When Long Beach’s Heritage emerged as Southern California’s sole Michelin star recipient in 2023, owners Lauren and chef Phillip Pretty were stunned. The Long Beach natives and siblings made an indelible impression on their hometown and greater Southern California by serving a cozy fine dining menu inside of a remodeled Craftsman home. The Prettys now have their sights on more Michelin acknowledgment for their third LBC restaurant, Olive & Rose, located at the newly renovated City Center Motel. While it promises to be more casual, the chef still wants to be ambitious with this new restaurant. “We hope to get another star,” says Phil.

Named after Phil’s daughters Olive and Rose, the restaurant opened on October 2, 2024, in the nearly 60-year-old City Center by the Sonder hotel group. Back in 2022, developers approached the Prettys, who source goods from local vendors and their Long Beach farm whenever possible. At Olive & Rose, Phil will take a similar approach but with daytime bagels and full dinner service.

From 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., walk up to O&R Bagels where staff prepare lattes using Play Coffee beans and build bagel sandwiches for breakfast. Sandwiches include one layered with house-cured salmon, capers, dill, and another that runs $100 bagel schmeared with cream cheese, chives, and an ounce of caviar. “There is a hole in Long Beach’s bagel scene,” says Phil. “I went on a great bagel search and partnered with fourth-generation bagel maker [Costa Mesa’s] Boil & Bake for a sesame and plain bagel that’s better than any I’ve tried in LA, New York, or SF.” The dining room and an outdoor courtyard are available for enjoying breakfast and lunch on-site.

After 5 p.m., the lights will dim as Pretty’s crew, including Heritage chef de cuisine Patrick Clayton, will focus on 15 neo-bistro dishes served a la carte. Small plates lean French, like marinated olives, steak tartare, and amberjack crudo. Larger dishes showcase roast chicken with foraged mushrooms; black cod with a brandade, or salted cod puree, with a side of pommes puree; and steak frites in a peppercorn sauce. Pretty also prepared a kid’s menu with butter noodles and roast chicken.

Olive & Rose’s intimate dining room, which the Prettys designed, only features 32 seats. Though the entire property looks renovated, the developers maintained the midcentury modern look. One can sip a cocktail in the outdoor communal area for dinner and view the downtown Long Beach skyline. Speaking of cocktails, former Baby Gee bartender Noah Friedman created a compelling non-alcoholic menu, including an orange mocha frappuccino made with Seedlip Grove 42, cold brew, cacao, orange, and milk. (The restaurant is still waiting for its full liquor license, which it hopes to get approval for later this month from the city of Long Beach.)

At both Olive & Rose and Heritage, it’s a family affair, which is something Phil is proud of. “Lauren and I have a special relationship,” says Phil. “I trust her more than anybody, and she never lets me down. My brother-in-law does market runs for us. My daughters work at the restaurant or at the farm, and so does our mom. For us, it holds weight doing things as a family.”

O&R Bagels daytime hours are 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., then Olive & Rose operates from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner at 255 E. Atlantic Avenue, Long Beach, CA, 90802.