Great food, great service, great owner. I just wished that when you are paying via a handheld, that the TIP amount is not automatically prompted to 20% / 22% / 25% We pay enough in taxes and its almost disrespectful to think that people should tip at least 20%+. It leaves a bad taste. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

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AVOID!!! My boyfriend and I went for Valentine's. As another review stated, they did not tell us it would be a limited menu when we made the reservation. Nor was the price listed anywhere on the menu. Just the 20% auto tip. The "menu"- 4 courses: 1 shared appetizer (3 options), 1 salad/person (2 options), 1 entree/person (4 options), & 1 shared dessert (3 options). 1st, we were given bread served with pre-packaged butter. That was the 1st red flag. We then asked for oil and vinegar and were given a plastic ramekin of an oil/vinegar combination. No words. The appetizer- tuna carpaccio- it was served on a plate smaller than our bread plates. There were 4 tiny pieces of tuna completely covered with garnish shavings that totally drowned out the tuna. The salads- 2 tiny limp pathetic salads. The entress- salmon and chicken risotto. The salmon was ok, but the vegetables had a very odd flavor, which my boyfriend didn't mind, but I found them uneatable. And the chicken in the risotto was super dry. No fresh ground pepper or freshly grated parmesan was offered. The dessert- lava cake, which was more of a lava cupcake. It was literally enough for 2 small bites for both of us. And it was no lava cake. It was like a brownie bite topped with fudge. We left still hungry. Service- terrible. It took forever to order anything. Not even sure who our server was. The hostess who also might've been the manager/owner? She sat us down & only gave us a wine menu. We asked for a food menu, & she pointed at the QR code on the table. We had just seen printed menus at the counter, so my boyfriend got up and grabbed them for us. Literally 10 feet away. She couldn't just bring us the menus when she sat us or after we asked for them? I understand Valentine's is a very busy night, but don't overseat your venue if you can't manage the service. They had most of their seating in the back, where thankfully we did not sit. I peaked back there & people were packed in like sardines, sitting outside in the freezing cold, with some terrible loud live music. Not the romantic Italian atmosphere anyone would want on Valentines. At least the atmosphere in the front seating area was ok. Except for the random music (not Italian) they played from a bluetooth speaker placed on the floor right by the door. Cost- I didn't even know the cost until I read the other review that it was $90pp. $90pp for half of a tiny appetizer, 1 tiny limp salad, 1 entree, & 2 bites of a brownie bite. Let's estimate actual cost- $15 app, 2 x $15 salads, 2 x $30 entree, and $15 dessert= $120. Charged $180 = 50% Valentine's upcharge= RIP-OFF. My boyfriend finally admitted that dinner was $322, & we only had 1 bottle of wine that was $50. So I'm not sure how $230 in food and wine totals to $322. Either way, I don't mind giving 20% tip IF IT IS EARNED, which it wasnt. 20% auto tip- another rip-off. 1 of the worst dining experiences ever. Definitely hands down THE worst experience for that price. They literally had 12 items on the menu, & they didn't get a single one right. I can't even imagine what the food is like when they have to serve their full menu! I served in restaurants for 12 years. I know you can have an off night, or that an item might come out wrong, or that you simply don't like something. That wasn't the case here. Giving feedback in the moment wasn't really an option. Everything from start to finish, the cost, the auto tip, the service, the food, the atmosphere in the back patio, attitude/service from the hostess/manager/owner... it was all bad. The owners should be ashamed of themselves and need to truly re-evaluate what they're doing, because they won't last long otherwise. They probably ruined a lot of people's Valentine's night while costing people a lot of their hard-earned money. Highway robbery for a disgusting dining experience with terrible service. I'd go to Olive Garden 50 times before I'd step in this place again. There was a couple waiting outside when we left. We warned them "DON'T DO IT!" We hope they listened. read more

