212 Bistro

 

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Molly M.

Long Beach, CA

I love this place and have gone there three times this week for breakfast. The food is great, there is outdoor seating on a beautiful and peaceful patio, the wait staff rocks, and the owners are fabulous. Go check it out - you won't be disappointed.

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Elite '08

114

225

andrya h.

Long Beach, CA

I really hated hot spot, but even when they got new owners, I was not interested in coming....me and some people were trying to think of where to go, and the other half of our party from the night before, had apparently started drinking at o'connells at 11 am, so we went here so they could walk and meet us.....

(getting to the point now)

The service was friendly...they had 2 for 1 mimosa's.....the food was better and the prices were better, but the menu was still a little lacking.....It was a lower temperature inside, so I don't know if the patio is still the same.

The Service was still uncomfortably slow......they took our drink orders right away, but took about 25 minutes for our food order.....then it was another 30 for the food to come out.....of course they forgot my order, which = forgetting the details of my order....so when I finally got it, about 15 minutes after everyone, it was wrong...I didn't say  anything...they were very apologetic and gave me a free mimosa.....I guess dudes aren't the only one's who think I'll lower my standards after you get some free booze in me....Good job Bistro.

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29

joshua s.

Long Beach, CA

My friends and I decided to give this place a shot since we were tired of always going to the same places, and I think I should be a little less adventurous and stick with what I know after this place.

For what I paid, I didn't get a lot of food.  I ordered a Traditional Breakfast that came with pancakes, eggs and potatoes.  Nothing fancy, just a regular good ol' fashion meal.  How can you screw that up?  Well, the pancakes came toward the end of the meal, I got like a single egg and the potatoes were under cooked.  Just a note to the chef in back: with no one else in the restaurant, you can take your time and cook them right sweetie!

Our dining experience was also ruined by the fact that another employee brought her screaming kids (mind you, not small children, kids who are old enough to know better) into the restaurant and they were climbing all over the place and running in and out of the kitchen (Maybe that's why my potatoes were under cooked?)

But the reason for the two stars are as follows:
The French Toast was fantastic! The Boy ordered them and you can never go wrong with a cream cheese filling!

The decor was nice and relaxing.

The Bistro has potential once they work out a few of their bugs!

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13

25

Jacqueline R.

Long Beach, CA

I literally live right next to the Bistro. Like hi, I can wave at the chef's on their smoke breaks. I've been to Hot Spot once and actually liked it, and the Bistro once and got a breakfast burrito. I asked for sausage and got bacon but whatevies, and my little sis got Mickey Mouse pancakes. Everything was pretty good, but kinda pricey, I def can't roll out of bed and go to this place that often. I do agree with excellent service and friendly staff.

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7

35

Christine R.

Long Beach, CA

My new fave brunch spot!

I've only been once but it was a stellar experience for my friend and me so I imagine that will continue.  I plan on going as much as possible so I'll update this if necessary...

My friend got the classic breakfast combo--bacon, eggs, breakfast potatoes, and pancakes.  Everything was cooked as ordered, with perfectly sized portions.  If you're a sucker for the classics, you'll be a sucker for this breakfast combo.

I had the house speciality, the chilequiles and YUM!  Wow these were good.  Egg, tortilla, cheese, and just the right amount of kick in the salsa.  The refried beans weren't anything special--but they rarely are for me.  

The ambiance is lovely, simplistic and clean.  

Our server seemed a bit hungover at the start but was more lively as our meal went on.  The other servers seemed more livewire and I was greeted warmly and authentically when I walked in.  

Perfect mix of high quality food in a classy no-fuss environ--I'd go in my Sunday best or my almost-pj's (which are, essentially, the same ensemble).

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Elite '08

337

584

Holly T.

Long Beach, CA

Based on my first time, I like it.

I went to HotSpot once and didn't care for it (bad service, so-so food), but at the same time felt it had potential. 212 Bistro seems to fix what was wrong with HotSpot but keep the things it did well, as far as I can tell.  I never went here when it was the Porch Cafe so I can't compare.

The first thing was that we were immediately greeted as soon as we walked in. The servers were all dressed up in chef uniforms, which may just be for show but it worked for me in terms of creating an ambiance. We chose to eat out on the patio, which seemed more nicely kept up than the last time we were here; the inside looked much the same to me as HotSpot did.

The menu consisted of breakfast and lunch, American and Mexican/Latin American-inspired,  and had some good choices for each, and plenty of veggie options. If I wanted lunch I probably would have tried the fideo and the cuban sandwich, but we were in a breakfast mood. There were a few daily specials, including a decadent-sounding blueberry cream cheese stuffed french toast, but I opted for the turkey and spinach scramble. It didn't blow my mind but it was pretty good, and I liked how the potatoes were not too greasy. I found myself missing the apple butter at Coffee Cup, as toast just isn't the same without it. But the house chipotle salsa was very good with the eggs. We got a reasonably priced bottle of sparking wine to go with everything and enjoyed our easygoing breakfast outside on a nice day.

