Union

There’s no better restaurant in Long Beach for outdoor dining than this fusion spot at the Compound art center. With its hedges and bean-shaped lanterns bordering jet-black tables, the patio has all the features of a serene sculpture garden—if a sculpture garden hosted weekly DJ sets. In terms of what they're serving, the long menu plays with Filipino classics like garlic-lathered pancit and pork kare kare, but many of the dishes pull inspiration from all over the map (branzino with nam jim, or cumin-spiced, dry-aged ribeye with golden raisin chili dip). The food is certainly not why you come but it’s all serviceable, with the exception of some very good crispy shrimp toast on Little Coyote focaccia. Our approach is to snack and drink with friends in the courtyard, especially before strolling around the art installations and ordering a nightcap at the cocktail bar hidden inside the warehouse.