Over the past few years we've seen lots of excellent restaurants descend upon the South Bay, including Fishing With Dynamite, Dia Del Campo, Little Sister, and Abigaile. And now, adding to the areas already great mix of Strand-side fish tacos, izakaya pubs, and old-school Italian joints, we're seeing a brand new wave of solid dining destinations hit the southwestern shore. From handmade pastas to reimagined steakhouses, and Japanese whiskies to wine bars, there are now plenty of brand new and delicious options for date nights and weeknights alike. Check out these awesome new places to eat in the South Bay.

Bettolino Kitchen

One of the newest additions to the South Bay dining scene, Bettolino Kitchen delivers strong with homemade pastas and fresh takes on Italian classics, including duck breast risotto and braised veal cheeks. While the pastas may run on the pricier side then your typical weeknight Italian destination, the quality ingredients and fresh cuts of pasta are worth the occasional splurge. Warm and airy, the Redondo Beach location offers rustic, neighborhood charm that balances modern design with plenty of salvaged wood. Brother-and-sister team Vince Gaetano and Andreanna Liguore opened the restaurant with the help of Michelin-starred Italian chef Fabio Ugoletti. The duo's grandparent's opened Giuliano’s Deli, while their parents started Gaetano’s—both Italian stalwarts of the South Bay. Currently they offer a thoughtful wine list, as well as beer, while a full liquor license is on the way soon.

Bettolino Kitchen is located at 211 Palos Verdes Blvd, Redondo Beach, (310) 375-0500

Orlando's Pizzeria & Birreria

Orlando's seemed to open under the radar of most people outside of the South Bay. It's tucked in a Redondo mini-mall so it has likely even remained hidden from some neighbors, but that's bound to change soon as word gets around. Gourmet pizzas and craft beers are well represented here, but it's the Montreal-twist to the menu that you probably didn't see coming. Unlike most Italian restaurants this far south of the Canadian border, Chef Orlando Mule serves up Montreal classics like smoked brisket and poutine. And true to the name, you'll also find an array of reasonably-priced gourmet pizzas—about half with marinara the other half white—with classic and unexpected toppings like dandelion root or lamb. Orlando's also offers substantial burgers, sandwiches and pastas, and let's not forget about those 17 beers and 21 varieties of wine to round out your meal.

Orlando's Pizzeria & Birreria is located at 1000 Torrance Blvd, Redondo Beach, (310) 792-9300.

Steak & Whisky

The featured offerings at this recently opened Hermosa Beach restaurant may not surprise you, but Steak & Whisky is not just another steakhouse. Chef Tin Vuong and executive chef John Shaw playfully tweak old school favorites with clever, Asian-inflected flair. You'll find creative twists like steak tartare with pickled cucumber and red curry, as well as kurobuta pork short rib with a shoyu glaze, in addition to the more straightforward entrées like a 22-ounce 30-day dry-aged porterhouse. The whisky selection also skews heavily towards Japanese distillers. This is not the place for balling on a budget, but for celebratory dinners or out-to-impress date nights, you've got a solid new option. Distinguished sippers can even rent their own liquor locker if they wish to store their private pours. There's also an extensive wine selection, rotating beer and a limited selection of craft cocktails like Bill the Butcher, an Earl Grey-infused whiskey stirred with Averna and Velvet Falernum. Steak & Whisky rounds out the already impressive offerings from BlackHouse Hospitality in the South Bay, which includes Little Sister, Abigaile, and Día de Campo, all of which opened in recent years.

