The Wicked Wolf is a kind of place that offers the opportunity for whimsical mischief. For…read moreinstance, they have a rooftop area. And this one time I was there alone with another, no other patrons just staff members walking around from time to time. We stole the moment to dance under the Long Beach sky, just the two of us as a famous Christina Perrio song gently wafted in the night breeze. At another separate time, I was at the Los Angeles County Fair with another. We rode the ferris wheel at such a time where our gondola stopped at the top just as the sun set. The moment was nothing but beautiful and life affirming because the sinking of the sun's light was like a real life video of nature happening in front of us, unburdened by static or data stall. We witnessed nature resting, and I feel, that it was a kin to a beauty falling into a gentle sleep. These two instances have a common factor: momentary bliss arrived to bless an experience because the environment supported discovery of unplanned joy. That is what I associate with the Wicked Wolf, and this time the joy arrived eventually because when my Mom and I arrived to their high tea on Mother's Day the experienced seem like it would land nowhere good. Truth be told, my mom and I arrived 15 minutes early and there was no host in the stand and the place was empty except for a foursome. The energy felt lacked luster. One or two minutes after, the bartender informed us that we were early and the host would come soon. We sat in an available sofa for two, a loveseat persay. This gave us an opportunity to admire the decor that transported us to a storybook forest where good fairies reside, not like swamp creatures and trolls with malevolent fangs and dragon green eyes. I especially loved the large roses in the ceiling. To set the stage, the black ceiling had vines hanging from it, and the few roses were pops of crimson red displayed above.These were wonderful accents to the central mural of the joint that invited the viewer within deeper into the fairy forest where a light shone on an unseen meadow. The place had the decorations and general environment to be a lavender fairy's lounge, but, it did not fully work as a team room. For instance, my mom and I were sat in another lover's couch. Initially, I did not want to sit here because we were given circular tray sets. So imagine being told to sit in a couch, and each of us would get a tv tray. So I was left to wonder if we were going to be served tea in Belle's living room or if were going to watch a flick as we ate pollo loco bowl? But then as I settled into the tranquility of the moment, saw more people come and find their seat or couch, and as the serviced picked-up I realized that this was high tea in a place that had taken disjointed beauty and tackied it together for a patched tea experience that worked well. It was like the experienced was blessed and allowed by the same spirit that brought forth Raggedy Ann. For instance, the pictures show these pretty violet petaled tea cups and matching plates. This pairing was dainty and perfect for a tea party happening under pink veils. But then the sugar cubes came in a hedgehog shaped holder which was just as precious as seeing a piglet in a carriage built for one. Then the cream carrier was in the shape of a milk carton. I wondered where the missing child portrait was? The pastry plate was in the shape of a tropical flower like the ones scattered all over Hawaii. It belonged in a beautiful lei. Each of these elements was cute in its own delicate and whimsical way but together they made an eclectic hodgepodge, not a coherent tea set. And in this asymmetry laid the glitter of their error. The host also brought these clip on dainty hats that were perfect touches for make believe tea party. He carried them around in their original packing, including the box they came in. Not exactly the tailor of the queen, offering hats to the villagers as a gift from her to them, but still the effort magnified the moment. The tea food was the worst stumble that Red took as she was being chased by the Wicked Wolf. To begin with the end analysis, the tea offerings in general were standard, and not bites fit for a princess and her wedding court. For instance, the cream cheese and cucumber sandwich was just that---- a cucumber and cream cheese sandwich. I detected no effort to make it more than that. The blueberry scone was solid, nothing to skip through a meadow about. But once you added the jam of the table to the scone it was much easier to enjoy. I also had a madeline that was fluffy in the center but could have been purchased maybe at Costco. I had a Macaron and same thing, delicious but I have had something similar before and I suspected that it did not come from a place afloat with Parisian affairs. The best part of the tiers was this puff like thing that had like a Concha texture and design at the top. It was a sweet filled bite that was fit for a man made of muffin.

