Liv's on 2nd Verified listing

Much to the news of food lovers, Liv’s Long Beach—which was facing the end of its lease earlier this year as it looked for a different location—has had its lease extended at its Belmont Shore location. Assuredly one of the most underrated restaurants in Long Beach, Chef Kristine Schneider—under the oversight of owner and chef Rob White (who also operates Hartland's), often appears at the counter shucking oysters—creates a continually revolving menu that goes far beyond being, well, an oyster bar.

“I often feel like some pass us by because they think we’re just an oyster and wine bar,” Chef Rob said. “And especially as the cooler months come, they don’t realize how expansive our menu is and how warming some of the plates can be.”

Perhaps a slight change to the signage could help, but given our collective attention span in this digital, AI-centric era, most passersby skip the “seafood” part after reading “oyster bar.” Even more, they have one of the most solid happy hours. Chef Kristine’s cooking blends classic European seafood preparations with tons of Asian and Latin American influences: clean, aromatic, and acid-driven. Every element of Liv’s Long Beach emphasizes freshness, texture, and contrast. Bright acids. Rich fats. Herbal depth. And seasonally driven produce.

Written and photos by Brian Addison.

For Brian Addison's latest feature on Liv's Long Beach, click here.