El Segundo’s culinary scene just got even better with the addition of Lisa’s Bistro & Bakery at 747 North Douglas Street.
Long a favorite of folks closer to South Torrance where the first store opened in 1979, South Bay folks-in-the-know have come to love Lisa’s amazing fresh fare, delicious desserts, and catering.
In fact, Lisa’s empire is so strong that she maintains a catering business AND now two retail locations.
The new restaurant is located in the Elevon business area near the training center for the Los Angeles Lakers. Parking is free and the shopping/business center has a great vibe, with outdoor seating areas and a pleasing aesthetic.
Indeed, the word is sure to spread quickly about Lisa’s fine food, long adored by folks in Torrance, the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and cities closer to that end of the South Bay.
With workers traveling from outlying areas and a freeway-close location on the east side of El Segundo, Lisa’s is sure to become a hot spot and her catering business increase.
The El Segundo restaurant offers full-service sit-down dining, a first for a Lisa’s retail location. In the past, Lisa’s has been a place to order and take food to go or eat in on one of the few tables available.
Once again, as in previous iterations, Lisa’s Bistro & Bakery will offer a to-go ordering area, with a convenient area for her signature pre-made salads and other goodies (grab and go), a bakery counter of desserts, a counter for placing orders, and a separate entrance.
But perhaps the highest achievement in the new space is its feel-good vibe. High industrial-style ceilings, beautiful light fixtures, recessed lighting, a mural of surfboards on the wall, beachy decorations, vibrant paint, and ongoing touches catapult the location beyond any of Lisa’s previous eateries.
The restaurant opened on February 12th and signs dot the building it is in. A Fantastic Cafe is opening right across the way and the new Los Angeles Lakers store is nearby. Dogs are allowed in the complex and there are handy bags for pet owners.
Kathy King, who has worked for Lisa’s for quite a while, said Lisa’s outdoor patio area will be open for dog lovers and their canine companions. She also noted how Lisa’s windows will open to the outdoor seating.
Inside, there is also a counter/bar area, and Lisa’s plans to serve beer and wine in the near future said King.
Right now, diners will find a full menu of breakfast, salads, sandwiches, paninis, entrees, and desserts. Breakfast is served until 11 a.m., entrees and the other menu items are available freshly made from 11 a.m. on.
A window to the kitchen gives diners a sense of kitchen preparations. The A.M. Burrito I ordered was no less than wonderful. It includes eggs, your choice of protein (I opted for turkey sausage), veggies, cheese, and breakfast potatoes wrapped in a flour tortilla. Aside of an amazing pico de gallo accompanied my to-go order. If you’re into pico de gallo, you might want to order extra–it’s that good!
Which is just the thing about Lisa’s! Long ago when Lisa Eriksen followed her passion, some incredible recipes were born. Her renowned Chinese Chicken Salad came to be in 1982 and as some would say, the rest is history, and a fine one, at that.
Susanne Alexander took the reins from her mom in 1989 when Lisa retired. Susanne had long helped her mom and in 1984, she and her husband bought and operated a second Lisa’s location in Torrance’s Skypark Center, near the airport and Torrance Memorial Medical Center. That location and the original one on Vista Montana in Torrance eventually closed and Lisa’s opened in a larger, more visible space on Pacific Coast Highway in Torrance’s Madison Park, near the airport. When it became obvious the business was outgrowing that space, Susanne opened a catering facility, a Torrance retail location and signed the lease to open in a brand new space in El Segundo.
The menu in El Segundo includes omelets, pancakes, avocado toast, oatmeal, bacon, ham, and pork and turkey sausage. Salads include the famous Chinese Chicken, Mexican, Thai Chicken Crunch, Cali Bleu, Fried Chicken, Greek, Veggie Chop, Caesar, and Italian Chop. Sandwiches cover the spectrum: BLT, Turkey Club, Grilled Cheese, Albacore Tuna Melt, Veggie, French Dip and others, including three panini selections. Entrees include Bowtie Pasta, Gourmet Mac & Cheese, Chicken Tenders, Cheese Quesadillas, and Grilled Veggie Pesto Pasta, and Pasta Carbonara.
Among the marvelous desserts are creme brulee, eclairs, chocolate mousse, tarts, and dessert bars. And Lisa’s has a great brewed ice tea, infused waters, coffee and tea, fountain drinks, and iced coffee.
Lisa’s Bistro & Bakery, 747 North Douglas Street, is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.; (310) 615-1077. Order online for now or later.
By the way: Lisa’s catering business offers several venues to choose from and two of them are in El Segundo: Smoky Hollow Studios and Unita Club Creative House.
