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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.
The Win~Dow signage goes up in Belmont Shore; to open next Tuesday
The Belmont Shore renaissance continues to move forward as The Win~Dow, the Venice-based smash burger success, puts its signage up on what will be its first venture below the 10. The brand is expanding upon its three existing locations with a new location in Belmont Shore, taking over the former Archibald’s space at 4600 E. 2nd St.—and given the progress, will be open next Tuesday.
Sandwich/micro-brew shop to open at Lakewood Village
Dilly’s Sandwiches is coming to Lakewood Village’s Village Shops area, taking over a space near Cali Chilli and a bit from Vino e Cucina, giving the neighborhood even more options food wise. “We are working with ownership on this venue which will be a sandwich-meets-micro-brew restaurant and have a great neighborhood vibe. Estimated time is likely four to six months to get it permitted,” said architect Cameron Crockett.
“We’re really hoping to open Spring in 2024,” said owner Rory Ann Clement amid the build-out. “Currently getting bids for trades and we should break ground this month.”
Tocaya quietly closes 2nd & PCH location permanently
Tocaya, the Venice-based casual concept from the Toca Madera restaurant group, has quietly and permanently shuttered its location at the 2nd & PCH retail complex. It marks a steady flow of come-and-go-and-come among spaces inside the complex, which has just began to really find its footing within the larger Long Beach food scene: Hungry Angelina closed its doors in December of 2022; Otosan closed in August; Ample Hills closed in February;
But on the flip side: Barcelona legend Telefèric will open; additionally, Van Leeuwen opened in the former Ample space; Dan Modern finally opened earlier this year after announcing their arrival in 2021; “A PCH” from the River Jetty Restaurant Group opened on the second level, and Beachwood’s taproom opened.
Mangiafolie takes big steps toward opening in former Scholb
For Long Beach Vegan Pizza—the pizza popup that has impressed vegans across the region and will move onto Retro Row into the former Scholb space at the southeast corner of Junipero Avenue and 4th Street for its first brick-and-mortar—its humble owner Paul Reese, they are closer to opening, with another health check coming January of next year. And while Reese shared with me his potential inaugural menu, I have to keep it close to the chest—but vegans will certainly be ecstatic about.
ICYMI: Former Ruby’s to become Wild Fork Foods grocer
Exotic meat lovers rejoice: alligator, ostrich, bison, rabbit… These are just a few of the some 500 varieties of frozen meats and seafood—flash frozen at some -40 degrees to reduce crystallization—offered by Wild Fork Foods, opening its first Long Beach location inside the former Ruby’s space at the southeast corner of 2nd Street and Pacific Coast Highway.
ICYMI: Long Beach Night Market returns Saturday with stacked lineup
The Long Beach Night Market—a collaboration between Grey LB owners Bobby Hernandez and Rob Marquez, Rosemallows owner Jimmy Han, and the popup food world of the region—finally returns this Saturday, Dec. 16, after some quirky and unnecessary hiccups with the city shut down the popular earlier this year. And they have a stellar lineup of vendors.
FROM THE VAULTS: Vino e Cucina offers some of the city’s best pasta
I write a lot of profiles—a lot. And it would seem only necessary to highlight these once again since these restaurants not only deserve it but we have a continual influx of newbies into our food scene, be they new residents or visitors learning about Long Beach’s stellar food scene.
This week, I return to my profile on Milan native Lorenzo Mottola and his charming, hidden East Long Beach gem that is Vino e Cucina. Classic, no fuss, and incredibly warming, Vino e Cucina offers up some of the city’s best handmade pastas while also offering the vast knowledge of Italian wines that Mottola holds. Read the full profile here.
