September 2014’s outing (see Eating Chicago on why this post is up so late) was a relatively hasty and spontaneous one. By the time we decided to go at the 11th hour, there were only three of us, but the die-hards never let numbers (or lack thereof) stop us from exploreating. We wanted to go somewhere beachy, but out of the LBC. Not too far away. And I remembered that for a couple years now, I’ve been wanting to try the much touted MB Post. And so with three, it was a LWD Date.
We arrived in almost no time, our drive north on the 405 a quick one with the slower traffic on the other side. We’ve learned nothing about calling ahead in all these years making something called a reservation, but we were lucky to be early and small – we got a table with no wait at all, just before a quiet Tuesday evening became jam-packed and alive.
To drink, I sucked down the Mil Mascaras, a frothy pisco sour that gives a wink to autumn with a surprising blend of watermelon, horchata, cinnamon, and allspice. It proved a perfect start to my meal.
The rest of the menu gave me a lot to think about, keeping me unsure of my selection even just seconds before placing my order (usually, I’ve studied a menu ad nauseam, entering with my mind made up from cocktail to dessert). Just as I was set to go with the spiced chicken thigh with jalapeño hush puppies, the waitress told us about another chicken dish – a special: fried chicken. She had me at fried chicken. I’m not a habitual fried chicken kind of girl, but the choice just sounded right to me on this particular day. And a good choice it was, equal parts crispy and juicy; finely seasoned and sweetly succulent. Yummy too was their mac & cheese and their bacon cheddar biscuits – you know I don’t eat bacon…unless I eat bacon…and I ate bacon because I couldn’t let those biscuits just sit there (my table mates ordered them) without me trying one. Or two and a half.
The three of us packed in so much food that we were all done before dessert (although William did get a cone from the ice cream shop down the street), so I left without trying the salted caramel tart I’d had my thoughts on since arriving. But all the more reason to return. MB Post is a terrific and tasty getaway from the LBC that I surely hope to visit again this year. Or make a visit to MB Post’s seafood sister-wife of a next door neighbor, Fishing With Dynamite – love the name.
MB Post
1142 Manhattan Avenue in Manhattan Beach