Located in a 'hip' area of Long Beach there are many restaurants and shops to explore here, including the Art Theater which isjust down the street on the other side. There are 3 areas to dine at Tarantella: on the sidewalk up front; indoors (bit toasty) or outside in their back garden. We opted for the back garden on the advice from departing diners. We came close to 7pm on a Saturday and arrived with a group of 4 and another group of 2 waiting to be seated. We all went to the garden and it became quite clear that they were understaffed. A table next to us made it obvious: 3 of them had their food (getting cold) while two waited and waited. Once we (finally) got some water, wine and some focaccia, our food orders arrived quickly. The focaccia was not great in my opinion - too moist; but my dining companion enjoyed it. The Calamari Appetizer was very good. Crispy, non greasy pieces of calamari (not enough tentacles which I like but I get it that most people don't want these) lightly fried. The tomato sauce on the side was a zesty one, so I imagine this place can do a good arrabbiata sauce! We then shared a Caesar Salad. This was a win-win too with two crostini toasts nicely done with garlic. The salad dressing was superb and the salad a nice portion to share. We then shared the Ragu Cinghiale with is a wild boar ragu with Pappardelle pasta. Although tasty this was a bit disappointing, as there appeared to be little wild boar. I was expecting a much heartier dish. The sauce was good and the pasta fresh but I can not recommend this dish per se as they have other options. A highlight of the garden is the saxophone player. Not sure if he gets paid by the restaurant as he has a jar for contributions. I contributed but also hope he gets paid by the restaurant. The music is a fantastic addition and really adds to the ambiance of the garden (see my comments forthcoming about the garden). Feels a little like being in Italy. This appears to be a family run restaurant with great recipes and can do most dishes justice. I give them a 4 rating, because the garden needs some dusting off and service was off. Spider webs abound, dented heat lamps, etc. One bathroom is kind of a drag and not their fault per se but their own staff is delayed with this situation. Perhaps a sign inside and outside single bathrooms that reminds folks "Others May Be Waiting, Please Be Thoughtful" or something would be nice. I went to look for the kitchen staff woman who had been waiting but gave up but was reprimanded for peeking in the kitchen. read more

BEST Italian food!! Great food, excellent service, and beautiful intimate atmosphere!

I'll start with the ambiance. At first, I thiught we'd be asked to stay by the curb side tables since I had my furbaby with us. The staff directed us to the back where it felt so homey. The stones on the ground meant that the surrrounding trees could get the water they need. The backyard garden was all that that we needed to say that we hound home away from home (This may just be Long Beach but I drove all the way from Los Angeles). Since it was open air, it didn't trap the normal dining noise in. Service was superb! Though one of the staff was admittedly tired, I didn't mind his honesty at all. I said "admittedly" because when he handed us the wrong order he claimed that he was tired which led to his actions. I still liked the fact that all if them were working with each other. Absolutely loved it. The food was of course what we came here for. We were not at all disappointed. I forget what the names of the food we ordered were, too lazy to want to look it up. It does not matter. I'd gladly order anything else on their menu once I decide to go back. Yes, I do intend to go back. When we complemented the owner for having such a warm athmosphere, I liked his response. He said that he wanted to make sure that they could attend to everyone and make them feel at home. He succeded at that. read more

See all

Food was average. Calamari sucked! Lobster pasta was good. The best part of the place was a live singer with her guitar! That may be the only reason I will return. Overpriced, just being on 4th with no parking and small tables in a small backyard. Come on Long Beach, we can do better! read more

My girlfriends and I came for a late galentines and they were not taking any walk-ins (due to valentines reservations) but they were amazing enough to help us out and squeeze us in! The service was impeccable - amazing, amazing people work in that place. The food was so delicious and authentic. The perfect vibe for a girls night out. Thank you all!! read more

Tarantella on 4th - Ragu di Cinghiale - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

