The Whale & Ale
327 W. 7th St.
San Pedro, CA
310-832-0363

Sedate spot, more a restaurant than a pub with quite good food, faux Victorian décor. It's got a pretty facade and has been located since the late '80s on an urban renewal street with artists' studios nearby. Someday it'll be "historic San Pedro"; now it's a backwater. Kiwanis meet here; it's frequented by locals as well as cruise ship staffers in the nearby port for the day. The food's adventurous for a British-theme spot: pies with ingredients such as oysters and lamb kidneys (as opposed to ground beef), an eggplant rarebit. The portabello mushroom sandwich with bits of French-fried onion rings tucked in is delicious, as is the sherry trifle when available. The usual beer suspects on tap plus Fuller and a guest beer (recently, Old Speckled Hen, an English ale).

Hours: Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun., 11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

Fax: 310-832-2314