We were in Long Beach over the weekend of Oct 12-14 to attend the Antojo Expo at the Convention Center (I am a former caterer, but I like to keep up with food trends and love all the SWAG!). We were staying in my wife's cousin's condo a short walk away from Gaucho Beach. My wife's Ukrainian family came to America from Argentina, so empanadas are a frequent item at our table -- both store bought and, more often, homemade.
The empanadas here are utterly unremarkable. Baked, not fried, and nothing to distinguish them among the universe of Argentinean empanadas other than the overpriced cost. At $4.50 apiece, I expected much better -- like FLAVOR, which was utterly absent. We had 3 short rib and 3 chicken empanadas at a cost of about $30 with tax. Some of that paid for the box they came in. Weak 3-stars for food (high price, low flavor) and service (a walk-up take-out window ordering experience with a server who didn't seem much interested in her work).
I'm Argentinean "by marriage" and have learned to make a couple of dozen EACH chicken and ground beef empanadas for not much more than that (I often make 8-10 dozen at a time for family get togethers) . . . and mine have twice the amount of filling which includes onions, bell peppers, hard boiled egg, sometimes raisins, and a green olive . . . none of which were inside these pies . . . also missing was flavor. The small container of complimentary chimichurri was OK -- it would be better with actual lemon juice instead of vinegar. If you have to pay for it, it's $4 for 4 tablespoons (2 ounces).
We sat outside on the north side (opposite the end with the bar). 4-stars for dining at the beach.
Apparently, many people who eat here have no idea what truly great Argentinean food tastes like. I doubt that a self-respecting Argentinean -- regardless of underlying family heritage -- would lay claim to these empanandas. Definitely not worth the money, and certainly not the best examples of empanadas for the uninitiated. I didn't bother to take any photos. I wouldn't come back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Amanda House
Great atmosphere, server was nice but slow, infierno margarita was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Two Empanadas Beef & Chicken
Janaya Burch
My meal was delicious. I got the blue cheese burger. It took about 30 mins for us to get our food on a Monday afternoon but mine was delicious. Unfortunately my mom ordered the chilaquiles with flank stank (it was pretty pricey) but it was soggy and cold. Not sure if they were waiting on my food to be done or if it was forgotten about. We also did not get offered one drink refill.
Also, bring your own hot sauce if you like any spice at all.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
Brittany Hawthorne
I came specifically for the empanadas . My bartender Arnold was dope it was his birthday along with mine and he was very accommodating . The happy hour was amazing empanadas and good drinks. 10/10 recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
James Kuebitz
wanted to try some of the calamari which was barely fried and they recommended the chicken sandwich which was dry and flavorless. If I were to go again I would go for the drinks rather than the overpriced cafeteria food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
itzmelanieee ig
Amazing hospitality! Wasn’t even dining here, just chilling, and they brought us some water! Treated us like paying customers. Would encourage me to definitely come back to dine in. 10/10 would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ham and Cheese Croissant
Frankie Ch
I've been here a few times. Food is always great. Food arrival takes really long even when it's not busy. Any service always takes a while to pay. Def would use the QR code to pay to save time.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
Mary Turner
If you're looking for a place RIGHT ON THE BEACH this is it. They have a decent Happy Hour that runs 3-6pm every weekday. Discounts on food and drinks. You are right on the sand. The food has been variable but one can generally get a great margarita, burger or sandwich there. Their calamari USED TO be great. Not so much these days. Service can be tricky as they ask you to order with your phone but you don't have to as the online menu somewhat limited. You can tag a server or go to the bar to avoid the online snafus or get something like a martini which is not on the menu. There is paid parking adjacent and private bathrooms inside. There are public bathrooms outside but yuck.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Eric Greco
Good service and cocktails right on the beach
Jil Lian
Espresso tini 10/10 THANK YOU for adding to the menu!!!
I visited with my children this summer. I ordered croissants and grilled cheese sandwitch for the children. I was very surprised when the food came out. It was incredibly reasonable and delicious because it was the good price of food sold in California Beach. I ordered 2 drinks after playing in the water at the beach. The drinks were also good. The nice view and taste in front of the beach are also good. However, it took too long to place an order. It seemed like we needed more employees to take orders
Kid-friendliness: Good. There are Close to play ground.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
ariel hernandez
First time here for drinks. Will definitely be back
André Amato
Amazing atmosphere, place, food and…. View!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elaine Forris
The food and drinks were delicious. I look forward to visiting this restaurant again in the future
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
lambertus Remkes
Margarita was a glass of ice cubes filled with half a 1/3 glass of actual cocktail. Feel very ripped off. Welcome to LA!
