Redondo Beach Cafe (CLOSED)

The outward appearance and majority of the menu suggest that Redondo Beach Cafe is a classic, Greek-influenced American diner. What sets Redondo Beach Cafe apart, though, is its dedication to French-Canadian style cuisine and culture. The walls are a paen to hockey, and scattered throughout the expansive menu are sections focused on “Poutine” and “Smoked Meat.” Amongst traditional plates of omelets and hamburgers, the poutine is served in funky, modern semi-circle bowls to best contain the large fries and heavy helpings of boldly-flavored gravy and chilled cheese curds. Smoked meat, a Montreal-style salty, briny midway point between corned beef and pastrami, comes on a number of sandwiches or incorporated into classic diner fare, like smoked meat Benedict. But it is perhaps best utilized as a topping for Redondo Beach Cafe’s poutine, and its addition is substantial enough to transform something a snack into a full meal. Hungry eaters can add chicken breast, chili and even an over-easy egg to their poutine as well.