Rock'n Fish

Manhattan Beach is rife with seafood restaurants, but Rock'N Fish somehow manages to hit the sweet spot by being both casual and creative. Diners come here for surf and turf, but also for the famed oak grilled artichoke—it's smothered in garlic aioli, so don't even tell yourself it's a legit vegetable. Friendly service, big portions and an impressive spirits menu turn first-timers into regulars, though repeats will still need to wait for a table on a busy Saturday night. For dessert, the behemoth Kona Pie—made with chocolate, vanilla and coffee ice cream—declares that it serves two, but four people could comfortably dig into the massive slice and leave stuffed.