my partner and i live in the area, and love taking the occasional walk down to Starling for sunday brunch. depending on the time of day, or if there are holidays / local events (like graduations), there may be a wait; the staff is quick to bus tables when diners depart so a 30 minute wait may only end up being about 20. the place is quaint so try to come early or after the main brunch-rush if you don't want to wait long. as far as food..i love their french toast; it really satisfies my sweet tooth. my partner had the pot roast which was also lovely & tender. the mimosa was generously made. our servers have always been a delight, today was no exception. read more

See all

I passed by the diner hundreds of times as I live in the neighborhood. Today I decided to try it. It has that nice diner feel atmosphere. But that's pretty much all that impressed me. The service wasn't great because the servers or at least who looked to be the manager was very stressed out and projected that onto the customers. Which you never do. Service with a smile. Don't make the customer feel like they're an inconvenience to you. I ordered scrambled eggs it was about two eggs that were scrambled with some mushrooms and spinach. Came with a very small piece of French bread there was processed packaged butter on the side. we asked if they could just make a simple French toast and they said no, only the specialty types that they have on the menu. I didn't understand that? I mean if you are making a specialty type of French toast don't you have to begin with just regular French toast? I asked him if I could get a side of toast for my eggs and they said that they don't have toast only that French bread. What kind of diner doesn't have toast or the capabilities of making toast? It reminded me of a movie scene with Jack Nicholson. Honestly to spend $17 for two eggs a few potatoes a small piece of bread it's just not worth it. read more

Homey local diner without all the bells and whistles. Very standard breakfast/brunch offerings at a good price! Enjoyed a weekend brunch morning with my family here. Food was good, but a bit bland and dry. The pancakes were very sweet that made it a better 'share' dish than a personal one. I'd say standard wait time for food service, but I wish there were more assistance to help with coffee and water rounds. Plenty of street parking outside as this is situated in a neighborhood. read more

Our boss treated us to lunch for a coworker's work anniversary and he had heard great things about this place and decided to try it out. It's tucked in a neighborhood and so parking was pretty sparse but we found a spot about a block away. We came around 11:45 am during the week and we were able to get a table right away. Our waitress was very friendly and gave us some good suggestions on what to try. I ordered the roast beef and scrambled eggs-16.50, and my coworkers ordered the chorizo and apple sausage which are both $14.95. Our boss ordered for the table the San Fran stuffed French toast with seasonal berries ($14.99) to share! I really enjoyed my roast beef hash and potatoes on the side. The side of baguette bread I could have done with out since it was a bit harder to eat. The French toast was different with the baguette bread but I really enjoyed it since it didn't make the bread all soggy like other French toast can do( sad we had to share it lol). read more

See all

Was surprised to find that this little diner was located in the neighborhood would've never thought it would be here. There's plenty of street parking. We came just a little before they close got a symbol, scrambled eggs and corned, beef hash and honestly, I've had better hash didn't like how this one was prepared. It was like a burger, patty and a little too done on the outside for me in greasy. Also didn't like their breakfast potatoes, which were a huge chunks of Yukon gold potatoes felt more on the heavier side. The eggs were cooked nice and fluffy. It also came with a little piece of bread with some butter on the side. My friend ordered their basic breakfast, which is basically eggs, potatoes, and bread and at first both of our plates came out a little cold so they were nice to bring us new plates that were nice and fresh. The staff was very friendly. I probably come here again to try their other items. read more

See all

You need to order the French toast here. It's the best French toast over ever had anywhere omg. It's stuffed with a custard that's not too sweet but perfectly blends with the bread and it comes out warm almost every time. Also the bananas are super ripe it's so good. Their service here is also excellent they are very welcoming right when you walk in. I've been here a few times never had a bad experience. The inside is cozy small cafe vibes the tables are a little small but that's my only gripe. Other than that's this place is amazing and has a must try French toast. read more

Starling Diner - French toast - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

