Even after expanding into what used to be Toto’s Revenge, La Parolaccia maintains the simple look and feel of the little Italian place up the street. If you’re in the mood for something simple and light, there’s spaghetti con gamberi e asaparagi (Angel hair with bite-sized sauteed shrimp, fresh tomatoes and just-right asparagus, $13.75) or tagliatell all’Amatriciana (fettuccine with chopped onions, pancetta and tomato sauce—a spicy favorite, $13.50). For the pant-busters, there’s gnocchi, risotto, cappelletti alla piacentina (assorted cheese tortellini with Italian proscuitto, green peas and mushrooms, $14.50) or rigatoni tric & trac (tube pasta, sausage and mushrooms in Sherry cream sauce—another good choice, $13.95). La Parolaccia is still a place for special occasions, but more so than ever you can walk over just because you’re hungry. And that’s all the reason you need.

LA PAROLACCIA OSTERIA ITALIANA 2945 E BROADWAY | LONG BEACH 90803 | 562.438.1235 | LAPAROLACCIAUSA.COM | OPEN SUN-THURS 5:30-10PM | FRI-SAT 5:30-10:30PM | FOOD FOR TWO, $25-75 | BEER, WINE

Tags: dinner, italian, Long Beach