Cuisine Scene: Old-Fashioned Eats

Few things are as fickle and fast moving as the world of dining. One day a dish can be celebrated and sought after, the next, for whatever reasons, virtually gone, though not forgotten. And fortunately, the Long Beach food scene not only embraces cultures, but generations as well, which means you can still find local menus featuring the classics, whether they’re dishes seasoned with childhood memories or Old School Cool.

MONTE CRISTO SANDWICH, THE CROOKED DUCK

For a lot of kids of a certain generation, the Monte Cristo sandwich–ham and cheese deep fried and served with preserves spread on the outside–was their first foray into elevated eating. So, it’s not surprising that The Crooked Duck (5096 E Pacific Coast Hwy), a family restaurant with deep family roots–its name derives from an occurrence on a family vacation–would feature the sandwich. Crooked Duck adds turkey to ham and swiss and serves it with raspberry preserves for an amazing sweet/savory experience.

PRIME RIB, THE CARVERY

Once a standard part of any serious, sit down restaurant, Prime Rib has become somewhat of a boutique item to be found at restaurants that take their beef seriously. Of course, that perfectly describes The Carvery (201 Pine Ave), a Downtown Long Beach mecca for meat lovers, the kind of place that serves steak as an appetizer. Of course, for the main course, The Carvery slow-roasts its prime rib, which is sliced to order.

BAKED ALASKA, SKY ROOM

Legend says this classic dessert was created in 1867, the year the United States bought Alaska from Russia. Sponge cake is combined with ice cream, then covered in meringue, which quickly caramelizes as it’s cooked in an oven while the ice cream remains frozen. Not surprisingly, Sky Room, the nearly 90-year-old dining jewel of the recently reopened luxury hotel, Fairmont Breakers (210 S Ocean Blvd), features this and other dessert classics such as Bananas Foster and Cherries Jubilee, both flambéed tableside.

RACK OF LAMB, 555 EAST

Does anything say “Tonight, we feast!” like rack of lamb? There’s something very epic, very grand and cinematic about this dish of roasted lamb ribs, making its ongoing residence at 555 East (555 E Ocean Blvd) all the more fitting. Few places have as much old school cool as this Long Beach fixture–it recently celebrated its 40th anniversary–whether it's the plush upholstered booths or dark wood paneling. No wonder it’s been ranked as one of the most romantic restaurants in the country by OpenTable.

SCOTCH EGG, AULD DUBLINER

With a history well over 200 years old, the Scotch egg has been enjoyed over centuries and continents. It’s made by hard boiling an egg, then wrapping it in Irish sausage and bread crumbs, then deep frying the whole thing. Long a staple of Irish pubs, it’s not surprising that Auld Dubliner (71 S Pine Ave) would feature the item given its authentic Irish pub ties: its floors and walls were constructed in Ireland then shipped to Long Beach.

About the Author

Steve Lowery

Steve Lowery is a longtime local. Over the years he has written for the Los Angeles Times, ESPN, and others. If you're looking for the hidden gems of Long Beach, Steve is your go-to.