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

See all

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

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

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

To say that Cafe Gazelle is a hidden gem along the sparkling stores of Belmont Shore would be a major understatement. There are only three reasons you would even know this place existed: (1) you walked by it after parking along La Verne to avoid the meters; (2) you happened upon the chalkboard sign along 2nd advertising lunch specials; or (3) your friends have discerning taste and highly recommended this place/you are a frequent Yelper. Having said that, I found myself at Cafe Gazelle one lonely afternoon coming back from work and wanting to try a new place for lunch. I nearly tripped over the easel on the corner of La Verne and 2nd while deciding on a suitable venue to bring my empty stomach and critical taste buds. The price seemed right (lunches starting at $4.95) and although it was difficult to make out the interior of the restaurant from the sidewalk, the smells emanating from this unassuming doorway, along with the interesting conversations occurring inside were enough to coax me across the threshold and into a new experience I would not soon forget. Though small in size, this restaurant is large in charm. The shabby chic wrought iron patio furniture create the impression that you are dining al fresco at a cafe located in an obscure Italian village. I was promptly seated, handed a menu, and, before I could decide upon my meal, presented with the hottest bread I had ever been served in my life. The butter melted almost instantly upon knifing the piping appetizer with a shard of the yellow bliss, and I consumed it so quickly I wondered if I would have room for the inexpensive lunch. As it turns out, I did. I ordered the house salad and the turkey meatballs. The salad was fresh and crisp, with vegetables that sung of happier days on a small farm on what I imagined to be a quaint villa tucked away along the Mediterranean countryside. The dressing was pink in hue, but neither creamy nor tart, although I enjoyed the mysterious fluid enhancement praying the entire time it was not made from pomegranates, since I am allergic. Meanwhile, the waiter, whom I assume was a manager or owner, was doting on me discreetly but regularly. My glass of water never did get to feel naked and empty. Then came the turkey meatballs, mushroom-head-sized plump moons of meat arranged circularly around a small plate. The portion turned out to be exactly enough to satiate me given the bread and salad that I gracefully devoured earlier in my sojourn. The meatballs had great flavor but also an exceptional texture and consistency. I myself have cooked turkey meatballs on hundreds of occasions, but they always seem to turn out slightly dry even when cooked in tomato sauce. Not these masterful meat mounds. They were so moist as to be indistinguishable from their beef forebears. Overall, the food was excellent, the service attentive but unobtrusive, and the price simply unbeatable. I will absolutely return for dinner, hopefully with a friend or date in tow. read more

I LOVE this place. It feels like a tiny secret. If you're local, you've probably passed by it a million times without noticing. I discovered it one night when I ventured out to Angelo's Italian Deli for some marinara sauce. I got there too late and they had closed. But I smelled the amazing aroma of distinctly Italian food in the air and discovered that it was coming from this tiny hole in the wall directly across the street from Angelo's. I went in to see if they sold marinara sauce ala carte (they don't, in case you're wondering but Upper Crust Pizza does and its STELLAR!) and discovered this very charming, intimate Italian dining love nest. I made a mental note to come back There really is no way to sugarcoat it. The place is small and because there is limited seating AND they get busy the wait staff may be a little over diligent in serving you and some people might feel they are being rushed (this is in response to Stephen T.'s somewhat unfair analysis). The food more than makes up for this little hiccup. I've never been to Italy officially but I feel that I have gastronomically because of Cafe Gazelle. The quality of food here is unparalleled by anything else available in the area and because of the close quarters and the general charm (read: run down feel) of the place you really do feel like you're in some cute little Italian woman's kitchen. The food is phenomenal and the ambiance is unpretentious. Its a fabulous combination. read more

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

We came to Cafe Gazelle when we were recently in Long Beach visiting some family. We got there right as they opened up for their dinner service. The plan is teeny tiny! I don't know if I'd ever seen a resto so little! (to go to the bathroom you walk through a part of their kitchen, haha). The waiter came over to us right away and got us drinks. We started with bruschetta (because why not?!) and it was very good. I had a veal dish that was veryyy tasty and came with pasta, but not gonna lie, I thought the portion I got was a bit small. Others got a wide array of dishes, pastas, a spicy chicken dish was popular. Overall, the food was very good! For dessert I had the cheesecake which was honestly amazing. Easily one of the best cheesecakes I've had in a WHILE! If you're in the area and want authentic Italian food without any frills, this is the place for you. read more

