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Cafe Gazelle
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 2:30 pm
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Intimate
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
105 reviews for Cafe Gazelle
Review Highlights
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"Super Small and a local favorite in Belmont Shore." In 7 reviews -
"...dessert, a chocolate hazelnut bread pudding was fantastic." In 2 reviews -
"He's a huge beef/steak lover and he liked veal (baby cow." In 17 reviews
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105 reviews in English
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Review from Bez E.
Los Angeles, CA
5/12/2012
$5.40 total for lunch! Whaaaa?
We ate here for dinner once before, but the reason I was compelled to write a yelp review was LUNCH. The other day I was crazy hungry, my vision was getting blurry, and my stomach was so mad at me.
Like other yelpers mentioned, I also don't usually jump at the chance to go Italian since I think I can whip up a pasta dish pretty well.
But with the possibility of passing out due to low blood sugar, "located down the street from me and $5" was all I needed to know. I ordered the linguini with mushrooms and I scarfed that down. I usually order something with meat, but I was surprised I didn't need chicken, veal or seafood to jazz up this dish. The dish had a generous amount of olive oil, parsley sprinkled throughout to give the dish some freshness, and slightly salty but yummy garlicky sliced mushrooms. Soooo good!
I dislike the complimentary bread. I didn't even know a cute, hot little baguette would accompany my to-go lunch just like dining in, but it was just as tasteless and brittle as I remember it. Please change the bread Cafe Gazelle! -
Review from Quinn M.
Long Beach, CA
4/21/2012
This is the first Yelp review I've written in years, so you know this place had to be good!
We started with the caprese appetizer, which is pretty hard to mess up. Also loved the hot rolls and nice salty butter they served...mmm. Next I chose their salad with creamy Italian dressing, which was delicious and tangy. Everything was delivered promptly but with good wait times between courses.
My main course was the chicken diavalo, which was also tasty though it could have used more olives and capers (those were few and far between, but they weren't the main point so it's okay). My husband had the chicken Milanese, which seemed similar to a chicken parmigiana but with a lemon sauce instead of marinara. For dessert (and you MUST have dessert because they've got about a dozen to choose from) we had a delicious concoction of cream, raspberries, and pastry (forgot the name).
Everything we tried was on the recommendation of the waiter, who was attend and friendly. Our water glasses were filled frequently and plates were taken away promptly.
Although the cafe is small, we were lucky to walk right in on a Saturday night at 7. We called ahead to ask on the wait, which the waiter says is a good idea.
Great service, delicious (and not too heavy) food, and a nice little location. Cafe Gazelle is a winner! -
Review from A. F.
Long Beach, CA
4/16/2012
I've only been lucky enough to eat here once, it was delicious!
The place is really small and if you don't look for it you prob wouldn't know it's there.
The food is very flavorful, you can ask them to make you pretty much anything, they are very accommodating and friendly.
Its a quiet place with few tables inside. -
Review from Grace B.
Chino Hills, CA
5/14/2012
I met my cousin here for lunch last week. Total hole in the wall restaurant, full of charm! The bread was served warm and the Polpette di Pollo was amazing! Under $6 for lunch in Belmont Shore is unheard of (unless you eat at Jack In the Box). Great service, great food, great price!
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Review from Sam N.
3/4/2012
Cafe Gazelle is a probably the best Italian place on 2nd Street.
I had heard such rave reviews from friends and fellow Yelpers, that I decided to come and check it out myself. The restaurant itself is hidden on the corner of La Verne and 2nd street in the heart of Belmont Shores.
I met the manager who told me about the history of the restaurant, different types of Italian cuisine and the Cafe's decor. It is a small little restaurant, that probably can't fit more than 15-20 people at a time. It has a quaint cafe feel, but not necessarily Italian type atmosphere.
I ordered the eggplant appetizer and their most popular dish: Veal with mushroom cream sauce and buttered pasta.
