Several Long Beach restaurants were among those from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border honored at the exclusive Southern California Restaurant Writers Association’s annual banquet held last week in Anaheim Hills. The association gives out star awards, recommendations and specialty recognitions–such as Server of the Year, given this year to Tina Winthrow, who has worked at L’Opera for 23 years.
In addition to having the Server of the Year, L’Opera also received the Golden Baccus Wine Award and was also given a five-star rating, the highest ranking available from the organization. This is the second year in a row that L’Opera won both the Golden Baccus Wine Award and a five-star rating and was one of only two restaurants this year to earn both, the other being another Long Beach establishment–Sir Winston’s aboard the Queen Mary. L’Opera’s sister location Alegria–located just a few doors down on Pine Ave.–received four stars along with other fine dining establishments such as 555 East, Chelsea aboard the Queen Mary, Elsie’s Tea Room and Parker’s Lighthouse.
All restaurants receiving four stars scored more than 90 points on a critics’ scale that factors in food, service, ambiance and beverages. Long Beach restaurants awarded three stars (between 85 and 89 points) include the Promenade Café aboard The Queen Mary, Lola’s Mexican Cuisine and Café Piccolo, the self-proclaimed “Most Romantic Restaurant in Long Beach.”
Establishments labeled as “Recommended” included the chain restaurant Outback Steakhouse, Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles and Café Sevilla. Two Sunday brunches–the Grand Salon aboard The Queen Mary and McKenna’s on the Bay–were also noted.
The list was culled form more than 600 restaurant reviews from the association’s group of writers who formed the nonprofit in 1975 to improve the quality of the restaurant industry in this region.
Surprisingly absent from the list is the Zagat Restaurant Guide’s longtime favorite, Michaels on Naples and its award-winning Michael’s Pizzeria, which were last year named Best Italian Restaurant and Best Pizzeria in all of greater Los Angeles.
[Eds. note: A previous version of this story did not include the awards and honors won by Sir Winston’s on the Queen Mary. they were given the Golden Baccus Wine Award as well as a five-star rating.]
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