Yellow Vase Café and Bakery
51 Malaga Cove Plaza
Palos Verdes Estates
310-378-0013
www.yellow-vase.com
Located in the hidden corner of the Plaza, to the right when you're facing Poseiden.
Plenty of free parking, just note whether you're in a 1 hour or a 2 hour space
Also:
1805 S. Catalina, Redondo Beach, 310-373-0013 (street parking; does not have a large room for events; is next to their flower shop)
810 Silver Spur Road, 310-541-0013 (plenty of parking; does not have a large room for events; has a very nice patio)
Visited: January 2011, Lunch, Dine-in
All locations are lovely with both indoor and outdoor seating, but the one in Malaga Cove is the cutest! They also have a private room that you can use for parties of 20 or more.
This review is for the Cafe side of the house. They have a lovely menu of breakfast favorites, crepes, omelettes, salads, soups, paninis (grilled or deli style, your choice), and other Home Specials.
Today we tried the Tomato Bisque Soup ($5), and very much enjoyed it. It's quite tomatoey with a light creaminess, and light on any other seasoning. It's served with 2 slices of baguette and 2 slices of seasoned crostini. This is a very filling bowl of soup.
The Quiches du Jour ($9) were Quiche Lorraine and a Vegetable Quiche. Sadly, they were already out of the Lorraine (by noon?) so we got the Vegetable. It was very good. It was hot, and the filling was well cooked and the crust was just flaky enough. There were lots of vegetables, and you could taste the freshness of the spinach and mushrooms. It also came with a small mixed green salad with balsamic vinaigrette, and two cute litte cornichons. A very filling meal.
And we tried the intriguing Olivieh Sandwich ($9). A chicken salad mixed with potatoes, pickles, eggs, and supposedly green peas (but we didn't find any) with lettuce and tomato on a baguette. You also have your choice of having it grilled panini-stytle, but we chose as is, or deli-style. The sandwich also came with mixed greens and their vinaigrette. The chicken salad mix was good, but needed just a little more seasoning. But the bread was outstanding. It really made the sandwich. Also, this is a very large sandwich, easily big enough to share.
The restaurant is partially self serve. You order at the counter, and take with you your beverages and pastries. Your food is delivered to your table of your own choosing. Now, taking your own drink to your table is normally fine, but it can really awkward if you've ordered a Large Hot Mocha ($3.80) (in a really large mug with saucer) or if you've ordered Hot Tea (2.25) - carrying your pot full of hot water and cup with saucer while trying to figure out where to sit is very cumbersome. A simple tray would have been nice.
We have tried a few of their bakery items in the past, and their adorable macaroons are also very flavorful - we've had Chocolate, Coffee and Passion Fruit flavors. We tried a Milk Chocolate Cupcake, and that was quite tasty too.
I'm already planning to go back with friends. A lovely place to relax and have a good meal.
Showing posts with label redondo beach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label redondo beach. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Friday, May 14, 2010
Calamari's, Torrance, CA
Calamari's
1000 Torrance Blvd, Unit A, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-792-0077
Southeast corner of Torrance and Prospect. In a strip mall with free parking.
Casual. Large dining room.
Visited: A few times, Dinner, Dine-In
Most recently: June 2010
This is the former location of The Appetizer which now has a new owner, but retains much of the same menu. We went on a Friday night for dinner, and were surprised how empty the restaurant remained. There was a steady stream of business, but the restaurant was by no means full. We wondered if this may be have been an effect due to the confusion from the closure of The Appetizer.
Anyhow, we enjoyed our dinner, and here's what we had.
We started off with Garlic Bread which was brought to the table (versus ordering it from the appetizer menu). It's pizza dough or thin foccaccia based, and very light on the garlic seasoning. Wasn't too inspiring.
We also had an order of Fried Mozzarella ($5.95). The coating was crisp and seasoned, and happily, the cheese was piping hot. They came with a dish of marinara which was tasty, and enough to dip the garlic bread in, too.