Cute diner in a house with great service, cool vibe and amazing food. It is street parking only, we cane a Friday at 10:30 and had a slight wait and a small walk but all manageable. We started with the house Bloody Mary which had a crab claw and a kick. The micro greens were cute but not sure they had an impact on the flavor. Big hit and we loved them. Makes me want to try some other options from their cocktail menu. The must-try hyped-up French toast was worth the glory bestowed to it! We got the caramelized apples with brandy butter. Waiter said the berry or peaches are his 2 favorites but we had already narrowed down to apples or the banana Nutella. Of those 2 he said apples so we got it! Short story they are all made with fresh baguette stuffed with mascarpone cheese topped with your choice of fruit and sweet options and fresh whipped cream. I tend to lean more savory breakfast and my hubby likes the sweet so this isn't normally my jam.... But the cheese is a perfect complement to all the sweet and is something I would get again for sure, which says a lot. We got the cheeseburger scramble which was hearty and fillings. Ground beef, cheese, mushrooms and scrambled eggs, simple, easy and yummy. I personally like my eggs salty and needed to add some but my husband thought it was perfect. It was served with yummy whole small roasted potatoes that were crispy but still soft inside, perfectly seasoned IMO. Also a small slice of fresh baguette with butter (and jam on table) was a tasty plus. In fact that bread makes me want to go back for lunch to get a sandwich. All in all it is a new top spot on our list and can't wait to go back and try another cocktail, a new French toast flavor and maybe the crab cake and eggs that I saw walk by. Great find. read more

See all

Food is delectable! The diner is charming! Service is superb! The staff are hospitable and prices are affordable! EAT HERE! If you're on the fence between this place and another, pick this diner! If you're worried about parking, parking sucks everywhere! Eat here! I had their basic breakfast with a side order of smoked salmon. It was perfect. The potatoes were seasoned well, and the scrambled eggs had a nice chew. Butter on a soft baguette will always be a yes for me! I also had their stuffed french toast with caramelized apples. The best french toast I've had to date. The baguette held up so well against the tender apples and creamy mascarpone. I highly recommend it! read more

Starling Diner - Stuffed french toast with caramelized apples - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

I had this place bookmarked for a very long time. Finally got the chance to try it. I heard that they are very popular for their French toast. So of course we gotta try it. The French toast here was very different from the ones I normally get. They used baguettes for their French toast. We got the Caramelized apples with Brandy butter. The apples were caramelized perfectly. It wasn't so sweet like other places that I have tried. Also, it was nice that there was still a crunch to it. The apples were not super soft and mush like most places. The mascarpone or cream cheese for filling was simple but yummy. Although, they executed this item well I still prefer the original French toast breads. I like my French toast on the softer end. Baguettes required more chewing since it was not as soft. Overall, I don't mind eating it again lol We also ordered the Egg Benjamin. This was a salmon Benedict without the biscuits. I do prefer it this way. They provided a bread on the side instead. It came with some potatoes. I like the potatoes they used, but I do prefer it to be steamed. The exterior was somewhat hard. I got tired of eating it. We tried the blue crab cake as well. It was yummy, but prob something to share. I usually prefer lumps of crabs in my crab cakes. The flavor was good, but we got sick of it quick. Not sure why. Maybe too creamy?? It was good tho. Coffee was good. Normal & fresh Service was ok Parking was not bad. read more

See all

We were able to arrive just before the brunch rush. We were able to try a few different things on the menu. The breakfast bruschetta was very interesting. So used to savory style but this sweet item was a treat. You can't go wrong with classic bacon and eggs. The banana and Nutella stuffed French toast was good. Not too sweet like some places. The blue crab cake and eggs were delicious by far a fave on the menu. read more

See all

We wanted to try a new breakfast spot, and this place was very cute. Its in the middle of a neighborhood, and they have outside seating available. You walk in, and it's like you were in grandmas massive country-style kitchen. They had bar seating for six (with two lower chairs) and plenty of seating around. I liked that they benched the front of the restaurant and followed it along the wall. I was surprised my partner didn't want to sit there! We decided to cover the menu and get a dish that was savory, and a dish that was sweet. They don't do regular toast here, which brings me to the sweet dish right away. They specialize in baguettes! Taking half of one, they stuff it with mascarpone, and it can be served with four different fruits. We went with the mixed berries, which were strawberries, blackberries, and blueberries, finishing it up with a spray of whipped cream, and you have their Stuffed French Toast! I was impressively tasty, as was my savory dish. I wanted to try their cheeseburger scramble, which was ground beef, eggs, cheese, and mushrooms. Talk about a great combination. It came with halved Yukon gold potatoes, perfectly crispy, and a slice of baguette with soft butter. Since it was a drinking weekend for me, I wanted to try their Cranberry Sparkle and it was so good. I honestly didn't know that there were more combinations for champagne than just orange juice. Needless to say, I enjoyed the drink, with a slice of orange to go with it. Aside from the amazing meal I shared with my partner, this spot killed when it came to price. We spent just a hair over 40 bucks with her having coffee, my drink, and our two shared dishes. I will definitely be coming back to this place because not only was the food wonderful, but the help was on top of things, and speed played a factor. read more

