4020 Atlantic Ave
Long Beach, CA 90807
(562) 595-4020
www.thefactorylb.com
**Review Update – May 17, 2010**
As I mentioned in my original review of The Factory on Atlantic Avenue in Bixby Knolls, I wanted to give the restaurant another visit after a few months to see if the owners made any improvements to the menu and service.
Well, I revisited The Factory this past week with one of my Shandrow Group colleagues and I was pleasantly surprised by the changes to the GastroBar since my last visit.
Overall the service was great. Such an improvement over the counter based menu and ordering. It was nice to be able to actually order from our table and not go to the counter anymore. I think this was the big piece that was missing from our last experience.
I had a vegetable sandwich that was absolutely delicious and Barbara, from my team, had a lunch salad that she loved as well. The Factory now has a much more comfortable feel and seems like it is really becoming a popular Bixby Knolls eatery.
This time, the only glitch was they ran out of beef meals early. I guess organic food isn’t as easy to obtain, but it gives you an idea of their popularity.
Honestly, with the new improvements, it’s worth checking out. Or checking out again if you were like me and visited in December or January.
I think you’ll enjoy the restaurant as much as I did this time around.
**Read the original post below:**
The Factory opened its doors on December 1st and since then people in Bixby Knolls have been buzzing about the place. Located on Atlantic Avenue, it’s dubbed as the “farm-to-table” restaurant as most of their menu items include organically grown ingredients.
I was really excited to see a new type of restaurant open in Bixby Knolls. And one that supports local farms and growers is a step in the right direction.
But my experience eating at The Factory was less than fantastic.
First off, you need to stand in a line and order at the counter before you sit down. Like a cafeteria. Except that a cafeteria has reasonably priced food.
In spite of everything other people have told me about the place, I wasn’t impressed. Even though they feature a large craft brew menu, one of the largest in the area, it doesn’t quite make up for the tiny menu. Or maybe I just didn’t have enough to drink.
As I skimmed the chalk board menus at the counter, I noticed that The Factory has only 5 appetizers (or small plates, as they call them), 6 salads, 5 sandwiches and 8 different entrees. As I mentioned, all the ingredients are locally grown, which gives the food an authentic California feeling, but I’m not sure that’s enough to keep them going.
My wife and I met up with some friends in Sherman Oaks, who drove 1.5 hours just to check it out, and I was embarrassed at the lack of service, limited menu and expensive bill. My friend ordered the $13.00 burger and for four people, who didn’t order too many drinks or even have a choice of tasty desserts, the bill was over $120.00.
I’m not saying the food isn’t worth checking out, but I do feel it’s very overpriced. Organic or not. Honestly, even if the food was out of this world, the overall experience distracted us from any of the Factory’s good points.
The experience is a major part of the restaurant equation. If you don’t get that right, you’re doomed.
I’d really hate to see this place go out of business in the next 6 months, but I can’t see it staying busy for long.
Lots of hype, with not much follow up.
Bring the ordering back to the table and throw some more options on the menu. You might think that there isn’t much competition in Bixby Knolls, but people expect certain things from a dining experience. If you can’t get it right, they’ll find a place where someone else does.
If you’re interested in trying it out, I’d suggest you first check the menu they’ve posted on their website: The Factory GastroBar Menu
Like I said, I think it’s really great that they prepare locally grown produce and meat and serve craft brews instead of the mass produced franchise food we’re usually stuck with, but there are so many ways they can improve the place.
The menu items, such as the Spicy Viking and the Pan Seared Line-Caught Salmon, really sound tasty, and I’d love to try them some day soon.
Maybe if I give it some time, and let my memories of the last experience fade, my next experience will be better.
I just hope all of their customers aren’t doing the same thing.
It will be a long lonely winter for The Factory.
Sincerely,
Mark Shandrow
Real Estate Broker,
Owner Shandrow Group
562.364.9505
markshandrow.com