Since the place is called Calamari's, we decided to try the Fried Calamari ($6.95). The calamari was a golden brown breading with some herbs sprinkled in, and served with a dish of marinara. The serving was generous, but overall it was rather plain.
The Antipasto Salad ($6.95) was very generous. It has a base of romaine and iceberg, topped with sliced rolls of salami, ham and provolone, plus marinated mushrooms and marinated artichoke hearts. The pieces are rather large which makes this a knife and fork salad. Everything is very tasty, and definitely large enough for an entree salad. It's lightly dressed in an Italian dressing - you may want to ask for more on the side.
The Calzone with Pepperoni and Ham ($11.45) was well done. The crust was crisp and cooked well, without being mushy or doughy. There was plenty of pepperoni, mozzarella and sauce to fill the calzone from end to end (none of those doughy corners) plus it comes with extra tasty marinara on the side. We tried ordering this on a second visit, only this time adding ricotta, and were saddened to find out that they were out of ricotta (seems odd, no?)
They feature Brick Oven Pizzas, and so we decided to try an XL (16 in.) Pizza with Pepperoni and Sausage ($18.00). The sauasage were nice slices of sausage instead of chunks (which can sometimes be hard), and there was plenty of both meats. There was also plenty of sauce which had a nice spice to it.
We ordered the Seafood Fettuccini ($14.95). This comes with choice of marinara or white wine sauce, but I asked for Alfredo sauce instead, and they were happy to comply. This dish was great with a mix of nicely cooked baby calamari, scallops, shrimp, and white fish. The pasta also comes with garlic bread and soup or salad, and we chose the Lentil Soup. The lentils were tender and had a nice mild middle eastern spice to it.
We also tried the Cannelloni ($9.95) with meat sauce (choice of having marinara or meat) which also came with garlic bread and soup or salad. This time we got the Chicken and Rice Soup, and it was very tasty. The broth was rich, and the soup was full of chicken, rice and veggies. Now, my favorite cannelloni is/was the version at the now long departed Rossini's on PCH in Torrance (now home to the expanded Volvo dealership), and unfortunately all future canenelloni is compared to theirs. This one doesn't compare. It's a very nice sized serving of three rolls of pasta sheets filled with what seemed like sausage lumps in a gravy. I was hoping for a soft smooth filling, not the firm lumps of meat. Overall, it was tasty, but not my favorite.
We will definitely be back to try more things including the sandwiches.
1000 Torrance Blvd, Unit A, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-792-0077
Southeast corner of Torrance and Prospect. In a strip mall with free parking.
Casual. Large dining room.
Visited: A few times, Dinner, Dine-In
Most recently: June 2010
This is the former location of The Appetizer which now has a new owner, but retains much of the same menu. We went on a Friday night for dinner, and were surprised how empty the restaurant remained. There was a steady stream of business, but the restaurant was by no means full. We wondered if this may be have been an effect due to the confusion from the closure of The Appetizer.
Anyhow, we enjoyed our dinner, and here's what we had.
We started off with Garlic Bread which was brought to the table (versus ordering it from the appetizer menu). It's pizza dough or thin foccaccia based, and very light on the garlic seasoning. Wasn't too inspiring.
We also had an order of Fried Mozzarella ($5.95). The coating was crisp and seasoned, and happily, the cheese was piping hot. They came with a dish of marinara which was tasty, and enough to dip the garlic bread in, too.
Since the place is called Calamari's, we decided to try the Fried Calamari ($6.95). The calamari was a golden brown breading with some herbs sprinkled in, and served with a dish of marinara. The serving was generous, but overall it was rather plain.
The Antipasto Salad ($6.95) was very generous. It has a base of romaine and iceberg, topped with sliced rolls of salami, ham and provolone, plus marinated mushrooms and marinated artichoke hearts. The pieces are rather large which makes this a knife and fork salad. Everything is very tasty, and definitely large enough for an entree salad. It's lightly dressed in an Italian dressing - you may want to ask for more on the side.
