Heritage Earns Long Beach's First Michelin Star
Heritage, a restaurant known for its innovative cuisine served in a welcoming, homelike environment, now lays claim to being the first Long Beach establishment recognized with a Michelin star, generally considered the dining industry’s highest honor.
Michelin Star
The Michelin Guide noted that Heritage curates an experience that’s “relaxed, but gets the details just right.”
And though that undoubtedly rings true to anyone who’s ever dined at Heritage, it’s also true that this one of Long Beach’s most lauded restaurants can easily be overlooked when driving by on busy Seventh Street.
Contained in a relatively small, converted Craftsman home, Heritage (2032 E 7th St.) has a cozy, inviting interior and open kitchen that gives diners the feeling of being at home while encountering one of the singular dining experiences in the city.
The homelike vibes not only reverberate from the structure, but also from the owners themselves. Chef Phillip Pretty and sister Lauren Pretty have created a space split between two spacious, comfortable dining rooms.
Its Michelin-recommended menu features a tasting menu made with local produce, seafood and cheese as well as ingredients from Heritage’s own produce garden, Heritage Farm, which doubles as an event space.
Michelin said the multi-course tasting menu was “priced quite reasonably [and] highlights top-notch ingredients.”
Heritage was actually awarded with two Michelin stars, since it was also given a Michelin Green Star in recognition of its commitment toward sustainable dining practices.
Though Heritage stands alone in the city as a Michelin star restaurant, it is not the only restaurant in Long Beach to be recognized by Michelin. Here are three other local spots that are noted in the latest guide.
Michelin Guide
THE ATTIC
This Michelin-recommended restaurant has one of the most loyal followings in the city. The Attic (3441 E. Broadway) has built that by offering sophisticated takes on comfort food, none more famous than its Mac & Cheetos, i.e. mac and cheese made with Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. This sophisticated comfort is embodied in the gorgeous 1920s-era craftsman home that houses The Attic and helps to create the relaxed, neighborhood vibe that makes it an absolute must-go on the Long Beach food scene.
CHIANG RAI
From its rather staid exterior, to its quirky, colorful, fun interior Chiang Rai (3832 E. Anaheim St.) isn’t necessarily what springs to mind when thinking of a Michelin-recommended restaurant. But, once you sample its wide-ranging Thai cuisine, you’ll quickly understand why it lays claim to the honor. Its menu not only spotlights Northern specialties and street food, but also curates a local food section that caters to an American palate. Khao soi, a classic northern Thai curry, is given a twist here with thin slices of raw ribeye over thin egg noodles.
SUSHI NIKKEI
In a city brimming with creative cuisine, Michelin-recommended Sushi Nikkei (3819 Atlantic Ave./5020 Second St.) offers one of the most intriguing concepts: Peruvian style sushi. Its creative menu offers familiar and tantalizing options such as Peruvian ceviche with diced sea bass, sweet potato puree in tiger milk and aji amarillo sauce. There are all manner of nigiri and creative rolls offered in a casual atmosphere. A second location in Belmont Shore was opened not long after the initial restaurant opened in Bixby Knolls.