They give you a giant baked roll while you are waiting, it was good, but I don't think it was fresh. It wasn't piping hot, but it tasted like a cross between french bread and rye bread.
The eggplant appetizer is several layers of sliced eggplant with melted cheese, spices and some tomato sauce. It was pretty good. 9/10 for this dish.
The veal with butter pasta was very tasty as well. It was sliced veal with a mushroom cream sauce and some buttered garlic pasta on the side. The veal itself was cooked very well and a pretty good cut of meat. The sauce was creamy, but not too buttery or heavy. The pasta that came on the side was about 1 cup of cooked pasta, it was garlicky, buttery and savory. This dish was very good, but I just wish they gave more pasta on the side. 9/10 for this dish.
I was impressed by the food here at Cafe Gazelle and the food is good, but i do know that the food can be SLIGHTLY Better. I just wish they gave more pasta with my entree and more sauce on my appetizer.
Overall this is definitely a hidden gem in Belmont shore, but I have to come back and try more dishes in order for me to give it a 5 star rating. However, I can say that this is probably your best bet for Italian in 2nd street, and quite possibly all of Long Beach. -
Review from Chris R.
Seal Beach, CA
4/28/2012
This place is your best possible chance at having TRULY AUTHENTIC italian food. The best italian food I've had in my life. Everything was amazing, and the Cedar Brook House Cab was breathtaking... almost as good as the food. Service was good, food was fast.... Insanely authentic and delicious. This place should have a wine tasting and needs a remodel but other than that... I'm a FAN and will be back once a week!
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Review from Helya S.
Long Beach, CA
5/18/2012
My husband and I love coming here for our romantic date nights. The food is AMAZING and the service is always excellent. It's a very quaint and comfortable restaurant. The bread is to die for....comes out hot and fresh! We always get the soup which is always delicious and light. Most Italian restaurants leave you feeling way too full and like you gained 10 lbs; Cafe Gazelle always tastes fresh and not too heavy, and the portion sizes are perfect. I have tried a couple of the dishes but once I had the Chicken Diavolo I couldn't get myself to order anything different because it is just that good! This place is definitely the hidden Jewel of Belmont shore
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Review from Nadine Q.
Signal Hill, CA
4/21/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Nom nom...not bad check it out!!
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Review from Lia B.
Long Beach, CA
4/21/2012
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) -
Review from lisa t.
Studio City, CA
4/10/2012
Best Italian on 2nd Street!
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Review from Carl L.
Los Angeles, CA
2/14/2012
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! -
Review from Noah N.
Long Beach, CA
10/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'd like to say this place was a "hidden gem" but it's more just like hidden. It's a charming little restaurant with that very intimate, romantic, feel with maybe 10 tables, a modest menu, and great service, but none of those qualities really matter much when the food isn't great. I really wanted to like this place because it had so much personality wanting to be dubbed "our favorite little Italian restaurant", but I was utterly disappointed.
Dinner comes with a small salad of romaine lettuce sprinkled with either creamy Italian dressing or plain balsamic vinegar. In this regard, the salads seem like afterthoughts rather than a nice surprise. I started with the chicken meatballs. You get five meager meatballs covered in a boring garlic cream sauce of some sort, and the meatballs themselves taste a lot more like breadcrumbs and filler than actual chicken.
Next were the entrees. The canneloni was rather bland and uninteresting, the veal in it hardly recognizable. I also got the gnocchi with scallops in bouillabaisse cream sauce. What you get is a bowl of tasteless 90/100-sized scallops in a fishy tomato sauce with doughy gnocchi. Completely unappetizing.
I thought I might have made some bad choices in what I ordered, but why offer three dishes that aren't so great on a menu that's already so small?
At that point, I felt like I couldn't take any chances on dessert. It's one thing to say "maybe it was an off night for the kitchen" if I had just one bad dish, but everything was unpalatable across the board. It's as though the heart was in the kitchen, but the tongue was not. I would have liked to see more restaurants like this hidden away waiting to be discovered, but I suppose there was a reason why I had never found it before. -
Review from Jon T.