The Calzone with Pepperoni and Ham ($11.45) was well done. The crust was crisp and cooked well, without being mushy or doughy. There was plenty of pepperoni, mozzarella and sauce to fill the calzone from end to end (none of those doughy corners) plus it comes with extra tasty marinara on the side. We tried ordering this on a second visit, only this time adding ricotta, and were saddened to find out that they were out of ricotta (seems odd, no?)
They feature Brick Oven Pizzas, and so we decided to try an XL (16 in.) Pizza with Pepperoni and Sausage ($18.00). The sauasage were nice slices of sausage instead of chunks (which can sometimes be hard), and there was plenty of both meats. There was also plenty of sauce which had a nice spice to it.
We ordered the Seafood Fettuccini ($14.95). This comes with choice of marinara or white wine sauce, but I asked for Alfredo sauce instead, and they were happy to comply. This dish was great with a mix of nicely cooked baby calamari, scallops, shrimp, and white fish. The pasta also comes with garlic bread and soup or salad, and we chose the Lentil Soup. The lentils were tender and had a nice mild middle eastern spice to it.
We also tried the Cannelloni ($9.95) with meat sauce (choice of having marinara or meat) which also came with garlic bread and soup or salad. This time we got the Chicken and Rice Soup, and it was very tasty. The broth was rich, and the soup was full of chicken, rice and veggies. Now, my favorite cannelloni is/was the version at the now long departed Rossini's on PCH in Torrance (now home to the expanded Volvo dealership), and unfortunately all future canenelloni is compared to theirs. This one doesn't compare. It's a very nice sized serving of three rolls of pasta sheets filled with what seemed like sausage lumps in a gravy. I was hoping for a soft smooth filling, not the firm lumps of meat. Overall, it was tasty, but not my favorite.
We will definitely be back to try more things including the sandwiches.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Fresh Brothers, Redondo Beach, CA
Fresh Brothers
407 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
310-374-5678
http://www.freshbrothers.com/
This location is in the big strip mall with Rite Aid and Whole Foods. Also locations in Manhattan Beach and Marina del Rey. Mostly take-out; there is some in-restaurant dining.
Visited: January 2010, Dinner, Take-Out
They advertise Pizza, Salad, Wings, and that's pretty much what they have.
We tried a Thin Crust Miller Pizza (a meat combo thins with sausage, pepperoni, ground beef, bacon and ham), and it was very tasty. Often when there are so many meat products, it gets really salty, but this was done well. Medium was $16.95.
We also got a Deep Dish Margherita (fresh mozz, tomatoes, basil, and light tomato sauce). We would have liked more sauce as the whole pizza was rather light on flavor. Medium was $15.50.
We enjoyed both pizzas. but the Miller really had much more flavor. I think the Deep Dish crust took away from the some of the flavor - too much dough to topping ratio.
Their wings are baked, not fried, and are offered as bone-in wings ($7.95-15.50) or white meat boneless bites ($7.95). The wings - both boned and boneless were very tender, and we would definitely get them again. The Mild Buffalo has a nice little kick to it - just enough heat. The BBQ sauce was more on the tangy side, while the Garlic BBQ was a little sweeter.
We also tried the Family Platter ($11.95) Appetizer. It was a sampling of chicken wings (your choice of sauce), mozzarella sticks (flavorful breading and good marinara sauce), chicken bites (your choice of sauce), and french fries (very tasty seasoned wedge cut fries). The one problem in ordering take out of fried items - they were not crisp. A non-crisp mozz stick just doesn't quite have the same impact, no matter how tasty.
In all, we'd go back and try some other pizza options, and maybe the salads.
407 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
310-374-5678
http://www.freshbrothers.com/
This location is in the big strip mall with Rite Aid and Whole Foods. Also locations in Manhattan Beach and Marina del Rey. Mostly take-out; there is some in-restaurant dining.
Visited: January 2010, Dinner, Take-Out
They advertise Pizza, Salad, Wings, and that's pretty much what they have.
We tried a Thin Crust Miller Pizza (a meat combo thins with sausage, pepperoni, ground beef, bacon and ham), and it was very tasty. Often when there are so many meat products, it gets really salty, but this was done well. Medium was $16.95.