If you want to try some good Italian food I suggest you try this place out. The location is super small- maybe 1 table for 4 and the rest are 2 seater tables. The food is excellent! You really can't go wrong with anything on the menu. I enjoy the veal plates and sausage/penne dish. The beer selection is slim, but there are plenty of wines to choose from. If you are in the Belmont shore area and want something a little more mellow but tasty, this is the place for you. read more

This is our favorite restaurant now on 2nd Street. What more can I say? We come here often, and it definitely has some of the best Italian food we've ever tasted. Great prices, and homey, comfortable atmosphere. Yea, no big screen TV's, no beer bar, just great food. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you've seen the 1996 movie Big Night, you'll get this place. If you haven't, watch it first before you go. This restaurant is quirky good. Close and casual, with the kitchen essentially in the corner of the restaurant. Food appears as if by magic, carried proudly by the owner. We had the chicken meatballs with rosemary, lamb sausage with penne, veal with garlic and apples in an amazing cream sauce. The bread was crusty and warm. The vegetable soup was perfect, not too salty, lots of vegies. We shared a chocolate mousse with zabaione. Please don't tell others about this place. We want it all to ourselves. read more

Came here for a quick lunch after Sunday grocery shopping. We came 30 minutes before the end of their lunch service, but that was no problem. We were the only ones there, we were seated immediately, and it was a relaxing and intimate lunch. The food was fantastic--totally worth the $5. Portions are perfectly sized--not too much, not too little--and the food is authentic and delicious. I had the bolognese and my boyfriend had the carbonara. Both awesome. The bread was lovely to sop up the rest of the sauce. I can't wait to come back! 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

See all

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

Is it selfish of me to hesitate writing this review in fear that others might discover my favorite gem of Long Beach? We found this place based on a random Yelp search and man am I glad we couldn't decide between our normal places that night. Cafe Gazelle is THE best italian in Long Beach, hands down. If it's not on the menu but they have the ingredients, yeah they'll make it for you, they're that awesome. Every time we stop in now the owner remembers our favorite bottle of wine and every night is a taste extravaganza...We were dead set on the Russa for so long but I've been getting the Livornese lately...I nearly lick the plate clean each time i come here and the dessert (primarily the chocolate bread pudding) is almost as good as the dinner. read more

The best part of this place is the aroma of fried garlic that coats the room. The charming decor is the next strong point. It feels like you are eating in someone's home with the kitchen in plain sight of the table. Great for a date or intimate meal between a maximum of four people. The food, though good, did not fare as strongly as the rest of the charms of the restaurant. The veal principessa was decent. The veal was smothered in a mushroom-garlic-cream sauce and dotted with delicious green peas. The veal was perfectly cooked and the sauce was delicious, but overall the dish wasn't as incredible as I was expecting. The garlic cheese penne that came as a side dish was quite good. The minestrone soup that came with the meal was clean, simple, and tasty. The other dish, I forget the name, was one of the specials. It was a penne with tomato cream sauce and lamb sausage. It was a little on the sweet side but refreshing. I wasn't a huge fan of the lamb sausage which texturally a bit crumbly. The dessert, a chocolate hazelnut bread pudding was fantastic. It was warm and served ala mode. I recommend it highly. The coffee was also good. The service was absolutely stunning. Very personal and very attentive. I'm guessing there are a lot of regulars at this place since many people seemed to know the main server (probably the owner) by name. Worth eating here simply for the charm, though I wouldn't come back for the food. Oh and parking is of course a bitch being Belmont shores. I found a good amount of parking on La Verne past second. read more

Cafe Gazelle is excellent. Absolutely excellent. And I have very high standards. The food was wonderful and the portion size was perfect. But what really made this place so impressive was the service. The gentleman who was there who oversaw everything, I assume the owner, was really wonderful. He had an old time charm to him which made him very pleasant. He was incredibly gracious and humble, and he made sure that my date and I had a wonderful evening. It was a really wonderful experience. I'll definitely be back and will recommend this restaurant to friends and family. read more

