Long Beach Weekend

[NRG]

We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach the last weekend of March. My cousins live in Brentwood and I want to meet them for lunch somewhere in between. I was thinking of one of the beach towns, somewhere with nice shops we can walk around and also restaurants with a water view. Would love to hear your suggestions of towns and restaurants. Also, suggestions for your favorite casual restaurant in Long Beach that is not a national chain. Thanks!

[YubaSutter]

We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach the last weekend of March. My cousins live in Brentwood and I want to meet them for lunch somewhere in between. I was thinking of one of the beach towns, somewhere with nice shops we can walk around and also restaurants with a water view. Would love to hear your suggestions of towns and restaurants. Also, suggestions for your favorite casual restaurant in Long Beach that is not a national chain. Thanks!

 

Favorite casual restaurant in Long Beach is Super Mex on 2nd street.

[mlgb]

The Strand House in Manhattan Beach for your lunch as long as it isn't Monday. Another more casual place is Capt. Kidd's in Redondo Beach although there isn't the nearby strolling other than the pier.

 

My favorite super Casual Mexican restaurant in Long Beach is Patricia's in North Long Beach/Bixby Knolls but the service can be pretty messed up. A lot of people like Enrique's instead http://www.enriqueslongbeach.com/

 

SuperMex is now something of a chain experience (although a local one), and I don't recommend it unless you don't have a car and even then not really.

 

A pleasant place if they are open is the Claire's at the Long Beach Museum of Art, but call to check since they are sometimes closed for special events. Really nice if you can dine outside there for brunch (Bloody Marys are good).

 

http://lbma.org/claires/

 

Another pretty good option downtown Long Beach is George's Greek

http://georgesgreekcafe.com/

[SadieN]

Could always go to Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. It's a local chain with one in Long Beach.

 

http://www.roscoeschickenandwaffles.com/#!menu

Edited March 4, 2015 by SadieN

[Cruisin' Chick]

We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach the last weekend of March. My cousins live in Brentwood and I want to meet them for lunch somewhere in between. I was thinking of one of the beach towns, somewhere with nice shops we can walk around and also restaurants with a water view. Would love to hear your suggestions of towns and restaurants. Also, suggestions for your favorite casual restaurant in Long Beach that is not a national chain. Thanks!

 

If you're talking about some area in between, then Marina Del Rey or Santa Monica would be much better. Brentwood is pretty close (just a westward drive) to SM.

[EagleRockers]

I'd go to Santa Monica for lunch with your cousins. The 3rd Street Promenade is loaded with shops and there are some really great restaurants near by.

[NRG]

Thanks to all for your replies. We've been to Santa Monica on previous trips so I would prefer Marina Del Rey or Manhattan Beach. The Strand House sounds nice, any other ideas?

[Acrusa]

Has anyone had dinner on the Queen Mary?How was your experience?

[mlgb]

The Observation Bar on the QM is cool, but I've not had dinner on the ship, sorry.

[Cruisin' Chick]

The last time I looked at menus for QM restaurants, the food looked pricey.

[Bruin Steve]

We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Long Beach the last weekend of March. My cousins live in Brentwood and I want to meet them for lunch somewhere in between. I was thinking of one of the beach towns, somewhere with nice shops we can walk around and also restaurants with a water view. Would love to hear your suggestions of towns and restaurants. Also, suggestions for your favorite casual restaurant in Long Beach that is not a national chain. Thanks!

 

A little closer to Brentwood than Long Beach, but fitting all of the rest of your criteria would be C & O Trattoria...on Washington Blvd and the Beach between Venice and Marina Del Rey...

Not anything close to a national chain...Great food and phenomenal location if you want to walk around after lunch...It is at the Southern end of the Venice Boardwalk and also borders the scenic Marina Del Rey just across Washington Blvd from the restaurant...

 

http://www.cotrattoria.com/

 

As to independent restaurants in Long Beach, I would go with Parker's Lighthouse...It's at the end of the point in Shoreline Village--an easy walk from the Hyatt--with phenomenal views of the harbor and of the Queen Mary across the channel...Another choice for you might be Gladstones-pretty much across the street from the Hyatt. Not really a chain, but the Long Beach version of LA's most popular restaurant (the original being in Pacific Palisades where Sunset Blvd. meets Pacific Coast Highway).

 

http://parkerslighthouse.com/home/

 

http://www.gladstoneslongbeach.com/

Edited March 5, 2015 by Bruin Steve