One of the best Italian spots I've been to in a long time! I felt like I was in Italy. The food was superb and the service wonderful. We spoke to the owner afterwards who said he has been there for 36 years! I'm just sad I didn't know about it sooner. Definitely a little gem. I had the linguini with clams which was mouth watering but every person at our table was just as happy with their food! Def go! You won't be sorry. We will be back! read more

This is a true gem....the food is delicious and its got a great European Cafe feel. They are very accomodating and will customize your dish as you request. We love coming here...and my only improvement suggetion is that they reprint their menus which are tattered. read more

Cute little date spot! Very authentic and great service. A lot of choices of wine and fresh baked bread. The place is small with no more than 10 tables. Delicious food with many options. Cheers! read more

Top 5 restaurant of my life, just everything there is made with passion it's on another level, I recommend going here more than anything especially because it's kind of small but they deserve to be a 5 star restaurant read more

This is a place I take myself on dates when it's cold or rainy. Usually get the chicken Milanese and sautéed calamari. Owner is a great guy and very attentive. All of the food is consistently good and it's nice to post up in a small corner enjoying a peaceful quality meal! read more

Cafe Gazelle creates excellent, flavorful, fresh food, while providing superior service in a comfortable casual unpretentious atmosphere! "CIBO ECCELLENTE"!!! read more

For over 35 years now I found this jewel of an Italian Restaurant just off of second street in Belmont Shore has been serving up the best Italian food in all of Long Beach. Their Spaghetti Bolognese is one of the best I've had anywhere and the Lasagna is another one of my favorite dishes. The ambiance is quaint and cute and their food and service is impeccable. Their dinner salads are also great and the dressing is to die for. Prices are very reasonable making it all that much better. read more

Amazing setting, even better service and exceptional food quality. I will be going back anytime I'm in the area.

I moved to Belmont Shore a few months ago, and my landlord recommended this place. I am really glad he did. I love places like this: no fluff, just food. The decor is downright shoddy, but who cares? I care that the food is yummy and the prices are fair. This place is not for snobs, not Italian food snobs, not service snobs, not atmosphere snobs. It actually does none of those things spectacularly well. But still, I love it. You just get a good feeling, the staff makes you feel good and the food makes you feel good. Get the bruschetta!!!! read more

My fiance and I have now eaten there twice and it's pretty darn good. As others have mentioned, the owner is very nice and will offer to cook off the menu should you have a request or want a classic dish not listed. Although not in the class of Alessa, still very tasty for LA based Italian Food (snobby east coast comment I know). We've enjoyed veal parm, chicken Milanese and a couple red sauce dishes. I would say the salads are average at best. Both times, the salad dressings were blah and being an Italian restaurant, they should have a Caesar on the menu....no big deal. The caprese offering is probably the best of the bunch. The dessert choices are awesome and they also offer a very nice wine list. The little tables, owner, and ambiance make Cafe Gazelle and because of that we will return!! read more

Been there twice. The first time was just to dip my toe in the water and see if it was agreeable. It was. The second time was directly related to the first pleasurable experience. And it was even better than the first. It's a small place, but we've been fortunate (both times) to walk in and get seated right away. The owner is the wait staff and the wait staff is the owner. Ergo, you're getting top of the line service from he who has the most at stake. He does NOT disappoint. The pre-meal bread is remarkable. The water re-fill is spot on. If you get a bottle of wine, they're always coming around to make sure your glass never runs dry. And the food.... Oh my, the food. Without making sweeping generalizations, I'll just tell you that Cafe Gazelle is 2 for 2. (or 4 for 4 if you account for the satisfaction level of the lady on my arm.) Looking forward to my next Cafe Gazelle experience! read more

Cafe Gazelle is so amazing. The food is delectable. The service is perfection. The ambiance is cozy and so european. If i could eat here for dinner every night, I WOULD! The prices are a STEAL for what you get. It's one of Belmont Shore's best kept secrets. Parking isn't fantastic, but it's worth the walk and you'll NEED it after you eat the irresistable appetizers, dinner, and dessert. (and it's true...the waiter IS the owner. and he has an amazing memory. on our second visit, he remembered us from our first - months before) read more

