermosa Ave, Hermosa Beach; mains $3-6; closes around 2pm).
MIDRANGE & TOP END
Mama D’s (Map; 310-456-1492; 1125 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach; mains lunch $5-8, dinner $9-22; 11:30am-10pm; ) This neighborhood Italian fits like a well-worn shoe and puts ‘heap’ into ‘cheap’. The thin-crust pizzas, homemade ravioli, tangy cioppino and freshly baked bread, all served with a smile, keep regulars coming back for more. Expect