We also got a Deep Dish Margherita (fresh mozz, tomatoes, basil, and light tomato sauce). We would have liked more sauce as the whole pizza was rather light on flavor. Medium was $15.50.
We enjoyed both pizzas. but the Miller really had much more flavor. I think the Deep Dish crust took away from the some of the flavor - too much dough to topping ratio.
Their wings are baked, not fried, and are offered as bone-in wings ($7.95-15.50) or white meat boneless bites ($7.95). The wings - both boned and boneless were very tender, and we would definitely get them again. The Mild Buffalo has a nice little kick to it - just enough heat. The BBQ sauce was more on the tangy side, while the Garlic BBQ was a little sweeter.
We also tried the Family Platter ($11.95) Appetizer. It was a sampling of chicken wings (your choice of sauce), mozzarella sticks (flavorful breading and good marinara sauce), chicken bites (your choice of sauce), and french fries (very tasty seasoned wedge cut fries). The one problem in ordering take out of fried items - they were not crisp. A non-crisp mozz stick just doesn't quite have the same impact, no matter how tasty.
In all, we'd go back and try some other pizza options, and maybe the salads.
Friday, January 8, 2010
Kincaid's, Redondo Beach, CA
Kincaid's Fish, Chop and Steak House
500 The Pier, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-318-6080
http://www.kincaids.com/
Located on the upper level of the Redondo Pier. Plenty of validated pay parking.
Locations across the US.
Higher end dining. Reservations recommended for holidays and weekend evenings.
Visited: Numerous times; Dinner (usually), Dine-in
Most recently: November 2009
Kincaid's is located at the Pier, and so has a beautiful view of the Pier boardwalks and the Pacific Ocean. They have an extensive seafood and meats menu that changes based on the season or what's fresh. I think everything we've had has been great.
They start you with a warm garlic bread - similar to a soft or thin focaccia. Very buttery and tasty.
The French Onion Soup and the Salmon Bisque are both excellent, and can be quite filling. They also often have a soup special, and I've had the thick and tasty (yet a little too sweet) Butternut Squash Soup in the past.
The Prime Rib and Filet Mignon are both tender and excellent. If they have the Trio of Brochettes (sometimes seafood, sometimes surf and turf), get it. It's an excellent and beautiful sampling. The seafood is always good, and changes regularly. We've had the salmon, scallops, stuffed mahi mahi, and it's all been tasty.
Most of the entrees are complete meals with a starch and veg, however there are a few sides that you can add on. These are portioned to share. We like the Mac and Cheese (with bacon) a lot.
Desserts are also very good, and you may need to plan ahead to make sure you still have room! We like the Creme Brulee, Chocolate Cake, and the Pear Bread Pudding.
If you visit their website to view the menu, it really short changes how extensive the menu really is. I think this is because so much of their menu is seasonal or du jour, that it's hard to post regularly online.
500 The Pier, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-318-6080
http://www.kincaids.com/
Located on the upper level of the Redondo Pier. Plenty of validated pay parking.
Locations across the US.
Higher end dining. Reservations recommended for holidays and weekend evenings.
Visited: Numerous times; Dinner (usually), Dine-in
Most recently: November 2009
Kincaid's is located at the Pier, and so has a beautiful view of the Pier boardwalks and the Pacific Ocean. They have an extensive seafood and meats menu that changes based on the season or what's fresh. I think everything we've had has been great.
They start you with a warm garlic bread - similar to a soft or thin focaccia. Very buttery and tasty.
The French Onion Soup and the Salmon Bisque are both excellent, and can be quite filling. They also often have a soup special, and I've had the thick and tasty (yet a little too sweet) Butternut Squash Soup in the past.
The Prime Rib and Filet Mignon are both tender and excellent. If they have the Trio of Brochettes (sometimes seafood, sometimes surf and turf), get it. It's an excellent and beautiful sampling. The seafood is always good, and changes regularly. We've had the salmon, scallops, stuffed mahi mahi, and it's all been tasty.
