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.

This is definitely a place with a very Long Beach vibe (so it really depends on what you think…read moreabout Long Beach in general). The seating is a little funky, but the drinks are solid. The food is definitely bar food that's ideal for late night eats while buzzed, and the service is fast! Food: 3.5/5 Drinks: 4.5/5 Service: 4/5 Ambiance: 4/5 Value: 3.5/5 Overall: 4/5

The cocktails here are always so creative but what really impressed me is that they're actually…read moregood Drinks with interesting flavors lately often end up tasting gimmicky, artificial, or just... off. Here you can actually taste the ingredients they describe and somehow work really well together. And it's not just one or two drinks that feel unique and interesting it's basically their whole menu. Most recent time we went was when they had a guest bartender (Polo Chang). Some of the best cocktails I've had recently. I'm a huge fan of tea in cocktail his menu was amazing. We got way more drinks than we usually do that night because each one was better than the last. Only thing tho I really wish they kept their old menu. The drawings were beautiful and it had so much character while very easily communicating how each drink will look and taste. It went so well with the overall vibe of the place. But I may just be nitpicking because I have hard time reading the new dark menu in the dim light lolol I honestly would come here wayyyy more often if it wasn't for the very limited parking. Even with reservation it feels like never a guarantee we will make it there because we may or may not be able to find parking. If you are lucky to be nearby highly recommend uber.

This was my first time at this establishment, and I have very mixed feelings about the experience…read more The food was very good and the drinks were creative, but I really wish the service had been better. We sat at the bar, and I expected to receive service from the bartender, but he didn't acknowledge us for the entire night. Instead, our server took our order. After a while, she informed us that the crispy rice we ordered was sold out. She mentioned that the bartender was supposed to let us know, but he never did. What made the experience more uncomfortable was that the bartender seemed to be giving most of his attention to the Caucasian customers on the other side of the bar. We were the only Asian customers there, and unfortunately, this left us feeling like we were being treated differently because of our race. The good food and drinks helped compensate for the poor service, so we decided not to let it ruin our evening. However, things got even more disappointing at the end. After I paid, I noticed that I had been charged for the crispy rice even though we never received it. When our server tried to address the issue, the bartender appeared to ignore both her and us, so we eventually left. I hope management sees this review and reaches out to me to address the overcharge and the overall experience. Overall, although the food and drinks were good, the service and the way we were treated left a very negative impression. Unfortunately, I will not be returning.

Alter Ego is such an inviting bar and lounge! They really nailed that divey vibe while still making…read moreit feel like a great place to sit down, eat, have a few drinks, and just enjoy yourself. The environment is super chill and welcoming. The service was great too. Everyone was attentive without being overbearing, which I really appreciated. I had the salmon and broccoli, along with the Caesar salad and tiramisu and honestly everything was delicious The tiramisu was a great way to finish everything off. Next time I'm staying at the Fairmont Breakers, I already know where I'll be coming back to eat!

A romantic little escape with jazz! I absolutely loved my…read moreexperience at Alter Ego! I love the intimate vibe and beautiful setup. it feels so romantic and cozy, especially with the jazz music playing in the background. It's the perfect place to slow down, enjoy good food, and just soak in the atmosphere. For dinner, we ordered the salmon and a salad, and both were SO good! The salmon was delicious and beautifully prepared, while the cesar salad was fresh, flavorful, and the perfect complement to the meal. The food, atmosphere, and service all came together perfectly. The service was wonderful, attentive, friendly, and welcoming without feeling overwhelming. There's just something magical about good food, intimate surroundings, and jazz that makes the whole evening feel extra special. Definitely a place I'd come back to for a romantic date night or whenever I'm in the mood for great food, beautiful ambiance, and soulful music. Alter Ego, you definitely know how to set the mood!

This is such a cute speakeasy!! Drinks here are pretty strong but I got the Chinese Vacation that…read morecomes with amante aperitif and was really sweet and easy to drink. My friend's lychee negroni was very interesting, had a sweet start with a crazy punch of an aftertaste. All the appys were tasty! My friends' favorite is the 5 sauce fries. My personal faves were the shu mai and popcorn chicken. We also got har gao and both pan-fried and steamed pork dumplings. It's a super small space (very intimate and cozy) so definitely make reservations ahead of time. We showed up very late our resy but thankfully our table was still available when we got there! I tried reaching them over the phone multiple times to let them know we would be late but it's impossible to reach them, so that's the only thing I would suggest for improvement. There's also a tiki bar (called Lagoon) within Midnight Oil that I want to check out next time.