Service was super attentive and great the whole time we were there, which is probably what made the biggest difference to me. Based on my experience, I would go again. Man, it's great having so many breakfast places in walking distance!

P.S. I forgot about the cucumber water - yum!

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3

4

Sarah H.

Long Beach, CA

So my friend and I were wanting a good sammitch, so we walk from his house at 3rd-ish and Molino to NuArt Cafe.  Well shit, they were closed for Cambodian New Year, but I am glad now because we decided to stop into 212.  
First of all, I was parched from the stroll over (in 90+ heat!) and I spotted the Peroni high on a shelf.  So as I was sipping (ok chugging) my brew, I glanced at the menu.  Decent prices, nothing too expensive, I assumed I would get my money's worth.  So I decide to go with the Signature burger, (9 bucks)which is ground tri-tip and a little ground pork mixed in, with a side of fries.  P got the cuban sammitch, also with a side of fries.
The worst part was walking back to P's house, burger in tow, just anticipating what was in the carton.  Maybe that made it better?  Anyway, it was the best fuckin burger I have had in a lonnnnng time!! If I were to take off any points, it would be for the fact that my bun was causing some slippage, maybe get something thicker than a sesame seed bun?  Anyway, the ginormous monstrosity of my burger was almost too much for my mouth and gullet, but I manhandled it and all the fries!  I will definitely be going back to get another of these!
Oh yeah, P was all, here taste my cuban sammitch its so good, but I can't place the sauce...?
So I take a huge bite, and aaaaahhhhhhhhh horseradish! hehe I personally do not like that shit, but it actually tasted very good with the pork.  And damn it was a huge portion as well!
Well done 212, well done...

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14

27

Christopher S.

Long Beach, CA

As former victims of the Hot Spot (the worst eatery in Long Beach, causing me to do a tap dance when they went out of business), let me say that we are so happy to have the 212 Bistro in our neighborhood.

The decor is subtle and welcoming and the place was clean. The water is cucumber infused, and the staff is graciously friendly. The owners hang about and oversee things, which is always a good sign. The menu has many vegetarian friendly options and is a good mix of American and Mexican food.

I had the two egg breakfast, scrambled, with pancakes and bacon.

- The pancakes were light and fluffy, with a perfect golden brown crust on them.
- The bacon was crispy and melted in my mouth.
- The eggs were completely acceptable. Good texture, but lacking a bit in flavor.
- The seasoned potatoes are handmade little cubes season with black pepper and salt and some other spices. They were delicious but 1/4 of them were slightly undercooked. Easy to overlook.

My girlfriend had the Vegetarian Lentil Curry Soup. It is made with lentils and carrots in a slight curry broth and came with a piece of grilled rosemary bread.

I cannot wait to go back and try the burgers!

UPDATE!

I went back and had the burger, and all I can say is, stick with the breakfast.

- The burger was about an inch thick, and cooked grey all the way through. It was shaped like somebody rolled out an inch thick carpet of ground beef and cookie cuttered this burger out of the middle. Perfectly round and way too big, as well as overdone. Sat in my stomach like a lead ball.
- Not to mention, it came with Chipotle Mayo. Dude, what are you Quizno's? Stop the sauce insanity! Stick to the basics, lighten up on the meat plug and pay attention to how you cook the burger.

UPDATE #2!

I went back for the third trip, and this time I had the same thing I had on the first visit, Pancakes, Sausage and Eggs.

- Pancakes were slightly underdone
- Eggs were cooked correctly but tasteless
- Sausage links were tasteless little tough pieces of hard meat

OK 212, you have officially lost me. I was so excited, but after two bad experiences, I won't give you money anymore.

I will say this, I had the same waiter all three visits and he was attentive and friendly. Too bad the food sucks.

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27

14

Mike G.

Long Beach, CA

So, I was a regular Hot Spot person - i liked the setting on the patio, but i was not what you would call a huge fan, there was one great guy who was real nice, it was a bit hit and miss...

I have now visited 212 Bistro and it was fabulous.

The place looks the same with a more subtle feel.  The food looks to be mostly Mexican with great Mexican Breakfasts.  Just walking into the place you are welcomed with the most wonderful aromas from the kitchen.  

I had the Benedict (regular version) and the eggs were cooked perfectly and the potatoes were spicy and wonderful.

My friend had the ueovos rancheros and they were OUT OF THIS WORLD.  So so so good.

And our server was absolutely great and timely and wonderful and he was assisted by Dante one of the owners kids (who was fricking cute as can be).

The owner came over and checked on us as did one of the chefs - and they were so wonderfully sincere in their encounters it was just perfect.

When we left, everyone (from inside the kitchen to the counter) thanked us for coming in and it was so genuine and not at all contrived.

You know you when you go somewhere new and you want so badly for them to succeed  - well this is that place.  The food is wonderful and the people are incredible.  Go for lunch and breakfast (not open for dinner) you wont be disappointed.

The table next to us had the tortilla soup and it looked amazing - I will be back for that for sure.......mmmmmmmm

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