My sister and I took my mom to Sunday tea for her birthday…read more Cute place and the food and tea were delicious. But sadly my mom could not hear us, due to the music being so loud, we did ask twice if they would turn it down a little to no avail. That is too much money to spend, to not be able to hear each other. We had to hurry out because she was getting frustrated.

ALTER EGO wasn't even on my radar until tonight, and now I'm wondering how on earth did I miss this…read morelittle slice of date‑night gold? HELLOW! This hidden gem lives inside the newly renovated Fairmont Breakers in Long Beach, and for all my Fairmont regulars: relax, you're in good hands, their world-renowned elegance remains intact. PARKING Valet is only $10, which in Southern California basically qualifies as a love language. (Note to Fairmont Breakers Management: Listen up, my friends! Please keep it that way, gas is $5.97/gallon and my wallet is already in therapy.) I handed the valet a $5 tip before I even stepped out of my car, just so I could glide into the lobby feeling like a full‑blown princess making her grand entrance. Before you leave, you simply pay the valet in cash or card and they'll have your car right there before you can even blink. AMBIANCE Walk in and boom! A towering, beautifully decorated Christmas tree greets you like it's auditioning for a holiday movie. Check out my photos; the whole lobby whispers one word: sophisticated. Oooh, I love that tree! Hang a right, stroll to the end of the hall, and you'll find ALTER EGO, a dark, cozy lounge that feels like the perfect hideaway for a date where you actually want to hear each other talk. Live music starts at 7 PM, the bar closes at 10, and honestly... that's ideal for those of us over 50 who consider 10 PM the witching hour for pajamas. Rob Fontana was performing tonight, and his music was so good I found myself time‑traveling back to the good old days. Every song hit, Rob. Good job! SERVICE Our server, Nia, was a star. Attentive, sharp memory, and smooth service all the way through. Zero notes. FOOD The menu is small, so if you show up ravenous, pace yourself or plan to Uber home after a cocktail‑heavy evening. I'm allergic to cheese, so I had to double‑check ingredients, but the Mushroom Flatbread was outstanding, flavor was superb and the best part was they did not skimp on the mushrooms! A+ for that. I also tried the Prosciutto di Parma with melon, which is a strange combo for a California girl... but hey, I never said I wasn't a weirdo. Drinks are not my thing since I enjoy company without alcohol's help, so I can't help you with that. DATE‑WORTHY OR NOT? Absolutely. Alter Ego gets a double thumbs‑up from me and a strong recommendation for your next Silver Singles date. It's easy to find, the seating is comfortable (even for those of us with backs that like to complain), and they even offer tube pillows for extra support. Tell me that's not romance.

Went there for girlfriend time! Nice ambiance…read more I ordered the mushroom flatbread and thy used the nice mushrooms,not the white button mushrooms. Service was good, we had a great server. The only thing I wish is they have a little bigger menu.

First visit was a huge surprise and success. Drinks were exceptional- real treats with unique…read moreflavors. The venue is beautiful and on point with theme. We tried the dumplings and shishito peppers which were tasty and presented equally as well as the drinks. We will be back with friends and out of town guests when we want to impress with a great time.

Pricey but tasty drinks with a cool, intimate (both quiet and small) vibe…read more Went for after dinner drinks - was sat and served right away. Apparently you typically need reservations, but we showed up on a weekday so guess it worked out. Had a few drinks - old fashioned type drinks to things with baiju (no bueno in a bueno way). Would consider coming back for a drink or two - but not a place to pound drinks considering the price. Might be a good date-y vibe place considering its uniqueness.