Most of the entrees are complete meals with a starch and veg, however there are a few sides that you can add on. These are portioned to share. We like the Mac and Cheese (with bacon) a lot.
Desserts are also very good, and you may need to plan ahead to make sure you still have room! We like the Creme Brulee, Chocolate Cake, and the Pear Bread Pudding.
If you visit their website to view the menu, it really short changes how extensive the menu really is. I think this is because so much of their menu is seasonal or du jour, that it's hard to post regularly online.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Fun Fish Market and Restaurant, Redondo Beach, CA
Fun Fish Market and Restaurant
123 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-374-4277
Plenty of pay parking in either of the pier structures; try to get as low as possible. Located next to the Fun Arcade.
Casual, family friendly. Large dining room.
Visited: Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: August 2009
Fun Fish is located at the pier, so of course the seafood has to be good, right? Well, it was okay. On this trip, we just tried a couple things, and while not overly specatular, it was enough to whet our appetites to come back another time. Overall, it's not cheap, but it's also seafood.
We had the Fried Seafood Combo which consisted of white fish, shrimp, and scallops, along with a generous serving of fries and cole slaw. It was fine, but you can get a better cooked combo with more side choices over at Captain Kidd's which is a 5 minute walk away.
We also had the Spicy Seafood Soup. This was a fascinating dish. The 'small' is really meant for 2 people, so the serving is huge. It's a Korean style soup that is very spicy, and is served with steamed white rice and kim chi. It had a lot of strange chunks of fish on the bone, some small whole shrimp, daikon, and tofu. While I actually very much enjoyed the dish, it was also a little odd because I couldn't tell what the fish was or what part of the fish it was. After a while, the bones became tedious.
While Fun Fish has a very open air feeling, it is enclosed in glass which helps to protect against the elements at the pier. For this reason, I would feel comfortable eating here even if the weather were inclement. The next time we go back, we're going to try to the shrimp fajitas which looked really good.
123 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-374-4277
Plenty of pay parking in either of the pier structures; try to get as low as possible. Located next to the Fun Arcade.
Casual, family friendly. Large dining room.
Visited: Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: August 2009
Fun Fish is located at the pier, so of course the seafood has to be good, right? Well, it was okay. On this trip, we just tried a couple things, and while not overly specatular, it was enough to whet our appetites to come back another time. Overall, it's not cheap, but it's also seafood.
We had the Fried Seafood Combo which consisted of white fish, shrimp, and scallops, along with a generous serving of fries and cole slaw. It was fine, but you can get a better cooked combo with more side choices over at Captain Kidd's which is a 5 minute walk away.
We also had the Spicy Seafood Soup. This was a fascinating dish. The 'small' is really meant for 2 people, so the serving is huge. It's a Korean style soup that is very spicy, and is served with steamed white rice and kim chi. It had a lot of strange chunks of fish on the bone, some small whole shrimp, daikon, and tofu. While I actually very much enjoyed the dish, it was also a little odd because I couldn't tell what the fish was or what part of the fish it was. After a while, the bones became tedious.
While Fun Fish has a very open air feeling, it is enclosed in glass which helps to protect against the elements at the pier. For this reason, I would feel comfortable eating here even if the weather were inclement. The next time we go back, we're going to try to the shrimp fajitas which looked really good.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Delzano's by the Sea, Redondo Beach, CA
Delzano's by the Sea
179 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Located at the far northern end of the Intl Boardwalk of the Redondo Pier.
310-374-7525
http://www.delzanos.com/
Plenty of pay parking in several nearby lots; validation available.
Higher end. Full bar. Reservations recommended.
Visited: May 2009, Lunch, Dine-in
Well, being a Saturday at a higher end restaurant, it was pretty empty. We sat in at a tall bar table with a very lovely view of the International Boardwalk and watching small boats, ski-dos, etc being loaded onto the launch. There were also some rather ornery looking sea gulls waiting for handouts from returning fishermen.
A lunch menu was available in addition to the full dinner menu. The lunch menu offered more choices of salads and sandwiches. We stuck to the dinner menu, and ordered, what soon became, two favorites.
