Small Bites: Happy Hour deals at the Beachcomber, Mirabelle & Le Merigot

5-5-5 Happy Hour Deals: The Beachcomber, known for hoisting its martini flag complete with a bugle call everyday at 5 p.m., is offering a new happy hour deal: Choose from five cocktails and five appetizers for $5 (Monday - Friday, 5 - 7 p.m.). Cocktails include the Citronage Margarita, the Pier Club Colada; the Strawberry Fields (rum, strawberries, bananas and cream), the Wizard of Ahhs (gin, lime juice and mint) and the Watermelon Jolly Rancher Martini (vodka, watermelon schnapps and pineapple juice). Food choices are calamari fries; cheese pizzettes; hummus and crisps; spicy chicken sliders; and a cheeseburger. The Beachcomber at Malibu Pier and Malibu Pier Club Bar: 23000 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu. (310) 456-9800, www.thebeachcombercafe.com.

Extended Happy Hour at Mirabelle: Every Monday and Tuesday, Happy Hour at Mirabelle (normally 4 to 7 p.m.) lasts until midnight. That means all house wines are $3.50-$5 per glass, while martinis are $5. Food includes the Greek-influenced meze plate ($7), rock shrimp with honey wasabi sauce ($7), short rib cubes and more ($5.50). Mirabelle, which opened in 1971, also extended its $19.71 three-course meal through the rest of 2009. It includes a salad or crab bisque for the first course; pasta, chicken Dijon or hangar steak for the main course and ice cream for dessert. Mirabelle: 8768 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 659-6022, www.mirabelleonsunset.com.

Late Night Happy Hour at Le Merigot: Because you're still busy working when everyone else heads to happy hour at 5 p.m., Le Troquet, the open-air bar at Le Merigot, now offers a happy hour Monday through Friday from 8 to 10 p.m. Well drinks are 50% off while appetizers and small plates like crab quesadillas, steak au poivre and tuna tartar are 30% off. Le Troquet at Le Merigot: 1740 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica. (310) 395-9700, www.lemerigothotel.com.

--Elina Shatkin

Photo: Revelers raise the martini flag circa 1950s at the Beachcomber. Courtesy of the Crystal Cove Alliance.

Sam Nazarian's SBE to manage Gladstone's of Malibu

Sam Nazarian's SBE restaurant/nightlife/hotel conglomerate said it has been tapped to take over longstanding Malibu seafood restaurant Gladstone's. Well known for its stunning view of the Pacific Ocean and sculptural foil-wrapped leftovers, Gladstone's hasn't done as well with its food. From Leslie Brenner's June 2008 review of the restaurant:

"The most important reason there are so many leftovers at Gladstone's is that the food, for the most part, is abominable."
...

"It's not easy to find great chowder, nor is Gladstone's the place to seek it. Is it clam chowder? Fish chowder? Who knows ... The overriding impression is of library paste."

...

"The iced seafood tower lands on our table ... The shrimp have a terrible off-taste, which makes me nervous that I ate an oyster."

...

"This is among the worst menus I've ever seen. Parmesan halibut. Salmon pesto pasta ... Memo to chef: With few exceptions, fish doesn't go with cheese."

Perhaps SBE, which currently owns and operates seven Los Angeles-area restaurants including XIV by Michael Mina, The Bazaar by Jose Andres, The Abbey and four Katsuya locations, will bring the joint up a bit.

--Elina Shatkin

Photo: Crispy calamari at Gladstone's. Credit: Liz O. Baylen / Los Angeles Times.

Kitchen confidential: $9.9 million Point Dume home

When a multimillion-dollar home -- or any home, actually -- lands on the market, the Daily Dish has just one question:

What does the kitchen look like?

An island breakfast bar overlooks the kitchen in this Point Dume contemporary that is on the market for $9.9 million and offers breathtaking views of the Pacific.The kitchen, with maple flooring, features granite countertops and customized, built-in appliances such as a steamer, an espresso maker and a rotisserie.

Adjacent to the kitchen is a butler's pantry -- always handy, don't you think? See the rest of the home here.

-- Rene Lynch

Photo: Mike McNamara