Long Beach, CA
10/21/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I was sitting in Cafe Gazelle the other day and counted the amount of chairs in the place for guests. I counted 19 seats. If you suffer from claustrophobia or simply prefer large, open spaces, don't come here. If you can put aside your weird complexes and want to eat the best meal on 2nd Street, then you need to eat here!
Not only is the food delicious and fresh, the owner (also your server) is attentive and kind. Last time I was here I overheard him offer to cook something off the menu for a family that had a toddler in tow. Fantastic service with food to match. -
Review from Tara D.
9/18/2011 9 Check-ins Here
Oh, Cafe Gazelle, if I could give you 7 stars, I would. Mwah!!!
The best food in all of Belmont Shore doesn't even have an entrance on Second St., and you'd probably never find it unless you went looking for it.
Ambience: Tiny, simple, intimate, romantic hole-in-the-wall. Maybe 8 tables and 25 seats? The owner is your host and is also your waiter. He is assisted by a bus boy and the food is prepped by one or two people in a teeny tiny kitchen.
Service: The owner is your host and also your waiter. Impeccable. Charming, attentive, remembers his regulars well. Makes you feel like an old friend who came to visit and he could not be more delighted to see you.
Food: Just brilliant. Simple, authentic Italian food. It may not be cooked just like your mother made it, but odds are you'll agree it's delicious, and the recipes are no doubt pure Italian. Portions are perfect for me; I always clean my plate and feel satisfied but not stuffed. If you've got a big appetite, you may want to order an appetizer, too. (This isn't Claim Jumper or Hometown Buffet.) My only complaint on the food is the bread. It's ok, but it's not special, and everything else here is.
Wine: Only a handful to choose from, but the selections are solid and affordable. You can also bring your own if you prefer.
My favorites: Pretty much all the veal dishes and the seafood dishes. The chicken gorgonzola is also amazing. If you like simplicity, their tomato-basil-garlic spaghetti is beautiful, as are their ravioli which are served in marinara with some pesto as well.
Parking: It's Belmont Shore. Parking sucks. Drive around for awhile.
Price point: Entrees range from about $9-16. All are worth 150% of the price.
Caveat: not a great place for young kids unless they are perfect angels - the tables are on top of each other, so there's absolutely nowhere for them to get up and move around, and it's really more of a date night/couples/small groups of good friends kind of place. Also not a great place for someone with a wheelchair or walker. Also no good for anyone claustrophobic. Tables are literally about 1-2 feet apart. I also don't think the restroom is handicap-accessible.
If you were closer/more convenient, I'd pretty much stop cooking and eat here at least 4 days a week.Listed in: Long Beach favorites (from an…
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Review from Paco O.
Long Beach, CA
2/1/2012
I seriously don't understand all the 5 star reviewS. The food was ok and the owner very nice, but there seemed to be a lack of ventilation. There was literally smoke coming out the front door, and it felt like 100 degrees in there and it was only 68 degrees outside! By the kitchen there was a piece of screen flapping in the wind, instead of an actual screen door???. I felt like I was in panama
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Review from Eddie T.
8/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
I wish I had stopped by for dinner before I was leaving Belmont Shore. I must have passed by this place everyday walking to Second Street. We finally came here knowing that we would not likely have the chance to once we moved. The restaurant is extremely small and hidden behind a croissant and donut shop. The kitchen is practically open and the restaurant sits less than 20. The ambiance, extremely intimate and cozy; the smells, aromatic and appetizing. We took a table close to the window as we were afraid taking one in the middle would make us feel uncomfortable. Despite the size of the place, the vibe was intimate and somewhat private.
Menu is the traditional Italian fare. Appetizers including Bruschetta to Sauteed Calamari to Caprese. Selection of veal, seafood and chicken dishes, as well as, pastas. The wine selection is sizable.
