As has become the ritual over the last several months, last Wednesday Cliv and I decided to eat at another restaurant that we had never been to before heading to the studio for our weekly spot on Swoop’s World Radio. Because neither of us live all that close to Bixby Knolls or Cal Heights, there are always plenty of fresh options for us to choose from. This time, at the recommendation of a few friends, we decided on Georgie’s Place, a classic do-it-all charbroiler in much the same vein as Fantastic Café or Golden Burger.

The beauty of a restaurant like Georgie’s Place lies in its versatility; a family of four can eat here and each diner can choose from a diverse menu covering everything from breakfast staples to Mexican comida to deli sandwiches, burgers, and chili dogs. However, Georgie’s Place bills itself as a Greek and American Grill, and they do a better job than many other places of maintaining a steady Greek presence on their menu. The selection includes Lamb Chops, Gyros, Beef Brochette, Chicken Kabob, and Georgie’s ½ Charbroiled Chicken, as well as the requisite Greek salads and sauces.

For our first visit to Georgie’s we decided to stay true to the place’s roots and we both went for Greek dishes. Cliv ordered up Georgie’s ½ Charbroiled Chicken, and while the name explains a good deal of it, it does not tell the whole story. The half chicken is seasoned with lemon and pepper and served in one piece, with the skin crisped but the meat still moist and tender. It comes with a Greek salad and a side of french fries, which was more than enough to fill up the big man.

Georgie's Place 1/2 Charbroiled Chicken

I chose to go the Gyro route, because I am a sucker for amalgamated meat on a rotisserie. Georgie’s serves up an impressive gyro on a large pita, stuffed full of meat, lettuce, onions and tomatoes all bathed in tzatziki. Despite the fact that we were there toward closing time, the slices of gyro meat were moist and juicy, nicely browned on the outside but not overdone. The Gyro plate came with a side of french fries that almost overshadowed the rest of the plate because of the sheer mass of potato, but all in all it made for a very satisfying meal.

Most dinner plates range from $8-$10 and are large enough to quell a fairly ambitious appetite. Georgie’s Place accepts credit cards, has a private parking lot, and has an outdoor patio dining area facing Atlantic Avenue that should be very enjoyable during the monthly First Fridays events in Bixby Knolls. On my next visit I believe I will be ordering the Lamb Chops as I work my way through their menu. If you’re going for dinner, get there early because they close by about 8PM, but check out Georgie’s Place the next time you’re in the neighborhood.

For those of you eating at home, I wish you a fully cooked (but not overcooked) meal with loved ones. If you will be eating out tomorrow, I will offer up one humble suggestion that probably already crossed your mind, and that is Chen’s. It’s one of our favorites but will probably be a busy spot on Christmas day so plan accordingly.

Most of all, I wish you a peaceful holiday with your family, friends, and loved ones. If you have any traditional holiday meals that are unique to your clan, please feel free to share with us in the comments! Merry Christmas to all, from LB Food Review!

We started LB Food Review just over two years ago to highlight local neighborhood restaurants and hangouts that make Long Beach unique. What, then, could be more deserving of the spotlight than my one true local, neighborhood hangout? The 49rs Tavern is back after a 6-month hiatus, and while some very evident alterations have been made, the core of the ‘Niner is still in place: big beefy burgers and bubbly yellow beer, just a short walk from home (or school, for those of you feverishly cramming for finals at Long Beach State).

The legend that is the ‘Niner goes back further than I can remember, but change is just about the only thing we can rely on these days, and the 49rs Tavern is not immune to it. The place has always tied its identity to CSULB (Prospector Pete still adorns the signage outside the bar) but in the process of a thorny ownership change and subsequent revamp, they laid to rest perhaps the single greatest artistic commemoration to Long Beach State athletics: the old mural featuring 49er greats such as Misty May and Jason Giambi.

Despite the loss of that showpiece, the re-done interior is functional and inviting. New booths provide more seating facing the bar and the televisions (a godsend for those of us who rely on someone else’s cable to watch the game). I won’t spend much more time talking about what’s on the walls; instead I’ll focus on what’s inside them. The 49rs Tavern is a beer and wine establishment, and their draft beer selection is more than adequate without being overwhelming. During happy hour, from 3-7PM on weekdays, domestic rules the day as pints are $2 and pitchers go for a paltry $6. I recommend America’s Finest, 1893, if you wish to maximize your cash in hand (which you will need, as they currently do not take cards).

