Tin Roof Bistro (LV's LA)

Tin Roof Bistro is a quaint, rustic and beautifully decorated restaurant hidden in a shopping center in Manhattan Beach.  The restaurant has an extensive offering of delicious appetizers, fresh salads, pizza, sandwiches pastas, chicken and seafood. There is something on the menu for every palette and if you bring your children, you will easily find items they like even though there is not a kids menu. There are lots of great lunch specials and the prices are reasonable for the quality of food that you get.

I highly recommend the caramelized Brussels sprouts. Full of flavor and healthy. The lemon, butter, garlic and capers really bring this dish together

The poached pear salad is the perfect combination of sweet and salty with mixed greens and a little crunch from the candied walnuts

The thin noodle lasagna is delicious, filling and a perfect complement to the poached pear salad

This delicious roasted tomato and corn soup was one of the highlights of my meal. It was full of flavor.

This braised beef short rib sandwich pictured above at the beginning of the post  is one of many lunch specials. This came with a delicious soup and a salad of mixed greens.

This light and refreshing salad tossed with a honey Dijon dressing was also a part of the lunch special.

The restaurant has indoor seating highlighted by lots of beautiful rustic decor

There is also a cute outdoor patio area, which is perfect for taking advantage of the warm weather and Cali sunshine:-)

This delicious pumpkin cheesecake was the perfect ending to a great meal and it is nice to be able to enjoy pumpkin cheesecake when its not Thanksgiving season:-)

Tin Roof is perfect for lunch or dinner and close to the beach and shopping.  Reservations are taken, but you can also walk in and be seated without a long wait. If you are in the south bay, this is a great restaurant to try.

Tin Roof Bistro

3500 North Sepulveda Blvd

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

310-939-0900

Five romantic restaurants to try (LV's LA)

 I just love a beautiful, luxurious romantic restaurant. Valentines day brings out that part of us that craves, candlelight, crashing waves, fireplaces, cozy tables, amazing food and that special person. Southern California is home to some of the most beautiful restaurants and ambiance that makes us forget everything else except the moment we are in. If you haven't had the pleasure of experiencing the restaurants on my list of five, definitely give them a try and if you don't have a special someone in your life, there is nothing wrong with celebrating yourself:-)

II Cielo is a beautiful intimate oasis in Beverly Hills. Perfect for an evening of great food and conversation

II Cielo

9018 Burton Way

Beverly Hills, CA 90210

310-276-9990

The Penthouse in Santa Monica is the perfect mix of swanky and romantic. Perfect ocean view and lux white on white decor make this a perfect spot for a relaxing and romantic dinner

The Penthouse (located in the Huntley Hotel)

1111 2nd Street

Santa Monica, CA 90403

310-394-5454

The Little Door is a  hidden French Mediterranean restaurant that will make you feel as if you have stepped into another time and place. Dark with the flickering glow of candles and a romantic vibe that will put you in a sentimental mood. There is no sign, so look for the wooden door that says 8164.

The Little Door

 8164 West 3rd Street

Los Angeles, California 90048

323-951-1210

The Royce in Pasadena is the perfect steakhouse for a change of scenery and a romantic setting

The Royce Steakhouse

1401 South Oak Knoll Ave

Pasadena, CA 91106

626-585-6410

I am always partial to an ocean view and Splashes in Laguna Beach is the perfect romantic setting and even if you dine indoors, the massive windows will bring the ocean directly to you. The view is the star here, so come with the expectation, that you will have an enjoyable meal, but it is the atmosphere that will put a smile on your face.

Splashes

1555 South Coast Highway

Laguna Beach, CA 92651

866-348-8940

Bottega Louie (LV's LA)

Do you like great architecture? How about sugar?

Bottega Louie has gorgeous marble floors, whitewalls, gold trim, stunning high ceilings, a beautiful open air setting and plenty of sugar. The restaurant is stunning aesthetically and they have the most beautiful display of sugary confections, which include all manner of delicious things that make our jeans too tight.

