Manhattan Beach Post...Wow!

[wienermobile]

Went to M.B. Post last night for the first time and had an amazing meal. Not unlike Rustic Canyon and Gjelina's small plates Chef David Lefevre does his own wonderful take on them. Started with the Bacon Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits and Fleur De Sel Pretzel with a side of their honey selections (comb/chestnut/ truffle). Some of my favorite dishes were Roasted Brussel sprouts with emmental, hazelnuts and sage. Asparagus and poached juidori egg with mushrooms. Roasted carrots with butterscotch. Grilled Moroccan BBQ lamb belly that melted in my mouth. Their sautéed wild king salmon was incredible,with it's crispy skin but still rare in the middle, maybe the best I've ever had. Ended the night perfectly with their bite sized in-house made Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake with peaches, cornmeal streusel and macron almonds. Great service and no attitude at all. A wonderful meal and I even got a chance to thank the graicous chef himself. Highly recomended.

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Manhattan Beach Post
1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

[wienermobile]

Special dinner at MB Post's for chef David LeFevre 40th birthday on July 16th featuring Chefs
Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo (Animal, Son of a Gun); Matt Molina (Mozza); Steve Samson and Zach Pollack (Sotto); and Zoe Nathan (Rustic Canyon, Huckleberry), who will create a five-course menu. The cost is $80, or $115 with wine pairing. 2 seatings.

[westsidegal]

a very belated THANK YOU to wienermobile for this terrific recommendation.
(ate there again tonight and again everything was top notch.)

[sdiddy]

strange i found the food to be boring and bland and like a not-good copy of gjelina. ah well

[rp1760]

You do appear to be in the minority. This restaurant is getting national recognition for its food and forward thinking chef. Perhaps you could gain some cred by expounding on what specific items you thought were "boring and bland?" With regards to the "copy" comment - this chef has worked years under Charlie Trotter, traveled abroad, and was exec at the venerable Water Grill. I feel very comfortable saying he has no reason to "copy" anyone or anyplace, including gjelina.

[Dommy]

While I don't think he's copying... I found MB Post a bit over seasoned and not well thought through. I mean, to tout you offer only the best of seasonal items, drown them in a sauce that doesn't make a whole lot of sense and then over cook the whole thing makes me so sad. And then what made MAD is to push a strawberry shortcake in November... even in California, my companions who had it found the strawberries unremarkable and then the shortcake quite dry. And INFURIATING are the pretzels that they tout, they lack flavor, have a tough texture. We've tried them twice and both times regretted ordering.

Also, I found the space a bit contrived with the WORST Communal table EVER. The bench is horribly wide, for those of us wearing skirts or dresses, even modest ones, you get plenty of breeze and then have to almost dismount it when getting up.

Although it's a decent choice in the South Bay, I would much rather go to Lazy Ox, Hungry Cat or The Tavern than be roped into coming here again.

--Dommy!

[sdiddy]

agreed on all counts. the drinks are horribly overpriced and undersized as well. felt violated after dropping $26 for 2 drinks that were 3 small sips each. the "naan" bread was a joke and i have eaten a lot of naan in my day. it was naan for people who dont like ethnic food, like a lot of the food here i felt. brussel sprouts salty and mushy. squid was dry and overcooked. pretzel was the most edible thing but probably the least delicious one i have ever had. i actually liked the ambiance here and think they did a nice job, but the food was like so many other places in MB...all show no go. but that seems to work for most of the crowd in that area. but glad some people are enjoying this place but i wont go back.

[TonyC]

If the pretzel was bad, why order it twice?
Why order strawberry short cake in November?

I've never opted for communal table, never ordered any of the items mentioned above. The food is fantastic & kills what Lazy Ox (now a headless chicken) is doing. Sometimes, gut instinct (don't order naan at MB Post, don't order the pretzel; do order the fantastic greeneries, lamb belly, pork jowl, mussels, squid, ad nausea) goes a long, long way. And book res well in advance to avoid communal. Son/Gun's communal table is far, far worse.

FWIW, Mother Moo was making ice cream from frozen FM berries well into fall.

[Dommy]

I don't ordinarily mind communal tables as my lifestyle unfortuantely does not lend to keeping reservations. I've been to Son of a Gun and sat at the communical table and found you can slide in and out no problem, even with work heels and a suit skirt. The issue at MB has to do with the bench itself. The wood used on the seat is WIDER and THICKER than most so for us in the pencil skirt set, it's more than what most opening tend to give (Giving a thigh flash to all. :/) and then you are perched up so high you can't cross your feet back.

As for the Shortcake in November, I have yet to perfect the jedi mind trick on the companions who ordered it. I even muttered something and the waiter assured us it was very fresh and flavorful. Their SIGNATURE.

As for the pretzels, we love them and gave it a second shot to be fair and in hopes it lived up the the raves. Nope same exact plasticy exterior and bland interior.

Glad to hear to you've had great meals there. I wish I could say the same, but I spend a lot of time eating in the south bay and hope, if anything, it encourages more restaurants like it.