We ordered the 2 glasses of wine and Caprese to start off. The entrees come with either salad or soup. The salad had a very good fruit based vinaigrette and the soup a very light tomato based broth. The owner seeing as it was our first visit gave us 1 of each for our entrees.
Salad: light, appropriately sized and refreshing
Soup: follows same theme, light not salty (which is all too common with soups) and perfect to jump start your appetite.
Caprese: perfect! Fresh tomato, fresh mozzarella, shredded basil and a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil, great pick for a hot summer evening
Spicy seafood pasta (sorry forgot the name, happens when I don't write the review immediately after eating there): angel hair pasta tossed with a mix of shrimp, clams, mussels and small scallops - the acidity from the tomatoes brought out the sweetness from the seafood while adding a surprising but appreciated kick at the end; basic simple dish executed well
Piemontesa: I believe that was what my dish was called, hand breaded thin slices of veal pan fried and dressed with a mushroom based sauce; the veal held up well to the sauce, flavors clean an spot on
Even though it the dish was fried and the sauce was richer than your typical wine based sauce, the perfect portioning and the lack of greasy/oiliness made it the perfect dish.
Unfortunately due to the deliciousness the warm bread served up front, we didn't have the stomach for dessert, which from what I hear is always the perfect ending to a meal at this place.
Pricing and value are exceptional. Great place to take the significant other or a friend to catch up with. Intimate and private with a casual friendly neighborhood vibe. Will I return? YES. -
Review from Irena W.
Cerritos, CA
8/20/2011
Tinny TINNY little hole in the wall... your bedroom is probably bigger than the dining room area of this little place...
WARNING! NOT ADA COMPLIANT! Do NOT expect to push your wheelchair into this place without doing some major musical chairs and table moving...
Decently fast service, the bread they gave us while we were overlooking their simple menu was lukewarm at best, and the crust was distastefully hard on the outside and dense on the inside.
Prices were perhaps a little outside my comfort "broke college student" range, but they still gave you an ok amount for what you were paying for.
I will admit, the food came pretty damn fast, and it was nice and quiet, unlike most of 2nd street, where the rowdy crowd of liquored up drunks are partying up a Friday night loud and clear. This definitely is for a classier crowd, catered to the more distinctive, quiet, and refined than your normal college frat boy.
Honestly though, I really expected a bit more caliber based off the reviews I read on Yelp (So many 5 stars! I expected so much more... ) prior to trying this place out. Disappointed me a little. =[ The owner (I assume) did a really good job being hands on, taking orders, showing us little models of his desserts he had availible, and bringing us the check to square away; I can see that he really loves his little restaurant, works hard, and really puts his heart into it.
Great for a quiet dinner with your loved one, maybe a retired couple wanting to enjoy some one on one time together in the corner at their own pace at peace; but personally, not my style. I don't think I will be coming here again, unless my husband is bringing me here to wine and dine me. -
Review from Gary S.
Long Beach, CA
10/3/2011
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!! -
Review from Katherine H.
Los Angeles, CA
7/24/2011
I love that this place is so small and that it is off the main street (where we passed hoards of people waiting in line for California Pizza Kitchen and the like).
The owner is there to greet you and see you off. And the other staff are friendly and attentive.
The Chianti is nice and the food is even nicer. I had the Mediterranean (angel hair, shrimp, artichoke, sweet onion, spinach) and it was delicious. I usually don't order pasta because I'm always convinced that I can prepare it as well as any restaurant - but Gazelle had me beat with the Mediterranean. Table mate ordered the Michelangelo (Penne, cream sauce, chicken, spicy ham.....I don't remember the rest because he lost me with the ham) but I didn't try any. I'm not sure that he'd have let me as he cleaned his plate in no time.
This was a very nice dining experience and the food was absolutely lovely. Highly recommended as an alternative to the bustling and obnoxious 2nd street spots nearby. -
Review from Tim W.