I have been here before and loved the food. Loved the pasta. When I originally made the reservations it was never disclosed it would be a valentines menu (only posted on their instagram 2 days ago). I only found out about an hour before the reservation, but I gave them the benefit of the doubt because I've had it before and it's been delicious. Starting off with the calamari, there was no calamari it was a bunch of fried crispy dough. Salads were delicious. Then comes the main meals (all of which aren't even on there normal menu they sale everyday, that's interesting having 4 options of items that aren't even on your menu and not one of the options is actually a regular pasta) my boyfriend got the Dover Sole Picatta which was fish, scalloped potatoes, and veggies. I got the beet nocchi in a lemon cream sauce which was okay. My boyfriend's meal as soon as he took a bite of the fish he instantly had to take it out of his mouth because of the taste. I could smell the fish all the way across the table. Once again why are we being served dishes that aren't even on there menu, if they are soooooo good and "chef picked" then why is it not on the normal menu. The dessert was good. The "glass of champagne" was a plastic mimosa cup. To top it off each plate was $90 which I would not mind paying if it was good food. They charged gratuity and then when they charged us again were trying to be sneaky and asking for a tip again. Such a disappointment, I loved this place before and just wanted some pasta on Valentine's Day and was so badly let down I'm n over going again. read more

Fantastico! Another eccellente ristorante italiano in Long Beach, but this one is headed by executive chef and owner, Alessandro Colaiacomo. From Italian Culinary Institute and Rome, this chef brings traditional Italian, Neapolitan, Roman and old recipes from his mother for us to enjoy in the comfort of his nostalgic restaurant. Even the Italian spoken between him and manager, Carlo Canales, would convince guests that they have magically teleported to Rome for a meal. They have recently reopened their charming back patio for outdoor dining, so fiancé & I took the opportunity to have date night there. I went straight for the Osso Buco: ($24.95) slow cooked veal shank in fresh vegetable-tomato sauce over pappardelle. Generous sized veal shank and fresh, al dente pappardelle. If you're looking for something hearty and filling, get this! The left over made a second meal! He got the Linguine de Pescatore: ($17.50) with fresh clams, mussels, shrimp, scallops, calamari in what was supposed to be garlic white wine sauce, but ended up being tomato sauce. It was okay and there was plenty of shellfish, but I liked the Osso Buco better. Second visit was with a few friends, all of us tested negative for Covid-19, btw! We started with the Calamari Fritti ($11.95) with arriabiatta spicy tomato olive sauce and Bruschetta ($9.50) with fresh tomato, basil, pesto and balsamic reduction. These were solid antipastis and great for sharing. This time, I tried the Pappardelle al Aragosta: ($17.50) with lobster, fresh tomato sauce and a touch of cream. Again, the fresh pappardelle was perfectly al dente. I was hoping for a little more pieces of lobster, but I guess they would have to charge more for a more generous serving. This dish was easy to finish in one sitting. A friend tried the Ravioli al Porcini: ($16.95) of large porcini filled ravioli with butter, sage and sauce. I loved how stuffed and flavorful these raviolis were! We indulged in a couple bottles of Chardonnay from Italy, which were also very reasonably priced! They do carry a nice variety of wine. Carlo and staff are quite knowledgeable about them and make excellent recommendations. Needless to say, the service is exceptional too. I wish them well & hope they continue to thrive through this pandemic! read more

Tarantella on 4th - Osso Buco - sooo much tastier than it looks! Al dente house-made pappardelle. Linguine del Pescatore Pasta- okay - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Such a hidden gem in LB. The food there is the best italian food I've had in a long time! Everything is great here, from the staff, food, and ambiance. They also have live music at night! Try their cheese wheel alfredo pasta, it's seriously something I think about all the time. Highly recommend this place! read more

We had dinner here for the first time after years of passing right by it. They have a cute patio in the back and the staff are really friendly. Our waiter was great even if I didn't appreciate the wine recommendation he made. (I asked for a dry white, he recommended a Prosecco). The pasta was mediocre - the sauce was watery and the flavor subdued. It's a cute place with a great location but I'd head elsewhere if you're looking for good pasta. read more

