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What are you doing this Saturday?
Why not take a drive to Hermosa Beach? Greet the seagulls, beachcombers and
surfers with a smile and dig the beach vibe in this South Bay sanctuary of
coolness.
We recently drove to Hermosa for a breakfast and
a little beach stroll and really enjoyed that time of day before things
become too crowded. Being travel writers and food critics, we didn't satisfy
ourselves to dine at one cafe, however. Asking locals what they recommend,
several answers came up, so we tried them both.
I called my friend Callie and asked her when she
could be ready to go. Hermosa is a good hour's drive from my home, and she
said she could make it by 8 a.m. Right on time, outside my door and sipping
her coffee, there was Callie.
Our first stop was a cafe called Good Stuff
located along a plaza of restaurants and shops near the beach. The weather
was sunny and the tables were filled at the outdoor patio that overlooks the
beach, but we decided to wait nevertheless.
Callie loves her eggs so stuck with a
traditional omelet, while I opted for some spice with a breakfast burrito
that included chicken chili verde. It was very tasty, and served hot like I
like it. Reminiscent of another beach cafe I frequent in Huntington Beach
called
Sugar Shack, this Hermosa restaurant that wears its name well sells so
much food during breakfast and lunch that it's able to shutter its doors
before the sun goes down.
Coffee was decent, the food was hot & tasty with
generous portions, and the highlight of this spot is the action on the
beach. Believe it or not, people were out there jogging and playing
volleyball at some nearby nets in view of the al fresco dining. Location:
1286 The Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA. (310) 374-2334. eatgoodstuff.com
We weren't very hungry by the time we were ready
to check out the next cafe on our list referred to us by a cute guy who
looked like a movie star strolling past us. But we took on a strategy that
by walking, we'd have an appetite re-ignited.
Martha's 22nd Street Grill also near the beach
was certainly worth trying. This time around Callie and I agreed we'd be
sharing one menu item between us and buy some side orders so the management
wouldn't feel like we were taking up a table wastefully as the crowds
congregated for a seat near the beach. Located less than a block from the
beach, Martha's 22nd Street Grill is a mouthful, but the food disappears far
to fast if you go with an appetite. Again, you can sit outside on a patio
(Hermosa's got this patio thing down pat), or you eat inside. No contest! We
drove to the beach to soak up the vibe, so we waited about half an hour till
a table opened up.
We ordered an egg dish again for comparison with
Good Stuff cafe and both decided that it was close to a toss up, but
Martha's won the prize. A $10 portobello benedict featured a tasty dijon
sauce over portobello mushroom, grilled turkey, grilled spinach and eggs. It
sounds a bit strange bit it was delicious!
Martha’s 22nd Street Grill, 25 22nd St., Hermosa
Beach, CA. (310) 376-7786
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