The Manhattan Village Mall is in the final phase of a vast transformation. To enhance the visitor experience, they added an open-air retail environment where neighbors and friends can gather and socialize. Brand new restaurants occupy the open area; one of the latest is Joey Restaurant.
Joey Restaurant was initially conceived as a pasta house and first opened up in Calgary, Canada, as Joey Tomato’s. They have restaurants scattered across Canada and have expanded to Seattle, Southern California, and Texas. Each restaurant is individually architected and designed to its location and customer base.
The restaurant is open-air without a wall on the north side of the building. They have both uncovered and covered outdoor seating and traditional indoor booth seating with glass partitions providing extra protection. While the kitchen is enclosed, you can watch the kitchen operation through their floor-to-ceiling glass walls.
Due to its popularity, you may not be able to choose between outdoor and indoor seating. When I attempted to secure a reservation, OpenTable indicated no seating available for the time I desired. Instead, I phoned Joey Restaurant and was able to book a reservation for the time I chose.
The global-inspired menu contains dishes packed with flavor. Example of their Asian dishes includes Pan-Fried Gyoza, Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Crispy Tofu Bowl, and Sushi. A main that caught my attention was their Lobster and Shrimp Ravioli with truffle beurre blanc.
The Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps appetizer ($19) is an excellent item to share. A half head of lettuce comes with a mixture of diced chicken in a sweet soy-ginger glaze, chiles, peanuts, and crispy wontons. The sweet and spicy sauce is delicious and would pair nicely with one of their craft beers on tap.
The Farmers Market salad ($17) is worth trying if you enjoy fresh salads. It is made with a plethora of items from the garden, mixed greens, kale, avocado, tomatoes, fresh corn, sliced radishes, and toasted almonds and tossed in a light vinaigrette. My wife selected hers with the optional grilled salmon (+$12).
Joey Restaurant’s Mediterranean Bowl ($23) includes chunks of harissa grilled chicken, marinated chickpeas, crispy pita chips, mint, and tomatoes over cauliflower rice. The use of harissa gives the grilled chicken a mild citrus spicy flavor. Hummus and tzatziki are dabbed throughout the topping preventing the dish from being dry.
The hands-down favorite dish on our table was the Chicken Parmesan ($24). We didn’t recognize it because the chicken was beneath a heaping mound of Spaghetti Pomodoro. The breading was nicely seasoned, and the chicken was moist inside. The Pomodoro sauce probably simmered for quite a while to achieve its taste and consistency.
I look forward to trying some of their craft cocktails. The cocktail menu features both traditional and avant-garde, some with double shots included in the price. Their wine list is extensive and features wines from Italy, France, Argentina, Germany, Spain, New Zealand, and various appellations in the Western US.
With the shuttering of nearby Houston’s, I see a bright future for Joey Restaurant.
Joey Restaurant (inside Manhattan Village Mall)
3120 N Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266; 310.546.1163; joeyrestaurants.com