Best Restaurants with a Tasting Menu in La Palma

Heritage Restaurant, Long Beach – A Well-Earned Michelin Star by Michael Broderick. In a city where “Californian” culinary ambition often plays second fiddle to casual dining, Heritage in Long Beach has carved out a place of quiet excellence, earning a well-deserved Michelin star. This intimate dining experience is a testament to ingredient-driven, technique-forward cooking, where flavors are both restrained, unpretentious, and deeply expressive. From the first bite, it was clear that Heritage excels at layering textures and flavors in unexpected ways. The meal began with an Amuse Bouche trio: a delicate prawn cracker topped with sweet Dungeness crab, a green leaf with another seafood salad that was to be eaten like a mini street taco, and balanced with the brightness and light crunch of pickled turnip. A seemingly simple couple of bites, but one that foreshadowed the precision and thoughtfulness of the courses to follow. To cleanse the palate, a mint tea infused with palo santo was served—a meditative interlude that was both refreshing and aromatic, setting the stage for the evening’s journey. The first official course, Crème Caviar, featured Russian Sturgeon Heritage Caviar and chive, a chilled preparation that was rich yet elegantly restrained. This was followed by Kanpachi Crudo, presented with carrot, ginger, and macédoine vegetables, offering a balance of clean ocean flavors against bright, vegetal undertones. Then came what I consider the star of the evening: a dish that fully captured the ethos of Heritage—Hen of the Woods Mushroom, topped in a “sunchoke stew” (crispy fried sunchoke) with fermented mushroom. For an additional $25, an indulgent shaving of black truffle took the dish to another level, transforming it into a sensory experience that evoked the deep, earthy satisfaction of foraging. The interplay of umami-rich elements made this course a masterpiece of textural and flavor contrast. The proteins that followed were executed with equal care.

Booked for valentines weekend and enjoyed the food and service ! Sat outside in the garden area and was able to enjoy my food and have a conversation. Definitely will come back next time to try more of the menu !

Sucks that we could enjoy the valentines special because of the kitchen closing before we arrived. I didn’t see anything regarding the kitchen being which led me to not be able to book anywhere else to be able to get a real meal in. Overall it was ok.

Had to give this place 5 stars. Had reservations for Valentine’s Day at 7 PM and got there around 6:48 I was sitting at my table at 6:50. This place is very well managed. They have an amazing system to provide excellent customer service. I chose to pick from one of there preset menus instead of all you can eat and I don’t regret it. It was the perfect amount of food for two people I did upgrade everything in the meat lovers menu. I also added vegetable sides because they looked delicious. I’ve been to so many restaurants and I use to eat out quite often, but recently I feel that there’s a lot of quality and customer service lacking now a days. My bill was 117 before tip but I will say for the experience my wife and I had there is no doubt I will be coming back for another date night here in the future.

2/12/2025 Last night my wife my wife and I and our four children and their spouses enjoyed a wonderful meal at Poppy and Seed un Anaheim, including a post-meal Q and A with chef/owner Michael Reed, We had ten of the entrees shared all-around and none were found wanting. My personal favorite was the lobster risotto. The starters and sides were delicious as well. Our server, Eugene and his assistant Matt added to our experience by keeping the flow of the many items from kitchen and bar at a perfect pace. Eugene's knowledge of the menu was very comprehensive, as he answered our many questions and enhanced our enjoyment. I would recommend Poppy and to any and all,