Family birthday celebration in the South Bay?

[HastaLaPasta]

Hi all, family wants to take me out for my birthday somewhere in the South Bay area (figure El Segundo would be the farthest north, anything south through Palos Verdes would be fine).

We aren't that familiar with the restaurant options in most of this area - places we've been and are sort of played out for us include pretty much everything on Rosecrans in MB (Paul Martin's, Flemmings, PF Changs, Cozymel's, Il Fornaio, Lido, etc.), also Gina Lee's Bistro and we just aren't that familiar with the rest of the area.

Something along the line's of Paul Martin's, or The Chart House would be great, but just want to go somewhere slightly different as we've done those to death. Or a good Italian place would also work. Would hope to keep the cost somewhere in the $35-40 range per person (though higher if warranted) for entrees, appetizers and soft drinks.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

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Cozymel's
2171 Rosecrans Ave, El Segundo, CA 90245

Chart House
2801 W Coast Hwy Ste 100, Newport Beach, CA 92663

[mstinawu]

Chef Melba's Cafe in Hermosa Beach is a great little place. Really solid American seafood. I almost always order off their "steamed" sections for clams or mussels but their other entrees are delicious too!

[flylice2x]

Petros is ok...but not like the former Papdakis..
I like the Depot...been there many times even for parties..
How abt-
www.aliottas.com
www.darrensrestaurant.com
Does it have to be Southbay.. www.dalrae.com

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Petros Restaurant
451 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

[raizans]

la sosta enoteca, if you can stomach the bill.

there's also il chianti, a japanese italian place in lomita.

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La Sosta Enoteca
2700 Manhattan Ave, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254

Il Chianti
24503 Narbonne Ave, Lomita, CA 90717

[Nicole]

Tin Roof Bistro

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Tin Roof Bistro
3500 Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

[Francesca]

Sammy's Woodfired Pizza @ Rolling Hills Plaza (Crenshaw & PCH). Great food, friendly service, amazing birthday ice cream sundae.

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Sammy's Woodfired Pizza
2575 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA 90505

[mstinawu]

Oh I LOVE their messy sundae.. Best sundae ever.

[Clinton]

Try the Depot in Torrance. Chef Mike does an excellent job and maintains a good wine list.
http://www.depotrestaurant.com/

[sparkareno]

Petro's in Manhattan Beach. Also, I think the reviews are mixed and I haven't been but Tin Roof Bistro at the Manhattan mall might work. Some really like it.

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Petros Restaurant
451 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Tin Roof Bistro
3500 Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

[wienermobile]

I really like the new Eatalian Cafe in Gardena. Everything is made fresh here at the restaurant including great gelato.(and soon homemade mozzarella cheese)
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/713262?tag=search_results;results_list
http://www.yelp.com/biz/eatalian-cafe...

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Eatalian Cafe
15500 S. Broadway St., Gardena, CA 90248

[wienermobile]

Here is Eatalian's LA Times review.
http://www.latimes.com/features/food/...

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Eatalian Cafe
15500 S. Broadway St., Gardena, CA 90248

[HastaLaPasta]

Thanks for the suggestion wienermobile - this restaurant looks great and I am going to make it a point to give it a try, but from the photo in the article it doesn't seem like the dining room is really geared towards an 'special occasion' type of meal, so I think I'm going to keep looking for something else for my family b-day celebration.

[annapurna7]

Gaetano's in Torrance. The food is decent (though perhaps a bit inconsistent) and I think it would work for a special occasion.

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Gaetano's Restaurant
2731 Pacific Coast Hwy, Torrance, CA 90505

[bmallorca]

HastaLaPasta, do go visit Eatalian before you decide. We were there for lunch today, and there was a looooong table set up in the cheese-making room (huge windows separate it from the rest of the dining area, making it an unusual and interesting private room) which looked perfect for a big birthday dinner! We took a friend from Culver City there for lunch, and she took a photo of this room as a possible place for her 40th birthday. Go check it out! The food is great.

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Eatalian Cafe
15500 S. Broadway St., Gardena, CA 90248