I made reservations on their electronic system for 3pm today. When arrived they said they close at 3pm?? I don't recommend this badly organized restaurant. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

Very pleasant service staff. Food came quick . The food flavor was good but the chicken ordered on Chicken Parmesan was very chewy and very thin with hardly any meat. Brought to their attention and the reason given was that they are not getting the right product due to delivery issues. read more

Greeted immediately on arrival then seated in the back patio. Beautiful patio. Service was amazing. Got water, bread, and drinks quickly after seated. Dishes were fantastic. Served quick and fresh, good sizes portion. Loved it and would return. read more

this is my favorite restaurant in Long Beach. it's my favorite because the food is so delicious. the Ambiance is so relaxing. the staff are so welcoming, kind, and efficient. I never have to think. they will recommend a dish and pare a fine wine for me. their Sunday brunch is an exquisite brunch. they offer so many specials. you can't go to Burger King for these prices. this is Posh cuisine clearly made with love! I just wish my schedule allowed me to patronize them more often! read more

Tarantella on 4th - fabulous mushroom risotto! I just love it! I can't get enough of it! and I don't even like mushrooms usually. - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

This is perfect hidden jewel. If you want authentic Italian, this is the place to be. They have live Jazz music on Thursday, which is the cherry on top. The food was amazing. I do wish they had a full bar but they do offer wine, beer and sangria. They make their pasta in house, really everything on the menu is created there. I definitely recommend. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Salmone agli Agrumi - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

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Amazing amazing service!!! delicious food and the staff are soooo friendly. definitely coming again! we sat outside in the back and live music was playing and the lighting was great. ambiance was great. 100000/10 read more

My fiancé and I initially reserved a table here for a formal meeting of the parents but we didn't realize it was a more casual atmosphere. Nevertheless, the food was good and the service was also good overall. The reasons why I'm giving it 3 stars is because the location is not great. It's on a busy side street with virtually no parking (either street park with meter or pay for parking at a small nearby lot on 4th and Cherry). My fiancé and my mother had dishes that were too salty and my dad complained that his was too bland. I enjoyed my carbonara but it was greasy and though the menu proclaimed pancetta, I had a feeling it was bacon... The dessert was perfect, though. The only area where I have 0 complaints. While the servers were friendly, they often forgot about us and even gave our drinks/dessert to the wrong table. The food had already taken a long time to come out and we had to wait almost twice the amount to get our dessert. My future mother in law had to wait forever for a cappuccino while everyone else had their drinks already. In summary, there are a lot of ups and downs. Thank goodness the dinner went well between our families, and none of this was bad enough to ruin the experience. Despite the negatives, I would still come here again as a casual date since we actually did enjoy the food. Their bread is delicious too. read more

I've been here twice and so wanted to like it based on the reviews, but it's just basic. I got the carbonara twice, a second time in case they were off. First off it definitely doesn't use pancetta or if it does, it's very low quality as it has very little flavor. The carbonara doesn't seem to use egg yolks, underutilizes pepper and cheese. As a result it's just plain. For 24 dollars it's an extremely poor deal. Having made authentic carbonara before, this is a pale shadow of it. A second visit merely confirmed the disappointing first visit. My husband ordered the minestrone soup. It was overloaded with cheese and uniquely had mushrooms. He's had minestrone from many places but this was the worst and strangest he's ever had. Lastly, we got the tiramisu. It was half the size of that in the photos despite still being 10 dollars (seriously it was down right tiny - a few bites) . The "mascarpone" tasted off (I've made home made tiramisu several times), the lady fingers were nearly bone dry with no espresso flavor, and it had a drizzle of cheap chocolate sauce (presumably to cover for the failings of the first two.) read more

Charming place, especially if you can sit on the patio. The food is delicious and from what I know from traveling in Italy, authentic. Especially liked the wild boar ragu and the carbonara (no cream, just cheese, eggs, and pancetta). Friendly service and good wine list. read more