Everything was top notch here. We dined at about 330pm so it wasn't packed but there were a lot of customers for a Saturday afternoon. I decided to eat simply today. The bread was different than what I usually eat in an Italian spot but it had more substance to this bread than usual; very good! I decided on the spaghetti and meatballs with fresh Parmesan. The service was excellent and the ambience was great. The rear patio is lighted and heated for nighttime dining. Mom had the same as me and my stepdad had the raviol I believe. He ate it all so must have been good. Definitely come by and eat they even do the wagon wheel fettuccine Alfredo here. Thats for next time... read more

We were looking for a place on a Saturday afternoon and so happy we stumbled on this place. My daughter is a pasta snob and she practically licked her plate. The owner was wonderful and the rest of the food was amazing read more

Tarantella in Long Beach completely won us over. My husband and I came in for a date night on a Friday night and had such a wonderful experience from start to finish. Our server William was incredibly sweet and attentive. He made us feel so well taken care of without ever being overbearing. The food was absolutely spectacular. Every dish was rich in flavor and beautifully presented. We had the carbonara and ragú! The ambiance was calming and intimate, perfect for a cozy night out. We left full, happy, and already talking about when we'd come back. This spot is definitely going on our regular date night rotation. read more

Finally decided to give this local spot a try and very glad we did. If you're driving, 4th street has tons of parking options - but it can get packed depending on the day and time. So be prepared. Initially we were confused as to how to put our name down for a table. There were folks out front in a line and some folks inside in a line, so we decided to hang tight for a host - but one never came. When one of the workers went behind the counter and wasn't helping anyone, I went in to ask for a table. 5-10min wait on a Saturday at 8pm... not too bad. I only saw one party sitting inside and was wondering where everyone else was, but was delighted to find that there was an outdoor backspace. It was absolutely adorable, perfect for anyone looking for a more intimate or romantic spot. They even had live music going with a local singer playing covers and taking requests. The vibe was on point. The staff was friendly, but seemed very frazzled. It was a busier night it seemed to be fair, but I would expect that for a Saturday night. They offer beer and wine, if that's your choice. Menu over all had good options, we started with a Bruschetta and then both me and my partner got the Mamma Mena. They brought out a bread basket, which was delicious! The bruschetta was good, but something was missing - but I can't quite pin point what. Same review from my partner. So just overall good. We were admittedly hungry and scraped them down, so maybe we didn't have a chance to fully savor hah. The Mamma Mena I thought was good overall. The pasta was cooked perfectly al dente and the meatballs were so good. The sauce could have used a bit more seasoning for my taste, but it was good. My partner gave it a slightly lower review, because he likes a more robust type of sauce. He did say it was good though. We also sat and looked at all the delicious plates being served to others and it all looked so good - we both agreed we'd be back for sure to try out many other items! read more

Tarantella on 4th - Bread - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

We wanted to pick a nice place with good food and a casual atmosphere. This place is on 4th Street in Long Beach which has an eclectic vibe that reminds you of Pine Ave of 2nd Street, Belmont Shore of years ago before they gentrified. Lots of people out walking around and dining. What I loved about Long Beach dining along Broadway was rear patio/ courtyard dining and La Tarantella has it! It is a great casual experience especially if the temps are below 75 degrees as no AC needed and if it gets cooler they have heaters! The food is described as Italian and certainly was pretty good pasta. The service was prompt and polite. All items we sampled were good. Buffalo Mozzarella was tasty. We were a party of two and ordered a couple of 1/2 sized main courses to share. Sharing several 1/2 courses might be the way to go. The crowd skewed younger than us but we can't wear that title forever ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Dessert was cannoli and they were good - several small ones to share. The only problem in Long Beach tends to be finding parking and we lucked out finding street parking after finding local lots were full. read more

Tarantella on 4th - As long as it's not too hot outside or raining I'd choose the rear patio but maybe that's just me. - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

I'm not sure if its the owner but terrible service didn't even acknowledge me didn't even get to order until I asked if he was going to take my order. Just had me standing there for a while didnt even offer me water. He attended an other couple first nicely. he said he was understaffed He kept saying Sir so many times :/ This isn't how you treat customers ... . read more

6 of us had dinner, good service - attentive staff and EVERYONE loved their food. It was deeeelicious. Pasta was very fresh and flavorful AND good portion size. 5***** stars! read more

