Mediterranean Dining and Mingling in Manhattan Beach

The Hummus Factory is located in Manhattan Marketplace on Rosecrans in Manhattan Beach. I chose this place because I've eaten there before and I love Mediterranean food. Plus, you just order at the counter, so no need to worry about splitting checks.

If you're not in the mood for tender lamb kebabs with seasoned basmati rice and pita bread (seriously? why not?), there's also a pizza place right next door (Union Pizza) that serves deep dish pizzas. And you can also order at the counter there as well.

But wait - there's more.

The same plaza also has a great hole-in-the-wall Mexican eatery where (you guessed it) you can order at the counter.

And if none of those options interest you, there's always the salad bar at Bristol Farms. Whichever dining option you choose to order from, we can sit together at the outdoor tables in front of Union Pizza and the Hummus Factory.

When we're done eating, we can drive up Rosecrans toward the beach to check out a couple of bars: OB's Pub and Grill and Baja Sharkeez. (They're right next to each other on Highland just off of Rosecrans.) Then we'll end the evening by staggering down to the beach after a few drinks and jumping into the freezing waves in our clothes.

Okay, we'll skip that last part.