Your hao peng you (good friend) on Yelp is sending you a sign to check this hidden gem out! ;)…read more As someone of Taiwanese descent, I always get SO excited discovering Taiwanese restaurants and bars, which are admittedly a bit hard to find if you're not in East LA. We stopped by late Saturday night and were able to snag an immediate walk-in at the bar at Hao Peng You, which is the intimate speakeasy portion of Midnight Oil. The decor definitely reminded me of my grandparents' house in Taiwan, with vintage, ornate wooden chairs, dragon/lion statue carvings, and even a historic century old marital bed that had been repurposed into a booth. The drinks were also VERY unique, with my favorite being Hua sheng (literally meaning peanut), which was crafted from a nostalgic childhood peanut milk drink. All our cocktails were crafted very well, to the point where I thought they were a bit on the lighter side since I couldn't really taste the alcohol. This section does get really busy though and only had one bartender who is making/serving drinks and taking orders, so do expect a bit of a wait. Overall, highly recommend checking out this vibey vintage Taiwanese-inspired speakeasy (that my inner history nerd was so excited about), and I'll definitely be back to try their food items as well as their two other bar/restaurant concepts!

Loved this place! Super cool dark ambiance and the mocktails were incredible. Really loved how…read moreeverything was decorated and they had a Psychic there this night to do tarot card readings, which I really loved. Service was excellent and we did try the pretzel as well, which was well seasoned and very large. I didn't get to take a picture of that unfortunately. We will be back!! I'm really looking forward to trying their tea service.

Small cute bar. Pretty detailed and diverse cocktail menu. However we tried some and they were all…read morereally sweet. Staff was nice to hold my jacket I'd forgotten behind for a week. Check hours before visiting and go early on Friday/weekends. Gets busy.

Port City Tavern in Long Beach is one of those spots that always has something going on. There's…read morealmost always an event or gathering happening out in their parking area, which gives it a really fun, lively vibe. What I really appreciate is that sometimes it's even kid-friendly, which makes it a great option if you're not just going out solo or with friends. I've been coming around since back when it was Iguana Kelly's, and it's been cool to see how the place has evolved while still keeping that local, neighborhood feel. The location is super easy to find, right next to a donut shop and a mechanic, and across the street you've got a 7-Eleven, Subway, and a few other small spots. Plus, Tommy's Burgers and an Arco are right nearby, so everything you might need is within reach. I tried both the cucumber mixed drink and the mango mixed drink, both were really good, but I personally preferred the cucumber one. It's less sweet and way more refreshing, especially if you're not into overly sugary drinks. We also had a BBQ chicken pizza that they cook in a fire oven (I think it's called a wood-fired pizza), and it was really good, definitely worth trying if you go. Service was good During the outdoor event, they had things set up really well, including a sign that read "21 and over beyond this point only," which helped keep things organized. They also had jumpers outside for the little ones to enjoy, along with tables and chairs so everyone could hang out comfortably. Parking can be a bit tight in their lot, but there's always street parking if you take a minute to read the signs. Overall, it's a great hangout spot with a welcoming atmosphere and something happening more often than not. Definitely worth checking out.

Really wonderful spot to hang and watch the game. Few beers on tap but good selection of…read morebottled/canned beers, wine, and cocktails/mixed drinks. And fantastic happy hour service! Unfortunately we found a fruit fly frozen into our ice, which I figure can happen at busy places like this. Many indoor spots to chill bar-side, seated at a table, or lounging on a couch as well as a nice shaded outdoor space. Enough screens for everyone at any angle to enjoy the game. Though we had to re-locate from the side room due to maintenance services going on that were a bit dusty and loud. All things considered, I'd come back to give it another try because it seems like a really solid spot otherwise, and we may have caught it on an off day.

Sierra takes such good care of the bar and is so attentive the pizza and wings are great! Loveeeread more

We had an amazing night at this restaurant/nightlife spot celebrating a friend's 41st birthday…read more They had a DJ spinning and the house and techno music was incredible all night long. The vibe was perfect...great energy with plenty of room to dance. The cocktails were excellent, and the bartenders, Jose and Jocelyn, were incredibly attentive and helped make the night even better. Honestly, every staff member we interacted with, from the promoter to the security guard, was fantastic and contributed to such a fun welcoming atmosphere. The decor was such a fun surprise...tons of palm trees and inflatables made it feel like you were in a tropical getaway rather than just a pizza restaurant. They also had a photo booth, which added another fun touch to the night. We took a ton of pictures in it. We really appreciated the gender-neutral bathrooms and the overall safe, inclusive environment that made our whole group feel comfortable drinking, dancing, and celebrating. Parking can be rough, but as a Long Beach native I already knew that, so we chose to Uber.. We'll absolutely be making the trip back from North Orange County to visit again!