False Advertising and Total Failure of a "Speakeasy"…read more This place should not call itself a speakeasy. According to their website, they are strict about dress code, reservations, and no large parties. None of that was enforced. People arrived wearing sports clothes, tennis shoes, and flip-flops, and a group of more than 10 people was allowed in. That group was loud, drunk, and screaming, completely destroying any speakeasy ambiance. We had a reservation booked one week in advance for 2 tables of six, yet by 8:30 pm, we were told no food was available, despite the bar being almost empty. The water was already on the table when we arrived and tasted strongly of chlorine, with no ice. The waitress was clearly new, untrained, and unprepared. She did not know the menu, didn't know how to take an order properly, and provided no guidance whatsoever. There was one bartender Ricardo, who took over an hour to prepare cocktails and showed no sense of urgency or care. The dramatic cocktail descriptions sounded impressive, but the drinks did not match the descriptions at all. Because of the delays, we were never even able to properly toast or celebrate our friend. The charcuterie board took forever and arrived with an absurd amount of cheese and only six pieces of bread. To make things worse, part of the food we ordered never arrived at all. The live jazz band advertised and promised never showed up. When asked, the staff responded with: "I don't know, they were supposed to be here. I don't have their phone number." That level of disorganization is unacceptable. At the end of the night, we were shocked to receive a check close to $600 for two tables, despite each person only having one cocktail and shared food. The bartender, Ricardo, approached us and said: "Well, sorry, we really tried tonight! It wasn't the best, but we tried." Honestly, that comment made the experience even more frustrating. I can't imagine how bad it would have been if they hadn't "tried."That statement perfectly summarizes the problem -- trying is not enough when everything fails. I would not recommend this place for a speakeasy experience. This is not a speakeasy. It's a poorly run bar hiding behind a concept it does not deliver. Do not recommend.

I give it a 1 because 0 was not an option. Absolute disaster. Avoid this place at all costs. What…read morewas supposed to be a classy night celebrating a 50th birthday turned into a complete nightmare. This is not a speakeasy, it's a tiny, rundown bar pretending to be something it's not. The staff was inexperienced, dismissive, and unprofessional. Drinks were outrageously overpriced and took forever to arrive. The food was a joke, a $60 charcuterie board made up of cheap grocery store cheese, ham, and crackers that didn't come close to justifying the price. We were served warm water that tasted like chlorine, and the response from staff was literally "I don't know, I just work here." At one point both waitresses vanished, leaving the bartender overwhelmed and everything grinding to a halt. The live jazz band they advertise never showed up, and staff had no explanation or contact info. The so-called dress code was completely ignored, with groups in jeans and sneakers flooding in, turning the place loud, chaotic, and classless. This place delivers nothing it promises. It's not a speakeasy, it's a poorly run bar that shouldn't be in business. Strongly do not recommend, and honestly, I want my money back.

Small speakeasy hidden in an alley. The food was actually very good and memorable…read more The Oysters were one of my fav Kumamotos, fresh and flavorful but they could've been rinsed a bit better. Pork Buns were a good tasty bite, and the sushi was surprisingly really really good. Cool place to check out for some small bites and cocktails!

I've heard so much about this place. A little hidden speakeasy with the entrance just off a little…read morealleyway. You could walk by it and not notice it. A little lantern above is the where the door is. Buzz the doorbell for entrance. We had a reservation for Friday for drinks and maybe food. When we walked in, the hostess was very sweet. Our seating area was right when you walk in. A seating area along the corner and some ottoman. I didn't expect the place to be quite small. There's a couple of tables along the side and the bar area with seating. That's mainly it. And it was quite dark which was fine. Did have to turn the phone flashlight on to check out the drink menu..lol... Showing our age...lol... They specialize in Japanese style handcrafted cocktails. Menu did offer some unique drinks, a twist of a lot of classic drinks. Some were quite pricey compared to others. Besides the drinks which is what this place is known for, they did have some small bites on the menu. We didn't have any besides the edamame which I say was delicious. As it's known for drinks that what we came for. There was good amount of us so a lot of the choices were made and tried. Drinks didn't take long to arrive but first impressions. They didn't looked like anything major. Honestly they looked like a glass of water. Some had the trimming with the salt, while others was basically a massive ball of ice that took over the glass. They're known for their drinks which I must say people love it here. They were strong which you get your moneys worth. The fun details and illustration of the cocktail menu was great. Each had their own different taste. Besides all the drinks we ordered, they were good and strong. But for the place, it was ok. A small intimate room with limited 90 minutes seating for each booking. Im not sure if walk in was available. The bar seating is quite tight. Food that came out did look quite tasty. Their small bites so a few dishes would be needed. Edamame was tasty which I do recommend. But when it comes to the drinks, some was good while some was just whatever. It's strong so that's a plus. They're pretty tight with staff. I think there was just the hostess and the two bartenders. It's a fun little spot for cocktails. I can say I've been now.

