WHY To sit at the counter and revel in a perfect pot pie and, to keep the theme going for dessert, a piece of brownie pie with vanilla ice cream. If you can’t stay, pick up some frozen pot pies to take home, and for your next summer party, make sure to order the French peach pie.

WHAT The Bake & Broil (which is what everyone calls it) has been Long Beach’s comfort-food destination for ages, and it remains as good as it’s ever been. Handmade burgers, fresh strawberry pancakes, Mexican breakfast scrambles, hot turkey sandwiches, red velvet cupcakes better than at all those trendy cupcakeries… it’s the diner food you remember from the happy childhood you probably didn’t have.

WHO Bixby Knolls locals and families who’ve been driving a distance to eat here for many years.