Cute little diner tucked away on 3rd Street. Find street parking in the area, be sure not to block people's driveways! They have outdoor and indoor seating. Been here a couple times. They have a variety of teas, coffees, sodas annnnnnd ADULT COCKTAILS. I've had their basic breakfast which is really good, their scones are house made so they're very soft in the inside. Their blue crab cakes are good BUT their French toast is AMAZING. Not too sweet, just the right amount of fruit, we got one for the table to share and I'm pretty sure I could have ate that all on my own. They're only open til 3 and it gets crowded on weekends so hurry over! read more

See all

Fast, dependable, consistent. Staff here is really friendly. I finally got a mimosa here and loved it. Starling is a time capsule of the millennial brunch craze and I hope they never change a thing. read more

Starling Diner - mimosas, peach and blueberry pomegranate - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

Very cute diner. Good vibes , good food. Walkable . We walked so I cannot speak to parking.

Delicious breakfast spot. It was super busy Sunday morning. Wait time was around 30 mins, however it's the spot to eat. They serve wine, beer, coffee and fresh drinks. I really enjoyed their water with the mint leaves it made my water really refreshing to drink. The food was delicious and the service was excellent! read more

Starling Diner - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

Tried diner with family who were visiting from TX to visit the aquarium. Pleasantly surprised at the ambiance, service and quality of food. Very quaint. Will definitely be back!! read more

The food was amazing as always. If you haven't eaten there, try it! Stuffed French toast OMG! Even the coffee is delicious. They have a nice menu too. Service has always been on point! They pay attention to their customers here! read more

This experience left a very bad taste in my mouth--and not just figuratively. To begin, I want to be clear that my server, Victoria, was pleasant, kind, and attentive. I have zero issues with her service, and I sincerely thank her for how she handled the situation. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was unacceptable. While eating the Breakfast Classic, I discovered a large piece of metal--specifically what appeared to be steel wool--in my food. I immediately alerted Victoria, who apologized and promptly offered to have the meal remade. When the bill arrived, however, I was charged full price, which was surprising given the circumstances. Nothing was offered to acknowledge the inconvenience or the seriousness of the issue. While the rest of my party continued enjoying their meals, I was left waiting after finding metal in my food. Victoria called the manager over, and I explained that I was disappointed nothing had been done to make up for the situation. His response was delivered very dryly: "Well, your food was remade, so the issue was addressed." There was no apology, no concern expressed, and no effort to make things right. The manager says I guessI can comp your meal, but I think I have already done enough. Like who says that?!? Serving food without metal in it is not a courtesy--it is the bare minimum expectation. Remaking a contaminated dish does not negate the inconvenience, the safety concern, or the disruption to the dining experience. Overall, I am extremely disappointed and expected far better handling of a situation this serious. read more

You need to scroll to the bottom of yelp and read the "unrecommended reviews." Those are more accurate that the 4-5 star reviews that pop up immediately. Mediocre at best. I ordered a basic breakfast and considered replacing the baquette with a scone or some fruit. I didn't want to add an extra $4 to my meal so I regretfully stuck with the given. Probably should have forked over the extra. Summary: Stale unnecessary large baguette, great eggs, overpriced apple sausage, english breakfast that taste like earl grey, bland potatoes... the worst part was the bread. Why would a place give a stale chunk of bread to compliment a breakfast? It ought to be sliced thinly and toasted like normal breakfast places. Our tab came out to $40 for tea, coffee, side of apple sausage, soyrizo scramble and a basic breakfast. Seeing as majority of my meal was disregard-able, it was a unsatisfactory meal. It was noisy, nicely lit, had lucky parking, okay service, uncomfortable seating/low tables, and interesting decor. Overall, if visiting Long Beach I wouldn't put this place on your list of must tries. read more

Great little neighborhood cafe. The breakfast bruschetta was a unique sweet treat that was absolutely delicious. The scramble was perfectly cooked, perfectly proportioned and just a simple excellent dish. Great small cafe ambience. There are a lot of good breakfast joints in this neighborhood, but this place is among them. Very good. read more

Food was amazing definitely coming back! Soup was fantastic can't wait to try another flavor. Looking forward to trying the French toast. I heard it's delicious. Going to try some of their scones seeing if they'll live up to the rest of the par. read more

Starling Diner - Dank drink. Da bomb diggty! I got the honey steamer. With almond milk! Love love it! - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

