clifbob

We are seeing a show tomorow night at th carpenter performing arts center. Where should we eat prior to the show. Nothing too expensive. Just a nice hidden gem of a place? Thanks

rjw_lgb_ca

There are no restaurants immediately around the Carpenter Center. However, not too far away there are a few good choices:

-- Enrique's is in a minimall at PCH and Loynes (no more than 5 minutes away). The food is a refined cocina jalisqueña (the chef/owner is from the state of Jalisco in Mexico), and their off-menu braised pork shank is sublime. HOWEVER: On a weekend night the waits can be up to an hour; plan accordingly, as they do not take reservations. The staff are very friendly and helpful.

-- In the same minimall, there is an Italian place now called Picarelli's that looks very promising; I have not dined there yet. That spot seems to be a black hole for restaurants-- no matter how wonderful, that space never gets busy, while the business at Enrique's is out the door.

-- A pizza joint in the same minimall called K-Pasta serves up good pizza and pasta in a small space more geared for take-out. Nothing transcendental, but it always tastes good. Interestingly, it's run by the people who run Enrique's (Enrique and Michelle Pérez-- they catered my wedding).

-- Not far down PCH (going toward Seal Beach) there's a new place called Nomad-- pan-Asian, still shaking out little bugs, but the food is intriguing and tasty.

-- Bai-Plu on Bellflower is another pan-Asian joint. I've enjoyed it, although the menu goes all over the map (sushi! Thai! Chinese!). That's not necessarily a bad thing.

-- A brand-new taco joint with the blazingly original name of Taco Beach just opened on Bellflower between Stearns and Atherton. I haven't eaten there yet, but it's always busy. That's a generally good sign. Worse comes to worse, tacos are usually fast and safe.

There are chains of every stripe all around there. If you like Hawaiian plate lunch, there's an actual outpost of L&L's Hawaiian BBQ (straight from Honolulu!) in a shopping center at Bellflower and PCH. Genuine stick-to-your-ribs grub.

There are a few other Long Beach residents who will have other choices. These are off the top of my head. I hope they help you out a bit.

rjw_lgb_ca

To clarify a couple of things:

-- I don't KNOW of any restaurants right around the Carpenter Center. The area strikes me as residential, other than the CSULB campus buidlings.

-- Nomad doesn't have a bug problem (i.e., critters); however, it's a new place and the kitchen and waitstaff are still working on little service issues (mostly timing dishes as they go out of the kitchen). Oh, and they didn't have their liquor license sorted out when we went, so it was soft drinks only. That may have changed.

clifbob

Thanks for all the help.. I was looking at Kpasta online. Just wasnt sure if the ambience was wayyyy to casual..or is it ok. We are not looking for fancy..but i dont want to feel like we are sitting in a SUBWAY sandwich joint either

rjw_lgb_ca

I love the place, but it is VERY casual. They really do cater to a take-out crowd, so we're talking four tables and NO ambience. The food is good, no question, but it's proudly downmarket.

For midrange pizza in a family pizza-joint setting, there's always Ecco's Pizzeria, on Bellflower just south of Stearns. Again, not transcendental, but it's do the job.

If you want to spend a bit more and have something truly great, you could go to Michael's Pizzeria over on Naples. They serve Neapolitan-style pizza-- thin-crust, absolutely finest ingredients, individual-sized, all out of a super-hot wood oven; I love their 'za, but again you might find it hard to get in unless you go there maybe between 5 and 6 (I'm assuming the show starts at 8). The prices are reasonable, but not super-cheap.

Note that the sister eatery, Michael's on Naples, serves truly great northern Italian food but at a much higher price point; their pasta flight is fantastic (and includes amuse-bouche), but they don't rush it. Some other night if you have the time and want to spend serious cash on awesome food, I highly recommend a trip to Michael's.

clifbob

Well, we are drivin up from studio city..leavin here about 4pm tomorrow. I'll even take recommendations for great places on the way..but near long beach so the drive to the theater won't be hectic. I am leaning towards kpasta. I love finding smaller hidden joints that are cheap with good grub

mlgb

Welcome to Fodors. Two new postings recommending a specific bar/ restaurant.

It does raise some questions about whether you are affiliated with Roxanne's.

But, I guess I'll have to pop over there and try the food, since I live in Cal Heights!