Baleen Los Angeles

A baleen, also called a whalebone, is a comb-like filtering structure inside the mouths of most whales that snags small, edible creatures from huge mouthfuls of seawater. It’s a fitting name for a Redondo Beach restaurant, where diners also enjoy seafood delicacies, a few miles from the gray whale migration route. Unlike the whales’ meals, though, the food at Baleen Los Angeles tastes better than krill, and it’s brought straight to your table.

Yes, Baleen’s cuisine is tailored to human appetites. The fine dining cuisine is billed as “New American,” with an accent on local seafood and some fun, surprising combinations. For example, starters include an Asian Pear & Arugula Salad with candied walnuts and blue cheese; the BLT Salad mixes sugar-herb roasted bacon and jalapeno ranch sherry-bacon dressing; and how about some Duck Carnitas & Cornmeal Crepes with chipotle blackberry & apple slaw?

As for entrees, an exotic choice is the Cane Sugar Seared Ahi Tuna with coconut rice, a spicy papaya salad and an avocado-wasabi sauce. The “Simply Grilled or Sauteed” menu is for less adventurous palates, featuring steak entress with only a housemade steak sauce and seafood entrees with citrus butter.

All of the two-story, 234-seat restaurant and lounge tables, which are scattered among several indoor and outdoor seating areas, surrender a view of Redondo’s King Harbor marinas. The ambience combines sophistication and silliness: monkey dolls cling to wrought-iron chandeliers above candlelit tables. Patio tables—some whimsically anchored in sand beside a fire pit, others hidden behind high curtains—are a few steps from the boats.

In case you’re spending the night in Redondo, Baleen is just across from the palm-fringed Portofino Hotel & Yacht Club, a luxury hotel that operates Baleen and the adjacent marina. The “new” feel of Baleen is due to its inclusion in an $11 million renovation of the restaurant and 161-room hotel. The ocean and marina views from guest room balconies are as romantic as ever, making it a favorite of honeymooners.

In Baleen’s upstairs lounge beginning at 9 p.m., rock bands perform on a small stage on Fridays and a DJ spins music on Saturdays. Also in the lounge, you can enjoy $5 appetizer and drink specials—the resident mixologist concocts signature drinks such as Ginger Mandarin Cosmos on weeknights (4-7 p.m. M/T/W/F or 4 p.m. to closing on Thursdays).

HelloLosAngeles Tip: Every Sunday, diners can bring their own bottle of wine with the $20 corkage fee waived, or purchase a bottle from the extensive wine list at half price.

- by Bob Cooper, Los Angeles Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)