Liquid Gold
Where: Fourth Streets Retro Row; 2105 E 4th St Long Beach, Ca
Grub: “Old World European Tavern Food” Tapas-style
Visiting Hours: Lunch & Din Din
Musts: Liquid Gold, Mejillones con Jamon Serrano, Patatas Bravas & any wurst 😉
Website: http://thesociallistlb.com
IG: thesociallistlb
It is a love-hate relationship that I have with the Social List because they have a solid spot and some good eats, but are plagued by a confusing theme and lackluster service. It is a far fetched idea, not to mention contradictory, to tie in socialism with a social list. They embrace the motto “food for the people” and a communal-like atmosphere, where food is meant to be shared, while at the same time playing with the idea of “being part of the in-crowd ” or on “the social list.” I don’t know. I just don’t get it. After working on the execution of the theme, (and ditching the horrible red star) we could get somewhere because my mouth waters for some of their unique dishes you can share with close friends…not to mention their big open windows and alluring atmosphere make it hard to resist. On to the food!
Bratwurst with Patatas Bravas
The food here is just different. They use high quality ingredients from local producers, keep it pretty simple and it works. They offer eats that you definitely couldn’t find anywhere else in the area, which gives it a lot of appeal. It is alluring, enticing and you can only walk by it so many times before you have to take a chance. I could really go for some patatas bravas and a wurst right now! Their potatoes are perfectly fried, doused in their spicy bravas sauce and drizzled with garlic aioli–a hint of fresh dill to seal the deal. Genius. The wursts come in different flavors depending on availability, but are all epic; local, fresh and juicy! Talk about a perfect cheat. Eat it…all of it, and get an awesome beer to go with it (or wine if you’re me). They really did this one right.
Mejillones con Jamon Serrano
Save some room for these guys. The show stopper! New Zealand Mussels sautéed with Serrano Ham and banana peppers smothered in a garlicky white wine cream sauce. Don’t forget the thyme. They didn’t forget the carbs either…this lovely dish comes with some fresh bread to soak up your left over sauce. Of course. I am not complaining. This dish is a nice little spin on what could be a plain dish. I kinda want to drink the sauce. I really would.
Kale Salad
For those of you not indulging, their kale salad is simple and light–red onions, chicken and barely drizzled with some kind of lemon sauce. I had no problem finishing this guy with a special Chilean. This place makes some awesome salads…but that’s a different blog.
Liquid Gold
Just in case you forgot about her, here is her closeup. The Liquid Gold is an absolute must for dessert. Smooth custard hides underneath thick caramel and whipped cream. It coats your tongue in the best way. I wish it could be permanent because it is perfect. It is NOT ok. Cheatday should be every day. EVERY damn day.
The great thing about this place is they often have special dishes based on available produce and local ingredients. I love that. Nothing is better than surprises. There is always a surprise here. New food is a good surprise, but bad service not so much. I would love to say that I was overwhelmed by hospitality from the servers, but their service was really sub-par. Is slow service part of the European vibe? Good food is good, but experience at the end of the day is what really keeps you coming back. Improvement is a must…this place needs to be celebrated!
The Social List is new and they are working out all the little kinks. At the end of the day, they have some serious potential! People are always there and I always look. I also often dream of her–LIQUID GOLD. I have high hopes for them and cannot wait to venture back for my 2nd Chop. We shall see how they fair the next time around. I really can’t wait to try more of their goodies. Who is coming with me?
Cheat Day Chophaus 