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Starling Diner

4.2 (2.3k reviews)
Closed • 8:00 am - 3:00 pm
Updated 2 months ago

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STARLING DINER ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for kids
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Starling Diner

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Egg white, crispy bacon and berries
Daphne B.

Met a friend here for a catch up. Oh boy did it exceed expectations. Food and service was fantastic. Cozy atmosphere. Will definitely be back.

Helen N.

Love going here. I've never had a bad item from the menu. Dessert bruschetta & scones are great appetizers. My biggest dilemma is whether i want something sweet or savory. Corned beef hash is very good. I've never had french toast with this style of bread anywhere else. It reminds me of lees sandwiches baguettes.

The Sonoma salad. Isn't it gorgeous? Tastes as good as it looks, too!
RoseEllen S.

Once upon a time, this Faerie Queen and some of her favorite partners in crime came here to have an amazing breakfast. We had French toast with berries, a classic breakfast, scones, and the Sonoma salad. All of the entrees were beautifully presented, delicious, and fairly priced. We are already making our plans to return. By the by, the scone was one of the best I have ever enjoyed- a bit of crisp on the outside and soft and scrumptious on the inside. The end.

Soyrizo, chorizo, cafe au lait
Lynnae F.

Super duper delicious. I had the soyrizo with potatoes and it was filling and pretty reasonably priced. My friend got the blueberry French toast and that was tasty too. Quick service and cozy diner vibes. It might be a little loud to chat when its busy but the charm is great. Make sure to come early to find Parking since its in a residential and be aware there might be a wait.

Breakfast polenta and eggs Benjamin
Clea S.

Had a wonderful breakfast at the Starling Diner. Too loud inside for me and they have outdoor seating. Had a great rapport with our waiter. Priced just right too. New favorite!!

San Fran stuffed French toast with seasonal berries
Danielle B.

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).

Stuffed french toast with caramelized apples
Patricia D.

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!

Lizette ..

I would rate this spot between 3-4 stars. The service is excellent, friendly and efficient. It is a very small restaurant with limited seating. There isn't space to wait which can be awkward. Tried the Irish coffee and crab cakes. Food was ok, the sauce was a bit too overpowering. Everyone seemed to be ordering the french toast. The staff work hard to keep things moving.

House Bloody Mary
Carrie S.

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.

Their popular stuffed French toast w/caramelized apples in Brandy butter
Sanny C.

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.

Selene A.

The host was incredibly rude. If I wasn't so hungry I would've gone elsewhere. Food was very underwhelming in both taste and portion size. There are far too many good breakfast spots in Long Beach to bother with this one.

Tara F.

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.

Blue Crab Cake & Eggs
Sara N.

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!

French toast

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Reviews are largely positive. Diners highlight the stuffed French toast, friendly staff, and a cozy neighborhood ambiance. Many also enjoy the creative drink options.

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We had a wonderful visit with great food and kind service in a beautiful environment. We will definitely visit again.

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Starling Diner Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Starling Diner

Is this a dog friendly restaurant?

As of a month ago, no dogs outside on patio due to an incident they had.

Is there a Kids menu?

Hi, I really did not check but most places have s kids menu. Sorry

Is it first come first serve or do you take reservations for a party of 7?

First come first serve

Is it still dog friendly?

Unfortunately no. Despite what their Yelp page says, it has not been updated to reflect they no longer allow dogs on the patio.

Will you be open on New Year's Day?

Are you open for dine in?

Yes

Are u open today?

We are closed today for 4 th of July observation

Is there public parking nearby?

Its on a residential street- tons of free parking

Are they currently for dine in with outside seating?

Yes

What vegan options are there?

They have a granola, or you can order a lot of the salads without cheese or meat on it. Not a ton of options, but there's still ways to work around it.

Do you really have vegan options? The last comment about vegan options was three months ago it stated there were no vegan options but the yelp pg says there are. I will be there in April with a group of friends so just want to know my options?

Yes we do.

Is this place dog friendly?

Yes, I've seen dogs outside since they have outside seating:)

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Creme De La Crepe - Long Beach - Dulce crepe with ice cream vanilla

Creme De La Crepe - Long Beach

4.0(1.6k reviews)
2.5 mi
•$$

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.

Photos
Creme De La Crepe - Long Beach - Latte

Latte

Creme De La Crepe - Long Beach - Steak frites

Steak frites

Creme De La Crepe - Long Beach - Filet mignon hash

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Filet mignon hash

The Ordinarie - Clam chowder cup

The Ordinarie

4.1(983 reviews)
2.7 mi
•$$

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.

Photos
The Ordinarie - View into the patio

View into the patio

The Ordinarie - Grilled Chicken Sandwich|ISM Beer

Grilled Chicken Sandwich|ISM Beer

The Ordinarie - Drink specific cocktail glass

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Drink specific cocktail glass

Ubuntu Cafe

Ubuntu Cafe

4.5(66 reviews)
2.7 mi
•$$

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!

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Ubuntu Cafe - Oak milk lattes with extra shot. Amazing!

Oak milk lattes with extra shot. Amazing!

Ubuntu Cafe - Interior decor  with products from Spain and Portugal

Interior decor with products from Spain and Portugal

Ubuntu Cafe - Drip coffee

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Drip coffee

Navy Proof Food & Spirits

Navy Proof Food & Spirits

4.2(95 reviews)
2.5 mi
•$$

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.

Photos
Navy Proof Food & Spirits - Bar area, love the chandelier!

Bar area, love the chandelier!

Navy Proof Food & Spirits
Navy Proof Food & Spirits - Pineapple Martini

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Pineapple Martini

The Attic - Avocado Toast

The Attic

4.2(8k reviews)
0.5 mi
•$$

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.

Photos
The Attic - Covered bar area.

Covered bar area.

The Attic - Chocolate croissant

Chocolate croissant

The Attic - Mac & Cheetos

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Mac & Cheetos

Starling Diner - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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