This has become my home bar. It's a great spot for locals to hang and make friends, but also I've…read moremet lots of people who drove from LA to have a Long Beach day, which is fun. Definitely worth it! The vibes are unmatched. It's a unique blend of "top notch cocktail crafting" and "beer and a hot pretzel after work." You can dress up, you can dress down, it's very 'just be yourself' which I love. I've literally had caviar AND hot dogs there in the same night at an event. They know how to blend high/low. Incredible knowledge and ingredients but not snooty patootie. Super inclusive and fun, with cool popups and events happening all the time. It's a full bar so you can get any cocktail you would normally order if you're keeping it simple, or beer, wine, boilermakers, etc. There's a span of offerings and price points, so something for everyone. (Also really good N/A cocktails!) The menu is super inventive and creative! And the cocktail menu changes out every so often so there are new things to try. This area is vintage vibes and Baby Gee speaks it fluently. Really cool decor, curated by the owners who design everything from the playlist to the cocktails to the invention of never-before-seen flavors and shapes of jello shots. Try the Baby Gee appletini while you're there. Mezcal, tequila, sake appletini you ask?? Yes. Trust. And get a hot dog. Do it.

This is definitely a place with a very Long Beach vibe (so it really depends on what you think…read moreabout Long Beach in general). The seating is a little funky, but the drinks are solid. The food is definitely bar food that's ideal for late night eats while buzzed, and the service is fast! Food: 3.5/5 Drinks: 4.5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Value: 3.5/5 Overall: 4/5

Love the remodel vibe, and the views are spectacular. We arrived a few minutes after opening, there…read morewas an option for indoor bar service or outdoor. We opted to go outside, and service was fast and friendly. We sat and enjoyed the views and weather and this place quickly got busy with many people. Some were casual and some ready for a night out. The views of long beach are fantastic with this perfect sunny weather this place is a must.

This is where all the cool kids go for drinks…read more You are - literally- at the top of a classic building in Long Beach. The vibe is upscale mellow. The drinks are crazy pricey. But , what the heck, it's very cool

Came here on a Saturday night to celebrate my boyfriend's birthday, and we were super impressed…read more Everything we ordered was amazing, and the service was great! Definitely recommend, we can't wait to go back!

First and foremost, our server was Ce and she was amazing! Super attentive and very funny but…read morehelpful. Recommendations were great and it was pretty fast! The SMOKED TRI TIP HASH blew my mind. A base of fingerling potatoes that everyone loved. Stacked with bacon and tri tip. Topped off with bits of broccolini, eggs and a chipotle sauce. It was deeeeelish! The cocktail VIOLETS REVENGE was not too sweet and very good! The ESPRESSO MARTINI was also perfect! Loved it! Overall very nice place to go. Pretty and yummy with great service. I really enjoyed my birthday brunch!

Good food, but as a Canadian I think poutine needs the real unpasteurized cheese curds. Their…read moreGorgonzola version with mushroomswS pretty good. I give it a solid 8/10. It did make me miss the greasy spoons in Montreal. Service was beyond exceptional. I highly recommend coming here for a drink, some appetizers or a meal. What a treat!!! Ambience is classy but also casual. The most important part was that its dog friendly. Definitely come by because places like this are RARE.

