I really like how they have a lot of unique flavors here to try and different things on their menus…read morelike sundaes. Early Grey (5/5); Very aromatic with a calm relaxing flavors. Looking to try new flavors!

BETWEEN THE REVIEWS w/ Rodney S…read more Q) Where did you go today, Rodney? A) I decided to indulge in some silky smooth, delicious ice cream. Can't think of a better ice cream shop than Van Leeuwen Ice Cream. Q) What makes Van Leeuwen Ice Cream so special? A) Rodney, Van Leeuwen whips up French ice cream. Meaning, twice as many egg yolks as the standard ice cream. Besides the custard base, Van Leeuwen utilizes simple ingredients, including milk, cream, eggs and sugar (vegan ice cream has oats, cashews, and/or coconut). I tend to avoid "ice cream" which has a plethora of various fillers/stabilizers and what not. I prefer real ingredients. Q) Rodney, do you recommend Van Leeuwen Ice Cream? A) For sure, Rodney! And, for those unable to visit standalone locations, Van Leeuwen is available in grocery stores nationwide, such as Sprouts. With real, natural ingredients, and double the amount of egg yolks, Van Leeuwen's French ice cream is an indulgent treat that isn't composed of unwanted ingredients. Highly recommend!

10/10. Vibes, food, and service. We took my son here with…read moreour friends and I was almost nervous based on how fancy the place seemed but the staff was extremely outgoing and friendly, making sure we got coloring pages, kids cups, and even gave him a dessert after our meal. Truly the best pizza and parppadelle wagyu pasta I've ever had. And I kid you not, one of the best iced teas as well. I can't wait to come back next time I visit long beach!

There's something quietly meaningful about a place where you share your first meal as a married…read morecouple, and Marlena made that moment really lovely. The pastas are delightful and the wine list is great, which honestly is all I need to feel good about a spot. My husband is a pizza person through and through, and even though Marlena is not really positioned as a pizza place, the pizza won him over completely. That says a lot. The ambiance is wonderful and the fact that it's mostly outdoors makes it dog friendly, which is always a bonus for us. The food across the board is just solid and well executed without trying too hard to be anything other than what it is. A really warm, genuinely enjoyable dinner in Long Beach and one we will likely be returning to.

My family and I was suprised and love this nutellla cake. It was velvettee delicious that melted in…read moreyour mouth. Theres a surprised crunch in the crunch. My daugther who celebrating her 19th birthday were really loved it. The service was fast and the server was very helpful! The place is inside Gelson by the entrance.

I tried a few things from Renaud's while staying nearby. For my first visit I had a mini lemon tart…read moreand one of their small easter chocolates, which were on sale after the holiday. The lemon and meringue in the tart were very good: the citrus had a nice bite to it, it wasn't too sweet. I found the pastry a little thick, but that is sometimes an issue when making miniature tarts, as the pastry to filling ratio can get off-balance. The little dark chocolate bunny was ok, but honestly not any better than most retail chocolate bars for a much higher cost. On my second visit I stopped in on a morning for a matcha latte and ham and cheese croissant. The croissant was flaky and had a good balance of ham and cheese. They warm them up and it was the perfect temperature. The matcha latte was very disappointing, though. I didn't end up finishing it and threw most of it out. It was bright green, but had no real matcha flavor to speak of. Instead it tasted overwhelmingingly of vanilla. So much so that as it cooled it reminded me of drinking melted vanilla ice cream. I don't know if they use vanilla syrup by default as their sweetner, because I didn't ask for it, but if so it's an odd choice to make without telling people. Overall, a bit of a mixed bag.

Fantastic pies! I've been four times this year and it's only July! The staff are lovely and…read morehelpful. They encourage you to order ahead, and their website is straightforward and easy to use. You don't have to order ahead, but know they might sell out of your pie. First visit was to sample pies for a birthday celebration. I got the marionberry, salted caramel (GF) and raspberry dream. On the second trip for the actual birthday pie, I picked the salted caramel b/c the group is a chocolate crowd. Third time, just wanted pie! Also sampled the cutie pies in the jar... I don't think the mini pie made it home lol. Today (#4 visit) I was craving the raspberry dream and wanted to try the apple pie. My current ranking of pie I've tried is: 1. Raspberry dream, 2. salted caramel, 3. White chocolate raspberry (cutie pie), 4. marionberry (nicely tart, full of berries but a bit dry, went well with ice cream), 5. whiskey peach (too much crust, not enough peach, not very peachy). The shop has some seating but I only saw one group seated once. I always took my pies home to enjoy. There is plenty of street parking (metered, 15 min free), and here is a parking structure around the back of the block (2 hours free).

