Kara Patman
Staff Writer
Manhattan Beach recently received a new addition to their diverse restaurant choices in the downtown area. The new addition, “Love and Salt,” gives the diner a creative twist on classic American food with great service.
“Love and Salt” opened on Manhattan Beach Boulevard between Hennessey’s and Coffee Bean. The restaurant opened in November of 2014 and now is our latest addition to the downtown area. They provide a lovely dine-in meal, but also a takeout order option as well.
When customers walk in they are quickly greeted with a large grin by the hostess and sat. The vibe of “Love and Salt” is communal, with this the seating arrangement feels communal with a large table down the middle of the restaurant. The server then quickly comes and sets down a jug of water and constantly makes sure your glass is full.
The restaurant has a very hip vibe and it’s the place to be for a fun date-night, for friends, or even for a higher-end family meal. There is artwork painted on the walls, a beautifully lit bar with deep blues and reds, and good music playing in the background.
“Love and Salt’s” menu is not lengthy and filled with tapas. Your server brings out the food one by one and tells the cook when to start making the next dish so you’ll have a little bit of time to recuperate in between each dish. Each food item eaten here is mostly recommended for sharing. After the server brings out a few small dishes, the night ends with one large dish that feeds around 2-4 people. A “Roasted Whole Chicken,” which is deliciously covered in a light lemon sauce and served with pieces of buttered corn bread surrounding the dish.
The menu is a creative twist to the standard American dining. For example, the “Roasted Glazed Pig Head,” is usually not the first thing one would order. It was pig ear deep fried, and breaded, which tasted a bit like calamari and was absolutely delicious. They also had a “Grilled Swordfish,” which was topped with eggplant and a lemon sauce and gone in a matter of seconds. Then a tapas bread dish known as the “Homemade English Muffin,” which is a thick piece of homemade english muffin topped with rosemary, sea salt and cultured in the house butter, it was phenomenal.
Their dishes are a bit more on the pricey side, but it is worth it. There are definitely a few kinks in their restaurant as there are in most. While the food was prepared quickly, the table was often left a little cluttered with old dishes after they were eaten.
Clearly, this restaurant has a stylish ambiance and fits in with the modern architecture that accompanies nicely with other outlets in the Manhattan Beach area. This restaurant is a “must-go” and highly recommended. “Love and Salt” will be around for a while in downtown Manhattan Beach because of its hip vibe, welcoming energy, and delicious meals.
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