Restaurant of the Month: 1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro

South Bay Events presents its pick of the month for July 2011!

The experience of wayward summer excursions pushes into the heat of Jul y, this time toward the far end of the South Bay. Old Town Torrance sits in one of America’s quintessential middle class enclaves where the creation of brick and mortar businesses bring together a community that is on the brink of historical and quite possibly a new foodie destination. The gastropub craze sweeping the South Bay welcomes 1321 Downtown Taproom Bistro to the race, a spacious, woody bar & restaurant that feels classically moody, like an old school sportsman lodge.

One of the highlights of 1321 is the atmosphere, it’s nearly artistic. The servers wear suspenders and jeans, the walls are dotted with flat screen TVs that show black & white movies, and the light fixtures have bare bulbs, molding a feeling that is classic but contemporary. The menu is one-sided, heavy meat with traditional pub fare like Fish & Chips, Steak & Potatoes, and burgers. 1321 also features their own creative food experiments with appetizers such as Calamari Tacos, Chicken & Waffles, and “Downtown” Meatballs. The Smoked Pork Banh Mi sandwich is scrumptious, much larger & meatier than the traditional Vietnamese Pork Banh Mi, it taste like gourmet street food and the lemon-basil aioli makes every ingredient (cilantro, chile, pickled carrot, red onions) come to life.

The “Taproom” moniker is evident as the selection of artisanal beers, hand-picked wines, and cocktails are diverse and refreshing. The craft beer enthusiast will enjoy reading the tiny booklet that is the drink menu as it breaks out various styles of beers (from the tap & the bottle) like Belgian, I.P.A., Witte, Lagers, and even Belgian I.P.A’s. On the inside taste and ingredients for every beer is briefly explained. During happy hour all beers from the tap are half off.

The most direct route to 1321 from the beach cities is a straight shot down Torrance Boulevard, passed Torrance Library, beyond Crenshaw then make a right on Sartori Avenue to enter Old Town Torrance. 1321 is strategically located at 1321 Sartori Avenue, Torrance, CA.