Best Californian Restaurants in Artesia

Heritage Restaurant, Long Beach – A Well-Earned Michelin Star by Michael Broderick. In a city where “Californian” culinary ambition often plays second fiddle to casual dining, Heritage in Long Beach has carved out a place of quiet excellence, earning a well-deserved Michelin star. This intimate dining experience is a testament to ingredient-driven, technique-forward cooking, where flavors are both restrained, unpretentious, and deeply expressive. From the first bite, it was clear that Heritage excels at layering textures and flavors in unexpected ways. The meal began with an Amuse Bouche trio: a delicate prawn cracker topped with sweet Dungeness crab, a green leaf with another seafood salad that was to be eaten like a mini street taco, and balanced with the brightness and light crunch of pickled turnip. A seemingly simple couple of bites, but one that foreshadowed the precision and thoughtfulness of the courses to follow. To cleanse the palate, a mint tea infused with palo santo was served—a meditative interlude that was both refreshing and aromatic, setting the stage for the evening’s journey. The first official course, Crème Caviar, featured Russian Sturgeon Heritage Caviar and chive, a chilled preparation that was rich yet elegantly restrained. This was followed by Kanpachi Crudo, presented with carrot, ginger, and macédoine vegetables, offering a balance of clean ocean flavors against bright, vegetal undertones. Then came what I consider the star of the evening: a dish that fully captured the ethos of Heritage—Hen of the Woods Mushroom, topped in a “sunchoke stew” (crispy fried sunchoke) with fermented mushroom. For an additional $25, an indulgent shaving of black truffle took the dish to another level, transforming it into a sensory experience that evoked the deep, earthy satisfaction of foraging. The interplay of umami-rich elements made this course a masterpiece of textural and flavor contrast. The proteins that followed were executed with equal care.

We had a reservation at 7 PM but there was a hiccup and we weren’t seated until 730 PM. Naturally we weren’t super thrilled but the restaurant was able to make up for this and give us truly exceptional service, to the point where I was pleasantly surprised. The meal was delicious and brought out to us quickly. The spices and flavors were well balanced. We appreciated the chef’s creativity and effort put into every dish. The ingredients tasted fresh and you could smell the subtle but pleasant culinary aromas emanating from the kitchen. The noise level was just right - quiet enough to speak to your party, and loud enough where you don’t feel people will overhear every single word you’re saying. Overall it was a very pleasant experience.

It was amazing steak tasted fantastic, went for Valentine’s Day and had an amazing experience. I do recommend 100%.. JUST BE PREPARED WITH A HOODIE OR BLANKET BECAUSE IT DOES GET COLD.

Our server, Rachel, was outstanding! We were a bit of a high -maintenance party, we ordered staggered drinks and food throughout the evening. Rachel just seemed to appear like magic anytime we needed anything, and seemed to anticipate our needs throughout the evening. The hostess and other staff were so friendly. This was our first visit, but it won’t be our last! Thanks Rachel and the rest of the staff for a wonderful evening!

The food was delicious and service was excellent. Can’t wait to go back.