When I think of El Segundo, elegant restaurants do not come to mind. It has always been that small nook of Los Angeles that features dive bars, beach bums, small-domesticated families, & college kids. If you’ve ever driven through town, it still looks like it’s trapped in 1955 (which is nice actually). In the last few years, this neighborhood has expanded its dining options to include a wonderful surprise called Second City Bistro. This quaint location has been going strong since the summer of 2003, and used to be a much loved Mexican Restaurant called Casa Raphael. Since opening, it has received lots of critical acclaim and is always packed with South Bay residents. They got their name ‘Second City Bistro’ from the town of El Segundo, when Standard Oil proclaimed it as their site for their ‘second’ refinery in 1911. This little town is chock-full of history lessons.

I first stumbled onto this Bistro when I was searching for restaurants in L.A. with no corkage fee. I really wanted to bring a bottle of wine out to dinner and I didn’t want to have to pay an extra $10-$20. When I saw that Second City Bistro has a “1st bottle free corkage fee”, and noticed how delicious the menu looked, I knew I had to try it...and I am very pleased I did. Though I enjoyed pulling a BYOB, the Wine List leaves much to be desired as well, with wines from California, France, Italy, & Australia. They have an extensive variety of wine choices to compliment the complexity of the menu.

The menu is sophisticated and intricate. Head Chef Nikki Hoelsey, who is New Zealand born, likes to add a lot of flare to standard dishes, and it shows. Each dish is full of layering flavors. For instance, the ‘Grilled 16oz Rib Eye marinated in Boddingtons’s Ale, on mashed potatoes & vegetables with Portobello, red onion, green peppercorn sauce, and chili sour cream’ is one entrée choice, and it stimulates about 5 different taste buds. I ordered the ‘Oven Baked Filet Mignon stuffed w/ lobster & blue-brie cheese, black cherry reduction on mashed potatoes & steamed spinach’ and it was full, rich, & cooked perfectly, really delicious. Believe it or not, my favorites of the night were the starters. We shared the ‘Tomato-Basil Bisque w/ gorgonzola’ & the ‘Cheese Board’, which features 4 new cheeses every night and is a must-order (for cheese fanatics only).

Honestly though, I was truly impressed with the menu selections and I would love to go back and try their seafood & poultry dishes. For such a mature menu (it feels like French/Mediterranean/American Cuisine all rolled into one) I was impressed at how reasonable the prices are and how welcoming the setting is. I felt like I was in a fine dining restaurant (which it is), but the difference is that I get what I pay for and the environment is relaxed. The Second City Bistro building is beautiful (it’s been around since the early 1900’s, with its original red brick walls, dark wood, & a stainless steel open kitchen. White-linen tablecloths give it that touch-o-class. Our waiter was lovely & didn’t rush us (very go-with-the-flow) and only a couple of servers were working at one time because it is such an intimate setting. I suggest Second City Bistro for anyone who needs to reawaken their love of food…and stimulate you’re appetite.

Open Mon-Fri for Lunch (11:30am-2:00pm) & Mon-Sat for Dinner starting at 5pm.

Author: Erin Landsberg