Frutti Di Mare ($19.95): an incredibly generous portion of pasta with a matching incredibly generous portion of lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams and fish. You have your choice of garlic cream sauce or marinara, and we chose red. The sauce was also a bit chunky, and the entire dish could easily have been shared. There were also a couple little ramekins of freshly shaved parmesan, which seemed so un-Italian - cheese with fish?
By the Sea Cioppino ($19.95): The cioppino comes in a large lidded bowl with a heaping, and I mean heaping, amount of seafood. The bowl was full of crab (partially cracked to make things easier), many kinds of fish, a ton of clams, huge shrimp, and huge scallops. It was all cooked well, very fresh, and the the spicy tomato broth was a perfect match. Again, this dish can easily be shared, and you would both be full.
The meal also came with fresh hot crusty and chewy bread - all the more decadent to soak up the broth.
I also had their special iced tea - a homemade blend of tea infused with citrus and rose. The flavor wasn't super strong, but for someone who usually doesn't like flavored tea, it was quite refreshing.
All in all, the meal was delicious. With tons of leftovers, and the service was great.
179 N. Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
Located at the far northern end of the Intl Boardwalk of the Redondo Pier.
310-374-7525
http://www.delzanos.com/
Plenty of pay parking in several nearby lots; validation available.
Higher end. Full bar. Reservations recommended.
Visited: May 2009, Lunch, Dine-in
Well, being a Saturday at a higher end restaurant, it was pretty empty. We sat in at a tall bar table with a very lovely view of the International Boardwalk and watching small boats, ski-dos, etc being loaded onto the launch. There were also some rather ornery looking sea gulls waiting for handouts from returning fishermen.
A lunch menu was available in addition to the full dinner menu. The lunch menu offered more choices of salads and sandwiches. We stuck to the dinner menu, and ordered, what soon became, two favorites.
Frutti Di Mare ($19.95): an incredibly generous portion of pasta with a matching incredibly generous portion of lobster, shrimp, scallops, clams and fish. You have your choice of garlic cream sauce or marinara, and we chose red. The sauce was also a bit chunky, and the entire dish could easily have been shared. There were also a couple little ramekins of freshly shaved parmesan, which seemed so un-Italian - cheese with fish?
By the Sea Cioppino ($19.95): The cioppino comes in a large lidded bowl with a heaping, and I mean heaping, amount of seafood. The bowl was full of crab (partially cracked to make things easier), many kinds of fish, a ton of clams, huge shrimp, and huge scallops. It was all cooked well, very fresh, and the the spicy tomato broth was a perfect match. Again, this dish can easily be shared, and you would both be full.
The meal also came with fresh hot crusty and chewy bread - all the more decadent to soak up the broth.
I also had their special iced tea - a homemade blend of tea infused with citrus and rose. The flavor wasn't super strong, but for someone who usually doesn't like flavored tea, it was quite refreshing.
All in all, the meal was delicious. With tons of leftovers, and the service was great.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Appetizer, Redondo Beach, CA
The Appetizer
1000 Torrance Blvd, Unit A, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-792-0077
http://www.theappetizerrestaurant.com/
Southeast corner of Torrance and Prospect. In a strip mall with free parking.
Casual. Large dining room.
March 2010 Update: CLOSED. This location has been sold, and is now a restaurant called Calamari's. The new owner has kept the menu very similar to The Appetizer. The other Appetizer location on Deep Valley Drive in Rolling Hills Estates is still open.
Visited: a couple times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: Dec 2009
This restaurant had been teasing us for some time with a sign out front saying that it would open soon, and many months later, it finally did. What we didn't realize was that this was the next in a series with the first ones open over at the Hughes market, and they still have a location up on Deep Valley Drive in Rolling Hills Estates. Well, this was a first time for us.
The service was still 'new' feeling. Everyone was very friendly and courteous, but I think the kitchen still has some kinks to work out to ensure all of the items come out on time. Maybe they need to add an expo back there.
But, the food was quite good. So what did we eat?
