The Wicked Wolf is a kind of place that offers the opportunity for whimsical mischief. For…read moreinstance, they have a rooftop area. And this one time I was there alone with another, no other patrons just staff members walking around from time to time. We stole the moment to dance under the Long Beach sky, just the two of us as a famous Christina Perrio song gently wafted in the night breeze. At another separate time, I was at the Los Angeles County Fair with another. We rode the ferris wheel at such a time where our gondola stopped at the top just as the sun set. The moment was nothing but beautiful and life affirming because the sinking of the sun's light was like a real life video of nature happening in front of us, unburdened by static or data stall. We witnessed nature resting, and I feel, that it was a kin to a beauty falling into a gentle sleep. These two instances have a common factor: momentary bliss arrived to bless an experience because the environment supported discovery of unplanned joy. That is what I associate with the Wicked Wolf, and this time the joy arrived eventually because when my Mom and I arrived to their high tea on Mother's Day the experienced seem like it would land nowhere good. Truth be told, my mom and I arrived 15 minutes early and there was no host in the stand and the place was empty except for a foursome. The energy felt lacked luster. One or two minutes after, the bartender informed us that we were early and the host would come soon. We sat in an available sofa for two, a loveseat persay. This gave us an opportunity to admire the decor that transported us to a storybook forest where good fairies reside, not like swamp creatures and trolls with malevolent fangs and dragon green eyes. I especially loved the large roses in the ceiling. To set the stage, the black ceiling had vines hanging from it, and the few roses were pops of crimson red displayed above.These were wonderful accents to the central mural of the joint that invited the viewer within deeper into the fairy forest where a light shone on an unseen meadow. The place had the decorations and general environment to be a lavender fairy's lounge, but, it did not fully work as a team room. For instance, my mom and I were sat in another lover's couch. Initially, I did not want to sit here because we were given circular tray sets. So imagine being told to sit in a couch, and each of us would get a tv tray. So I was left to wonder if we were going to be served tea in Belle's living room or if were going to watch a flick as we ate pollo loco bowl? But then as I settled into the tranquility of the moment, saw more people come and find their seat or couch, and as the serviced picked-up I realized that this was high tea in a place that had taken disjointed beauty and tackied it together for a patched tea experience that worked well. It was like the experienced was blessed and allowed by the same spirit that brought forth Raggedy Ann. For instance, the pictures show these pretty violet petaled tea cups and matching plates. This pairing was dainty and perfect for a tea party happening under pink veils. But then the sugar cubes came in a hedgehog shaped holder which was just as precious as seeing a piglet in a carriage built for one. Then the cream carrier was in the shape of a milk carton. I wondered where the missing child portrait was? The pastry plate was in the shape of a tropical flower like the ones scattered all over Hawaii. It belonged in a beautiful lei. Each of these elements was cute in its own delicate and whimsical way but together they made an eclectic hodgepodge, not a coherent tea set. And in this asymmetry laid the glitter of their error. The host also brought these clip on dainty hats that were perfect touches for make believe tea party. He carried them around in their original packing, including the box they came in. Not exactly the tailor of the queen, offering hats to the villagers as a gift from her to them, but still the effort magnified the moment. The tea food was the worst stumble that Red took as she was being chased by the Wicked Wolf. To begin with the end analysis, the tea offerings in general were standard, and not bites fit for a princess and her wedding court. For instance, the cream cheese and cucumber sandwich was just that---- a cucumber and cream cheese sandwich. I detected no effort to make it more than that. The blueberry scone was solid, nothing to skip through a meadow about. But once you added the jam of the table to the scone it was much easier to enjoy. I also had a madeline that was fluffy in the center but could have been purchased maybe at Costco. I had a Macaron and same thing, delicious but I have had something similar before and I suspected that it did not come from a place afloat with Parisian affairs. The best part of the tiers was this puff like thing that had like a Concha texture and design at the top. It was a sweet filled bite that was fit for a man made of muffin.

My sister and I took my mom to Sunday tea for her birthday…read more Cute place and the food and tea were delicious. But sadly my mom could not hear us, due to the music being so loud, we did ask twice if they would turn it down a little to no avail. That is too much money to spend, to not be able to hear each other. We had to hurry out because she was getting frustrated.

