STEPH JUDGEMENT: Good option for French-inspired eats in downtown LB…read more The hubby and I decided to stop in for brunch since we were in the area for the World Cup watch party. We'd been here a couple of times before, but only for drinks. The interior is quaint, with pretty typical Francophilic touches (pics of Parisian landmarks, etc). I decided on the Fit crepe, which is a buckwheat crepe filled with spinach and feta. Delicious, but the crepe was a bit dry around the edges. The drip coffee I got was great, however, and the hubby enjoyed his Veggie hash. Friendly service from the two servers, but they seemed a bit stretched--maybe it was more crowded than usual due to the watch party?

Found this place on the Aadvantage dining program. Parking is somewhat tight in the area so we…read moredecided to bus it on over. Not a super huge fan of French cuisine; however, the menu looked good and mostly reasonable prices. Restaurant is super cute with indoor/outdoor seating. We started off with a bottle of cab (41.00, ouch)! It was noted as a different brand on their menu and they came with a bottle of Josh Cellars which isn't a bad table wine but about 3 times the price! We ended up ordering the fondue for the app (24.00) which comes with bite size pieces of bread and diced apples. It was ok, a little too runny and had an interesting hint of beer flavor. Next up we both ordered the brie & prosciutto sandwich which came with a side of au gratin and greens. The sandwich was excellent but the potatoes were cold. We ended our meal sharing creme brulee for dessert. It was good but also served cold. Total bill incl tip: 163.00 bucks (double ouch)! Overall, meal and service was good, but I would forego the wine on a future visit as it was way overpriced for the brand we got as well as the cheese fondue. Will definitely be back though. Very comfy and charming atmosphere.

Came for dinner after hearing great recommendations from friends about this DTLB staple. Did not…read moredisappoint! Food was great and the ambiance is really beautiful, totally transported to a whole different location. Our server was Francis and he was phenomenal, we asked for his recommendations on starters and entrees and also for a wine. We first had the mint lemonade which was refreshing, and then had a Chablis bottle of wine to accompany the entrees. All in all, a great experience and I am glad to have finally tried this spot out! Shoutout to Francis!

Came for the Palestinian Msakhan--well worth it!! Ordered the beet and arugula salad, beet labneh,…read moreand the muhammara and pita as well... was all very delicious. Our server was Mary, who was very knowledgeable and attentive. Asked if it was our first time and introduced us to the menu. She made great recommendations and was super friendly--lovely staff all around. Highly recommend the baklawa + ice cream!! Save room... seriously Definitely will be returning again. Thanks! -- Adam & Liz

went for the first time and was welcomed with a smile as soon as i came in. I asked the barista…read morewhat the cinnamon dolce contained and though i don't recall at the moment, it was something that sounded delicious to me. He also shared that was his favorite drink. I ordered mine with whole milk and was satisfied with how balanced it was. The place was chill and overall a great experience.

I came here to grab a matcha and get some work done. I can't speak to the coffee, but the matcha…read morewas disappointing. It had clumps of powder, tasted watered down, and was overall just okay. I also needed to charge my laptop, but most of the outlets didn't work, and there was quite a bit of trash on the floor. On the positive side, the atmosphere was nice, the air conditioning worked well, and the staff were friendly. Still, I probably won't be returning.

I've only ever been to The Ordinarie for their holiday pop up events (Miracle and The Haunting),…read morebut have enjoyed myself thoroughly every time. Miracle is an amazing Christmas themed pop up with so many lights and decorations that it will dazzle your eyes. Think Christmas on crack from floor to ceiling in every space imaginable. Their holiday menu is pretty well rounded. I've had the burger and beet salad with grilled chicken before which are both excellent tasting. The holiday drinks are always really delicious and capture the essence of the holidays. The snowball old fashioned is my favorite every year. The ice is shaped into a snowball. This past weekend I attended The Haunting which is new this year. It was sooo fun. It's like Miracle but for everything Halloween related. Life sized ghouls and goblins with Halloween lights and decorations everywhere. The food menu seems to have similar items from Miracle but this year I tried the Chicken Pot Pie bites and they were really great tasting and had savory seasonings with a shallow gravy in the skillet. My only qualm with them is that they were not hot enough, just luke warm. We also tried the Hatch Chile Mac n Cheese, it was really good with a mild chile flavoring and not spicy but packed with flavor. If it's past 10pm they have a late night bites menu which is limited but gets you some tasty bites. The themed drinks were fun and came in a baby doll head, a cauldron, a clown face and other drinkware. The Liquid Lobotomy served in the baby doll head was my favorite because I love falernum rum drinks. The Poison Apple was another drink favorite and was old fashioned like. We ordered the pumpkin shots and were disappointed that they did not come in the take home shot glasses; they were out so they discounted the shots and our server Lucille said she told us but she didn't. These shots tasted great and I don't usually do shots. My friends and I all tried each other's drinks to see what we liked best and wanted to try next; they were all excellent tasting and it's fun to see how the drinks come together. Sometimes I'm reading the ingredients in a drink and I'm like how would these items come together and taste good, but they do. The bartenders are amazing at their craft. They don't take reservations past 4pm so it's first come first served. It was a Saturday night and the line was super long; we got it line around 8:20pm and got seated at 9:54pm. It's a timed experience just like Miracle and you get 90 minutes which is enough time for the full experience.