Very salty! This was our 3rd time getting takeout and the sauce is definitely off. We enjoyed our food the other 2 times and the sauce was perfect. We got the Mama Mena and the chicken carbonara, both were dishes were extremely salty. I'm disappointed in our take out as this was for my daughter's 6th birthday dinner request. Don't think we'll come back. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Chicken Carbonara - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

A nice little Italian spot on 4th won my heart last night. Was a bit reluctant to sit on the patio after a giant downpour of a rainstorm, but the staff ensured it was dry and well heated. Sure enough, ended up being the perfect hidden Italian gem in the LB. The staff was super accommodating and was able to seat us 30-45 min early for our 8pm reservation. I enjoyed the food and the vibe on the back patio was perfect! read more

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Beautiful patio atmosphere. Personable service. We had a large group and the service was great! We all really enjoyed the food and atmosphere! read more

This is my favorite spot on Retro Row- the menu has a great balance of light fresh options (I love the grilled vegetables plate) and rich dishes- I love the lasagna. The back patio has great ambiance day or night. Service is always wonderful. read more

This restaurant has a very soothing and welcoming ambience with live music, the most hospitable and warm staff, and delicious food. We ordered the calamari which was also very good (i forgot to take a picture). The pasta dishes were very fresh and perfectly al dente. I highly recommend the seafood dishes! read more

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This was our first time trying this place, and we're so glad we did! The staff was incredibly attentive and kind. The menu offers a great variety, plus tempting daily specials. We went with the Cacio e Pepe, and Spaghetti Carbonara absolutely to die for. We shared a bottle of Prosecco, enjoyed some great conversation, and soaked in the warm, welcoming vibe. We were celebrating a birthday, and the staff even came out to sing in Italian -- such a memorable touch. Fantastic food, excellent service, and an unforgettable experience. Definitely a must-try! read more

Was excited to try, reviews are so positive. I always check the menus online because I'm a vegetarian, many menus are limited. Went to the restaurant website to see what was available and decided to have the Eggplant. Upon arrival I was told it was not available, considered a special which was not served today. The website seems very inaccurate, also didn't have the brunch/lunch menu online. Ended up having the Alfredo which was ok. Service was good, personable. read more

Absolutely one of the best Italian restaurants in town. The inside is so clever by being classy, but also down to earth. We had special requests that were not on the menu and it was prepared. The evening turned out to be more than we expected with the wonderful music. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Music man who was fabulous and funny, DANNY. - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

This place has a cute quaint patio. And tonight we actually had a live music with a saxophone. It made the atmosphere more romantic The food was nice. Definitely worth getting the seafood risotto. read more

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This is my third visit to this restaurant and every time I have gone, it has been an amazing experience and the last time I went with a party of 15 and everybody loved their food. Everybody loves the service. Everybody had a good time. It was perfect. I will be back for a fourth time. read more

We have been sneaking glances over at Tarantella the last few times we ate at Little coyote next-door. Finally, we pulled the ripcord on a beautiful summer evening and decided to dine alfresco in front. We brought the dog along, And it was one of those fourth Fridays on fourth Street. Lots of people milling about. We decided to split a salad and a lasagna, which was a good thing given the ample portions. The white stuff was attentive and brought us cold glasses of Prosecco right away. The bread came first, always a great indicator of good food to follow is good bread! Theirs was delicious! The classic Caesar did not disappoint, by the time the wine buzz set in the colossal lasagna serving arrived, and it was pre-split for us. You won our loyalty with that tiny touch Of hospitality. The lasagna was what you would expect of a fine Italian kitchen. It wasn't until after our meal that we found out they had a patio in back with a guitarist playing. Our pal Todd arrived and sipped some incredible red wine while Boomer cuddled him. High marks all around We will definitely be back! read more

