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L’Opera Ristorante
101 Pine Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: (562) 491-0066
www.lopera.com

Ordered Dishes:

Zuppa di Zucca (Pureed Soup of Butternut Squash, Rock Shrimp & Smoked Chile Biegnet);

Tartara Mediterranea (Ahi Tuna Tartar, homemade Italian Flatbreads, White Bean Hummus, Dry Cured Olives, Marinated Fennel, Harissa Aioli, and Red Pepper Jelly);

Filetto al Caffe (Espresso Crusted Filet Mignon, Gorgonzola Potato Puree, Thyme-scented Carrots, Pancetta, Wilted Endives, and Port Wine Reduction);

Pappardelle Frutti di Mare (Homemade Thin Flat Noodles, Spicy Tomato Garlic Sauce, White Fish, Salmon, Mussels, Clams, Baby Squid, Broccolini, Parsley);

Luna Piena (White Chocolate Cheesecake, Crispy Chocolate Cookie Crust, Fresh Blackberries, Fresh Blueberry Sauce)

Review:

After a considerable amount of walking in Down Town Long Beach and a long while of watching boats dock on the pier, we decided to head back in search of something that would make our tummies happy. Now, for those who don’t know: there are a lot of restaurants in this area, but they seem to exist mainly for the purpose of facilitating Happy Hour enthusiasts and out-of-towners visiting the convention center.

L’Opera was one of the only promising places we passed by and, quite frankly, neither of us were in the mood to amble further. As it was, we were already tired from a long Thursday (and an emotionally draining week). The restaurant was lovely with perfect lighting. And even though were were not appropriately dressed, our hostess was extremely gracious. We even got a pretty decent seat with a great view… though we were both curious about the tables in their wine cellar downstairs.

First, came the bread. Typical. Hot. Buca-esque.

Bread Basket:

Since it had been cold at the docks, I decided to order soup. I was not thrilled with this soup. I remember asking Dan, “Wonder if the kitchen’s out of salt?” The Rock Shrimp Beignet was very greasy and, like the soup, completely flavorless!

Zuppa di Zucca (Pureed Soup of Butternut Squash, Rock Shrimp & Smoked Chile Biegnet):

For some reason, Dan wanted to try the Tuna Tartar. Now, there was a big red flag if I ever saw one. This dish was all over the place, like a impromptu trip all around the world. Hummus? Ahi Tuna? Olives? Fennel? Plus, I had never heard of Italian flatbread before. Just tasted and looked like water crackers to me. Maybe it was Hawaiian… or Mediterranean… or Italian. I dunno. But it wasn’t tasty, and it just didn’t make sense once it was in our mouths.

Tartara Mediterranea (Ahi Tuna Tartar, homemade Italian Flatbreads, White Bean Hummus, Dry Cured Olives, Marinated Fennel, Harissa Aioli, and Red Pepper Jelly):

Next, Dan had the Espresso Crusted Filet Mignon. We liked it, and agreed that L’Opera did churn out a pretty decent steak. The espresso was not overwhelming, nor was it charred to the point of being inedible. I enjoyed the Gorgonzola and thought that it added a really nice punch to a comfort food that could sometimes be boring. We just thought that, overall (thyme, carrots, pancetta, endives, port wine), the dish was a very good merriment of flavors. It was complex, but not to the point of being pretentious or inefficient.

Filetto al Caffe (Espresso Crusted Filet Mignon, Gorgonzola Potato Puree, Thyme-scented Carrots, Pancetta, Wilted Endives, and Port Wine Reduction):

I ordered the Papperdelle Frutti di Mare. The noodles were excellent. So nice to get freshly-made noodles! Such a difference! The sauce/broth was also wonderful, extremely comforting and full of depth. One GIANT no-no: The White Fish had gone bad, bad, bad. It was so fishy, you could taste/smell it all the way back… back where your nostrils met your throat. Disgusting. Like bloody phlegm. That really ruined the whole dish, which was unfortunate because it had been so great.

Pappardelle Frutti di Mare (Homemade Thin Flat Noodles, Spicy Tomato Garlic Sauce, White Fish, Salmon, Mussels, Clams, Baby Squid, Broccolini, Parsley):

We ended dinner by sharing a slice of their cheesecake. I thought it was very good, not too sweet and with a cake-like yield. I also loved the combination of fresh summer berries/berry sauce and bitter chocolate crust. I think I was a lot more fond of it than Dan, our resident Cheesecake Aficionado, was.

Luna Piena (White Chocolate Cheesecake, Crispy Chocolate Cookie Crust, Fresh Blackberries, Fresh Blueberry Sauce):

L’Opera is a hit or miss. When it hits, it makes a memorable impression. Unfortunately, when it misses, it strikes out big time as well. And such inconsistencies are just not gonna make the cut.

Rating:
5.5 out of 10 Spoonfuls

Value:
$$$