Long Beach’s waterfront is undergoing its biggest update in decades, with the city upgrading the beach’s amenities via three junctions set to include a variety of uses—and one of those most look-forward-ed to uses are what will hopefully be quality food hubs that go beyond old hot dogs and pre-packaged popsicles—and Gaucho Beach will be a part of that.
The first restaurant to tackle the newly minted beach views opened earlier this year—Saltwater Deck at the Junipero junction—while the main tenant at the Granada space, Monty’s, is under contract with the city but awaits approval from the California Coastal Commission to upgrade its facilities before moving forward with construction.
The biggest elephant in the room is the project’s most expensive: a $9M, two-story amenities structure at the westernmost edge of the project, Alamitos Beach. A total rehaul of the entire space that existed previously, the city has been in talks with potential tenants for years—and formally approved Saltwater and Monty’s back in June.
Now, the city has approved its contract with Downey Restaurant Group, the owner of Gaucho Grill—which used to occupy the space now holding Agaves along Pine Avenue, owned by some of those involved with Gaucho—along with three proposed concepts, each to inhabit the new facility.
Taking over the north-facing side of the structure will be the most formal of dining, Gaucho Beach, a play off of the restaurant’s chain throughout SoCal. The proposed menu—which can be viewed in full here—has a selection of everything from sea bass and salmon to wood-fired steaks.
Gaucho Café, the more accessible, less ritzy space facing the water, will offer “coffee, juices, smoothies, baked goods and cakes, pizzas, signature empanadas, and ice crea” according to its submission to the city. Its proposed menu can be viewed here.
Gaucho Mercado—the tiniest of the spaces and facing the eastern portion of the structure, toward the playground— will serve as a quick grab-n-go space, with options including “specialty sandwiches, salads, beverages, sweets, and more.”
Before opening, the city’s newest contractor for the space—Nationwide Insurance Mutual Company—must complete the base of the project’s construction after it was halted following a previous fail from its original contractor. Once that is complete, Downey Restaurant Group can begin construction on signage, kitchen build-out, and more.