Cheap beer is awesome, but what makes the ‘Niner great is the way they do burgers. You can get a sufficient bar burger at lots of places, but the 49rs Tavern answers to a higher calling when they serve you the God’s Own Cheeseburger, an Angus burger with minced garlic, onions, lettuce, tomato, and melted Swiss cheese. The Triple Bypass, of YouTube lore, is gone but not forgotten, but other variations on the Angus burger readily await, as you can order it adorned with bacon, barbecue sauce, or blue cheese crumbles.

God's Own Cheeseburger and Pabst Blue Ribbon

The 49rs Tavern also serves up Nathan’s hot dogs dressed many different ways, from marinara and provolone to jalapeños and jack to Buffalo sauce. Additionally, they serve up a different special sandwich most nights of the week, but you’ll most likely find me there on Wednesdays, when the G.O. is priced to mooove.

The pool tables and peanuts are still here for your entertainment, and an internet jukebox will crank out just about any tune you can think of (use discretion, please). While the ‘Niner may have been re-skinned, its soul remains the same, and that’s enough for me to welcome it back with open arms. Head in for happy hour, a game, or just a Saturday burger, and enjoy the neighborhood.

As you may know by now, here at LB Food Review we appreciate a good dive bar. If big cold draft beers or perfectly poured cocktails are served, we’ll be happy. But then there are places that have that base covered and manage to serve up delicious grub as well, like the Prospector or the Thirsty Isle. While these establishments are both great in their own ways, the Pike Bar and Fish Grill has a little something extra – the straw that stirs the drink, if you will – that sets it apart. And although it has to be experienced in person to be truly appreciated, I’ll do my best to give you a taste.

First off, the Pike is no ordinary dive bar, but is in fact an excellent restaurant that happens to offer up delicious food and alcoholic beverages at reasonable prices. Owned and operated by Chris Reece, the drummer for Social D, this 4th Street Retro Row hotspot fits the neighborhood perfectly, and each night it is transformed into a live music venue that never charges a cover (find out who’s playing here).

Unlike some bar/restaurants, there is no separation of the dining area and the bar at the Pike. Instead, it is one open room with a bar in the middle that is accessible on 3 sides. The walls are adorned with an assortment of old photos from distinct eras: punk rock shots from the 70′s and 80′s stand alongside pictures of the old Long Beach Pike amusement area including the late Cyclone Racer rollercoaster, which graced our shores from 1930 until 1968.

I had the pleasure of eating and drinking at the Pike last week with Cliv and JBro before heading to the studio for another edition of Swoop’s World Radio. While the Pike has a comfortable neighborhood bar feel, you still get great restaurant service at your table. We kicked things off with a basket o’ fries and a pitcher of PBR (once again this place manages to succeed at keeping one foot in each camp, offering the dive staple Pabst but also an extensive selection of microbrews and other classier beers) before digging into the menu.

Some Pike favorites that are big hits across town (and beyond) include their Fish ‘N Chips and also the Lobster Tacos, both of which have drawn countless rave reviews online and in print. Since my friends and I can’t ever just do something the easy way, we went a slightly different direction, ordering the Mahi Mahi tacos, a Filet O’ Fish sandwich, and a Philly Cheesesteak sandwich. Because we’ve lived together so many times, we pretty much eat family style whether the restaurant sanctions it or not, and this night was no different.

Let me just say that after sampling the Fish Sandwich and the Mahi Mahi tacos, I can understand why the Fish ‘N Chips and the Lobster tacos are so popular. The portions are generous without being overwhelming or wasteful. Fried fish is something that some people have bad memories of from childhood, but at the Pike you do not get something out of a cardboard box with a yellow-slickered fisherman on it. You get a large hunk of beer-battered sole on a fresh bun with some of the best tartar sauce around. The grilled Mahi Mahi in the tacos is moist and flakes apart as you bite into it. The Philly Cheesesteak is a guilty pleasure of mine that the Pike does very well, with top sirloin and swiss cheese hosting a halo of grilled onions and bell peppers.

The Pike Bar and Fish Grill has a lot more to experience, such as the burgers, fried calimari, and of course, the live music. It has an eclectic atmosphere and even better food, and it pulls a crowd that makes for some pretty pleasant people watching. Check it out sooner or later (and I mean later – the kitchen is open until midnight on weekdays and 1am on weekends). The Pike rocks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imZbqWkqMCQ

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