I was spending my Sunday with a friend on her birthday!  We stopped off first at The Southern Girl Bakery and Maker’s Mart, then we decided to top it all off with a visit to one of my favorite restaurants: At Last Cafe!

I would love to say that it was a hidden gem that I uncovered, but it was featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives some years ago.  You’ll see why!

It is located in Downtown Long Beach, in a neighborhood where you would not expect to see a restaurant and parking is scarce!  We ate at an odd hour, so reservations were not needed.  Otherwise, it is a popular dinner spot!

I love their regular menu, but I always check out the specials, which are possibly even better than the usual suspects!

For an appetizer, we shared the Polenta and Portabella Mushrooms.  Coincidentally, the day before at Il Garage, we ordered a polenta and mushroom dish!  However, either my dining buddies or I have ordered this every time I have been to the restaurant, because it is sooo good!  The polenta is buttery and creamy on the inside, but perfectly seared on the outside with a flavorful crust.  The only thing that could make it better is the delicious mushrooms and gravy.  Yum!

For our entrees, we ordered two specials off of the board.  The first one was the Roasted Duck Breast with prunes and roasted parsnip crisps on top.  It was also served with a sweet mash and veggies.  I love duck, but restaurants typically duck in less-than-generous portions.  Not here!

The second entree was braised oxtail.  If you have ever had oxtail, you know how tender the meat is.  No exception here!  Yet again, it was an enormous portion of food!  Also, it is served with veggies and mashed potatoes.  I need to mention how perfect the two sides are, because they are usually an afterthought.  Not here!  I am very picky about my mashed potatoes, and these definitely pass the test!

For dessert, we decided to take some home for the crowd!  They always have a cheesecake of the day, and this time we had our choice of two.  We chose the English Toffee.  Delish!  I love that it is more of a whipped, light cheesecake rather than a dense, rich cake.

Also, we took home a strawberry cheesecake, which was amazing!  We had to finish it right away, so it wouldn’t get too soggy, which was not a problem.  🙂

I always have a fantastic meal here, and I really cannot recommend it enough.  If you are looking for the “must try” dishes, I recommend the Polenta and Portobello Mushrooms, practically any special dish, and a cheesecake.

Uh oh, I’m starting to get hungry just looking at my pictures.  Maybe I need to make another reservation soon.

At Last Café
204 Orange Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90802
(562) 437-4837
jmchefcatering.com