--Dommy!

[Ciao Bob]

Agree -- the vegetables are fantastic.
I don't love the current fad of putting bacon on or in everything, but MB Post get's it right with the BACON CHEDDAR BUTTERMILK BISCUITS w/maple butter.

[westsidegal]

what works for me at both mb post and gjelina is to be there EARLY.
these are very popular restaurants, which means that if you don't like the communal tables you need to either
a) schedule way ahead of time
or, (my approach)
b) be there when the restaurant opens for dinner. (tonight i called about 20 minutes before walking in and reserved a table for 2)

[TonyC]

copy of Gjelina?

1/2 of Gjelina distended menu = pasta / pizza. None of that exists at MB Post. Why'd anyone want to copy Gjelina?

[westsidegal]

because the vegetables at gjelina are not swimming in pools of grease as are those at MB Post.
on the other hand, the MB Post treatment of the salmon trout was far better than any of the fish dishes i've ever had at gjelina.
each has their own strengths and weaknesses.

[wienermobile]

Just had Brunch for the first time at MB Post last weekend and it was very good. It's a small plates brunch to be shared. Stand out dishes were their Poached egg with asparagus polenta and bianco sardo. The Nueske bacon cooked with rosemary, brown sugar and chill and their amazing homemade sticky bun with pecans and brown sugar, I did not think their Benedict made with their bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuits worked because the biscuits were just to dense in the combination, much better on their own with the maple butter. Next time must try their French Toast stuffed with quince and ricotta. Much mellower at brunch service than dinner. Brunch on Saturdays and Sundays only. Highly recommended.

[wienermobile]

Manhattan Beach Post & Picca both were just announced as a James Beard’s 2012 Chef and Restaurant Semifinalists for best new restaurant in the US.

[lavendula]

If you could only try Picca or MB Post which would you choose?

[Ciao Bob]

I would pick MB Post...not that you aske me.

[foodiemahoodie]

Agree.

[wienermobile]

I have not been to Picca yet and really do want to try it, hopefully soon. I do love MB Post and have been there many times and have not yet had one disappointing dish except those giant fries, skip those. David LeFever of MB Post is also a James Beard 2012 semifinalist for best chef Pacific area.

[sdiddy]

not EVEN a question picca is 100x better.

[wienermobile]

For your Christmas dinner at home M. B. Post is selling their wonderful bacon cheddar buttermilk biscuits by pre-order, a dozen for $30, orders must be placed at 310-545-5405 by 12:00 P.M. this Friday for a Saturday pick-up between 2:00-4:00 P.M. Happy Holidays!

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Manhattan Beach Post
1142 Manhattan Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

[wienermobile]

J. Gold's nice review of MB Post at this link below, I think he loves those bacon cheddar biscuits.
http://www.laweekly.com/2011-11-24/ea...

[Jason_King]

I went last Saturday and had a wonderful experience. We ordered too much food because there was so much on the menu that sounded good. I feel like I need to go there with more people to try the rest of the menu because everything was delicious (butterscotch carrots, asparagus with egg, veal ribs, chicken pot pie).

[wienermobile]

Yes, I loved those butterscotch carrots too.

[foodiemahoodie]

Funny, but I posted similarly - almost all the same food. Who in their right mind can resist Bacon Cheddar Buttermilk Biscuits? Very enjoyable and I look forward to going back. Place had a great energy to it too. (Chef is a very nice guy.) And an awful lot of room for solo eating. Lucky MB! I like and liken it to Gjelina - but prefer MB Post.

For those on the west side - it's actually pretty easy to get to during rush hour - thru Venice, the Marina, then Jefferson down to Playa Del Rey and Vista Del Mar to the restaurant. Nice backroad drive to great new restaurant.

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Gjelina
1429 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

[Jason_King]

I want to go this Saturday but there are no reservations. I was thinking of heading down there for an early dinner, getting there around the time they open to score a communal table.

Has anyone else tried to do the same? How's the wait if you're there around 5?

[wienermobile]

40% of the restaurant is set aside for walk-in Guests at their communal tables. It starts getting busy between 6:30 and 7pm.

[westsidegal]

ok wienermobile,
since i tremendously respect your recommendations, i'm surely going to find myself there sometime soon.
roughly how much should i budget for this excursion?

[wienermobile]

They recommend 3 small plates per person. The plates run $8-$15 each and are always better shared. Nice cheese plates too. The desserts are small but are very good and run around $5 each. Their menu is seasonal and some items change daily. They do not open for lunch. I hope you enjoy
http://eatmbpost.com/menu

[wienermobile]

Eater LA just announced their chef of the year 2011 Los Angeles award. The
Nominees are: Ricardo Zarate (Picca), Michael Voltaggio (ink.), Laurent Quenioux, David LeFevre (MB Post), Jon Shook & Vinny Dotolo (Animal, Son of a Gun), Nancy Silverton (Short Order, Mozza)
Winner: David LeFevre (MB Post).