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       The Original Pancake House, Redondo Beach

The Original Pancake House, Redondo Beach I'm saying it now - for all to read - The Original Pancake House is my
favorite place for pancakes! Bar none! When they first appeared in Redondo Beach, I thought: “The food is great,
but too expensive for this place to stay in business!” Boy was I wrong! The Original Pancake House has firmly
established a reputation for first class meals and top-notch service. Their menu states: “There is NO substitute
for QUALITY. We are PROUD of our product and we appreciate our customers.” I wholeheartedly agree. Started in
1953 in Portland Oregon, they have consistently met and exceeded my expectations. Many locations in Oregon,
but just 2 in So. Calif. The other one is in Laguna Hills. Let's start with the buttermilk pancakes. Unlike most
restaurants which use a pre-packaged pancake mix, they use only fresh ingredients prepared and blended by
hand. Where they really shine is in their “starter”, where they grow their own yeast to be used in the pancakes.
This “starter” gives the pancakes an unmistakable yeasty flavor which I find irresistible. The buttermilk cakes are
light, fluffy and don't get soggy, but hold just enough syrup. My favorites (it's a tie) are the sourdough cakes and
the 49'er Flap Jacks. The sourdough cakes are a little lighter in color than the buttermilk and have more of that
yeasty flavor, along with that sourdough twang. The 49'er Flap Jacks are thin like a crepe (yes, they do have
crepes) and are a little chewy and utterly delicious. Want big food? The Apple pancake is enough for 2 (reminds
me of Ayers Rock in Australia), the omelets are big and very fluffy, and the Dutch Baby (looks like a crater on the
moon) is very unlike anything I've seen before. You could put syrup on it, but try it the way they suggest: with
lemon juice and powered sugar. Crispy on the edges and soft and bread like on the inside. Out of this world!
Besides what I've already mentioned they have wheat germ cakes, Swedish cakes, buckwheat cakes (#2 on my hit
list) and about ten more.I could go on and on, but you gotta go and try for yourself. Mindy is the manager and she
coordinates her staff of waters and waitresses to ensure you have an excellent time. Patty, Pamela, Jose, Juan,
Mauricio, Erin, Valerie and others will take your order, answer your questions about the food and serve you with
a smile. Highly recommended! The Original Pancake House is located at 1756 S. Pacific Coast Hwy. (310) 543-9875

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Copyright 2006 Jerry's Good Eats. All rights reserved
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            Polly's on the Pier, Redondo Beach

Ahhhh.... I love the smell of the sea air in the morning..... it smells like..... Breakfast! Polly's on the Pier has been
heapin' up extra big breakfasts and lunches for as long as I can remember. Located on the sportfishing pier, it's
the perfect place for an ol' salty dog, arrrghh!

Real plain food here - no disrespect intended. Just generous-sized portions of great "home cooked" food. I have
tried many of their omelets but I keep going back to their Machaca omelet. Filled with tender shredded beef, mild
peppers, cheese and covered with more cheese and a spanish sauce. (Never finished it - really! It must weight
like.... 3 pounds!) Nine bucks and good for at least one more meal. It is one of my all-time favorite omelets
anywhere! The Chili Cheese omelet is also big, huge, large, (need more adjectives) and will certainly please.
Pancakes are thick and light, and are a little crisp on the edges. Mom says they're on her top ten list! She always
orders the "Old fashioned breakfast", like a pancake sandwich. For a richer taste, try the real crab, shrimp &
cheese omelet. Excellent!

For lunch (after a day on the water fishing) the crab melt is tops! Other comfort foods include meatloaf sandwich,
turkey sandwich, and the chili size. The seafood (not a big variety) is just OK. But the omelets, pancakes and
sandwiches are solid, good eats. Service is good, but not exceptional.

Free parking with validation. 233 North Harbor Drive, Redondo Beach
(310) 318-3736 I'll see ya' there ya' lily livered landlubber! Arrrrgh.
Eye patch is optional.

Tell 'em you saw it on "Jerry's Good Eats" Copyright 2006 Jerry's Good Eats. All right reserved.

Accessibility: B+ / Service: B+ / Food Quality: B+ / Ambiance & Cleanliness: A- / Price & Value: B+
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           Riviera Mexican Grill, Redondo Beach
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Visiting the Riviera for lunch or dinner is like going to your Grandmother's house. The kind of place that helps
sellers of "bric-a-brac" put their kids through college. I lost count of the many little statues, dolls, carvings,
photos, shadow-boxes, paintings, mobiles, and stuff I don't even know what it is at over 1,000 items. Besides that
stuff, there are at least 4 mounted fish and other curios. Mom (the movie star) is pictured in the photo.

Ok, that out of the way - the Riviera in Redondo Beach is one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. Carnitas to die
for (very authentic), Carne Asada burrito (never ate it all), and fish tacos like down in Mexico. Besides some very
authentic and tasty standard-fare Mexican food, they kick it up a notch with items like the Garlic-Mashed Potato
Tacos and the Southwest Club wrap, sort of like a BLT on steroids in a flour tortilla. The Crab Enchiladas with a
tomatillo salsa are grand, the lobster taquitos are splendid, and I'm getting hungry just writing this!

