Love & Salt Awards

Love & Salt Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant: Following 30 years of success operating Café Pierre, Guy Gabriele partnered with his daughter, Sylvie, to bring Manhattan Beach a lovely Italian offering. Smack in the heart of the posh seaside community and steps from the beach, Love & Salt feels warm and welcoming. Guests can settle on stools by the wood-burning pizza oven, in booth-like seating by the window, at tables along the wall or even at the long communal table that runs nearly the length of the restaurant.

Food & Drinks: Christopher Feldmeier of Moruno and Bar Moruno has returned to his executive chef position at Love & Salt. Start with a Calabrian chopped salad featuring salumi, provolone, cherry tomato, chickpea, red onion, Calabrian chili yogurt dressing and oregano bread crumbs. The menu repertoire includes pastas and pizzas with a crust based on Guy’s very own recipe, such as the duck egg pie with pancetta, panna, potato, rosemary, mozzarella and Parmesan. Desserts include tiramisu and Amaro ice cream floats. Fun cocktails complement dinner, particularly the “Lady in the Ballroom” with grapefruit vodka, St-Germain, red bell pepper, mint and lemon juice. The wine list, populated with Italian, French and California bottles, is a legacy carries over from Café Pierre. Locals will like this modern take on Italian cuisine if they can stand the decibels.