My husband and I have visited 908 four times before, and unfortunately our past experiences were…read moredisappointing. One visit we waited over 40 minutes without being acknowledged, another time our order came out wrong, and another time the food arrived cold like it had been sitting for quite a while. Because of that, I honestly did not want to come back tonight. But I was craving a good steak, and after my husband suggested giving 908 another try, I reluctantly agreed. I noticed the filet mignon on the menu paired with broccolini and decided to go for it. From the moment we walked in, the experience felt completely different. The hostess was warm and welcoming and seated us immediately. A young man came over right away with waters and took our drink order, which already surprised us in the best way. Then Alex S came to our table, and he truly made the night exceptional. He was friendly, attentive, and incredibly helpful in making sure my order was exactly how I wanted it. I mentioned that I didn't want a large piece of butter melting over the steak, and he happily accommodated that request. He even checked on the exact ounce size of the filet for me, which I appreciated. We ordered the Brussels sprouts appetizer, and honestly, they were the best Brussels sprouts we've ever had. Perfectly cooked, not drowning in sauce, and absolutely packed with flavor. My 8 oz filet mignon was cooked perfectly medium rare, exactly as ordered. The broccolini was crisp, fresh, and not overly oily. Everything tasted thoughtful, balanced, and worth every dollar. Most importantly, Alex S delivered spectacular service from start to finish. We were genuinely shocked to learn this was his first night shift because he handled the dining room with professionalism, warmth, and confidence far beyond what we expected. Thank you, Alex S, for completely changing our impression of 908. Tonight's experience was excellent, and for the first time, we are actually excited to come back. Thanks again, Jed Dornoff

Firstly, I enjoy how the entry is very speakeasy vibes; where you try to find it and you start to…read morefeel unsure if this is the entry nicely done. The ambiance of the wooden tables and the total feel was cozy and welcoming. Once seated at the bar, we were greeted immediately by a very awesome Mixologist/Bartender! Amazing banter A+++++ Service The drinks : My Whiskey Sour was delicious, it had the perfect balance of sweet to sour notes. We also had the old fashion yes. May I have another, soo good. And, this place has a couple games to play and on some nights entertainment, which is pretty cool but on this night I only partake playing some pool. Overall, the drinks were crafted wonderfully, and I would recommend this lovely joint!

1 Star - Worst Experience I've Ever Had at a Bar…read more I've been to The Blind Donkey in downtown Long Beach before but what happened last night deserves to be shared. I came here with a friend last night and ordered a blonde beer that tasted completely off -- it genuinely tasted like blue cheese. My friend encouraged me to ask for a replacement since something was clearly wrong with it. When she brought it to the bar, the bartender told her he'd replace it and that it was on the house, but then made her pay for the second drink anyway. If I had known she'd still be charged, I would've just not asked for another drink. When I came up to the bar to clarify why she paid for something he said was comped, the bartender backtracked and said he "didn't mean" that. I asked if they could void the second charge, since this was supposed to be a simple replacement. He kept explaining that he is charging us for this second one because it was not a blonde, it was a white ale. I told him that's fine, but why did he say it was "on the house" and now charging us anyway? He ended up bringing over the manager. The manager was a short, Latino man with a hat on. He was incredibly rude from the moment he arrived explaining the beer was a blonde- which I know what I ordered, but tasted whack. He didn't look at us, didn't listen to anything we were saying, and without asking a single question he grabbed both drinks we paid for and dumped them down the drain. We were stunned -- we paid for both of them and now had nothing. When he came back, I calmly told him we paid for both drinks he just threw out. His response? "Don't expect to come here and get free drinks." Which is wild considering we never asked for anything free -- we were just trying to get the mistaken charge fixed. When I told him he needed to void the drink he dumped, he called security on us. We weren't loud, drunk, or confrontational. Security refused to give us the manager's name, and only one finally whispered "Ken," though at that point it felt like they were just saying anything to get us out the door. I've worked in customer-facing roles before. I understand dive bars aren't known for luxury service, but this wasn't about service -- it was about basic respect, integrity, and not charging customers for drinks you throw away yourself. I'm leaving this review as a Long Beach local, it's saddening to see how a popular bar like The Blind Donkey treats their customers. This was the worst experience I've ever had.