Had our first experience at Cafe Gazelle tonight. What a wonderful and relaxing place. Belmont Shores hidden gem. The service was fantastic, even with a great menu the owner offered to make us anything we might like. We narrowed our choices to a couple of dishes and let Frank choose for us - well worth letting him decide. Desert was unbelievable too. Had the key lime parfait. But there was about 4 others I would have loved to try. So going back to this place, small intimate and had a great chat with the people at the next table. Great place for a couples night out. read more

Here's the bottom line, everything here is good. I dare you to order something here and not like it. The service, personally handled by the owner, us excellent. Small "hole in the wall" type place, holding about 18 people maximin at one time...it's by far my top 3 restaurants on 2nd street. Tr it and enjoy..... read more

Cafe Gazelle - Great white fish.... - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

I've been here NUMEROUS times. It is ALWAYS amazing. The service, food EVERYTHING is perfection. It's very small and homey. You feel like you're in a small village in Italy. You won't be disappointed. Every time I leave, I come right back! read more

Cafe Gazelle - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Thanks to yelp, I found Caffe Gazelle, and knew it would be the right place for Valentine's Day. We waited an hour, because it is a very small place with just a few tables, but god it was worth it. From the food, to the ambiance, to the two terrific older Italian gentlemen who run the place and insure good service - Gazella is just great. It feels like a real Italian restaurant from days past, with FRESH delicious flavors and romantic ambiance. Don't go looking for huge plates of overcooked pasta, or things covered in greasy tomato sauce or gobs of cheese. Enjoy incredible, authentic food, wine, luscious desserts, and dimly-lit romance. I can't wait to go back, many more times. read more

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My husband and I love this place! Everything tastes amazing. This is our go to spot for special occasions just went there last night for our 6th wedding anniversary. read more

Cafe Gazelle - It was a special request. A garlic and parm cream sauce. - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

We walked in on a recommendation and the moment we did we new this quant little restraunt was going to be a nice experience. The owners smile said he was confident with the service and presentation we were about to receive. Yes! It was delicious, peaceful and we will definitely be coming back. read more

Cafe Gazelle - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

Such an good find in SoCal. I'm such a Italian food snob after having splurged in San Francisco's little Italy District for ten years. This place is a gem of a restaurant. Small and quaint, such nice staff, great wine selection and the food is great! Fresh pasta with zesty and creamy sauces. Bruschetta to die for! Decent prices! Such a great romantic of the beaten path find. read more

Delicious, fresh, homemade Italian food by non-Italians. I love this place. Family owned and feels like it. Very small, so make sure to avoid coming in a large group and make a reservation. We shared a bunch of items on the menu, and all of them were great! Check this place out when you're in the Belmont Shore area! read more

Wow! Great place. Food is excellent and service is exceptional. If your a foodie looking for a good experience this is the place. From the appetizer to main dish presentation and taste was phenomenal. Definitely a place to visit, will be back to dine again! read more

What a great awakening of the senses! Walk into this small restaurant and the scent of spice/sauce alerts the brain of the exquisite meal to come. But viewing the extensive menu becomes torture, because there are so many choices I like! We ordered a bottle of Chianti and gnocchi that comes with the most amazing sauce. Then I told the server which dishes I liked and out of those he said I would like the Normondy which is a chicken breast dish prepared with shallots, thyme and calvados cream sauce with a broccoli flower and perfectly done penne pasta. Soup or salad comes with the dinner, I had the salad with house dressing that I liked & my husband the lentil soup. He's a Marsala enthusiast and orders it often. He smiled with every bite. It's rare I soak up the sauce. I did until the last drop with the fresh bread! Dessert was Lemoncello Cheesecake with Mascarpone. Servers were pleasant, hospitable & efficient; the feeling we get when we are the chef's home and we are presented their very best! read more