Went for a birthday celebration. Looks very unassuming from the outside and then you go through the restaurant and there is a charming back patio! Great ambiance, live music and amazing food! read more

Came to dine here with 4 guests on one of the busiest weekend where Cambodian Town Film Festival was taking place. We had no reservation and the restaurant was able to accommodate us on such short notice. We had to dine and dash in order to catch the upcoming films featured at the film festival. I ordered the Alfredo pasta with chicken, was just heavenly to me, creamy and delicious. My partner ordered his usual spaghetti with meatballs, and ate his entire portion. LOL There is outdoor seating in front and in the patio. Just a great local spot for pastas. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in Long Beach. I love the ambience of the outside back patio dining and the food is so good. I've never been to Italy but this is what authentic Italian pasta must tastes like. The noodles literally melt in your mouth. I also had a glass of sangria which was nice. Service is great, even though it was chilly outside they had the heat lamps running so dinner was very pleasant. Portions were large but I also got full on bread and butter while we waited. Great for a family night out or a date night. Very cozy, highly recommend. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Ragu di Cinghiale - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

The staff here was so sweet. We loved the service and the food was incredible. I can't wait to go back! The patio seating and lighting is so cute read more

Where do I even begin? This was one of the worst dining experiences I've had. Parking is horrendous. It's all street parking in a crowded area. Be ready to circle endlessly and walk several blocks just to get there. The restaurant is tiny and cramped. Only one restroom with a single toilet, and there was urine on the floor. Absolutely disgusting. Service was totally nonexistent. Staff only showed up to take our order, drop off food, and eventually -- after we had to flag someone down -- bring the check. The rest of the time, we were invisible. We had to wave and shout multiple times just to get water refills, check on missing dishes, or correct the wrong check they initially gave us because it was for another table. Food timing was atrocious. One person in our group waited nearly an hour for her entree, which was just roasted vegetables, after everyone else had been served. No communication, no apology, just silence while we sat there baffled. Prices are ridiculous for the small portions. Nearly $7 for a sad excuse of an espresso -- not even a full shot. Then they hit you with an automatic 20% gratuity for service that honestly deserves zero. And the final slap in the face? They gave the impression that the bread was complimentary, like any normal restaurant, but nope! They charged us $2 per basket. Food was fine, but even the best-tasting food can't redeem an experience this awful. Bottom line, this place is a joke. A pretentious, overpriced mess with bottom-tier service and shady pricing practices. Don't waste your time, your money, or your patience. read more

Amazing Italian food. It tastes exactly like what I ate in Italy. The owners are extremely knowledgeable and friendly. The ambiance is cozy and relaxed. The live music is amazing touch. I 100% would recommend this spot!!!! Forgot to take pictures (food was DEVOURED) the pesto was 10/10 and the mushroom ravioli 10/10 read more

lovely staff, amazing food and the vibes were awesome! came here for our friends birthday and was blown away with how friendly the staff is.

The pastas were delicious here. I had the linguine pescatore and it was great. The shrimp was cooked perfectly. The carpaccio was excellent. The grilled vegetable was tasty but you can tell it's been grilled earlier and they warm it up. The asparagus had a bunch of strings. The flavor was good tho. I wish they would grill it to order. The complimentary bread was a bit stale. And they do a good job not wasting it by pressing into a panini press to warm it up but because it's old, the staleness outshines. The back patio is nice with live music on weekends. Smelled a bit of jacaranda funk because of the tree. I didn't like how I was told they were low on paper menu and the waiter was able to bring one out. A lazy manager is a no bueno. Because when it's time for the check, they were quick to respond to that. The service was spotty. Cutlery were taken and never replaced. Just had to go get it myself. Overall, it was good. I would like to try their other pastas next time. read more

Nice place and ambiance. Pasta and service was also top notch! Everyone had a good time celebrating a birthday. However, in my opinion the complimentary toast wasn't all that great, and the chicken I got was a little raw. I would recommend Papa Toni which has the much better sausage and brocolli ! read more

