Murray On Travel

Isolated from the active marina scene of Los Alamitos and the Old Towne Main Street of sleepy Seal Beach, the River’s End Café stands alone just adjacent to a residential neighborhood.  This place is one of a kind, like nearby Seal Beach one of the last small-town coastal communities.

A brightly colored surf kite, or a boy and his father fishing off the jetty that guides the San Gabriel River into the ocean may catch your attention as you enter the patio restaurant where co-owners Mike and Carolyn have created a dining experience that captures an old-fashion California beach feeling. 

The outside patio is perfect for large groups or pet owners, while the beach-shack interior has large windows framing views of Catalina Island and Palos Verdes.  A stack of fleece blankets is handy for cooler temperatures, and framed photographs show beach activities of bygone days.  

On the menu, southern Caribbean and Central Mexican dishes compliment traditional American choices.  Mike’s favorite breakfast item is the pastrami scrambled egg dish, while locals love the crispy beer battered-halibut.  Chilaquiles made with corn tortillas, mixed with eggs, tomatoes sauce and cheese are typical Mexican selections.

Parking:  pre-pay $3 at the automated machines in the lot.  Your cost will be refunded with a restaurant purchase,  or park outside the beach lot on a the street for free.   Café open 7am-3pm, dinner to 8pm Wednesday to Sunday.  Hours are seasonal. 
 
River’s End Café, Seal Beach, California 15 First Street, Seal Beach, CA;  562 431-5558
Website:  www.riversendcafe.com 

Arroyo Burro Beach Park in Santa Barbara, California is located minutes from downtown Santa Barbara and a short drive off the interstate. As you drive into the entrance of the park, you’ll see a cove, surrounded by sand colored cliffs that blend into the narrow beach and breaking waves hitting the shore.  You’ll come up to the Boathouse Restaurant at Hendry’s Beach.

The Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach offers a variety of dinning experiences from a casual breakfast to an elegant dining experience.  The locals refer to Arroyo Burro Beach Park as Hendry’s Beach, hence the name.  It’s the newest venture of the Santa Barbara Shellfish Company family, which began on Stearn’s Wharf in 1980.  In 1999, FisHouse on Cabrillo was opened with full dining options and now, the Boathouse is the third in the family.

The patio seating area is nicely appointed with table clothes and heating lamps for cooler temperatures.  The interior is more upscale with cushiony booths that overlook the water.  They serve breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and a weekend brunch.  Our dinner experience included a generous chile and lime crab cocktail and we had fish entrees that included soup and salad.  Our table was on the patio, we arrived early, around 5:30 PM in May for dinner without reservations. We were seated within a half an hour on the patio, with only a clear partition separating us from the sand and view of the beach cove.

Locals enjoy celebrating special occasions with their families.  Kids can enjoy the sand and surf while parents wait for their table.  The Boathouse location is perfect for watching a colorful sunset while enjoying a selection of excellent foods.  Breakfast is more casual, however, their may be a wait.  And as you wait for your table, the time passes quickly because the landscape and activities are attention-grabbing.

Kids flying kites, surfers, runners, sun worshipers, walkers and all the traditional beach activities are presents.  There is one parking lot parking very close to the narrow beach and there are plenty of easy, paved walkways and benches.  The Santa Barbara County Park has activities surrounding the restaurant area, BBQ including bird watching, equestrian trails, fishing, whale watching platform and it newest amenity for dog owners, an easy-to-use, self-service Wripples pet washing and grooming station.

Arroyo Burro Beach County Park is located 5 miles west of Santa Barbara's city center on Cliff Drive near Hope Ranch. From Highway 101 take Las Positas Road south to Cliff Drive. Turn right and travel 1/2 mile to the park entrance.  Website: www.sbfishhouse.com/boathouse/dinner.html  Santa Barbara Parks Website: www.SBparks.org  

Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach, 2981 Cliff Drive, Santa Barbara, CA  93109 - 805 898 2628

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Guests are greeted on the ground level of the Paris Las Vegas Eiffel Tower Replica by an engaging restaurant concierge who is quick to say that this restaurant is the best choice for French food in the sumptuous city. 

The glass elevator doors open on the 11^th floor to the busy kitchen with kinetic chefs preparing classic French dishes.  Chef Jean Joho prepares updated French classic seafood dishes, rack of lamb and beef Wellington which follow exquisite starters; the blue cheese soufflé nestled in greens and the fresh asparagus soup. 

It’s not surprising that the restaurant was nominated for “Best Outstanding Restaurant” by the James Beard Foundation and Chef Joho was Bon Appetite’s “Chef of the Year”.  While enjoying the gourmet meal100 feet above Las Vegas Boulevard, diners are treated to spectacular views of the Bellagio water fountain show. 

Our dinning table was snug against the window, allowing for unobstructed views of the water show and I was mesmerized by the large selection of soufflés flavors.  Dessert soufflés are my favorite and I decided on pistachio—which exceeded my expectations. 

Visitors can sit at the bar and order a soufflé until the restaurant closes, which was temping because I wanted to try the caramel one.

Website: http://www.EiffelTowerRestaurant.com