Papalucci - Long Beach

This is a charming little gem on Second Street. The lunch specials are somewhat limited, with only a few meat options available. Most of the offerings consist of pasta, sauce, and cheese. However, the quality and portion size are impressive, and I look forward to returning to try something new.

Papalucci's in Belmont Shore is our favorite local Italian restaurant in Long Beach, CA. The pasta is always perfectly al dente and delicious, the salads are fresh, and everything from the seafood to the pizza is exceptional! It's unfortunate to see them closing at the end of September due to health reasons, but the Pasadena location will still be open.

My favorite Italian restaurant outside of Italy! I live in Chicago, and I always make sure to visit every time I'm in town. The staff and chefs are fantastic, and the owner is wonderful. My top picks are the garlic knots, the spicy marinara (extra spicy) on angel hair pasta, and the calzone dessert!

Dear Frequent-Flyers, ever since this place opened, you've been a part of our journey... We will truly miss you.

Fantastic food—my favorite is the lasagna with meat sauce—but there are plenty of other delicious options on the menu as well. The Pisano is another favorite of mine, and their pizza is outstanding too. The service is great, and we like to arrive earlier in the evening because it gets quite busy later on. While the service remains efficient even when the restaurant is full, the noise level does increase significantly. This place might just be the best Italian restaurant in Long Beach!