Hands down the best authentic Italian restaurant I've been to. Service is amazing and the ambiance is so beautiful. Carlos was so sweet and attentive. Definitely recommend read more

Tarantella on 4th - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all

It's a hard spot to find because it's amidst other eateries. I wanted to celebrate my birthday in the quaint restaurant due to such great reviews. Italian food is my second favorite cuisine. I think our experience would have been a little better if it wasn't raining bcs I was looking fwd to sitting outside with my group of 12. The inside seating is narrow and so I felt I was in the way of the main path. It took us a minute to figure out the best seating. What I ordered was great: Pappardelle de Aragosta, bruschetta, garlic bread. I did hear Pollo Alla Parmigiana was pretty awesome and also heard the mushroom ravioli wasn't a hit. Some people did order "fettuccine Alfredo" which isn't an Italian dish and those people said they have had better so I was bummed for them but not for me :) Carlos, the owner, was very accommodating and very generous I was sung to, got a delicious treat pana cotta and dessert wine, Thank you Carlos and staff! P.S. If you have a large party, suggest for people to bring cash, they can only take a few cards. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Birthday Celebration! - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

Ordered the carbonara via delivery app and it was amazing. I will def order from them again and looking forward to trying new dishes as well. read more

My new favorite Italian spot!!! I loved everything from the ambience, service, food & wine, and the live music. Perfect for a date night or any celebration. I went for my birthday and they surprised me with serenading me It was a sweet gesture. We literally devoured our meals it was so yummy 10/10 recommend going! read more

See all

Small but chic restaurant. I love the dinning area, it's untraditional which made it unique. The food is amazing. The service will bring me back. read more

Tarantella was a treat! The ambiance was amazing, the service was great, and the food was delicious! Thank you!

Came here for a friends birthday and the ambiance was really lovely, live soft guitar playing outside and so thankful they had warmers outside! The service was great, very attentive and sweet despite our group being large! And the dish I ordered, gnocchi Al pesto, was delicious. The gnocchi were nice and soft and the sauce was so good I was cleaning it off my plate with my bread lol I had the Mama Peach to drink, similar flavor to Secco from Trader Joe's, deliciously peachy. Thank you again guys for being so great! read more

Tarantella on 4th - Gnocchi al Pesto - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

Carlos was an absolutely amazing server. Was very attentive and even spoke Italian which was so good! We had the gnocchi and lasagna and ere delicious, the homemade sauce was to die for. Would 100% come back again. We sat outside and there was live music too. Tiramisu to finish the meal was light fluffy and perfect. read more

Honestly insulted by this experience. Pricey but made with supermarket ingredients. And prepared poorly with amateurish service. I don't get the good reviews. Cheap boxed pasta was over cooked to mushiness. Pre-Powdered Parmesan from the fridge. Supermarket mozzarella. Inferior, under ripe, refrigerated to almost frozen tomatoes. Mealy stale tasting sausage. Avocado in caprese? Sauces too salty to eat. Service was poor. Asked for black pepper, a normal request, at service; took ten minutes and 3 requests to get it - not okay at these serious prices. No one asked why we left most food on the plate. read more

I have been here before and loved the food. Loved the pasta. When I originally made the reservations it was never disclosed it would be a valentines menu (only posted on their instagram 2 days ago). I only found out about an hour before the reservation, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt because I've had it before and it's been delicious. Starting off with the calamari, there was no calamari it was a bunch of fried crispy dough. Salads were delicious. Then comes the main meals (all of which aren't even on there normal menu they sale everyday, that's interesting having 4 options of items that aren't even on your menu and not one of the options is actually a regular pasta) my boyfriend got the Dover Sole Picatta which was fish, scalloped potatoes, and veggies. I got the beet nocchi in a lemon cream sauce which was okay. My boyfriend's meal as soon as he took a bite of the fish he instantly had to take it out of his mouth because of the taste. I could smell the fish all the way across the table. Once again why are we being served dishes that aren't even on there menu, if they are soooooo good and "chef picked" then why is it not on the normal menu. The dessert was good. The "glass of champagne" was a plastic mimosa cup. To top it off each plate was $90 which I would not mind paying if it was good food. They charged gratuity and then when they charged us again were trying to be sneaky and asking for a tip again. Such a disappointment, I loved this place before and just wanted some pasta on Valentine's Day and was so badly let down I'm n over going again. read more

