My 5 Favorite Restaurants in the South Bay
March, 2021
If you’re in the South Bay, you certainly don’t need to to leave the beach cities to get excellent food. Whether you’re a local looking for some fresh ideas, or a tourist visiting us for the first time, these 5 restaurant picks cover a range of specialty foods. Enjoy!
1. For Those that Want the Best Red Meat: The Arthur J
Cost: $75-100 per person without drinks
Description: Dimly lit and swanky with mid-century modern furnishings, this Manhattan Beach steakhouse is a glorious throwback. In fact, Mad Men could shoot a reunion here without changing a single Scotch glass. The pricey menu is at odds with its beachy surrounds, making this retreat ideal for corporate diners and dressed-up duos.
The carte is built around a variety of different cuts and grades of meats—angus, Wagyu and prime—all cooked over a wood-fired grill. Steaks arrive with a choice of one sauce, but be prepared to pay for individual sides, toppings and Parker House rolls. Have a beef with beef? There's a section for that, with vegan and seafood options. Desserts are a treat so indulge in fun takes on classic American layer cakes, sundaes and cherries jubilee. (from the Michelin Guide)
2. For Those that Want Seafood Galore: Fishing with Dynamite
Cost: Approximately $50-75 per person without drinks
Description: LA’s seafood game is strong. And Fishing With Dynamite sits amongst the best, starting with the raw bar. Ordering the oyster sampler and a 3 oz. glass of cava is a command, not a suggestion. And we’re telling you right now there’s not a better scallop in town than their Peruvian scallop. The rest of FWD’s stacked menu reads like a Seafood Hall of Fame induction ceremony, with everything from gumbo to yellowtail tacos to crab cakes to fish and chips all making appearances.
And yet, it’s the vibe and space that sets the whole operation apart. Fishing With Dynamite is one of LA’s great restaurants, but it’s basically a neighborhood seafood joint. Gone are the white tablecloths and cavernous dining rooms that are generally associated with high-end seafood restaurants. Instead, FWD is cool, casual, and extremely manageable. Come sit at the tiny bar for a quick lunch or set up shop in the corner for one of the best date night situations in town. (from The Infatuation)
3. For Those that Like to Share: Jame Enoteca
Cost: Approximately $40-65 per person without drinks
Description: Jame Enoteca is one of the best new places to eat pasta in all of Los Angeles. The South Bay restaurant, which opened at an El Segundo strip mall in June, serves fresh housemade pasta like capellini with a soul-stirring, 36-hour Roma/San Marzano tomato sauce, and scarpinocc, a slipper-shaped pasta filled with braised beef cheek. Jame celebrates the Italian ethos of using flour and water as the basis of peasant food you can serve to royalty. It's a place that, like so many restaurants and homes in Italy, makes meals based on whatever ingredients are available locally. (from Food and Wine)
4. For Those that Want a Fun Twist on Mexican food: Tacolicious
Cost: Approximately 15-30$ per person without drinks
Description: Tacolicious is one of the most fun places to eat tacos in all of Los Angeles. The San Francisco-based restaurant opened a location in downtown Manhattan Beach last summer. There are many fun taco options to try such as a filet mignon taco or cauliflower for vegetarians and vegans. I recommend ordering the 10 taco platter and sharing it amongst friends. And don’t forget to try their fantastic drinks!
5. For Those that Want Drinks and a Beach Walk: Playa Provisions
Cost: Approximately $30-50 per person without drinks
Description: Playa Provisions is the third endeavor for Top Chef Winner Brooke Williamson and husband Nick Roberts. The unique model includes four different restaurant concepts nestled within one 7,000-square foot, beach side location. King Beach cafe offers casual breakfast and lunch fair. For dinner, Dockside exemplifies both Brooke and Nick’s love for California coastal cuisine at an intimate dining room and beach side patio. After dinner stop by Small Batch for a pint of house made ice cream, or sneak into the back and enjoy some darker spirits at Grain Whiskey Bar. Inspired by the city's "country marts," the four separate, yet cohesive dining experiences provide a taste for everyone. (from Playa Provisions)