555 East, An American Steakhouse. Long Beach
555 East Ocean Blvd. Long Beach CA. 90802
562-437-0626
Hours of Operation:
Lunch: M-F, 11:30a.m. - 3:00p.m.
Dinner: Mon. 5:30p.m. - 9:00p.m., Tues. - Thurs. 5:30p.m. - 10:00p.m., Fri. & Sat. 5:30p.m. - 11:00p.m., Sundays 5:00p.m. - 9:00p.m.
Reservations: Recommended especially on weekends.
Catering: Banquet rooms available.
The Room:
The 555 is a traditional American steakhouse the locals refer to as the "5". The room is just classy. Dimly lit with marble accents, dark wood trim, booth and table seating and a popular U shaped bar with brass and glass. The restaurant is warm and inviting. There is a sense of excitement about the place with a busy "after work" crowd. The bar offers an "appetizer menu" and is a great choice if you just want a quick drink and a light meal.
The Food:
555's Menu features USDA prime beef. This is there speciality and they do a good job. We started off with cocktails at the bar. A vodka gimlet straight up for me and a vodka martini for Ken. Martinis are served in individual shakers and poured chilled in front of you. A nice touch of flare! The bartender added a little cointreau to my gimlet which made it even tastier. The vodka martini was quite decent. We moved to a table for two in the corner a few tables away from the pianist who plays Thursday through Saturday in the evenings. I ordered a Caesar Salad for one (they only prepare it tableside when you order it for two) and Ken ordered the clamari. The "5" does a very good job with the calamari. It is nicely and lightly battered and it wasn't overfried. I can also recommend the crab bisque. I have had it before this particular meal and it is lucious and creamy with an amazing flavor that kicks a little. For my entree I ordered the Prime New York Strip Steak and asked for it medium. Ken ordered the seared Ahi. We ordered sides of sauteed mushrooms, broccoli Hollandaise and (yes) French fries. The "5" uses butter in the preparation of the steak giving it a superb flavor. My steak came perfectly cooked. Ken's Ahi was seared rare the way he likes it. It was a freah, meaty piece of tuna. The broccoli was cooked just right. It still had a crunch to it and the Hollandaise sauces didn't overpower. The mushrooms are always a good bet and they prepare them so they still have a bit of a snap in the bite. Their French fries are really very good. Some of the best I've had. A light fluffy fry, crisp on the outside and firm not mushy on the inside with no tastes of a heavy oil.
Wine:
555's Wine list is immense. They have over 700 selections. That is too many for me and I find their wine list overpowering. I like and know good wine but I am not a sommelier in training by any stretch of the imagination. Wanting to try something new I risked asking the server to choose a red wine that would pair with our meal even though we were having a meat and a fish. I gave her a price range and she did an excellent job of choosing a bottle of red. Wish I could remember the name?
Service:
The service is one of the things that sets the "5" apart.. You are greeted at the door with a smile, at the bar with a smile and by your servers at table with a smile. That's important. The staff is efficient, friendly and knowledgeable. From our cocktails, which were prepared and served promptly, to our appetizer and entree courses the service was great. We never waited for any course and we were never rushed.
Comments:
The "5" is one of the best restaurants in Long Beach. It has a buzz about it. The food and the service are exceptional and the atmosphere warm friendly and inviting. I look forward to return visits. I have never developed and affinity with a restaurant before but I look forward to the short trip down Ocean Boulevard to the "5" for a Friday night drink with Ken at the bar and maybe just a plate of calamari or a relaxing dinner at the cozy table in the corner watching the crowd and listening to the piano man.
Ratings:
Food: *** Very Good Cost: $$$ Very Expensive
Revisit: Absolutely
12/22/07
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