Chef Hannes

Chef Hannes Restaurant Review:

The area of El Segundo along Pacific Coast Highway is littered with office buildings, malls and chain restaurants. Thankfully, the city is also home to Main Street, which has retained its bygone-era charm. Situated near the south end of the strip is the bumblebee-colored Chef Hannes. Austrian Johannes Kraschitzer opened his California-Italian restaurant in 1999 to a hearty welcome from local businessmen, who finally had a place to hold client lunches before flying out of nearby LAX. Starters on the compact, eclectic menu include smoked salmon carpaccio with baby arugula and vegetable dumplings with ponzu dipping sauce. There are a handful of pastas, such as spaghetti with roasted eggplant, tomato and basil. Entrées include an Italian sausage casserole, braised lamb osso buco, and grilled pork chops topped with apple-cilantro chutney. A small wine list is also available. Indoor seating is comfortable but tight, while the outdoor area is spacious but subject to the roar of overhead airplanes.