4th Street staple The Social List—before diving straight into its upcoming Halloween takeover as it did last year—is taking on Oktoberfest. With a relatively simple, straight-forward offering, this four-item menu will run solely through Sept. 18.
A look at The Social List’s Oktoberfest menu
Approachable. Admittedly fun. Uncomplicated in all the right ways.
Bavarian Pretzel Bites: House-baked pretzel bites filled with cheddar | Stone-ground mustard.
Currywurst Fries: Fries | House-made currywurst | Bratwurst | Sour cream | Chives
Oktoberfest Sausage Platter: Locally crafted Bratwurst | Chicken & apple sausage | Garlic artichoke sausage | Honey mustard | Spicy brown mustard | Stone-ground mustard.
Lamb Lollipops: Grilled lamb chops | Fresh greens | Lemon-garlic yogurt sauce | Lemon
The roots of The Social List
The Social List has, for the better part of its past eleven years of existence, has proudly advertised its neighborhood-ness. Initially, it was envisioned as a casual European-style tavern. A place that acted as an in-between on the ventures of any given patron. Maybe after 4th Street Vine but before The Pike. think Spanish toasts, lamb sausages, and house-made sausages.
And while it has almost always avoided pretense, its success lay not in its attempt to be a tapas-style tavern but as a legit place for the community to hang out. This was all as it also became the first 4th Street bar to regularly carry quality beers (like Houblon Chouffe when it first opened, a rarity) and whiskeys (like Blanton’s, unheard of in the early 2010s in Long Beach), now the regular among any full bar establishment.
Owned and operated by community staples Luis Navarro and Brenda Riviera—high school sweethearts, seasoned restaurateurs, all around awesome people—who brought their community-focused vision to Retro Row after success with another beloved local spot, Lola’s Mexican Cuisine. Over the years, they’ve expanded their culinary footprint across Long Beach with an additional Lola’s up in Bixby Knolls and, of course, The Social List.
Celebrating a decade in the neighborhood
By 2024, The Social List had earned its place as a community mainstay, celebrating a decade of existence. This revolved around Chef Luis’s ability to continually alter the menu (and yes, I still miss that persimmon and burrata salad from back in the day). This revolved around the much-missed Erik Rios-Wentzky magically pulling out complex, wonderfully rounded cocktail menus that spanned Christmas to Halloween to brunch. And it revolved around its hospitality, currently headed by stellar general manager and all-around good human Devin Manning.
And don’t expect it to just sit on its laurels, as a big evolution is coming soon.
The Social List is located at 2105 E. 4th St.
