Lunch before heading to Catalina

[Sisiutl]

We're arriving at Long Beach airport on a Friday around 10:30am and catching the ferry to Catalina at 4:00pm, so we'd like to have a nice lunch somewhere along the way. Daughter has a car but doesn't know the area at all. The wife and I enjoy almost anything but the daughter is a new age neurotic eater and won't go for anything too funky (taco trucks or 'cue joints are out.) What can you recommend for a nice, sit-down weekday lunch, preferably not chain (e.g., Applebee's)

[SRosie]

I've living in Long Beach for 3 years and I always take out-of-town guests to one of two places:
2nd street/Belmont Shore: La Creperie Cafe, 4911 E 2nd St - then you can take Ocean Ave straight down to the ferry landing
or
Sushi Studio - a little closer to The airport, but can be confusing to find. 4917 E Pacific Coast Hwy

[mlgb]

I'm not sure what "new age neurotic" is, but I'd guess that Bake N Broil's heavy diner food wouldn't be what she'd like.

Tantalum is not good at all. Awful service, mediocre overpriced food, but it is a nice room.

I think Yardhouse is a better suggestion.

Benley might work, it's a neighborhood place with a Vietnamese flavor, that has an upscale new agey vibe. It is open for lunch on Fridays. It's in a mini mall center that is easy to find from the airport, just go east on Wardlow. It had been a Long Beach secret although I guess it's now in Zagat.

You could also go to Belmont Shore and try one of the middle eastern or Greek places.

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Benley, a vietnamese kitchen
8191 E Wardlow Rd, Long Beach, CA 90808

[Oh Robin]

I say Yard House. A chain yes, but the one in Shoreline Village is the original. Enjoy some great lettuce wraps, chicken nachos or an ahi poke stack, then walk on over to your boat.

[Professor Salt]

Not too funky... I wonder if daughter would be ok with fried chicken and waffles? There is a branch of Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles in downtown Long Beach.

I sincerely hope you're not talking about next weekend, when the Grand Prix is in town.

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Roscoe's House of Chicken
730 E Broadway, Long Beach, CA 90802

[teach]

If I had guests coming from out of town, I would take them to Tantalum on Pacific Coast Highway. It is beautiful and the food is great. You'd never know it based on the fact that it's in a shopping center near a Ralph's, but the restaurant has a great view of the water. It is only 5-10 minutes from the airport and downtown.

http://www.tantalumrestaurant.com/

[Ogawak]

Jongwaard's Bake and Broil would be my choice. Basic downhome cooking for breakfasts, hamburgers, soups, pies and cakes. I recommend taking some red velvet cupcakes for the trip across. Just a bit north and west of the airport. It does get crowded, but worth the wait. There are many posts here extolling the virtues of Jongwaard's.

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Bake 'n Broil
3697 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807

[JeetJet]

I Second Jongwaard's Bake and Broil.
After the lunch I would have a slice of Lemon Lush or banana cream pie. Catalina? Ah, I would add some chocolate cupcakes to the bag as well.

Check out this Chowhound discussion and look for the list of things to try at Jongwaard's.
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/405909

[peterboy]

ferry in long beach or pedro?

[Sisiutl]

"Long Beach Downtown"
320 Golden Shore, Long Beach, CA

[ricepad]

That's Restaurant Chain Central...by all means, eat somewhere (anywhere) before you get to the terminal area.