Cafe Gazelle - Dinner: Replica of our last except 4 this tangy, creamy, light & buttery sweet Limoncello; the kind you would want to write home about! - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

I love this place amazing food and service! Highly recommended to anyone in Long Beach. 8 tables total...it's small but feels like you're at home. Probably best not to bring big groups but perfect for a date night :) read more

Think I found a new favorite restaurant in Long Beach. It was my wife's birthday yesterday and we had two other couples over for a social distant dinner in the backyard. I had heard about this little gem just off of 2nd street but had never tried. Nothing but rave reviews! My favorite was the Livrones, but everyone said that their food was amazing! Thanks, we will definitely be back! read more

Amazing would be the best word to describe it. My first thoughts as I walked up to the restaurant was that I was worried it was going to be a little too much of a "hole in the wall," but I was surprised at how classy and intimate the feel of the restaurant was. The waiter and who I am assuming is the owner were both extremely professional and efficient. We had not sat down more than a minute before drinks and bread was out. Next came salad and then the main dish. It was all very quick but we did not feel rushed at all. The entire time we talked about how good it tasted. My wife got the Alfredo and I got the Pescatore. I was very pleased with the seafood and the entire dish. Great food, great experience, 5 stars! read more

The only reason I am not giving 5 stars is because service needs improvement. It was basically one guy running the show ... seating people, taking orders, serving and settling bills. This is a very small restaurant, the restaurant was pretty packed when me and 2 other colleagues arrived on Tuesday night around 7:30 pm. We are from out of state and our colleague used yelp to find an Italian restaurant. There wasn't room for the 3 of us to sit together, so 2 of us sat at a table, and the 3rd person sat at the bar. We were brought bread and butter, again the place was pretty full, so he didn't ask us if we wanted drinks at this time. We waited 10+ minutes before we got asked if we wanted drinks; after another 10 minutes, we finally flagged the server down so we could order our food. Our orders were: alfredo +chicken, chicken marsala and sea bass, all of us opted for salads instead of soup. After another 10+ minutes, we realized that our food was almost done (We were sitting in direct sight of the chef) and we had not been given our salads yet. So, again, we flagged our server down to ask for our salads. He kinda seemed aggravated that we were asking for our salads. Luckily a table right beside us freed up, so our other colleague moved a chair to join us at our table. Our salads were brought, and we all agreed that the salads were really good. Shortly after we finished our salads, our entrees came. Let me just say that we easily dismissed the lack of service because the food was delicious. I would have to say that my alfredo was one of the best (if not the best) that I have ever had. The sauce was delicious, but light, not heavy with the right amount of flavor. I saved room for dessert, so I tried the tiramisu ... this was the first time I have had it served with ice cream, but the tiramisu itself was very tasty ... light and full of flavors. If I am back in the area and want Italian food, I would definitely come back to Cafe Gazelle. read more

My husband and I have always talked about eating here everytime we walked down 2nd street but never had a chance to until tonight. And I am so glad that we did. Cafe gazelle is exactly what everyone says it is... a hidden gem. It's a small place that seats about 18 at one time. You really feel like you're in an Italian grandmother's home. The wait staff is amazing. They've been there for 34 years and they are definitely doing something right bc they have so many returning regulars who the staff are very familiar with and already know what to bring when they sit down. I posted pictures of our meal... Chicken meatballs, canneloni, pasta amatriciano, and flour less chocolate cake paired with a bottle of sangiovese... not to mention the soup or salad and bread that comes with your meal. The food was delicious. The pasta is cooked perfectly, they make their own crepes for the canneloni, and nothing is over sauced. It was an amazing experience and we are definitely going to make a return visit! read more

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Truly this is the best Italian food I've ever eaten. I myself am Italian and the various dishes with their perfectly paired sauce melodies reminded me of when my own grandmother would cook for me as a kiddo. Prices are super affordable for the amazing quality-- the dining room is small and perfect for a first date. read more