We got there early for a weekend breakfast a few weeks ago, just before they opened, we sat inside. Friendly service that was attentive. The place has a cozy, homey cafe vibe. The stuffed french toast is made with a baguette and was exceptional (5/5): fluffy, creamy, pillowy in all the right ways; the version with fresh berries was excellent and enjoyed by both adults & little kids. I had the slow-roasted pork scramble with caramelized onions (4.9/5): flavors were deep and rich, potatoes were flavorful, and almost perfect if the portion was a little larger. One item that missed the mark for us was the Breakfast Bundle (3.5/5) We asked our waiter for an explanation but he didn't really explain that it's basically a very small wrap. The wrap itself was reasonable, but nothing interesting; the simple mixed green salad that came with it was quite nice. The gravy had a slightly weird flavor (too much white pepper, or thyme, or something else?) that made us happy that we got it on the side. Neither adults nor kids really cared for it. Sorry, wouldn't order that one again. Overall we found enough to enjoy that I look forward to coming back to enjoy this nice neighborhood spot again soon. read more

Starling Diner - Breakfast Bundle - Starling Diner Bundles. Didn't care for the gravy at all. - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

Great spot. Service was solid here. Everyone was friendly, quick, and they actually make you feel welcome. The place has a relaxed, classic diner vibe that makes it easy to sit back and enjoy your meal. The breakfast bundle was the highlight: high-quality ingredients, perfectly cooked, and seriously satisfying. You can tell they care about the food here. Definitely coming back. read more

I was watching an older episode of diners, drive ins and dives and saw Starling was located in Long Beach and not to far from home and my husband really wanted to come try it. We were pleasantly surprised by the Cute diner, the service was great and the food was wonderful. We were lucky to be sat right away on a Sunday morning after our walk near by. Great experience we will definitely be back and try other things on the menu read more

See all

Probably one of the better diners in the area but mid in my opinion overall. I came here for brunch/lunch on a weekday. I was surprised how busy it was and it seemed like mostly locals. Starling is known for their brunch and lunch items. They have breakfast items such as different scrambles, a variety of stuffed french toast and signature items, sandwiches, and salads. Some items on the menu they have that other diners may not have are things like the blue crab salad and pot roast. But most seemed like items you would find at a typical brunch spot. I do like that they have different alcoholic drinks. For myself, I got their signature Eggs Benjamain which was poached eggs on top of sautéed spinach and topped with smoked salmon. It was served with some roasted potatoes. I wished the menu stated that it came with potatoes because I don't eat potatoes. It was mid and lacked some flavor. But overall it was okay. Probably wouldn't get it again. Service was great. The food came out quick and the waitress was nice. Although it was busy we got seated right away. Starlings is smaller and casual spot. They did have outside dining as well. Parking can be annoying since it is located on the street. You can park in the resident areas. read more

Starling Diner - Eggs Benjamin - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

Stopped in for my first time this past weekend and I enjoyed my breakfast more than I anticipated. It's tucked away in a sleepy, quiet neighborhood part of Long Beach, which I really like because they don't have a dedicated parking lot so it will be street parking, but it's very easy to find in this part of LB. I would not really call this place a diner. It's more of a local hidden gem breakfast spot. Don't expect a giant menu or a coffee counter or other things that you would see at a traditional diner. That being said the food quality is really good and I feel the prices are fair. Our server was also very nice and everything that we ordered arrived quickly after placing our order. They have a few tables outside, but most seating is indoors, but it is quite small so there may be a wait if there are large groups in front of you. I started off my meal with a Caramel Steamer, which is basically like a cappuccino, but with caramel flavoring. For my meal, I chose the Chorizo Scramble and honestly really liked it. It came with a baguette on the side, which was a unique addition and the eggs and chorizo combo really hit the spot. It was also a good sized portion, but I was still able to finish it all. I would definitely recommend this spot to anyone living in Long Beach or to anyone searching for a great local breakfast option. read more

See all

There was a line when we arrived. We put our name in and waited outside. It only took a few minutes before they told us a table was ready. We loved the atmosphere of a small restaurant. We were served water quickly. We quickly ordered the scones. They had just come out of the oven. They were delicious!!!! Then I ordered the stuffed French toast with Nutella and bananas. It came out hot and looked amazing. It was also very tasty. We had a great experience and will be back next time in Long Beach. read more

See all

Fast service - friendly staff and delicious food. Only one suggestion- cold bread is not pleasant to eat - would be better toasted or at least warmed in the oven read more

Starling Diner - Smoked Salmon & Caramelized Onion - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

