Soul food restaurants Long beach

Eat Authentic Regional Soul Food in Your Own Backyard

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(Gerry Furth-Sides, Photos courtesy Georgia’s Restaurant) Authentic soul food is all too rare these days, especially brunch fare. That’s why Southern Soul Food dishes are all the more welcome at Georgia’s Restaurant at the Long Beach Exchange.

Crusty fried chicken at Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach (photo courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant)

The Georgia’s Restaurant menu is inspired by family dishes in Gretchen Shoemaker‘s successful catering business. Today the second of her three daughters,  Nika Shoemaker-Machado and her husband Marlon Machado, operate the enormously popular at lunch and dinner. Week-end brunch is their newest update.

A stuffed omelet at Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach (photo courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant)

Co-Owner Nika Shoemaker-Machado’s personal favorite, the hearty Steak and Eggs, features top sirloin steak and a side of blackened country potatoes.

Steak and Eggs at Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach (photo courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant)

Grilled French Toast is made the old-fashioned way, topped with powdered sugar and strawberries. Cinnamon Apple Waffle topped with warm sautéed apples in a luxurious cinnamon syrup, adds a dollop of whipped cream. 

French toast at Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach (photo courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant)

Fried chicken is served in a variety of ways. Chicken and Waffles stars Georgia’s signature fried chicken, a process that begins with Co-Owner Marlon Machado’s Brazilian buttermilk brine and ends with a seasoned crispy cornmeal crust courtesy of Nana Gretchen’s very own grandmother, served on a Belgian waffle with creamy honey butter and maple syrup.

Belgian waffle topped with fried chicken at Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach (photo courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant)
Fish & Grits at Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach (photo courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant)

The vegetarian friendly Mardi Gras Omelet, featuring green and red bell peppers, onions, and cheese is joined by Georgia’s brand new Eggs Benedict.

Southern staples also include the Fish & Grits featuring Creole seasoned cornmeal crusted fried catfish, or the classic Shrimp & Grits made with Creole seasoned shrimp over a bed of savory grits.

Creamy, savory grits are a base for shrimp seasoned Creole style at Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach (photo courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant)
Crab cakes at Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach (photo courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant)

Brunch beverages include a Bottomless Mimosas, hearty Bloody Mary  plus Signature Peach and Seasonal Sangria. Red Wine and White Wine by the glass or the bottle, and craft bottled Beer round out the list. Georgia’s Restaurant also has a variety of just as colorful non-alcoholic offerings, including Coffee, Orange Juice, Apple Juice, Soda, Milk, and Iced Tea.

The Bottomless Mimosa and Bloody Mary at Georgia’s Restaurant, Long Beach (photo courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant)

The first time I ate “soul food” was when I was a lifeguard in Detroit, working my way through college. I was one of only two (white) females on a staff of professional male (Black) athletes, and a couple of the them brought me as a joke. While they were joking around with each other during dinner, I had finished a fried chicken dinner plate! They could not stop laughing. I’ve felt the same about soul food ever since although it is rare to find these days.

Georgia’s Restaurant at the Long Beach Exchange is open for Brunch e from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. For more information, please visit www.Georgias-Restaurant.com or call Georgia’s Restaurant directly at 562.420.5637.

New Georgia’s Restaurant with Second Generation Twist

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(Content courtesy of Georgia’s Restaurant, photos courtesy of Acura-Hansen) The term “second generation” has a different twist at the new Georgia’s Restaurant  in Long Beach at the new Long Beach Exchange (LBX).   The original five-year-old location in Anaheim.

Georgia’s Restaurant features southern cuisine with recipes long proven decades ago by founder  Gretchen Shoemaker in her successful catering business built on family recipes .   The “second generation” in this case refers to her three daughters now grown up with Gretchen becoming, “nana” to the family.   And the second generation “kitchen” is fast-casual practical rather than white table cloth or catered off-site dining.

Fast-casual Georgia’s Restaurant Long Beach

The high-concept, fast-casual Georgia’s Restaurant came about when Gretchen’s second daughter Nika Shoemaker-Machado and her husband Marlon Machado proposed the restaurant to Gretchen to fulfill her lifelong dream of sharing her food on a grander scale.  Named in loving memory of deceased patriarch George, with the addition of a single letter from each daughter’s name, from the first, Georgia’s Restaurant in the Anaheim Packing Districtwas a success.