This has become my home bar. It's a great spot for locals to hang and make friends, but also I've…read moremet lots of people who drove from LA to have a Long Beach day, which is fun. Definitely worth it! The vibes are unmatched. It's a unique blend of "top notch cocktail crafting" and "beer and a hot pretzel after work." You can dress up, you can dress down, it's very 'just be yourself' which I love. I've literally had caviar AND hot dogs there in the same night at an event. They know how to blend high/low. Incredible knowledge and ingredients but not snooty patootie. Super inclusive and fun, with cool popups and events happening all the time. It's a full bar so you can get any cocktail you would normally order if you're keeping it simple, or beer, wine, boilermakers, etc. There's a span of offerings and price points, so something for everyone. (Also really good N/A cocktails!) The menu is super inventive and creative! And the cocktail menu changes out every so often so there are new things to try. This area is vintage vibes and Baby Gee speaks it fluently. Really cool decor, curated by the owners who design everything from the playlist to the cocktails to the invention of never-before-seen flavors and shapes of jello shots. Try the Baby Gee appletini while you're there. Mezcal, tequila, sake appletini you ask?? Yes. Trust. And get a hot dog. Do it.

I really wanted to love this place. The vibe was fantastic...great music, a stylish ambiance, and…read morean impressive selection of specialty craft cocktails. It's clear the owners put a lot of thought and creativity into making their cocktails the centerpiece of the experience. That said, the execution didn't live up to the concept. The menu appears to rotate regularly, and while the drinks were certainly unique, most of the cocktails we tried were hit or miss. At roughly $22 per drink, I expected more balance and refinement. One cocktail started with flavors reminiscent of an Old Fashioned, but after the initial sip, the combination of bitters and fruit syrups created an unpleasant cough syrup like finish. We tried a mocktail as well, and it was mostly ice and soda water, with what seemed like a collection of syrups doing most of the heavy lifting. The drinks were creative, but many of the flavor profiles felt disjointed rather than intentional. The biggest issue, however, was the bar service and sanitation practices. I watched a bartender place a cucumber garnish into a glass using his bare hands, touching the entire garnish in the process. He then continued to take credit cards, cash, and other items before stuffing ice into additional drinks with his bare hands. Whether or not this technically violates health code standards, it certainly wasn't appetizing to watch and left a poor impression. Parking is another challenge. There is no dedicated parking, and unless you get lucky, expect to park several blocks away and walk. Overall, the atmosphere is a lot of fun and the cocktail menu is ambitious, but the drinks didn't justify the price point, and the sanitation concerns were hard to overlook. I wouldn't rush back, especially given the cost and parking difficulties.

ALTER EGO wasn't even on my radar until tonight, and now I'm wondering how on earth did I miss this…read morelittle slice of date‑night gold? HELLOW! This hidden gem lives inside the newly renovated Fairmont Breakers in Long Beach, and for all my Fairmont regulars: relax, you're in good hands, their world-renowned elegance remains intact. PARKING Valet is only $10, which in Southern California basically qualifies as a love language. (Note to Fairmont Breakers Management: Listen up, my friends! Please keep it that way, gas is $5.97/gallon and my wallet is already in therapy.) I handed the valet a $5 tip before I even stepped out of my car, just so I could glide into the lobby feeling like a full‑blown princess making her grand entrance. Before you leave, you simply pay the valet in cash or card and they'll have your car right there before you can even blink. AMBIANCE Walk in and boom! A towering, beautifully decorated Christmas tree greets you like it's auditioning for a holiday movie. Check out my photos; the whole lobby whispers one word: sophisticated. Oooh, I love that tree! Hang a right, stroll to the end of the hall, and you'll find ALTER EGO, a dark, cozy lounge that feels like the perfect hideaway for a date where you actually want to hear each other talk. Live music starts at 7 PM, the bar closes at 10, and honestly... that's ideal for those of us over 50 who consider 10 PM the witching hour for pajamas. Rob Fontana was performing tonight, and his music was so good I found myself time‑traveling back to the good old days. Every song hit, Rob. Good job! SERVICE Our server, Nia, was a star. Attentive, sharp memory, and smooth service all the way through. Zero notes. FOOD The menu is small, so if you show up ravenous, pace yourself or plan to Uber home after a cocktail‑heavy evening. I'm allergic to cheese, so I had to double‑check ingredients, but the Mushroom Flatbread was outstanding, flavor was superb and the best part was they did not skimp on the mushrooms! A+ for that. I also tried the Prosciutto di Parma with melon, which is a strange combo for a California girl... but hey, I never said I wasn't a weirdo. Drinks are not my thing since I enjoy company without alcohol's help, so I can't help you with that. DATE‑WORTHY OR NOT? Absolutely. Alter Ego gets a double thumbs‑up from me and a strong recommendation for your next Silver Singles date. It's easy to find, the seating is comfortable (even for those of us with backs that like to complain), and they even offer tube pillows for extra support. Tell me that's not romance.