Long Beach, CA
1/23/2012
'Rainy days and Monday's always get me down,' whoever wrote this song need to eat Cafe Gazelle's. OH MY GOD! I think I just ate at one of the eateries on the Italian side of heaven.
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Review from Cutie C.
Long Beach, CA
6/13/2011 6 Check-ins Here
At first I didn't understand the hype. This place is tiny and quite but the food is captivating!
We started with the Crostini. It was salty and delicious. I had the veal principala (or something of that nature) and my friend had the ravioli ... He threatened to stab me with his fork when I tried to steal a second ravioli!!!
Food was super great, service was okay. Took off a star for the beverages stored in the bathroom and the "glue-trap" pest control strip on the wall by our table.
Try this place, you won't leave hungry or disappointed! -
Review from Elizabeth S.
Cerritos, CA
Oh my goodness did I have a difficult time finding this place. My date and I were literally circling the block again and again looking for the 191 building, and JUST when we were about to give up, we looked up and saw the tiny letters of a building arranged in the words "Cafe Gazelle" Success!!! However, when we opened the door and stumbled inside, confusion immediately struck me; were we in someone's house? Right before I was about to die of embarrassment, the wonderful aroma of Italian food wafted through my nostrils and into my soul. At that moment, I didn't care where I was or whose house I so rudely stepped into, I was staying for dinner.
This place looks and smells like grandma's kitchen, that is, if your grandmother is indeed Italian. There are a total of 8 tables in this tiny restaurant, all but one of which are 2-person tables, so yea, bring your special someone here, not your drinking buddies.
We started off with a bruschetta appetizer, delicious! Juicy tomatoes topped with basil, drizzled with olive oil, and complemented very nicely alongside some cannellini beans, ah heaven. By the way, this is the type of place that emphasizes quality rather than quantity (our bruschetta came with only 4 pieces but they were too good to pass up).
For my entree, I chose the Siciliani which was sort of a penne pasta with tomato sauce served with roasted eggplants and mushrooms. But first, I had my choice of a soup or salad. I ALWAYS go with soup so the server brought over a bowl of their minestrone. Honestly, I think it was one of the best tasting minestrone soups I've ever had. It looked really watery at first but each sip was completely full bodied. Such a comforting dish, especially on a windy night like tonight.
After my glass of wine, my piece of bread (that they bring to your table at the beginning of the meal), the bruschetta appetizer, and my bowl of minestorne, I was feeling pretty darn full when my entree pasta came. I think I got through less than half of it. Don't get me wrong, just like everything else I had eaten that meal, it was delicious, but I was just so full.
And of course, dessert. I'm usually against ordering dessert, but of all the things, my date was craving bread pudding. Well, lo and behold, the server came over with a PLATTER of dessert (that is so unfair by the way!) and placed it on our table. He then proceeded to present each one to us (there were at least 6 on the platter) in such a sultry voice. This is how it went:
Server: "here's our selection of dessert, we have a chocolate hazelnut bread pudding, a new york -"
My date: "YEA THAT ONE"
So beware! Be prepared to spare no tummy room whatsoever!
Even though the food was delicious, what really won me over was the incredibly cozy atmosphere. It's so authentic, so real, and definitely something everyone who loves Italian food should try. 5 stars! -
Review from Stephen T.
Long Beach, CA
5/25/2011
My girlfriend and I came here for our 1 year anniversary looking for a nice romantic dinner...
The place was tiny, prices were steep, and the service was SO FAST that we couldn't even have time to enjoy it.
We will not be going back... -
Review from Jennifer C.
Long Beach, CA
3/7/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've been living in LGB for almost 2 years now but I rarely venture out to eat around here. cafe gazelle is a little hidden place off of 2nd. the place is very small an intimate.
we split the caprese and the russu pasta. both were good. the pasta was a good size not huge and gigantic like most italian places. you also get fresh hot bread and butter before the meal which is pretty tasty as well. -
Review from Lillian W.
