Bella’s career is quite demanding and can be very draining so she looks forward to her rare mini-vacations over the course of the year.  Nearly every year we spend a night in Redondo Beach and dine on seafood until her Taiwanese belly is satiated.

Quality Seafood: Choose your fish

The Redondo Beach Hotel

The Redondo Beach Hotel (pacifichotels.com/theredondo) is the newest and surely the most modern hotel near the pier.

Modern Vanity

The overall value is pretty good at this hotel.

“Lobsta, lobsta…lobsta”…

Quality Seafood Fresh Fish Market (qualityseafood.net) features a HUGE selection of fresh seafood and fish.  The only negative with tonight’s visit is that their deep fryer and grill section is closed down so their amazing fried whole squid will not be had tonight.

Live Cherrystone clams and Greenlip mussels

Quality Seafood

The seafood options are endless much to the delight of their customers.

A mere fraction of Quality Seafood

Dining Area

It’s casual and will remind many Asians of “night market” style eating.

Maine Lobster w/Liquid Butter

The lobster meal costs $20.00 each and includes baked potato, watermelon cubes and liquid butter.  I believe this is a “limited time only” offer during the Redondo Beach Lobster Festival weekend in September.

Mixed Steamed Veggies

More than we could eat.

Clams and Mussels

They’re cooked in a white wine broth.

Mussel with Butter Sauce

Everything is better with butter, correct?

Lobster Tail w/Liquid Butter

Captain Kidd’s: Fried Calamari

This calamari was nice in the tartar sauce.  I wouldn’t say ultra tender but nice tasting nevertheless.  The legs and antennae were small but the meat was tender and even though it paled with Quality Seafood’s whole fried squid, it was still quite nice.

The Redondo Beach Hotel @ Night

Lobby Lounge: Cucumber water, Java, Snacks

We watched the Oregon Ducks football team get crushed by the Utah Utes.

Nice Free Breakfast @ Hotel

The breakfast includes: bagels, bread, hard-boiled eggs, make-your-own-waffle, Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf java, strawberry fruit water, milk, crispy bacon, fresh fruit, yogurt etc.

Multitude of Areas for Techie Toy Plug-ins

For lunch we venture back to Captain Kidd’s Fish Market and Restaurant (310-372-7703).  This place is more polished than Quality Seafood so surely some people will elect to come here instead.

Captain Kidd’s: Lobster Bisque

The color should have been our warning that the flavor wouldn’t be right.  There was a tiny amount of finely shredded lobster meat and even the bisque was mediocre.  Their mushroom pilaf was bland and forgettable.

Captain Kidd’s: Cioppino

Don’t get excited by the superfluous amount of seafood overflowing the bowl.  The meat tastes old and was rather dried out with a subpar overly tomatoey broth.  Next!

Captain Kidd’s: Best Pumpkin Ale ever…

Jacko Traveler Pumpkin Ale is one outstanding brew.  There is solid spice on the “sniff” and taste.  Pumpkin is present via nose alone.  The body is barely medium with medium carbonation.  I taste a moderate amount of pumpkin in the mouth and it tastes excellent.  I am loving the spice in the mouth which is moderate as well.  There is a bit of clear sweetness to it and this is the best pumpkin brew I’ve ever tasted.  And I have tasted many.

Captain Kidd’s: Charbroiled Snapper

This fish was perfectly cooked and extremely delicious.

Redondo Beach: Pier Area

The Redondo Beach Pier and Boardwalk surely aren’t the prettiest or the cleanest in the west but it is authentic and there is fun to be had and the food will keep you coming back.

Minion Dave Goes Boating…

This one is for you Mei Mei.

Boardwalk Area

View from the Pier

Annual Car Show on Pier

This gangster car with bullet holes included is my favorite from the show.

Details on Gangster Car

THE END!!!