Manhattan Beach — Blog — Brunchographers

Every summer, residents of East Coast inland towns participate in a mass migration to the water. Packed minivans arrive in droves to little beach towns along the coast, their inhabitants eager to embrace the simple pleasures of summer vacation. The little towns are quaint but lively; people in bathing suits ride bicycles to the corner store to pick up some sunscreen, dinner is a shared Mac & Manco’s pizza eaten straight from the box on the boardwalk, and each day ends with a big, melty ice cream cone. Kids play past their bedtimes and parents laugh together over cold beers on the porch. Here, it’s all about fun, food, and family.

In Los Angeles, summer isn’t as much of an event. It’s really not so different than any other time of year; the only sure identifiers of summer are thick layers of June Gloom clouds and marginally improved traffic flow once school lets out. But a nostalgic East-Coaster is not without hope; that small beach town magic can be found here if you know where to look - a great place to start is Manhattan Beach. A day spent here can recall that slow, relaxed feelings of summers past - meander through the boutiques and shops, play a game of volleyball on the sand, wander down to the end of the pier, grab a cone at Manhattan Beach Creamery, and of course, indulge in some delicious brunch. You’ll be in summer vacation mode before you know it.

Inside The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

Mimosas at The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

On that leisurely stroll through Manhattan Beach's charming downtown area, you may stumble upon The Rockefeller, a lively, modern-industrial gastropub on Highland Avenue which will undoubtedly be packed with happy diners sharing a laugh over a round of technicolor mimosas. Huge open windows allow the gastropub's festive atmosphere to spill out onto the sidewalk, offering passersby a taste of all the fun they could be having - and a glimpse at the ever-so-tempting plates of delicious food. To further seal the deal, the Rockefeller serves brunch not just two days a week, but three. That's right, you can indulge in bottomless mimosas on a Friday. If that doesn't scream summer vacation, I don't know what does.

Guava Mimosas at The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

The Rockefeller's brunch menu is broad and eclectic, offering modern takes on brunch classics to Mexican-inspired breakfast fare and creative, vacation-worthy seafood dishes. And of course, plenty of indulgent bar food to pair with the alcohol you're bound to indulge in. Speaking of alcohol, during brunch, there's a rainbow of bottomless mimosas at your fingertips: with flavors like guava, watermelon, peach, and classic orange, you can sip your fizzy cocktail all brunch long and never get bored (drunk, yes, but bored, no).

Donut Holes at The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

Our recent brunch began with a little something to nosh on - when we visited, the sweet starter of choice was a perfect share-sized portion of donut holes. They were crisp and deep golden brown on the outside, soft and piping-hot on the inside, and just sweet enough that they paired perfectly with a bit of brightly flavored raspberry jam dipping sauce. With a very recent menu update, the donut holes were replaced by a shiny-new menu item: house-made butternut beignets with caramel sauce. If the donut holes were any indication, these folks can make a good donut, and those beignets are probably wonderful (don't worry, we'll be back ASAP to try those, too).

Chilaquiles and Chicken & Avocado Burrito at The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

For entrees, we were feeling the call of the Mexican-inspired dishes, so we opted for Chilaquiles and the Chicken & Avocado Burrito. The Chilaquiles came loaded with sauce and toppings, the chips were saturated in creamy, spicy sauce and the egg was perfectly soft and yolky. The chorizo added a nice spicy kick that was balanced out by the lime crema and cheese.

Chilaquiles at The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

Chicken & Avocado Burrito at The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

We opted to have the Chicken & Avocado Burrito served wet (which is the correct choice, because why on earth wouldn't you want your burrito smothered in tangy, flavorful sauce and melted cheese?). Inside, it was stuffed with scrambled egg whites, chicken chorizo, black beans, avocado, and bell peppers. Both the burrito and the Chilaquiles were rich and delicious, and would satisfy even the heartiest of appetites.