A good friend of mine: "JH" mentioned, well... no, he corrected me about the "Corona Beach Fish Tacos", here at
Riviera. He said: "You didn't even mention them!" Well, now I have tried them, and I think they are one of the best
fish tacos I have ever had. Double wrapped in thin flour tortillas, lightly coated fish, perfect balance of sauce &
cabbage. Yum!

There is parking in the front & the back, with the back lots being bigger. Service is not the fastest in the world,
but hey - this is Mexican food! Don't "cop" an attitude - just chill. You'll live longer. Oh yeah, they have a great bar
too. The place gets a bit noisy on busy nights and weekends, but is worth it. Located at 1615 Pacific Coast
Highway. Near Riviera Village. (310)540-2501 Most all of their food is available for take out.

Go, on - I dare you - count all of the bric-a-brac (or whatever it's called) all over the place. Lemme know how many
you counted.

Tell 'em you saw it on "Jerry's Good Eats." Copyright 2006 Jerry's Good Eats. All right reserved.

Accessibility: B+ / Service: C+ / Food Quality: A / Ambiance & Cleanliness: B+ / Price & Value: C+
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                Good Stuff, Redondo Beach

Surf's up at the Good Stuff! So are all kinds of interesting foods that hail from different parts of the world.
Southwestern, Chinese, Mexican, Cajun, Hawaiian, Japanese, Greek, and good ol' American fair are all on the
menu. The Carne Asada & eggs has long been a favorite of mine at this beach eatery. Chris' breakfast salad (yep,
salad) is made with eggs, ground turkey, romaine, black beans, pico de gallo, brown rice, tortilla chips, Parmesan
cheese, with Caesar dressing - yum! No ordinary breakfast food. Mom usually gets the Good Stuff breakfast:
Eggs, bacon or sausage, and toast or pancakes. Good stuff restaurants (there are four of them) are famous for
their whole wheat pancakes. None better. Lunch and dinner are replete with the same diversity. Try the
blackened Ono salad, or Cameron's Carne Asada sandwich. The Seafood pasta or the Dijon Turkey meatloaf are
good dinner choices.

The atmosphere is "beachy" - relaxed, casual and upbeat. They have a lot of servers, and the service is prompt.
Alice is one of our favorite waitresses, but anyone there will take good care of you.I like Good Stuff! The menu is
exciting and varied enough so I can come back again and again and try new meals, and not get bored. So far, I
have not been disappointed.

Started in 1979 in West LA, they have proven and repeated their "beachy" style. The Good Stuff in Redondo has
been around since 1999 at 1617 S. PCH. (310) 316-0262 I hope they will be around for a long time. Their other
locations are in Hermosa Beach, El Segundo & West LA. Check out their site: www.eatgoodstuff.com
So never mind the sand on the floor - just relax and enjoy the experience that is the Good Stuff restaurants.

Tell 'em you saw it on "Jerry's Good Eats.com" Copyright 2008 Jerry's Good Eats. All right reserved.

Accessibility: C+ / Service: B+ / Food Quality: B / Ambiance & Cleanliness: B / Price & Value: B
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                                                               CJ's Pantry, Redondo Beach
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CJ's is short for Corky Johnston, the owner. Their 25th anniversary was in June '07. A breakfast and lunch kind of
place, CJ's has a comfortable, lived in feeling. The service is prompt and friendly. Gina, Melanie, Deanna, Elissa,
Carol and Corky will make you feel at home. A perfect place for a breakfast before going to the beach. Omelets
are BIG here! I usually order the "petite" size. (Even though I wish they had a term not so un-manly) With the
petite size get you $1.25 off the regular price. My favorites are the CJ's special, the Sausage Supreme and the
Avocado, Tomato & Bacon omelets. Besides buttermilk pancakes, they also have corn meal, blueberry and whole
wheat banana nut (yum!). If you're a seafood lover - you gotta try the scallop eggs benedict!
CJ's also has something hard to find - stuffed crepes! They have 6 different crepes - from chicken to fruit and Old
Tavern Ham (really good!) Burgers, sandwiches and salads round out the menu.

Located at 324 S. Catalina Ave. (310) 318-2411 Street parking (metered), but they also have a small parking lot in
the back accessible by an alley. Open at 7am.

Tell Corky you saw them on "Jerry's Good Eats.com" Copyright 2006 "Jerry's Good Eats" All right reserved.

Accessibility: B / Service: B+ / Food Quality: B+ / Ambiance & Cleanliness: B+ / Price & Value: C+
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Redondo Beach Restaurants

Restaurants listed on this page:

The Original Pancake House        Polly's on the Pier
Riviera Mexican Grill                     Good Stuff
CJ's Pantry