Pepperoni and Canadian Bacon Calzone ($11.45 + $1 extra topping): really, it was probably the best calzone we've had on the west coast. The dough was crisp and soft, plenty of goodies inside, and overall very flavorful. It comes with extra marinara on the side, but not quite enough; you'll probably want to ask for another cup. It's also quite large - good for sharing or for someone who's hungry.
Hot Meatball Sandwich, Large ($7.45): wow, was this good! The bread was very nicely toasted on the outside yet still had enough softness on the inside to absorb the yummy sauce. The meatballs were big and very tasty, and mozzarella melted with gooey goodness. You may want to ask for extra sauce.
Meat Lasagna ($9.95): comes with soup or salad and a big basket of garlic bread. We had the Garbanzo Bean Soup, and while not sure what to expect, the soup was very tasty. Lots of garbanzo beans and mini pasta tubes in a vegetarian broth with plenty of flavor. The garlic bread actually had minced garlic on it - fancy that! It was also very nicely crisp and soft in the right places (they do their bread well). The lasagna was also good. Despite the meat sauce being a little thin, it has a very deep rich taste.
XL Pizza with half pepperoni/sausage and half sausage/mushroom ($17.45): the half with pepperoni had much more flavor than the other side. The sausage is in these tiny little crumbles that cover the pizza well, but just didn't have enough oomph to work well with the mushrooms. Overall, a good thin crust pizza, but need we need to figure out what flavor combos to get.
We will definitely go back; probably for take-out.
1000 Torrance Blvd, Unit A, Redondo Beach, CA 90277
310-792-0077
http://www.theappetizerrestaurant.com/
Southeast corner of Torrance and Prospect. In a strip mall with free parking.
Casual. Large dining room.
March 2010 Update: CLOSED. This location has been sold, and is now a restaurant called Calamari's. The new owner has kept the menu very similar to The Appetizer. The other Appetizer location on Deep Valley Drive in Rolling Hills Estates is still open.
Visited: a couple times, Dinner, Dine-in
Most recently: Dec 2009
This restaurant had been teasing us for some time with a sign out front saying that it would open soon, and many months later, it finally did. What we didn't realize was that this was the next in a series with the first ones open over at the Hughes market, and they still have a location up on Deep Valley Drive in Rolling Hills Estates. Well, this was a first time for us.
The service was still 'new' feeling. Everyone was very friendly and courteous, but I think the kitchen still has some kinks to work out to ensure all of the items come out on time. Maybe they need to add an expo back there.
But, the food was quite good. So what did we eat?
Pepperoni and Canadian Bacon Calzone ($11.45 + $1 extra topping): really, it was probably the best calzone we've had on the west coast. The dough was crisp and soft, plenty of goodies inside, and overall very flavorful. It comes with extra marinara on the side, but not quite enough; you'll probably want to ask for another cup. It's also quite large - good for sharing or for someone who's hungry.
Hot Meatball Sandwich, Large ($7.45): wow, was this good! The bread was very nicely toasted on the outside yet still had enough softness on the inside to absorb the yummy sauce. The meatballs were big and very tasty, and mozzarella melted with gooey goodness. You may want to ask for extra sauce.
Meat Lasagna ($9.95): comes with soup or salad and a big basket of garlic bread. We had the Garbanzo Bean Soup, and while not sure what to expect, the soup was very tasty. Lots of garbanzo beans and mini pasta tubes in a vegetarian broth with plenty of flavor. The garlic bread actually had minced garlic on it - fancy that! It was also very nicely crisp and soft in the right places (they do their bread well). The lasagna was also good. Despite the meat sauce being a little thin, it has a very deep rich taste.
XL Pizza with half pepperoni/sausage and half sausage/mushroom ($17.45): the half with pepperoni had much more flavor than the other side. The sausage is in these tiny little crumbles that cover the pizza well, but just didn't have enough oomph to work well with the mushrooms. Overall, a good thin crust pizza, but need we need to figure out what flavor combos to get.
We will definitely go back; probably for take-out.
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