Beloved South Bay Institution Gina Lee's Bistro is Closing At the End of This Month

Gina Lee's Bistro opened in Redondo Beach back when Coolio's Gangsta's Paradise and TLC's Waterfall was playing on KIIS FM. 19 years later, the beloved South Bay restaurant, which is known for its crispy catfish and potato-crusted salmon, is closing its doors for good by the end of the year. Owners Gina and Scott Lee have decided to retire from the restaurant business after a nearly two decade run, with plans to take a long-awaited and well-deserved vacation.

A longtime Zagat regular, the strip-mall restaurant was a trendsetter for South Bay in the mid-90's, serving Asian-inspired Californian fare with a knack toward using healthier ingredients. When asked about the closure, Gina Lee said she was very sad to be closing the restaurant, but felt good about the legacy it left in the area. Longtime regulars have been stopping by multiple times a week to get a last taste of the bistro's fare.

In the eatery's place will come a concept from Gaetano's, a local Italian restaurantthat has an outlet in nearby Torrance. The new place will commence a remodel by early January, with plans to open by Spring.

Do you have any lasting thoughts or memories from Gina Lee's Bistro? Leave them in the comments.