With spring break around the corner bringing a week to relax and enjoy exploring the city, a few options to eat out at can be found around Long Beach.
The Original Park Pantry is one restaurant to go visit with friends or family. It is a restaurant that has been serving many since 1959.
With its classic look of mid-century décor and menu, the Original Park Pantry serves American classic home-cooked meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“Everything has just about stayed the same, [The Park Pantry has] kept the good quality food, and the design,” Tammy Sintani, a server at the Pantry, said.
In almost 60 years The Original Park Pantry has changed very little, with only a couple of new additions to the menu and a few renovations done to the building.
“The original owners sold the Original Park Pantry to an employee,” Sintani said. “There were about 20 other Pantry’s but this is the only one that is left, the original.”
While reservations are not required, Sundays and holidays are the Pantry’s busiest days.
Some of the restaurant’s favorites recommended by customers are the pancakes and the smoked salmon.
“We sometimes get people come in two or three times a day,” Sintani said. “I think it’s a combination of the good food and the friendly service.” Sintani said.
The Original Park Pantry can be found on the corner of Broadway and Junipero Street across from the park for which it was named.
On top of the Park Pantry serving breakfast all day, lunch and dinner, it also offers happy hour from 3 – 8 p.m. every day.
Not a lot of advertising is done for this restaurant but through word of mouth, the Pantry receives many new customers every day, according to Sintani.
Another option to take a trip to is the Harbor House Café.
The Harbor House Café is a restaurant that has been serving food for almost eighty years. For almost eighty years, Harbor House Café has served people American classics like their traditional half pound burger or teriyaki burger and their variety of meals from their ten page menu.
The Harbor House Café was converted from a small beach cottage to a restaurant in 1939.
The cafe is filled with movie memorabilia such as old movie posters, vintage pictures along with other antique items that decorate the walls and an energetic atmosphere that is felt in the restaurant.
With its large portions and reasonable prices, the Harbor House Café is a destination that is great for spring break.
While not technically in Long Beach, the Harbor House Café is located in Sunset Beach on Pacific Coast Highway and is about a 15 minute drive from campus.
It is always open, all day and all night.
Another restaurant option to visit is Domenico’s Italian restaurant that has been open since 1954.
With its private atmosphere and good service, Domenico’s has changed little over the years.
New additions to the menu have come but the restaurant has kept its old school décor, Italian foods and recipes over the generations.
Starting out as a pizzeria, Domenico’s has added salads, soups and pastas. Of course, Domenico’s still maintains its traditional roots of homemade and unique pizzas such as its ground pepperoni pizza and customer favorites such as ground sausage pizza.
According to the restaurant’s website, “Domenico and Beverly Spano opened Domenico’s in the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach. With a simple menu consisting primarily of made-from-scratch pizzas and the now famous house salad, Domenico and Beverly introduced their Italian faire to the Long Beach locals.”
The Spano family also had other pizzeria locations in Lakewood, Hawaiian Gardens and Santa Ana. They sold the original restaurant to the Kenyon family in the mid-60s.
After over 60 years of business, Domenico’s is still going strong and serves its customers delicious food.
Domenico’s is located on Second Street and Belmont Shore.
Many historic restaurants stand today that some may not know about. If, during spring break, you find yourself exploring Long Beach and getting hungry, know that these hidden gems can satisfy your cravings.