First of all, THE WORST experience EVER! I have friends in…read moretown and decided to take them out for a fun night. Started here with a few shareable appetizers and drinks. Everything was great until it wasn't anymore. Our server Alessandro was disappointing, lack of service, super unprofessional, and his attitude was unacceptable. 0/10 DO NOT RECOMMEND! Save your time and money.

The food was Delicious & they GREAT service!! The staff were super nice and very attentive.read more

Brilliant spot for breakfast on long beach ! the burrito was very good and very filling ! The staff…read moreare very friendly and welcoming. They also have nice outside seating area which doesn't feel crammed in.

Please do yourself a favor & try this establishment! We walked in on a Saturday afternoon 20…read moreminutes after brunch & were WARMLY greeted by Dani. She was soooo kind & walked us through the menu sharing that a few items were her family recipes which is AMAZING. I ordered the breakfast chilaquiles, my man got the avocado toast & the Millionaire bacon. You guys... I've had MANY a chilaquiles in my life & when I tell you this chilaquiles was the best I've had. I got it with braised short rib ugh ABSOLUTE chefs kiss! The chips I could tell were made in house, the short rib was perfectly tender/seasoned, & the egg was perfectly runny. My boyfriend's Avocado Toast was also really good & the avocado was like whipped & fluffy which he loved. AND the Millionaire Bacon WOW she was a thick body & the perfect balance of sweet & savory! Oh lord it didn't even stop there... Dani was so sweet she literally brought us the cheese bread out just to try it AND the guava/passionfruit mousse. I just have to say that is my new favorite dessert ever it was so refreshing but also not overwhelmingly sweet. We sat out on the patio because the weather was perfect but the restaurant itself is so cute & has an intimate kind of feel. I have to say that everything tasted like it was made with love & good intentions & that really came through in the food! We can't wait to come back to try their dinner menu!

Lovely neighborhood breakfast cafe with so many options. So quaint and a very attentive, friendly…read morestaff. I chose a steamy hot cappuccino and their Portuguese sausage with chilaquiles; delish! Hubby had a simple breakfast sandwich with egg, avocado, bacon and cheese; fabulous and filling. Fresh orange juice was amazing. We will definitely will be back to check out their baked goods. Wonderful outdoor seating, blankets included. Waterfall with duckies for kids to play with. Refreshingly decorated!

Food is so good and the service is great. I also love how it's pet friendly and I would definitely…read morecome every now and then. Especially for the matcha latte.

I have been to Zuzu's petals multiple times and every single time each food item has been amazing…read more I absolutely love their curious George Matcha (as well as their seasonal pear Matcha), and other seasonal drinks. Although the price is a little high, I do think the quality matches their prices. The line does get pretty long, but I feel like they move at a pretty quick pace and they're also not seating people if there's not space which I really appreciate. The Bailey's breakfast although simple in concept is probably one of the best from the potatoes, the scrambled eggs, and the jam & toast. The bacon is good, but sometimes is a little gaudy in taste so I suggest getting the soyrizo. Anytime someone is visiting from out of town I always suggest this place! A Long Beach breakfast/brunch staple in my opinion.

I never expected to find stellar cocktails and wings inside of a hotel, but you truly never know…read more Let's start with the cocktails; they are KILLING it. The menu has a ton of really detailed options, each drink with its own depth. The menu changes seasonally but what doesn't change is the smoked old fashioned - a must-order. They smoke your drink in a glass container using applewood chips; it's quite a show and it also does make the drink much more enjoyable. Ask the bartender and they can also help guide you to a drink - I've done it a couple of times and always pleasantly surprised. Next up, the food! The hummus was very flavorful and paired with an amazing fluffy pita bread. The truffle fries were solid but the plate was HUGE, definitely needs a friend to share. The Nashville wings are the star of the show. I cannot stress this enough, this is worth a DRIVE for. The seasoning really does remind you of Howlin' Rays (the highest compliment) and the chicken is extremely crispy yet insanely juicy. The pickles and ranch that it comes with pairs so well. Do note that they are tossing it in pork fat, which enhances the depth but also makes it a little greasy at the end. I also wished they'd warn you this and offer to order it without it; especially for those who don't eat pork or for those trying to cut some calories. There's a happy hour menu too!!! So you can get drinks and food even cheaper. I cannot stop thinking about this place. It's such a sleeper. Head to Midnight Oil after a visit to continue your night.

