Padre

Padre Restaurant Review:

This contemporary Latin American eatery, located on the outskirts of downtown Long Beach, is a study in juxtapositions. The building itself has the feel of an old Spanish church, with heavy arched doors leading to an intimately lit bar area where people gather for cocktails. Go beyond the bar and you’ll find an open dining room built around a massive staircase. The structure’s old-school vibe is ideally countered by executive chef Frank DeLoach and his penchant for bringing modern excitement to Latin American themes. His knack for thoughtful taste profiling is evident in simple fare like fried potatoes with spicy tomato jam as well as heartier dishes such as a steak-abundant take on the Peruvian dish lomo saltado. Tacos run the gamut from the intriguing octopus with garbanzo beans to the rather unorthodox fried chicken with watermelon salsa and buttermilk dressing. Mains include tamarind-glazed pork belly with chorizo hominy stew. Tres leches cake with seasonal fruit jam is a worthy post-meal bite. If you wake up hungry on the weekend, stop by to dig into a chorizo frittata or a braised beef barbacoa hash. Both pair well with bottomless mimosas.