Eat Out. Crepes.

I love a good crepe. My best crepe memories are cold afternoons in Covent Garden's outdoor market, where there was a crepe stand at the right corner entrance. They were hot and delicious--just what you'd hope for on a bone-chilling (or rainy) London day.

The strawberry jam breakfast crepe photo above was taken last month at the Jean Philippe Patisserie at the Aria in Las Vegas. They make a great crepe, but right here in L.A. we have some pretty good creperies too.

The French Crêpe Co. has locations at Hollywood and Highland, and the Farmers Market (as well as in Downtown Burbank). I like the Farmers Market location, but the quality shouldn't vary too much across all three.

A great Long Beach restaurant that Lauren introduced me to when she was living there is La Crêperie Café. It's a really cute breakfast spot, but they're also open for lunch and dinner. We had a lovely long breakfast there one time with a couple other friends, where we all drank endless amounts of Lavazza coffee. Most girls at our table opted for savory items, but I couldn't resist the Maple Madness crepe (banana, walnuts, maple syrup, powdered sugar, and whipped cream).

Bon Appétit!

-- Leslie Anne Wiggins

Photo credit: the BEAT

Eat Out. Cisco's.

While I'm reluctant to give Jesse James any business, his small restaurant, Cisco Burger in Long Beach has some really phenomenal food.

Located right next door to his West Coast Choppers, Cisco uses quality ingredients in their food, including Kobe beef for their burgers, and their veggie burger is one of the best I've had. Their fries, shakes, and crunch French toast are also delicious.

The restaurant is also green, with a large percentage of the store's power coming from solar energy and all their to-go containers I've ever gotten there were the biodegradable kind. And their delivery car is a Toyota Prius!

Cisco Burger is located at 620 West Anaheim Street in Long Beach. Most plates are about $5.

-- Lauren Williams

Eat Out. The Library.

A fresh, tasty cup of coffee is the perfect thing to start the week with, for me, and The Library is a great Long Beach gem for coffee fiends.

Crafty coffee concoctions, a variety of teas, and tasty snacks abound at the the smallish shop on Broadway.

The space is excellent with a quite atmosphere (even though it has a piano in the second room), and is often a hangout for college students. There are also shelves of free books for readers to share and soft cozy couches and chairs to relax and read in while sipping at a handcrafted drink.

If you're in the Long Beach area, and need a good cup of coffee on the way into work this definitely a great place to swing by, or come by at night and spend some time just relaxing with a book.

The Library is located at 3412 E. Broadway.

-- Lauren Williams

Photo credit: Yelp!

Eat Out. The Pike Bar & Fish Grill [Thirsty Thursdays!].

Probably one of the best dive bars in Long Beach, The Pike Bar & Fish Grill has everything a night out drinking needs: good live music, excellent food, and a decent selection of beer on tap and in the bottle.

The Pike has become a sort of watering hole for LB hipsters who regularly roll up on their fixies. After about 8 p.m. this place can get pretty crowded any night of the week, but wandering in you're likely to find excellent local DJs spinning and bands playing, including LB-based Paper Planes.

Owned by former Social Distortion drummer Christopher Reece, the bar's entrance has a rug with the iconic skeleton with a martini and top hat, giving The Pike its well-deserved punk rock meets all things nautical decor. Scattered throughout the bar are little mementos from Long Beach's past, including ticket stubs from a 1960s Grand Prix under the counter, and Japanese glass balls. Every time I go here I find a new, fascinating ocean-themed object.
The food here is really excellent. Pastas, burgers, burritos, and their excellent, always hot potato wedges are stellar. The waitresses here are nice and get you what you need fast. I hear they have great breakfasts too, but hopefully you won't be here long enough to find out.

The Pike is located at 1836 E. 4th Street.

-- Lauren Williams

Photo credit: Top, The Pike's MySpace; bottom: Sunset Magazine