Salt & Grove, the newly minted restaurant inside the Courtyard Marriott in Downtown Long Beach, sits in a culinary space burned into the collective memory of Long Beach. James Republic once sat atop the food chain at its peak, dazzling diners with bacon-wrapped, cheese-stuffed dates slathered in a maple-balsamic reduction and bowls of golden beet gazpacho. With it, the southeast corner of 1st Street and Linden Avenue was constantly abuzz: Packed during dinner with its patio lined with folks for weekend brunch.
And the team at Salt & Grove wants to return to that. Brunch on the weekends. Morning business get-togethers. Groups of friends exploring shared plates. And for the newly minted head of kitchen, Chef Courtney Beavers, while respecting James Republic, he is not necessarily looking to replicate it culinarily. Instead, he wants to reflect its spirit while turning Salt & Grove into a cuisine-bouncing space.
“When I look at Long Beach, I can’t pin one specific style or culture or sense of being,” Chef Courtney said. “I see this confluence of cultures—and I want my menu to reflect that. There are some nods to my Southern roots in Texas with my Grandma’s catfish recipe. I had a friend who taught me how to make tostones. There’s crudo. Pastas… To me, it reflects Long Beach as an international space. And I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to see our space return to the times when it was packed with diners.”
Salt & Grove is ready for patrons now and an interior update later…
Let’s just be frank: The Bistro, Courtyard’s post-James Republic attempt at a replacement for the space, fell short. With a menu that feels far too large and expansive, lacking a clear identity, and food that mirrors its lack of center, Chef Courtney and sales executive Whitney Neal understand the need for the space to return to a culinary center.
“We understand how heavily James Republic influenced the Long Beach food scene,” Whitney said. “So now, we are ready to welcome patrons and reintroduce ourselves as Salt & Grove. And in the coming months, patrons will see updates to the interior as well.”
The menu is exactly what Chef Courtney describes: a mix of cuisines. A bucatini with a simple red sauce with some sun-dried tomatoes. Himachi crudo in a Vietnamese-inspired nuoc cham bath. Salmon Benedict slathered in a poblano hollandaise. Tostones topped with guava-tinged chicken tinga-gone-barbecue. Fried catfish with polenta and greens…
A look into the food of Salt & Grove at Courtyard.
International. Eclectic. Straight-forward. Also: a definite contender in the battle for the best fries in the city.
Hamachi Crudo: Yellowfin tuna | nuoc cham | jalapeños | cilantro
Guava Chicken Tostones: Crisp plantains | guava BBQ chicken | pickled onions | cilantro
Pulled Flatbread: Spinach | garlic cream sauce | diced tomatoes | basil | parmesan
Achiote Salmon Benedict: Achiote smoked salmon | toasted English muffin | tomato | eggs your way | poblano hollandaise | cilantro
Long Beach Burger: Blue cheese | portobello & bacon chutney | potato bun | lettuce | tomato | balsamic glaze | French fries
G.G.’s Catfish: Southern fried catfish | lemon garlic kale | grilled polenta | Louisiana hot sauce
Cherry Avenue Bucatini: Cherry tomatoes | sundried tomatoes | basil | chili flake | marinara | optional grilled chicken or shrimp
Watermelon Salad: Watermelon | feta | cucumbers | mixed greens | mint vinaigrette
Old Fashioned Bread Pudding: Warmed bread | vanilla custard | Jameson berries
Lemon Hibiscus Sorbet: Lemon | hibiscus | sorbet
And don’t forget the drinks…
As Salt & Grove begins to slowly open fully culinarily, its bar program will do the same with its beverage program. While the in-between of James Republic Closing and Salt & Grove opening
Grove Goddess: Green tea–infused Ketel One vodka | lemon | lavender syrup
Gin-N-Juice: Still gin | Aperol | fresh strawberries | lemon | demerara | mint
Tiki-Rita: Patrón Silver | coconut | pineapple | lime
Espresso Martini: Grey Goose vodka | Kahlúa | dark roast espresso | simple syrup
Salt & Grove is located inside the Courtyard Downtown Long Beach, located at 500 E. 1st St.
