Lasher’s Kitchen
Belmont Shore, Long Beach, CA
Article by Linda Kissam
Photos by Allan Kissam
I remember Belmont Shore in Long Beach, CA, as a sleepy seaside town where sloppy fast food type restaurants abounded and one could park without issue day or night. Ohhh, but that was many years ago. Now it is a hip, trendy seaside town spilling over with multitudes of shops, restaurants and coffee houses. Crowds flock to it year round.
Parking, has been carefully managed. Now, much of the parking is in parking lots located behind the shops. That’s a good thing as there is a restaurant you should try and I don’t want you to give up because you can’t find parking.
Somehow amongst the hustle of this ever expanding community, I have found the perfect restaurant to dine at, Lashers Kitchen. Look left, look right, look across the street and you will likely see more restaurants to dine at then you have time or money to explore. So let me be your guide. You can have loud, you can have outdoor, you can have dance hall, and you can have booze centric all around you in Belmont Shore. But what you won’t find, until you step into Lasher’s Kitchen, is a calm casual comfort food place that will take your taste buds to a whole new level.
Lynn and Ray Lasher
The owners Ray and Lynn Lasher along with Chef-Partner Raquel Jubran have created dishes that are stunning –quite gourmet – but outstandingly affordable. Gourmet in this establishment does not mean tiny bits of things you’ve never heard of. It does mean meal perfection, quality ingredients and creative presentation.
Award winning clam chowder
Anything that has a sauce on it is going to wow you. Creamy, yet not cloying, the ingredients stand alone, yet shake hands nicely with the other things in the dish. The signature items like the Fried Green Tomatoes, the award-winning clam chowder, the Original Cranberry Glazed Meatloaf and the Shrimp Scampi are inspirational. Seriously…inspirational. Top it all off with a house made Bananas Foster Bread Pudding and you’ll understand what dining success looks like.
Fried Green Tomatoes
Dining is available indoors or outside. In fact, the front sliding doors are wide open to the small but festively elegant patio. Depending upon your mood, you can dine at the community table, private seating, bar seating or patio seating where you can watch and feel the “Shore” buzz. It’s quite dynamic, but the noise somehow does not spill into the interior. All in all, seating is at a manageable 45 persons or so. Service is professional and enjoyable.
This is the perfect place for solos, date night, small groups and tourists. If you happen to be away from family, don’t want to cook, or are in town during the holidays, check into their festive holiday dining offerings. Really great stuff, again at an affordable price. Check this out. Appetizers: $12 and under. Glass of really nice wine: $15 and under. Beer: $8 and under. Soft Beverages: $5 and under. Can’t beat that! I’ll end with that upbeat message. Hope to see you soon at Lasher’s Kitchen.
Cranberry Glazed Meatloaf
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LASHER’S KITCHEN
Mostly open for dinner, but call or visit the website for additional hours, brunch, holiday and themed dinners.
5295 E. 2nd Street
Long Beach, CA. 90803
562-343-7228
Chef Raquel Jubran
Authors Note: Although this reviewer was hosted for dinner, the resulting review would have been the same as if she had purchased the dinner herself. Good times, exceptional food, fantastic hosts…and of course a truly gifted Chef.