The menu is also efficient, written up in categories.  The Georgia’s Restaurant Menu is categorized in Small Bites such as the Piggy Cheese Fries, (crispy fries loaded with slow roasted BBQ pork); Nana Gretchen’s Fried Green Tomatoes(rispy coated fresh green tomatoes with a lemon aioli,) Chicken Wings, served with a choice of lemon pepper, spicy, mild, crispy, or Georgia’s Restaurant’s signature BBQ seasoning.   Salad selections start with the vegetarian-friendly Georgia’s House Salad served with spring mix, red onions, tomatoes, and candied pecans; Seafood lovers can rejoice with the Shrimp Salad served with spring mix, roasted corn, red peppers, red onions, tomatoes and a mango sauce.  Salads with meat are featured, and included an abundance of healthy veggies as well. The  Tri-Tip Salad with grilled-to-order 1855 Premium Black Angus Choice tri-tip, spring mix, blue cheese, red onions, tomatoes, red peppers and Mandarin oranges features beef.  Poultry is the star of the  Georgia’s Blue featuring grilled blackened chicken, blue cheese crumbles, romaine lettuce and tomatoes.

Georgia’s Restaurant Shrimp Salad

Southern Soul entrees are in the category of Plate-Up that starts with  Georgia’s Restaurant signature Fried Chicken, adding a Brazilian touch with son-in-law  of cultures whi Co-Owner Marlon Machado’s Brazilian buttermilk brine combined with a seasoned crispy cornmeal crust courtesy of Nana Gretchen’s very own grandmother.  A personal favorite of Nika, the succulent Smothered Pork Chops are hand-tossed, pan fried, and covered in bacon gravy. “Most people are compelled to lick the plate clean,” jokes Nika.

The St. Louis BBQ Ribs, a half rack of slow roasted pork ribs in Georgia’s Restaurant signature house-made BBQ sauce, or the grilled-to-order 8 oz 1855 Premium Black Angus Choice Tri-Tip, or the farm-raised  Fried Catfish prepared with a Creole seasoned cornmeal crust.

Pork ribs and corn at Georgia’s Restaurant

Each plate is served with a choice of two of Georgia’s Restaurant’s Soulful Sides with such Southern favorite as: Red Beans & Rice, Collard Greens, Black-Eyed Peas, Baked Beans, Coleslaw, Potato Salad, Mac & Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, Garlic Rice,Corn on the Cob, French Fries, and Nana Gretchen’s signature Cornbread served with house-made honey butter.

Nana Gretchen’s signature Cornbread served with house-made honey butter at Georgia’s Restaurant

Georgia’s Specialties also include: Gretchen’s Jambalaya cooked to order with shrimp, andouille sausage and chicken, served over pasta or rice, and the Louisiana Tilapia & Shrimp made of spicy grilled tilapia and shrimp, with tomato Creole sauce served over rice.   The sweet and savory Chicken & Waffle layers signature Fried Chicken on a Belgian Waffle, served with maple syrup and honey butter.

True Southern- style Bowls include the Hoppin’ John served with slow-simmered black-eyed peas and deboned smoked turkey neck; golden Chili Mac and homemade Chili.  Georgia’s Restaurant Sandwiches include the  Spicy Andouille Po’Boy, with shredded lettuce, tomatoes, dill pickles, garlic mayo and Dijon mustard, served on a French roll. The Pulled Pork is made with slow-roasted, gently pulled pork, signature house-made BBQ sauce, and coleslaw on organic brioche.  BBQ Chicken features the signature house-made BBQ sauce, onion straws, spring mix, and sliced tomatoes on organic brioche.

 Georgia’s Restaurant desserts include Nana Gretchen’s include Southern staples, Peach Cobbler, Sweet Potato Pie, Lemon Cake, and Pound Cake with the added option of house-made ice cream in the à la Mode version.   Drinks include sodas, beer and wine curated to pair with dishes.

Mother and daughter firmly believe that it is the little touches that keep guests coming back, like the real tableware and cutlery used for dine-in guests, and the authentic conversations generated when the owners are at the restaurant, particularly Nana Gretchen, whose affection has earned her the nickname, The Hugger. “We are committed to ensuring that Georgia’s Restaurant captures the feeling of having a meal in our home,” adds Nika.

Georgia’s Restaurant Co-Owner-founder Nika Shoemaker-Machado

Georgia’s Restaurant hours: Monday-Thursday from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm; Friday from 11:00 am -10:00 pm; Saturday from 9:00 am -10:00 pm, Sunday from 10:30 am -9:00 pm. For more information, please visit www.Georgias-Restaurant.com or call directly at 562.420.5637

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