Went there for girlfriend time! Nice ambiance…read more I ordered the mushroom flatbread and thy used the nice mushrooms,not the white button mushrooms. Service was good, we had a great server. The only thing I wish is they have a little bigger menu.

A great craft cocktail bar in Long Beach. Not pretentious, no cover charge, chill vibe, friendly…read morepeople, unique decor. Bartenders are easy to find and attentive. The cocktails are well thought out and well made. There are typically DJs on Friday and Saturday. Note: Parking is tough. We once scored one of the 4 parking spaces in their private lot, but mostly you have to hunt. Uber and Lyft, the A Line train or buses down Anaheim are you friend.

I came here with my sister in law and one of our girlfriends on Friday night (April 10th). When we…read moregot there it was a bit crowded but hey that is the nature of the game sometimes when going out to bars. So that didn't bother me too much. Me and my girls were able to get 3 seats at the bar. Like much of the other reviews. Service was slow and it took a long time to get a drink. However, as the night went on the crowd grew bigger and there were only 2 servers so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. That alone is not why I gave this place 1 star. I have came to this bar a few times in the past. It has been a couple of years since I have been back but my past experiences had been pleasant. At first everything was cool. Even with service being slow me and my girls were just talking and vibing with each other and those around us. We met some pretty cool people there. They have a small dance floor and we had a few drinks in us so went dancing. It was a great time. We ended up getting warm from the dancing and wanted to get a breather outside. We saw the door to the patio was open and people were outside. So we walked out and were just talking. One of my crew was smoking a cigarette. Then 2 of the staff members came out furious completely bypassing the other tables of people sitting outside and came directly to us. They started screaming and cussing at us saying we weren't supposed to be outside. One of them said "isn't it obvious can't you read?!" One of my friends said "no wasn't obvious" and my sister in law was telling them to calm down and that we would go inside. She told them that they were being incredibly rude because they were people outside and we thought it was open. As we went inside they still berated us. Two grown men yelling and cussing at us now from inside the bar. So we had hand enough and talked back because we were not going to be verbally attacked at a place that we spent money and our time at. We ended up deciding to leave and as we decided to leave, they followed us out and slammed the door on us and said that we weren't allowed in. Still yelling and cussing at us through the gated door. I started filming shortly around this time because I felt unsafe. Then they started mocking us saying "now look they are going to leave us a bad review." and I said yes we are because this experience was horrifying. I asked was because of our race? (because we were a diverse group of women). It went from two grown men yelling at us to silence. I want to make this clear. Though there were other people sitting outside that night. Lighter skinned people. We were the only ones targeted. No other individual outside was treated this way and no other staff intervened. If you are a woman. If you are of color, do not come here. We are not welcome.

