Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/18929
LONGBEACHMAGAZINE.COM 29 Starling Diner 4114 East 3rd St. 562.433.3292 Nested inconspicuously in a residential block of Belmont Heights, sits one of the city's most stylish breakfast nooks. Starling Diner gives a lighter, more artful spin to a normally staid breakfast menu. The specialty of this airy diner is french toast, though the dish is so unconventional it hardly fits the name. A mini-baguette with mascarpone cheese stuffed through the middle is dipped in a light batter, broiled, sliced and served, drizzled in fresh berries, crème fraiche and whipped cream. The egg scrambles are unique too. They include old classics, such as tomato, bacon and cheddar, Schooner or Later 241 North Marina Dr. 562.430.3495 Schooner or Later is what a breakfast on the beach should be. It sits on the edge of the marina, and its big, umbrella-shaded patio offers a great view of the sailboat-filled harbor. The river bike trail runs right by it, so it's a great destination for a run or a bike ride. After eating here, you'll be glad you got the exercise, too. Schooner is known for its generous portions and its original seafood dishes, such as the crab and avocado benedict. They make it with real crab, Babe's Kitchen 1106 East Wardlow Rod 562.427.4897 The main draw to Babe's is its novelty. It's an old-school diner that somehow survived the corporate takeover of neighborhood eateries. The hash browns are made of freshly shredded potatoes and the pies are made from scratch. So is the bread, the jams and the jellies, so even a side of toast a treat. "Most places use frozen hash browns," said George Whitlock, the owner. He won't use them. "It's little things like this, that make the difference." The owner, George Whitlock, opened the place 34 years ago and still stands in front of the grill and new, vaguely Italian-tasting mixes, such as the goat cheese, spinach and mushroom. The drink menu is good, especially for a breakfast-lunch place: seven beers and eight wines. Incidentally, they serve their water full of mint and cucumber — nice touch. When Joan Samson opened Starling, she aimed to do something different. "I was so tired of it. It's the same breakfast menu at everyplace in Long Beach," she said. "I wanted to expand the lexicon of what you can have for breakfast." The drawback is that the wait on Sunday morning can be more than an hour. Also, parking is sparse, so wear your walking shoes. and the eggs are done just right, with the yolk nice and runny. Another local favorite is "The Mess," an accurately-named plate of hash browns, eggs, ham pieces, onions, peppers all mixed together and topped with cheddar. An interesting disadvantage is that Schooner appeared on the Food Network's "Diners, Drive-ins and Dives." As a result, the wait has been insane ever since. Expect to wait 45 minutes or longer, and for a seat on the patio during rush hour, you'll wait a lot longer. Luckily, it has a little stand attached called "The Little Schooner" where you can pick up a latte and a scone to hold you over. almost every day in his white undershirt. The décor's retro, but not in that made-to-look-like-a- 50s-diner way. It's more like nobody redecorated since it opened. It sits in a run-down neighborhood of North Long Beach with abundant concrete, chain link fences and not much else, but all that slips from the mind when inside. The servers — seemingly all elderly people — are so friendly it makes up for their painfully slow pace. Babe's isn't family-run though — only the owner's step-son works there as a dish washer — but "their staff is like family," said Whitlock. In fact, one of the waitresses has worked there for 29 years — she's 89 years old. "They don't want to leave when they work for me," he said. "I treat'em good."