Rate-A-Restaurant #357: The Kettle (Manhattan Beach)

Restaurant: The Kettle

Location: 1138 Highland Ave. (Manhattan Beach)



Type of restaurant: Diner/American

We stipulated: Having spent the afternoon at the beach in Manhattan Beach, we wanted to grab dinner nearby--and at a place that was kid-friendly.





They stipulated: The Kettle is open always -- 24 hours a day -- and walk-ins are welcome.



What we ordered: Mike: BLACKENED SALMON SANDWICH (14.95)dusted with cajun spices, grilled & served on a toasted brioche bun with lettuce, tomato & our mamou sauce on the side -- also comes with either salad, fruit, salad, soup, potato salad or fries (I chose tortilla soup); Maria: SOUP AND SALAD (cup/bowl 14.95/15.95) a small crock of baked onion soup or a cup or bowl of the soup du jour & a caesar, chinese chicken or grilled chicken cobb salad; Blogger Kid: KETTLE BURGER (11.50) half pound wagyu burger, lettuce, tomato, pickle & 1000 island dressing; Blogger Kid 2.0: MINI HAMBURGERS (6.95) includes choice of fresh fruit, soup or fries, and milk, soda or lemonade



High point:  The food was presented well, and the choices were great.

Low point:  On a busy Saturday evening, the wait for a table was long.



Overall impression: I find diner food usually bland, and this was no exception. But nonetheless, after a day at the beach, it hit the spot. It was a nice alternative to hitting a chain restaurant.



Will we return: Yes, I can see us making another visit after a day at the beach.

Endless Summer in Southern California

Yes, the Blogger Kids are back in school... but with the temperatures still as high as they are, we finally hit the beach for the first time this summer. We generally head to Manhattan Beach, where the parking gods always smile on us. A tip: go in the late afternoon, as the crowds clear out. Stay for the sunset. Eat dinner in town.

A Tar-Filled Day at the Beach

I'm not a big beach guy. Don't get me wrong, I love the beach, and would spend more time there if I could... but living on the East side (yes, I live East of the Los Angeles River, so I'm saying that right), we just don't make the trek to the shore often enough. Nonetheless, having lived in Hawai'i, I know what great beaches are all about. So allow me to be a little bit of a snob and complain about beach tar.

This Sunday we traveled down to Manhattan Beach, and the water was chilly as usual -- but at an acceptable level to get inside. But not acceptable was the amount of tar washing up on the shores. The stuff sticks to your skin, and it takes a great amount of baby oil and scrubbing to get it off.

Tar? On the beach? Yes, it's a Southern California tradition.



Heal the Bay explains what's causing all that tar:

"Natural oil seeps are present in the Santa Monica Bay off the coast of Redondo Beach and Manhattan Beach. They are a natural geological occurrence and are not caused by any human activity. On average, about 10 barrels (420 gallons) of oil from the seeps reach the sea surface daily in Santa Monica Bay. Surface oil generally drifts northward, towards the shore, reaching the beaches from Redondo Beach to Malibu in a few days. Tar on Santa Monica Bay beaches also comes from natural seeps in the Santa Barbara Channel. Geologic activity, like earthquakes, can affect the flow of natural oil seeps."

The tar is much worse in Santa Barbara; I remember staying once at a beachside hotel and wondering why it smelled like an oil refinery.

Beating the Heat in Manhattan Beach

Now that we've found free parking in Manhattan Beach, just a few blocks from the beach, it's become our go-to spot to hit the sand. (The 105 is also a lot less crowded on warm weekend mornings than the 10, as folks driving to Santa Monica and Malibu clog the freeway).

Where do you hit for a quick few hours at the beach? Let us know below.