This is the best date spot in Long Beach! I found this place one weekend night when I was walking around 2nd street trying to find somewhere to eat. I smelled the most delicious Italian food in the world and decided to follow the scent, which led me to Cafe Gazelle. It literally is a hole in the wall restaurant, so it can be difficult to find for first timers. The dining room is about the size of my living room, just big enough to fit one table to four and about 5 small round tables that seat for two. It can get crowded on the weekend, so I would recommend this restaurant during busy hours only for parties of two, maybe four (but you may have to wait if the table is taken). Best time to go here if you have a large party is during the weekdays, or at earlier times during the weekend. It's very cozy- you'll feel like you're at an Italian grandmother's house getting a home cooked meal! What I love about this place (besides the amazing food of course!) is the service. The owner of the restaurant greets you with a warm smile and personally takes your order. If you come in more than once, the owner will recognize you and remember your order from the first visit, to the detail. I love how I can walk in here and not have to even look at the menu and I already have my drink and food order in place! For the food: First off, you are brought oven fresh bread and butter. But be careful! You should save room for your entree- try not to completely splurge by eating too much bread, because it is that good! For an appetizer I would recommend the bruschetta, it is so delicious! All meals come with your choice of a soup or salad. Soup is usually a minestrone soup, which is excellent! My personal favorite is their salad with italian dressing. Seriously, if I could find out what type of dressing they use, or the recipe, I would be eating salad everyday because I love this stuff! For my entree, I always order the Russa- penne pasta with tomato cream sauce that comes with sauteed onions and peppercorn. They give you a nice bowl of freshly grated parmesan cheese to complement your meal so you can add how much ever you'd like. Their portions are a good size- I can never finish the whole plate, but the pasta makes awesome left overs and taste just as great! At the end of your meal, the owner brings out a tray of desserts for you to choose from. I've never had their desserts before because I always get too stuffed but I've heard that the chocolate cake is really good and I'd like to try out the tiramisu. All in all, this place is amazing for their food and service. If you want to break away from chain restaurants for a night and find a great family owned restaurant, Cafe Gazelle is it! I love this restaurant and I think you will too, so I hope you'll give this place a try! read more

I was with my friend and grand daughter to have appetizers and dessert at Cafe Gazell . We were the only people in the restaurant at 5p after waiting an hour for the restaurant to open. As we were eating our appetizers the owner came to our table and said I am not open for only appetizers and desserts and told us to leave after we finished our appetizers. I was so angry and offended by the owner who was rude and offensive. I have no idea why he would kick anyone out of his restaurant. read more

Quiet, small kitchen and dining room feel where you're surrounded by vintage Italian ads, serviced regularly by the owner and incredible smells throughout the meal coming from the adjacent kitchen. The wait for a table is worth it. After dipping my fresh baked dinner roll in the remnants of my lentil soup, both of which notable, I was served sautéed calamari in what must have been a white wine sauce. Again, very good. Then my parmigiana entree plate arrived. The homemade penned pasta, marinara sauce, cheese and breaded chicken just went together so well. A common dish just done totally right, I could tell that the sauce and pasta was freshly made in house. There are so many other pastas and other entrees I need to try here because everything was just incredible. read more

Cozy little Italian place with good food and service. I always order the Checca and add shrimp to it. Joya orders the Chicken Piccata and adds Angel Hair pasta. Entree comes with either soup or salad. Rolls with butter served as soon as you sit down. Love this place! read more

This place is small and intimate--maybe 16 people can fit. The food is excellent and it is cooked to order. I have celiac disease, and they are very accommodating. They prepare my order gluten free and it is so delicious. They have a gluten-free pasta and they will make their entrees gluten free if possible. I like the personal touch they provide. Excellent food, excellent service. That says it all! read more

My boyfriend and I came here on a date. From the moment you enter you feel the quaint and welcoming familiarity of home. The service was spectacular and personal. The food amazing. We found our favorite Italian place in Long Beach! read more