Steak & Whisky is located at 117 Pier Ave, Hermosa Beach, (310) 318-5555

Love & Salt

Another formidable contender for fresh, Italian-inspired fare in the Beach Cities, Love & Salt disarms you with a chilled-out vibe then knocks you out with bold flavors. Vaulted ceilings and communal tables make for a great neighborhood setting to bring a share-friendly group and sip Italian and California wines or unfussy craft cocktails. Start strong with the homemade English muffins or cheese and salumi, then consider small plates like the black kale with soppressata or roasted cauliflower with salsa verde. Chef Michael Fiorelli then hits you with wood oven pizzas like the duck egg and pancetta or handmade pastas like the creamy cavatappi with bone marrow. And for the whole table or a really hungry duo, step up to the rich rabbit porchetta or the head-turning whole roasted pig head. Chances are you'll be back for their newly added brunch, which features Nutella toast and Italian-style wood-oven baked eggs.

Love & Salt is located at 317 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Manhattan Beach, (310) 545-5252



Arthur J.

Unlike his surf-oriented menu at Fishing With Dynamite just down the street, Chef David LeFevre's newest Manhattan Beach steakhouse is turf-heavy. Steak-lovers can choose from a selection of dry and wet-aged beef cuts prepared on a wood-fired grill, while opting for umami-packed toppings like black truffle butter and buttered blue crab. There are also plenty of hearty, non-steak options, including braised Wagyu short ribs, emmental popovers, and Swedish meatballs. Expect steak-friendly wines and reinvented cocktail classics like Brannigan’s Boots, an old fashioned with rye, sarsaparilla and bourbon cherry. You're also likely to feel a bit of Mad Men-nostalgia with the mid-century modern design, which features lots of polished walnut and curved banquets.

Arthur J. is located at 903 Manhattan Ave in Manhattan Beach, (310) 878-9620

Bacari PDR

The South Bay's answer to the USC-adjacent Bacaro LA, Bacari PDR is a sleek and approachable wine bar with a refreshing ocean breeze. In addition to a solid wine selection, you'll also find sangria, beer and craft cocktails, along with some great happy hour specials. And if you convince your whole group to participate, you can go big for less with 90-minute bottomless pours of house wine, beers and sangria for $25 per person. Chef Lior Hillel's cicchetti—Italian-inspired small plates— like the lamb-stuffed eggplant are also worth investigating, as are the grilled pizzas, which include a smoked mushroom and a spicy chorizo. Bacari PDR added a brunch service on the weekends earlier this year, so now you can enjoy bottomless mimosas, Bacari Marys and more with breakfast renditions of cicchetti.

Bacari PDR is located at 6805 S Vista Del Mar Ln, Playa Del Rey, (310) 439-2100

Manhattan House

You may feel like the South Bay is already awash with gastropubs, but Manhattan House heralds a fresh variation on the theme. In addition to focusing on sustainable ingredients, Chef Diana Stavaridis has partnered with Growing Great, a local nonprofit organization that brings educational gardening programs to schools. Herbs and vegetables grown with the help of students at nearby Pacific Elementary School in Manhattan Beach will be featured prominently on the menu. The menu also features ingredients from local farms and fisheries, as well as a California-heavy selection of wine and beer.

Manhattan House is located at 1019 Manhattan Beach Blvd., Manhattan Beach, 310-574-2277



Lou's On The Hill

Lou's On The Hill brings the now familiar themes of a modern Italian menu with local and seasonal ingredients to Torrance. Opened by husband and wife duo Lou and Grace Giovanetti—former owners of Manhattan Beach's Side Door—the restaurant also offers live music Wednesday through Saturday. The performances lean heavy on the jazz, with Lou himself taking the stage to sing every other Thursday. Meanwhile, Chef Eric Mickle turns out wood-fired pizzas like the foraged mushroom or roasted pork belly, along with handmade pastas including pesto pumpkin ravioli or the black tagliatelle with sea urchin. There are also plenty of jazz-inspired craft cocktails and 'tailored' Negronis, as well as California and Italian wines. Lou's currently offers weekday lunch, solid deals on a prix fixe happy hour, and limited late-night bites, perfect for budget-friendly date nights. There's also the adjoining Rocco's Room for private parties and special events.

Lou's On The Hill is located at 24590 Hawthorne Blvd., Torrance, (310) 378-4288