Long Beach is full of child-friendly restaurants. On my recent trip with my (picky) tween, we sampled new foods, tried new versions of our existing favorites and munched out on seafood. Here’s a selection of where we went:
The Attic on Broadway – Housed in an edifice from the 1920s, this family-owned, funky neighborhood eatery is full of local art and a lot of history. I was told that the one of its rooms is even haunted. There’s something for everyone on the menu – from mac & cheese and nutella french toast for kids to steak to salad to the beautiful Vegetable Frittata pictured above. The ingredients are fresh, the vibe unique and the service lovely. The Attic is located at 3441 East Broadway/Tel: 562.433.0153. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Parkers’ Lighthouse – Located in Shoreline Village, Parkers’ Lighthouse is a seafood restaurant with great views. Their dishes range from lobster taquitos, crab cakes, fish & chips, seafood tacos, sushi (delicious), chopped salad, shrimp cocktail and the most fabulous garlic cheese bread we’ve ever had. My daughter had the ahi tuna sandwich and a shirley temple. We happily sat and planned out the day’s activities before boarding our surrey (located a hop and a skip away). Parkers’ Lighthouse is located at 435 Shoreline Village Drive/Tel: 562-432-6500.
Bo Beau – When I read about Bo Beau’s French food with global influence, I had to take my daughter. Sitting beneath magnificent ceilings in a beautiful space, we munched on some of the most amazing items from crispy brussels sprouts with parmesan and balsamic and salmon tartare to home made mac & cheese (my tween, of course). They also serve oven flat breads, moules, frites, pasta and classics like risotto, grilled ribeye, chicken fricassee and salmon. This was a highlight of our Long Beach culinary adventure. Bo Beau is located at 144 Pine Avenue/Tel: 562-983-0056.
The Tea Room on The Queen Mary – Located next to Diana: Legacy of a Princess, A Royal Exhibition on the Sun Deck of the ship, The Tea Room offers dazzling harbor and skyline views in an elegantly casual setting. They serve the food and tea on traditional Windsor Tea Service. There is the traditional tea and also the lunch menu, which my picky tween opted for. I had a salad, she a sandwich and then I let her indulge in a heavy chocolate dessert. The teas are delicious and we sat and gazed out at the sea for more than an hour. The Tea Room is located at 1126 Queens Highway. You can make a reservation here or call 562-499-1682.
The Boathouse on the Bay – After our gondola ride, we headed to The Boathouse on the Bay, an upscale seafood restaurant on the Alamitos marina. They offer a child’s menu for kids ages 10 and under for $10 and a variety of seafood options for adults from sushi to pieces of fish. We indulged in a few starters including edamame (always a hit with kids), a cheese and fish plate and I had to try to the sushi, fresh from the sea. Our waiter was exceptional – he even sat with us for a minute. His moustache reminded me of Salvador Dali. The Boathouse is located at 190 North Marina Drive/Tel: 562-493-1100.
By the end of our visit to Long Beach, my daughter and I were so content, clearly satiated with yummy food and happily fished out.
Disclosure: My trip was organized by Long Beach California Vacation & Travel Center.
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These all look delicious, especially that vegetable frittata! I worry that my nephews are still going to be too picky for some of these places. They hate seafood, which could be a problem. I’ll probably end up taking them to a good Mexican restaurant for something they’ll actually eat.