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Service was horrible like get it together. They bring out the food and just walk away. Not even can I get you something. Had to get up 3 times to ask for napkins, a bad, the bill like check on your tables or hire more ppl. They are rude. Not helpful. Food was not that good! Asked for parm cheese. He walked over added it on my plate and ran off what about the other 4 ppl ? Had to call him back to do his job like smh ‍ I blame management read more

Wowzers!! Deliciously authentic Italian food! The meatballs are soo juicy and so full of flavor! I loved my seafood medley, the shrimp was well done and the mussels were the perfect amount of garlicky. The complimentary bread was actually very good. The server was very attentive and we actually were able to ask questions about the restaurant and just know the history. I really felt comfortable here, almost like being invited into someone's home. The flavors are all there! You need to check it out. If you're in 4th Street, come check out this tiny gem! You won't regret it! Great little date night. Highly recommend!! read more

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This restaurant has a very nice indoor design but it needs to have more space in between the tables and chairs especially for the pandemic. Regarding the food. They're a bit pricey but what we had were all delicious so we were satisfied. read more

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The wild boar pasta was delicious, if you like the meaty taste this pasta is for you. The meat was soft, all the flavors complemented each other. The service is great it's a smaller restaurant with a small staff which makes it more personal. :) read more

This place was super cute and the live music was wonderful. We did go on a kind of windy day which wasn't the best since there's trees with leaves falling but you can't blame the restaurant for this. The food was immaculate and I loved the classic bread with oil and vinaigrette. read more

Tarantella on 4th - Calamari Fritti and the live musician - Italian Near Me - Long Beach, California

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This is for the servers, chefs/cooks and other staff working here. We passed by the restaurant last night - we had planned to have dinner there, but it was booked to capacity. The servers I saw were expertly manuevering through ridiculous Friday crowds to get to the tables at the front parklet of the restaurant. And the ones I saw inside were buzzing around non-stop and very focused. It's possible that they were short staffed but somehow the team managed to serve the copious amount of people seated. We moved on because obviously the restaurant was beyond capacity for the night. But based on what I witnessed while waiting, their staff are stars and deserve a shout out! I hope they are well taken of and get some time to recover from what looked like a restaurant olympics. read more

Food, service and ambience was great. We sat outside in the patio area and were transformed.

Took our daughter her first her 15th birthday after visiting the aquarium. The owner was so welcoming and attentive! The pasta is made fresh daily. They nailed it! We had a carpaccio appetizer (perfection), and three dishes-- could hardly choose from the delicious options. Lovely music on the shady patio and it was simply a delight to dine there! Highly recommend! read more

Went for lunch and the pasta was delish! Service couldn't have been better. You can tell this is a place that holds family business values and loves providing food cooked with love. read more

The food was mediocre at best. Bread with butter instead of olive oil, spaghetti sauce was not great, dessert was terrible, in fact it tasted like it had gone bad. And the waiter told me it was cheesecake, except it wasn't. It was just cake with bad cream. We asked to be reseated because it was cold and we were told those tables were reserved for people with reservations. Ummm actuallly we DID have a reservation. Nope. We won't be back. Ambience was the only thing they had going for them-that and the live music. read more

The food was AMAZING! Service was fabulous! The ambiance was SO nice and it was an overall lovely evening. Overall 10/10 and a "must visit" in Long Beach!!! read more

Food was very tasty. The service excellent clean and the live music really good good experience over all

Amazing food they have the best chefts in the city and are always on point with everything

You walk through the door and think, hmmm this place is tiny, but then the host beckons you to follow down a narrow hallway that opens onto a pretty outdoor dining space with strands of lights, shade trees, and tarps to protect from the elements!! A hidden gem for sure!! Wednesday and Thursday it's happy hour all day! House wines $5 a glass!! Not mad about that I can also recommend the fried artichoke appetizer to get you started. Wait to hear the specials!! I had the most succulent Osso Buco! Family members also enjoyed the Lasagne and Spaghetti and Meatballs. For dessert, we shared the Limoncello and Mango sorbets. The only thing I'm sorry about is not taking photos before finishing the meal read more