Fairfax, VA
5/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I came in here with some friends this past weekend. The restaurant itself is only open for dinner (at least I think it's only open for dinner because we stopped for lunch and it was closed), which is fine for me because there's an Italian deli right across the street that serves awesome sandwiches. Cafe Gazeelle is definitely what I would call a "hole in the wall". There aren't many tables and the decor itself isn't anything special. However, the service is amazing. We arrived around 6pm and were seated quickly. Our order was taken fast and we were served bread. The server was always around to refill our water glasses. So for services, i give it 5 stars.
I tried the Michael Angelo, a creamy pasta with spicy ham. It was honestly one of the best pastas I've tried in a long time. The noodles were cooked just right- not too soft, not too hard. The food was even served piping hot! One of my pet peeves is to receive food lukewarm- I like my dishes fresh off the stove! The only complaint I would have is that the portions are a little small for the price. Decent, but not generous. I can't really fault the restaurant itself because I'm sure the calorie count is astronomical!
The desserts looked amazing as well- we were too full to try it, but definitely worth it for any of the foodies out there. I would definitely come back! -
Review from Kelly G.
Chicago, IL
11/27/2011
Small. Cute. Good food. Priced well. Long Beach has so few good restaurants and is one is great!
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Review from chavo d.
Pico Rivera, CA
2/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
The most petite and unassuming usually pack a wallop; refer to The Little Prince... Star Sailor comparisons aside, Café Gazelle is a marvelous gem nestled in our terra. Not more than 10 two-seat tables and a sparse kitchen to be found.
But, within this tiny planet, the taste and ambience is leagues ahead of it's nearest admirable foes (La Traviatta or L'Opera). A couple of weekends ago I wanted to introduce my fiancee' to this diamond in the rough. Walking in, she was completely skeptical and apprehensive about the whole situation.
Soon after our meals were served, she was quickly won over by their culinary feats and the stellar service from the owner. She even praised the choice, a definite 'told you so' moment...
Enjoy the quaint service and food with smiles abound... -
Review from stacy b.
Long Beach, CA
11/13/2011
I always walked by this place thinking it was just a cafe that sold Donuts & Coffee. One day I walked down 2nd street and saw a Chalk Board on the Corner of La Verne & 2nd that said 'Now Open for Lunch' with an arrow to Caffe Gazelle. I walked by it and looked inside. and was surprised to see dinner Tables and a Wine Bar. When I got home, I googled this place. They do not have a website, but they did have a Yelp Page which was very helpful, most of the reviews were really good.
I went to go eat there that night which was a Friday Night. We were greeted by a sweet gentle man who we assumed was the owner. He sat us and Waited on us. It is a Very Tiny place, only seats about 19 people. It has a Bar with a couple bar Stools with Bottles of Wine on Display. You can see the Kitchen which is very small as well - but very entertaining to watch them cook.
We ordered the Cabernet which was really great Wine. My husband ordered the Spicy Seafood Angel Hair Pasta which was extremely good, my husband Loved it and wants to come back. I ordered the Pasta Russa with was Penne Pasta with a Vodka Sauce, which was very good! It was very filling and I could not eat it all, so the owner took my plate and boxed it up for me. The owner was very attentive, prompt and helpful. The Place was packed, every seat was taken, you can tell it is a local favorite. The owner asked if we wanted desert, we said no, we were stuffed, but we did get to see the desert display platter and it looked great, maybe next time. Yes, there will be a Next time. I really love going to and supporting Local 'Mom & Pop' businesses. Caffe Gazelle is a Wonderful Secret Little Local Treasure!! -
Review from Deborah J.
Long Beach, CA
9/26/2011
Loved it! If you want good food, this place is for you. Taste and creativity was spot on. It is tiny, quaint, and cozy. Service was attentive, but not overly so. We will go back again and again!
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Review from William C.
