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Marlena, Long Beach, CA

Marlena

4.8
4.8
128 Reviews
$31 to $50
Italian

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 25 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Great for outdoor dining
  • Neighbourhood gem
  • Good for special occasions
Driven by Seasonality + Local Ingredients – Our kitchen artfully balances Italian + Mediterranean culinary traditions with unexpected wood-fired flavors meant to transport your senses.

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Mediterranean, Spanish
  • Hours of Operation
    Bar Mon–Fri 9:00 am–3:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:30 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:30 pm
  • Phone number
    (562) 203-1500
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive Chef
    Michael Ryan
  • Private party facilities
    Group dining for events and holiday parties on our patio is available by contacting us at info@marlena-longbeach.com
  • Neighbourhood
    Long Beach
  • Cross Street
    Naples Plaza at Cordova. Parking available after 5pm in the lots on Cordova
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Chef's Table Family Feast

    US$854.00 per party

    Dec 12, 2024 - Feb 13, 2025
    A limited seating per night chefs tasting menu experience. Gather up to 8 friends in the patio at our large kitchen adjacent chef's table and share Marlena classics in a family style feast. Crispy Fried Cauliflower. Little Gems Caesar Pachamama Pork Meatballs Spicy Salami Pizza Margherita Pizza Whole Butterflied Branzino 32 oz Dry Aged Creekstone Bistecca alla Fiorentina with rosemary-garlic potatoes and arugula salad Honeynut squash agnolotti Burnt Basque cheesecake
    Chef's Table Family Feast photo

What 128 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8
4.8 based on recent ratings
  • 4.7Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.3Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Long Beach / Catalina

    Best Ambience

  • Long Beach / Catalina

    Neighbourhood gem

  • Long Beach / Catalina

    Great for outdoor dining

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Marlena in Long Beach offers an exceptional dining experience with a charming outdoor patio, "delicious food," and "friendly service." Guests rave about the "outstanding cocktails and wine list," and the inventive menu featuring standout dishes like "branzino and pistachio-crusted lamb." While some find it pricey, the ambiance and flavors make it "worth every penny."

128 Reviews
  1. April

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    I have enjoyed eating here a few times so was excited to try their NYE menu. What a disappointment! The menu looked great on paper but everything that came to our table was underwhelming or just plain bad. It felt like no one in the kitchen was really tasting for quality control. The oysters were way over cooked — too salty and also flavorless (needed a squeeze of acid), the rabbit ragu was seriously under-seasoned, and the fish with sunflower seed purée was odd and not delicious. Dessert was strong, the wines were great and the service fine, but overall the experience did not feel worth the money paid.

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  2. Jade

    Los Angeles

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Highly recommend this place! This restaurant offers a memorable dining experience with impeccable service and deliciously crafted dishes.

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  3. Yasemin

    VIP

    Orange County

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always receive great service . Food always so tasty . Love sitting for hrs enjoying the atmosphere and the people . I have been here already way over 25 times since it’s opened .

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  4. Martha

    Washington DC

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    The cauliflower, paparadelle , vegetable salad and Branzoni were excellent. The pork was quite tough. We said we were celebrating a birthday in our reservation but no mention was made of it. The cheesecake was not particularly flavorful. A bit disappointing

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  5. Joaquin

    VIP

    Los Angeles

    18 reviews

    4.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Beautiful vibe…Food is delicious of course. Drinks are very good. Good wine selection and food dishes and pizza dishes are all very good. Diana my server was AMAZING!!!!!

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  6. Amanda

    New York City

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As someone who grew up in the tri-state area, finding a modern, stylish Italian spot in Long Beach was a pleasant surprise. From the moment we arrived, my boyfriend and I were impressed by the sleek bar design and the cozy ambiance. The open-air vibe was a nice touch, especially for a Christmas Eve dinner. The cocktail menu offered a solid mix of classic drinks and creative twists—it didn’t disappoint. The sweet potatoes? Absolute must. Warm, comforting, and the pesto added a fantastic touch. The meatballs were spot-on: savory, with a sauce that really delivered. A classic done right and definitely a menu staple. The Gem Salad, however, didn’t hit the mark. The dressing lacked flavor, and the presentation felt like an afterthought. Next time, I’ll try one of their other greens. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try the pasta this time—a big miss on my part—but it gives me the perfect excuse to come back and dive into their hand-cut offerings. Long Beach needed a place like this, and I’m looking forward to round two.

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  7. Char

    Phoenix

    27 reviews

    3.0

    27 reviews

    Dined on December 25, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 5
    I just don’t get the hype. Excellent space. Terrific reputation for flavors, but that was not our experience. Four pizzas, one lamb, one pasta and all needed seasoning and most were pronounced “meh” by by our admittedly spoiled group. One GF/dairy free diner found it very hard to find a meal. The server seemed to forget us, often. Large group so tip was pre-included, so does that mean we won’t tip more for good service? No! AND, the dog seated in the owners lap (first at the bar and later at a nearby banquet) for hours made us wonder what other hygiene rules the establishment cuts corners on.

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  8. jb

    Los Angeles

    40 reviews

    5.0

    40 reviews

    Dined on December 24, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Pizza was excellent, patio was comfortable and warm, on a chilly night. Prices a bit high, but it’s Naples. Service very good, friendly and prompt, helpful when we had questions. We will definitely return to try the pasta.

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  9. Denise

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 24, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    They never disappoint. One of my favorite restaurants.!

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  10. Laura

    VIP

    Orange County

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on December 23, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    Flavors of the dishes were great but there were so many bones in the branzino that it made it hard to eat. It took nearly an hour from arrival to entrees being served. We have been several times with very inconsistent dining experiences.

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FAQs

Marlena is rated 4.8 stars by 128 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 p.m.
Booked 25 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Marlena

5854 E Naples Plaza, Long Beach, CA 90803

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross Street
    Naples Plaza at Cordova. Parking available after 5pm in the lots on Cordova
  • Neighbourhood
    Long Beach
  • Hours of Operation
    Bar Mon–Fri 9:00 am–3:00 pm Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–2:30 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–5:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:30 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Italian, Mediterranean, Spanish
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Private Lot
  • Executive Chef
    Michael Ryan
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Dog Friendly, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Vegan, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (562) 203-1500
  • Private party facilities
    Group dining for events and holiday parties on our patio is available by contacting us at info@marlena-longbeach.com
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  • Terms of Use
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  • Cookie Preferences
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