Gone Fishing for FishBar - Manhattan Beach

A trip to FishBar is basically a trip to the ladies' room. There is always a line, even if it's 9 PM on a Tuesday night, and there is always a twenty-minute predicted wait time no matter how many people are ahead of or behind you while you wait in a line that doesn't move. And just when you think you'll explode from the pangs of hanger or the pains of that third beer, the stall door clicks and elation is all you feel.

When I'm that hangry, precious little will snap me out of a mood that foul, except maybe the fact that a table for 4-6 magically opens up in 10-15 minutes every time despite the predicted 30-minute wait. And despite FishBar being constantly packed to the gills, we always get a comfortable table with ample space - no awkward elbow-bumping with the next one over.

Even less will make me smile when I'm hangry, but one rich bite has me asking the Lobster Mac & Cheese if it hurt when it fell from heaven. They don't skimp on the juicy red chunks of claw, and the creamy sauce goes great with penne. There's no lack of seafood succulence on this plate.

Even the Bread Pudding is a pleasant surprise at FishBar. I never would have guessed a seafood shack could make this gooey, sticky sponge soaked in just enough sauce to be as sweet as sugar.

It really can't get much better than mac n' cheese and bread pudding to top off a Tuesday night, but wait, it can. One bite of creamy Truffled Crab Mac & Cheese, and the lobster will be just a memory. The chunks of crab immersed in cheese, topped with oil of the truffle is an amazing combination, and don't let the "starter" label fool you - it's more than enough for a meal.

We don't choose to line up for the ladies room, but waiting half an hour for FishBar in the trendy restaurant-row of Manhattan Beach is a conscious choice I make every time I'm there.There may be plenty of fish in the sea, but I've gone fishing for FishBar.