Hacienda Heights, CA
8/27/2011
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 kithcen 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. -
Review from Sarah F.
Altadena, CA
9/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
This is one of those places that you kind of hope doesn't get too popular since it's so cute and has such delicious food. The owner was very accommodating and they somehow managed to find a place to put our stroller and they were totally cool with us having a two year old with us and a group of 5. It was definitely cramped, but they didn't seem to mind and neither did we. He mentioned that he could make things that weren't on the menu, but we went with his recommendations from it and they were all amazing.
For an appetizer we had the squid (I can't remember the name...it sounded like calamari, but it wasn't) which was not what I was expecting since it wasn't fried, but it was very good, especially on the bread. We had the veal with the brandy creme sauce, the chicken milanese, and the angel hair pasta. Each entree came with a soup or salad too. The chicken was so tender that both my mom and I thought it was veal at first.
Then...for dessert we ended up getting three things to split: a chocolate sabayon thing, chocolate cake a la mode, and an apple thing a la mode--all amazing.I don't know if I'd go quite as far as to say it's inexpensive like some of the other reviews have said, but I would definitely say that it's worth whatever you do end up spending. Just for reference it was about $100 for 1 appetizer, 3 entrees, a glass of wine, and 3 desserts, so it ended up being $25 each for 4 of us after tax and tip.
Unfortunately it isn't big enough to really have a large group, but a super cute place for a date or a small family dinner. -
Review from John H.
Long Beach, CA
8/17/2011
Without a doubt Cafe Gazelle is my absolute favorite spot for Italian food! Very quaint, small seating area. Great service and every dish I've ever had is fantastic! I've eaten the Veal Trifolatta for years and recently switched it up to the Chicken Diavolo. Fresh bread, great salads with home made dressings and great fresh soups. Make sure you leave room for dessert too! Not sure which wine to order? Ask Frank to recommend something - you won't be disappointed!
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Review from Alakai M.
Lakewood, CA
10/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food, place is seriously small. Not a problem when people are smaller, but if you get someone large in there forget about it. Bread is awesome and the dessert was pretty good as well. For the price, go for it.
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Review from Ivan G.
Long Beach, CA
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Amazing service, great food, great home like feeling ...perfect for dates!!!
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Review from holly b.
Long Beach, CA
9/19/2011
Definitely a date night place! I have been here twice with my boyfriend and both times, we were super pleased :) Small quaint restaurant run by a few attentive staff members. The wait was minimal for a seat and food. Fresh baked bread was served will we were waiting and enjoying our sauteed calamari, which is a must! The fish selections each time were prepared...like fish. Yes second street, fish is not supposed to be dry. Well Gazelle got the memo :) Price is 3-10 for apps and 10-20 for entrees. Only drawback was a limited wine selection. But overall good!
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Review from C. J.
Naples, CA
8/14/2011
Tiny little spot off 2nd street. Food is above average and the prices very reasonable. Been here many, many times and have never been disappointed. The Veal here is really good, so are the pasta dishes. The service from the ONE guy (owner? He's always there) is prompt, friendly, and helpful. One of the hidden gems on 2nd street!
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Review from Steven J.
Seal Beach, CA
11/5/2011
This fine quaint tiny Italian restaurant hasn't changed on bit since 1984 when I first visited it! Why should it? It's perfect. Same waiter/owner all these years makes for consistency. Fine cooking, fine friendly service. The waiter even remembers what wine I tried last a month or two ago on our last visit! 4.5 well deserved STARS. A local favorite
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Review from Camden Y.
Long Beach, CA
6/11/2009 ROTD 7/29/2009
Cafe Gazelle has deluded me into thinking I "know" Long Beach. Anytime someone comes to visit I say, "I know this great little secret spot with fabulous Italian food" as if I'm the ultimate insider. In reality, it's just kind of, sort of a few feet off of second.
