“ I came here with my friend on Saturday for dinner. We didn't have a reservation and were expecting to stand at the bar, but the staff made sure we got a table which was so very thoughtful and appreciated. The table was on the patio but it was covered with a plastic drape enclosure and heaters so it didn't even really feel like we were outside. The lighting and layout were perfect for a comfy and cozy experience. Our server Grace was absolutely lovely and funny too. She gave us feedback on the popular and tastiest dishes (but I'm now convinced we probably wouldn't have gone wrong ordering anything on the menu). For two people, we ordered the roasted cauliflower, pappardelle ragu, and the prosciutto pizza (see pics). It was the perfect amount of food to share. For me, the standout was the pizza. Wow, I haven't had a pizza that delicious in forever. It was savory and sweet, and the crust was absolutely delicious, and I'm not usually a crust fan unless it's done well. We also ordered the burnt Basque cheesecake and olive oil cake, and both were also excellent. Overall, it was a wonderful experience for us two gals to catch up and gab over a table of beautiful food and excellent service. Thank you Marlena for a wonderful meal. ”

“ This place is perfect for a date night, consider this an intimate restaurant that exudes charm and warmth. Look for a cozy spot with dim lighting, soft music, and a menu of thoughtfully crafted plates. Pair it with signature cocktails, and you'll have the ideal setting for deep conversation and romance. Bonus points if you find a tucked-away patio, a fireplace, or a unique, personal touch like candlelit tables like I did. ”

“ I was super excited to check out Marlena with a few friends, and while I frequent 2nd & PCH a lot, I have never ventured into Naples. So let's just say I was in for a shock when there was extreme traffic for the last half mile of my drive! It turns out this restaurant is right in the center of the Naples Boat Parade- which I had no idea existed. However, when I frantically called the restaurant, they picked up super quick and gave me directions on where to park. That was super appreciated because parking was impossible that night otherwise! We got a spot outside and thankfully they had heaters to keep us warm. I split a few dishes with a friend. For our appetizer we got the roasted baby yams. These came out super quick and were delicious! Another friend got the Japanese yellowtail crudo and that was also excellent. For our mains I split the honeynut squash agnolotti and a pizza I feel like was their take on a margherita. The agnolotti was outstanding. It was a sweet dish that had crushed up cookies sprinkled on top, but it wasn't overly sweet and it worked so well. I am so glad I split this with a friend because I may have been too scared to try it alone if it was the only dish I got! That being said, for the price this portion size was almost criminal. I really just wanted to eat more of this because it was so good, and I was sad I only got five or six little agnolottis (due to splitting). As for the pizza, it was pretty standard in terms of Italian thin crust pizza. I did end up eating three slices because I was still so hungry after the appetizer and pasta. However if I had a normal sized portion of pasta, I probably would have ate only one slice. I am not much of a pizza person, and prefer thick crust when I must eat it. After we got our food, we were not really checked on for a long time. I did have to leave after a certain point, and I spent a few minutes looking backwards to try and get the attention of our waiter. Everything else besides that in terms of the service was great! I would give this place a 4.5 if I could. Due to a few things about my experience it wasn't quite enough to get 5 stars. In particular I would have liked a good amount more pasta for an almost $30 dish. I am also glad my friend made reservations because this place was very busy! I have no idea how parking is on a non-boat parade night, but from other reviews it seems like it's relatively easy. ”

“ Delicious octopus with garbanzos that add a crispy crunch. Our waitress was super friendly and great with the suggestions! It's an intimate place and great for dates or dinner with friends! ”

“ Been here a handful of times over the last couple years and I LOVE this restaurant. The last time I was here was last month where we were celebrating an engagement -- and we ordered almost everything off of their menu for everyone! I'm so sad I didn't take more photos of the food, but you really can't go wrong with ordering anything off their menu. Some highlights I remember in the blur of all the dishes coming to the table were the octopus and cauliflower appetizers. I loved every single pizza we ordered (and we ordered all of them), but I will say the calzone is probably the weakest dish on their menu -- probably wouldn't order that again. But other than that, we loved all the pastas, pizzas, salads, and small plates! My favorite pasta was the honey nut squash agnolotti. And the branzino was *chef's kiss* The dessert cakes were all really good, too! But I still think about their affogato -- their gelato was mascarpone flavored! So freaking good. Their outdoor seating is beautifully lit at night, with heat lamps, and the servers are all so warm and friendly. Definitely come here for a special occasion, or if you just want really freaking good food. ”

“ Service, ambiance, and our meal were good, but we didn't like the cheesecake we had for dessert at all. The hamachi crudo was my favorite dish, and the butternut squash pasta, sweet potatoes, and panzanella salad were all flavorful and good, though I do wish the croutons in the salad were crisper. Dessert tasted stale and they graciously took that off the check. Do yourself a favor and book a reservation here, but plan for dessert elsewhere. ”

“ I came here for my friend's bday brunch a few weeks ago on a saturday. Sitting in there breezy outdoor patio was a great reprieve from the scorching valley heat. We ordered a bunch of food to be eaten family style. Their drinks are phenomenal and well-balanced. I loved my drink but it was off-menu so I can't really remember what the name was. Out of everything we ordered the YELLOW PEACHES WITH BURRATA, CEASAR SALAD W/ ANCHOVIES, CALAMARI, AND THE PAPPARDELLE CARBONARA was my favorite. They were perfect for boozy brunching! Service was stellar. I forgot the name of our Filipina waitress but she was great with making us feel welcomed and taken care of. The only reason I didn't give them a fifth star was that I thought their menu was more carb heavy. Otherwise, I definitely recommend this place for boozy brunching with friends! ”

“ Came here 2 weeks ago to try out this hot spot. Husband was able to get a last minute reservation for 7:45pm on a Friday night. Found street parking upon arrival. Inside was bustling and loud noise. Got seated immediately in a spacious area. Ordered: 1) fried cauliflower - this was one of the best I've had, flavor and texture was spot on 2) ribeye steak - this was so good, glad we ordered it although expensive! 3) octopus - soft and good 4) barramundi fish - delicious! 5) bread with tomato sauce - bread is not free here 6) salami pizza - yes, amazing! 7) cheesecake - decent We were pleasantly surprised by the food here and would recommend this place to others who are dining in Long Beach! ”

“ Marlena is buz-zyy (and busy). This is the kind of place you go to do a little celebrating. I came to celebrate a birthday dinner and there were some definite standouts. Our table dabbled in each of the categories - apps, greens, grill, and pizza. For pizza, we ordered the prosciutto, burrata, pickled green garlic, Calabrian chili honey, arugula, lemon ($26). This pizza was so good. Salty prosciutto with creamy burrata is a tried and true combination, but the Calabrian chili honey added a nice spicy sweet layer to each bite. Fire. I absolutely loved the Sun Coast Farms asparagus ($22). It's topped with blue oyster mushrooms, cured egg yolk, and Parmigiano-Reggiano. The asparagus were crisp and meaty with a nice nutty flavor. Honestly who knew asparagus and mushrooms were flavor friends because together, they're insanely good. Honestly, everything we ordered - little gems, cacio e pepe, branzino - was top tier. I would come back for the asparagus alone. I'll definitely be back to check out their brunch. ”