Best scones ever! Soft & tasty. Wonderful coffee! Breakfast polenta was like a breakfast pudding what with the crème anglaise and whipped cream. It was hood, sweet, and I'll get. something else next time Comfortable eclectic cafe style interior with outdoor seating available. I'll be back! read more

I really love coming here because they have the most delicious Berry French Toast & great customer service from Oscar. The French toast are made with a French baguette with a cream filling accompanied with berries, crème brûlée sauce and whip cream. Soooo good! I also get their Bacon & Cheese scramble with potatoes which is also good but not better than the French toast. Their Lattes were also very good! I always try a different drink on the menu and that Iced Latte and the Hot Latte with the lovely art was soooo good too. I must say that Oscar is the best waiter here. He always has a a positive attitude, very helpful and ready to assist everyone. He's very good in helping all his tables and always has a smile while doing his job. This place is usually busy so it's normally loud with everyone's chattering. Overall a great place to have breakfast or brunch. read more

See all

My daughter and I split the stuffed French toast with berries--it was one of the most inventive spins on French toast I've had! I loved the chew of the baguette and the crème anglaise was plate-licking worthy! My husband got the crab cakes, which were good and all crab, just a small portion and a little overdone. It's a cute neighborhood diner, tucked away from the touristy joints. The staff were super friendly and welcoming. All in all, it was a delicious breakfast and we definitely would return! read more

Starling Diner - Stuffed French Toast Berries - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

They have the best French toast I have ever tried! It was so flavorful and different with the type of bread they use. The place is same in the middle of a neighborhood. Parking was limited but definitely worth it! The service was great, Victoria was such a great server. She was helpful and very attentive. I would definitely recommend this place to anybody looking for a breakfast spot in the area. read more

Starling Diner - French Toast Nutella & Banana - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

absolutely phenomenal breakfast service was lovely and inside was super duper cute!!! can't wait to come back could not recommend the delicious honey steamer more WOW read more

Starling Diner - Honey Steamer - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

Best breakfast in Long Beach hands down. Everyone I bring here says the same. Staff is amazing as well. You won't taste scrambles or stuffed French toast better than here I promise. read more

Starling Diner - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

Super friendly service. Quick to be seated. Reasonable prices. Beautiful decorations. Food was very tasty and delicious. read more

Starling Diner - French toast - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

Went for the first time on account of getting a gift card. A very pleasant experience! It was 8am on a Friday and we drove over from DTLB. Just know that parking needs to be found somewhere in the surrounding neighborhood and half of 3rd is closed on Thursday and Friday mornings due to street sweeping. I noticed the staff was quick to redirect patrons who had unknowingly illegally parked. Started with a mimosa. Less than $7 and real orange juice! Not your typical cheap sparkling wine with a few drops of orange. This is a legit drink! Had the roast beef hash. It is a beef hash formed into a patty? Unusual, but well done. Served with perfectly cooked potatoes. I would have preferred sunny side up eggs and rye toast, but don't think that was an option. My wife had the Healthy Start breakfast with salmon. Her fish was cooked to perfection! Overall, very good food and service with reasonable prices. Show up earlier rather than later because it appears that it will get busy within an hour or two of opening. read more

Starling Diner - Salmon and rice. The Healthy Start breakfast. - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

This is a cute little brunch diner in long beach. Parking is of course side street but if you get there early enough then it shouldn't be too bad. We had a few items we tried, my favorite was the prochutto with marscapone and berries. The blue crab cake was good too and the smoke salmon spinach was delicious. Would definitely like to come back here again. read more

See all

OMGOSH..., the cutest, tastiest cafe! I sat outside on their French bistro chairs/ table. It's located in a cute neighborhood where people walk by with their dogs. The menu has a lot to offer. Next time I'm going to order the Salmon Crudo bites.... I can see why there is a waiting line on the weekends. Wait staff 10, Ambience 10, Food quality 10.... read more

Starling Diner - I had the crab cakes with potatoes - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California

Trying a couple different breakfast nooks in Long Beach, Belmont Heights specifically. Some cute decor, the name is the best. We came at a time that they were not busy, which doesn't seem often as they have a podium outside the door to make a wait list. Tried the Peach Brandy Butter Stuffed French Toast, it was totally sweet. Like too much sweet. Create a savory French toast please! Starling Chicken maybe? Also wish they'd offer jam in a jar instead of these single use containers with high fructose corn syrup. I'll check back next visit! read more

See all

Yummy food, perfect portion presentation was nice and the servers are all so friendly and kind read more

Starling Diner - Chorizo Scramble French Toast Nutella & Banana - New American Near Me - Long Beach, California