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Long Beach Food Scene Intel is a series from Brian Addison that will recap food news throughout the city, both news that needs just a quick mention or repeated news where you might have missed the full features.
I Luv Ur Buns to open brick-and-mortar at SteelCraft in Bixby Knolls
Wife-and-wife team Sonya Suon and Mandy Bardisbanian have achieved their dream: After working out of the Daisy Diner ghost kitchen for about a year, the pair have officially moved into SteelCraft in Bixby Knolls. Taking over the former Waffle Love space in the shipping container-as-food court space, the pair will be offering what made them locally famous in the first place: bao buns gone SoCal. Cambodian, Thai, Korean, Mexican, and American flavors combine to make this one of the coolest additions to SteelCraft in quite a bit. Grand opening takes place on July 20 from 8AM to 10PM.
Sake Secrets in Downtown Long Beach burglarized
“I managed to make it 11 months being open before joining the legion of Long Beach small businesses to get [burglarized].”
These are the words of Sake Secrets and sake sommelier Greg Beck, who discovered watching security footage that this space was burglarized. Two suspects were able to enter through a hallway that was supposed to be locked around 4AM on Thursday, July 11. this morning.
“I am lucky,” Beck said. “They broke in through the back door so there’s no broken glass to clean, i didn’t have to miss my regular hours, and they could have taken valuable merchandise but opted for a three-year-old iPad instead.”
This marks a reflection of the string of burglaries that took place last year.
Olive & Rose permanent signage installed for City Center boutique hotel
After installing what was a temporary sign hinting at what’s to come, City Center has put up its beautifully retro, permanent signage for both its boutique hotel and new restaurants, Olive & Rose. Leaning on a pink’n’green aesthetic, the massive conversion of the City Center motel into a boutique hotel and restaurant is one of DLTB’s most exciting projects—especially its food component: Olive & Rose will mark Chef Philip Pretty and sister Lauren Pretty’s second concept following their Michelin-starred Heritage space. For the full feature, click here.
Rosemallows to have beverage program entirely overhauled
Rosemallows, the bar-meets-rented-kitchen space at the southwest corner of 3rd Street and Long Beach Boulevard, will see its beverage program overhauled thanks cocktail maestros James Squire and Sherwood Souzankari. Even better? This was the pair that got Rosemallows the respect it earned throughout the cocktail world of Long Beach, having been the two who opened the hidden tiki bar and oversaw its menu. Are we looking forward to this? Yes, very much looking forward to this.
Hartland’s to soon be serving alcohol
Hartland’s—the ocean-view casual concept inside the 1900 Ocean building from Liv’s owner Rob White—will soon be serving alcohol as its new license goes under review for approval. This means one of the best views of the city from any restaurant can be enjoyed with a wonderful beer or glass of wine. Praise the beach gods.
Chile Bravo closes in East Long Beach; Great Tiger Ramen replacing it
Chile Bravo—the casual Mexican diner near the airport on Lakewood—has permanently closed and will be replaced by Great Tiger Ramen. The news comes from Long Beach Food Scene member Amy Or, who helped the new business install their Toast POS system. Shout out to Amy for helping keep us informed!
Ellie’s unveils new ‘Oyster Hour’ menu
Oyster lovers unite: Ellie’s has unveiled its new Oyster Hour menu, running Tuesdays through Fridays from 4PM to 6PM and yes, on Saturdays and Sundays from 3PM to 5PM. The deals are astounding, as we know they have long had some of the best crudo and one of the best burgers since day one.
Pizza Parlor to offer class on how to make pizza
One of the city’s best pizzerias will be offering a class on how to create their own sourdough pie. Headed by Chef Josh Knight and the Parlor team, the class runs on July 16 from 7PM to 8:30PM. Tickets can be found here.
Baby Gee to host El Águila for tortas ahogadas (and yes, you can score one for free)
Baby Gee Bar—which just unveiled its stellar summer cocktail menu—is hosting beloved L.A. torta ahogada popup on Sunday, July 14. Not only will they have a special Sunday Funday menu featuring Jose Cuervo Reserva and 400 Conejos, the first 25 people to order off that very Funday menu will score a free torta ahogada. ¡Arriba, abajo, al centro, pa’ dentro!
ICYMI: Nonna Mercato debuts dinner service, offering up one of Long Beach’s best prix fixe menus
Nonna Mercato—the bistro-meets-bakery-meets market of Bixby Knolls—has long been serving up some of the city’s finest baked goods and pastas. With Chef Cameron Slaugh at the helm, it has long been an underrated gem since its opening. And Slaugh has always had his eye on potentially diving into dinner service.
With that, he has—and it is nothing short of some of the city’s best.
Click here for the full feature.
ICYMI: Lola’s in Long Beach introduces new brunch, new tortillas
Guava stuffed French toast. Tortas de chilaquiles. Chile verde omelette. A concha breakfast sandwich. And new, locally sourced and made tortillas.
Lola’s is evolving—as it always has.
Click here for the full feature.
ICYMI: Michael’s Downtown to permanently shutter; Ubuntu Cafe to take over
Michael’s Downtown—the DTLB extension from the Michael’s Restaurant Group—will be permanently shuttering. Its last day of service will be July 14 as Ubuntu Cafe preps the space as its second location.
Ubuntu will officially open on The Promenade come Saturday, July for brunch from 6AM until 3PM and on Sunday, July 21, from 6AM to 3PM. Following that, regular service that is experienced at its Colorado Lagoon location will take place on Monday, July 22.
