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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.
Happy hour returns to Michael’s on Naples—just not on the rooftop
After removing their happy hour from its rooftop because it was too successful and halted regular diners from enjoying themselves, Michael’s on Naples has returned with happy hours from 5PM to 7PM, Monday through Thursday—but instead will only take place in the main room downstairs instead of the rooftop. While many may lament it not being on the rooftop, deals will include meatball sliders, rotolino, steak tartare, toast with ricotta and peas, and duck confit. This will be on top of drink specials on select wines, well drinks, martinis, Manhattans, and old fashioned cocktails.
Holey Grail to open in Belmont Shore come June 1
Holey Grail—the Hawai’i based taro donut concept that was birthed out of a food truck before opening multiple brick-and-mortars on the mainland—will be opening its first Long Beach location on June 1, taking over the former Earl of Sandwich shop that closed earlier this year. Founded on the island of Kauai in Hawai’i in 2018 by siblings Hana and Nile Dreiling, the pair developed a way to take the starch from taro, pound it and ferment it, and use it as a base for dough for donuts.
Anaheim Street location of Los Compadres scores patio approval
The Anaheim Street location of Los Compadres will be getting a 386-foot outdoor patio that will extend into part of its parking lot, as the City’s Planning Commission approved the plans last week. Additionally, they will extend their weekend operations by one hour from 10PM to 11PM on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays.
Waffle Love at SteelCraft to close May 31
It is kind of wild to think about the fact that SteelCraft—the then-brilliant concept of turning used shipping containers into a community and culinary space—has been around for nearly a decade. But approaching eight years, it is (and has already) lost some of its original tenants, with Waffle Love being one of them.
“Waffle Love has been a cornerstone of our community, embodying the spirit of SteelCraft from the very beginning,” read the social media post from their landlord. “As one of our first vendors, they have played an integral role in shaping the unique experience that defines SteelCraft Long Beach.”
&Waffles concept begins to move forward with build-out in DTLB
Speaking of waffles: Announced back in February, Los Angeles mini-breakfast chain And Waffles (stylized as & Waffles) will be opening a Long Beach location at the former Pier 76 space in Downtown Long Beach at 95 Pine Ave.—and they’ve officially begun building out the space, putting up a temporary sign and formally beginning to figure out the lay of the space.
George’s Greek Cafe in Belmont Shore returns with happy hour
George’s Greek Cafe—the OG location in Belmont Shore after George’s children sold the other locations following the patriarch and matriarch’s deaths—is following suit with many restaurants and returning with its happy hour. Running Monday through Friday from 2:30PM to 5:30PM, the happy hour everything from small plates and dips to beer and wine discounts. Long Beach Food Scene member Karen Hagman shared the full menu here.
ICYMI: Broken Spirits Distillery to open May 31
Long Beach’s newest distillery, Broken Spirits, will open May 31. It takes over the former Portuguese Bend space and welcomes a much-needed uplift to the Downtown.
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ICYMI: Michael’s on Naples has one of the city’s strongest cocktail programs—so why do so few know about it?
Michael’s on Naples has been known for many things, be it their long-held steel grip on regional Italian cuisine or their dive into creating a sustainable market or… But their cocktail program, headed by master mixologist Jocelyn Jolley, is certainly an underrated gem of a space that deserves constant praise (and yet receives so little).
The biggest draw isn’t just her raw talent—but how she brings an unapologetic femininity to a world dominated by men.