This is such a cute hotel bar with beautiful decor, we made a quick stop before our stop at their…read moreterrace bar. We arrived and there were a few parties leaving, we walked to the bar area and the two servers were occupied with other guests, so we patiently waited. Finally one of them approached us and shared the menu, another gentleman came to the bar and he was quickly greeted with a hello and our same server immediately shared the menu. The gentleman politely said, these ladies were here first please take their order first, which the server did but was not so happy about. To our surprise the server still prepared his drinks first. The gentleman very surprised apologized since he knew we were there before him. With our drinks in hand we found a table with some empty seats. The table side where we sat had a sprite glass bottle and a glass that hadn't been picked up since the last party left. We moved it a side to set our drinks and finally enjoy our conversation. A different server came to the table and asked the gentleman next to us to get his empty glass and she completely ignored our side. She did another round and I finally asked her to pick up the bottle that was left by another party before us. I asked her for the menu again, she brought it but she did say that I had go back up to the bar to order any additional drinks. We decided to not order a second round and head up to the terrace.

I had this place on my "to go" list and I randomly decided today was the day…read more Decide on a lavazza cup of coffee with almond milk. So good! The service? Incredible. The bartender who is also the barista was so welcoming. I love the historical aspect of this building and they did an incredible job with the maintenance of it. The marble and gold and earthly tones which are deep and rich! Sigh! They're open til 10pm... I'll be back

So this is a review that's been a *long* time coming (I've just been chronically overwhelmed for an…read moreequally long time.) I haven't been here often, but I *was* here right around when they opened, wherein I determined that the food ranged from quality but a bit overpriced, to just overpriced, a feeling I would still hold, generally speaking. Great vibe, solid service, but maybe a little pretentiously priced (and/or it's just stupid expensive to run a restaurant in this area, granted.) And with *super* pretentiously-priced cocktails, for how relatively simple they mostly are (if I'm gonna spend $18+ plus tip on a drink, I expect Baby Gee-level cocktails.) They also had an impressive wall of craft beer on tap, but also a bit pricey, especially compared to places not on 2nd street, so there was never a particular *draw*. But then I never actually finished reviewing it, because I'm super behind. Anyway, then also not particularly recently, they launched a happy hour, which at the time, especially for this particular part of Long Beach, was pretty stupidly good, with $5 decent sized smashburgers (6 with cheese, 10 with cheese and also fries), as well as $5 craft beer, pretty much all of them, including the fancy, exciting stuff (exciting if you're a nerd like me, the barrel aged stuff, for instance). They also had one specific half hour at the time, which I'd like to immortalize as a super fun idea, where one specific cheap but craft beer was some stupid price, I think like a dollar, but since they had a whole wall of rotating craft beer, a *different* specific cheap craft beer any given day. That's not relevant at all to my current review, but it was fun. Anyway, I still didn't write a review like a year ago when I took advantage of that happy hour, though I did take advantage of it a solid couple of times. Skip forward again to just a few weeks ago, I happened to be attending an event in the general area again, an event that was going to involve more alcohol than food and for which having a happy-hour-timed dinner in the area was going to be useful, so I figured I'd check out whether the happy hour was still there, and it was. At least as of a few weeks ago, the happy hour (3-6 weekdays) was still a thing, and it had gone up a whopping 55 cents per item. Ends up being effectively ~$17 plus tip for a quality smashburger, quality fries and a craft beer, though they didn't have as *many* of the fancy (barrel-aged or equivalent) stuff as they had the first time, they did still have some, and it was still $5.55 for any beer on draft they had. So happy hour wise, that's a pretty good price for this part of the country, I'd say. Obviously only since the burgers and fries *are* also absolutely quality burgers and fries. Not quite as wonderful as my gold standard smashburger at The Stache, perhaps, but still a great smashburger. My opinion on spending almost 20 bucks for what is effectively still just an old fashioned, hasn't changed, though. :p

Was here for an event and stopped in for a drink. Was…read moregreeted right away. Service is good as they got super busy. Drinks are strong so no skipping on the booze. We did not eat. Will want to come back to hang out and try the food too. Bar keeps with very nice.

Huge Thank you to Armando & Dimitri !!…read more we came for my birthday dinner with my family & i've come before and didn't have the best experience. But this visit made up for it definitely. As soon as we walked in Dimitri greeted us with the biggest smile and the most beautiful energy! then armando came and was so attentive, sweet & made sure we had everything we needed. Such a great experience thank you so much!

Food was good, the calamari with the Aioli was the best thing I had. The fried chicken was alright…read morealongside the cob salad, but nonetheless it was a good time. Service was phenomenal, our waiter kept on checking in and was extremely polite and charismatic. Ambiance of this restaurant is always cool and collective, along with a slight luxury feel. Great atmosphere, service workers seem to be content as well, love that.