While I hate to admit it, I was in a dining rut. I love the breakfast entrée’s at Starling Diner so much that I was loathe to try anything else. In fact, I paid almost no attention to the lunch side of the menu.

Don’t make the same mistake.

On my most recent visit to Starling, I was eating a little later than usual and saw these wonderful looking – and completely unfamiliar – plates being delivered to the table next to me.

I quickly asked my server what they were having and was directed to the list of “pizzettes” on the other side of the menu. (As I mentioned before, the info & menu on the website is not current – the pizzettes are not even listed and Starling is still not open for dinner, unfortunately.)

Maybe it is the name that threw me – again, don’t let this happen to you.

The “pizzettes” are really open faced sandwiches, served on the wonderfully fresh and tasty baguettes with which anyone who has eaten here before is already quite familiar. I had one with chicken, garlic aioli, fresh tomato and smoked mozzarella which was one of the best sandwiches I’ve had in a long time. My son had one with chicken, mushrooms and Swiss cheese which would have been the best, except I liked my choice better. There are several others to try – I don’t think you will be disappointed.

Each of them is served with soup & a small salad, which makes them a hearty and filling lunch. The soup that day was a vegetable & lentil soup which was very nice but it changes regularly.

The Starling Diner is not only for breakfast anymore.

Starling Diner
4114 E. 3rd Street
Long Beach, CA 90814
562.433.2041
www.starlingdiner.com