Nice assortment of both sweet and savory pies! We came for dessert, but the pies didn't quite hit…read morethe mark for us. We love a thick, yummy pie crust, but these were a bit thin and bland. The Lemon Lavender Pie was a little too subtle on lavender. The Key Lime Pie lacked that tart, tangy punch. Unfortunately, the overall flavors felt a bit underwhelming, especially considering the price point and relatively small slice sizes. On the positive side, the service was friendly, and the shop had a cozy atmosphere with board games available for customers to enjoy. Seating inside is limited, and parking can be a bit of a challenge.

This was such a great experience! My friend and I were curious to try out Miracles and we are not…read moredisappointed. The cake we got (Honey Cake) was perfectly balanced and not too sweet! My friend got the Purple Miracle drink and I got the Whipped Honey Latte. Absolutely fabulous! 10/10 would recommend. My friend and I agree when we visit down here we will be coming back. The service was also amazing as well. He brought out an extra fork for us when we asked and a knife for my friend and I.

The man behind the counter (owner maybe?) was very friendly and offered suggestions of customer…read morefavorites on my first visit. I decided to try the cocoa honey cake, which looked amazing. I've never had this style of cake before so maybe I didn't know what to expect but it was quite dry. I think if I had ordered a tea to go with it I would have enjoyed it more, as the warm liquid would have balanced out the dryness of the cake, so perhaps that was my mistake. The coffee menu has a good variety of latte options. The matcha menu is more limited, and they also offer a small variety of hot tea. Indoor and outdoor seating is available, and the staff member brought my order to my table, which was a nice touch for an order-at-the-counter cafe.

The pistachio ice cream was absolutely delicious, smooth, creamy, and full of rich flavor. You can…read morereally taste the quality of the ingredients in every bite. Thank you! Their desserts were just as impressive, beautifully presented and perfect if you're craving something sweet after a meal. The pahlava was amazing, fresh, flaky, and perfectly sweet with great flavor. Everything tasted authentic and made with care. The shop has a welcoming atmosphere and friendly staff, which made the visit even better. I'll definitely be coming back the next time I'm in Long Beach!

I've been here a few times already and would recommend others visit too…read more So far, this place has been the only one I've tried Turkish ice cream from, but I can say I really enjoyed it. The ice cream wasn't too sweet and it had a smooth, yet chewy texture. The interior is cute and colorful. I appreciate when places aren't afraid of colorful interiors and exteriors in an age when more and more places opt for that minimalist look. Unfortunately, there isn't much indoor seating available. The service was quick and friendly. They also allow you to sample all the different flavors!

Really excited to see Holey Grail has arrived in Long Beach! I first tried their donuts in…read moreHonolulu, and these mini treats are just as amazing. Each one is packed with flavor, making you wish you had ordered a dozen instead of just one or two. Given their size, I'd recommend two donuts per person. They bake everything fresh to order and offer a wide variety of flavors, and the staff is welcoming and helpful when recommending what to try. With plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, it's also a great spot to work remotely or catch up on emails. Also make sure to check out their cute merch items when you're waiting on your order!

You can no longer find the holy grail here on 2nd Street, Belmont Shore. This brand came from…read moreHawaii but looks like the other locations here in the Southland have been marked as closed. What made them different is they used taro flour and cooked them in coconut oil. Some of their flavors were tropical. Now I can write about how the oil smell emanating from the store made me nauseous whenever I passed by during business hours. It's weird because I didn't think bad of the donuts themselves and could stand to eat them. I will say after having them on two prior occasions, they made an impression on me when they participated in the yearly Belmont Shore chocolate festival. They offered a freshly chocolate glazed donut. It was so delicious having it fresh as opposed to letting it sit and have later. Thanks for the memories! I won't forget you, Holey Grail!

The ice cream flavor options will not disappoint!! It's not on the sea, BUT your taste buds will…read morefeel like you're on a luxury seaside vacation cause Seaside Creamery delivered!!! So many unique options to try, I had such a hard time choosing so I can't wait to come back for more. The split scoop is the way to go! Pablo & Karla were so wonderful, very warm and friendly staff! Simple, beach boho vibe inside. They had minimal seating with a small parking lot, but I think I found my new go to sweet treat spot. They also sell pints to take home!

Not friendly. I know…read moreyou remember me Tuesday around 4 PM. This is the second time I've come in and made the exact same request. My kids eat very small portions of ice cream. I never asked for a discount and was happy to pay full price. All I asked was for a smaller scoop. Both times, the shorter male employee looked at me like I was asking for something ridiculous. He acted confused and annoyed over the simplest request. This time was even worse. He scooped ice cream that was already melted around the edges. I politely asked if he could scoop from the part that wasn't melting, and he replied, "Oh, it's buttercream," as if that somehow made it acceptable. Then he did the exact same thing with my daughter's ice cream. The ice cream was already melting before we even walked out the door. What disappointed me even more than the melting ice cream was the attitude. If you don't enjoy serving customers especially families with children maybe customer service isn't the right job for you. I still left a tip. Not because the service deserved it, but because I genuinely felt sorry for your attitude.