My new favorite place around 2nd street! Have been meaning to try this cute little place for a long time and finally had lunch. Lovely little place with attentive service and delicious food. I love to support small business in the area and this spot is on pointe. Crusty hot fresh bread. Pasta with chicken and mushrooms flavorful and cooked to perfection. Best of all they have a nice wine list and the prices are right! read more

An all time favorite - this place is tiny but the food is ever so delicious. Fair prices on wine too & the lunch specials offer outstanding value without compromising quality in any way. read more

Just amazing. A tiny, little pace and so worth it. You can imagine being in a small italian resturan in a ittle village when you walk in. And it only gets better. The service is spot on. Always there but never hovering. The food is delicious. Chicken Marsala was among the best I've ever had. The veal was delicious. Made with love and care. Perfect portions. My boyfriend and I love this place. Want to go back often but thankfully it's in Long Beach and we live in LA so we don't get there too often. It keeps it special for us and keeps us from gaining too much. read more

Best pasta in Long Beach. Every dish here is delicious. Friendly staff and good wine. Very fair pricing!

This is my hands down favorite Italian restaurant in California let alone Long Beach. The food is outstanding, the service top notch. There is not one thing on the menu that you shouldn't try. The chicken meatballs are amazing! read more

Don't go here. The food was too salty and the waiter was offended by me telling him it was too salty... I thought I was being helpful in telling him this as To not offend another customer.... he took total offense and told me I was the only person to complain and that eggplant was not made with salt..... I'm a cook and know how to make eggplant and you have to salt it to get it to remove access water.... He raised his voice, making him look like a total freak, telling me he was going to charge me a surcharge....This place is tiny and the whole restaurant could hear him getting out of control with the fact I dared to say I thought the eggplant was too salty. I just wanted to enjoy my dinner with my boyfriend and he made that impossible. My boyfriend used to be a regular and this waiter made everyone feel uncomfortable ruining the night for us and making the whole restaurant feel awkward... Maybe he isn't from the US and he felt threatened or mad that a woman would ever be displeased with something, but in any case, the customer service was horrible and my food was too salty.... my boyfriends food was fair. There are so many choices to choose from on and off of second street, do yourself a favor and try somewhere different. read more

This is the best! Stop researching and just go!!!! If you have a large group, call in advanced.

Not 10 tables...8. And it's smaller than that. And the food is excellent....coming from an Italian food snob. Simple, quick and great. Tiny, funky and great. Veal was great...did I mention that. They turn tables fast so you might not have to wait as long as you think. read more

Hands down the best Italian food! They will make to order and Frank is a gracious host! Small and quaint! nothing fancy seats about 18. Absolute must in Belmont Shores! read more

What a Hidden Gem...the food is Authentic and very good!!! Also, very reasonably priced!!!

The owner of this establishment harassed me and screamed at me - all over a late order. After I questioned how long it would take, he snapped. He screamed obscenities in my face in front of the entire restaurant. After he yelled "f*ck you, get out of my restaurant," I had it. The whole place was mortified. Save yourself the trouble of overspending on the same food you can get down the street for half the price - and you probably won't get screamed at either. read more

I have been walking past Cafe Gazelle and always wanted to check out this intimate Belmont Shore spot. It did not disappoint, service was on point and all the patrons have fun w/ the super tight fit! The place is always full, but they will find you a spot. It was my anniversary and my son joined the wife and I. He had the Chicken Milanese and it melted in his mouth. May have been the best piece of chicken that he ever had. My wife had the Spaghetti Bolognase (off menu) and I went for a sausage pasta dish. The sauces are complex and divine. The big roll they give each of you is fresh and huge. The fresh parmigian cheese on the table is also a big hit. I didn't ask for another one (although I wanted one), b/c it weighed in at over a pound. Portion sizes are not aggressive, but the price is right! Wine selection is solid and prices are very fair. Desert tray came out and we shared a Chocolate Mousse cake 5/5, amazing. read more

Cafe Gazelle - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

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