Downtown Manhattan Beach’s Cafe Pierre finds new chef

By Talia Gerard
Staff Writer

Cafe Pierre, a local Manhattan Beach restaurant has announced their plans to shut down their cafe, and restart with a brand new restaurant.

Gabriele, opened the small creperie in downtown Manhattan Beach in 1977. According to Manhattan Beach locals, Cafe Pierre slowly transformed into an elegant French style favorite. Many of the residents, regarded Cafe Pierre as a well known landmark of Manhattan Beach.

“The food was much better than I expected a Mediterranean and French restaurant in downtown Manhattan Beach to be,” sophomore Juliana Rosenfeld said. “The service was great and the ambiance was delightful, and I am excited to see what is to come in the future for this brilliant restaurant.”

The current owner, Guy Gabriele, and former chef of Mar’Sel at the Terranea Resort, Michael Fiorelii will collaborate to open the new restaurant.

“I love Cafe Pierre,” Manhattan Beach Mayor Amy Howorth said. “I always knew the meal would be great. It was our go to place. My favorites were the goat cheese salad, the ribeye, and always the bread pudding. It will be missed.”

Since it’s opening Cafe Pierre has only had two chefs, and when the second chef took over they changed their entire menu. Therefore, it will not come as a surprise when the new chef remodels the restaurant.

“I have never had a bad meal at Cafe Pierre,” Manhattan Beach resident Allen Kirschenbaum said. “It is always impressive, but I realize in this environment everything has to change. They have changed the menu in the past and I know that the new chef will make more changes but I still think it will be a great restaurant.”

According to laeater.com, Fiorelli has been wanting to start his own business for a while, but he hasn’t found the right opportunity until now. Gabriele and Fiorelli plan to reopen the new restaurant this spring.

“I was a little concerned about how Cafe Pierre was going to be without their chef,” junior Hannah Sucov said. “But I’ve heard great things about the new chef from Mar’Sel and I’m so excited to try it out.”