Chicken & Avocado Burrito, Chilaquiles, and French Toast at The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

A classic French toast was next on the roster: eggy brioche bread and macerated berries dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled in maple syrup. This was a spot-on version of a quintessential brunch dish that was pleasing on both the eyes and the palate. And hey, there's some fruit on it, so it's at least a little bit healthy, right?

French Toast at The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

Rainbow of Mimosas at at The Rockefeller, Manhattan Beach, CA

The food at The Rockefeller is sure to please no matter what you choose (and for the record, next time we're planning to try that lobster-stuffed avocado), and its lively and welcoming atmosphere will lull you into a state of summertime bliss. So grab your friends or family, kick back with a cocktail, and take in that cool ocean air - you deserve a vacation.

The Rockefeller
1209 Highland Avenue
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

There's something about the South Bay that's a little off-beat. It's quirky, charming, and provides a nice little respite from the daily grind of the city. In some ways, it doesn't feel like L.A. (the tight-knit friendly neighborhoods, the ease of parking), and in others, it fits in perfectly (fancy Grove-like outdoor mall, upscale beachy restaurants). So somehow, finding something as odd as a Western-themed strip mall doesn't seem all that surprising in Manhattan Beach. And finding an excellent, Instagram-worthy coffee shop inside? It's almost expected.

As you pull into the parking lot of Two Guns Espresso (yeah, like I said - parking is easy in the South Bay), you're greeted with a big sign reading, "how about a cup of Joe?" The answer is obviously yes, because the café has some serious appeal: there's a warm and welcoming feel with locals chatting outside, a handwritten menu detailing tempting breakfast options ranging from healthy to decadent, and cozy indoor or outdoor seating. The only thing that some might find off-putting is the cheeky little sign in the window reading "ain't no wifi." But these days, I think most of us find that kind of thing charming.

It's interesting how "local" this has become - it's deeply rooted in the community through the owners' support of Manhattan Beach schools and organizations, and it's clearly a favorite haunt for the city's residents - given that its owners hail from faraway New Zealand. Founders Andrew "Stan" Stanisich and Craig Olson aimed to bring a taste of the New Zealand coffee scene to the South Bay when they opened in 2011, and by offering up their then-exotic (and ever-delicious) flat white, they succeeded with flying colors.

These days, the café serves up espresso drinks using their own blend of beans that was developed with Dillanos Coffee Roasters. Their huge, beautiful La Marzocco machine is in plain sight; you can watch the friendly baristas work their magic while you lean against the bar and bask in the glory of the enormous Dirty Harry portrait hanging in the corner. And good luck walking away without one of the mouthwatering treats piled high in the glass case - it took all the strength I had to keep from ordering all the donuts.

As tempting as the flat white and the donuts were, I stuck to the plan and ordered up my cappuccino. The house two-bean blend was described as having "dark chocolate sweetness with candied pecan and hints of dried fruit." While some of these flavors were present for me (particularly the candied pecans), the most prominent flavor in my cup was a roasted one - like a light char or burnt sugar. This is not to say it tasted burned - it had a very pleasant, toasty bitterness with a warm aftertaste. The flavor was complimented by a luxurious creaminess, likely a result of the top-notch Straus organic whole milk. This cup of joe was a delightful balance of flavor and texture, and featured some lovely latte art to boot.

When it first opened, Two Guns Espresso was a beacon of hope for South Bay coffee enthusiasts, finally making it possible to find a great cup of joe in a town without a coffee scene. Today, even as the Los Angeles coffee culture explodes and great coffee becomes readily available, they remain the gold standard. And lucky for us all, Two Guns is rocking out at three locations - in addition to their original location in the quirky Western strip mall, you can also enjoy their brews at the end of the Manhattan Beach pier and at a cute little stand in Downtown L.A. And as Dirty Harry behind the cash register promises, it'll make your day.

Two Guns Espresso - 350 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 7 in Manhattan Beach

The Rockefeller | Manhattan Beach, CA

Two Guns Espresso | Manhattan Beach, CA