Once upon a time there was a neighborhood pub that welcomed any number of regulars and had for a number of years. Every night they featured live music, but they also opened around 2 or 3 p.m. which depended on the bartender's feelings that day. A perfect hour for having finished the grocery shopping, the dental appointment, general errand running. These afternoon visits were singularly refreshing because the customers were just like you and had finished their stuff, too. It was quiet.
But then! Disaster! Suzy's owner sold it to a newly-planned Tunisian restaurant; a logical off-shoot from their wine store in Manhattan Beach. Many fits and starts and Barsha opened. Wednesday night we and another couple decided to see what had happened to Suzy's, a matter of great curiosity to us locals.
A pleasant surprise! Where Suzy's had been dark, the space was now light and airy. Altogether attractive. Okay, pleasant surprise; enough about the interior, what about the food for our interiors?
We began with an appetizer called "The Hand of Fatima." Right away I thought we were hapless and ignorant visitors to a Muslim restaurant. Disquieting indeed. Leave a generous tip and your head?
Happily it proved to be nothing but a collection of various dips for the crusty French bread. Picture a typical salsa server - with a big central dish for the salsa, surrounded by a ring of taco ships. This was the reverse - small oval ceramic dishes, each with it's own treat - hummus, harissa, pesto and tapenade of olives. These small ovals were laid out in the shape of a hand and sat upon a big round plate. The ceramic servers were brightly Arabic-looking with vivid coloring. ($12)
Fatima is a Catholic treasured icon. In 1917 three kids aged 3, 7, and 9 were coming home from tending sheep in Fatima, Portugal, when they saw the Virgin Mary. She has been celebrated ever since.
I can only report on what I ate which was the grilled prawns with horia, tiny cubes of cooked carrots , and labenah a mixture of yogurt, with olive oil and lemon juice. The prawns were served with the eating part ready to go, but the feeler end of the prawns was stuck back on -for decorative reasons? I looked at Mary and said, "Remind you of France? Where every prawn you eat in that country, you have to clean it first?" She nodded. ($24) We all shared a rose trifle ($9) but I had ordered it.
What they ate - Chicken Mosli $21, Lamb Meatballs ($20) and La Goulette Mussels ($14)
Wisely they don't drink, but Richie and I do. Three North Coast Pilseners $21) 1 Glera Frizzante prosecco for two - Mary graciously helped me out and had the other half after her meal. (19)
The very welcoming friendliness of the servers (they outnumbered us) was lovely. Nothing was too much trouble.
The whole tab for four of us (none with a dainty appetite) was $153 before taxes.
It's a very pretty, sophisticated layout, but I don't like Middle Eastern food. I didn't grow up on it and don't plan to start now. (signed) Yankee Doodle. barshalife.com 1141 Aviation Blvd, Hermosa Beach.
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