I would go back to this place... in fact I went the next day with my husband. Highly recommend this place
Leigh
Very disappointing meal. My partner ordered the mushroom risotto and I had the lemon chicken. Both meals were poorly prepared and poorly plated. The back patio is cute enough but it did not make up for the lackluster meal.
Elaine
The atmosphere in the back patio is wonderful! From the front, one could easier miss this neighborhood gem. Small and unassuming. Go inside and walk to the back to see the patio, with its strewn hanging lights and quality live music. Our large group of 19 fit easier without disruption for the other patrons. The musician was excellent with music that enhanced the atmosphere rather than forced it a certain direction. The Italian pasta was hearty and delicious. A local favorite!
Andres Munoz
Highly recommend dining in the back porch. The atmosphere and vibe back there is really warm and welcoming. When we went there was a live acoustic music by Lexi and she was great and really added to the atmosphere. The dishes are a little pricey considering the portion size but where they lack in size they make up in flavor. And you can’t go wrong with unlimited garlic bread! Shoutout to the owner Carlos!
Joanne
Beautiful patio with twinkling lights and talented musical guest. Chef came out to go over the chef's specials' with us to top off the evening with family. Everyone loved the ambience!
Michael
A Hidden Gem on Retro Row Tucked away in Long Beach's Retro Row, this unassuming restaurant surprises from the moment you step inside. A walk through a twinkle-lit hallway alongside a windowed kitchen creates the feeling of being transported onto a movie set—magical, intimate, and completely unexpected. Out back: a cozy patio where a live saxophonist sets the mood with smooth melodies under the sky. The service is quick, personal, and incredibly warm—making you feel like a welcome guest. The food is outstanding—full of flavor, and beautifully presented. The wine list is well-curated, and dessert is delicious. From start to finish, this place offers a truly memorable dining experience. A must-visit in Long Beach.
Sean H
It was little while ago but I just want to write that my partner and I had a great experience here. We ordered seafood risotto and pesto gnocchi,and it was BUONO! Great potion too. The deserts were good too and Sangria pitcher was ok. Anyway, we had great time sitting outside and listening to the lovely accordion play. Nice staff too. Will go back soon.
Jim
Above average kitchen crafted Italian fare with a rear patio that exudes vibes from another place and time. Point off for a terrible hack job pruning of the jacaranda tree that shaded the patio. I get that jacaranda trees are messy but the cleanup is so worth it aesthetically.
Shierly Yolanda
two words: SO GOOD. Everything is perfect. love the ambience, I feel like I teleported to another place. The service was excellent. They have the best calamari & veggies!!
Jorge
We went on a Saturday around 8pm and they had live music which is really nice the atmosphere. The server and the staff were wonderful. The restaurant is not a super fancy restaurant, but it is more of an authentic relax italian restaurant which I enjoyed more. The food was great. I ordered the carbonara, and it was really good but is not the best I have tried. She ordered the parpadelle one and it was good. They give you bread to start which was really good. And we ordered a bottle of the Chianti Classico 2019 which was phenomenal. At the end, one of the staff or owner not sure, gifted everyone with a spumanti bottle which we were gratefully amaze! Overall, cute place for a dinner date, and I would go back again and again. They have a back patio fyi.
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 their 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.
Clare
Nice atmosphere and entertainment in the back patio. The food was authentic Italian cuisine that tasted great.
Christopher Maye
Went to this restaurant and really debated on giving this place a review. But after careful reflection, I think potential patrons should really know how this place is because I was fooled.
Starting with the good: the place looks nice and has a nice ambiance. It has a vintage-esque feel to it, and the patio space is nice. Service wasn’t necessarily bad but wasn’t good. Our server was pretty young and inexperienced, but tried to be helpful where he could so we gave him a lot of grace. Lastly, the bread is good.
The Bad: the main dishes aren’t good. It’s not atrociously bad but it’s just not good. I ordered the Papa Tony which seemed like they sliced up some regular sausages, broccoli florets (menu said broccolini but it wasn’t) and threw it into a pasta dish? It didn’t look appetizing, didn’t really have much flavor, and the entire dish didn’t make any sense. My sister ordered the lasagna which was drowning in sauce and had barely any meat and cheese. We didn’t even finish our food because, to be frank, it really wasn’t worth finishing.
Final thoughts: would I give this place another chance? No. Would I recommend this place? No. Would I call this place an Italian restaurant? It is inspired by one, but I would actually say it’s pretty disrespectful to call it one. They really need to re-evaluate their recipes because their ingredients, the taste, and presentation are very subpar.
Mike Benavidez
Each time I have eaten there, service and food have been incredible. Fish to pasta
Adriana Sotelo
Terrible Mother’s Day experience — rude and discriminatory service
We came here hoping to enjoy a nice Mother’s Day dinner, but it was a complete disappointment. We ordered extra drinks that never arrived, and the hostess/waitress gave us the fakest smile while treating other (American) customers much more warmly and kindly. The difference was very noticeable and upsetting.
The worst part: my young son-in-law, who kindly invited us, went to pay the $200 bill while I planned to leave the tip in cash. The server rudely confronted him, saying, “How can you not leave a tip?” and that 15% was the minimum. He embarrassed him in front of everyone, making him feel completely humiliated.
