As you probably know by now, we usually do quite a bit of research into bars and restaurants before we visit a city. We found quite a few tasty places to eat and quiet spots for a drink in Long Beach.
Yardhouse – part of a chain of restaurants that specializes in upscale pub food and a huge selection of draft beers. I went to one in Denver earlier this year and was not disappointed in the Long Beach location. The selection of beers was vast and the truffle fries and gigantic tuna roll appetizer were delicious.
Bamboo Thai Bistro — After a long day in the car and two breweries, we were happy to be able to walk to dinner. We sat right by the indoor pond, which made for some nice ambiance. The service was efficient and the food was pretty good.
Yanagi Japanese Bistro— This sushi restaurant is an easy walk from my brother’s house in Redondo Beach. The fish was incredibly fresh and I found the rolls imaginative and tasty. It’s a small place, so we wound up eating at the bar. Highly recommended.
Beachwood BBQ — Along with several in-house brews, they are known for their extensive guest taps as well. Being in California, most of the offerings were of the hoppy variety, but I managed to find a couple dark Belgians that struck my fancy. The sandwiches were also good.
Congregation Ale House — This place was absolutely mobbed on Saturday night, so we decided to come back on Sunday when we could grab a bench outside. Their beer board was half empty by then, so they must of had some turnover from the night before, or they were just short on the selections. While the beer prices were okay, the food prices were really exorbitant. One medium-sized “pub” pretzel with a tablespoon of mustard for $4? Gee thanks.
District Wine — We made a quick stop here for happy hour prior to meeting friends for dinner at Asha (below). No air conditioning, so fans were strategically set up all over the place to cool folks down. I ordered a glass of rose and Eric wound up with a Gewurztraminer. Since it was happy hour, we also got the cheese plate — a fantastic deal for $5. Eric returned on his last night of the conference and tried the roasted nuts that were also a nice snack.
Asha Morrocan — This family run restaurant was very busy on Saturday night, thankfully our reservation meant no wait and a nice bench table in the front window. It was rather warm inside with lots of people, a partially open kitchen, and no AC. Unfortunately, the food here was hit and miss. I feel like after Israel we have become hummus snobs and their version was just okay. However, the vinegar potatoes and nut-pancake with powdered sugar were outstanding, and the couscous smelled great. Prices are low, so you can definitely order a few plates to sample multiple items.
Wine Down Lounge — A cozy place wine bar right around the corner from the Convention Center, this place has a great atmosphere. Numerous wines by the glass, create-your-own flights and comfy couches make this a great place to end or start an evening out.
Cheers!
me holding a mini goblet taster @ The Bruery