So I bookmarked this place and decided to head down to 2nd street Long Beach and try it. Parked my car on La Verne st and litterally walked right past it without even knowing. Tucked in the back, it's a very small cafe restaurant. A classic hole in the wall at it's best. It's nothing close to elegant or fancy, but the food and hospitality totally makes up for it. The owner is quite attentive to your every need. A very humble man. I ordered the Fettina......delicious. All the deserts looked amazing. A good small intimate with great authentic Italian food. I would definitely try it again whenever I'm around shorline read more

After the visit of Aquarium and on my way back to OC, we stop by this block looking for some quick bites to eat. I was a bit shock by the price of the lunch menu of this place. the place is small and probably not great for bringing kids. One thing that is a bit odd is that there is a mandatory ordering per person, even if is the kids. As other yelper noted, the bread is homemade and my wife love the bread. the dishes are all great. We ordered the calamari for appetizer, the calamari is a bit different than other restaurants, it is stir fry. The smell of garlic and olive oil is great with calamari. My meal is a spicy tomato broth with seafood. I like the dish, my wife order the baked zitti, kids and wife both enjoyed it. I do like the food, and the owner is very nice, i just don't know if I will go out of my wife to come to this place. read more

Whhhhhaaaaat. I literally didn't know Italian food could taste this good. My husband is from the east coast and we've been looking for a good Italian place for the last 10 years... nothing even comes close. Until we found this place. I took a bite and though "OH this is what al dente means!" We had the Russa (vodka sauce) and the Chicken Marsala. We kept swapping plates to try each other's. We were supposed to be doing a progressive dinner and have one course each at multiple restaurants but once we got here we never left. We live in HB and are already plotting how we might come back as soon as possible. The bathroom is a little quirky but if you just imagine you're in old town Boston or New York it sort of ends up fitting the whole vibe. read more

It was "alright". I got the chicken Milanese (as there are a lot of recommendations for it. Food was alright. Service was great.

I went to this restaurant for dinner. I have to say that I was more impressed with this restaurant than I have been in many years with any other. The atmosphere was very comfortable. There were only about 8 small 2-3 person tables and a cramped little two seat bar but it gave the restaurant a feeling of comfort and authenticity. The lighting was perfect and the decorations only added to the authentic feel. The service was extremely impressive. They re-poured our wine into our glasses on queue and without fail every time that the glass got down to an ounce or so left. Within the consumption of one bottle, our glasses were each refilled perhaps four times. The same went for water. They managed to somehow refill them without being abrupt or intrusive, even in the cramped quarters. The waiters were graceful and knew when to ask and when to let you speak. The food was fantastic! This was some of the best Italian I have ever had! The portions were reasonable. The recommendations by the waiter were highly agreeable. The desert was just as memorable. The waiter that served us turned out to be the nephew of another worker and the business was family owned by this family. This was a family owned and family served restaurant but they didn't gloat about it. I only found out when I asked. How graceful. The best part of it all was the prices! I would have expected a place of this class level and authenticity to charge at least $30 a plate but the prices were fairly normal and I could easily have had a meal noticeably under $20. All in all, this establishment screamed with the most humble of attitudes, "We don't have to improve; the way we've done it for the last 25 years is how we have made our reputation". read more

I originally gave this place a low review for closing much earlier than their advertised hours. Nonetheless, my girlfriend and I tried this about a year later now, and I have to admit I was completely blown away by how awesome it was. The food is extremely authentic and extremely delicious. I'm originally from New York and I have eaten a lot of Italian food and pasta dishes and this place is 100% spot on. I like the family atmosphere and the ambience and the phenomenal food and tasty wine. I'm definitely looking forward to getting back to this place again. Well done and my apologies for the initial review last year. read more

Amazing Italian food for a reasonable price!!! I ordered the chicken Marsala, and it was just perfect. Will be returning!

I saw this place on Yelp, and decided to go. I love it!!! I got lost so I had to call the place and the gentleman was very nice. The service was great, bread they gave us was the best!!!! home-made? i don't know. But fresh and hot and delicious!!! Pasta was delicious too. read more

Wow. Unbelievable food. Quaint and perfect spot to get slow down off busy street. Great service too

Amazing food. Super friendly staff. Cute small place. Food was very authentic. Dessert was delicious. read more

Cafe Gazelle - Pasta Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

This hole in the wall Italian restaurant is amazing! Perfect date night spot and excellent service and food. I highly recommend this spot for an Italian dinner. read more