Cafe Gazelle

What a gem ! Small Italian restaurant , located in the busy Belmont shore area parking is obviously busy , so expect to walk here from your spot ... Came on a not so busy night and got sat down right away , loved the atmosphere, very cozy , very close , table was set up nicely , everything looked clean , kitchen was firing up dishes ! When with the gnocchi for a starter .. wow loved it been thinking of it since .. and then I went with a pasta dish and got shrimp in it ... first of all how they slice the shrimp is so amazing ... definitely means they properly and devein it !! Love that .. everything tasted fresh , amazing flavors . Stafff was great ... didn't try any desserts ... I did see a waiter with a tray asking the couple next to me if they wanted desserts when I was leaving and I was a bit bummed because if they would have flashed me that tray I would have definitely been convinced lol ...A must try Italian restaurant!

Smilie systemFood. :DService. :DAmbiance:DNever had a bad dish here. It's very small and can be busy but it's one of my favorite places on 2nd.

Easily the best date nite spot hands down over anything on 2nd street!Off the beaten path, superb service, family owned and incredibly fantastically prepared Italian food !

All I can do is to continue RAVING about how much I love this little gem of a restaurant!!! The food is incredible, the service is impeccable, and the wine is affordable, haha!It's such a small and cozy restaurant that does not take reservations. Turn around is pretty quick! The street parking in that area can be horrid, but there's also a paid lot directly across the restaurant, thru the alley. Dealing with parking there is so worth it! It's amazing how you never feel like servers are staring at you, but the SECOND you're done eating, they clear a plate. The SECOND you finish your drink, they come and offer more. Just a fantastic dining experience, and it feels like I'm back in Europe every time.If you need to use the bathroom, just be aware that you have to walk thru their kitchen to use it, and it's a supply closet. But oh well, that's how the besttt old-school restaurant work!

This is your hidden gem and a neighborhood Italian spot on 2nd Street, but it's off the main street if that makes sense. It is such a small restaurant, and I would easily categorize it as a hole-in-the-wall. When people were leaving, we literally had to move our table so people could pass through. I'm not sure if that is a pro or a con, but if you are claustrophobic, this place is not for you. Also, in my opinion, it's not a good date spot!!We started off the meal with a soup or salad, which came as part of the entree. For the meal, I got the Lasagna Bolognese, which was pretty good! I would try something else next time; I thought the sauce was very thin and greasy.

Food 5/5: wow? Simple, Clean, tasty, juicy chicken, delicious soup. 10/10 recommend.Service 5/5Ambiance 2/5 very smallBut food I highly rec!

Dining at Cafe Gazelle truly feels like a time-travel and space warp experience. It transports you back to a simpler time and to a lakeside cafe in Northern Italy.The owner was gracious as he personally welcomed us to his restaurant. We were seated at a small table before the bigger table became available, and we were transferred to the more comfortable dining space.The restaurant is very cozy inside, and space is tight, but we're not here for ballroom dancing lessons. The smaller space just made the experience more intimate.I thoroughly enjoyed my pescatore (medium heat spiciness). The scallops were so tender that they melted in my mouth. I could almost taste the Mediterranean sea as I bit into them. The angel hair pasta was cooked to perfection, and the sauce was the impeccable blend of herbiness and tartness.Their homemade bread also shined before the entree arrived. I had their pistachio cake, and it was not overwhelmingly sweet. It was the best way to wrap up a satisfying meal.Being upscale and homey doesn't have to be a contradiction because you clearly have this combination at Cafe Gazelle. It's a great setting to celebrate a special occasion with someone you love.

What a great place! It was our first time here. The food was delicious. We ordered the sautéed calamari, the 4 cheese pasta and the frutti di mare. The place is tiny but certainly cozy and comfortable. The service was perfect.

This was my first time trying this place, and we opted for takeout. I had really been looking forward to dining in and experiencing the full sit-down atmosphere, but with the cold weather, it just wasn't the right night for it. That said, when I tell you this was some of the best pasta I've ever had, I truly mean it! As someone with a gluten allergy, I ordered the Michelangelo with gluten-free penne, and it was hands down some of the best gluten-free pasta I've ever tasted. My boyfriend went with the Parmigiano, and he couldn't stop raving about it--the breading on the chicken was perfectly seasoned and cooked to perfection. I'm already looking forward to going back and soaking in the ambiance of the restaurant. Plus, the staff was incredibly kind and accommodating, which made the experience even better! 10/10 would recommend. .

Still our first choice for Italian food in Long Beach. The well prepared and served selections compare favorably with those of the fine restaurants where we have dined in Italy.Our friends and family that we have taken with us always say the same.After many years now, Frank knows what we will order when we walk in the door.