Starling Diner

Relaxing place to enjoy delicious breakfast with prompt and friendly service. I tried the breakfast Polenta, I was a bit surprised it came out like a nice dessert, ha ha. I enjoyed it very much. My friends had the twice baked granola and omelettes, they liked their dishes as well. It was a reunion breakfast, and we were there for a while (90+ min), the server came by many times to top our coffee which was very nice. Parking: avoid Thursday morning if possible, no street parking on one side of the street due to street cleaning. Mist of my party had to find spaces pretty far away. I was lucky to get a space right across the street as someone left.

So, I originally wanted the seasonally Nutella French toast but my wife and I shared and she said no. So we got some French toast with fruits and stuff. Man, I did not expect this kind of French toast. This thing looked some someone took a baguette and threw it on a plate, but it was fire. I felt super fancy and stuff. The atmosphere was great, the service was great as well. I’m definitely coming back, for sure. Also, all San Francisco themed which was pretty cool.

We’re from out of town and have been coming here for years. The quality of the food and top notch service has always been wonderful. We can’t say enough about how much we love Starling Diner.

Had a Ham and Swiss Scramble that was amazing. Loved the bread and potatoes! Staff was super sweet.

Oooo baby, this place was great. I love breakfast, it's my favorite meal of the day. I went to Starling Diner on a Wednesday morning and ordered the stuffed french toast (Peaches & Brandy) flavor and it was soooooo good! The marscapone, the butter, the peaches - all coming together to make a delicious party in my mouth. I loved it. I finished it all and it was a big plate. I loved that instead of traditional brioche, this place uses a baguette for the french toast and it's such a delicious twist. I didn't know this place was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives until I saw it written on the menu (S20 Ep.3). I just wish there were small serrated type bread knives to eat their stuffed french toast more easily but I got the job done lol.

Excellent spot for breakfast! We went on a Sunday morning and there was a short wait, definitely worth it though! The scones and breakfast bruschetta were excellent! I’ll definitely be back.

Best French toast I've ever had! The apples in brandy butter accompanied were a perfect match. The roast beef hash was amazing as well. Will definitely be returning! Service was fast and everyone was attentive and pleasant. No complaints from me.

One of the best places for breakfasts/brunch in Long Beach, it's a hidden gem. I highly recommend it to anyone, especially when it comes to French Toast and Bloody Marry with Bacon or Crab Leg.

Great brunch spot ! Love the cozy cute decors of the restaurant. Food was good. the service&staffs were awesome!!! genuently nice and friendly servers that made me really happy :) Thank you!

First vacation morning home and it's street sweeping so I'm up and out breaking fast at the local Starling Diner in the Belmont Shores/Heights neighborhood. It's a true "diner" when the server says to you "Good Morning Hun" when you walk in. Unique French/Diner fusion menu as well. Quite enjoyed my Roast Beef Hash & Eggs. Interesting how it is formed into a patty but very tasty.

I'm usually not someone that likes eating sweets for breakfast, but the baguette / Stuffed French Toast with Peaches in Brandy Butter was incredible. Recommend this item 💯 Staff are also really nice. Get there early because this place packs out by 9am on the weekends.

Dont let the cute neighborhood charm fool you - this brunch spot is a homerun! Goto for a French Toast & Scramble spot - they use full bagette with mascapone....FUEGO 🥇. No pancakes or waffles here but its FINE...you wont miss a craving after dining here🤟🏻💯🏆*SAVED as a goto weekly spot for french toast!

The service is amazing; workers are so kind. No matter what you order you will find something fantastic. The french toast is delicious, the flavors combine together incredibly well. We were a group of 7 and every meal was enjoyed.

It is an incredibly cute place to have breakfast. The food is great and the staff are nice. Everything we had was really good. Highly recommend.

Food was creative and well prepared. Staff were very friendly and accommodating. Clean and comfortable setting. This is a definite must visit.

Great energetic atmosphere from the moment you walk in, greeted by friendly people and the heavenly scent of freshly baked scones and robust coffee! Quick service and delicious food!

Cozy cafe in a charming neighborhood. Service was excellent. Friendly and highly attentive staff. The standout menu item is the French toast. It's prepared in a different style, but absolutely worth trying. Prices are reasonable.

It seemed a little chaotic in the restaurant but we were promptly seated at the bar. The ambiance is super cool and friendly with all sorts of local art and tchotchkes adorning the walls. It took awhile to get the food but it was hot, delicious and clearly prepared with care when it arrived. The servers were stressed but they managed to hide it well enough that the service wasn't affected. Overall a great stop on our LB trip.

