Need Restaurant Between Manhattan Beach & Huntington Beach
 

I have two sets of friends that I want to introduce to each other on our next trip to the LA area as they have similar interests and backgrounds.

One couple lives in Manhattan Beach and the other is in Huntigton Beach. Both couples have just settled into new digs in the past 6-12 months so I will be as likely as they are to figure out a good restaurant between the two towns.

best place to find a local restaurant is Chowhound.com- under the Califonia page Hope this is o.k. to mention another website

Long Beach is about half way.. I'll recommend Cafe Piccolo and the other regular LB poster will recommend Christy's or Malvasia in Belmont Shore... I'm sure he'll be along in a minute...

I'm here finally...!

What kind of foods do they like? The Long Beach/Seal Beach/Los Alamitos area is somewhat central to MB and HB, and none of them is hard to get to from the 405.

Italian? Christy's in Belmont Heights (Café Piccolo is a good second choice), L'Opera in downtown LB, Café Gazelle in Belmont Shore, Spaghettini in Seal Beach.

Seafood? King's Pine Avenue Fish House in downtown LB, Walt's Wharf in Seal Beach, Original Fish Company in Los Alamitos (I had an exceptionally good Fijian-style ahi steak there last night).

American? 555 East (superb steak) and the Sky Room (old-school supper club) in downtown Long Beach, Lasher's in Belmont Heights, Shenandoah Café and Bono's in Belmont Shore.

French? Frenchy's Bistro in east Long Beach (awesome food in a storefront dining room).

Sushi? Koi in Seal Beach.

Lots of good choices. If you can sort through the Chowhound LA posts, you will probably get some other possibilities.

And yes, I do like Malvasia in Belmont Heights for Mediterranean food.

I just remembered Alegría in downtown LB for Spanish-inspired cuisine and the occasional flamenco show. Could be lots of fun!

We live in MB, and have met a couple times, different friends from Orange County at Spaghettini in Seal Beach. It's right off the 405 Freeway which is why we choose it the first time, has good food and jazz entertainment. Been to most all of the others mentioned, all good choices. Also, sometimes my dil dances Flamenco at Algeria in LB.
8-)

As far as places to eat I agree with rjw, as usual. My favorites are Walts Wharf and Fish Co in Los Al. I also would add the Panda Inn for Chinese in La Palma at the 91 and Valley View.
However, just thought I'd note that the couple coming from Manhattan may not feel that LB /Seal Beach is half way as they're sitting on the 405!
Have a great dinner!

Adding Delius in Long Beach, very close to the 405 on Long Beach Blvd, so a bit closer to the MB end. Although I think neither rjw nor myself have been there, it is supposed to be special. I believe it is a fixed price menu with set seatings, but I'm not sure.