| Tantalum – Online Menu
6272 E. PCH. – (562) 431-1414 Cuisine: American, Fusion/Eclectic Price: $$$ Parking: Lot Credit Cards: YES |
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I was quite flattered when Chris asked if I would write for this food review but then I had to laugh when he said he wanted me to name it “Cougar’s Corner”. Was he trying to tell me something? Anyway, here goes… my first entry into Cougar’s Corner. Bon appetit!
As a long time resident of Long Beach, I thought Tantalum over in Marina Pacifica would be an appropriate establishment for one who is supposed to be a cougar, and I was not mistaken. Heading over on a Friday night the place was packed with a young crowd, mostly paired off though, so I would have console myself with the job at hand. The Food!
I was not disappointed. My sister and I ordered appetizers and drinks as we thought this would give us a wider variety to sample, starting with a cocktail for her and wine for me. My sister chose a drink called a “Strawberry Festival” which she deemed crisp and clean served with fresh mint and strawberries; a twist on the classic Mojito, we got off to a good start.
We ordered Beef Satay with mirin ginger BBQ sauce, the Chicken Lollipops with sweet chili glaze and sweet potato fries and a Grilled Cheese sandwich on Hawaiian bread with cheddar, brie and tomatoes served with tomato bisque dipping sauce.
My favorite was a tie between the Chicken Lollipops and the Grilled Cheese sandwich. The chicken was grilled perfectly and with the sauce it was a great pairing. The grilled cheese sandwich was heaven on the sweet Hawaiian bread as it contrasted nicely with the tang of the tomato bisque dipping sauce. We were both disappointed with the beef dish though as it was tough and hard to eat.
Lastly dessert, enjoyed with the sounds of a live band called “Dirty Sugar” in the background. A lovely dish called a Brass Monkey, which is a take on the crème brûlée made with grilled bananas on a chocolate pudding layer topped with chopped macadamia nuts and served with ginger shortbread cookies. It was quite good, however we both agreed the cookies were not needed as they didn’t add anything to the dish and the crème brûlée would have been better warm.
Overall an enjoyable evening albeit pricey but tasty none the less. With its great exotic décor and gorgeous views of the marina this is definitely a must.