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Los Angeles Area

Tips for Dining, Eating, and Food Shopping in the Greater Los Angeles Area (including Orange & Ventura Counties and SW San Bernardino County)

Detective work: trying to remember a specific French restaurant in Long Beach

Here's the deal: my friend had his birthday party two years ago at what he says is his favorite restaurant of all-time. That being said, he has no memory of the name of this amazing place (???), which makes it very hard for me to surprise him by taking him there this year. So, after leaving an extensive google search empty-handed, I decided to go to the experts... I'm hoping, even if the restaurant is closed now, maybe someone remembers it so I can at least have "closure" on this? Either way, any help is appreciated!

Here's what he does remember (aka, "the clues")
1. It's a French restaurant
2. It's on 2nd Street in Long Beach
3. It's a hole-in-the-wall kind of place: he remembers there being about 6 tables in the whole restaurant
4. The food is (according to him) amazing

Sorry - that's all I have to go on! But I'm hoping this sparks someone's memory...

Thanks in advance!

    9 Replies so Far

    1. The first thing that comes to mind is Frenchy's Bistro in Long Beach, but it is not on 2nd...

      --Dommy!

        1. Could it be La Creperie Café at 4911 E. Second St.? It's pretty intimate and cozy, and it has solid crêpes and a couple of other French-ish items on the menu. I prefer Frenchy's on Anaheim, but in a pinch and when in Belmont Shore, this is a pretty good choice.

            1. re: rjw_lgb_ca

              La Creperie has more than 6 tables in the restaurant. There are about six tables outside on the patio, but the inside is rather larger than a hole in the wall.

                1. re: attran99

                  How 'bout Babette's Feast...??

                2. concur w/dommy... frenchy's bistro?? altho it isn't on 2nd street, it's the best french place in the area IMO.

                    1. I cannot think of a restaurant that fits the clues you have given.

                      One easy to miss restaurant, a hole-in-the-wall, comes to mind; Fora. Fora is a small restaurant (six tables seems about right), that is on 2nd Street, and has excellent food and a very nice wine selection. It isn't a French restaurant but I don't believe it claims to be anything in particular. A few of its dishes are French-ish, and its cheese selections and dessets may seem French-inspired. They tout their soufflés as being remarkable. They also have special wine dinners and perhaps your friend went when there was a themed French meal.

                      Check out their menu and see if it fits the bill.
                      http://www.fora-naples.com/

                        1. re: Ringo Gato

                          Maybe the friend is referring to the little Italian place just off 2d that has only a few tables. Otherwise, it must by Frenchy's.

                            1. re: 2intune

                              You're thinking of Cafe Gazelle, which is Italian by way of Iran . . .

                              They also have another location in Huntington Beach, which has more tables.

                            2. You could just take your friend to Frenchy's and then he might have a new favorite place.

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