I know others complain, but I love the fact that it has just shy of 10 tables, only one of which fits more than two people. It's just incredibly intimate, homey and refreshingly unpretentious. Some might say a great date spot. I'd say too good to bring just anyone. And though it's so minuscule, you won't have a problem with a party of two or three as long as you don't mind cozying up around a small table.
The staff is extremely attentive and helpful. The same guy has always taken my order (mental note: I should get to know him better). He didn't even flinch when three of us split an appetizer, a bottle of wine, and three desserts. Don't judge.
The food is fresh, fulfilling Italian. They serve one of the best bruschettas I've ever had, it comes with white beans on the side. Their pastas have always been excellent and the dessert tray is to die for.
I'm telling you, you'll feel totally in the know. Just don't let the secret out. -
Review from Lisa V.
Irvine, CA
12/20/2007
Did you have a Grandma named Gazelle? Because that is what it seems like when you are dining here. I think its mayyyyyybe 10 tables big and it feels squishy in here. Came here for an early dinner and my friend and I were crammed in and it was not even 6! I know, am guilty of the early bird dinner. But we had errands and shopping to do - but we both needed to catch up and get some food & wine first. A lady has her priorities!
Holly T's review is right on par of what I thought of Cafe Gazelle too. It was almost slightly comical on how teeny tiny this restaurant was....so when I ordered the chicken piccatta....it was just moments later that I could actually smell them cooking it! Talk about immediate gratification! It was decent, but I wouldn't come back again. I know we came wayyy early for dinner, but I think there are other options in LB that make me crave italian in a better atmosphere. -
Review from Holly T.
3/30/2007 1 photo
I love the idea of this place. It is quite possibly the smallest restaurant in Long Beach, so it's quite a quaint and intimate setting. I doubt it could hold much more than 20 people, if even that. It's hidden off a side street of 2nd Street, so it gives off that feeling of a quiet little gem you'd find in a small town in Italy.
For me, that's where the similarity to Italy ends, though. We've been a couple times, and each time have been somewhat disappointed in the food overall, although it's certainly not bad, we're just spoiled when it comes to Italian food. To be fair, I think it's probably much better than any other so-called Italian restaurants on 2nd St (which is actually not saying much). But it's still nothing like the food in Italy, and it's just unfortunate for us in a way that we spent so much time eating in Italy and becoming used to that. If you are not an Italian food snob, you will most likely be totally happy with the food here.
The wine list was also somewhat disappointing for us. Hardly any Italian wines, and those they had were rather common and generic. Again, fine if you're not picky about your Italian wine. We actually found a decent Barbaresco, so that was ok. Most of the wine list is Californian, though, and the posters on the walls are all of Napa wineries, so it doesn't exactly exude an Italian atmosphere. There is a cute little wine bar at the front of the restaurant; if they had more of a selection, it would be a nice place for a wine-related event.
The other night when we were here, the owner took our order and balked when we ordered our food Italian style, with primi piatti and secondi piatti (a small pasta first, and then a meat dish). He asked if we had been here before, and insisted it would be too much food. We said yes we had been here before, and that's what we wanted. He tried to talk us out of it about 3 times. I did actually like the pasta special that we split for our first plate; it had a nice lamb sausage that tasted more middle eastern in terms of the spices, but it was good. Our meat (veal and beef) was not really satisfying, though, and had too much sauce (a big pet peeve of ours). The service was OK but I'd hardly say great. That's just been our experience the times that we've been there.
The final kicker: it's bad enough that I have to listen to 94.7 ~the waaave~ on my vanpool every day to and from work. Please don't make me listen to it while I'm trying to eat!
This is really about 3.5 stars for me. I'd round up to support small business, but the real question for me is whether or not I'd be back anytime soon, and the answer for us is no, since we have a place we love that satisfies our authentic Italian food cravings. You can see from the other 5 stars that people really like this place, and I certainly don't want to take away from that. Considering the other restaurants on 2nd St, it's certainly a nice change of pace if you're looking for a quiet place to eat.
