One. Two. Three. Pour! The countdown is on for Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week, presented by the Grunion Gazette, taking place throughout the city February 18-28. Every year restaurants clamor to wow guests with special menu items, creative cocktails, wine pairings and craft beer at value pricing.
There’s never been a better time to explore our city’s many dining destinations and visit a new restaurant (or revisit a favorite) for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. Plus, no passes needed, or tickets required. Just visit the Dine Out Long Beach website starting February 1st to see what restaurants are participating and what their Restaurant & Cocktail Week has to offer.
Still need an excuse to get your grub on? Here are 10 reasons why you need to dig in during Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week:
1. PALATE-PLEASING FOOD
This is when chefs and restaurateurs like to do a little R&D (research and development) before they commit to putting something new on the menu. It’s your chance to try some “only during Dine Out Long Beach” menu items. Also, gone are the strict three-course menus, although some restaurants still opt to design their menu this way, but you’ll find the menus to be inviting and flexible. There are more food and wine pairing choices, shared menus (1 appetizer, 2 entrees, 1 dessert), small plates and cocktails, and more. Plus, there is something for every preference and dietary need, including vegan and gluten-free options. And remember, restaurants will also have their regular menus available as well.
2. THE ART OF COCKTAILING
Whether you like your cocktails shaken or stirred, many restaurants get in the “spirit” of things during Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week by offering at least one signature cocktail during. In addition, many restaurants also offer special wines and craft beers, too. Not one to imbibe? Mocktails are always an option, too.
3. DISCOVER A NEW FAVORITE
It’s easy to fall into the same routine. You’ve got a favorite go-to pizza place, date night is always at the corner bistro, or you’ve been grabbing a latte and muffin at the same café since it opened a decade ago. Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week is the perfect time to get out of your culinary rut and treat your taste buds to something different. You might even surprise yourself and find a new favorite.
4. DINE OUT OR TAKE OUT (JUST DON’T MISS OUT!)
During Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week you’ve got choices. Whether you want the full sit-down experience at a restaurant or prefer takeaway to enjoy in the comfort of your own home, the choice is yours. Not all restaurants will offer a take-out option, so be sure to call ahead first and ask.
5. SUPPORT LOCAL RESTAURANTS, CHEFS AND MIXOLOGISTS
Restaurateurs, chefs, bartenders, sommeliers, busboys, servers – these people are our friends, family and neighbors. Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week is the perfect time to show them some love. Help return them to their pre-pandemic profits February 18-28 by visiting a new restaurant, revisiting a favorite or doing both.
6. DATE NIGHT, GIRLS’ NIGHT OUT OR A BOOK CLUB MEET-UP
Grab your significant other, neighborhood moms, sorority sisters or your bibliophile bunch and meet over breakfast lunch, dinner or drinks. Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week is the perfect setting for getting together. Whether it’s a candlelit table for two or bellying up at the local wine bar, there’s never been a better time to raise a glass to love, friendship and that bestseller you’re about to discuss than during Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week.
7. A MENU AND PRICE POINT FOR EVERYONE
There’s a misconception that restaurant week mostly consists of fine dining establishments. Nothing could be further from the truth. Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week has its share of upscale restaurants. But it’s also punctuated with casual eateries, gastropubs, pizzerias, fast-casual, smoothie shops, espresso bars and more. There are places to bring the kids, the dogs, beer lovers, wine snobs, carnivores and vegans (often times to the same restaurant). Really, the sky is the limit.
8. PET-FRIENDLY PLACES
It’s been said that Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week is going to the dogs. And that’s a good thing. Sometimes the best dining companions are our furry four-legged friends, and many participating restaurants welcome dogs on their sidewalk patios. Just remember to be considerate by having your pet on a leash and keeping them confined to your space.
9. EXPLORE A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
Long Beach is a big little city with a collection of unique neighborhoods. Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week is a great time to explore a different part of town in search of new culinary offerings. Second Street in Belmont Shore is brimming with individually owned restaurants and sidewalk dining and is just across the bridge from Naples Island and its collection of cuisines and settings. Fourth Street’s Retro Row has a similar, albeit more bohemian, vibe. Bixby Knolls in uptown features a bevy of breweries, gastropubs and delicious destinations. Downtown, which includes Pine Avenue, Ocean Blvd., East Village Arts District and the waterfront, offers both upscale restaurants as well as casual eateries. Other dining destinations include 2nd & PCH, LBX, Zaferia District and Belmont Heights. Click here to view the map
10. FOOD WITH A VIEW
The only thing that rivals our fabulous dining scene is the stunning weather. Even in February, when other states are bracing for snow and bone-chilling temperatures, we’re noshing and imbibing outside during Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week. Grab a sidewalk table and people watch, head to a rooftop bar for cocktails and conversation, book a table along the waterfront or head to an umbrella-shaded back patio for a cozy meal (and let the feasting begin!).
Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant and Cocktail Week, presented by the Grunion Gazette, takes place annually through the city February 18-28. For more information or to register your restaurant, visit dineoutlongbeach.com
For the latest information visit www.facebook.com/LongBeachRestaurantWeek
![Since its inception in 1922, nestled on a 43-acre beet and barley field, the Los Angeles County Fair has blossomed into a grand event spanning over 500 acres, making it a cornerstone of Southern California’s cultural landscape. Through the decades, this annual affair has evolved, integrating the essence of the times while staying rooted in its profound traditions. A Journey Back in Time Picture the inaugural fair in 1922, a lively gathering showcasing the region’s agricultural prowess. Harness racing and chariot races thrilled spectators, while daredevils mesmerized the crowds with airplane wing-walking stunts. This five-day event marked the beginning of […]](https://www.ocregister.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/LA-County-Fair-2022-591-1.jpg?w=525 "Since its inception in 1922, nestled on a 43-acre beet and barley field, the Los Angeles County Fair has blossomed into a grand event spanning over 500 acres, making it a cornerstone of Southern California’s cultural landscape. Through the decades, this annual affair has evolved, integrating the essence of the times while staying rooted in its profound traditions. A Journey Back in Time Picture the inaugural fair in 1922, a lively gathering showcasing the region’s agricultural prowess. Harness racing and chariot races thrilled spectators, while daredevils mesmerized the crowds with airplane wing-walking stunts. This five-day event marked the beginning of […]")
