VUE Bar + Restaurant

VUE Bar + Restaurant Restaurant Review:

This restaurant is located in a somewhat unlikely place: a Holiday Inn that towers over the adjacent 405 Freeway, a landing strip away from Long Beach Airport. Yet chef Thomas Vertl and his crew are striving to ensure this is a restaurant that happens to be in a hotel, and not just a hotel restaurant. Perched on the property’s penthouse and draped in earthy, slightly mid-century modern décor, the appropriately-named spot affords guests a panoramic view of the southern Long Beach skyline, creating a lovely visual for locals and business types hanging out at the bar and enjoying a beer, wine or cocktail. Vertl’s menu doesn’t squander the backdrop, as he smartly mixes seasonally-driven contemporary fare with approachable items well suited for hotel visitors. Start things off with a simple appetizer like bacon-wrapped jalapeño poppers or chicken Parmesan sliders paired with addictive beer-battered fries. Mains are generous in portion and flavor, whether it’s the bone-in braised lamb shank with potato Parmesan gratin or the macaroni and cheese served with caramelized shallots and inescapably large hunks of Maine lobster. Desserts are rotated on a daily basis. Early risers can come in and order up traditional items like pancakes and omelets.