I've been to Tarantella many times over the years and it's always amazing. Most recently I sat on the beautiful back patio for my friend's birthday dinner and the food, service, and ambiance was amazing! The owner is so kind, service was fast and everything I've ordered has been delicious. The pollo al limone is incredible. Highly recommend this cozy and delicious neighborhood spot. read more

We've gone here twice and loved it both times. Service was great and the pasta alla routa is amazing!! Next time we're out in Long Beach we will definitely come back! read more

10 out of 10 - A Hidden Gem! This place is so underrated! We had the lobster pappardelle, and it was absolutely divine. The sauce was flavorful without being heavy or soggy, and I'm pretty sure the pasta is house-made, it had that fresh, authentic texture you can't beat. We also grabbed a tiramisu, and wow -- it was spot on! Perfectly spongy with a rich coffee flavor (finally, not overly chocolaty or soggy like many places tend to make it). The portion was just right, and the consistency was flawless. A big shoutout to the staff as well. Even though they were clearly short-staffed, they worked seamlessly as a team. Everyone was so professional, attentive, and friendly -- it truly made the experience even better. I highly recommend trying this gem. The food is delicious, authentic, and served with genuine hospitality. Don't miss out! read more

I seriously felt like I got scammed by this restaurant and regret coming here for Valentine's day. The service was fine but it felt like they were rushing to get us out as they kept bringing food before we had touched the other courses. I hadn't even touched my main entree but they brought the dessert out, took it to the back again, and let the ice cream on the cake back. We ended up with a really sad dessert... I was also quite upset with the course menu which wasn't obvious when you make the reservation. The options were super limited and the food itself was quite mediocre for the price point of $90 per person. You'd expect great service, satisfying portions, tasty food, and great presentation with a price point like that but we got none of that. The only saving grace would be the ambiance... but the heaters they had for the outside seating must have been extremely dirty as black stuff kept falling onto our table and into my drink and the plates and table was dusty. read more

Tarantella on 4th - they brought out the cake with melted ice cream :( - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

The food was DELICIOUS! Me and my girls came here for my birthday and every dish was a hit. The service was amazing. Carlos was so sweet and made sure the meal was great and that we were happy. The singing was amazing and the music and ambience made us feel so comfortable! Will definitely be returning asap. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Parpadeo Pappardelle all' Aragosta - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

First time coming and the vibes were great. The food was very delicious, the music in the background was amazing and the service was very good and carlos was very attentive to our party and made us laugh so much, super sweet! Would recommend for a night out read more

Tarantella on 4th - Moscato - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

Our first visit will not be our last. What a delightful restaurant with wonderful live music artistry, food super yummy, and service was awesome. If you order the fettuccini Alfredo, you can have a live demo of this delicious yummiest as it's ready to drip on your plate with a special touch. Thank you! read more

Picked up the mushroom risotto for dinner - mainly wanted it for carb loading before my race the next day. Didn't like the dish - felt like they used too much wine while cooking, the risotto just smelled and tasted like it . The food was ready on time for pick up and the people working there were courteous, so I will give them that. read more

Seated immediately and given the bread appetizer shortly after. The staff though amazingly sweet were a bit hard to understand and felt like there was a bit of a language block. I ordered the manicotti special which was a sage and white wine sauce and a cheese and pepper filling. Perfect pasta and tasted fresh made. Hubby had the lasagna but had a LOT of sauce. Both were good. The nights musician was so awesome. A VERY good voice and set the mood. Will try again but think the staff needs more consistency. Seemed they all wore black but was anything black. Think maybe the owner should order black polos so there is some consistency. My brother owns a restaurant/ bar and is casual as well. But, the staff is easy to pick out since there is consistency. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Manicotti special with sage wine sauce and cheese chile filling. - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

See all