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diversions
Restaurant
raves to ease summer time starvation
By Adrienne Figueroa
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
As much as an entire
semester of Top Ramen consumption can save a college student
in food expenses, it can get a little monotonous.
Luckily, summer has arrived once again, hopefully paving the
way for more opportunity to work and squander paychecks on
things unavailable during the academic year. It’s possible
to make up for an entire semester of starving with some good
food and atmosphere and these local restaurants may be worth
the trip.
Egg Heaven. The name of this place just about says it all.
Located on the corner of Ximeno Avenue and Fourth Street,
this breakfast eatery offers a variety of omelets as well
as pancakes, waffles, oatmeal and other morning entrees ranging
from about $5 to $7. Just about everything on the menu is
worth trying. A dish that must be attempted at least once
is the Greek gourmet omelet — a collaboration of cheese, tomatoes,
mushrooms and artichoke hearts, complete with fried potatoes
and warm tortillas.
Close to the size of a one-bedroom apartment, the restaurant
comes complete with an assortment of things to look at and
a unique coziness similarly found in 70s-style diners and
coffee shops. Underneath a transparent resin on the countertop
is a collage of aged newspaper and magazine cutouts, some
donning the faces of Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Yoko Ono.
Look up and the ceiling is just as busy, for it is completely
blanketed with colorful artwork. The restaurant’s popularity
can sometimes draw a crowd on the weekends, so make an entrance
after noon to lessen the chance of a long wait on those hard,
outside benches.
’Alegria.’The mosaic tile floor, cubist paintings and Latin
music successfully complete the restaurant’s festive Spanish-style
ambiance. Located in historic downtown Long Beach, Alegria’s
dinner prices typically range from about $12.95 to $20.95,
depending on the dish.
For customers with a desire for a savory and sweet taste together,
the pollo en mole poblano - roasted chicken in Oaxaca mole
sauce - may be a meal that perks interest. Dollar tacos and
$2 margaritas, served daily between 3:30 and 6:30, may be
another thing that peak interest. Also available at this time
are complimentary h’ordourves — green olives and cheese covered
with olive oil and rosemary, as well as tortilla chips, salsa
and guacamole.
The establishment has a small outdoor patio with a view of
busy Pine Avenue. Live bands and flamenco dancers perform
throughout the week.
Mum’s. Entering its 13th year in downtown Long Beach, this
Pine Avenue restaurant offers a sophisticated ambiance with
live jazz, a martini lounge as well as a cigar lounge and
a nightclub. The menu features the cuisine of Northern Italy,
with prices starting at $16.95 a dish.
Seafood items appear most frequently on the dinner list (they
also have a full sushi bar menu), with a handful of steak
and chicken selections.
For a light starter, try the Mum’s salad, a delicious mix
of spinach leaves, red onion and candied walnuts covered with
a blue cheese vinaigrette. The Thai chicken linguini, topped
with julienne vegetables and crushed peanuts, is nothing short
of marvelous, but should only be attempted by those with a
big appetite Mum’s has an outdoor patio along Pine Avenue
in addition to seasonal rooftop dining. Casual-dressy attire
is recommended.
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