This place made us feel unwelcome and disrespected. I truly hope the owners see this review and take real steps to address the racism and lack of professionalism. No one should feel this way when trying to celebrate something special.
I would go back to this place... in fact I went the next day with my husband. Highly recommend this place
Very disappointing meal. My partner ordered the mushroom risotto and I had the lemon chicken. Both meals were poorly prepared and poorly plated. The back patio is cute enough but it did not make up for the lackluster meal.
The atmosphere in the back patio is wonderful! From the front, one could easier miss this neighborhood gem. Small and unassuming. Go inside and walk to the back to see the patio, with its strewn hanging lights and quality live music. Our large group of 19 fit easier without disruption for the other patrons. The musician was excellent with music that enhanced the atmosphere rather than forced it a certain direction. The Italian pasta was hearty and delicious. A local favorite!
Highly recommend dining in the back porch. The atmosphere and vibe back there is really warm and welcoming. When we went there was a live acoustic music by Lexi and she was great and really added to the atmosphere. The dishes are a little pricey considering the portion size but where they lack in size they make up in flavor. And you can’t go wrong with unlimited garlic bread! Shoutout to the owner Carlos!
Beautiful patio with twinkling lights and talented musical guest. Chef came out to go over the chef's specials' with us to top off the evening with family. Everyone loved the ambience!
A Hidden Gem on Retro Row Tucked away in Long Beach's Retro Row, this unassuming restaurant surprises from the moment you step inside. A walk through a twinkle-lit hallway alongside a windowed kitchen creates the feeling of being transported onto a movie set—magical, intimate, and completely unexpected. Out back: a cozy patio where a live saxophonist sets the mood with smooth melodies under the sky. The service is quick, personal, and incredibly warm—making you feel like a welcome guest. The food is outstanding—full of flavor, and beautifully presented. The wine list is well-curated, and dessert is delicious. From start to finish, this place offers a truly memorable dining experience. A must-visit in Long Beach.
It was little while ago but I just want to write that my partner and I had a great experience here.
We ordered seafood risotto and pesto gnocchi,and it was BUONO! Great potion too. The deserts were good too and Sangria pitcher was ok. Anyway, we had great time sitting outside and listening to the lovely accordion play. Nice staff too. Will go back soon.
Above average kitchen crafted Italian fare with a rear patio that exudes vibes from another place and time. Point off for a terrible hack job pruning of the jacaranda tree that shaded the patio. I get that jacaranda trees are messy but the cleanup is so worth it aesthetically.
two words: SO GOOD. Everything is perfect. love the ambience, I feel like I teleported to another place. The service was excellent. They have the best calamari & veggies!!
We went on a Saturday around 8pm and they had live music which is really nice the atmosphere. The server and the staff were wonderful. The restaurant is not a super fancy restaurant, but it is more of an authentic relax italian restaurant which I enjoyed more. The food was great. I ordered the carbonara, and it was really good but is not the best I have tried. She ordered the parpadelle one and it was good. They give you bread to start which was really good. And we ordered a bottle of the Chianti Classico 2019 which was phenomenal. At the end, one of the staff or owner not sure, gifted everyone with a spumanti bottle which we were gratefully amaze! Overall, cute place for a dinner date, and I would go back again and again. They have a back patio fyi.
Restaurantji Recommends
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 their 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.
Nice atmosphere and entertainment in the back patio. The food was authentic Italian cuisine that tasted great.
Went to this restaurant and really debated on giving this place a review. But after careful reflection, I think potential patrons should really know how this place is because I was fooled.
Starting with the good: the place looks nice and has a nice ambiance. It has a vintage-esque feel to it, and the patio space is nice. Service wasn’t necessarily bad but wasn’t good. Our server was pretty young and inexperienced, but tried to be helpful where he could so we gave him a lot of grace. Lastly, the bread is good.
The Bad: the main dishes aren’t good. It’s not atrociously bad but it’s just not good. I ordered the Papa Tony which seemed like they sliced up some regular sausages, broccoli florets (menu said broccolini but it wasn’t) and threw it into a pasta dish? It didn’t look appetizing, didn’t really have much flavor, and the entire dish didn’t make any sense. My sister ordered the lasagna which was drowning in sauce and had barely any meat and cheese. We didn’t even finish our food because, to be frank, it really wasn’t worth finishing.
Final thoughts: would I give this place another chance? No. Would I recommend this place? No. Would I call this place an Italian restaurant? It is inspired by one, but I would actually say it’s pretty disrespectful to call it one. They really need to re-evaluate their recipes because their ingredients, the taste, and presentation are very subpar.
Each time I have eaten there, service and food have been incredible. Fish to pasta
Terrible Mother’s Day experience — rude and discriminatory service
We came here hoping to enjoy a nice Mother’s Day dinner, but it was a complete disappointment. We ordered extra drinks that never arrived, and the hostess/waitress gave us the fakest smile while treating other (American) customers much more warmly and kindly. The difference was very noticeable and upsetting.
The worst part: my young son-in-law, who kindly invited us, went to pay the $200 bill while I planned to leave the tip in cash. The server rudely confronted him, saying, “How can you not leave a tip?” and that 15% was the minimum. He embarrassed him in front of everyone, making him feel completely humiliated.
This place made us feel unwelcome and disrespected. I truly hope the owners see this review and take real steps to address the racism and lack of professionalism. No one should feel this way when trying to celebrate something special.
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