Navy Proof is the restaurant and bar inside the Westin Long Beach lobby. The open atrium with high…read moreceilings and large windows looks impressive, but in the early afternoon the sun made the space feel warm and greenhouse-like. The bartender was excellent. He went into the kitchen for fresh berries, muddled them with Tito's and soda, and made a genuinely refreshing summertime drink that helped with the heat...! I eventually ordered the Crispy Shrimp & Calamari to eat as my main (I was dining alone). I had recently had a very notable version of the same dish at a Canopy by Hilton in Washington DC, and unfortunately, this one did not measure up. The breading was average and the sweet chili aioli was poor. I asked for ranch instead, which was an improvement but still not great. The portion itself was fine. Service was solid and friendly! I'd rate the staff around a 4. Based on the food I had, the kitchen lands closer to a 2.5 to 3. Fine if you're already in the hotel and want something casual, but not an amazing choice for the fried seafood.

I live over on Second Street, and I'll tell you, it's easy to overlook The Attic, which is right…read morehere on Broadway. But let me tell you, this place is a real gem. Whether you're going for breakfast, lunch, or dinner, The Attic is one of those places that just has something special about it. They've got an outdoor patio, an indoor-outdoor patio, and a completely indoor dining area. Every space has its own personality. It's one of the most unique, eclectic restaurants you'll find in Long Beach. And if you love cornbread, oh my God, you have to try theirs! It's warm, buttery, served with honey, and absolutely delicious. I'm telling you, it's worth going just for the cornbread. The breakfasts are great. The lunches are great. The food across the board is fantastic. The bartenders are great. The menu has plenty of variety, and the whole place just has this incredible vibe. Imagine trying to find the restaurant with the biggest personality on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles. That's basically The Attic. There's a certain energy to this place that's hard to describe. It's the same way Palm Springs has its own energy, or Melrose Avenue has a certain feeling you can't quite replicate anywhere else. The Attic has that kind of magic. And the best part? The food actually lives up to the atmosphere. The menu doesn't disappoint, the service is great, and the entire experience feels like something you won't find anywhere else. To me, The Attic represents Long Beach in every possible way. Because that's what makes Long Beach special, right? We're not Orange County. We're not Los Angeles. We're Long Beach. We have our own personality, our own culture, and our own energy. We're a little eclectic, a little unexpected, and completely ourselves. And that's exactly the kind of experience you'll find at The Attic.

Having visited The Attic many years ago, I was excited to return, but this visit was…read moredisappointing--not because of the food itself, but because of poor communication, inattention to detail, and weak customer service. I ordered the vegan sandwich, advertised with a vegan patty, kale, avocado, vegan egg, and bread. I requested a lettuce wrap instead of bread and added tomatoes. After an exceptionally long wait, while nearly everyone else at my table had received their meals, mine arrived missing the tomatoes, vegan egg, avocado, and lettuce wrap. It was essentially a vegan patty on arugula, despite costing approximately $20. Mistakes happen, especially when restaurants are busy or ingredients are unavailable. The problem was the lack of proactive communication. The restaurant apparently had no iceberg lettuce and could only offer arugula, which would have been fine if someone had told me beforehand. The same applies to the missing ingredients; instead, I had to discover each omission myself. The avocado was brought out only after I asked about it, by which point the delayed meal had become frustrating. I eventually requested complimentary fries--not because I wanted something free, but because a gesture of goodwill seemed appropriate. Good hospitality isn't about never making mistakes; it's about how a restaurant responds. Offering alternatives, communicating shortages, adjusting the bill, or providing a small complimentary item can show customers that their experience matters. The Attic has been a recognizable Long Beach establishment for years, making this decline especially disappointing. I don't expect perfection, but I do expect honesty, reasonable communication, and an effort to make things right. I didn't mind paying $20 for a thoughtfully prepared vegan meal; I minded paying $20 for a vegan patty and arugula while repeatedly advocating for the ingredients that were supposed to come with it. Sadly, after many years of remembering The Attic fondly, this experience may have cost them a loyal patron.