We were in Long Beach over the weekend of Oct 12-14 to attend the Antojo Expo at the Convention Center (I am a former caterer, but I like to keep up with food trends and love all the SWAG!). We were staying in my wife's cousin's condo a short walk away from Gaucho Beach. My wife's Ukrainian family came to America from Argentina, so empanadas are a frequent item at our table -- both store bought and, more often, homemade.
The empanadas here are utterly unremarkable. Baked, not fried, and nothing to distinguish them among the universe of Argentinean empanadas other than the overpriced cost. At $4.50 apiece, I expected much better -- like FLAVOR, which was utterly absent. We had 3 short rib and 3 chicken empanadas at a cost of about $30 with tax. Some of that paid for the box they came in. Weak 3-stars for food (high price, low flavor) and service (a walk-up take-out window ordering experience with a server who didn't seem much interested in her work).
I'm Argentinean "by marriage" and have learned to make a couple of dozen EACH chicken and ground beef empanadas for not much more than that (I often make 8-10 dozen at a time for family get togethers) . . . and mine have twice the amount of filling which includes onions, bell peppers, hard boiled egg, sometimes raisins, and a green olive . . . none of which were inside these pies . . . also missing was flavor. The small container of complimentary chimichurri was OK -- it would be better with actual lemon juice instead of vinegar. If you have to pay for it, it's $4 for 4 tablespoons (2 ounces).
We sat outside on the north side (opposite the end with the bar). 4-stars for dining at the beach.
Apparently, many people who eat here have no idea what truly great Argentinean food tastes like. I doubt that a self-respecting Argentinean -- regardless of underlying family heritage -- would lay claim to these empanandas. Definitely not worth the money, and certainly not the best examples of empanadas for the uninitiated. I didn't bother to take any photos. I wouldn't come back.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Great atmosphere, server was nice but slow, infierno margarita was fantastic!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Two Empanadas Beef & Chicken
My meal was delicious. I got the blue cheese burger. It took about 30 mins for us to get our food on a Monday afternoon but mine was delicious. Unfortunately my mom ordered the chilaquiles with flank stank (it was pretty pricey) but it was soggy and cold. Not sure if they were waiting on my food to be done or if it was forgotten about. We also did not get offered one drink refill.
Also, bring your own hot sauce if you like any spice at all.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 1
I came specifically for the empanadas . My bartender Arnold was dope it was his birthday along with mine and he was very accommodating . The happy hour was amazing empanadas and good drinks. 10/10 recommend
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
wanted to try some of the calamari which was barely fried and they recommended the chicken sandwich which was dry and flavorless. If I were to go again I would go for the drinks rather than the overpriced cafeteria food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 2
Amazing hospitality! Wasn’t even dining here, just chilling, and they brought us some water! Treated us like paying customers. Would encourage me to definitely come back to dine in. 10/10 would recommend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ham and Cheese Croissant
I've been here a few times. Food is always great. Food arrival takes really long even when it's not busy. Any service always takes a while to pay. Def would use the QR code to pay to save time.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 1
If you're looking for a place RIGHT ON THE BEACH this is it. They have a decent Happy Hour that runs 3-6pm every weekday. Discounts on food and drinks. You are right on the sand.
The food has been variable but one can generally get a great margarita, burger or sandwich there. Their calamari USED TO be great. Not so much these days.
Service can be tricky as they ask you to order with your phone but you don't have to as the online menu somewhat limited. You can tag a server or go to the bar to avoid the online snafus or get something like a martini which is not on the menu.
There is paid parking adjacent and private bathrooms inside. There are public bathrooms outside but yuck.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Good service and cocktails right on the beach
Espresso tini 10/10 THANK YOU for adding to the menu!!!
Food: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I visited with my children this summer. I ordered croissants and grilled cheese sandwitch for the children. I was very surprised when the food came out. It was incredibly reasonable and delicious because it was the good price of food sold in California Beach. I ordered 2 drinks after playing in the water at the beach. The drinks were also good. The nice view and taste in front of the beach are also good.
However, it took too long to place an order. It seemed like we needed more employees to take orders
Kid-friendliness: Good. There are Close to play ground.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 2
First time here for drinks. Will definitely be back
Amazing atmosphere, place, food and…. View!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food and drinks were delicious. I look forward to visiting this restaurant again in the future
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Margarita was a glass of ice cubes filled with half a 1/3 glass of actual cocktail. Feel very ripped off. Welcome to LA!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 5
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