I digress

 Bottega Louie is one of the best restaurants in downtown Los Angeles and has a great selection of Italian food and pastries. This loud, energetic and gorgeous space is a combination of restaurant, patisserie and gourmet marketplace.  The marketplace section of the restaurant reminds me of Dean and Deluca in New York and Williams Sonoma. 

At the front entrance is a rainbow display of decadent dessert’s and Macarons in every color of the rainbow. Every dessert you even think you want, I am sure they have it. Loud, energetic and lots of people watching make this a fun spot to indulge in Italian food and sweet treats. If you are looking for quiet and romantic, this is not the spot, but if you want LOUD, Lively and festive with good food, this is it. If you choose to dine during peak hours, expect crowds and long lines. 

Perusing all of the delicious possibilities

  

We started with the Modena salad  with butter lettuce, candied walnuts, goat cheese, shallots and balsamic vinaigrette. It was a delicious way to start the meal and the salad was fresh and had the perfect mix of savory and a hint of sweet crunch from the walnuts

 

 Our server brought this delicious piping hot bread and whipped butter. I could have eaten about five more of these loafs

 

 For the main course we had shrimp scampi with grilled giant tiger prawns, yukon gold mashed potatoes and white wine marinere sauce and to satisfy my carnivore craving, we also had short ribs that were prepared with landon ragu,white polenta, sage and ricotta. Both dishes were very tasty and flavorful

 

Such a beautiful space

Bottega Louie is bustling with people every time I go. So expect it to be very LOUD

with the open kitchen, people watching and Parisian vibe, you will never have a dull moment

 

 After a sumptuous meal. The desserts started calling

 

 I told the cakes, cookies and this fresh berry tart that I wasn't home

 

The desserts kept calling

I tried to say no

so tempting

really tempting

They have such an amazing display of packaged gift items. I always leave with a box of macarons or some other sweet treat

You can treat yourself or someone you love to something sweet:-)

 

The desserts kept calling, so I finally answered. We indulged in warm Beignets and coffee by candlelight. The Beignets were served with Nutella and a raspberry dipping sauce. Both of them were absolutely divine

 I can't think of a more perfect way to end a meal

 

Well, the only thing that tops coffee and beignets, is to buy a box of macarons to take home so you can munch on them later with coffee and a good book

 

Reservations are not taken at Bottega Louie, so unless you go during non peak hours, expect a long wait, but the sugar rush from dessert will make you forget how long you waited for your table:-)

Bottega Louie

700 South Grand Ave

Los Angeles, CA 90017

213-802-1470

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second Story (LV's LA)

I just love a good adventure, which is probably the reason I discover so many hidden gems like Second Story restaurant in Manhattan Beach. This restaurant is tucked away in the chic 60's inspired Belmar Hotel. If you blink you will miss this cute tucked away eatery. On each occasion I have dined here, the food has been consistently delicious and the ambiance is very cozy. During the day, the vibe is low key and you may find yourself the only patron, but at night, when the sun goes down, Second Story takes on her sassy alter ego with flickering candles, ambient lighting and a clientele as diverse as the menu offerings. Some of my favorite items are the crab cakes (pictured above) and their delicious and inventive salads.

This cute wall display of candles and fresh blooms will greet you as soon as you enter the restaurant.

The atmosphere is warm and inviting. We lingered long after we finished our meal and had didn't want to leave the relaxing and quiet atmosphere

 

These fish tacos were flavorful with just the right amount of seasoning and a generous serving of fresh guacamole and pickled onions. Absolutely delicious

I convinced my friend to try one of my other favorites, the blackened chicken quesadillas and she thought they were phenomenal

Second Story has a serene and peaceful environment during the day. My friend and I had the entire restaurant to ourselves and the servers were very attentive to us

We finished our meal with a delicious croissant bread pudding with caramel drizzle and fresh whipped cream. Perfect sweet ending to a great meal. 

This restaurant is in a great location and walking distance to the beach, so if you want to burn all those calories from your amazing meal, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll to the Manhattan Beach boardwalk. Great food and atmosphere and the prices won't make your wallet anorexic when you leave:-)

Second Story

3501 Sepulveda Blvd

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

310-750-0132