The Social List: Beers and Bites in Long Beach

?>

IMG_9158While I may be a San Diegan now, my mom still lives in Long Beach and I have always loved that neighborhood and the awesome eateries that pop up there.  So when I had the opportunity to check out The Social List I jumped at it, and my foodie brother Eric was happy to tag along for some beers and delicious bites!

The Social List
2105 E. 4th Street, Long Beach CA, 90814
http://thesociallistlb.com/

IMG_9188

The Social List is an airy and modern spot located on a quiet corner in Downtown Long Beach that has a cute outdoor seating area, the sweetest staff, craft beers in both bottle and tap, and some really stellar food that we are still raving about. The entire experience from start to finish was one of the best restaurant experiences I’ve had, and the staff was so knowledgable and helpful in selecting beers and bites!

IMG_9156

Because we are two of the most indecisive people you’ve ever met, we started out with a flight of beers and went with (from left to right): Avery Raspberry Sour, Stone Farking Wheaton W00t Stout, Nom Nom Mango Hefeweizen, and – one of my personal favorites – Modern Times Black House.

FullSizeRenderWe then moved on to our three delicious appetizers! We tried the Patatas Bravas, which are crispy Kennebec potatoes in a garlic aioli and spicy bravas sauce. Our server suggested that we squeeze the lemon over them for an extra pop of acidity and it definitely put them over the top. The tangy bravas sauce was balanced out by the aioli and the lemon tied it all together while the potatoes still maintained a nice crispy exterior. IMG_9171

Our next choice was the Roasted Cauliflower, because I am a huge fan of buffalo cauliflower in basically any way shape or form, and this did not disappoint. I really appreciated that they were not totally smothered in the house-made buffalo sauce (even though it was delicious) as they were able to maintain a nice crunch, and the blue cheese added the perfect little kick without being overwhelming.

IMG_9169Our last appetizer was the Chicken and Shrimp Lettuce Wraps, which had the perfect balance of chicken and shrimp, and a light and tasty sauce that still let the proteins shine. I loved the combo of the chicken and shrimp as opposed to the typical chicken lettuce wrap, as it added a whole new dimension to a classic dish.

 

 

 

IMG_9183

For the entrees our server pointed us in the perfect direction of this Spicy Sriracha Pasta: linguine in a spicy sriracha sauce with both chicken and shrimp. The sauce on this pasta was amazing, and even though I was getting full and starting to slow down, I kept coming back for more, and more, and more. The shrimp and chicken both worked really well here and I once again appreciated that they used both, as it mixed up the textures and kept things feeling fresh and not one note, as pasta can sometimes be.

IMG_9178

For my brother, who eats red meat unlike me, the server suggested he go with the Braised Short Rib entree, served over sauteed kale, marinara, and house-made gnocchi, and he was so happy he did. Eric said that the short rib was super tender and delicious, with mild flavors that paired really well with the kale and marinara. Even though I couldn’t taste the star of this dish, I definitely stole a gnocchi and it was like a magical little pillow that I immediately wanted more of.

FullSizeRenderI would highly recommend running over to The Social List if you find yourself anywhere near Long Beach, and I know that I personally will be returning with the rest of my family in tow as soon as I can!

Alexandra

Most everyone is convinced that I only moved to San Diego for the mexican food, and I can’t say they’re wrong. There is nothing I love more than chips, guacamole and a margarita on Taco Tuesday. I grew up in Orange County as the world’s pickiest eater, my mother entirely convinced I would never eat anything except chicken nuggets. I was literally on the pilot episode of Food 911 quoted as saying “I love chicken nuggets” in olive green corduroy overalls, my proudest moment to date. I then got pretty unfortunately chunky in college, and when I started getting skinny I realized broadening my horizons was a must. In the past 5 years I have become a major foodie, and a huge fan of everything green. I have recently taken on the challenge of teaching myself to cook, and make the best brussel sprouts on earth. Aside from my love of mexican food and foray into healthy home cooking, I have the biggest sweet tooth around and love anything and everything dessert. I make it a point to eat something sweet after every meal, and usually have some sort of candy on me at all times, which I balance out with a daily yoga practice and lots of running around like a crazy person. I am itching to get out and start exploring all San Diego has to offer, and am so excited to be able to share my findings here with all of you!

RELATED POSTS