One of the best spots I’ve been to, I can’t believe how delicious the food is. Crystal was a super awesome host very helpful no wonder people from all over come here😋 can’t wait to try their Peach and Mango Mimosas soon

Ubereats. Eggs Benjamin exhaled it! salmon with spinach. Perfect. Iced chai the sweet taste of cinnamon so delicious. Scone. Sliced watermelon wonderful. DELIGHT. Apple bacon cheddar scramble. The food was great. Repeat Blue crab cakes delicious no bread crumbs Just crab. French toast w cream and cherries. Yummi. Watermelon. Have to pace myself. Iced chai mm... Gone to quick. REPEAT. 3. 6. 19 Watermelon slices Crab cakes poached eggs Brandy peaches cream French toast Scramble eggs goat cheese spinach mushrooms Chai ice cold cinnamon delicious Nom. Nom Heaven

Great little place tucked away off 3rd street in long Beach. Service was excellent and food was even better. Only open Tuesday thru Sunday for breakfast and lunch. Seating inside and out. Very relaxing atmosphere. A must visit if your looking for a awesome breakfast and lunch. Can't go wrong with anything you order. Also pet friendly.

Went here for brunch and it was so worth passing by! The staff was super friendly and the food was delicious! Of course I had to try everything as you can see 😅 French toast was so good! Alot of food but I ate everything! Probably one of my favorite places in long Beach for brunch! But it was definitely the staff that made it great! Will come again!

On a whim we decided to drive up from San Diego for breakfast... and this place did not disappoint. The staff are friendly and efficient. The Breakfast Bundle was good, but hands down the banana and Nutella french toast was amazing. I’m not a fan of french toast, but I would definitely come back for this one.

Great little place to have breakfast... long wait we were a party of 6 but it was well worth it in the end. Great service, food was phenomenal place is inviting and cozy. Prices are a little high but worth it.. I had the Eggs Benjamin they were delicious. Highly recommended if you are in the area... take note all street parking so find something nearby take it none on property

Cute diner with amazing food! Had their peach stuffed French toast special and the hunny got the spinach omelet and it was all very yummy! I ❤ the stuffed French toast!!! I'll be back for the fresh berries one next time 😉 great service as well

First time dining here and it definitely will not be our last. I was visiting from the Bay Area, my daughter and son took me to Starling. The most amazing baguette french toast, so delicious and creative. The wait can be long, but well worth it! Can't wait to dine here again in the future!

Oh my goodness this was the BEST French toast I’ve ever eaten. The ambience was perfect and I had the best time. Looking forward to more meals here!!

Love, love, love!! May not look fancy but such a cute little diner. Its in a neighborhood so makes it really quiant. The workers were all so nice and added such an elegance in how they serve you. The best part of all is their food. I'm so obsessed with the Breakfast Bruschetta! The sweetness isn't overwhelming but has such good flavor. Unique idea. My husband got the chicken apple sausage breakfast and I got a tuna melt sandwich. They flavor and season their food so well. Its just a perfect place for your taste buds to enjoy.

Cute little Diner, in a long beach neighborhood, you'd never know its there if you weren't looking for it. No wait to be seated, and very prompt to get water, and drinks order. We were in no hurry, a girls catch up brunch... But once we got our food it was difficult to get anyone's attention for some salsa, coffee & cocktail refills. Even our leftover box & check took a while. So if you don't have a lot of time, I suggest you make them aware of that. Otherwise I'd say definitely a great place for delicious slow placed meal and or get together

This is a hidden gem and very well managed establishment! I was impressed and shocked by the attentiveness you are supposed to receive going to a restaurant. It was a ni c e little get away to eat from the realities of the world. The atmosphere was perfect for the food and people walking by were super friendly Put it this way I have not had service like I e this for a long time. I ordered coffee and they made sure to have someone out there refilling before the cup was empty. I worked I. The service industry before and that is how the industry was and should be. This place made me feel as though time never lapsed and no matter what establishment the service you receive will be noted at least by me. This is a 5 star little cafeish place and when I get back to work after being in a catastrophic motorcycle accident I will come back. It is privy but you genuinely pay gor what you get! This place i salute you and tip my hat. You bring proper etiquette to the table(no pun), authenticity is your signature, and customer sevice.... Well you bring it 150%! Amazing little place and a taste of heaven is the only way I can describe it . Well and the rest of the review! Thank you for showing me authenticity and service are still important! This place was amzing!!!!

our favorite little diner closed and we we're searching for another place for breakfast. Starling Diner showed up and we gave it a try. We were lucky and got the best table in the house, I thought. And we were seated within 5 minutes. Husband ordered the Chicken sausage and Eggs and I had the Egg Benjamin. Oh and do order the double cream scone, and do the basket as it's a better deal. Comes with house made lemon curd and honey orange butter. oh so good. Coffee was good too! Service was superb. All the servers were super attentive.

