Sean Lanham
Google
Where Italian elegance throws a party with old-world charm and invites your taste buds to dance.
Picture this: A Saturday night in Long Beach and the historic Willmore building glowing like it’s holding secrets from a century ago. My wife and I strolled in, dressed to impress and ready to celebrate our daughter’s birthday like it was a national holiday. La Traviata didn’t just open its doors, they threw them wide, popped some bubbles, and practically sang “Benvenuti!” before we even sat down.
We had reservations, but the way they whisked us to our table, you’d think we were visiting dignitaries, or at the very least, folks with an unhealthy passion for pasta. Within minutes, we had a round of sparkling bubbles in hand, fizzing like little Italian fireworks. Cheers to birthdays, bubbles, and food that flirts with your soul.
The Salad: Crisp. Fresh. Balanced. The kind of starter that makes you sit up straighter and believe in leafy greens again.
The Pasta: Oh, mamma mia. This wasn’t just a dish, it was an edible love letter written in cream, garlic, and perfectly cooked noodles. It didn’t just fill the stomach. It healed wounds I didn’t know I had.
And then, cue the spotlight, James and Celeste Alcantara began serenading the room. Their music didn’t just float through the air. They wrapped around the evening like a velvet ribbon. When they sang “Happy Birthday” to our daughter, we all went from “enjoying a nice meal” to “excellence in the candlelight.” It was a Hallmark moment… but with better sauce.
The service? Impeccable. Present without hovering. Friendly without being fake. Like dining with family, if your family was really, really good at timing.
The ambiance? Flickering candles, vintage accents, and cozy corners. This place doesn’t whisper romance, it croons it.
We left full, glowing, and already plotting our return. La Traviata doesn’t just serve dinner. It serves story-worthy evenings. The kind you replay in your head during Monday morning meetings and sigh out loud about.
TL;DR:
Historic building. Italian magic. Pasta that hugs your soul. Live serenades by angels in disguise. If you’re not already booking a table, I’m not sure we can be friends.