False Advertising and Total Failure of a "Speakeasy"…read more This place should not call itself a speakeasy. According to their website, they are strict about dress code, reservations, and no large parties. None of that was enforced. People arrived wearing sports clothes, tennis shoes, and flip-flops, and a group of more than 10 people was allowed in. That group was loud, drunk, and screaming, completely destroying any speakeasy ambiance. We had a reservation booked one week in advance for 2 tables of six, yet by 8:30 pm, we were told no food was available, despite the bar being almost empty. The water was already on the table when we arrived and tasted strongly of chlorine, with no ice. The waitress was clearly new, untrained, and unprepared. She did not know the menu, didn't know how to take an order properly, and provided no guidance whatsoever. There was one bartender Ricardo, who took over an hour to prepare cocktails and showed no sense of urgency or care. The dramatic cocktail descriptions sounded impressive, but the drinks did not match the descriptions at all. Because of the delays, we were never even able to properly toast or celebrate our friend. The charcuterie board took forever and arrived with an absurd amount of cheese and only six pieces of bread. To make things worse, part of the food we ordered never arrived at all. The live jazz band advertised and promised never showed up. When asked, the staff responded with: "I don't know, they were supposed to be here. I don't have their phone number." That level of disorganization is unacceptable. At the end of the night, we were shocked to receive a check close to $600 for two tables, despite each person only having one cocktail and shared food. The bartender, Ricardo, approached us and said: "Well, sorry, we really tried tonight! It wasn't the best, but we tried." Honestly, that comment made the experience even more frustrating. I can't imagine how bad it would have been if they hadn't "tried."That statement perfectly summarizes the problem -- trying is not enough when everything fails. I would not recommend this place for a speakeasy experience. This is not a speakeasy. It's a poorly run bar hiding behind a concept it does not deliver. Do not recommend.

I give it a 1 because 0 was not an option. Absolute disaster. Avoid this place at all costs. What…read morewas supposed to be a classy night celebrating a 50th birthday turned into a complete nightmare. This is not a speakeasy, it's a tiny, rundown bar pretending to be something it's not. The staff was inexperienced, dismissive, and unprofessional. Drinks were outrageously overpriced and took forever to arrive. The food was a joke, a $60 charcuterie board made up of cheap grocery store cheese, ham, and crackers that didn't come close to justifying the price. We were served warm water that tasted like chlorine, and the response from staff was literally "I don't know, I just work here." At one point both waitresses vanished, leaving the bartender overwhelmed and everything grinding to a halt. The live jazz band they advertise never showed up, and staff had no explanation or contact info. The so-called dress code was completely ignored, with groups in jeans and sneakers flooding in, turning the place loud, chaotic, and classless. This place delivers nothing it promises. It's not a speakeasy, it's a poorly run bar that shouldn't be in business. Strongly do not recommend, and honestly, I want my money back.

First visit was a huge surprise and success. Drinks were exceptional- real treats with unique…read moreflavors. The venue is beautiful and on point with theme. We tried the dumplings and shishito peppers which were tasty and presented equally as well as the drinks. We will be back with friends and out of town guests when we want to impress with a great time.

Pricey but tasty drinks with a cool, intimate (both quiet and small) vibe…read more Went for after dinner drinks - was sat and served right away. Apparently you typically need reservations, but we showed up on a weekday so guess it worked out. Had a few drinks - old fashioned type drinks to things with baiju (no bueno in a bueno way). Would consider coming back for a drink or two - but not a place to pound drinks considering the price. Might be a good date-y vibe place considering its uniqueness.

Small speakeasy hidden in an alley. The food was actually very good and memorable…read more The Oysters were one of my fav Kumamotos, fresh and flavorful but they could've been rinsed a bit better. Pork Buns were a good tasty bite, and the sushi was surprisingly really really good. Cool place to check out for some small bites and cocktails!

I initially made a reservation for four at tokyo noir. At the last minute, two of my friends…read morecancelled. I tried to modify my reservation online and change the number of guest from 4 to 2 and keep the same date and time. The option was not available. The day before reservation day, I sent a message via open table to let tokyo noir know that only two guest will show up. When i arrived, they were not aware of the change and seemed annoyed that i didnt let them know. Had they checked their messages, they would have seen the request. The other thing i don't like is the vibe. Im used to going to bars where the bar tenders and wait staff will chat with the guest. That was not the case here. They were focused on serving drinks and food and less focused on the vibe. The drinks are great but i wouldn't return due to the lack of energy.