A very secluded cute diner in a residential area , we went on a weekend but the wait wasn't too long , though the place is small ! The interior is very cute and quite noisy but not in a bad way . Customer service was on point and everything was served pretty quick , cappuccino was on point . We ordered the famous stuffed French toast with berries , it looks huge on the plate but once you start eating it it's good for one person only , eat it as soon as it's served or the ends of the bread might get hard. The mushroom, spinach and monetary jack omelette was also pretty good . Overall had a great experience and will definitely visit again . The menu has a lot of options which is also a plus point along with multiple vegan options. The French toast should not be missed , I've never had something like that before.

All the servers were great. It was my birthday and one if the customers and her beautiful toddler daughter came over and sang Happy Birthday to me...so thoughtful and sweet. Victoria was very kind, compassionate and caring💞. The absolute best! Forever grateful for the love I was shown at Starling. The scones are wonderful🤎

Cute diner with great service and delicious food. The roast beef hash was a standout with great flavor. Stuffed French Toast was a big portion and savory sweet. Chorizo scramble was good and portion was just right.

My wife and I love having brunch here. There’s usually a wait and you have to park in the neighborhood, but it is worth it. They are famous for their French toast which I definitely recommend. Great coffee too!

Not a typical diner but elevated food, small but not crowded. I had the slow roasted pork scramble and it was amazing! My only regret was not getting the stuffed French toast as it looks to be a culinary adventure. Will definitely be back next time I’m in Long Beach.

The food here is great, order almost anything and you will definitely enjoy it. We got peach french toast, the chicken apple sausage breakfast and the beginner breakfast. The only difference between the sausage and the beginner was the sausage. They both had well seasoned potatoes, tasty scrambled eggs and a side of a baguette. The chicken sausage was sweet and savory all at the same time, definitely worth a try, at least once. The french toast was good but if you do not like cream cheese stuffed french toast I would recommend against this item. As for the actual restaurant, it is a very tight environment, think of a large cafe in Europe to get the vibe. But now as in music that is club level during breakfast all of this out together, I have to say DON'T EAT IN. And then there is customer service, because of how loud they keep it, the staff can't hear you so your order will be screwed up and may even have extra items or in your bill. So just be careful here.

This place is very cute and cozy. We got here around 2pm, we sat at the bar and there was no wait. My boyfriend had the breakfast polenta and it was delicious; full of fresh berries whipped cream and sweet cream. We as well had the french cream sodas, i definitely recommend you try the vanilla or caramel flavor; full of flavor and so creamy. I had the kansas city chicken sandwich, i love bbq sauce however this sandwich was completely drenched in bbq sauce, it didnt give me a chance to taste the chicken or bread. I as well had the vegan lentil soup and i loved it. If im in the area ill stop by to give it a second try.

This experience left a very bad taste in my mouth--and not just figuratively. To begin, I want to be clear that my server, Victoria, was pleasant, kind, and attentive. I have zero issues with her service, and I sincerely thank her for how she handled the situation. Unfortunately, the rest of the experience was unacceptable. While eating the Breakfast Classic, I discovered a large piece of metal--specifically what appeared to be steel wool--in my food. I immediately alerted Victoria, who apologized and promptly offered to have the meal remade. When the bill arrived, however, I was charged full price, which was surprising given the circumstances. Nothing was offered to acknowledge the inconvenience or the seriousness of the issue. While the rest of my party continued enjoying their meals, I was left waiting after finding metal in my food. Victoria called the manager over, and I explained that I was disappointed nothing had been done to make up for the situation. His response was delivered very dryly: "Well, your food was remade, so the issue was addressed." There was no apology, no concern expressed, and no effort to make things right. The manager says I guessI can comp your meal, but I think I have already done enough. Like who says that?!? Serving food without metal in it is not a courtesy--it is the bare minimum expectation. Remaking a contaminated dish does not negate the inconvenience, the safety concern, or the disruption to the dining experience. Overall, I am extremely disappointed and expected far better handling of a situation this serious.

Very disappointed. Crab cakes consisted mostly of over seasoned breading and minimal shredded crab, not lump. The pork scramble is bland. Cappuccino maker broken. $60 sadly spent. The place is busy though.