Peter Sachs has had a varied gastronomic...

Peter Sachs has had a varied gastronomic career, from working at the Russian Tea Room in New York City to running several restaurants in West Los Angeles.

Sachs now has a place to call his own, the Dakota Cafe in Hermosa Beach, a place of white tables ringed with green booths. Given his varied background, perhaps it’s not surprising that the menu is eclectic.

A good appetizer is the quesadilla ($5.50), filled with grilled mushrooms and oozing with creamy

Brie cheese. Dakota chicken lips ($4.95), grilled strips of chicken breast marinated in olive oil, basil, white wine and garlic, are quite popular. Another whimsically named meal opener is the Bermudafish chowder ($3.50), a broth made with clam juice and tomato sauce, loaded with shrimp, clams, garlic and basil.

For the taste of a comforting old standby, try the macaroni with three cheeses ($5.95), made with Cheddar, mozzarella and Jack and served with a variety of grilled vegetables.

The sandwich selection includes Yucatan sausage and peppers ($5.95), grilled duck and chicken sausage with red and green peppers, and a mozzarella sandwich.

Although several main courses are on the menu, including an assortment of grilled Jody Maroni sausages ($9.95), served with vegetables, fennel kraut and red potatoes, the most popular entrees are the daily specials listed on the blackboard. One might be the spicy fish tacos ($8.50). Swordfish, shark, scallops or shrimp are grilled with Cajun spices, stuffed into red corn tortillas, then topped with green salsa, chopped tomatoes and grated jack cheese. This colorful dish is accompanied by black beans, rice and guacamole.

Another recent special featured linguine with salmon, shrimp, mahi-mahi, broccoli, mushrooms, leeks, tomatoes, garlic and basil ($10.95).

During the week the Dakota is open only for dinner, but on the weekend it is open all day.

Dakota Cafe is at 316 Pier Ave., Hermosa Beach. (310) 374-6577. Open 5 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday. Beer and wine served.